Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: The Infiltrator (1)
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“Then let’s secure rooms at an inn first.”
“I’ll head to the Wudang Sect.”
“I’ll also stop by the nearby relay station for a bit.”
Gu Hwan-gae and Seol Ryu-a departed.
Watching them go, Hwan-gyu smiled faintly.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Hwan-gyu, Yi Kyung, Yi Yul, and Dang Yu-wol walked through Wudang County.
There were many armed martial artists around.
However, being right in front of the Wudang Sect’s doorstep, there were no clashes.
“Over there. That’s the inn the elder recommended.”
They soon arrived in front of a large inn.
The inn named Mongryun Inn was bustling with quite a crowd.
“I didn’t expect to find such a lavish inn in Wudang County.”
Hwan-gyu muttered in dismay.
The four-story behemoth of an inn was, as he said, exceedingly splendid.
“This… This looks way too expensive… You sure it’s okay?”
“What’s the problem?”
Dang Yu-wol calmly entered.
As a high-end inn, the interior facilities were top-notch.
“Do you have any rooms available?”
“Yes! Of course!”
The prices were steep, but nothing to worry about.
“We’ll stay here.”
“Infinite blessings… I worry it might raise my disciples’ standards too high.”
“Think of it as a good experience.”
Dang Yu-wol paid for the rooms.
The two disciples’ faces lit up at the sight of the fine rooms.
“Go downstairs and grab some tanghulu.”
“Thank you! Brother!”
“Thanks, big brother!!”
Dang Yu-wol went down with the excited young Taoists and bought them tanghulu.
While they sat eating, he approached the elderly servant woman he’d noticed earlier.
“I’d like to meet the innkeeper. Is she available?”
She gazed steadily at Dang Yu-wol.
Then she nodded slightly.
“Yes. Please follow me upstairs.”
Fourth floor.
Upon reaching the top floor of Mongryun Inn, the servant said calmly,
“Innkeeper. A guest wishes to see you.”
“Show them in.”
The door opened.
A woman sat in the opulent room.
Facing her, Dang Yu-wol said calmly,
“It’s been a while.”
“…”
“Little Water Saintess.”
The woman leading Blazing Flower Castle, a branch of the Demonic Cult, smiled faintly.
“How did you know this inn is operated by us?”
“That old man working here earlier… He looked familiar from Qinghai.”
“Hehe. Young Master Tang’s keen eyes are truly impressive.”
“I didn’t expect to find you here, Saintess. Is this a branch of Blazing Flower Castle?”
Dang Yu-wol didn’t hide his surprise.
‘Even if they hid it well, for the Demonic Cult to be doing business right under the Wudang Sect’s nose…’
-Is it boldness or recklessness…
“The darkest place is under the lamp, after all.”
“Even so, I don’t see why the Saintess herself needs to be here…”
-Hold on. If Blazing Flower Castle’s Saintess is here personally, there must be a good reason.
‘Indeed. What do you think it is?’
-A reason forcing even the Saintess to act… It’s bound to be something tied to the Demonic Cult.
As Ye-ui said.
Dang Yu-wol gazed steadily at the Little Water Saintess.
“Has the Demonic Cult infiltrated the Wudang Sect?”
“As expected… Young Master Tang’s insight is remarkable.”
“Nothing remarkable about it. What’s going on?”
“Do you know of Yanggan Merchant Group?”
“Yes. It’s the merchant group run by the Wudang Sect, right?”
“There’s a Demonic Cult spy in it.”
“You’re here in person for just one or two spies?”
“Hmm… How should I put this.”
“Is it serious?”
“The Demonic Cult is targeting the Wudang Sect.”
Not particularly surprising.
The Demonic Cult and the Orthodox Faction had been at each other’s throats since ancient times, unable to share the same sky.
“The problem is, this incident is big.”
“What’s the matter?”
“The Dark Blood Ki Gwang-tae himself is stepping in.”
“…Dark Blood Ki Gwang-tae.”
“Yes. That’s right.”
The Demonic Cult consisted of the Demonic Troops Division and Blazing Flower Castle.
Among them, Blazing Flower Castle, descendants of the Ming Cult, had weakened because they lost their fire.
But the interference from the Demonic Troops Division’s Overseer, Ki Gwang-tae, was no small factor.
“Though we’re on a journey to reclaim our fire.”
She clenched her fist tightly.
“That doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten our grudge.”
He was the one who had relentlessly tormented Blazing Flower Castle all this time.
And now, they’d uncovered a scheme he’d been meticulously plotting for years.
“They’ve infiltrated Yanggan Merchant Group.”
“And?”
“They’re plotting to dismantle the Orthodox Faction from within.”
“Wait… Is this related to those poison-spewing Buddha statues?”
“Pardon? What’s that?”
Dang Yu-wol gave a wry smile.
This didn’t seem to be the Demonic Cult’s plan.
“Please wait a moment.”
He returned to his room, fetched the lacquered box, and showed it to her upon returning.
“This is…”
Her expression hardened as she realized what the statue in the box was.
“The Wudang Sect was sending this to Shaolin?”
“Yes. See here—the Yanggan Merchant Group’s seal is stamped on it.”
“Incredible… Who do you think is behind this?”
“If not the Demonic Cult, then the Blood Cult.”
