Chapter 82
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Fate Connects Even in the Desert
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"It's not that there was no effect, but I can't say I gained much from it either. I just feel sorry for the poor beast."
Now that one old man withdrew his hand from the sheep and the other released its horns, the sheep finally let out a bleat and staggered about.
Using a living body for detoxification was a well-known practice in the martial world.
Even vicious demon cults used living humans for it, so employing a single old sheep was hardly noteworthy.
"What are you standing around gawking for? Come sit comfortably and have some more drink and food."
The old man washed his hands in the flowing stream as he called out to Nogeuk.
"I came out wondering if there was anything I could do to help, seeing you seemed to be in some trouble."
"You saw it, didn't you? I ended up getting poisoned somehow. It's not like I'm going to drop dead right away, so don't worry about it."
"I haven't heard your name yet, but you're clearly a renowned elder of the martial world. How could you end up in such a perilous situation?"
"Renowned elder? I'm just an old relic waiting for my time to die. Come on inside and let's have another round."
Jeon Sogi had already gone back into the inn.
"If it's not too presumptuous, if the poison proves too much to handle, why not seek out the Kunlun Sect? It's not far from here, and their Daoists are renowned for their mystical arts. They'd have no trouble detoxifying something like that, I'm sure."
At Nogeuk's words, the Six Gates Immortal burst into roaring laughter.
"Hahaha... You're right. I've heard plenty about how mystical the Kunlun Daoists are. But with them in seclusion now, what can be done?"
Nogeuk looked puzzled in turn.
"Kunlun is in seclusion? How could that be? Who would dare to force Kunlun into—"
"How should I know? Anyway, what exactly happened to you?"
At the Six Gates Immortal's question, Nogeuk was struck dumb, like a mute who had swallowed honey.
He couldn't very well admit he'd tried to rob a merchant caravan and ended up like this.
But he couldn't dodge the question entirely either.
"It's embarrassing, but I was done in by those Gale Wind Temple thugs."
The Six Gates Immortal was startled by Nogeuk's reply.
"Is that true? I've never heard of them preying on travelers before."
"It just happened that way somehow. All I feel is shame."
"You look like a fairly skilled expert yourself, but you couldn't handle the Gale Wind Temple elites, I suppose. Who in this great tent settlement would dare to take them on..."
Nogeuk sighed deeply in agreement with the Six Gates Immortal's words.
"Exactly."
The Six Gates Immortal nodded and took the lead toward the inn, with Nogeuk following behind.
Jeon Sogi remained silent as ever, while the Six Gates Immortal emptied cup after cup.
Nogeuk had eaten his fill and the alcohol had warmed him nicely, so he figured there was no need to linger at the table any longer.
It was a full day's ride by horse from here to Dunhuang, so if he set off now and rode through the night, he could arrive by morning.
Someone from the 兴阳 Merchant Association was waiting in Dunhuang, so he'd meet them first and plan his next steps.
As Nogeuk pondered rising from his seat, the inn's door swung wide open and a group of six armed officers strode in.
This was the far western edge of the Great Ming Empire, dotted with military garrisons, so patrols like this were commonplace.
"I'm thirsty. Bring the liquor quick."
Officers in such outposts acted with utter arrogance, bellowing at the waiter right away as they claimed a table.
The six officers had even unbuckled their swords and were swaggering about, raising their voices, but no one paid them any mind.
Merchants, and even the jianghu folk present, treated officials like oil and water—they made a point of ignoring each other.
But as the liquor made a few rounds and the name "Gale Wind Temple" came up in their talk, the mood shifted.
The inn fell briefly silent as everyone began listening in.
"So, that's confirmed, is it?"
"That's what I heard. Every group passing the 경보 garrison had white cloth tied to their banners, and no sign of that Hunyuan Great Tent Divine."
"Come on, even so, surely the Hunyuan Great Tent Divine himself..."
"That's just it. If he didn't die, then what the hell happened?"
"It's unbelievable. Who could take down a monster like that?"
"Dead or alive, something big went down in that crew—no doubt about it."
"That's got to be right. Otherwise..."
"And lately, haven't you noticed way more martial experts around here? Probably tied to that somehow."
"Yeah. What scraps are they hoping to pick up in this quiet backwater..."
"Anyway, we just do our time without trouble and head home, right? More drinks here."
Everyone in the inn hung on the officers' every word, but the two old men's expressions changed most noticeably.
The Six Gates Immortal's gaze fixed on Nogeuk, and in a very low voice, he asked,
"When did you say you ran into the Gale Wind Temple crew?"
Of course, Nogeuk had never said any such thing, but the pressure was clear: spill what you know.
