Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Exile (2)
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What could he say to that?
Ye-ui simply shut his mouth.
"Allow me to introduce myself belatedly. I am Dang Yu-wol of the Sacheon Tang Clan."
"...The Tang Clan... Why would someone of your esteemed status seek me out?"
Jin-seong was startled.
The Sacheon Tang Clan.
Wasn't it the most renowned place in Sacheon right now?
"I apologize, but even though I've been exiled, I cannot betray the Guseong Sect."
He wondered if they wanted him to reveal the sect's secrets.
Even if they had abandoned him.
He could not betray the Guseong Sect.
"I have no interest in the Guseong Sect's affairs."
-At the level the Guseong Sect is at now, couldn't you handle them alone?
'The current sect leader is only at the early Peak Realm... A few doses of poison would suffice.'
If Jin-seong wished it, he was prepared to do that much.
"Let me make you a proposal. How about working for the Tang Clan?"
"Pardon?! What do you...?"
"As you may know, the Tang Clan is expanding rapidly these days. Problems are bound to arise in the process."
"But... I..."
"And I heard your dantian was destroyed."
"...Yes."
"I'll heal that for you as well. And I'll give you a martial art suited to you."
-Some level of strength is essential to protect yourself.
'Right. He was at the first-rate level even before my regression, so with proper support, he could climb even higher.'
His head spun with each word.
What on earth did this man see in him?
Jin-seong tried to hide his confusion and asked cautiously.
"Am I... worth that much to you?"
"You are."
Dang Yu-wol's eyes did not waver.
That was why Jin-seong believed him.
"Of course, if you refuse, I won't drag you along by force."
In Dang Yu-wol's eyes, he was more than worth it.
If you find treasure lying around, wouldn't you pick it up and hide it away quickly?
"..."
The deliberation didn't last long.
He had already been exiled from the place he considered home.
If someone recognized his worth, he would go there.
"Ah, if you harbor any grudges against the Guseong Sect, I can kill them all for you."
Once he joined the Tang Clan, Jin-seong would belong to them.
He would naturally have to follow the Tang Clan's laws.
Repay favors twofold, grudges fivefold.
"...I have none."
His heart was moved.
But he couldn't deny that the Guseong Sect had saved him when he was young.
"I shall serve you as my lord from now on."
Jin-seong knelt before Dang Yu-wol.
The moment they returned to the Tang Clan, Dang Yu-wol began preparations to treat his body.
It wasn't particularly difficult.
"By the way, how did the former Guseong Sect leader end up passing the position to his son?"
"...He suffered a grave injury battling a notorious unorthodox fiend."
"Oh ho."
"And not long after, he passed away."
After that, his son Hyeon-gyeok became sect leader.
Things had been fine up until then.
He had respected Hyeon-gyeok.
"I see."
-If the previous sect leader were still around, you wouldn't have been exiled like this.
'In that sense, all I can feel is gratitude.'
"Anyway, I ordered steady investigations since I figured you'd be curious about their affairs."
"...I'm not... interested."
"Emotions don't resolve that simply. If you're ever curious, just ask Ji Gong."
"Yes, my lord."
"Then let's begin the treatment right away. Ji Gong."
"Yes."
Ji Gong, who had been waiting, stepped forward.
"But... can I really do this? All I can do is transmit internal energy..."
"What nonsense. There's nothing as profound and harmonious as Jeonjin Sect internal energy."
A subtle sense of pride welled up.
His master acknowledged it, after all.
"And while we're at it, let me say this: Once I achieve all my goals, would you like to revive the Jeonjin Sect?"
Once the Blood Cult falls and he becomes the world's greatest clan, helping establish one sect would be a piece of cake.
Presenting future rewards to boost morale was also the duty of a leader.
"Pardon?!"
"I'll provide my full support."
"Th-thank you."
It was something he had given up on.
For Dang Yu-wol to say this...
Even the words alone filled him with joy.
"I shall serve you with all my heart!"
"Good. Now, let's begin. First, infuse qi into the Mingmen acupoint."
"Yes."
"And channel your energy toward where I insert the needles."
Dang Yu-wol skillfully inserted needles into Jin-seong's bare upper body.
Ji Gong placed his hand on the Mingmen acupoint and spine area, as instructed, and sent internal energy flowing.
'Warm and refreshing.'
The Taoist internal energy took root.
The stimulated areas amplified the energy via the needles.
That energy began regenerating the destroyed dantian.
"Cough!!"
How much qi had been transmitted?
Jin-seong coughed violently.
What he spat out was pitch-black, dead blood.
"Your dantian is restored now."
"S-so quickly?"
Both the treated Jin-seong and assisting Ji Gong were astonished.
It hadn't even been half a shichen.
"The dantian was small to begin with, and the damage was minor. Next. Here, learn this."
"What... is this?"
"It's called Nameless Art. It's a decent martial art."