“I see…”
“This is something extremely rare even in the Western Regions… Hard to obtain unless you’re the Blood Cult with ties there.”
“Hmm…”
She examined the statue closely with a grave expression.
“It’s made of some strange ore.”
p>“Even a Transcendent Realm master shouldn’t hold it for long.”
“Understood. But this alone won’t sever the tight bonds of the Orthodox Faction.”
“This is just the beginning, of course.”
All it takes is planting the slightest seed of doubt.
Even the sturdiest walls crumble from tiny cracks.
“Shaolin is called the North Star of the martial world, a pillar for many Orthodox Factions.”
“Yes. That’s true.”
“And Wudang aspires to be the sword faction of Taoism, always striving to be a pillar of the Orthodox Faction.”
“So, they’ll at least suspect Wudang sent this statue.”
Logically, no one would think Wudang would deliberately send such a thing.
Shaolin would know that too.
But the key is to sow even a sliver of doubt.
“I see…”
“What is Ki Gwang-tae aiming for, then?”
“He’s using Yanggan Merchant Group to produce illicit salt.”
“Illicit salt? You mean actual salt?”
“Yes. As you know, salt can’t be produced or sold without permits.”
“Right. Yanggan Merchant Group…”
“They don’t have permits.”
“…So, he’s trying to ruin Wudang’s reputation.”
“Exactly. Wudang is a sect of Taoists.”
They must uphold integrity and purity.
What if word got out that such a sect was running illicit salt like some unorthodox group?
-Their reputation would be utterly shattered.
Wudang’s power waning.
Not a bad thing from the perspective of the unorthodox, Demonic Cult, or Blood Cult.
In other words, bad news for Dang Yu-wol.
“Can I help with that matter?”
“You, Young Master Tang?”
‘The people traveling with Young Master Tang now are renowned Orthodox figures.’
Gu Hwan-gae, Hwan-gyu and his two disciples, and even Seol Ryu-a.
All recognized in the Orthodox Faction.
‘If they handle tasks from the outside…?’
The Little Water Saintess thought quickly.
Allying with them was nothing but beneficial, no matter how she looked at it.
Plus, Dang Yu-wol was an ally in their journey to reclaim fire.
“Having someone reliable for this would be ideal. Then please take this.”
“What’s this?”
“I’ve added a little something to aid your journey.”
Opening the pouch revealed a hefty stack of banknotes.
“I’m not exactly short on funds, but…”
“You’ll need money for the task.”
Investigating a whole sect.
Bribes would surely be necessary.
“Thank you.”
-The Little Water Saintess surely knows who Seol Ryu-a is.
Indeed.
With Seol Ryu-a, most official issues could be resolved.
Meaning no need for bribes.
‘Yet she insists on giving money… She just doesn’t want to borrow strength for free.’
-Give what’s due, take what’s due?
No harm in it.
In fact, it felt more comfortable that way.
“If you need more information, Blazing Flower Castle will provide it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. We do our own intelligence gathering.”
“That’s not bad.”
He had plenty of questions.
Dang Yu-wol asked right away.
“Who handles Yanggan Merchant Group at the Wudang Sect?”
“A Taoist named Chukang, the Present Origin Sword.”
A name he’d never heard.
‘First time hearing it.’
He knew the name of the Blood Cult infiltrator in Wudang from his past life.
But not their alias.
‘If I’d known I’d regress, I’d have noted it better…’
-No need to regret the past.
As Ye-ui said.
Shouldn’t he be grateful just for the chance to regress?
“Does Chukang frequent any places?”
“I’d love for it to be here… but sadly, he only goes to Yanggan Merchant Group regularly.”
“I see…”
“Planning to meet Chukang?”
“Yes.”
First, confirm if he’s Blood Cult, Demonic Cult, or what.
Dang Yu-wol thought for a moment, then stood.
Seemed like nothing more to do here.
“If anything else worth investigating comes up, I’ll contact you.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Finishing with her, he went downstairs to find Gu Hwan-gae and Seol Ryu-a had arrived.
“Where’d you go?”
“Met the innkeeper.”
“Huh? You know the Mongryun Innkeeper?”
“Yes. Turns out she’s an informant I know.”
No need to reveal she was the Little Water Saintess.
Dang Yu-wol lied without batting an eye.
“Informant? Hmm. Well, no ordinary person runs a huge inn like this.”
“What info did you buy?”
To Hwan-gyu’s question, Dang Yu-wol answered calmly.
“Not certain, but it seems Demonic Cult members have infiltrated Yanggan Merchant Group.”
“…For real?”
“Yes. Apparently, they’re making and selling illicit salt to tarnish Wudang’s reputation.”
Gu Hwan-gae was flustered.
Illicit salt trading from a merchant group run by the prestigious Orthodox Wudang Sect?
‘If this gets out, the Orthodox Faction’s honor hits rock bottom.’
“More importantly, how’d it go at the Wudang Sect? You said you were meeting a friend.”
“Well, about that.”
Looking troubled, Gu Hwan-gae said quietly,
“The guy committed a crime and is locked in the Penance Cave now.”
“Penance Cave?”
“No way. The guy I know wouldn’t commit a sin bad enough for the Penance Cave.”
-Gu Hwan-gae doesn’t seem like the type to misjudge people.
‘Then this incident is likely tied to the Blood Cult too.’