Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: The Sly Fox's Astonishing Resourcefulness
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Heuk Do-san could read the mood of the room just from the shifting atmosphere.
From what Yong Seol-ran had told him, he had some inkling: after the Righteous-Demonic Great War ended, the Righteous Alliance had grown into a colossal power dominating the entire Central Plains martial world.
One could tell just by how the people gathered in the hall trembled at the mere mention of the Righteous Alliance.
That was the first reason Hong Gong-tak strutted in so confidently, despite bringing only a handful of subordinates.
But that was his miscalculation.
There were still several in the hall who didn't flinch at the names of the Righteous Alliance or the Ten Ghostly Pursuers. As if they had known from the start. They were absolutely not beneath Hong Gong-tak.
Hong Gong-tak continued speaking.
"So you know me. That makes this easier. Point out the one who took the treasure map right now. Otherwise, your head rolls."
"That's the third time I've heard that in this very spot."
"Are you really testing me?"
"It's wealth enough to buy a First Star Lord title. And I'm the only one who knows where that wealth—and the treasure map leading to it—is. You can't kill me under any circumstances. If you do, you'll lose everything you've built so far. Am I wrong?"
The Heavenly Wind Young Master's words struck right at the heart. Hong Gong-tak's face flushed red and pale by turns. He ground his teeth and said,
"What do you want?"
"My life, enough wealth to live leisurely for the rest of my days, and a heartfelt apology from the depths of your soul for ruining my face like this."
"I could cut off your limbs one by one until you talk. I guarantee you won't last half an incense stick's time."
"You might die first."
"What... do you mean by that?"
The Heavenly Wind Young Master smirked. Without taking his eyes off Hong Gong-tak, he spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Is there a real man with guts in this hall? If someone eliminates the Ten Ghostly Pursuers right before my eyes, I'll tell him where the treasure map is. Let me say it again: it's wealth enough to buy a First Star Lord title. Isn't that worth making an enemy of the Righteous Alliance?"
His words were like poking a hornet's nest.
But that was all.
Was it because they had witnessed the fearsome sword formation of the Ten Ghostly Pursuers? Or were they afraid of the Righteous Alliance's retaliation lurking behind them?
The people just exchanged glances and murmured among themselves, none stepping forward.
Hong Gong-tak looked down at the Heavenly Wind Young Master with contempt.
"That mouth of yours is your downfall."
The sword clinging to the young master's chin slid down his nape toward his left shoulder.
The blade tapped the shoulder twice before shooting into the air. It gleamed under the moonlight for an instant, then dropped sharply. A motion without the slightest hesitation.
That was when it happened.
Clang!
Amid a spray of blue sparks, Hong Gong-tak's sword let out a thunderous boom half a hand's breadth above the young master's shoulder and was flung outward.
A chill wind whipped through.
To deflect Hong Gong-tak's sword—dropping like lightning—with a hidden weapon. The same thought flashed through everyone's minds.
'A master!'
Hong Gong-tak's face twisted savagely.
He swept his gaze over the crowd and shouted,
"Who's there!"
"No need to rush, is there?"
A low voice drifted from somewhere. Everyone frowned in unison.
It was as grating as scraping iron with a blade.
The people scanned around, searching for the voice's owner. Gradually, their eyes converged on an old man in the far corner, drinking alone.
Short and slight of build, with a shiny bald head and no other distinguishing features, he was the kind of elderly monk one might encounter at any rural temple.
But of course, he couldn't be an ordinary monk.
Who would believe a monk casually drinking while propping a skull-topped staff of bamboo diagonally against the table beside him was ordinary?
Moreover, this strange monk was one of the three strongest people in the hall, as far as Heuk Do-san could tell.
The strange monk drained his cup to the last drop, ignoring the barrage of stares.
He said,
"The night for this wicked monk is long."
"I asked who you are!"
"Isn't the proper order for introductions to state one's own name first before asking the other's?"
