Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Fall of Hyeongsan Sect
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We walked diligently for several days.
Reducing our rest time to prepare for any possible pursuers.
Whether my warning had worked properly or not, there was no sign of pursuit from the Hyeongsan Sect.
After that, we procured a carriage and continued our journey.
"Even so, buying a carriage outright. You're generous."
"I'll claim it as expenses."
"Oh. Do they cover that much for you?"
"They can't just abandon a witness we've gone to the trouble of securing. If you haven't wasted the budget before, they'll usually approve it."
"Why is the junior staring at me?"
Hwangbo Seyul felt Jegal Yeong's gaze and turned his head back from the driver's seat.
"Senior! Eyes front!"
"Junior, junior. Don't worry so much. I'm watching everything!"
"Can I trust you?"
"I'll get you there safely, sir!"
Hwangbo Seyul replied with a bright smile.
Clop, clop!
The carriage advanced steadily to the rhythm of the horse's hooves.
It jolted occasionally over rocks.
The atmosphere was so peaceful it made the clash with Hyeongsan Sect feel like a distant memory.
"Senior. If you're tired, let me know. I'll take over."
"Are you planning to flip the carriage, junior?"
Hwangbo Seyul rejected it outright.
I'd offered out of guilt for letting him drive alone...
But the horses go wild the moment I touch the reins. What can I do?
"This is nothing. No need to worry!"
"You took down almost all of Hyeongsan Sect yourself."
"Heh, anyone from the Hwangbo Family wouldn't tire from that. If you're curious about the secret, I'll tell you later!"
"I'll pass..."
If he's fine, whatever.
Despite not resting properly for days, Hwangbo Seyul brimmed with energy. He might have taken out even the Hyeongsan Sect elder without my help.
The situation had been too urgent back then; we had to end it swiftly.
"When will this guy wake up?"
"Who knows. Not anytime soon. In the worst case, he might sleep until we reach the Alliance."
"Lucky bastard."
"Tell me about it."
The Blood Slaughter Guest was dead asleep in the carriage compartment.
So deeply out that he wouldn't notice if someone carried him.
He actually was being carried by us, but anyway.
I could guess why Jegal Yeong asked about the Blood Slaughter Guest's condition.
He probably wanted to bring up the martial art I used to purify his demonic energy. But since it wasn't something to mention lightly, I pretended not to know and changed the subject.
"What will happen to Hyeongsan Sect?"
"Who knows. The Alliance will decide their punishment... but they'll probably be scattered to the winds."
Jegal Yeong seemed unsurprised I'd ask him, accepting the topic casually.
"Not content with colluding with bandits for tribute while supposed to maintain order as one of the Nine Great Sects, they ordered attacks on villages and merchants. They even ambushed the White Sun Squad dispatched by the Alliance to cover it up."
"Hmm."
"The Alliance is already working hard to reduce friction between the Nine Great Sects and Seven Great Families... and they touched you, me, and senior? They won't get off lightly."
"Why me...?"
"Because you're the precious son-in-law of the Namgung Family."
"Ah."
Come to think of it.
Murim Alliance, Namgung, Jegal, Hwangbo.
Hyeongsan Sect had poked a powder keg spanning four legs.
"Hyeongsan Sect is doomed."
"They probably don't have the means to fend off the Alliance's sanctions either."
There had to be a reason.
For acting like madmen jumping into a fire with straw bales on their backs.
Not my concern, though.
Munch, munch.
As I listened to Jegal Yeong, I fed finely ground Wall Rice Pill into the Blood Slaughter Guest's mouth. Mixed with a bit of water and infused with internal energy, the powder slid smoothly down his throat.
"Looks bothersome."
"As senior said, we can't let our hard-won witness starve to death."
I don't want to spoon-feed baby food to some swarthy brute either.
"Junior, if it's a hassle, tell me. I'll feed him!"
"Senior. This isn't animal feed."
"Sigh..."
"Senior, stop sighing and help stop him!"
Despite the ordeal, the two remained composed.
Professionals.
This is the murim world.
-Do not take life recklessly.
My master's admonition flashed through my mind.
In a world where justification lets you lop off heads freely, it's a mindset that wears thin easily.
I had no intention of sparing someone lunging at me with a knife, but the aftertaste of killing is always bitter.
'What was that dog's name again?'
The nameless Hyeongsan Sect elder.
May you be reborn as a beast next life to cultivate your mind further. A pup would suit you best, fitting your station.
All I could do was pray for his peace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ There was reward for our grueling mission.
After our return.
The Murim Alliance swiftly launched an investigation.
"I knew those rootless scum would cause trouble someday. If the Cheongsong Sect were still around, riffraff like Hyeongsan wouldn't dare claim a spot among the Nine Great Sects... I'll report this fully to the Alliance Leader."
The White Sun Squad leader clutched the back of his neck upon hearing the report.
Hyeongsan Sect's atrocities were so absurd.
Without time to praise our efforts, he moved urgently.
Thus, the investigation proceeded swiftly.
'They weren't right in the head.'
Legitimacy.
It might sound laughable, but nowhere values legitimacy like the murim world. In other words, norms or justification.
