Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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Mangnyang wiped his sweat and spoke.
"That won't leave us much time, so I'll make this quick."
In truth, I could have carried out this plan alone and finished the rescue without issue. However, after defeating the giant tentacle toad, I had come to find Mangnyang specifically because he had said it was better that way. It seemed he believed handling everything at once wasn't ideal.
"First, show me the treasures you acquired."
I showed Mangnyang the Nine Stars Origin Book, the wooden box, and the paired jade twin swords in turn. As he examined each treasure, he picked up the paired jade twin swords and asked,
"Do you know what the Paired Horns One Great Sword is?"
"Not really."
"This is the famed beloved sword of Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han from the Three Kingdoms era. It's likely the real thing."
Emperor Zhaolie Liu Bei of Shu Han.
He was the legendary hero who founded the Shu Han empire in opposition to the hegemonic warlord Cao Cao, who dominated the Three Kingdoms era. I had read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and knew the tales of him wielding twin swords, but I never imagined they were these. There was good reason Yeo Dongbin had rated them higher than the Yodo Muramasa.
"The most important thing is this: how was facing the giant tentacle toad? Tell me the difficulty you sensed."
"Well, Yeo Dongbin took care of it all, so I have nothing to say. He handled it easily..."
"Not that. I mean, if you had faced it alone, without borrowing Yeo Dongbin's power."
I thought for a moment before answering that question.
"It would have been quite tough."
Setting everything else aside, the giant tentacle toad had tremendous durability befitting its size. Even Lee Gwang had called it sturdy, and it took Yeo Dongbin unleashing sword aura and swordsmanship strikes countless times to finally kill it. For a typical transcendent martial artist, it would be exhausting to the point of death, and that was only because the toad's attack power and agility weren't particularly low either. Even if I unleashed Thunderclap and Baek Woong's Secret Art against it, I'd be locked in fierce combat for at least half a shichen.
"Good. That's what I wanted to hear—that's why I had you come. You don't need to visit next time."
Mangnyang nodded in satisfaction and continued.
"Now, go back, put all the hostages in the wooden box, and bring them to me."
Mangnyang took all the valuables from inside the wooden box and stored them away, then handed me brush, ink, and paper. The purpose was obvious.
"Got it."
The plan proceeded steadily. I used Cloud Piercer again to return to the Great Thunder Prison. As expected, with no separate guards here, no one had noticed the giant tentacle toad's death yet. Even if they had, it would take considerable time to reach via the side paths, so we had plenty of time. I toured the thunder prison, cutting open the cells holding the prisoners one by one.
Sching!
Though made of iron, they sliced effortlessly with my internal energy and sword flames. As I cut the bars and pulled them out, the prisoners were overcome with gratitude. It must have felt like salvation from hell itself.
"Ooooh...!!"
"Young hero, thank you!!"
"This can't be... it's a miracle."
As I cut the bars, I told them,
"Gather at the Great Thunder Prison entrance for now. Support and bring the mutated ones too."
"Understood."
There were twelve in total, three of whom were mutated. Among them, four were women. Fortunately, the women didn't seem to have been raped or gang-raped yet.
'Probably the Brocade Guard Chief only takes them out to assault elsewhere.'
At the innermost thunder prison cell that Lee Gwang and Jin So-cheong had searched, an old man sat leaning against the wall. Recognizing the familiar face, I peered in slowly. But the old man spoke first.
"Child. Have you come to rescue me?"
His voice carried an inexplicable aura of authority, revealing a man of strong resolve. More importantly, he was still in full possession of his reason. Relieved, I replied,
"Yes, General Hwang Yeon."
"Indeed... My thanks for the aid."
As I cut the bars and moved to support General Hwang Yeon, he waved me off.
"I'm fine. I can walk on my own."
"That's a relief."
"I've only been imprisoned a short while. No need to worry."
General Hwang Yeon seemed aware that those held here long eventually mutated. With him rescued, there were no more to save, so I headed to where the others had gathered. I could see them marveling at the mutated ones.
"Ooh... it's healing!"
"What happened?"