"You must have heard it already."
"That's just what that sly fox says."
In other words, he wasn't about to trust the Heavenly Wind Young Master, who lied every time he opened his mouth.
But that was the surface reason. In truth, it was a rebuke: when meeting a martial world senior, one ought to observe the proper etiquette.
Hong Gong-tak bit his lip.
He wanted nothing more than to charge and cut the man down on the spot, but with so many eyes watching—and this being an event conducted in the name of the Righteous Alliance—he couldn't act rashly.
And one more thing: the strange monk's skill, just demonstrated, was anything but ordinary.
Hong Gong-tak made a perfunctory fist-and-palm salute.
"I am Hong Gong-tak, sword master of the Righteous Alliance's Ten Ghostly Pursuers. May I now hear who you are?"
"As you see, I'm a wandering beggar-monk who drifts from place to place, begging for food. I have no notable name to boast of. Think of me as a stone monk passing just one night at Tongman Stronghold."
He had just scolded the man for revealing his identity first, and now the response was that he was a nameless mendicant.
To put it politely, it meant the likes of you wouldn't know my name anyway.
Snickers rippled through the crowd.
Hong Gong-tak's face turned beet red.
This was blatant mockery. Pressing further in this situation would only make him look foolish.
"What business does a passing mendicant have interfering in the Righteous Alliance's event?"
"Is it truly the Righteous Alliance's event?"
"What do you mean?"
"I've heard the rumors too: after the Demonic Cult's downfall, the treasure vanished. But what reason is there to assume it belongs to the Righteous Alliance?"
"Well, obviously..."
"The original owner is dead, and the treasure hasn't yet fallen into the Righteous Alliance's hands. So the true owner hasn't appeared. Surely you're not claiming that every treasure coveted by the Righteous Alliance belongs to it by default?"
No sooner had the strange monk finished than cries of agreement erupted from all sides, condemning Hong Gong-tak's arrogance.
"Right on!"
"Every word rings true!"
"Man, he sure knows how to cut to the chase!"
"Indeed, until the Demonic Cult's treasure falls into the Righteous Alliance's hands, it can't be called theirs!"
"They say the Righteous Alliance's power pierces the heavens, but they act like they own the world. Do they think nothing of everyone here!"
As the mood turned hostile, Hong Gong-tak's eyebrows twisted upward in fury. Flames seemed to shoot from his eyes.
He barely suppressed his rising anger and said,
"So, are you saying you'll heed that rascal's words and attack us?"
"You're an impatient young fellow."
"Stop beating around the bush and speak plainly!"
"First, I'd like to ask him a few questions. Though I'll be the one asking, they're things everyone here is curious about."
The strange monk turned his gaze to the Heavenly Wind Young Master without waiting for Hong Gong-tak's permission.
"If you want help, you must first prove you're worth it. Do you understand?"
"What do you wish to know?"
"Is it true you know where the treasure map is?"
"Yes."
"How will you prove it?"
"It's true that the Kunlun Five Killers poisoned my master and tried to steal the treasure map. Fortunately, he repelled them, but he suffered deep internal injuries from the poison."
The Heavenly Wind Young Master had hidden the Golden Buddha Throwing King in a mountain cave under cover of night and gone to fetch an antidote.
But midway, a strange feeling made him turn back. The cave held only traces of fierce combat; the Golden Buddha Throwing King was gone.
Following the tracks down the mountain, he soon found his master at an nameless stream, a cold corpse.
Clearly, while circulating his qi in the cave, he had been attacked by vicious beasts, fled, and met his end at the stream.
His master, who had repelled even the Kunlun Five Killers while poisoned. The young master, who never imagined such a humiliating death, wept bitterly.
"The blood hadn't even cooled yet. I had to know who my master's sworn enemy was, so I hurriedly tracked the signs. Not far off, I spotted them fleeing down the mountainside."
Heuk Do-san chuckled inwardly at the young master's brazen lie, not even wetting his lips.