"Um... not that I mean to question you, acting sect leader, but I'm talentless in martial arts..."
"Because you couldn't learn the Guseong Sect's techniques?"
"...Yes."
"No need to worry. The Guseong Sect's arts are of the inflexible type. They don't suit you."
It was natural for martial arts to have affinities with people.
What suited Jin-seong's body was the Taoist-type martial art called Nameless Art, which he had given him.
-I didn't know you had that guy's martial art memorized.
'I acquired it by chance. It's a solid heart method, so I researched it thoroughly.'
Since it was Taoist-type, Ji Gong could guide him.
Dang Yu-wol instructed Ji Gong.
"Ji Gong, you guide him. You can handle the basics, right?"
"Yes, understood."
Having swiftly finished, Dang Yu-wol sent them off.
Once they left, expressing endless gratitude, he leaned back comfortably in his chair.
-By the way, I'm curious what will become of the Guseong Sect.
The one handling their internal affairs had vanished.
It might be fine at first, but in time, it would be a spectacle.
'Well, they'll manage somehow.'
But that was no longer his concern.
'More importantly, there are others I plan to recruit.'
-Who might that be?
"Hmm... How should I put it."
Dang Yu-wol grinned.
"Demonic Cultists."
-Is that wise? From what I know, whether orthodox, unorthodox, or demonic, Demonic Cultists are public enemies.
'It's fine. They're ones exiled from the Demonic Cult. They belong to the Bright Flame Castle.'
-Bright Flame Castle?
'Yes. Central Plains folk might not know, but the Demonic Cult was once split into two factions.'
-That's new to me.
'Only those who studied the Demonic Cult in depth know.'
It wasn't strange that treasure vault entrants were unaware.
Ye-ui grew interested.
-Two factions? What were they?
'The Demon Heart Tribe, who worship power, and the Bright Flame Castle, followers of the Ming Cult, the Demonic Cult's predecessor.'
-Worship power, you say...
'The Demon Heart Tribe lives up to the name—they'll do anything for power.'
-The typical Demonic Cultists, then.
'Exactly. They don't hesitate to kill for demonic arts.'
-And the Bright Flame Castle?
'They're different. They revere fire and are gentle folk. They emphasize mental cultivation.'
-Direct opposites, then.
'Yes. The Demon Heart Tribe despised them as weaklings, while the Bright Flame Castle hated them for corrupting the Ming Cult.'
-So the Bright Flame Castle committed no evil deeds?
'You could say that. Their arts differ from the Demon Heart Tribe's. In some ways, they're like orthodox arts.'
-But they don't practice demonic arts?
'Not quite. Bright Flame Castle arts are still treated as demonic in the Central Plains.'
Demonic arts fall into two categories.
One offers great power and rapid growth but erodes humanity, turning one into a murderous fiend.
The other possesses brutally overwhelming might.
-So the Bright Flame Castle's are just brutally powerful.
'Yes.'
-Even so, they're demonic arts.
Not wrong.
Central Plains martial artists wouldn't care about such distinctions.
-What if allying with them causes issues?
'Then make sure no issues arise.'
-Well... that's true, but is it possible?
Dang Yu-wol smiled at Ye-ui's question.
'That's nothing.'
The western region of Cheonghae.
Aksan County lay where it connected to the Western Frontier.
Practically the Great Empire's border, yet it was a developed place.
Because many came and went for trade.
"Whew, the hard road starts now."
"Come on, a trip to the Western Regions means big money."
"Sure, but crossing the desert is brutal."
"Is the desert the only hardship? You might lose your life running into lama monks on the plateau."
"Still, it's a chance for big earnings. Can't pass that up."
"Tomorrow starts the real grind. Let's hit a nice spot for drinks first."
"Nice spot? Where?"
"Gotta go to the Dreamlike Pavilion if you're in Aksan."
Aksan County's most famous brothel.
A place granting last dreams to those embarking on perilous journeys.
Today, too, guests gathered at the Dreamlike Pavilion.
"Madam, business is booming again today."
On the top floor of the Dreamlike Pavilion.
In the madam's room, the chief steward beamed.
The Dreamlike Pavilion's madam before him nodded gently.
"Indeed. Good work, Chief Steward."
"And... shall we send money there again this month?"
"Yes, please."
"Understood. Ah, and the county magistrate requests a meeting..."
Her brows furrowed in annoyance, forming an inverted eight.
The Aksan County magistrate had been courting her for years.
The chief steward knew well how tiresome she found it.
"I'll handle the refusal smoothly."
"Thank you, Chief Steward."
Expressing thanks in her soft voice, the Dreamlike Pavilion madam turned her gaze gently to the window.
"Haa..."
Men held no interest for her.
She needed no power.
She desired only one thing.
"Oh...?"
Her gaze out the window caught something unusual.
A figure in black-green uniform walked by.
"Black-green uniform... That's the Tang Clan's attire? Why would the Tang Clan be here...?"