Chapter 247
Chapter 247
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 247
>Chapter Title: Sichuan (4)
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After dealing with Black Island Gang Leader Mun Chang, Il-mok and his group headed back toward the Black Island Gang's territory.
Hiding in a suitable spot at a safe distance to observe, Il-mok lightly clicked his tongue.
"Mercy overflowing, as expected."
Dozens of Black Path thugs in the Black Island Gang had been subdued and forced to their knees, while the Orthodox Faction's young talents lectured them.
A quick scan showed six corpses. Around twenty more seemed to have severe injuries that would leave them crippled for life.
The remaining half had only minor wounds, and they knelt listening to the lectures.
Il-mok hadn't seen it while chasing the gang leader, but once the leader fled and his underlings realized it, they had all dropped their weapons and surrendered.
"You gonna trust these filthy bastards? They shot arrows at us mid-conversation, the trash!"
Paeng Ji-gwang was still fuming, throwing a fit.
"Brother Paeng Ji-gwang, we're an Orthodox Faction, not unorthodox demons. We can't swing our weapons at those who've surrendered their arms and repented their sins."
At the words of Yun-baek Dojang trying to calm him, the eavesdroppers enhancing their hearing with inner power shook their heads.
"Begging for mercy just to avoid death—how could that be true atonement?"
Dam Bin muttered to himself, and Il-mok nodded in agreement.
Just then, a young man in a robe emblazoned with plum blossoms entered the gang's compound, accompanied by a middle-aged man and an elder.
"Those are the ones."
As the Mount Hua Sect swordsman pointed out the severely injured, the middle-aged man and elder paled.
"Honestly, in that condition, treatment won't be easy."
"Low chance of survival, and high risk of permanent disability."
They appeared to be local physicians from Gwangwon County.
"Anyway, leaving them like this is dangerous. Best to move them to the clinic first."
Nodding at the physicians' explanation, Hwangbo Yeon spoke up.
"We'll help transport them. Please wait a moment."
She approached the surrendered thugs.
"Even if you've repented, who knows what you'll do once we're gone. Pay the price for your sins, at least minimally."
Without warning, she smashed their abdomens, shattering their dantians one by one.
"Gah..."
"Kuuaagh..."
As the men with crushed dantians foamed at the mouth and clutched their lower bellies, collapsing,
"Let's go."
She and the young talents hoisted those with severed limbs or pulverized bones and departed with the physicians.
* * *
The next morning.
The Orthodox Faction's young talents, who had dismantled the Black Island Gang that ruled Gwangwon County, left the area.
Watching from afar, Dam Bin turned to Il-mok.
"So, shall we start cleaning up the Black Island Gang remnants now?"
Il-mok shook his head.
"Begin the groundwork, but we'll observe for a day or two."
As the group looked puzzled, Il-mok elaborated.
"The Black Island Gang's all crippled or lost their martial arts, right? Someone from the locals who've been holding back because of them will likely step up to take over."
"You're planning to eliminate them and spread the Maitreya Illuminated Church's name?"
"Exactly. Like with the Red Thread Gang in Gorang County. If no one steps up, we'll hit the Haomen-affiliated brothels next."
They had already mapped out the Haomen brothels, thanks to info from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult branch and confessions from yesterday's recruit, Black Island Gang Leader Mun Chang.
Finishing his explanation, Il-mok gazed at the departing Orthodox young talents in the distance.
He paid particular attention to that worthless punk named Paeng Ji-gwang.
'Thanks for the help, and let's never meet again, you piece of shit.'
Silently bidding farewell to the useful turd, Il-mok turned back to his group and tilted his head.
"Something bothering you?"
The group's mood felt off from usual.
"It's not about Young Master's plan. It's just personally disappointing that taking over here is delayed."
Dam Bin spoke calmly on their behalf, but Il-mok was still confused.
"Any special connection here?"
"Not a personal one for me, just eagerly awaiting the day our Divine Church's banner rises again in Sichuan."
Pondering the meaning, Il-mok recalled a past conversation with Dam Bin.
"Is it because of Blood Dew Heavenly Demon?"
Blood Dew Heavenly Demon. One of the Nine Great Heavenly Demons, the previous previous-generation Heavenly Demon. The man who, after being driven to the Western Regions, first attempted a Central Plains invasion for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
He completely annihilated the Kunlun Sect and advanced into Sichuan, but that sparked the birth of the Martial Alliance.
When Il-mok mentioned the name from the Demonic Cult's history books, dead some 160 years ago, Dam Bin nodded.
"Sichuan Province is land our Heavenly Demon Divine Cult must reclaim. Moreover, his remains might still be somewhere here."
On the day he fell into the Martial Alliance's trap and suffered a crushing defeat, Blood Dew Heavenly Demon reportedly shed bloody tears, ordered his followers to retreat, and stayed behind alone to buy them time.
Thanks to that, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult survived and rebuilt in the Western Regions, but he never returned.
For cultists who revere the Heavenly Demon like a god, they would desperately want to recover his body.
'Not like we're scouring all of Sichuan for a corpse whose location is unknown.'
