Chapter 421
Chapter 421
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 421
Chapter Title: Facing Straight On (2)
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Hyeok Ryeon-il was the eldest son of Hyeok Ryeon-gang, the current Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
As such, he had been revered as the Young Lord throughout the Ten Thousand Great Mountains region.
'You recognize me?'
However, this was his first time venturing into the Central Plains.
Yet Baek Gwang-ho had spotted him at a glance. Hyeok Ryeon-il sent a transmission to the old demonic wanderer accompanying him.
[Inner Guard. Did you inform Baek Gwang-ho that I, as the Cult's representative, would be coming personally?]
[As if we would. We merely said we would send someone for the alliance. Not a word about the Young Lord gracing us with his presence.]
With relations between the Sa Do Alliance leadership and the Hao Clan strained as they were, the fact that Baek Gwang-ho had recognized Hyeok Ryeon-il pointed to the man's own sharp instincts and information-gathering prowess.
'...Even a gathering of trash will have those at the top who are exceptionally capable.'
As Hyeok Ryeon-il mulled this over,
Baek Gwang-ho chuckled and spoke up.
"Judging by the mood, I guess I'm right."
"Indeed. I am Hyeok Ryeon-il, the eldest son of the Cult Leader."
"Baek Gwang-ho."
After the brief exchange of names, Hyeok Ryeon-il spoke first.
"That was rude of me just now. Seeing you recognize me—a newcomer to the jianghu, essentially—at first glance made me realize anew just how formidable the Sa Do Alliance truly is. I was left stunned."
"Formidable might be too strong a word. With the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult going through all sorts of turmoil, I figured they wouldn't send some half-baked fool my way."
"Then the Alliance Leader must possess discerning eyes."
"Not particularly. I actually thought the youngest young lord might show up."
At the mention of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's youngest young lord, Hyeok Ryeon-il's expression subtly hardened.
Baek Gwang-ho chuckled and continued.
"It's not just the White Path martial world keeping tabs on the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. To survive in the Black Path, you need sharp ears. I may not know the specifics, but I'm well aware of the general situation."
"......"
"The matter of deciding the Little Cult Leader. Doesn't the eldest young lord hold the advantage?"
"...Haha. There's no real advantage or disadvantage in establishing the Little Cult Leader. We simply follow the Cult Leader's will."
"Ah, don't take it personally. We're simple folk who just think, 'So, who's going to win?' and that's how the words come out."
"Of course. I'm not offended."
"Good to hear. Anyway, I thought it was the desperate youngest young lord seeking an alliance and coming to me. But the eldest young lord himself... It seems you're here to solidify your favorable position completely."
At those words, Hyeok Ryeon-il dropped his perfunctory smile and replied.
"Exactly. Securing an alliance with the Sa Do Alliance would make my position even more secure. With your keen eyes and quick understanding, this should be straightforward. The state of the world is much the same."
"The world?"
"To put it bluntly, the Cult's plans have gone awry. The White Path martial world's stronghold has grown solid—that much is true. What do you think happens if they solidify their momentum like this?"
"...If the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult falls, we're next?"
"Your understanding is sharp as ever. Black and White can never mix. Once our great adversary is gone, their blades will surely turn to you, Alliance Leader."
"......"
"I won't spout sophistry that our victory benefits the Sa Do Alliance. But surely maintaining this balance between our Cult, the Black Path, and the White Path is to your advantage?"
Baek Gwang-ho, who had been listening silently, finally posed a question.
"So?"
"First, we can provide you with our Cult's spirit elixirs and divine arts."
Baek Gwang-ho snorted at the response.
"Hmph. Not exactly tempting. I can take care of myself just fine, and I know full well those come with side effects. I even know the Cult's tricks—using those side effects like parasitic worms that erode their hosts."
The old demonic wanderer accompanying Hyeok Ryeon-il ground his teeth and bared his hostility.
"What did you say? Calling our Cult parasites?"
Ching! Ching! Ching!
Baek Gwang-ho's subordinates drew their weapons in unison.
"Inner Guard!"
