Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 229
>Chapter Title: Rehabilitation (4)
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Pingliang County's government office.
An impassioned debate was unfolding there.
"This makes the story too flat! And if the righteous sword hero wins every time, we'll have to keep making new villains!"
"Hey now! It's only right for the good guys to win! You're clearly lost to the demonic path!"
It was a debate about the mock battles.
Surprisingly, the ones most eagerly voicing their opinions weren't the actual martial artists participating in the mock battles.
It was the storytellers and commentators dragged in by the Beggars' Sect disciples. On top of them, even Baekcheon was deeply engrossed in the discussion.
The participants occasionally tried to chime in.
"Um, excuse me..."
"We'd prefer no lines..."
"Quiet!"
"We'll write lines for you later, so practice them! Why do you sound so awkward?"
They ended up getting scolded by the storytellers and commentators just for opening their mouths.
The storytellers and commentators were rediscovering a joy they'd long forgotten.
They'd once basked in false nirvana from the Illusion Dream Formation and the Bewitching Grass, but they had been people who thrived on audiences hanging on their every tale.
Naturally, their greatest pleasure was seeing people enthralled by their performances and commentary.
"With so many people watching, we have to give them a proper story and acting!"
"Quite right! So let's make it a bit more profound."
"Hey! Have you forgotten already? The most important thing is fun!"
"You think everyone wants your crude, simpleminded fun? We need stories with philosophy!"
Ever since they'd seen with their own eyes the crowds cheering for their acting and commentary, they'd become fully invested in the mock battles.
Il-mok and Hong-gae watched their heated debate from a few steps away.
"Heh heh heh. Seeing the mock battles improve day by day is truly a sight to behold."
"Hmph. As a martial artist, it's not exactly welcome entertainment, but since the masses of Pingliang County enjoy it, what can we do."
Hong-gae spoke in a reluctant tone.
He'd wondered if this would work, but it was working, so he had nothing to say.
Nor was it just about the mock battles.
"Word among those visiting Kongtong Mountain lately has been positive. That Kongtong Inn and the street stalls. The stables too."
The rumors hadn't spread widely yet, so visitors weren't flooding in, but the effects were proving real.
On top of that, the scheme to draw those Kongtong visitors naturally to Pingliang County was taking hold.
Of course, considering the vastness of the Central Plains, it would take quite some time for word to spread far.
'This mock battle thing, just as the Maitreya Divine Cult said, is a spectacle you can't pay to see anywhere else, so the rumors are bound to spread.'
At this point, denying it would make one look like a fool.
There was just one issue left.
"But how long do you plan to exploit our Beggars' Sect disciples? No offense, but we can't work here forever."
Il-mok replied to Hong-gae's question in a reassuring tone.
"The stories they make already swap out characters now and then, don't they? We'll gradually replace them with people from our Maitreya Divine Cult, so don't worry."
There were those busily purging black path factions across Gansu Province.
Il-mok figured he could just call in a few one by one and have them perform here.
'Mystic Cult combat units are all at peak realm or higher, so their shows would be even more spectacular than these beggars' acting.'
Not just physical feats, but sword qi and saber qi too—how flashy would that be.
The problem was they also cultivated demonic arts and, at their advanced levels, suffered from mental instability.
'By then, the doctors will be working here anyway. They can act, get counseling for their madness—killing two birds with one stone.'
Il-mok had come up with a reasonable solution.
He decided not to worry about martial artists suffering shame from exaggerated public displays or doctors burning out from overwork.
'Hmm. Come to think of it, the doctors should be arriving in Gansu Province by now.'
Something occurred to him, and he turned to Hong-gae.
"I need to head to Lanzhou briefly to prepare for the next phase. Please look after the masses with our Maitreya Divine Cult's music troupe in the meantime."
It wasn't just about fetching the doctors.
'The place there should be nearly complete by now. Time to prepare something similar here.'
* * *
The next day, Il-mok set out alone for Lanzhou, fully equipped.
Traveling by carriage at a leisurely pace, he arrived in Lanzhou by late afternoon two days later.
His first stop, as always, was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's branch hall in Lanzhou.
Those there welcomed him.
"We greet Young Master Il-mok."
"We greet the Venerable One's eighth disciple."
"Come in, brother!"
Il-mok nodded slightly at the varied greetings and first asked Dam-bin,
"Any issues in the past month?"
"You laid out the big picture in advance, Young Master, so nothing worth noting."
"And the construction?"
"It wrapped up two days ago. There's a gathering tonight—will you join us?"
Il-mok nodded at Dam-bin's question and asked,
"Oh, right—the doctors from headquarters haven't arrived yet?"
"Not yet, but they should be here soon."
