Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: It Was Real? (2)
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-Shut up!
'The truth hurts.'
-You won't know until you try fighting me.
'Now I know. You're weak, much weaker than me. Puahaha.'
-I'm not weak! Don't laugh, you bastard!
'Pathetic, pathetic!'
The current Mujin was stronger than the future Demon King. Even the Demon King couldn't deny that fact. Moreover, an opponent he'd already fought once posed no threat to Mujin. It was the power of the War King Battle Body, which grew stronger the more one fought.
"Does the main branch leader know?"
"Why'd the conversation shift there while talking about incidents? I'm a consistent man. Let's get back on track."
Consistent, my ass!
This guy clearly had a vicious hobby of frustrating people until they keeled over from exasperation. How could he be this clueless? It almost made Mujin feel sorry for suspecting him in the first place.
'If only his martial prowess were weak too.'
He would've escaped this place long ago and holed up in a sub-branch without coming out. But his skills were more than enough to dominate a province.
That was when it happened.
"Hey, did you hear the news?"
"What news has you so worked up?"
"They say the prized daughter of the Cheonui Sect is missing."
"For real? The Cheonui Sect is a pretty big name around here. How'd that happen?"
"She vanished without a trace."
"Come to think of it, they said a maiden went missing from the next village over too."
It was the conversation from the men seated across from Mujin's table. There weren't many people, and they were at a distance where it shouldn't have been audible, but an expert's hearing was annoyingly sharp.
"Weird stuff happens."
"It's not something to take lightly."
"People go missing every year, one or two at a time. It's heartbreaking, but what can you do? They need to watch themselves."
"We thought the same at first, but it's not that simple."
"Something's up, huh."
"We're investigating."
"If the Beggars' Sect is on it, it'll be solved quick. They're pros at this sort of thing."
"Other sects have their talents too."
Mujin didn't pay it much mind. Missing people were tragic, but most had likely died. He could offer condolences to the grieving parents, but he wasn't nosy enough to go searching for them. By that logic, he'd have to scour the entire continent for every missing person.
-Ask if they're virgins.
'What?'
Mujin gave Yukchil a puzzled look when the Demon King chimed in.
-You know the Ma-in Legion?
'Annoying bunch.'
-To create the Ma-in Legion, you need maidens with pure yin energy. The less they've been with men, the better they perform.
The Ma-in Legion wasn't numerous, but each member was a weapon that was hard to deal with. As the vanguard of the Demonic Cult of the Demon God, they'd crushed the spirit of the martial world.
"Virgins?"
"Not exactly. Virgins, married women, children—no discrimination. And as Great Hero Kang said, the numbers at the main branch haven't spiked much either, so we're treating them as simple disappearances. Still, since they're missing, we've sent official notices to the sects and clans for investigation."
"Do it if you want, drop it if you don't."
"Some sects are stepping up."
Most missing persons had grudges against someone, and women or children were often targets for those practicing yin arts. Eliminating such practitioners was upholding justice in the martial world. It was perfect prey for young heroes seeking fame with a righteous pretext.
"Good, then. Hope they find them soon. Can't imagine the parents' pain. I get how they feel."
Mujin offered a silent prayer for the missing and their families from afar.
Yukchil shook his head. Called a great hero, but far too human to be dubbed a righteous warrior or knight-errant.
'Is it really okay to keep traveling with this guy?'
Yukchil had tried using the other patrons' chatter to draw Mujin's attention. Most would've perked up at missing maidens, but this guy didn't budge.
Not like he was super busy or anything?
Honestly, who even knew what he did all day.
'Azure Spirit Oil, my foot!'
Let's say he knew where the Azure Spirit Oil was. Would a normal person leisurely tour the land like that? They'd rush before someone else snatched it.
Slurrrp, slurp!
Cheolho and Narung were on their third bowl of Cheonsu Noodles. If they didn't eat big today, hunger would hit fast during training. They weren't as idle as Yukchil to meddle in others' business. They were just inexperienced; soon they'd be hollow-eyed like him.
"Can we get the smoked duck?"
"I want sweet-and-sour pork too!"
Mujin wasn't stingy with food. He ordered whatever they wanted. He planned to order generously anyway since they were eating together.
Back in his War King days, Mujin fought nonstop after training without a day's rest. Food was the most essential thing in battle. No matter the expert, they couldn't perform without eating.
'Stuff yourselves!'
Yukchil had helped out, but he was annoyed at the two's irresponsible gluttony, like they were possessed.
'Can't underestimate them.'
Cheolho and Narung's skills were impressive. Especially Cheolho, whose achievements matched his age in astonishment. Mujin had mistaken him for an older brother at first, only to be shocked by his real age. That said, his progress was phenomenal.
'Makes sense. With how desperately he craves people like that, it'd be weirder if he didn't grow.'
