Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: For Honor (2)
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"…!!"
That wasn't wrong.
If Hye-gak's words were true.
Then it meant the Wudang Sect had been toyed with by Blood Cult disciples.
'Wudang's authority and honor will come crashing to the ground.'
It was a truly dizzying thought.
The two Taoists didn't know what to do and lowered their heads.
"…To think about our sect this much."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you…."
"Well, it's not certain if the medicine I make will even work."
It was a tangerine not yet eaten.
No need to taste the sourness already.
"I'll make the medicine first, for now."
"…Alright. Thank you."
"No need to mention it."
'It's something I'm doing for my own sake.'
After finishing his meeting with him, Dang Yu-wol headed to the Mongryun Inn.
He figured the Little Water Saintess would have decent materials.
"I'll help you. And may I prepare a medicine room for you as well?"
"You can do that?"
"Of course. Use the basement of the Mongryun Inn."
"Thank you."
"Aren't you the one helping us chase away the flames?"
The Little Water Saintess smiled softly.
"I should be the one thanking you."
She spoke lightly, then let out a slight cough.
It seemed she had a request.
"If you have something to say, please speak freely."
"Well…."
She hesitated for a moment.
But she couldn't keep hiding it forever.
"Lately, a shipment that should have come to Wudang County hasn't arrived."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. It seems to have been taken by bandits…."
"You're asking my group to investigate?"
After all, there were two absolute peak experts among them.
When Dang Yu-wol pinpointed her intent, the Little Water Saintess smiled faintly.
"I'm truly sorry to ask."
Dang Yu-wol didn't feel particularly burdened.
What was the point of idling around?
They had to work.
Dang Yu-wol immediately gathered his group.
"It's not a tough job. And the innkeeper's getting us materials? Then sure, we'll do it."
"Whoa! Escort duty!"
"I've always wanted to try it once!!"
"This kind of thing isn't rare during travels through the martial world."
Hwan-gyu agreed as well.
It was good experience for his disciples, after all.
"Miss Seol. You alright with that?"
"Of course."
Everyone was in.
No problem then.
"Come to the front of the inn by dawn tomorrow. That's where we'll set off."
"Understood. Then, Young Master Dang, will you be staying here?"
"Yes. I plan to make the medicine in the basement."
"She lent you the basement too?"
"Yes."
"Doesn't seem like just an informant and client relationship."
"For now, we can call her a friend."
"…Hey. You're weirdly chummy with informants?"
The Taeseong Pavilion Master in Sacheon Castle was one.
The Mongryun Innkeeper was another.
"Want to be friends?"
The Beggars' Sect was a massive information network too.
When Dang Yu-wol smiled and said it, Gu Hwan-gae snorted.
"Come back after living another forty years."
-That settles it.
'Feels like I'm the older one, though.'
The next day, the group departed from the Mongryun Inn with one of the Little Water Saintess's subordinates.
Watching them go, Dang Yu-wol headed straight to the basement.
-Now, focus. Making the Blood Tempering Pill isn't easy.
'Takes long?'
-Needs aging too, so at least ten days. Longer if it fails.
'Can't fail then.'
-Let's begin. The Blood Tempering Pill amplifies blood energy.
'Yeah?'
'First, crush the Small Azure Pills finely.'
As Ye-ui instructed, Dang Yu-wol moved quickly.
With his skill, making the medicine itself wasn't too hard.
-Now, first aging for about four days.
After placing the compounded medicine in a jar and sealing it, Dang Yu-wol went upstairs.
He'd started in the morning, but night had already fallen.
"Skipping meals too. You alright?"
"I'm fine. Where's the innkeeper?"
"Handling business. Shall I call her?"
"No. I'll step out for a drink."
"Yes. What about the basement…?"
"Don't let anyone in."
"Understood."
The servants locked the door.
They all seemed to be Flame Radiance Cult disciples.
Clear chain of command, so trustworthy.
-Go out.
The night air was cold.
Dang Yu-wol left the Mongryun Inn and looked around.
Being a decent-sized city, there were still plenty of people even at night.
-Where to?
'Thought I'd check the Yanggan Merchant Group.'
Strolling over, the Yanggan Merchant Group was, as expected, a large compound.
Fitting for a place handling all sorts of goods.
'Lots of wagons.'
"Move it, quick!!"
The usual busy merchant bustle was in full swing.
As he watched them closely.
-Hey.
'Saw it too.'
One Taoist caught his eye.
He was speaking seriously with the chief steward.
'That's Chukang.'
-Indeed. Matches the portrait the Little Water Saintess showed….
'She said he's handling the smuggled salt….'
-Not a bad idea to tail him.
