Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Shandong Pajeong Sect (2)
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I am faster than any rumor or report.
Rumors in this era spread from mouth to mouth.
In back alleys, at tavern drinking parties, at idle street stalls, amid haggling crowds, during brief breaks from work.
But their speed isn't all that fast.
Since they have to travel from person to person, some delay is inevitable.
However, the range they cover is vast.
The saying that a word without feet travels a thousand li isn't just empty talk.
Anyway, that's how rumors work.
Rumors can't spread faster than people can move.
It's a limitation born from underdeveloped communication tech.
In the 21st century, that would never happen, but in this era, rumors can absolutely never outpace a person.
Reports are a bit different.
Though they pass from person to person, there's no need for people to fill every gap.
Messenger pigeons or signal fires.
The fastest means of transmission in the present age. Using them allows for relatively swift reports.
But even they have their limits.
No matter how fast messenger pigeons are, they have a speed cap.
Above all, they're restrictive.
Handling trained pigeons isn't that hard, but they don't just pop out of thin air.
Signal fires are even more complicated from the start, with severe limits on what can be conveyed and lots of preparations needed.
I went on a bit long, but for those reasons, I am faster than any rumor or report.
My full-speed sprint can't even be compared to some pigeon.
So when I arrived at Mount Tai Sect at full tilt, no one had any idea that the ones sent to Pajeong Sect had been defeated.
Now, how long until Mount Tai Sect's leader hears the news?
It's a chance to gauge their intelligence network.
They pride themselves as the foremost orthodox sect, so they must have a decent setup.
Mount Tai Sect. The ornate hall at its deepest core.
Where the sect leader resides. With no real family, he tends to stay alone in the vast hall, quietly.
I've scoped it out a few times before, so it's somewhat familiar now.
I hide my presence in one corner of the hall's roof and wait silently.
Mount Tai Sect Leader, Midheaven Sword Baek Seong-ung.
On the surface, a man at the Transformation Realm.
I haven't seen him fully unleash his aura, so his exact level is unclear.
But he's not at a stage where he'd detect my presence.
Well, I don't expect anyone in the Central Plains to pick up on it anyway.
About half a shichen passes like that, and then a man hurries toward the hall.
Here he comes. At this hour, something this urgent can only mean one thing.
Half a shichen. Pretty quick.
They must have dispatched a pigeon right after the incident at Pajeong Sect.
Impressive intel network. Top-tier for this era, I'd say.
Alright, let's see what kind of report it is. What they say.
I drop to the window side, peer inside, and listen quietly to the subordinate's report.
A clean, no-frills briefing. News of defeat for those sent to Pajeong Sect.
Bam! With a crash, Mount Tai Sect Leader Baek Seong-ung slams his expensive ebony desk, splitting it clean in half as it shatters messily.
I figured he'd rage more, but Baek Seong-ung reins in his fury and stands there, calmly pondering for a moment.
More rational than expected. I thought he'd be hot-blooded and temperamental.
"They're holding them prisoner."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Baek Seong-ung paces back and forth silently for a few steps.
Then, as if decided, he issues orders.
"Send the Shadowless Squad. Make it look like the captured kids tortured themselves to death. Once they're all dead, spread the rumor. Loud enough for even the dogs in the alleys to hear."
"What about the retained guests who are captured?"
"Retained guests. It wouldn't make sense for them to kill themselves. Make it seem like Pajeong Sect tortured them to death for fun. That'll do. All of them."
"Understood."
The subordinate leaves the hall upon receiving the sect leader's command.
Watching him go, Mount Tai Sect Leader glances at his wrecked desk, clicks his tongue, and heads inside.
He tilts a liquor bottle to pour a cup.
Baek Seong-ung stares at it without drinking right away.
Like he's pre-mourning the disciples he just condemned to death with his words?
Then he knocks it back in one gulp.
And his expression shows not a trace of emotion.
No guilt or regret from the start.
Ha. What a guy.
With that thought, I leave the hall and tail the subordinate from before.
My first impression was 'vicious.'
Orders without a hint of hesitation. Commands that defy easy understanding.
A sect leader, a normal one from any upright faction, would naturally think of rescuing captured disciples.
But that guy sacrificed them without a second thought to fabricate a pretext.
Make the captured kids torture themselves to death?
That's not just forcing death. It's humiliation.
Now I get why they sent so many third-generation disciples.
It was planned from the start. If they gained experience, great; if they died, use them like this.
Then why smash the desk earlier? Ah, show for the subordinate?
