Chapter 142
Chapter 142
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 142
Chapter Title: The Blood Demon Has Come? (3)
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After resting for a day, we met the Cult Leader with freshly cleaned bodies.
The Cult Leader, seated on an ornate, luxurious chair, appeared to be a sturdy man in his thirties.
He was in his seventies, yet he looked younger than his own daughter, Young Ho-kyeong—so Peng Yeon-hwa's words had been true after all.
'Reaching the Absolute Peak stops aging!'
Buoyed by that realization, I panicked the moment my eyes met the Cult Leader's.
His eyes seemed to crinkle with a smile, but he soon turned to my master and asked,
"Did you rest well?"
"Thanks to you, I did. Come to think of it, even last time I visited, I didn't stay in the Cult Leader's quarters, but they're quite nice."
"Isn't it because your position now is different from back then?"
Their casual exchange of greetings soon shifted focus to me.
"You called for my disciple."
"Not me—my daughter did. She must have taken quite a liking to your disciple."
"Would it be so bad if you got hooked too?"
"I won't deny it."
The way they looked at me couldn't have been more different. My master gazed at me with pitying disappointment, while the Cult Leader eyed me with evident amusement.
"I made a promise, and I'm here to keep it. A month and a half, was it? I'll stick to that deadline without fail. But don't interfere with my training time."
"Understood. I'll assign one of the training grounds in the Cult Leader's quarters and ensure no one bothers you there."
"That 'no one' doesn't include you or your daughter, right?"
"That would defeat the purpose of inviting him. I have to give you at least a chance to chat him up."
Give and take.
My master's demand to bar even the owner from entering had been overly unreasonable from the start, so he had no choice but to yield a step.
"It was a pleasure. I doubt we'll see much of each other while you're staying here."
"...I look forward to your care."
As I moved to withdraw from the Cult Leader's presence, my master stayed put.
"...Master?"
"I'll head back later. No training time today anyway, so rest easy."
"...Yes, I will."
Guided by a servant to my room, I soon noticed someone following me.
"Young Cult Leader?"
"Leaving a guest cooped up alone in his quarters isn't proper hospitality. Care for a cup of tea?"
"...I'd be honored."
I followed her without protest. As long as she didn't bring up anything sticky, what was the harm?
Besides, it was smart to glean whatever info I could about the Sacred Blood Pill. Someday, I could dangle it as bait for Mae So-hyang...
No, no. No sex thoughts right now. I'm a living Buddha at this moment!
"I never imagined you'd actually taken a disciple."
"So you sent that Namgoong punk packing? Planning to kill him without solid proof?"
"If it had been Elder Il, who knows your martial arts, things might've gone differently."
In the grand hall, now empty save for the two of them, the Blood Demon dropped his formal speech as before. The Cult Leader didn't seem to mind.
"Worried about your disciple? The Blood Demon I remember wasn't the type to fret over such things..."
"Think what you will. But it's a fact that you can't bake him into your dough anymore."
"Ha, 'bake him'? No idea what you're on about."
The Blood Demon, listening silently as the Cult Leader feigned ignorance, spoke up again.
"You stirred things up at the Peng Family. And though it's not public, at Shaolin Temple too."
"Your ears are as sharp as ever. Still especially fond of the Underground Network, I see."
"From what I pieced together with my disciple's story, Shaolin's mess seems sorted—no more flipping it over. Leaves just the Peng Family."
The Cult Leader, ignored as he spoke, finally gave up and asked,
"...What is it you want to say?"
"Word is the Peng Family incident was some cultists acting on their own. Stick to that line, but make a clear apology to the orthodox sects. That'd be ideal."
"...Ha. I hear your disciple's playing orthodox. You thinking of switching sides too?"
The Cult Leader's voice sharpened. Being underestimated was one thing—the man was a powerhouse, after all.
But trying to dictate the Demonic Cult's moves? That, he couldn't tolerate. He began slowly raising his aura.
"Don't misunderstand. If I were switching, it'd be far more effective to let your lot charge in, then crush you myself. More dramatic, no?"
"..."
"You could control those fools enough to stop their schemes, yet you're letting it slide because you want some blood price too, I'd wager."
"Speculation."
"Doesn't matter either way. Just assuming that's the case. But heed this warning: don't forget they might slip your leash anytime."
"...Is that why you stayed?"
"Enough to cover the meal, no?"
The Cult Leader thought of the hardliners led by Elder Il.
'So that's it... He wants an apology...'
It wasn't just for the orthodox sects. It was to show his clear intent to the cult's warmongers and rein them in.
Before they truly harmed the cult by biting at the orthodox side.
"...Understood."
He wasn't thrilled to dance to the Blood Demon's tune, but the Cult Leader judged it beneficial.
Though what the Blood Demon stood to gain remained unclear.
Lavish.
Young Ho-kyeong's quarters were utterly lavish.
Even the wooden furniture gleamed so brightly that I wondered if it was the material itself or just impeccable polishing.
"This is top-grade Da Hong Pao. How is it?"
