Chapter 85
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Controlling Objects with Qi
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Jeon Sogi's voice echoed through the quiet inn.
For a moment, no one could respond to his words, but Do Gwang stepped forward.
"No, old timer, where have you seen such clean-cut skills so many times? That technique has reached the realm of the divine, so he must be someone with a nickname like the Slap God."
"Haha... More like an immortal than a god? They called him the immortal who saved the world."
At Jeon Sogi's reply, Do Gwang asked again.
"The immortal who saved the world—did you actually see that man known as the Nine Provinces Demon Immortal?"
"That's right. Back in my youth, he used to punish countless villains with his slaps. No matter how wicked they were, he'd spare their lives out of compassion, you could say. Heh heh...."
"Wow, he truly is an amazing figure. But this young friend here is just a white-faced scholar barely past his early twenties. I'm really curious where he learned that supreme technique."
"Haha... That's why I'm sitting here myself—I'm dying to know. I hope we get some answers soon."
As he spoke, Jeon Sogi's gaze shifted to Seonwoyong and stopped there.
But Seonwoyong merely slowly lifted his cup and drank.
"At this point, we might as well all move over there and drink together. It's still early evening, and that friend has already paid quite a bit, so what's a few more coins?"
Do Gwang urged the Six Gate Immortal to his feet like this and led him over to where Seonwoyong was sitting.
"Come on over. Looks like a strange fate is weaving itself here today."
As the Six Gate Immortal joined them, Jeon Sogi was the first to brighten up.
"Now, this gentleman here is none other than one of the Six Immortals, the Kunlun Sword Immortal, Six Gate Immortal. Everyone, pay your respects. He's my martial uncle, so I, Do Gwang, won't forgive any rudeness."
Do Gwang introduced the Six Gate Immortal to everyone with an unusually reverent posture and voice, unlike his usual self, and they all jumped up in shock from their seats.
"Ahem... To meet Senior Kunlun Sword Immortal here—it's this junior's great fortune. I'm Bang Chung, in charge of patrolling the bandits as best I can."
Starting with Bang Chung like this, Jin Seolhwa, Moyong Cheong, and the others offered their greetings one by one.
But Seonwoyong's attitude was completely unexpected.
He acted as if he didn't care, simply emptying his cup without a glance.
Jeon Sogi stared piercingly at such a Seonwoyong.
"Hey, friend. You don't plan on greeting him? He's my martial uncle, after all."
In the end, Do Gwang spoke up like this, but Seonwoyong's reaction remained the same.
"Hey, he might be your martial uncle or whatever, but what connection does he have to me? Who knows?"
Seonwoyong's response was actually quite peculiar.
It sounded like he meant their future ties were uncertain, but it could also refer to some past connection.
"Hmph. You're truly impossible to pin down, you are."
Do Gwang had no intention of pressing further, so they all sat back down and began passing the cups around again.
As Jin Seolhwa introduced herself, she explained the work of the Shenzhou Merchant Group led by Sa Hongcheon, and the merchant activities of the Great Fortune Merchant Group owned by Seonwoyong.
Then, as Moyong Cheong introduced himself, he spoke of a minor quarrel that had occurred in Xi'an.
But the moment he heard the name Great Fortune Merchant Group, Jeon Sogi's expression changed.
Of course, it was such a fleeting reaction that no one noticed—but Seonwoyong wouldn't miss it.
And when Moyong Cheong mentioned the treasure of the Great Cloud Bright Religion discovered in Dunhuang, the Six Gate Immortal let out a deep sigh and asked.
"So, you're all interested in that treasure too?"
"Yes. We have no choice, carrying out orders from our sects and families."
Yi Taejeong answered like this while looking at Moyong Cheong's face.
She had subtly tied the two of them together, so it was sweet on one hand, frightening on the other.
But Moyong Cheong stared blankly at the plate in front of him, expressionless.
"Withdraw your interest in those treasures. To me, it seems like some kind of scheme."
As the Six Gate Immortal said this, everyone around the table looked at him with puzzled expressions.
Of course, Seonwoyong had no interest in such matters.
Jeon Sogi, too, was solely fixated on staring piercingly at Seonwoyong's face.
At that moment, Bang Chung asked the Six Gate Immortal with a grave expression.
"No, did you say scheme? Please, tell us in detail."
Now the Six Gate Immortal began explaining Kunlun's seclusion and the bloody incident that caused it, followed by what he had experienced in Dunhuang.
Soon, the table fell into a heavy atmosphere.
Even after a long while, once the Six Gate Immortal finished speaking, no one opened their mouth.
It was the story that the Great Cloud Bright Religion—what they commonly called the Demonic Cult—had begun moving in earnest, and it was no ordinary matter.
In the past, whenever the Great Cloud Bright Religion stirred, even the orthodox martial world, represented by one of the Nine Great Sects, had to unite as one to barely stand against them.
Moreover, after accumulating power for decades, just imagining how formidable they would appear now was terrifying.
Do Gwang spoke first.
"So, Kunlun's seclusion was ultimately due to the Demonic Cult's persecution."
"That's right. Here in the western frontier, Kunlun's strength is indeed weak. Compared to the Ming Cult, that is."
