Chapter 317
Chapter 317
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 317
>Chapter Title: Lust (1)
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As always, Il-mok left the main headquarters and headed for Gansu, but this time he visited a different place than usual.
In place of Dan Bin and Gu Yang-mun, the ones Il-mok went to see were the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord and Seo Wan-pyeong.
While Dan Bin and Gu Yang-mun were focused on missionary work and the welfare of the followers under the name of the Maitreya Divine Cult, these two handled the shadowy operations.
They commanded the forces of the Dark Shadow Pavilion and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult branches, conducting intelligence operations and assassinating those who obstructed the Maitreya Divine Cult's expansion.
Their primary assassination targets weren't high-ranking figures from the orthodox martial world. For the Maitreya Divine Cult, which was expanding based in red-light districts and slums, the biggest obstacles were the black path thugs.
After these men swept away the black path groups or the mid-sized orthodox sects pretending to be righteous, the Maitreya Divine Cult would conduct missionary work to expand its territory.
“It's been a while. Pavilion Lord, Third Senior Brother.”
After a brief greeting with the two men, Il-mok first asked about the state of affairs in the Central Plains.
“The situation has grown quite complicated. Especially in Sichuan, which is close to here. Recently, the Tang Clan of Sichuan has finally been sealed off.”
“They held out for over a year, so the Tang Clan must have had considerable reserves.”
“Indeed, their expertise in poisons and hidden weapons made them advantageous in defending their stronghold in many ways. But when even the head of the Peng Clan of Hebei stepped in, they finally crumbled.”
“Does that mean missionary work in Sichuan will be harder from now on?”
In response to Il-mok's question, Seo Wan-pyeong answered in place of the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord.
“It'll be tougher than before, but it seems safe for a while. The war with the Tang Clan weakened the Emei Sect considerably, and the Peng Clan's base isn't in Sichuan to begin with.”
“So, in the end, only the Qingcheng Sect has any strength left?”
“The Qingcheng Sect is still busy moving around for revenge against the Blood Cult. With the Tang Clan fallen, Emei weakened, and Qingcheng distracted, mid-sized sects all over Sichuan are starting to act boldly.”
From the conversation, it seemed Sichuan would remain chaotic for some time.
After that, the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord and Seo Wan-pyeong briefly explained the situation in the Central Plains.
Stories followed about greedy sects rallying surrounding forces under the pretext of the Blood Cult, and battles involving the Martial Alliance, Beggar Clan, and Qingcheng Sect against the Blood Cult.
“So how is the missionary work progressing?”
The Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord answered Il-mok's question.
“Because the major orthodox forces are in Sichuan and Shaanxi adjacent to Gansu, we're expanding cautiously there. But Qinghai was an empty region, so we could expand our territory quite easily. That's also thanks to the Eighth Young Master making a fortune traveling between the Western Regions and Gansu.”
The simplest way to conduct missionary work was through welfare. Giving out aid and spreading the faith's doctrines.
Naturally, that required money, and a portion of the massive profits from trade went into this welfare policy.
“Lately, we're slowly extending the Maitreya Divine Cult's influence into the Tibetan region beyond Qinghai.”
After hearing a general overview of the situation, Il-mok pulled a letter from his sleeve for the most important matter.
“It's Master's secret order.”
At Il-mok's words, the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord carefully took the letter and opened it.
Written there was the name [Silver Moon Merchant Group].
“They seem to be a large merchant group trading with the Western Regions via sea routes. The order is to investigate them thoroughly and find out if they have any backers.”
After explaining the Heavenly Demon's instructions, Il-mok added the reason they needed to be investigated.
They were the ones who had colluded with Deng Bi, the former Elder Council Leader, along with stories of the various schemes Deng Bi had plotted.
When Il-mok finished his explanation.
“We'll use any means necessary to uncover their backers.”
The Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord and Seo Wan-pyeong's eyes burned with a sense of duty.
* * *
After Il-mok delivered the Heavenly Demon's message, the Dark Shadow Pavilion began a full-scale investigation into the Silver Moon Merchant Group.
Il-mok finished his business in Gansu and returned to the Western Regions, then after completing trade and coming back to the main headquarters, he heard some intriguing news.
One was Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a's graduation from the Demonic Path Academy.
“Brother!”
Seeing Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a, who had changed yet again since the last time, filled Il-mok with all sorts of fresh emotions.
‘Has it already been two years?’
It was truly a sorrowful thing.
Repeating journeys that took at least seventy days round trip made time feel like it flew by in vain.
It felt like he had only worked without proper rest, bringing tears to his eyes unbidden.
But he couldn't show a wistful expression in front of the girl rejoicing at seeing him after so long.
Il-mok gladly welcomed Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a with a smile.
“Congratulations on graduating from the Demonic Path Academy. You've really changed beyond recognition.”
It wasn't empty flattery.
Two years ago, she still had a childish air about her, but now she could properly be called a young lady.
Of course, it was only her appearance. To Il-mok, who had known her since she was twelve, she still looked like a child.
That was why Il-mok mainly examined her cultivation level, not her looks.
“You seem to have Extreme Demon right around the corner now. You didn't push yourself too hard, did you?”
To Il-mok's question, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a smiled brightly and replied.
“As you said, Brother, I focused more on meditation than training. I was anxious at first, but after hearing you'd done the same, my mind was at ease.”
“Hahaha. This brother did focus more on meditation than training at the Demonic Path Academy too, but who told you that?”
“Instructor Chui Il-hwan told me. Thanks to joining the meditation club on your advice, Brother, I got to see him often.”
“You must have received a lot of help from Instructor Chui Il-hwan.”
“Yes. Thanks to Instructor Chui Il-hwan, I got to hear stories about you every day.”
“…It wasn't advice?”