More like he was curious about the treasure map's whereabouts than vengeance for his master.
'That's some nerve, if nothing else.'
"Did they take the treasure map?"
"It was gone from my master's bosom, and they were the only ones nearby, so of course they did."
"That's no proof."
"In this situation, what evidence could I possibly produce? You're not saying I need to search their bosoms and pull out the map for you to believe, are you?"
"So you're saying it's an indisputable fact that the ones you saw at the mountainside that day are in this hall?"
"Yes."
His final words rang with unshakeable conviction. Anyone would believe it true. With his life on the line, he had no reason to lie.
The strange monk turned to Hong Gong-tak.
"Here's my proposal. First, release him. Second, make him talk. Third, once we confirm the treasure map's existence, we discuss among ourselves. How about it?"
"Among ourselves?"
"No need to overthink. If the map is definitely here, the only question left is who gets it. But as you see, that's not something a few words will settle."
"So you want to give it a try?"
"Kehahaha. Let's resolve it one step at a time."
Hong Gong-tak scanned the room again. They all disguised themselves as ordinary travelers, but not a single one was truly that.
As the strange monk said, sneaking the map out alone was off the table.
'Troublesome.'
Hong Gong-tak swung his sword without hesitation.
But what was severed was the rope binding the Heavenly Wind Young Master's hands. Freed, the young master shook out his wrists and quipped,
"Aigoo, that hurt. This is why they say treasures invite bloodshed—I warned the old master, but his greed made his poor disciple suffer."
He glanced around, sauntered to an eye-catching table, snatched a bottle from it, and drank as if it were his own.
Of all places, it was the table right next to where the Thousand Li Escort Agency's escorts had been eating and drinking. Yong Seol-ran and Bang Dae-gang's faces drained of color.
"Kuh, good stuff."
The Heavenly Wind Young Master set down the bottle and wiped his lips with his sleeve.
The strange monk said to him,
"You get one chance. Best not ignore my words."
"I have that much sense. That aside, how will you guarantee my share...?"
Heuk Do-san, listening quietly, was dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, he'd lamented his innocent suffering due to his old master's greed, and now he was haggling for his cut.
Yet somehow, the act felt familiar. Like he'd seen it somewhere before.
'Yeom Jin-sang... Wonder if that bastard's still alive.'
"Who's dividing the tofu before it's even out of the pot?"
"You're underestimating me. You know that's the crucial issue, and so do I."
The strange monk sighed in exasperation.
"Fine, what do you want?"
"Take me as your disciple."
"What nonsense is that?"
"Not right now—given the circumstances. But once everything's settled, promise publicly, in front of everyone, that you'll accept me."
No one showed it, but in this situation, one outcome was clear: whoever got the treasure map wouldn't share it.
If they had power and influence, they'd kill everyone here to seal their lips. The trail had to end in this hall.
By becoming the strange monk's disciple now, the Heavenly Wind Young Master secured his life—and his share. Who kills their own disciple?
But if the monk were slain by the Ten Ghostly Pursuers or another master here, he wouldn't need to serve a master. And since he wasn't a disciple yet, no need for revenge.
That was why he proposed the master-disciple bond after, not now.
Heuk Do-san inwardly clicked his tongue.
'That guy's no ordinary punk.'
The strange monk's face soured.
He asked,
"Do you even know who I am?"
"Yes."
The monk's expression hardened for the first time. He stared piercingly at the Heavenly Wind Young Master for a long while.
A sly, cunning coward, but with uncanny insight. Sharp mind too.
'No wonder the Golden Buddha Throwing King took him as disciple. He's got his uses.'
"Fine. I'll take you as my disciple."
"I'll serve you with all my heart."
The Heavenly Wind Young Master bowed deeply.
"Enough of that. Now point him out."
A smile spread across the young master's face. Without hesitation, he locked eyes with Yong Seol-ran and sneered.
"Time to drop the disguise!"