Dang Yu-wol used his movement technique to hide in the shadows.
Riding the wind, their conversation drifted over.
"The salt production is going well right now."
"Is it?"
"Yes. With the hidden salt mine… that should be plenty."
"Immeasurable merits. Thank you."
"No need… Ah, want to see it?"
"Sounds good."
The chief steward and Chukang mounted horses.
As they left, Dang Yu-wol followed with lightness skill.
-Was there a hidden salt mine in Wudang Mountain?
'A few. Closed ones, though.'
Not major info, so he'd glossed over it.
The Blood Cult had plenty of salt back then anyway.
-So they're using one as a smuggled salt factory.
The men dismounted and climbed the mountain.
Dang Yu-wol watched as they entered a cave.
'Not even in Blood Cult records.'
-The Demonic Cult hid it well.
"What do you think? Even you'd be pleased with this, Chief Steward."
The chief steward's tone changed.
Polite no more.
"Yes. If word gets out that Wudang's running a smuggled salt mine this size, their honor hits the dirt."
Chukang replied calmly.
Now speaking down.
Real identities out.
"Now just grab some suitable guys and make them slaves."
"That's for the cult to handle. Don't worry."
"Heh. If this goes well, I might snag a spot in the cult too?"
"Sure. Lord Dark Blood doesn't abandon his own."
-These guys aren't Blood Cult?
'From the talk, seems so.'
Dark Blood's name came up.
They were definitely Gi Gwang-tae's men plaguing Flame Radiance City.
Time to choose.
-Capture them?
'Best option.'
Unknown if tied to Blood Cult.
But he could find out.
Dang Yu-wol pulled out a mask, donned it, and grabbed a poison vial.
-Clang!!
"Who's there!!"
Startled by the breaking vial, they turned.
Dang Yu-wol hurled darts straight at them.
"You worm!! Do you know who I am!!"
-Careful. Both using demonic energy.
Wearing Wudang robes, casually drawing demonic qi.
Dang Yu-wol bared his teeth at them.
'Heavenly Steel Heart Asura Method.'
Demonic qi rose from his back, forming an asura shape.
At the same time, immense sword force filled Chukang's blade.
"You've seen what you shouldn't and done what you mustn't!! Your life ends here!!"
Tremor-inducing demonic qi.
A barrage of sword force followed.
But Dang Yu-wol dodged leisurely with movement arts.
"Hah! Not bad!! Dodging this elder's strikes like that!!"
He didn't stop despite Dang Yu-wol's speed.
"But what about this!!"
Powerful energy filled the wide space.
No dodging like a rat now.
"Hup!!"
The Black Shadow Sword moved.
A simple thrust in one direction.
But the result terrified Chukang and the chief steward.
"…H-How…?"
"J-Just one thrust broke the Heavenly Steel Heart Asura Method's force…?"
-Impressive. Using natural qi?
'Drew from Ghost Shadow Divine Art.'
Insights from before regression.
Ghost Shadow Divine Art knowledge.
Combined.
'Surfaces can't beat points.'
Even taut silk tears at a blade's touch.
Natural flow captured.
"…Wh-What faction's noble are you?"
Fear laced Chukang's voice.
Dang Yu-wol stared, then spoke.
"From the Blood Cult."
"Blood Cult?"
"Yes. Didn't bring proof since I'm on other business…."
Dang Yu-wol swung the Black Shadow Sword.
Seeing his swordsmanship, Chukang paled.
"Vice Cult Leader Gil-yeong's Asura Blood River Sword Art!!"
Chukang recalled when Blood Cult's vice leader visited the Demonic Cult.
That bizarre, powerful sword art.
Reproduced here.
"Only said to be taught to his direct disciples…."
"Correct. You know well."
"…Ahem. So? Why interfere in our cult's affairs?"
Blood and Demonic Cults were mere allies.
No hierarchy.
Chukang forced composure.
"There's a problem."
"What problem? We have none."
Anger in Chukang's voice.
Couldn't hide the fear, though.
"And you haven't meddled in Elder Suban's affairs in Wudang either."
'Elder Suban was Blood Cult after all.'
-Suban unrelated to this.
"Not that issue."
"Then? What problem?"
"What you're doing is exposed."
"…What nonsense. This is Chief Steward Gi Gwang-tae's direct job."
"But it's out. Don't you have a spy?"
"What?!!"
"Afraid our cult's plans will leak because of you."
"What?!!"
"Name those you're working with this time. I'll investigate myself."
"…You think I'll tell you?!!"
"Then die."
As Dang Yu-wol snarled.
"Cough!!"
"Ugh…!!"
The chief steward and Chukang hacked violently.
Blood mixed in their coughs.
Poison symptoms.