Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Reclaiming Blade Leaf Valley
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After most of the urgent matters were sorted out, a meeting was held in the Blade Leaf Demon's office to discuss the future.
The Blade Leaf Demon sat at the head of the table. To his left sat Un-gak, the leader of the Maple Leaf Unit, along with Un-pyo and Cho-wol. To his right sat Mu-heun and Pa-sun.
“Young Master Sa. After interrogating the survivors and examining the circumstances, we've determined that this was their ultimate goal.”
The Blade Leaf Demon took out a reddish-brown wooden box.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
Mu-heun opened the reddish-brown wooden box.
“This is….”
Inside the box were eight pills.
The pills were the color of milky glass beads, shimmering with a faint, iridescent light on their white surface, reminiscent of a rainbow.
Mu-heun knew what the pills were at a single glance.
He understood why the Golden Fang Poison Claw and the Red Demon Pavilion had joined forces.
*‘I thought there was something more to it, but I never imagined it would be this….’*
The Golden Fang Poison Claw wanted the fruit of the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree.
The fruit of the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree is said to be a fruit crafted by the gods. According to ancient texts, only one grows every hundred years.
Furthermore, it is said that one must fully assimilate a whole fruit to control the Myriad Fragrances. There was no way the endlessly greedy Tang Clan would share such a prize with the Red Demon Pavilion.
To secure the cooperation of a Demonic Cult faction, they had to offer a treasure that, while not as valuable as the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree, would make any martial artist's eyes widen. And this was it.
The essence of natural energy, created from the condensed, powerful earth ki flowing between the caves of Blade Leaf Valley—a treasure for martial artists, said to immensely boost one's internal energy upon consumption.
Azure Stone Essence.
The Tang Clan, having noticed its existence, proposed a deal to the Red Demon Pavilion. They suggested combining the finest spirit herbs in the Tang Clan's possession with the Azure Stone Essence and using the clan's supreme alchemy techniques to create the ultimate spirit pills, which they would then share.
*‘They must have promised to take care of the Blade Leaf Demon and his disciples in Blade Leaf Valley, asking the Demonic Cult to help them avoid detection by other factions within their territory.’*
From the Red Demon Pavilion's perspective, there would have been no reason to refuse.
After all, they could have the residents of Blade Leaf Valley cultivate the Soul-Bewitching Powder and get them addicted. Then, if any problems arose later, they could frame the Blade Leaf Demon and claim the Red Demon Pavilion knew nothing about it.
Even if no problems occurred, once their work was done, they could frame the Blade Leaf Demon for the Soul-Bewitching Powder incident and wipe out Blade Leaf Valley, leaving no evidence behind. It was a perfect plan.
Naturally, Gu Cheong, the dispatched administrator, was also a disposable pawn meant to be cut loose.
Mu-heun looked at the spirit pills and spoke.
“The Hundred Herb Shadow Vanishing Divine Pills, crafted from Azure Stone Essence and various spirit herbs.”
Hearing Mu-heun's answer, the Blade Leaf Demon exclaimed in great surprise.
“Haha…! Truly, there is nothing the Heavenly Dance Family doesn't know.”
“Haha….”
In truth, the Heavenly Dance Family had no such information. The Hundred Herb Shadow Vanishing Divine Pills were spirit pills so rare they were crafted only on special occasions even within the Sichuan Tang Clan, and Mu-heun himself, as the former Divine Doctor of Sichuan, was the one who had provided the technique. That was how he recognized them.
*‘By the way… Azure Stone Essence is incredibly rare, but the spirit herbs mixed with it must be just as precious. I’m surprised the Tang Clan was willing to part with so much.*
*The luster of the pills proves they were crafted properly. The Golden Fang Poison Claw's alchemy skills aren't bad.*
*The Red Demon Pavilion must have firmly believed this was the Tang Clan's ultimate goal.’*
But….
“Why are you giving these to me….”
“Actually, while you were away for a moment, I heard from Un-pyo, Chief Steward Byeok, and Pa-sun about everything you've done for Blade Leaf Valley. I couldn't believe it at first….”
“……”
“But I had no choice but to believe. You are the one chosen by the Sacred Fire, are you not?”
*‘Damn… It seems Pa-sun has already told him everything.’*
“Haha… The most important thing is that the Cult Leader hasn't forgotten you, Lord Blade Leaf Demon, and sent me here. Isn't that right?”
“Hahahahahaha! Of course, that's true! But I can never forget the debt I owe you. It's not just me; my disciples and the people of Blade Leaf Valley feel the same. We all owe our lives to you.”
