Chapter 264
Chapter 264
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 264
>Chapter Title: Kill Each Other (6)
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Gansu Province, Lanzhou. A branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
"...Who did you say came to visit?"
At Il-mok's question, the Branch Leader replied with an awkward expression.
"Wudang and Mount Hua. Elders from the Zhuge Clan and Huangfu Clan. On top of that, the Beggars' Sect's deputy leader came looking for the Maitreya Divine Cult's estate. They're waiting to see the Incarnation."
The major figures of the orthodox sects had swarmed in like a pack of dogs.
Being from the demonic cult to begin with, Il-mok couldn't help but wonder if his identity had been exposed.
'Because of those young experts?'
Soon, the events in the Heavenly Demon's secret chamber came to mind.
"Hoo. To avoid exposing our identities, pass on my orders: all those affiliated with the Divine Cult should withdraw from the estate while I draw their attention."
Il-mok gave the order to the Branch Leader, then rose and headed toward the Maitreya Divine Cult's estate.
Upon arriving near the estate, a strange atmosphere hung in the air.
Men in neat martial robes boasting massive builds. Others wearing martial robes but somehow exuding a scholarly air.
Taoists clad in robes emblazoned with plum blossoms and taiji symbols, and even beggars.
Five distinct groups stood together, keeping a slight distance from one another.
Combined, their number seemed to exceed a hundred, and with the subtle aura unique to martial artists emanating from them, the common folk passing by the Maitreya Divine Cult's estate all looked tense.
At that moment, a beggar from the group waved familiarly at Il-mok.
"Hahaha. It's been a long time."
It was So Ho-gae, the Beggars' Sect's deputy leader.
"Long time no see."
While Il-mok and So Ho-gae exchanged simple greetings with clasped fists, representatives from the Zhuge Clan, Huangfu Clan, Wudang, and Mount Hua approached Il-mok one by one.
"I am Huangfu Gong, outer elder of the Huangfu Clan."
"I am Zhuge Mun of the Zhuge Clan."
"Infinite blessings. Happy to meet you like this. I am Xuan Gong of Wudang."
"Infinite blessings. I am Mok Jin-ja of Mount Hua."
Each was an elder-level figure from their respective sects, all appearing to have at least reached the super-first-rate realm.
But to Il-mok, whose cultivation had advanced from recent battles, none seemed to match or exceed his own level.
"I am the Incarnation of Maitreya."
The four who had greeted him showed varied subtle reactions to his plain introduction that revealed nothing of his true identity.
Some accepted it as expected, others showed faint displeasure, and some skillfully hid their emotions.
"Hahaha! Just as Yeon-i and Se-hee described."
Huangfu Gong, who had shown no issue, burst into hearty laughter.
Hearing that laugh up close, it was so booming it made his ears ring.
Il-mok pretended to glance around before speaking to them.
"Talking here would be rude, so please come inside. Ah, sorry, but could you send your entourages back to their lodgings? As you can see, many ordinary people come and go here."
At Il-mok's request, the elders from the Zhuge Clan and Mount Hua looked somewhat sullen.
"Hahaha. Where would we Beggars' Sect folks have lodgings? We'll send them to some empty spot."
"Uhahahaha! We've been rude. You lot, grab an inn and wait there."
"Infinite blessings. It seems we've made the people uneasy."
So Ho-gae, Huangfu Gong, and Wudang's Xuan Gong stepped up immediately to dismiss the martial artists, and the others wisely sent their subordinates away as well.
"Ahem. We have things to carry, so we'll keep one each."
As Zhuge Mun said this and brought one over, Mount Hua also left one behind.
Curiously, all those they pointed to were holding some kind of box.
"Oh dear. I almost forgot myself."
As if just remembering, Huangfu Gong shouted something to his group and received a box.
Il-mok watched for a moment, then spoke once the situation seemed sorted.
"Then, please come inside."
Il-mok led them into the Maitreya Divine Cult's estate.
The place he took them was a small hall deep within the estate.
Right after entering the hall with them, cultists of the Maitreya Divine Cult—pure believers unaffiliated with the demonic cult—brought out refreshments.
Once preparations for conversation were ready, Il-mok spoke first.
"You seem to have come because of what happened in the Heavenly Demon's secret chamber, but I can't think of any specific business."
It was a way of saying to cut the nonsense and get to the point.
As if responding, Huangfu Gong laughed heartily.
"Hahaha. Of course, to repay a debt of gratitude. You saved our Huangfu Clan's precious children, so we've come to offer recompense."
With that, Huangfu Gong placed the box on the table.
"It can't compare to the grace of saving Yeon-i and Se-hee, but it's the utmost sincerity from our Huangfu Clan."
"Ahem. I didn't do it expecting such things, but refusing would be rude."
He had planned to stir up orthodox infighting, but now gifts were coming his way—what a windfall.
Il-mok gladly reached out and took the box from the Huangfu Clan. Then, the Zhuge Clan and Mount Hua placed their boxes on the table as well.
"For saving Eun-yeong."
"Thanks for rescuing our Mount Hua's young expert."
Il-mok offered some modest words of humility and gladly took the two boxes.
'Wonder how much they're worth.'
Opening gifts in front of the givers was impolite in this era, so he had to put off checking.
