Chapter 30: Learning Lightness Skill (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30: Learning Lightness Skill (3)
“Come in, come in. It’s been a while. I hope you understand that I’ve been so busy with chores that I only summon you when there’s urgent business.”
As I entered the hall, Mok Yi-gun greeted me warmly.
However, there were other people in the room, dressed in unfamiliar attire. I flinched when I saw the embroidery on their clothes.
Specifically, the mark stitched onto their shoulders was one that any martial artist would recognize: the symbol of the Nine Demons Chamber.
The Nine Demons Chamber was one of the greatest sects in the Black Path. While the Black Fortress and the Demonic Cult League also existed, the latter was more of a loose collection of independent groups like the Yangtze River’s Eighteen Water Villages and lacked a proper sectarian structure. As for the Black Fortress, it served as the actual backbone of the Black Path and was currently at odds with the Orthodox factions, meaning its members couldn't just stroll into an Orthodox sect.
The Nine Demons Chamber, however, was considered a neutral party despite being a Black Path power, allowing them to maintain relations with the Murim Alliance and other Orthodox sects.
The history of the Nine Demons Chamber’s founding was a bit amusing.
It was formed by nine "Great Demons" who had been active in the Murim. They had established the group specifically to rival the Nine Great Sects of the Orthodox world. Though it was formed thirty years ago, they hadn't been very active until the year before last, when they began to make their presence known again.
One of the visitors was a woman, and the man standing behind her appeared to be her bodyguard.
To my eyes, however, he looked like a first-rate master.
His gaze was as piercing as if polished gems had been embedded in his sockets, and the sheer pressure he emitted—a prickling sensation like being bitten by an electric eel—was an aura only first-rate masters could project.
My eyes met theirs.
It was only for a moment, but I couldn't shake the feeling that they had sized me up completely in that single heartbeat.
“First, let me introduce you,” Mok Yi-gun said, gesturing toward them.
“These are warriors from the Nine Demons Chamber. They’ve come to meet you, the newly appointed Leader of the Demon Subjugation Group for Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.”
What? Leader of the Demon Subjugation Group?
Since when? Who decided this?
When did I ever say I’d do that?
I’d heard such a position existed, but I never agreed to take it.
As I stood there with a stunned expression, as if I’d been struck on the back of the head, Mok Yi-gun led me to a seat.
“This is Lady Ham Bi-hye, the daughter of the Nine Demons Chamber’s leader. And this gentleman is the Blood Ice Sword, Woo Isa, who protects and assists her.”
I flinched again upon hearing the names.
“And this young hero here—you may have heard the rumors—is the Silent Star Throwing Sword, Young Hero Eo. He is the most prominent rising star of our Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.”
Oh, really? 'Our' Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress? Since when did you claim me?
At his words, the two of them scrutinized me thoroughly.
Being turned into an exhibit so suddenly made me feel awkward. These were masters I might only see once in a lifetime. It was one thing to see them from a distance, but facing them directly made my heart flutter with nerves.
Ham Bi-hye was the only daughter of Ham Jeok, the Sword Demon and leader of the Nine Demons Chamber. Despite being a woman, she was a master in her own right, and it was said there would be no issue even if she were to inherit her father’s position.
And what about the Blood Ice Sword, Woo Isa?
That pale-faced fellow was essentially the Sword Demon’s right hand. He practiced the Ice Heart Divine Skill, earning the title "Blood Ice Sword" because the blood of his opponents would freeze the moment his blade cut them. He was a master among masters.
There was a reason I knew so much about the Nine Demons Chamber.
Once, I had actually considered joining them.
Back when I was an attendant for a certain warrior, that man had participated in a martial arts tournament hosted by the Nine Demons Chamber. I had entered their headquarters once during that time.
Of course, I was the only one who came back out.
The warrior I served died during his very first match. When I was left alone, they offered to let me stay as an attendant for the Chamber, but I refused and fled.
To be honest, people died far too easily in the Nine Demons Chamber. I lived in constant anxiety, never knowing when my turn would come. People claim the charm of the Black Path is the "Law of the Strong"—that might makes right—but honestly, isn't that just the kingdom of beasts?
How can there be human dignity in a place where there is no sanctity of life?
Then again, I suppose there is no human dignity beneath the edge of a blade anyway.
Even if people call the Orthodox world a collection of hypocrites, hypocrisy doesn't destroy human dignity. Hypocrisy is still a form of virtue, after all.
That is why I chose to stay in the Orthodox world.
Because I am a master of hypocrisy.
“How could we not know him? Lately, Young Hero Eo has become famous throughout the Murim, not just in Sichuan, for slaying the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon. Even our Chamber Leader expressed a desire to meet him,” Woo Isa said, watching me intently.