“So you are saying you're giving me something so precious because of that.”
“Of course! And that's not all. From now on, we will support you. We will spare no expense in providing you with whatever you need, be it agricultural products, handicrafts, or weapons produced here.”
“……Thank you.”
Mu-heun felt an unfamiliar emotion.
What do spirit pills mean to a martial artist?
For the warriors of the martial world, where a small amount of internal energy can mean the difference between life and death, a spirit pill that enhances that energy is of unimaginable value.
Even among such pills, there are different grades, and this one was undoubtedly of the highest quality. How could it not be, when it was made by mixing rare spirit herbs with Azure Stone Essence?
In the past, even the discovery of Azure Stone Essence alone was said to cause a bloodbath in the martial world….
Yet everyone here offered it to him without hesitation.
*‘We haven’t known each other for that long. Is it really possible to earn this much trust in such a short time?’*
Thanks to this, Mu-heun was able to reaffirm his understanding of the Blade Leaf Demon's character, and he felt that his subordinates were no different.
Then, he suddenly thought of his own disciples.
Disciples who had been closer to him than his own blood.
There was something he had to do for them.
“Then, may I do as I please with these spirit pills.”
“Of course.”
“In that case, I have a proposal.”
“Speak.”
“I only need three. This place, Blade Leaf Valley, is important to me, so please use the rest as you see fit, Lord Blade Leaf Demon.”
"""…!!"""
The Blade Leaf Demon and everyone else in the room were left speechless. With such supreme spirit pills right before them, it would be a lie to say they weren't tempted. However, they chose to repay their debt of gratitude over their own greed.
The reason was that they could guess the path Mu-heun—the one chosen by the Sacred Fire and entrusted with a secret mission by the Cult Leader—was destined to walk.
It would undoubtedly be a steep, winding, and arduous uphill path.
They didn't know if that path would be a sea of blood and mountains of corpses, reeking of slaughter, or a hellish road filled with poison and hidden weapons. For him, these rare spirit pills would be a great asset.
Even if he couldn't consume them all himself, he could use them to nurture his own people. Or they could be of immense help in dealing with other factions.
Yet Mu-heun took only three of the rare spirit pills and asked for the remaining five to be used for Blade Leaf Valley.
“A-are you sure…?”
“This isn't for anyone else's sake. The development of Blade Leaf Valley is what I desire, so please do not refuse and accept my wish.”
“……I understand.”
The Blade Leaf Demon bowed his head once more.
“Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart.”
Mu-heun helped him up and clasped his fist.
“I have reported the situation here via carrier pigeon. The Cult Leader's people will probably arrive within a week.”
“If you've reported the situation… then forces strong enough to wipe out the Golden Fang Poison Claw and Gu Cheong's group will be coming. In that case, it's likely that high-ranking members of the Cult Leader's direct subordinate agency, the Luminous Heavenly Demon Unit, will come.”
“Do you know who it might be.”
“I'm acquainted with the Luminous Left Emissary. But I don't know the Luminous Right Emissary very well… Still, I doubt the Commander of the Luminous Heavenly Demon Unit, a master known as a Supreme Demon, would come himself.”
“I see. In any case, we will make a detailed report then. For now, please focus on restoring Blade Leaf Valley. I will gather the evidence and write a report.”
“Understood.”
“Ah, and there is something we must do before the Cult Leader's forces arrive from the Cult.”
“What is it?”
“We must treat the farmers who were poisoned by the Soul-Bewitching Powder.”
*‘I still don't know what kind of people the Cult Leader and the Luminous Heavenly Demon Unit are. If they sent forces because they trust me, who came on the Cult Leader's orders, then they are surely coming to help me and the Blade Leaf Demon. But I shouldn't assume they will help the powerless farmers as well.*
*I must avoid anything that could put the farmers at a disadvantage.’*
“I see…….”
“Yes. What is the current condition of the farmers.”
“……Well, the symptoms vary from person to person. Some are not severe, but as time passes, more and more people are complaining of side effects.”
“Please gather them in one place. I will treat them.”
“Y-you can treat them!?”
“Yes.”
“Understood! Chief Steward Byeok, gather the farmers in one place immediately! Line them up, prepare a space for examinations, and provide Young Master Sa with everything he needs.”
“Yes. I understand.”
With that, Mu-heun took his three spirit pills and left. Those who remained expressed their heartfelt gratitude to him for not only giving up the pills but also treating the farmers.
* * *
For a while, I tended to the farmers as the Divine Doctor of Sichuan. I set up a clinic at the main gate of the ruined central pavilion and examined the long line of farmers one by one.
