Chapter 398
Chapter 398
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 398
Chapter Title: Ghost-Faced Elder (5)
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I'd been observing Dokgo Cheol's private meeting with Sa Gyeom for quite some time, employing the Dark Cave Transformation and Ghost Devouring Great Law.
The parties involved had dispersed, and my frozen meridians had returned to normal.
'Even the sensation in my toes is fully back.'
I loosened my stiffened body and stared in the direction Sa Gyeom had walked off.
'For now, it seems they've decided to accept Cheol as the Ghost-Faced Elder... In that case, shall I go pay a visit to Senior Do and the Professor?'
The immediate crisis had been averted, so the situation was safe enough for the moment.
I began heading toward Sungjwa Stronghold, on the opposite side from the assembly point.
It was then that Master spoke up.
- Hmmm. That kid Cheol...
Seeing Master trail off, I posed a question.
'Doesn't it seem like he handled it pretty well? Especially impressive was how he maintained the Ghost-Faced Elder's demeanor even with a blade at his throat.'
Sa Gyeom had been suspicious, but Dokgo Cheol's response at that moment had been utterly composed—to the point where even Sa Gyeom wouldn't have been shaken.
- I think so too.
'Then why the sigh just now?'
- Oh, that? It was just that I caught a whiff of that sly tongue from my disciple's disciple.
'...Pardon?'
- The kid's only a first-year, always taking orders from Yi-seon, but this time I saw his tongue—it's like a snake's. Who does he take after?
'You wouldn't happen to mean me, would you?'
- Who knows? Feeling stung?
'...You're slandering me as naturally as breathing. Fine, the tongue thing aside, what's with calling him "my disciple's disciple"? Are we something to be ashamed of?'
- Tsk. That's a tough question. I've lived without a care in the world, but when I think of standing before my own master someday... what would I even say? Hmm.
'?'
- ?
'???'
After teasing me like that for a bit.
Master soon shared his proper impressions.
- Still, their resolve seems firm. Cheol, who said what matters isn't the face behind the mask but the will of the True Blood Group, and Sa Gyeom, who turned on his heel at those words.
'Yes. It seems an appropriate rite of passage.'
I nodded at Master's words.
'Sa Gyeom did add that he'd be watching us, though. But that's not necessarily a bad thing.'
To fight the Blood Heaven Asura Palace, we had to start with vigilance over every little detail.
Exchanging various thoughts with Master like that as we crossed the mountain.
Before long, we arrived at the eastern peak where the outpost was set up.
I signaled the Green Forest bandit standing watch.
The log fence gate rumbled open, and Nosam and Do Jung-gwang came out to greet me.
"You've come."
"Yes, Professor."
"A beggar runt mentioned seeing a long merchant caravan entering these mountains a bit ago... Nothing's passed through since, not even an ant. Looks like the pirate boss arrived at that peak over there?"
"He arrived about half a day ago."
"And seeing you here, Yong-un... Cheol's Ghost-Faced Elder act must've been convincing enough. Didn't get caught?"
"There were a few incidents, but it passed for now."
Nosam nodded at my words.
"...For now? Hm. Well, it wasn't something to wrap up like frying beans in lightning from the start. Sa Gyeom's essential for navigating things with the Blood Cult, and there aren't many in the Sa-ma Outer Path like him."
It was then that Do Jung-gwang spoke up.
"Hmph. Pirates are simple-minded brutes by nature—thieves who ply the seas where fleeing ends it all. They don't have a speck of loyalty. Why gild the lily?"
"Heavens, do you think you're comparing yourself to Sa Gyeom right now, Do Jung-gwang? You're sticking your chin out, you bandit scum."
"When did I ever stick my chin out?"
I refocused the bickering pair.
"Anyway, you can consider the assembly point prepared. Son Cheon-jeong should arrive from Cheon Deung within a few days, and then we march. Are you two alright with that?"
Nosam countered my words.
"It's not just 'get ready,' is it? Feels like there's more to it."
"It'll be a grueling journey. Not just because the enemies ahead won't be pushovers. Even if we win that fight, we'll still have to shelter these folks."
It was my blueprint to cut off their path to the Demonic Path and make them a pillar of support.
But the world doesn't always go according to plan.
Especially since accepting demon folk wouldn't sit well with the twisted sorts.
'Flies could swarm.'
So I brought up what these two free spirits of the world might overlook.
Nosam crossed his arms with a snort.
"...Yong-un, have you forgotten when you met the Alliance Leader? He gathered Shaanxi's beggars and said the most useless thing in the world is a beggar—they at least need to be righteous. This is plenty righteous. We do it, and that's that. What're you on about?"
Do Jung-gwang, beside him, added his piece.
"Hmph. As I said before, I can't let slights go unanswered. I won't sleep till I turn that Blood Demon or whatever into paste. We'll deal with later when it comes."
Nosam, embarrassed at uttering "righteousness" outright, picked at Do Jung-gwang unnecessarily.
"A guy vowing to wash his face in gold—where's 'later'? Don't try to act cool."
"Mind yourself. You accused me of chin-sticking, but that mug you just made is the real eyesore. Don't make it in public. It'll ruin my appetite for three days."
They looked like the worst of friends, but when it came to syncing up, they were solid as iron.
I grinned and spoke.
"Got it then. I'll send word again around the send-off ceremony, Professor."
"Fine."
"I've said what I needed to. While I'm here, I should check on the jiangshi."
Leaving Nosam and Do Jung-gwang behind, I headed to the cave where Sungjwa Stronghold's Green Forest bandits stored food supplies.
"Ok-gi handled the processing well."
Looking at the jiangshi made from Blood Wind Troop corpses.