Especially the Orthodox Factions.
They had to strictly uphold the established righteousness. Refusing meant being branded a public enemy of murim.
In that sense, Hyeongsan Sect's actions were beyond common sense.
The reason for their madness.
Was revealed by the Alliance's investigation.
'Of all people.'
Hyeongsan Sect's base in Honam Province.
Neighboring Hobuk Province housed murim's most inflated sect.
The Wudang Sect.
As mentioned before, a sect's fame equates to power. Deeper history means exponentially more renown. Thus, Wudang boasted formidable strength.
Challenging them rashly meant getting pulverized.
And Hyeongsan Sect didn't know its place.
Why, people don't fear what they're used to, right?
Even with minor border skirmishes, Orthodox Factions can't just crush the weaker side.
Watching Wudang yield every time there was friction... Hyeongsan Sect reached a foolish conclusion.
'We can take them.'
That's how.
Still puzzled why the experts let it happen.
They must have known Taoists feign dignity just by looking in the mirror.
Slight prods yielded weak reactions, so they grew complacent.
Thus, Hyeongsan handed Wudang the sharpest blade.
Justification.
The trigger was a common disciple quarrel.
But Wudang demanded repayment with interest for all past patience.
Hyeongsan mobilized their sect leader and elders for a sparring match with Wudang.
Madmen.
Doubts about Wudang's purity had grown lately, but no one questioned their martial prowess.
No need for their sect leader to step in.
Just Wudang elders sufficed to devastate Hyeongsan. Excluding absentees, from sect leader to elders, all fell to qi deviation or half-crippled.
With justification, they couldn't complain.
Hyeongsan had no choice but to bury the incident.
'But allying with bandits? Really.'
Hyeongsan Sect's atrocities were desperate CPR to preserve their power.
Though it backfired, hastening their end.
Hyeongsan was expelled from the Nine Great Sects and forced to seal their gates.
Sealing, politely put.
With even elders imprisoned...
It was effectively annihilation.
'Of all times.'
Honam Province suddenly became unclaimed territory.
With bandit issues lingering, the interests were quickly carved up.
Jegal, Hwangbo, and Namgung took some shares indirectly, but adjacent Wudang ended up managing Honam.
Inadvertently aiding Wudang's expansion.
'Hyeongsan Sect, you bastards!'
Seeing former foes perish.
The pang in my chest was probably from that complication.
Maybe...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "I should have committed a crime too. Seeing how good my luck looks."
In the Thunder Prison beneath the Murim Alliance.
The Blood Slaughter Guest, unable to see even sunlight, greeted his visitor. He merely bowed to the brief jest.
"Are you here to interrogate me, great hero?"
"Great hero, my ass. Don't make me blush. Speak casually like before. It'll make it easier for you to answer."
"How could I presume. I'll answer everything as you ask, so don't worry."
More compliant than expected.
Yi Se-woong felt a bit awkward at the Blood Slaughter Guest's excessive deference.
"The spell on you was the Demonic Cult's doing, right?"
"Yes. Correct."
"Was it a woman with a scorpion tattoo on her cheek?"
"Yes."
"Just as I thought. And..."
The interrogation went smoothly.
The Blood Slaughter Guest answered every question earnestly.
About the Demonic Cult followers he contacted, the bandit massacre, the friction with Hyeongsan Sect, and more.
Most matched the Alliance's investigation.
Judging he'd heard enough to report, Yi Se-woong asked.
"No more questions?"
"What happened to Hyeongsan Sect?"
"Just as you hoped. Erased from murim."
Hoo.
A short breath.
Expecting wails, but the Blood Slaughter Guest closed his eyes and exhaled all his regrets in one breath.
Perhaps emptiness after vengeance. Unable to read him, Yi Se-woong silently observed.
"What happens to me now?"
"Not sure yet. Your damage was limited to bandits. The arrest order was for appearances' sake anyway. But."
"......"
"You know getting tangled with the Demonic Cult is a grave crime?"
"Yes. I've prepared for that."
The Blood Slaughter Guest was nonchalant.
As if commenting on clear weather.
"If your account is true, it might be mitigated. As a victim of Hyeongsan and informant to the Alliance."
"......"
"I don't want to see the guy I saved off himself. I'll pull strings, so repay the favor after your sentence."
Aware it was no easy task, he added that.
But hearing Yi Se-woong.
The Blood Slaughter Guest prostrated flat.
Thud!
A loud echo in the Thunder Prison.
Thud!
The sound of his head hitting the floor.
Thud!
Is the purification incomplete?
Suspecting spell aftereffects, Yi Se-woong heard him murmur lowly.
"Chae Taewon."
"?"
"My name. My life. Whatever. I offer it all to my benefactor."
A ray of light found in his muddled mind.
Without his benefactor as a guide, he'd still wander the blood-misted fog.
With that resolve, the man once called Blood Slaughter Guest pledged loyalty.
'The aftereffects are severe!'
Not just the Blood Search spell, but obedience seal too.
Must be confusion from purification!
'Sun and Moon Divine Cult, you cruel bastards.'
Meanwhile, Yi Se-woong, whom he vowed to serve as master.
Was worrying just that.