“Chief Steward Byeok, could you procure some medicinal herbs for me?”
“Yes. Just say the word.”
“I need Asian maple, celandine, common fleabane, young barley leaves, idong flowers, spicebush, phoenix ginseng, capillary wormwood, china root, the cure-all plant, honeysuckle vine, cloud mushrooms, bamboo grass, reishi mushrooms, Korean dendropanax, plantain, and dandelion… Can you get all of these.”
“If there's anything we don't have, I'll go to the mountains and dig it up myself.”
“Thank you.”
Chief Steward Byeok was truly a capable man. He knew the surrounding terrain as well as the local merchants and herbalists, and he swiftly procured every single herb I ordered.
I used the various herbs to create a medicine through a meticulous process of formulation. While it couldn't completely cure the addiction, it could alleviate the symptoms and help them overcome it.
Their bodies and minds had been stained by the pleasure derived not from natural emotions or joy, but from the Soul-Bewitching Powder. Addiction is a form of dependency.
Therefore, while the physical effects had to be detoxified and healed with medicine, the mental aspect required individual management.
After checking the farmers' symptoms, I prescribed the appropriate dosage and taught them exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation.
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“Taking the medicine is not the end. You must always control your mind and remember to exercise regularly.”
“Yes. I'll keep that in mind.”
“Next person, please.”
“I feel refreshed after taking the medicine, but it's a shame that I keep thinking about it.”
“It's alright. That's natural, so please calm your mind.”
“Yes. I'll do as you say, Doctor.”
Even after the effects of the Soul-Bewitching Powder had completely worn off, the farmers suffered from some aftereffects. Their brains naturally craved the sensations from that time.
I encouraged each of them to control their minds.
The Blade Leaf Demon witnessed this firsthand, watching from the side in disbelief.
“Heh, truly….”
After Mu-heun's treatment was finished, it took less than two weeks for all the farmers and martial artists of Blade Leaf Valley to return to normal.
The Divine Doctor, abandoned by the Tang Clan in the lands of Sichuan.
Having found a new life, he was now displaying his skills in Blade Leaf Valley, a place that had nearly been destroyed by the Tang Clan's schemes.
* * *
About a week after the Golden Fang Poison Claw's death, the Luminous Heavenly Demon Unit, the Cult Leader's direct subordinate agency, arrived in Blade Leaf Valley.
Mu-heun and the Blade Leaf Demon went outside Blade Leaf Valley in advance to greet them. This was to prevent any unnecessary fights that might arise from mistaking allies for enemies.
The Blade Leaf Demon shouted toward the approaching Luminous Heavenly Demon Unit in the distance.
“The Blade Leaf Demon, master of Blade Leaf Valley, greets the Luminous Heavenly Demon Unit!”
The man at the forefront, who was approaching so fast he seemed to be flying, heard the Blade Leaf Demon's voice and accelerated even more.
“Blade Leaf Demon? No, what's going on? I heard you were taken down by the Tang Clan's Golden Fang Poison Claw. Are you alright?”
*‘So this is him…! The Cult's Luminous Left Emissary….’*
One look was enough to tell he was an immense powerhouse. I couldn't discern his exact realm yet, but at a glance, he seemed stronger than the Blade Leaf Demon. That meant he was at least at the Transcendent Demon level.
“Haha, it's been a while, Luminous Left Emissary. I see you've come.”
“Well, it's only natural, seeing as I have a connection with you, Blade Leaf Demon. Anyway, please explain the situation.”
“Yes, I will.”
The Luminous Left Emissary didn't even glance at me, standing next to the Blade Leaf Demon. Since he didn't know my face, he probably thought I was one of the Blade Leaf Demon's disciples. Even if he did know who I was, it would have been strange for him to ask me anything with the Blade Leaf Demon present.
While the Blade Leaf Demon and the Luminous Left Emissary were talking, the rest of the Luminous Heavenly Demon Unit arrived.
The Blade Leaf Demon first gave the Luminous Left Emissary a clear and concise explanation of what had happened, and the Left Emissary listened with his mouth agape the entire time.
“W-wait… You're saying all of that happened?”
“That is correct. And this person next to me is the benefactor who accomplished it all.”
Finally, it was my turn.
“Baek Mu-heun, Young Master Sa of the Heavenly Dance Family, greets the Luminous Left Emissary.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“Ha, haha, I heard a little from the Cult Leader and the Divine Maiden, but… I never thought it would be to this extent. This is beyond my expectations, no, beyond my imagination. Now I understand why the Cult Leader said what he did…!”
“……!?”