The mutated areas on the afflicted were visibly healing before their eyes, reverting to human flesh. It must have been because defeating the giant tentacle toad had destroyed the source of the curse. I said to them,
"Everyone, pay attention here for a moment."
Including General Hwang Yeon, the ten rational people in the room turned to me. I looked at them calmly and said,
"I've led you out of this Great Thunder Prison, but first, I want to learn your names, ranks, how long you've been imprisoned, and the reasons why."
"What do you mean? Is that necessary?"
A middle-aged man who looked like a high civil official questioned me, but I chuckled.
"I'm pulling you out of this hell—surely you can answer that much? But let me be clear: I don't have to take you at all."
"...Fine, I understand."
Realizing his position, he shut his mouth. I took the brush, ink, and paper from Mangnyang and recorded each one's name, rank, imprisonment date, and reason in a separate room. Once the interviews ended, including General Hwang Yeon, I tucked the papers into my bosom.
I said to them,
"Now, we'll move. But for the time being, you can't return home because of the Brocade Guards—keep that in mind."
"We understand."
"I'll arrange a separate hideout for you."
All of them were targets of the Brocade Guards, so they nodded in agreement. I held the wooden box toward them.
"Put your hand in."
"Wha—what?!"
The people flinched in surprise. Their arms were sucked into the wooden box, and as their entire bodies followed, some fell on their rears in shock. Once they realized the wooden box was an incredible storage space, they all eagerly climbed in one after another. Normally, I'd worry about the treasures I'd gathered inside, but since I'd entrusted them to Mangnyang beforehand, there was no issue now.
Before entering last, General Hwang Yeon stared at me intently.
"Who exactly are you?"
His tone had shifted from treating me like a child to one of clear equality. Meeting General Hwang's eyes, he said,
"I practice martial arts too, so I can gauge your skill. At your age, someone with that level of power is rare even across the vast Central Plains—perhaps only three or four. And you possess such exceptional treasures... Who sent you?"
"I can't say right now. Just know that there are people acting for the sake of righteousness."
"Righteousness! Justice... Ha ha..."
General Hwang laughed bitterly. Suddenly kidnapped and imprisoned by the Brocade Guards, it was no wonder the word elicited a hollow chuckle from him. I said to General Hwang,
"I have a question. Are you aware that your clan is also under house arrest?"
"Probably. The Brocade Guards seemed determined."
"General Hwang, are you prepared to stake everything in a showdown with the Brocade Guards?"
This was the question Mangnyang had recommended I ask. He had asked me to report back the answer, as our future actions would depend on it. General Hwang replied resolutely, as if it needed no further thought.
"Of course! Even if it costs my life, I will eradicate those Brocade Guard scum."
It was the response we wanted. I smiled faintly.
"Very well."
Flash!
After stowing General Hwang in the wooden box too, I used Cloud Piercer to return to Mangnyang. He appeared to have been preparing busily, as his courtyard was filled with all sorts of tools laid out.
"You're back!"
I handed Mangnyang the paper with the prisoners' details and the brush, ink, and paper.
"General Hwang gave a positive response."
"I see. Then I'll take them under my protection."
"You'll handle it from Jinrang Valley?"
"I have more influence here than it seems."
Mangnyang replied confidently. In truth, he hadn't just lounged idly in Jinrang Valley; he had turned the area into his own sphere of influence, with numerous contacts and subordinates. The Anti-Heaven Alliance hadn't been built from nothing. Shortly after, I released the people from the wooden box.
"Ooh...?!"
"Where are we?!"
They were greatly startled. Suddenly finding themselves in a mountain hut, their surprise was understandable. Mangnyang said,
"Please don't be alarmed, everyone. Until the situation stabilizes, I will assist you."
"Who are you?!"
"I am Mangnyang, and I intend to aid you in every way possible."
Mangnyang and I calmed them together, then led them to the prepared secret hideout. He had another shelter built on the back side of the mountain. After convincing them why they couldn't return to the world yet, I assigned them rooms one by one.
"The mutated ones will gradually heal from now on. Please help care for them until then."
"Leave it to us."
Then I called General Hwang over, and the three of us began talking. Mangnyang spoke first.