The Six Gate Immortal replied in a deflated voice, when suddenly Moyong Cheong asked in a bold tone.
"Just how strong is that Demonic Cult's leader, anyway?"
At that, the silent Jeon Sogi burst into loud laughter and countered.
"Haha... What's got you so curious? You planning to face him yourself or something?"
"Why are you laughing like that? How would I know the affairs of the jianghu?"
"Oh, please. If you catch his eye, he might take you as a concubine. Haha."
"No, old man, do you think you could even handle him?"
Jeon Sogi shook his head side to side as he eyed the indignant Moyong Cheong for a moment.
"No, impossible. There's only one person in this world who could handle him."
Then Moyong Cheong pressed on.
"Who is that person, and where is he?"
Jeon Sogi answered in a serious voice.
"That person is the father of the Great Cloud Bright Religion's leader U Gyeongcheon, the former leader, Lord U Cheonso. He discarded the nickname Nine Provinces Demon Immortal long ago and turned his back on the world, so how would we know his whereabouts? We can only assume he'll step forward when the time comes."
Yet as he said this, Jeon Sogi's gaze once again fell on Seonwoyong.
At that moment, Seonwoyong abruptly stood up.
As the eyes of the table turned to him, Seonwoyong grinned and scratched his head.
"Whoa, why's everyone like that? They say holding it in is bad for a man's health...."
With that, he shuffled out of the inn.
But at that very moment, Jeon Sogi also fumbled with his pants and quietly stood.
"Me too. Getting old, nothing works like it used to. Kekeke...."
The inn's outhouse was a short distance away, across the backyard.
The base of the outhouse was a pigsty, so whenever people climbed up there, a few pigs would snort in welcome.
As Seonwoyong stood atop it and began relieving himself with gusto, someone came and stood beside him.
"Still going strong, huh? Makes me jealous. Kekeke...."
Of course, it was Jeon Sogi.
"For an old guy like you to be so impressive, no need for excuses. Kekeke...."
As Jeon Sogi's stream shot out, Seonwoyong threw in a word.
A moment later, as two women passing through the inn's backyard, Jeon Sogi called out to Seonwoyong.
"Hey, friend. I've got a favor to ask."
"What?"
Seonwoyong turned and looked at Jeon Sogi.
"Nothing much, but could you show me that stick of yours?"
"Heh heh... What an shameless old man. Asking to see another man's stick. Is that your taste? Kekeke...."
"You insolent brat. Once I reveal your identity, I'll teach you some manners properly."
"Insolent? Kekeke... Fine, whatever. But what exactly do you want to see?"
"I'm talking about that copper rod you're carrying."
"Fine. But you know what it means to hand over someone else's weapon, right, old man? You confident you can handle it?"
Seonwoyong was now bantering with Jeon Sogi in casual speech and jokes.
"Heh heh... That Slap Divine Art, and now your stick— I can't just let it slide."
Jeon Sogi now raised both hands, ready to strike if needed.
"Heh heh... Yeah? If you're that curious, follow me then."
Leaving those words, Seonwoyong leaped into the dark, sleeping desert.
It was peak lightness skill, beyond imagination.
Jeon Sogi furrowed his brows watching his retreating figure.
'No, isn't that the Wudang Cloud-Soaring Step?'
But his hesitation lasted only a moment, and Jeon Sogi followed after Seonwoyong.
In the night desert under a pale crescent moon, endless sand dunes known as dunes stretched out.
As Jeon Sogi crossed dune after dune—too many to count—Seonwoyong stood tall atop one, waiting for him.
And before Jeon Sogi could even reach it, an object flew from Seonwoyong's hand.
Jeon Sogi casually reached to catch it but suddenly paled in shock and leaped twice to dodge it.
Incredibly, the object targeted several of his vital points like a living bird, and the energy infused in it was something even Jeon Sogi—one of the Four Wonders and the Great Cloud Bright Religion's Supreme Elder, Mad Painter Jeon Sogi—dared not receive.
Then, after Jeon Sogi fully evaded, the object truly flew through the air like a living bird and returned to Seonwoyong's hand.
"You do have a trick up your sleeve. You made me, Jeon Sogi, dance under this moonlight. But I'm quite fond of the Controlling Objects with Qi technique myself—take this!"
Now Jeon Sogi landed three zhang in front of Seonwoyong, smiled, and pulled something from his bosom, tossing it into the air.
It was a single black, square stone lump.
Even in the moonlight, it flew toward Seonwoyong at a speed that left trails of light—it was an inkstone just large enough to cover a palm.
As widely known, Jeon Sogi's nickname was Mad Painter, and most of the items he carried were painting tools.
In particular, the inkstone he now threw was a priceless artifact made by grinding black jade—the ink-black variety among the blue jades from Mount Tai.
He had long used this inkstone, which ordinary metal weapons could scarcely cut, as a weapon, and now he hurled it with the divine art of Controlling Objects with Qi.
Moreover, the realm of Jeon Sogi's Controlling Objects with Qi was astonishing—the inkstone was faster than lightning, and its edges shimmered with a faint ink aura of ink steel.