“For what reason would the Chamber Leader wish to see Young Hero Eo?” Mok Yi-gun asked, feigning ignorance.
Woo Isa gave a thin smile.
“You may not know, but long ago, the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon killed a trusted subordinate whom our Leader cherished. Since Young Hero Eo has avenged that man, it is only natural that our Leader would wish to grant him a reward.”
He looked at me subtly, waiting for a response.
What a load of rubbish! You’re full of it.
As if I don’t know your ulterior motives.
If I gave the wrong answer here, I’d be hooked and reeled in before I knew it.
“What merit do I have to receive a gift from the Chamber Leader? I did not kill the Red Robed White-Eyed Demon alone; there were dozens of martial artists involved. A third of the warriors in the inn died that day. If you wish to give gifts, give them to those who fell.”
I meant those words sincerely.
My heart had truly ached when I heard that more than ten warriors had died. Furthermore, since such words lose their impact if delivered lightly, I spoke with a touch of exaggeration to make my sincerity more apparent.
Mok Yi-gun nodded with a pleased expression, while Ham Bi-hye and Woo Isa looked at me with surprise.
“The introductions have gone on long enough. The reason I am introducing these two to our Demon Subjugation Group Leader is that they will be working in cooperation with our unit. I called you here so you could get acquainted.”
Like father, like daughter.
The Mok girl calls me "Gaga" whenever she pleases, and now her father appoints me as the "Demon Subjugation Group Leader" without asking.
Regardless, we were in different leagues. Even if I was a rising star supposedly on par with the Four Dragons of Sichuan, my reputation was worth nothing compared to theirs. There was no reason for people of their stature to go out of their way to see me.
Unless you had a decorative rock for a brain, it was obvious they had something specific to say.
“Since you’ve called me here separately, I assume there is something I need to know.”
“Indeed! As expected of Young Hero Eo.”
I smiled inwardly at Mok Yi-gun, who seemed impressed by the simplest things.
I could more or less understand his position. Even if a Demon Subjugation Order had arrived from the Murim Alliance, he couldn't be happy about hosting people from the Nine Demons Chamber.
The Nine Demons Chamber hadn't turned against the Orthodox world yet, but it was only natural to feel a sense of repulsion at such casual interaction. After all, Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress was an Orthodox sect.
He couldn't openly ignore them, but he couldn't exactly treat them as honored guests either. It seemed he was trying to use me to subtly put them in their place.
“Since we’re on the subject, let’s get to it.”
Mok Yi-gun’s expression turned serious.
Oh boy. Here he comes, making the first move.
That old raccoon.
Did he really think I’d just accept the role of Leader? Why would I go somewhere I might die? Not a chance. Not me.
“Wait a moment, Lord Mok.”
When I cut him off, Mok Yi-gun smacked his lips as if someone had snatched away the dessert he was eating.
“What is it?”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe I’m qualified to be the Leader of the Demon Subjugation Group.”
I had already prepared over ten excuses for when he inevitably asked "Why?" The fact that my internal energy hadn't fully recovered from the wounds inflicted by the White Horse Ten Canes was reason enough.
However, Mok Yi-gun wasn't just an old raccoon. He was a sly snake with a fox's tail.
“Oh? Is that so? Well, this is a problem. I’ve already submitted your name to the Murim Alliance as our Leader. I’ve even sent word to every sect in Sichuan. It would take quite a while to correct that. This is troublesome indeed. Not only that, but I believe the Alliance is providing a separate stipend for the group and its leader. Was it ten silver taels? Moreover, our fortress decided to match that and give the leader another ten silver taels. This has become quite a predicament.”
Like father, like daughter, indeed.
He struck me right where I was weakest: my wallet.
Actually, it wasn't that I was weak; anyone would be weak when it came to money. If they aren't, they probably have a flower tucked behind their ear. They don't realize that if freedom is the liberty of the heart, then money is minted freedom.
The daughter tries to give me a pouch of silver as a "token of affection," and the father constantly lures people with gold. It was clear where Mok Seon-hwa had learned her tricks.
I quickly did the math. This was easier money than a rigged bet.
What was a Demon Subjugation Group, anyway? I just had to loiter behind the real masters and come back. I’d leave the fighting to the people who actually wanted to do it.
The fighting would be handled by people like these two who knew how to swing a sword; I could just treat it like a sightseeing tour. As soon as I thought of it that way, a smile naturally spread across my face.
Ha! Changing my mind faster than flipping a palm?
Go ahead and curse me. That’s exactly what it means to have a weakling mentality.
And you already know—I’m as third-rate as they come.
As I started grinning, Mok Yi-gun’s eyes changed instantly.
“Hahaha, our Leader was just joking.”
“I was just trying to lighten the mood with a jest, though I’m not sure if it was misplaced,” I chimed in.