"Whew. With the Heavenly Mechanism Marvelous Mountain elder personally heading south, we'll get at least neutral results, if not better. Then all the pieces we need will be in place..."
Naturally, the Blood Demon Jin Gok-ryang came to mind.
"In the end, if we can't handle the Blood Demon, it'll all go up in smoke."
At the thought flashing through my head.
I summoned Blood Dragon and the assassin simultaneously.
"Come out."
Then, pressing inner energy drawn from my upper dantian into the coffins holding the jiangshi, I issued the command.
"Attack."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Blood Heaven Asura Palace.
Not long ago, the palace's master, Blood Demon Jin Gok-ryang, had been wholly absorbed in refining his Blood Rain Divine Art.
The palace dwellers had celebrated his achievement, devoting all their efforts to preparing for the impending founding declaration.
But ever since the Ghost-Faced Elder revealed himself, everything had ground to a halt like ill-fitted wood.
BAM!!!
Thus, instead of entering secluded meditation.
Jin Gok-ryang stormed into the stone hall today as well, flopping onto the throne.
"Jawang! Still no word from the Blood Wind Troop?!"
At Jin Gok-ryang's bellow, the elder called Jawang pressed his forehead to the ground and spoke.
"...My deepest apologies, but no contact from the Blood Wind Troop has arrived. However, reports indicate the Ghost-Faced Elder's group is converging on Sungjwa."
"Sungjwa—the eastern pass from Guangxi over Myeongab Mountain, right? What the hell is Jin Dong-cheol doing?!"
"......"
"Hah. Possibility they're holding back to wipe out the traitors at once?"
"It's possible, but the troop leader not reporting yet..."
"Not reporting what?"
"......"
"Did the Blood Wind Troop get massacred?"
"...We must consider that possibility."
"Consider? Is that even feasible? They say the Ghost-Faced Elder uses our Blood Heaven school's demonic arts? Of the four protectors, Myo Wang lacks such prowess, and the other three are here in the palace. Who the hell could wipe out the Blood Wind Troop like that?!"
Jawang bowed his head briefly at the enraged Jin Gok-ryang.
After a moment, the Blood Demon, having vented his fury, spoke in a suddenly calm voice.
"Possibility of trickery from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains?"
At that, Jawang raised his head and pulled a letter from his sleeve, offering it to Jin Gok-ryang.
"Coincidentally, a missive arrived from Demon Brain."
"What?!"
The envelope bore a single line.
『If the situation feels utterly dire, open it.』
Jin Gok-ryang nearly tore it open unread.
"This old fool dares mock me."
It wasn't just blind rage.
Forgiving a traitor like Jin Gok-ryang would set a bad precedent for the Ghost Castle Eight Clans of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had no option to recognize the Blood Cult or take him back.
He moved to rip it, but.
Suddenly, the thought struck: Demon Brain's letters always showed the way.
Yet opening it was equally hard.
'...Just reading Demon Brain's letter could drag me into his scheme, dancing to that old man's tune.'
Caught in indecision, grinding his teeth for a moment.
In the end, Jin Gok-ryang couldn't tear the letter and set it on the table, speaking.
"Can we trace where this came from?"
"I've already checked. Southern Frontier."
"...Southern Frontier?"
"Yes. Our agent there reports that Demon Brain and Baekdo's Dongdo Association Leader were both invited to the Beast Palace simultaneously."
"So, the Beast Palace allied with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?"
"Doesn't seem so. Reports say they allied with neither side."
"...Then the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult won't cross west. Order the branches to reinforce defenses on the eastern route through Myeongab Mountain, and assemble every available force at Blood Heaven Asura Palace. Focus on the Ghost-Faced Elder and True Blood Group!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With Son Cheon-jeong's arrival, all Cultists committed to joining the True Blood Group had gathered at the final assembly point.
The True Blood Group's leadership gave them two days to recover from the journey.
When that time ended.
"There will be a send-off ceremony at midnight tomorrow."
Along with word of the impending march, the tents used for lodging were cleared, and a platform erected in their place.
At midnight, the Cultists gathered before the platform began murmuring among themselves.
"Facing the Cult head-on? Whew, no other choice brought us this far... but do we really have a shot?"
"Didn't their leader show off the Blood Wind Troop's Deputy Leader? It's the Group Leader who crushed that Blood Wind Troop. I think we've got a solid chance."
"True, but we don't even know who this Ghost-Faced Elder really is!"
"He's hiding his identity completely. Probably plans to bail if things go south."
As such murmurs arose here and there.
Dokgo Cheol, unfolding wings crafted by blood arts, descended onto the platform.
Crackle—
The crowd, which had been buzzing, fell silent in an instant at the sight of Dokgo Cheol appearing in the Ghost-Faced Elder's mask.
Dokgo Cheol spoke, mimicking an aged voice.
"I heard your chatter. Wondering who this old man is."
And slowly removed the mask he wore.
"This old man... no, I am Dokgo Cheol, who infiltrated Baekdo's Heart Division."
The youthful face revealed set the Cultists murmuring anew.
Undeterred by the noise, Dokgo Cheol continued.
"The Namyoung Bishops' Conference! We reported the truth of what happened there to the Cult via Southern Sea Archbishop Sa Gyeom!"
The boiling crowd gradually quieted.
"The Archbishop and we all steeled ourselves for due verification, yet Blood Heaven Asura Palace sent the Blood Wind Troop against us! Now the main sect calls us traitors, and the world sees us as demons! If our plight spreads across the land, the Black Path will view us as prey... In truth, we have become wanderers without a home."
As the murmurs fully ceased.
And silence returned.
Dokgo Cheol opened his mouth once more after a pause.
"Yet, there are those who think anyone walking the same path is a comrade."