When Il-mok asked back with a strange feeling, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a gave a beaming smile with her red eyes.
“That was the advice. I could follow the path of my wonderful brother.”
“…….”
It felt subtly uncomfortable, but Il-mok decided to let it pass for now.
Ignorance is bliss, after all.
He just had a gut feeling that Chui Il-hwan had suffered greatly.
At that moment, perhaps to change the subject, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a glanced around and said.
“You and the seniors have changed a lot too, Brother.”
“Haha. Can you tell?”
Over a year had passed since entering the Sea of People Realm and learning the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon from the Heavenly Demon.
Thanks to steady training during his back-and-forth trips between Gansu and the Western Regions, Il-mok's achievements had advanced significantly.
And it wasn't just Il-mok.
Jin Ha-yeon was gradually approaching Transcending Demon, and Jeong Hyeon had undergone great changes both internally and externally.
Not only had their martial arts realms improved, but their equipment had become much more varied.
“Where did Senior Jeong Hyeon get such a unique bow?”
A bow as tall as herself, with quivers on her back and right thigh.
The back quiver held spear-like arrows and tubes for siege bolts. The right thigh quiver held standard arrows for siege bolts.
In short, it was armament that stood out even from afar.
To Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a's question, Jeong Hyeon replied.
“I, I made it from m, materials obtained by h, hunting spirit beasts. Y, Young Master gave it to me as a g, gift because my skills were lacking.”
“…Brother gave it to you?”
For some reason.
As she asked again, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a turned her head toward Il-mok, staring at the bow on Jeong Hyeon's back, repeating the motion like a broken wooden doll.
Sensing danger, Il-mok hurriedly spoke up.
“Hahaha. Seon-a, to celebrate your Demonic Path Academy graduation, I prepared a gift.”
At Il-mok's words, the three women behind him looked at him with strange expressions.
But Il-mok kept his face unchanged and sent a transmission to Jin Ha-yeon.
- Among the silk clothes I bought to sell in the Western Regions, grab something in a size that would fit Seon-a right away.
Having not even realized two years had passed, Il-mok hadn't prepared any gift.
* * *
Escaping Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a's trap, Il-mok left her with the women and fled to the Mission Hall.
And there, Il-mok heard another piece of interesting news.
“We've completed the doctrinal texts, hymns, and play scripts in the nomads' language.”
“Then, are you planning to send missionaries there now?”
To Il-mok's question, Baek Un-hak nodded.
“We've prepared diligently, so now it's time to spread the new cult's hymns and the Heavenly Demon's greatness far and wide. Ah, it'll still be under the Maitreya Divine Cult's name for now.”
As Baek Un-hak muttered to himself about how regrettable that was, Il-mok carefully broached the subject.
“Then, with the missionaries being deployed, we need to expand our new cult's influence in the north as well.”
Currently, the places where the Maitreya Divine Cult wielded influence in the north were only the tribes along its trade routes.
“Hahaha. That's exactly it. Naturally, the plays and songs created by our Heavenly One should spread across the entire north.”
“Hmm. Then, we'll need someone to manage those missionaries. On top of that, shouldn't we prepare to start missionary work not just in the north, but also in the Huihui Church's territories adjacent to our new cult?”
“I've been pondering that very issue, but do you have any solid plan?”
To Baek Un-hak's question, Il-mok looked at Jong-ri Chu, who was blankly muttering to empty space beside him.
Finally, it was time to harvest the seeds he had sown.
* * *
“You're saying to entrust the Gansu-Western Regions routes to Chu?”
After hearing Il-mok out, the Heavenly Demon asked back, and Il-mok bowed and replied.
“Yes, Master.”
The Heavenly Demon, whose age spots had deepened over the past few years and whose fingers looked even more gaunt, stroked his white beard and fell into thought.
Then, having organized his thoughts, the Heavenly Demon spoke in a calm tone.
“I've been concerned about the Huihui Church side anyway, so entrusting it to the sixth, who's proficient in foreign languages, doesn't sound bad.”
Il-mok inwardly cheered at the Heavenly Demon's decision.
‘Freedom at last!’
Il-mok eagerly spread his wings of imagination.
No longer needing to repeat those grueling journeys between the Western Regions and Gansu, he planned to hole up in Wind Rock Hall, enjoying rest and martial arts training.
However, Il-mok's grand dream of dumping the work on Jong-ri Chu shattered to pieces with the Heavenly Demon's next words.
“Then, leave the trade to Chu and prepare to head to Tibet yourself, Il-mok.”
Il-mok nearly blurted out “Pardon?” but barely clung to his last shred of reason and asked back.
“…Tibet?”
“Indeed.”
“Is there work for this disciple in Tibet?”
The Heavenly Demon smiled gently. A smile that said he knew full well why Il-mok was asking.
“Heh heh heh. The Maitreya Divine Cult's prosperity has extended from Qinghai into Tibet lately, but progress is slow because of the Esoteric Buddhist monks of Potala Palace. Moreover, the Dark Shadow Pavilion is short on manpower due to the Silver Moon Merchant Group matter, so it'd be good if you stepped in to handle it.”
Il-mok belatedly recalled the story he'd heard from the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord and Third Senior Brother not long ago.
‘…Why did this job have to fall to me?’
Feeling unjustly treated, Il-mok indirectly asked the Heavenly Demon.
“Are the Esoteric Buddhist monks of Potala Palace that dangerous?”
It was a question implying why he had to go personally.
And the response contained something that shattered Il-mok's common sense.
“They're no pushovers. Especially those who built their inner energy through dual cultivation yin-supplementing techniques—they all boast formidable reserves.”
“…Aren't Esoteric Buddhist monks supposed to be monks? What do you mean by dual cultivation yin-supplementing techniques?”