Mok Yi-gun gave a knowing smile.
“I assume this is a matter only known to the higher-ups?”
Now that I considered it my job, I began to feel curious about what Mok Yi-gun had to say. Something occurred to me, so I took a shot in the dark.
“Is it a secret manual?”
Mok Yi-gun, who had been trying to build up the suspense for a big reveal, looked deflated by my guess.
“Huh? How did you know?”
“Usually, whenever the Murim gets this noisy, a legendary secret manual has appeared. Furthermore, if the Murim Alliance is spending this much money, it’s highly likely that it’s not an Orthodox technique, but a Demonic one.”
“Ho!”
Mok Yi-gun slapped his knee in admiration.
“This is exactly why I appointed you as the Leader. With a head that can grasp the situation while sitting still, you’ll surely be able to find the manual the Blood Lamas are searching for.”
“The name of the manual is—”
I rudely cut him off.
“Lord Mok, I apologize, but I don’t wish to hear any more about the manual. If you don’t know it, it’s just a book; but if greed takes hold, it becomes a 'secret manual.' I wish to view it only as a book.”
Ham Bi-hye and Woo Isa, who had been watching our exchange like a comedy routine, looked at me with impressed eyes.
I was subtly gauging everyone’s reactions. This was the "internal power" I had cultivated through years of living as a bottom-feeder. Because I had to read people’s psychology through their expressions and gazes to survive, my "eye" for such things had reached a transcendent level.
“It seems the Blood Lamas are currently scouring various sects in search of some manual from the Blood Thunder Sound Temple. They say they’re wiping out any sect that resists.”
As Mok Yi-gun finished, Woo Isa took over.
“In the process, even a branch of our Nine Demons Chamber was annihilated. That is why we cannot stand idly by and have stepped forward.”
Hah! As if. You’re just greedy for that manual.
I turned to Mok Yi-gun.
“In which regions are the Blood Lamas primarily carrying out their slaughter?”
As of yet, the general public had no information regarding the Blood Lamas. The Murim Alliance used carrier pigeons to exchange information quickly, but commoners and third-rate martial artists usually only heard about such things after everything was over.
I asked this question for one reason only: to avoid the areas where those monsters were active.
“In the regions bordering the Western Regions—Sinryong, Padang, Guryong, and the like.”
“If sects are being wiped out simultaneously, just how many Blood Lamas have entered Sichuan?”
At my question, the faces of Mok Yi-gun, Ham Bi-hye, and Woo Isa stiffened for a moment.
“We don’t know the total number, but we estimate there are about three hundred. It seems they are moving through the counties in groups of twenty or thirty, ransacking the sects.”
“That is serious.”
I said the words, but inside, I thought it had nothing to do with me. I was already cheering internally at the thought of going on a tour and collecting my silver.
“When do we depart?”
“A secret missive will arrive from the Murim Alliance. They will designate our destination. It should take a day or two. This is a battle, after all; we can’t just charge out blindly. We also need to form the group and prepare, so it will likely take a few weeks.”
I felt a sense of order, likely because the Murim Alliance was involved. Now that I was the Leader, I finally became curious about the personnel.
“How many people will be in the Demon Subjugation Group?”
“I’m thinking about fifty. Thirty will be the warriors we recently recruited, and the remaining twenty will be filled by warriors from our Sword Palace Squad, the elites of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.”
This was news to me. It seemed they had added the Sword Palace Squad at the last minute because having the Nine Demons Chamber involved made things look bad. The Sword Palace Squad was a combat unit of elites that had been carefully cultivated since the time of Mok Gal-jin. I had passed them a few times; they were exceptionally well-trained.
I asked, “In that case, the Sword Palace Squad will have their own leader, right?”
Mok Yi-gun nodded.
“Correct. Since they’ve trained together for a long time, the Sword Palace Squad will move independently. However, you will be the General Leader of the Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress Demon Subjugation Group.”
A General Leader in name only, while I act as a servant to the Sword Palace Squad. The thought made my stomach churn.
However, that was just my personal feeling; my "third-rate" survival instincts felt differently.
“I see. We’ll have to be careful, as there might be friction between the Sword Palace members and the regular members.”
Regardless, the news that the Sword Palace Squad was joining made me believe this "tour" would be much safer. Rumors at the fortress claimed the Sword Palace Squad had dozens of masters nearing the first-rate level, and even some who had surpassed it. People said that among the sects near Sichuan, they were the strongest, excluding the Qingcheng, Emei, and Tang clans.
Of course, you never know until the blades clash, so I didn't fully trust the rumors. Just look at me, for instance.
In any case, I felt relieved that the Sword Palace members were coming along. If there were experts present, my safety was guaranteed.
There was no longer any reason for me to try and back out.