When drilling Cheolho, Mujin was less man than devil. A sadistic hobby unfit for humans. Yet he kindled killing intent with unbreakable will.
'He's forging a slaughter demon!'
He was witnessing the perfect process to birth a being that would plunge the martial world into chaos. Even so, it was hard to call his temperament evil.
'I'd have gone off the rails already.'
Yukchil wanted strength but kept it to himself. Voicing it would ramp up the brutality.
"Look into someone at the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"How am I supposed to know from that?"
"Blonde hair."
"Got it."
"Cut it out and clean up."
"Damn, if you're gonna do this, just handle it all at once."
"Don't do anything stupid. Just erase the traces."
"Fine. Quit nagging."
Women lay beside the man. They'd been dead a while. Scuff marks showed their struggles, but they'd been overpowered and brutally violated.
"What a waste of good meat."
He pulled out a jar and poured it over their bodies.
Splatter, bubble!
The liquid hit flesh, releasing a foul, acrid stench as it began melting them. Watching humans dissolve was gruesomely nauseating.
The man was nonchalant, as if it were daily routine. He watched intently until they fully melted.
"Kekekeke, this one's fun."
"Freak."
"You aren't?!"
"Don't screw around."
A subordinate entered from outside.
Local beggars had smelled the odor and reported the official notice. To divert attention, they'd used decoys and varied types. Focusing on one drew suspicion. Supplying had been their long-standing task.
"Orders to increase supply."
"See?"
"Don't leave traces."
"Relax."
The man licked his lips, eyes gleaming with lust. He hoped for tastier prey this time.
Mujin was climbing Yungzhong Mountain.
The site where the Zhuge Clan's founder, the Crouching Dragon, once resided remained, but the current Zhuge Clan was based in Yichang. Still their roots, yet neglected. It reeked of the Zhuge Clan's pragmatic nature.
"When the demonic path surged in the past, the Zhuge Clan took heavy losses. Once weakened, they relocated from Yungzhong Mountain to Yichang."
"Because of Wudang, right?"
Yukchil was impressed at times like this.
He had an eerily sharp side. Especially coldly realistic about factions' interests. Most wouldn't think fellow righteous sects like Zhuge and Wudang would clash, but Mujin was certain they'd pressure each other for gain.
"From then on, Wudang entered its golden age and still holds superiority in Hubei Province. To break free as second fiddle, the Zhuge Clan absorbed many subordinate sects. Cheonsu Sect is one."
"Groups united by interests can't speak out over those same interests."
Mujin had long forgotten about Cheonsu Sect. They couldn't utter a peep now, and even if they did, he wouldn't care about the Zhuge Clan.
"So, where are we really going?"
"Told you. To drink Azure Spirit Oil."
You expect me to buy that?!
Yukchil tried accepting this guy's mindset but always ended up back at square one.
'Don't try to understand!'
Narung and Cheolho silently followed Mujin. Talking only hurt their mouths and pride, leading to more grueling training.
Stay quiet unless ordered, even quieter.
Orders meant more training.
"The Triad Point."
At the peak where the mountain's summits aligned visually, a cave lay below the center point.
It was the third-highest summit on Yungzhong Mountain. Mujin scaled the tallest to spot the third.
"Found it."
"Where?"
"The peak in front of that one ahead. The Triad Point aligns from there, and the cave's below that mountain. So head there."
"Pardon?"
"Going first."
Mujin stomped, vanishing.
Yukchil had to track the disappeared Mujin. He spotted him quickly—a hundred paces straight ahead.
"...Eagle Wind Flight Art!"
He soared through the air. At tremendous speed.
In a blink, he leaped summits. Yukchil gaped at the unbelievable sight.
"...He's human?"
Wrong intel again.
He'd reported Fire Realm, corrected to Fire Realm extreme. But this wasn't Fire Realm. Who in Fire Realm flew like that so casually?
"We latched onto the wrong guy!"
The scale of strength was different.
Those who'd surpassed human limits—finger-count few—were called Absolutes.
Absolute Realm.
The final human pinnacle. Even ranked within, it was beyond mortal bounds.
Monsters beyond heaven.
"...Damn it!"
Report Absolute Realm now? His judgment would be shot.
"Fire Realm peak... yeah? Must be!"
Absolute at that age? Unthinkable, instant liar label.
"You guys think so too... huh?"
"...!"
Where?
Whirrr!
The two were gone.
Scouting, they were already far down.
Thud thud thud!
Desperate to save themselves, they bolted like mad. Clearly fled the instant Mujin took flight.
"Bastards!"
Yukchil couldn't lag. He had to catch up, faster. But the gap widened.
"Just conquer the martial world already!"
Why flaunt that power on absurd nonsense?!
"Shit!"
Yukchil sprinted for his life.