"Not an expert, but it's drinkable. A subtle sweetness too..."
Tea usually had that astringent bite, so I just nursed it ordinarily—but this was decent enough.
With over a month left, Young Ho-kyeong didn't push me to join her ranks hastily.
Just idle talk about the world.
"The Nine Dragons are fully assembled now. Ever met the Three Peaks?"
"Yes, I have."
Apart from Namgung Hye, I'd met Neung Hui-yeon of the Plum Peak.
Mae So-hyang's daughter, yet bearing no resemblance—a beauty with a mysterious air.
"Hm, I've seen the other two at Shaolin, excluding English Peak's Namgung Hye. Quite the looks on them."
Sipping her tea with a slurp, she peered at me over her cup, sizing me up like she was gauging her type—or maybe not.
Give it another decade post-marriage, and she might turn into the kind I want to pin down.
But right now, Young Ho-kyeong was even more...
"Cough! Cough!"
"You alright?"
"F-Fine... Cough!"
No, no. No matter how pent-up from no relief on the journey, a Demonic Cult woman was off-limits.
I calmed my choking on the tea and stole a glance at Young Ho-kyeong, who looked at me with concern.
She didn't know I only went for milfs. If I could keep that hidden and bide my time quietly, I'd win.
'Virgins are tolerable. I have to endure!'
"This place is massive. A fortress built into natural cliffs—makes sense how your cult's history endured so long."
I finally quelled my cough and changed the subject.
"Mm, yes. With the Silk Road right beside us, invasions happen often. Without this fortress setup, countless lay believers might've died."
"Lay believers..."
"Didn't you see on the way? We're not all martial artists trained in demonic arts. Plenty of ordinary folk following our doctrines."
According to Young Ho-kyeong, the cult's creed was a form of Maitreya faith.
The belief that Maitreya would save those who lived righteously per the teachings—a fortune-based devotion.
Yet she explained their hardships matter-of-factly, without playing on my sympathy. Young Ho-kyeong was no ordinary woman.
Impressed inwardly by her clean persuasion—minimizing resentment while subtly swaying me—I suddenly noticed a commotion outside.
[D-Division Leader! We have a guest! Please come back later...]
[Out of my way! Young Cult Leader, I'm coming in!]
Bang!
The door flew open, and a man with a bushy beard stormed in.
"Division Leader Kyung, is something urgent?"
"Young Cult Leader, why refuse me?!"
"Because I didn't want to."
"But why..."
The man bellowed, then noticed my stare and shut his mouth.
"Who's this?"
"My guest. If you know it's rude, leave now."
At Young Ho-kyeong's words, the man glared furiously. As if telling me to get out?
Feeling no need to engage, I turned away and finished my tea.
"Brat, I don't care who you are—don't butt into adults talking."
"The 'butting in' I learned doesn't match this. First time hearing the earlier guest claim someone intruded."
"What?"
If I'd come alone, I might've backed off. Arguing straight with his type was just tiring.
But Young Ho-kyeong had ordered him out, and above all, I'd come with my master. My actions tied to his pride.
"Brat, what's your name?"
"I was taught to give your name first when asking another's. Different here?"
"You little...!"
The man glared incredulously, eyes flashing.
But honestly, I was the baffled one. He barged in demanding I leave—who was the real oddity?
What kind of guy ignored number two in the Demonic Cult, Young Ho-kyeong's order, and dawdled?
Did he know he'd erred? The tigerish, bearded man glared at me like he wanted to kill me.
At the Martial Alliance in Xi'an.
The Sword Saint's long-awaited return to routine was once again disrupted by Demonic Cult stirrings, leaving him in increasingly haggard days.
Even that was ordeal enough, but an unexpected report hit him so hard he clutched his forehead, dizzy.
"Qingliang... You mean... what?"
"T-Terribly sorry, Alliance Leader. Huangbo Vice Division Leader of the White Tiger Unit..."
"Yes, Hyo-seon, what...?"
"Sh-She's headed to the Demonic Cult. Nearly ten days ago...!"
Bam!
The Sword Saint unwittingly shattered the table with his inner energy.
Vice Alliance Leader Qingliangzi, who should have pointed it out, stood frozen, speechless.
A minor dispatch mix-up sending the wrong person. Normally, he'd order it done or swap if unfit.
But nearly ten days had passed.
"No, why Hyo-seon of all people...? Alone?"
"S-Seems so."
Worst case. They had planned to send someone to gauge the Demonic Cult's stance clearly.
But amid deliberations over whom for such a sensitive matter, somehow the order went out—and the Alliance Leader's granddaughter, Huangbo Hyo-seon, set off for the Demonic Cult.
Anything but her—even a child would've been better.
Even past forty, her sense of justice burned fierce; she might demand the Cult Leader kneel and apologize.
'No, she wouldn't, surely?'
Doubting yet fearing she just might, the two locked eyes and swallowed dryly.
Wondering if no matter their efforts here, a righteous-demonic clash might erupt anyway.