Makes sense. Can't go chuckling in front of your men when disciples die, right?
But ordering them to suicide under torture kinda undermines that...
Whatever. I've got a rough read on what kind of bastard Mount Tai Sect Leader is. Good enough.
The subordinate exits Mount Tai Sect and heads into Taian City.
Not far. He enters a residence, relays the sect leader's words to a man inside.
Once the subordinate leaves, the informed man summons a few others.
Five in total. After quick preparations, they set off immediately.
Those must be the Shadowless Squad the sect leader mentioned.
From what I see, all peak experts. No slouches.
Quick to act, no dithering.
Then I'd better move fast too. Now that I know the fate awaiting those captured at Pajeong Sect, no time to waste.
I dash full speed toward Pajeong Sect, musing on Mount Tai Sect.
Strange bunch. Definitely not orthodox thinking.
Of course, orthodox factions aren't free of plots and schemes. But this is blatantly different.
They could've just sent those five Shadowless Squad goons to wipe out Pajeong Sect from the start.
Maybe not total annihilation, but eliminating their main force wouldn't have been hard.
Feels like ill-fitting clothes.
Forced pretexts. Shells to show the world.
As long as they don't get caught, it's fine? Perfect cover?
Makes me more and more curious about Mount Tai Sect Leader and the sect's future moves.
They'll do more, not less.
Exciting. Looking forward to it.
Plus, if Mount Tai Sect is like this, what about Red Band Sect?
They don't even need awkward pretexts.
No one to call them out for doing whatever they please.
Lost in those thoughts, I arrive at Pajeong Sect.
Night. The front yard surprisingly calm after the daytime uproar.
Let's see how the prisoners are faring.
And I spot something mildly absurd.
Pajeong Sect's rear yard. The ridiculous scene unfolding there.
Guess only the front is calm. They moved all the commotion to the back.
Now I see why Mount Tai Sect Leader gave those orders.
Make it look like they tortured the guests to death for fun.
Wondered what that meant, but seeing this, I get it.
Shadowless Squad probably didn't need to bother processing the guests here.
Pajeong Sect was already handling it.
Thinking about it, yeah.
Retained guests are basically ronin—no one to care if they drop dead anywhere.
Plus, having served Mount Tai Sect, they're cut off from any underworld ties.
So Pajeong Sect has zero issues messing with them.
Play with them like toys and kill them. That's the vibe.
"Come on, do your best! Huh? Take a hit from this old man's Pacheol Sword. Yeah?"
One Pajeong Sect punk jeers at a guest like that while swinging his sword.
The guest couldn't match him even unscathed. In that injured state, no chance of blocking.
"Keurk!"
"Oh dear. Not one who can take even the first form? I've got twelve more to go! Hey! Bring the next one!"
At that, another Pajeong Sect disciple snickers and heads into the adjacent building.
Looks like a prison. And yeah, the captured guests from before are in there.
He drags one out through the open door and brings him outside.
I ignore them and check the prison.
Damn. Should've kept eyes here longer? Hope the Heavenly Martial Body kid isn't dead already.
I scan the prison with my senses. Please be alive. What a waste otherwise.
Luckily, he's hanging on.
His skills don't match his talent. Probably why he's locked with the weakest ones.
That's his fate too. Weak skills saving his life.
I ponder briefly. How to extract him cleanly.
Pulling him now, he'd get recaptured before a geng passes.
Too risky. Better after some chaos erupts.
Yeah. Once those Shadowless Squad arrive.
With their skills, they'll handle things stealthily, but it'll still cause a stir.
Or I could make the stir myself.
I wait quietly. About one shichen later, I sense five stealthy presences slipping into Pajeong Sect.
They're here. Time to get started.
They head straight to a hall like they know exactly where everyone is.
The auras inside. Probably where Mount Tai Sect's disciples are held.
I return to the prison, slice its lock clean with qi from a short distance away.
No one notices, but it severs with a soft snick.
Confirming that, I send a transmission to the Heavenly Martial Body kid.
[When chaos erupts shortly, burst out of the prison and run to the eastern woods. Grab the severed lock too.]
Anyone seeing the qi-cut lock would suspect foul play, so it has to go. Details matter.
Anyway, as I transmit that, the kid's eyes bulge as he scans around.
But he's got no way to spot me.
The others don't even know anything's up.
Good. Now...
Time to stir things up.
Going through all this to save one pitiful guy... I'm the one suffering here.
But raise him up, make him handle the hassles, recoup my investment.