To Il-mok, a half-hearted believer, it sounded insane.
'So that's why they were so thrilled about proselytizing in Sichuan, unlike in Gansu.'
Now he understood why the Demonic Cult fanatics rejoiced when he announced the trip to Sichuan.
But knowing the reason changed nothing.
'Just handle the Haomen side moderately and bail.'
He had no desire to tangle with Sichuan's Three Great Powers yet.
Unless things went south.
* * *
Following Il-mok's orders, Dam Bin, Jin Ha-yeon, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a, and Jeong Hyeon finally resumed proselytizing after a long time.
The historic moment had arrived: various recruitment methods starting with "Do you know the Way?" now launched in Sichuan Province.
Meanwhile, inside Gwangwon County, things unfolded as Il-mok predicted.
A day after the Orthodox young talents left, some local thugs who had been watching banded together and raided the Black Island Gang compound.
The gang, stripped of inner power and down to just over twenty men, was swept away effortlessly. The newcomers hung a bizarre new signboard.
But it was the same old story, just new faces and name. Extorting money from market merchants, brothel madams, and innkeepers.
A few days later, on the day of the Maitreya Illuminated Church's first gathering.
As before, masked figures in angry visages stormed the Black Path gang's compound.
Unlike the Orthodox young talents, they delivered heavenly punishment to the thugs who tormented the common folk.
In the past, that would have ended it, but this time, they didn't stop there.
After sorting the Black Path gang, they targeted brothels and pleasure houses next. Haomen-linked ones.
People were initially terrified by their handling of the brothel owners and Haomen disciples.
But the fear didn't last.
As in Gansu Province, they were merciful to the Maitreya Illuminated Church followers.
They didn't extort market merchants and took only minimal profits from brothels and pleasure houses.
They even taught literacy and hired Gwangwon physicians to provide medical care.
Naturally, the county's commoners split into two camps.
"You really think they'll keep giving handouts forever?"
Those who saw it as temporary pretense.
"What's it matter if you don't believe? At least they're better than the last lot."
And those who believed they were an improvement.
In this atmosphere, the name Maitreya Illuminated Church slowly permeated Gwangwon County.
"Bri~ght, bright Maitreya Illu~minated Church!"
Accompanied by hymns.
* * *
As the Maitreya Illuminated Church's name seeped into Gwangwon County.
At the Martial Alliance near Dongting Lake.
A beggar arrived, one with seven knots on his side sash.
Beggar's Sect division leader Little Tiger Beggar passed the main gate and headed to a building with a "Flying Dragon Pavilion" sign.
"Long time no see."
"Indeed, Pavilion Lord."
Several months since cooperating on the Blood Cult hunt, they exchanged light greetings.
"For a division leader to come personally, it must be important. Related to the Blood Cult?"
At Pavilion Lord Jeong Yeong's question, Little Tiger Beggar nodded.
"I've heard the Blood Cult pursuit has hit snags lately. As expected of the Beggar's Sect."
"We're stumbling too. They've gotten sneakier, sensing our tracking. What we found this time isn't even certain."
"For a division leader to come for uncertain info... it must be grave."
Little Tiger Beggar nodded once and spoke gravely.
"We've found traces suspected to be Blood Cult in Sichuan."
"...Of all places, Sichuan."
Jeong Yeong frowned momentarily.
Sichuan was already tense, with the Three Great Powers at a boiling point, bloodbath imminent.
"Perfect spot for them to scheme. Wait here a moment? This isn't for me to decide alone."
"I'll await the decision."
At Little Tiger Beggar's reply, Jeong Yeong rose and left Flying Dragon Pavilion.
He headed to the Military Affairs Hall.
"Greetings, Chief Strategist."
"Come in. Heard the division leader's here—Blood Cult matter?"
At Chief Strategist Gong Son-hyeon's question, seeming to know all, Jeong Yeong nodded and reported.
"Not certain, but Blood Cult seems to be preparing something in Sichuan."
Vague, uncertain intel.
Yet impossible to ignore.
"Of all places, Sichuan."
The pondering Chief Strategist soon chuckled and spoke.
"Pavilion Lord, take the lead on this yourself."
"...If I may, leaving my post risks a gap in Demonic Cult surveillance."
"That's why I'm sending you. Forgot? Our goal is to concentrate the Central Plains' power in this 'Martial Alliance,' not just block the Demonic Cult."
"!!!"
"Once Central Plains power focuses here, what threat are Blood Cult or Demonic Cult? We're vulnerable because we're divided."
Reminding him of their true aim, Gong Son-hyeon smiled softly.
"So I'm sending you. In tense Sichuan, a Blood Cult bloodbath would jolt even those old asses who only care for their own safety."
Jeong Yeong grasped the implication easily.
If the Blood Cult intel proved false:
'Stage a bloodbath to mimic them.'
Even if traces were found:
'Step in after the bloodbath erupts.'
To do so, find traces before the Beggar's Sect and sabotage their pursuit.
Sorting his tasks mentally, Jeong Yeong clasped his fists in salute and declared to the Chief Strategist.
"For the Central Plains' peace and the Martial Alliance's justice, I shall succeed and return!"