Still, they wouldn't be cheap. The ones bringing them were major powers in the martial world, after all.
Finally, Wudang's Xuan Gong placed a small case on the table.
It looked very small compared to the others' boxes.
But at Xuan Gong's following words, the eyes of those present wavered.
"It's modest, but as thanks for helping our Yun-baek, we've prepared three Small Azure Pills."
Small Azure Pills.
Inferior versions of Wudang's supreme elixir, the Great Azure Pill, said to rival Shaolin's Great Reversion Pill.
Inferior or not, each contained at least twenty years' worth of cultivation, or even half a cycle.
The others couldn't help but show surprise at bringing not one, but three such elixirs.
Il-mok, who received them, felt his eyes tremble intensely as well.
'...Aren't those poison to demonic art cultivators?'
Eating them unknowingly could lead to demonic deviation.
'Of all things, Small Azure Pills.'
A useless gift they couldn't use. It would've been better as cash.
And they couldn't just sell them either.
Not on the level of the Great Azure Pill, but the Small Azure Pills were still too famous.
Getting caught selling gifted items would only be a matter of time.
"Ahem. I had no idea you'd bring something so precious."
Il-mok masked his reluctance with feigned humility.
"Hohoho. Can it be more precious than a life? Don't mind it compared to the grace Yun-baek received."
Xuan Gong spoke with sincerity.
And Il-mok then understood why Wudang had brought such a gift.
Yun-baek was still Wudang's top young expert, called the Seven Dragons and One Phoenix or the Nine New Stars.
For the future top sword of Wudang to nearly die like a dog, three Small Azure Pills weren't that expensive in comparison.
'They could've just given cash worth that much.'
The problem was they were useless to demonic cultists.
Right after Il-mok took Wudang's gift, the Beggars' Sect deputy laughed openly.
"Hahaha. We're sorry we didn't bring anything separate. As beggars, gifts aren't easy for us."
"I didn't do it expecting gifts, so don't worry."
Il-mok half-meant it.
In spreading the Maitreya Divine Cult in Gansu, he had received considerable help from the Beggars' Sect and beggars, so he considered it even.
With the deputy's joke and the gift exchange, the mood lightened, and they chatted amiably.
But it was only on the surface. Those who came occasionally flashed sharp gazes.
As if trying to dig even a little into the Incarnation of Maitreya and the Maitreya Divine Cult.
After about an incense stick's worth of time exchanging trivial talk and subtle power plays,
"Our Huangfu Clan should head out first."
As Huangfu Gong rose and said this, the others stood one after another, greeting Il-mok farewell.
After seeing them off appropriately, Il-mok turned to look beside him.
"Will you be staying?"
While the others left, So Ho-gae shamelessly remained, without even a gift.
At Il-mok's question, So Ho-gae grinned, revealing his yellow teeth in a full smile.
"I have a few questions to ask away from their ears, and a story to pass on."
"Hmm. Then come inside again for now."
Il-mok was somewhat intrigued by the mention of news from the Beggars' Sect.
Back in the hall, the deputy spoke with a serious expression unlike before.
"You've probably guessed, but the reason they left in such a hurry is business in Sichuan."
"...Because of the Tang Clan? Or the Blood Cult?"
"Seems like the Tang Clan."
The deputy replied with a frustrated look.
"Actually, a few days ago, the Martial Alliance, our Beggars' Sect, and several sects sent people to revisit the Heavenly Demon's secret chamber for investigation. And at the entrance, we found corpses killed by poison. An enormous number, at least several hundred."
"......"
"It was a tragedy from the Blood Cult's Illusion Dream Formation combined with the Tang Clan's deadly poison. And unfortunately, all the Emei Sect nuns' bodies were there."
Unlike Qingcheng, who went deep inside, Emei had felt uneasy and turned back toward the entrance.
But their retreat was later than the Tang Clan's return, leading to the worst outcome.
As the Tang Clan's poison spread from the entrance inward, the Blood Cult's formation activated.
"...Emei Sect's fury must be directed at the Tang Clan, not the Blood Cult."
"...Yes. On top of that, the Peng Clan has already sent martial artists to Sichuan. Nearly half their forces, for Peng Ji-gwang of the Three Peaks' revenge."
Emei and Peng Clan. Plus those who just visited.
With that much force turning against the Tang Clan, their future was hanging by a thread.
The first thought in Il-mok's mind after hearing the deputy's explanation was one.
'Good thing we intervened.'
What if they hadn't? If the Sichuan Tang Clan succeeded in mass murder and evidence destruction?
Even if an investigation team arrived late and checked the scene, no proof of 'the Tang Clan scattered poison' would remain.
Thanks to the writing at the end of the Heavenly Demon's secret chamber, the lingering poison there could easily be mistaken for a trap set by the demonic cult or Blood Lord Heavenly Demon.
'Had that happened, the orthodox sects might have banded together and invaded the Divine Province.'
They had nearly sparked a righteous-demonic great war unjustly.
'Means we prevented a righteous-demonic great war.'
His original goal was just to induce orthodox infighting, but somehow he ended up averting a war.
'Well, as long as it doesn't involve us, let the orthodox fight the Blood Cult or Tang Clan—I don't care.'