Chapter 399
Chapter 399
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 399
Chapter Title: Masked Elder (6)
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Dokgo Cheol mentioned the banner of the Eastern Path Society.
Among the listening cultists, the Red Hand Scholar Son Cheon-jeong spoke up.
"...Are you perhaps referring to the Dragon Pack?"
"Precisely, I'm speaking of the organization called the Eastern Path Society. But that's not wrong either."
In response to Son Cheon-jeong's question, Dokgo Cheol continued.
"You've all been keeping your ears open to the affairs of the jianghu. So you must know who I mingled with in the depths of the White Path and who stands at the center of this Eastern Path Society."
I, disguised and standing at the edge of the crowd, slowly nodded at Dokgo Cheol's figure.
'That's right.'
This mobilization ceremony wasn't just a simple event.
As Dokgo Cheol said, for the Blood Cultists who had joined the Vanguard Blood Unit, there was truly no path left behind.
However, it wouldn't do to drag them to the battlefield like cattle to the slaughterhouse.
'If we force them along, they'll lose their lives, and we'll lose our momentum.'
To prevent that, they needed to realize this mobilization was not toward certain death, but a path to survival.
And they had to understand the alliance with the Eastern Path Society.
'The harsh preparations paid off.'
To ensure the intent wasn't misconstrued, we'd huddled together to craft the speech.
We'd meticulously prepared even Dokgo Cheol's tone and gestures.
Thus, Son Cheon-jeong's question was anticipated.
'...Now that Son Cheon-jeong has spoken up, the other cultists will start chiming in soon enough?'
At that moment.
As expected, people among the gathered began to speak out.
"Are you saying we should trust those White Path bastards right now?! Those guys only care about their own prestige! Doesn't the Captain know that?!"
"Yes! If we're water, those hypocrites are oil—how can we join hands with them?!"
"You're saying the Righteous factions will ally with us, whom they call demonic scum?! It's a trap! They're plotting to herd us together and slaughter us all!"
However, Dokgo Cheol continued in a calm tone.
"Each of you who surrendered to our cult and learned the Reverse Blood Great Law must have your own reasons."
To the murmuring crowd, Dokgo Cheol proceeded with the prepared speech without missing a single word, utterly composed.
"Some were sold for a few coins. Be it White Path, Black Path, government officials, or loan sharks—each of you harbors your own grudge."
My observing master sent a transmission.
- You're doing well. As expected of whose tongue you take after.
'...I'll agree only to the part about doing well.'
As I replied to my master.
Dokgo Cheol threw in an unexpected move.
"In my case, it was the White Path murim! They spoke of justice and chivalry with their mouths, but they stood by and watched my comrades fall into ruin, leading to my clan's destruction!"
At that action, I could only swallow dryly.
"In the ruins where the Dokgo Clan fell, their ugly true faces seeped in. My family scattered in all directions—some died in roadside inns, others starved to death. On that soil soaked in such grudges, those bastards still strut about pompously, and I hated them to my core."
- ...We didn't prepare a story like that, or is my memory wrong?
'...We didn't. Why would he tell such a tale when we need to talk about allying with the Eastern Path Society?'
And sure enough.
From among the cultists, flames ignited at Dokgo Cheol's words, and some stepped forward.
"That's exactly it! That's the kind of people they are!"
"So how can you tell us to trust those White Path scum?!"
"Have you grown soft from the comfortable life at the Righteous Martial Academy?!"
Well, I could guess Dokgo Cheol's intent.
He wanted to say not all White Path folk should be lumped together.
'It was probably his honest sentiment too.'
Just because the Dokgo Clan manor was rebuilt and a plaque hung didn't mean the wounds of annihilation vanished overnight.
Thinking about what the guy, who once hated the White Path murim so much, wanted to protect by standing there...
'...Us.'
A needless sense of pride welled up.
Separate from that, a thought flashed: if we played this scene right, we could truly bind the Vanguard Blood Unit members.
'The other members aren't just shouting in opposition for the sake of it. Some are questioning the righteousness.'
To salvage the opportunity born from Dokgo Cheol showing his sincerity.
'If I ease into it appropriately, the Blood Maidens disguised as escorts and my other Eon siblings will create an atmosphere where the cultists focus on Iron's remaining words.'
I tossed a line from within the crowd.
"If the Captain had grown fond of academy life, why would he step up for this?!"
However, before my Eon siblings, cultists from the Dokgo Clan, led by Song Ho-gyeom, spoke first.
"That's right! The Captain wasn't even summoned to the main council. He was called to the Blood Heaven Asura Palace, not Nan-nyeong. Because he made immense contributions to our cult's victory over the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
"Exactly. And yet he's here!"
Then, the silent Sa-gyeom added a word.
"...Just as not all fellow cultists can be trusted, not all White Path bastards are untrustworthy. Our Gold Banner Unit, who went through the Silver River Archipelago incident, are living proof."
He slammed his beloved greatsword into the ground and spat his remaining words.
"And show some respect! The Captain who stepped into the world for us, facing off against the Blood Wind Corps... He is this. Even the mask he could've kept on without issue—he discarded it. At the very least, hear him out to the end!"
Thanks to that, silence returned to the crowd.
Dokgo Cheol resumed his tale.
"I too hated the White Path murim. But mingling among them, I learned there are those deserving of the character for 'righteous'."
Thus restarted Dokgo Cheol's story.
"Those who forsake lavish feasts and bright futures. Who wander north and south as if seeking death, bearing the weight of deaths utterly unrelated to them."
That tale, passing a moment that tickled my face,
finally returned to its original track.
"Of course, I understand your feelings. The important thing is what we do at the end of this path. I'll plainly share what I discussed with the Eastern Path Society to aid them."
"......"
