Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 59: Things Get Complicated (1)

I woke up early the next morning and went for a walk.

Taking a walk is something small fries can never do.

Actually, it’s not that they can’t, but rather that they don’t. There is simply no reason for a third-rater to take a walk.

However, after realizing that famous figures and masters take walks to engage in contemplation, I developed a habit of walking aimlessly, even if I had absolutely nothing to think about.

Of course, it was that very habit that led me to meet that nemesis, Mok Seon-hwa, at Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress, which in turn led to the person I am today.

Come to think of it, isn't this whole mess because of those walks?

The thought made me let out a hollow laugh.

To think I was blaming a walk—something that isn't even human—just because things were getting a bit difficult.

I shook off the gloomy thoughts and focused on the Energy Circulation Practice I had performed this morning.

Lately, circulating my energy before breakfast had started to feel more satisfying than the meal itself. Whenever I finished, my body overflowed with vitality and my spirit felt invigorated.

As the energy in my upper dantian flowed more smoothly, I could feel my body becoming lighter and my senses growing sharper.

Back when I was a mere small fry, I could never have woken up this early, but recently I’d developed a taste for the pleasure of breathing in the cold morning air while performing my cultivation.

It was a good sign.

I was finishing my walk and enjoying the morning air for once when someone suddenly came running toward me in a hurry.

"My Lord!"

It was Po Zhongyin, one of the Twin Heroes of Guiyang.

"What is it? Why are you so out of breath?"

Po Zhongyin held out a small message tube.

"A messenger bird just arrived."

I felt a pang of worry. There hadn't been any instructions for a while, so a sudden message was rarely good news.

I unfurled the palm-sized scroll.

[The Demon Subjugation Group of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress is to assemble at Ilguk Sect and repel the offensive of the Blood Lama.]

As I read the message, Po Zhongyin inadvertently voiced his thoughts.

"So the secret manual really is at Ilguk Sect?"

It was now an open secret that the Blood Lamas were making their move because of a manual; even our Demon Subjugation Group was aware of it.

"It seems so. Otherwise, why would both the Demon Subjugation Groups and the Blood Lamas be converging on Ilguk Sect?"

"Shall we depart immediately?"

Wait, what is this man saying? Absolutely not. Why would I go looking for a tiger's den?

I might actually die if I go there.

"We..."

Just as I was about to speak, Do Yeon descended gracefully from the air. When she performed her lightness skill, she looked like a beautiful painting fluttering in the wind.

"Leader, did you see the message? A secret missive arrived from the Alliance ordering the Emei Sect's Demon Subjugation Group to assemble at Ilguk Sect."

Po Zhongyin stepped forward.

"Yes, we received ours as well."

"The Emei Sect is currently preparing to depart for Ilguk Sect. We plan to leave the wounded here for now. We should hurry and prepare as well. If we want to leave with them, time is short."

Am I really going to be dragged into this?

As I stood there looking disgruntled and indifferent, Po Zhongyin and Do Yeon didn't disturb me, likely assuming I was deep in some profound contemplation.

If I go to Ilguk Sect, the masters of the Nine Demons Chamber will be there, so I could just hang around them. The Nine Demons' Demon Subjugation Group originally intended to cooperate with our Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress group anyway.

I should be safe enough if I'm with them. Mad Demon and Deputy Bu are there, along with the Blood Wind Squad. I'll be safe as long as I stay behind them.

Still, there was no telling how the situation might change once a battle broke out. It was always best to avoid places where blades were flying in the first place. Isn't there some way out of this?

I was pondering this seriously when a voice shouted from the distance.

"My Lord! My Lord!"

It was Il-myo, the first of the Seven Cats, running toward me frantically.

"Something terrible has happened, My Lord!"

Really? Good. I hope it's something terrible enough that I don't have to go to Ilguk Sect. If not, you're dead.

I narrowed my eyes and spoke.

"What is it?"

Il-myo gasped for air as he spoke.

"Young Hero Hwang has been taken!"

"Taken? Young Hero Hwang?"

"He went into the forest for a moment to take care of business, and some men in black suppressed him and kidnapped him. I was following behind him to do the same, so I saw it with my own eyes."

"Hmm...!"

Now, this was a big deal. A very big deal.

"Tell all members of the Demon Subjugation Group to search the area where Young Hero Hwang was abducted."

Do Yeon looked at me and asked, "Leader, we're supposed to head to Ilguk Sect. What do you intend to do?"

"I believe we must postpone our departure to Ilguk Sect for a moment. Many masters and warriors will be there to help even without us, but we are the only ones Young Hero Hwang can rely on, are we not? Please inform Fairy Hye-sim to head to Ilguk Sect first. We will follow after we find Young Hero Hwang."

"Then, I shall go and deliver the message."

"Are you not going with them, Fairy Do Yeon?"

"I may be a disciple of the Emei Sect, but right now, I am the Deputy Leader of the Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress Demon Subjugation Group. I cannot forget my duty."

"Then, please go and tell them. We will be searching the spot where Young Hero Hwang disappeared."

I felt a surge of gratitude toward Hwang Chu for providing such a perfect incident.

Thanks for getting kidnapped.

I ran toward the place where Hwang Chu had vanished.

Poison Wolf Ibu, who had arrived before me to search, spoke up.

"Leader, judging by the tracks here, it's certain that Young Hero Hwang was dragged away."

The wild grass had been trampled haphazardly.

"There were at least two of them, and one seems to be a master."

Smiling Face Sword had a sharp eye for detail.

"His internal energy is so high that the grass is only half-broken."

What? Masters took Hwang Chu? For what reason?

I grew suspicious.

There was definitely something going on. I've been suspicious of Hwang Chu ever since he joined us. Now it's clear—he must have joined our Demon Subjugation Group to hide from whoever was chasing him.