Hyeok Ryeon-il shot the wanderer a glare and said,
"The Alliance Leader already apologized in advance for his rough speech when mentioning the youngest. How dare you act so rashly!"
The wanderer immediately kowtowed on the deck.
"My apologies."
Baek Gwang-ho gestured for his men to sheathe their weapons and spoke.
"I misspoke. But the young lord's proposal is indeed disappointing."
"I understand your suspicions about our Cult's refinement techniques and martial arts. But must you partake of them personally?"
With that opener, Hyeok Ryeon-il continued.
"If you doubt our secret arts, just form a unit under your command, equip them, and use them as your forces. And that was merely my first offer."
"Was it? Then I'll hear the next one."
Hyeok Ryeon-il let out a dry laugh at Baek Gwang-ho's peculiar way of drawing out all his cards.
'The nickname "Tiger Crouching in Dongting Lake" fits perfectly.'
For Hyeok Ryeon-il, who had lived as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's young lord, Baek Gwang-ho's attitude was infuriating.
But the place with fire at its feet right now was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Thus, maintaining his smile, Hyeok Ryeon-il spoke.
"I'll make you the master of the world's waterways. The Cult may seem confined to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, but thanks to the First Heavenly Demon's legacy, we know every river and lake in the land intimately."
"...What kind of legacy?"
"I can't disclose that. In any case, I'll reveal the locations of our hidden strongholds along the waterways and lakes. And we'll hand over the merchant fleets, pirate bands, river forts, and river traders allied with us."
"Combining that with my forces... Becoming master of the world's waterways wouldn't be an exaggeration. So, what do you want from me?"
"Keep the bandits and Hao Clan from moving like this again—crack down on them strictly."
"That's all?"
"One more thing. If we clash with the White Path martial world, it'll likely start with their invasion. When that happens, be the dagger in their backs."
Baek Gwang-ho didn't deliberate long.
He nodded shortly after.
"Done. Alliance."
"Excellent."
"The alliance takes effect when I punish the Hao Clan and bandits?"
"Yes. Once word reaches us, we'll send someone with the promised items. Take time to consider the elixirs and arts until then."
"Will do. See the guests off. Clear a path."
Hyeok Ryeon-il boarded his boat and departed leisurely.
As Baek Gwang-ho watched, snorting derisively,
"Hmph."
Sun Woo-uk, the Sa Do Alliance's right-arm deputy leader—his shaved head marked by a prominent burn scar—spoke up.
"You don't seem all that pleased about the Demonic Cult's young lord."
"Arrogant bastard."
"He used proper respect every time, though?"
"It's not the words—it's the mindset. He acts like he's already won the Little Cult Leader contest. Talking only of the fight with the White Path before leaving... Utterly arrogant, when his own father could flip the tables with a single palm."
"Then why agree to the alliance?"
"Everything he said was spot on. And I'm not exactly losing out. Disciplining the Hao Clan and bandits was on my list anyway."
"True enough."
"Beyond that, it's about striking the White Path from behind later. Who knows what'll happen in the meantime? Black Path promises can flip if interests change."
Baek Gwang-ho gazed toward the Righteous Martial Academy as he spoke.
Then he pulled a green jade from his sleeve.
This jade was originally taken by Eon Yong-un and returned via the Hao Clan—the dragon's eye of the Paeryong Sword.
'Along with that, Eon Yong-un. I can see how that guy responds too.'
* * *
My younger Eon siblings and I were having busy days.
It was inevitable.
We were already swamped, and now an event had been added to the entrance exam lineup out of nowhere.
A new department for training necromancers had just been established at the Magic Workshop Association too.
"Using inner power through the upper dantian is completely different from circulating it within the body! Think of opening the upper dantian! Weave the inner power like spinning thread!"
We were in the thick of such breathless days when Woo So-rung came rushing toward me, clutching a letter.
"Eon hyung! Namgung hyung! Namgung hyung!"
Namgung Yun.
The guy who said he'd escort Do Jung-gwang back to the Bandit Mountain Stronghold should have returned ages ago, yet there'd been no word.