"General Hwang, we are the Anti-Heaven Alliance, a group seeking to correct the imperial court's injustices and support His Majesty's righteous rule. Upon hearing of your abduction, we moved swiftly to rescue you."
Mangnyang carefully avoided any talk of opposing the imperial family. They could never raise flags of rebellion or treason; only the banner of aiding the emperor was possible.
General Hwang said admiringly,
"Impressively quick. I've only been imprisoned two days..."
"......"
Time-wise, it seemed we had ample margin. We could afford four or five days conservatively. Mangnyang said,
"However, from what our Anti-Heaven Alliance has uncovered, your abduction wasn't the Brocade Guards acting rogue."
General Hwang's eyebrow twitched.
"What do you mean?"
"We've confirmed the emperor himself is directly involved in this matter."
"...Unbelievable."
He showed little change in expression, but it was clear he didn't accept our words. And rightly so—he was a pure and incorruptible famed general who had devoted his life to the state. He was the type to die proclaiming loyalty even unto death, so he wouldn't easily agree to such claims.
But Mangnyang pressed on relentlessly.
"Even after seeing the hellish scenes in the Great Thunder Prison, do you still think that? Do you believe it's permissible to mutate humans into monsters merely on suspicion of treason? Do you think the Brocade Guards could unilaterally commit such atrocities defying His Majesty?"
"......"
"No matter how trusted and in control the Brocade Guard Chief is over his subordinates, he's ultimately just a martial official—a nobody. No matter how hard they try to hide it, word would leak to the Embroidered Uniform or other high officials. You know this far better than I, General Hwang. Yet the Great Thunder Prison persists like that because..."
"Enough. I understand."
General Hwang groaned as if in pain. He clutched his head for a long while before sighing.
"...Hah, I know it in my head. But I can't bring myself to believe it..."
"If you know, then we must change it. The current emperor was renowned as a prodigy since childhood—a brilliant mind. Surely villainous sycophants around him have led Your Majesty astray."
"Hmm..."
Mangnyang pressed even harder.
"The safety of your clan and the peace of the realm hang in the balance. If you abandon resistance here, your entire family will surely be exterminated soon. And countless righteous people will die by the Brocade Guards' hands."
"That cannot be allowed."
"Exactly. It cannot."
Then Mangnyang seized General Hwang's hand. Staring at him intensely, he said,
"The only one who can change this is you, General Hwang, pillar of the state. Please help us fight for justice."
General Hwang fell silent before saying,
"Give me a little time to think..."
He returned to the hideout. Watching his back, I asked Mangnyang,
"Will he help us?"
"He's an upright man with keen intellect—he won't be swayed lightly by a word or two of persuasion."
"Then what's the point of persuading him..."
Mangnyang chuckled.
"But attempting the persuasion itself is what's important. He'll decide based on his values and interests anyway, but whether he has a supporting force makes a huge difference. Especially if the emperor himself is manipulating the Brocade Guards—he can't rashly mobilize the military or trust his generals."
"Ah..."
I realized then that the fact I'd uncovered in my twelfth life wasn't pointless digging. The emperor directly controlling the Brocade Guards carried such profound implications.
"What General Hwang needs now is a third-party force untouched by outside influence. He'll grasp at straws and accept my proposal. This forms a relationship of mutual utilization."
I frowned.
"Then trust can't exist in that."
"That's how it is. Amid deception and exploitation, you select and choose the trustworthy. That's the way of organizations."
I understood why Mangnyang had deliberately brought me along to meet General Hwang. As a martial artist, the general might suddenly try to subdue him, so precautions were needed. At least until Mangnyang planted the seed in his mind, I had to serve as bodyguard.
I asked Mangnyang worriedly,
"Can you control those people alone?"
"Don't worry. They'll end up begging me not to abandon them. Focus on your remaining tasks."
"Got it."
Trusting Mangnyang, I immediately used Cloud Piercer to depart.
Flash!
This time, I arrived at a secret spot on Pirate Isle. A hidden space among the reefs, from here I could stealthily infiltrate the Blood Path Group's leader's quarters quickly and discreetly.
Using the secret passage and stealth techniques, I slipped into the lodging where the Blood Path Group leader resided. Through the window, I could see the debauchery inside.