Nogeuk smacked his lips, regretting his timing.
He'd missed the perfect moment to leave.
"Uh, last night..."
As Nogeuk mumbled evasively, a transmission voice rang in his ear.
'Tell it straight. You clearly know something.'
It was Jeon Sogi, who hadn't uttered a word until now.
Nogeuk turned to look at his face, and chills shot up his spine.
Jeon Sogi was staring straight through him, his face laced with clear killing intent.
It was the kind of killing intent that promised death without a second's hesitation if he didn't cooperate.
'Don't worry—just lay out what happened. That one's so volatile, even I can't easily hold him back. Keep that in mind.'
The Six Gates Immortal's gentle voice followed via transmission.
Jeon Sogi now lifted a cup he hadn't touched before and brought it to his lips.
At that moment, Nogeuk's chest tightened, his heart jolting.
He realized Jeon Sogi's gaze was pinning down his very heart as he drained the cup. It was the legendary Intent-Form Killing.
Only then did Nogeuk realize these two were transcendent masters beyond the heavens.
"Come on, have another drink."
As Nogeuk froze solid under the killing intent, the Six Gates Immortal reached out and seized the liquor bottle.
The gesture slightly disrupted Jeon Sogi's aura, allowing Nogeuk to finally breathe. Jeon Sogi turned his head away.
Nogeuk lifted his trembling hand to his lips and emptied his cup when the inn door opened again.
Everyone was too absorbed in the officers' talk to notice the newcomer, but Nogeuk couldn't help spotting him.
A youth in a white light robe, draped in a silver fox fur windbreaker, wearing a sedge-woven rain hat.
Holding a copper staff of modest length, he entered the inn—and of all people, locked eyes with Nogeuk.
This was the man who had punched to death the Gale Wind Temple's leader, the Hunyuan Great Tent Divine Kuluy, right before his eyes.
And then, with utter nonchalance, taken the Gale Wind Temple crew under his wing. Now here he was.
Of course, the youth was Seonwoyong—or rather, his former self, the Nine Provinces Demon Immortal U Cheonso.
Seonwoyong's gaze brushed past Nogeuk briefly before settling on the two old men sitting with him.
In that instant, the Six Gates Immortal and Jeon Sogi both focused on the youth.
But Seonwoyong's eyes had already shifted elsewhere, his steps heading to an empty table in the corner of the inn.
The two old men tilted their heads.
Jeon Sogi in particular stared piercingly at the youth's back with an ominous feeling.
Nogeuk had already heard Seonwoyong's voice whispering directly into his mind.
'Shut your mouth.'
A chill of a whole different order than Jeon Sogi's raced down Nogeuk's spine.
Nogeuk clamped his mouth shut and brought his still-trembling hand to his lips, draining the cup.
Jeon Sogi's attention was no longer on him.
Unable to tear his eyes from Seonwoyong's back as he sat facing away, the Six Gates Immortal spoke up.
"Hey, Brother Jeon. Know him?"
Jeon Sogi shook his head.
"No, couldn't be... but his aura feels strangely familiar somehow."
The Six Gates Immortal turned to glance at Seonwoyong's back, then asked Nogeuk,
"Do you know that youth? When he came in just now and your eyes met, your face went completely stiff."
Nogeuk shook his head vigorously left and right, unable to open his mouth.
Jeon Sogi eyed him sharply and pressed via transmission again.
'You refuse to speak properly, don't you? Fine, then I'll have no choice but to...'
Just then, the inn door opened once more, and five guests entered.
Naturally, they were Bangchung, Dogwang, Yi Taejeong, Moyongcheong, and Jin Seolhwa, trailing after Seonwoyong.
This time, every eye in the inn turned to them.
Even the arrogant officers set down their cups, speechless, and stared.
It was all because of Moyongcheong's beauty.
Moyongcheong's face was stunning beyond compare to begin with.
And as she entered and flung back the hood of her windbreaker, she inevitably drew every gaze.
The title of Northern Supreme Beauty was well-earned.
Adding to that, Jin Seolhwa's beauty, revealed as she pushed back her own rain hat, was something utterly unseen in a place like this—leaving everyone entranced.
But the most shocked of all was, once again, Nogeuk.
He was acquainted with Dogwang and Jin Seolhwa among them, after all.
Surprisingly, though they clearly saw him, the two didn't acknowledge him properly.
Dogwang merely flashed Nogeuk a grin as he headed to Seonwoyong's table—that was it.
Nogeuk desperately wanted to flee this place.
Jin Seolhwa had taken a seat right across from him, and the eyes they locked held no softness whatsoever.