With confirmation on his two main errands, Il-mok nodded, and Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a asked,
"Brother, so you'll head back to Pingliang County once the doctors arrive?"
"Yes."
"Then can I come with you this time?"
"...Sorry, but with so many Beggars' Sect folks still there, it's too risky—you'd stand out."
The others might pass—most were in their late teens or twenties at peak realm—but Seon-a had reached peak at just fifteen.
Impossible with any orthodox martial art. Plus, her red hair and eyes drew too much attention.
She could dye her hair, but hiding her eyes was harder.
"...Those damn beggars. I'll kill them all."
Il-mok thought he heard Seon-a mutter something, but pretended not to.
'She's still a kid—if she's mad, she might say stuff like that. Whatever.'
Glancing around, avoiding her gaze, everyone else seemed content here, except Seon-a.
Ouyang Mun and Joo Seo-yeon were even beaming, just being near Jin Ha-yeon.
It irked him that they seemed more comfortable than him.
"I'm assigning new missions to a few from the Red Tiger Unit and White Dragon Unit patrolling Gansu. Team Leader Joo and Young Hero Ouyang, prepare to join them soon."
"!?"
Il-mok felt a surge of satisfaction at their startled reactions.
* * *
That night.
Il-mok headed to the Maitreya Divine Cult's compound with his group.
At its center stood a massive hall.
The framework had been up for a while, but now the interior was fully complete.
Even late at night, plenty of people wandered the compound.
All heading toward the massive hall.
Il-mok and his group used lightfoot skill to slip to a hidden side entrance, reserved for key figures.
Inside the vast hall, the front resembled a temple—Buddha statue, candle stands, a raised platform for sermons.
Before it lay a huge open space, now packed with people.
It was filled to capacity when
a man in an enraged Four Heavenly Kings mask ascended the platform.
"Thank you all for coming tonight! Let the gathering begin!"
The man opened with doctrine amplified by inner power.
"Ooooh! Maitreya!"
"Maitreya descends!"
"Salvation for all!"
Each proclamation drew chants and bows from the crowd.
After some time of preaching, musicians stepped forward and began playing.
"O Maitreya, we thank you. For granting us the light."
The assembled joined in hymn.
Yes.
This massive hall was a sort of chapel. Fitting the Maitreya Divine Cult's doctrine, only a Buddha statue.
Instead of secretive nighttime gatherings in odd places, Il-mok had built this grand assembly hall.
'Hmm. Standing the whole time must be tough—maybe add seats? Like churches or cathedrals. But they thrash around like they're possessed during hymns; chairs might just get in the way.'
Scanning the fervent cult gathering, Il-mok noted improvements.
'Hmm. Space is tight anyway, so best to designate one area with seats for the elderly and infirm.'
Turning from the mad scene he'd created, Il-mok asked Dam-bin beside him,
"If it finished two days ago, this is the first gathering here, right?"
"Yes, Young Master."
This turnout on the first day.
'The cult proselytizing is working too well.'
Clutching his dizzying head, he stated his purpose.
"Then pass word to the carpenters and laborers tomorrow. Pingliang County needs a project this big."
"Planning gatherings there too?"
"Well, we'll hold some, sure."
"But fewer people there than in the holy city here, right?"
"Ah. Gatherings are secondary—the main purpose is different."
"I'll relay to Carpenter Deok-gwang and the laborers."
Dam-bin was curious but didn't pry.
* * *
Back at the branch after the gathering, I tried to rest, but an uninvited guest arrived.
"Young Master!!"
The intruder, with dark circles under his eyes, was none other than Doctor Seo Jae-pil.
"Hm. Need a break? More doctors are coming soon; I'll assign one to assist you."
I thought exhaustion had him seeking relief, but his response surprised me.
"I heard about Pingliang County from Team Leader Dam-bin! A place overflowing with superb medical cases—no, pitiful souls in need—and you're leaving me behind for other doctors?!"
"......"
That dying face, and he's not asking for less work—he wants more.
More than that.
'Did he just call them "superb medical cases"?"
Classic mad doctor thinking.
But mad or not, his skills were reliable—reliable because he was mad.
"Hm. If you want to go that badly, I'll bring you along, Doctor Seo. But you'll hand off your duties here to the new arrivals, so prepare a proper handover."
"I'll prepare thoroughly!"
His fatigued face lit up with joy at more work—chills ran down my spine.
Mission accomplished, perhaps. The madman's attention turned to me.
"By the way, Team Leader Dam-bin mentioned your progress in demonic arts. May I ask about recent side effects?"
My mental state, specifically.
After a moment's thought, I replied.
"The side effects have definitely lessened. But there's one thing that's been bothering me."