"I've extracted a promise from them. If we can purge the demonic corruption from our cult's martial arts, they'll recognize us as the backbone of the common folk, like the Buddhists or Daoists."
"......!"
"So, just as when you came here, choose once more. On that peak you see, the Dragon Pack awaits. Attack or join hands—it's your call."
The Eon siblings disguised as the Masked Elder's escorts began distributing the pre-prepared masks to the cultists, matching the numbers.
Once the mask distribution ended.
Dokgo Cheol spoke again.
"I gathered you here under the name of Captain, but I have no intention of yanking a leash to force you. I'm just one member like the rest. Those who agree with me, don the mask. Those who don't, shatter it."
After a long silence fell over the crowd.
"......"
Starting with Sa-gyeom donning his mask first.
The gathered cultists began putting on masks one by one.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Whether Dokgo Cheol's appeal was apt.
None of the cultists at the mobilization ceremony chose to fight the Eastern Path Society.
I had personally witnessed the Blood Cultists uniting their will there.
However, for the Vanguard Blood Unit and White Path murim to formally march together, we needed to share strategic views.
And an official meeting between representatives of both sides.
Thus, a conference was arranged between the two parties.
"We'll set up the conference hall at the midpoint. See you there."
Since I hadn't revealed I was the real Masked Elder.
The representatives were No Sam and Dokgo Cheol.
Accordingly, under the pretext of scouting the venue beforehand, I gathered first with my Eon siblings disguised as the Masked Elder's subordinates.
"Chairs at each table, even maps. Seems preparations for the conference are complete. Shall we discuss how to approach and from which angle?"
At that moment, Ung-yong flew into the tent.
Hooroo roo rook!
But the originally snow-white fellow was spattered with bloodstains here and there.
I quickly beckoned Dang Ok-gi.
"Ok-gi. Check on this guy. He's all mottled red."
"Did he get attacked on the way?!"
Dang Ok-gi widened her eyes in alarm, but Ung-yong nonchalantly lifted his leg, bound with a scroll tube, as if it were nothing.
Checking the letter inside, the sender was Zhuge Chak.
"A letter from the elder means it's from the Southern Frontier, so he must've fought messenger hawks from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult... And won?"
To my words, Ung-yong puffed out his chest.
Hoo rook!
Woo So-reung, who'd been in charge of feeding him, interpreted the fellow's attitude.
"...It's like he's saying, 'If I'm this beat up, imagine the opponent?'"
Dang Ok-gi then threw a fit.
"Kyak! You won, big deal! Strutting around all banged up! Owner and bird are just alike!"
Even as she fussed, seeing her carefully inspect Ung-yong's wounds, I relaxed and opened the letter.
The content of the ciphered letter was simple.
"Thunder Demon visited the Beast Palace? The Southern Frontier declared neutrality. The elder will work to thwart the Thunder Demon's schemes."
To my words, Jeong Hyeon furrowed her brow.
"The Beast Palace made that choice... Then shouldn't we be wary of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult linking up with the Blood Cult?"
"Well, there's the Heavenly Mechanism Mysterious Mountain elder, Palace Leader Yin, and little Zhuge. Beyond that, nothing bad happens immediately."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, green sticks to green, but considering the Blood Demon's position and nature, they won't click from the start. And aren't we in a situation where Righteous and Demonic are joining hands?"
"...On the surface, it certainly looks like an alliance between Righteous and Demonic."
"So, when attacking, the more chaos, the better for us. If all plans succeed and we expel the Blood Heaven Asura Palace... They might find an escape hole. But the Blood Demon isn't one to take lightly, so enough about the forest. Let's focus on the trees now."
With my Eon siblings focused, I continued.
"For convenience, Professor No Sam's forces are White Army. Iron's legion is Red Army. My detachment is the Independent Unit."
I began the proper discussion on organization.
"Ok-gi joins the Independent Unit. Silver Miss and Young join as Red Army heads."
"Got it."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
"Jeong Hyeon goes to Red Army as White Army representative, doffing your mask."
"Understood."
"The rest, conversely, join White Army and Independent Unit as Red Army representatives."
When that discussion ended, I pointed to the paths drawn on the spread map and spoke.
"Broad strokes are this: White Army goes west along this route. Red Army east along the river. Independent Unit strikes the Blood Cult branch in Bu-nyeong south here."
To my words, Yin Ha-yeon furrowed her brows and asked back.
"Bu-nyeong?"
"If Sung-joa is the gateway to the Layered Mountains, Bu-nyeong is the throat, isn't it? Knock that out, and flames lick the Blood Heaven Asura Palace's instep. Naturally, momentum builds on all three advance routes."
"...But they've likely heard we're gathered at Sung-joa. The Blood Heaven Asura Palace will prepare countermeasures. And you're saying the smallest force, the Independent Unit, heads there?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The conference between the Vanguard Blood Unit and White Path murim.
Officially the first meeting between the two sides.
But since Yin Ha-yeon, acting as Vanguard Blood Unit head, and I had pre-discussed strategy.
The conference proceeded smoothly.
"Then, see you at the Blood Heaven Asura Palace."
"Best of luck."
"Captain, Professor—stay safe."
Thus, Red Army and White Army began mobilization along their assigned routes.
"Let's go too."
I also set off for Bu-nyeong with the remaining Eon siblings.
At that moment, Yin Ha-seong sighed and spoke.
"Sigh. The Bu-nyeong branch is a branch in name only—practically a Blood Cult fortress... This plan will work, right?"
"Then Ha-seong stays here. We'll go. This guy's not going. Just us."
"Hey! Who's not going?!"
Chuckling at Yin Ha-seong scurrying after us, I draped myself in the Blood Wind Corps' bloodied robe I'd been carrying.
Then raised the prepared Blood Wind Corps corpse.
"Rise!"