So when his name came from Woo So-rung's mouth,
I handed the initiates over to Young Hwan.
"Professor. Can Mo San handle this afternoon's class?"
"Understood."
I snatched the letter from Woo So-rung's hand.
"Hand it over."
"Here!"
I headed toward the student council room.
Then Master tossed me a word.
- Others say no news is good news when they're worried. Looks like even you were concerned about Yong-un, huh?
'This punk Namgung Yun, who wastes half a gyeong every time we meet for council. No contact without reason... Yeah, I really want to beat some sense into him. Is that worry too?'
- ...Who knows?
Arriving at the student council room, I immediately gathered my Eon siblings.
I unfolded the letter from Namgung Yun.
『I meant to contact you sooner, but circumstances prevented it.
The Grand Marshal's consideration allowed me to meet the Medicine King elder—that was the circumstance. But it risked exposing the treatment location, so I couldn't reach out.
Sunbae-nim's treatment went well, and I've finally arrived at the Bandit Mountain Stronghold to take up the brush.
I have one request.
This journey has taught me much. If my taking a leave of absence doesn't burden you all,
I'd like to continue this learning.
P.S. With me by Do Jung-gwang sunbae-nim's side, it might delay his retirement a bit.
· Your friend, Namgung Yun.』
Among those reading the letter, Dang Ok-gi spoke first.
"He could've just written Namgung Yun. Why add that cringey 'your friend' bit?"
At that, Jeon Gal-seol pointed to the end of the letter.
"And look—ink splattered right before those words, and the handwriting's a bit messy... Hmm. He was agonizing over it."
"Gong Yun's the funniest one, honestly."
I turned to Namgung Young.
"You and I need to write letters, Young."
He recoiled.
"Eek. Me? To brother?"
Cheon Jang-ho and the Paeng siblings chimed in.
"He looks genuinely disgusted... Are they really siblings?"
"That's exactly what real siblings act like. I hate pigs too."
"I like noona, though!"
I clapped to refocus everyone.
"I'll write to Gong Yun. You write to the Namgung Family, Young. Announce that he's in closed-door training."
"Ah. That'll keep flies away from the Bandit Mountain Stronghold. I'll write it now!"
As Namgung Young and I took up brushes, Yin Xia Lian approached me.
"What will you write to Young Master Eon?"
"Baek Gwang-ho will definitely move. And there might be fallout from the Little Cult Leader contest, so be cautious."
"You're approving the leave?"
"It'll be good experience for him. Plus, we can gauge the Black Path's mood indirectly. It's different from an outsider's view."
I dashed off the letter in one go and handed it to Woo So-rung.
"So-rung, get this to the relay station pronto."
Turning to Cheon Jang-ho,
"Cheon Jang-ho."
"Yes?"
"Contact Shaolin for me. Gong Yun's reached out—why hasn't Won-cheol monk shown up yet?"
Knock knock.
No sooner said than someone knocked.
Won-cheol entered the main student council room, greeting with a half-palm salute.
"Amitabha. I heard of the Blood Cult and my blood boiled. But with the East Branch Leader and Dragon of Disaster leaving Shaolin the words 'still waters run deep,' I kept my heart aflame inwardly. Glad to see you're all safe..."
Won-cheol trailed off, questioning.
"...But why this atmosphere? You're all staring at me too intensely."
Eon Yong-myeong awkwardly smiled and replied.
"...Ahaha. Hyungnim was just mentioning you when you arrived."
"...M-Me? Suddenly I'm breaking a sweat. What were you saying?"
Meanwhile, I beckoned Jeong Hyeon over.
"Jeong Hyeon. Come here."
I slung my right arm over his shoulder and advanced toward Won-cheol together.
Then draped my left over Won-cheol's shoulder.
"Jeong Hyeon already knows, but I've come across a sort of fateful encounter this time."
"......"
"......"
With the two swallowing dryly, I headed to the training grounds.
"This fateful encounter is a heavy, burdensome one."
Upon reaching the grounds,
I rolled my neck and shoulders, then spoke again.
"So, in that sense, you two need to be my sandba... er, training partners."