I waited for Do Yeon to arrive.

While I was talking with Smiling Face Sword, Do Yeon returned.

"I delivered your message. Fairy Hye-sim said she understands and asked me to tell you they are heading out first."

I nodded.

The entire Demon Subjugation Group gathered around me.

"Shall we follow the tracks then?"

"Let's do that."

Do Yeon spoke to me in a cold voice.

"But do you truly believe that chasing after Young Hero Hwang is more important than going to Ilguk Sect?"

Normally, Do Yeon was haughty but not necessarily curt or cold.

However, when it came to combat, she was so frigid that she earned the title "Ice Jade Ice Sword."

But when she questioned me like this, with a sharpness that made my heart sting, I truly realized why she held that title.

It seemed she was quite displeased that we were wasting time searching for an unidentified geomancer who wasn't even a member of our group during such a critical period.

I felt the need to make her understand, so I gave a lengthy explanation.

"Even if Young Hero Hwang is not a member of our group, we have shared a bond during our time together. If we were to ignore his kidnapping by mysterious assailants, could we truly call ourselves righteous? Chivalry dictates that we help even a total stranger who asks for aid. If we ignore the danger facing someone we've spent days and nights with, what use is the fame we might gain from fighting the Blood Lamas? I would rather follow the chivalry in my heart than chase such hollow fame."

The others, who had likely shared Do Yeon's thoughts, bowed their heads at my words.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

These small fries probably wanted to go to Ilguk Sect to see the great masters and enjoy the glory of fighting alongside them.

As third-raters, such ambition was only natural.

How glorious would it be for a warrior to gain the reputation of having fought and defeated the Blood Lamas?

But I value my own life far more than your petty greed.

"As expected, your words are correct, Brother."

Jeok Yeong walked up and spoke to me.

"Indeed. Only such a man is worthy of being my brother."

Huh? This guy might have lost his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠memory, but he certainly remembers his pride.

I stole a glance at Do Yeon's face; far from looking insulted, she actually looked quite bright.

Perhaps she had asked the question ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠specifically so that everyone could hear my answer.

The Twin Heroes of Guiyang and the Seven Cats held their heads high with pride.

As the atmosphere settled, I turned to Smiling Face Sword.

"Which way do you think the assailants went?"

Smiling Face Sword replied cautiously.

"They likely went in this direction."

He pointed to the right.

There were indeed messy footprints leading that way.

However, I had no intention or need to go that way.

I just had to pretend to chase Hwang Chu while wandering off in a completely different direction.

In truth, the moment I heard that masters had taken Hwang Chu, any desire I had to actually rescue him vanished.

Of course, I had the master Jeok Yeong with me, but I thought it was best to play it safe for now.

"I believe that is a deception. Do you think masters would leave such an obvious trail saying, 'We went this way'? They likely went in the opposite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠direction."

At my words, the relatively simple-minded Poison Wolf Ibu let out an exclamation.

"Ah, that makes sense! Didn't the Leader predict exactly where the Blood Lamas would appear before we reached Yubulsa? I trust the Leader's judgment."

The other members of the group nodded in agreement.

"Everyone, stay alert. The ones who took Young Hero Hwang are mysterious masters. We don't know if they'll use hidden weapons or poison. So, I expect you to follow my instructions to the letter."

"You don't even have to ask!"

So Gu-chi and Sim Geol answered loudly, lifting the group's spirits.

"Then, let's go."

I began walking in the opposite direction of where Smiling Face Sword had pointed.

Mission accomplished. If I spend a few days wandering around under the pretext of searching for Hwang Chu, the battle at Ilguk Sect will be over.

I marched forward, humming inwardly.

I had been walking without a care in the world for about fifteen minutes when So Gu-chi, who was searching the left side, called out.

"Leader, look at this."

Do Yeon asked, "What is it?"

So Gu-chi picked something up with his fingers.

"This is a scrap of fabric from the clothes Young Hero Hwang was wearing. It doesn't look like it was torn during a struggle; it looks like he tore it off and left it on purpose to show us his location."

"There's another one here!"

Another member brought over a scrap of the same fabric.

"It seems they really did come this way, just as the Leader said."

Only then did the people look at me with eyes full of admiration.

They probably hadn't expected my words to be proven right again, just like back at Yubulsa.

"Mmm..."

I swallowed a groan.

Dammit. Why am I so unlucky? I just picked the opposite direction to get as far away from them as possible, so why does the opposite always happen?

I felt an ominous premonition that bad luck had been clinging to me ever since I left Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.

Back at the fortress, even with that wicked woman Mok Seon-hwa around, luck had generally been on my side and I’d managed to get by without much trouble. But here, things kept diverging from my intentions.

I suddenly found myself missing Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.

As I frowned slightly in annoyance, Do Yeon spoke up.

"Is something wrong? You look troubled."

But my mouth betrayed me and blurted out something else entirely.

"No. I was just feeling distressed thinking about the fear and pain Young Hero Hwang must be suffering."

"As I thought!"

Do Yeon nodded, letting out a breath of admiration.

As we moved further, the loud clashing of weapons reached my ears.

"Wait!"

At my command, everyone stopped. Looking at their faces, they seemed confused, as if they hadn't heard anything.

Jeok Yeong seemed to realize it a moment later and tilted his ear.

My internal energy is only half of Jeok Yeong's, but my senses are just as sharp because my upper dantian has turned into a Circulating Dantian.

Once again, I felt the excellence of the Circulating Dantian.

Do Yeon also noticed a moment later and spoke.

"There is a fight going on somewhere."

"From now on, hide your presence as much as possible as we move. The ones we are pursuing are all masters; it will be disadvantageous if our position is discovered."

I gave the warning and we began to move.