Chapter 352
Chapter 352
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 352
>Chapter Title: Preparations (2)
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An unexpected name furrowed his brow for a moment. Soon after, a buried memory surfaced in Cheok Pae-myeong's mind.
"...It must be because of the connection from the Sichuan Hidden Cave."
In the Sichuan Hidden Cave, the Sword Dragon and several other young experts had been caught in the Tang family's trap, and it was the Maitreya Cult that had rescued those young experts.
That incident was also the reason the Hwangbo Clan had grown close to the Maitreya Cult in the first place.
The Chief Strategist respectfully responded to the Alliance Leader's deduction.
"That is my assessment as well, Alliance Leader."
"...The numbers keep growing. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
Seeing the Alliance Leader appear unusually impatient, the Chief Strategist carefully spoke up to calm him.
"Please do not be too angry, Alliance Leader. Even in your absence, some good news has arrived."
"Good news, you say. I'm quite intrigued."
As the Alliance Leader showed interest, Gong Son-hyeon lit up and said,
"That old monster of the Demonic Cult is dead."
This news was unexpected as well; Cheok Pae-myeong's eyes widened.
"The Heavenly Demon, you mean?"
"Yes, Alliance Leader. According to the spies' reports, he passed from old age, and the eldest young master, Wi Jin-hak, has ascended to the position of Cult Leader."
The Heavenly Demon's death and Wi Jin-hak's ascension to Cult Leader had not been particularly secretive.
Yet there were several reasons why word of it had only now reached the Martial Alliance.
A few years prior, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had conducted a massive purge of spies due to the incident with former Elder Council Leader Deung Bi, and the Martial Alliance had been fully committed to the war against the Blood Cult, making it difficult to insert new spies into the Demonic Cult.
"Now that the Heavenly Demon—the greatest obstacle to striking the Demonic Cult—has been removed, there's no need to be overly concerned about the insignificant Maitreya Cult. Find a suitable pretext to deal with them, and the path ahead will be smooth sailing."
As Cheok Pae-myeong was about to respond to Gong Son-hyeon's advice, he raised his index finger to his lips, signaling silence.
Soon after, footsteps approached from outside the Alliance Leader's Hall.
"Alliance Leader, the Beggar Clan Leader has arrived."
After exchanging a glance with Gong Son-hyeon, Cheok Pae-myeong replied in a solemn voice.
"Bring him in."
The sound of the warrior relaying the order and departing faded, and soon the Iron Beggar King arrived at the Alliance Leader's Hall.
"We met in Sichuan just a few days ago, but what brings you here now?"
Cheok Pae-myeong made no effort to hide his displeasure.
"Perhaps there's more to discuss about the Sichuan matter?"
"Ha ha. What more is there to say about that? If the Maitreya Cult reveals its sinister intentions, punish them accordingly. If not, just leave them be."
"Then what exactly brings you all the way here?"
"This old beggar didn't want to come here either, but I had urgent news that required my personal delivery. I figured you'd chase off any other beggar I sent without even meeting them."
The Iron Beggar King chuckled as he locked eyes with Cheok Pae-myeong in a brief staring contest. Cheok Pae-myeong spoke first.
"So, what is this news that you dragged your aged body here to deliver personally?"
"We may have been deceived by the Blood Cult."
"Deceived? What do you mean by that?"
"I'm saying those foes we fought last time might not have been the Blood Cult's main force."
"...Did you eat something bad you scavenged?"
The Alliance Leader let out a blatant scoff.
No matter that he was the Beggar Clan Leader, a beggar was still a beggar—perhaps he'd picked up some spoiled scraps.
"Whether it's bad intel or good intel, we'll investigate step by step from here."
"And where did this bizarre information come from?"
"It's uncertain, so I can't reveal the source yet. But it has enough plausibility."
Without hesitation, the Iron Beggar King concealed that the information came from the Maitreya Cult.
It was a decision he'd made after much deliberation on the way to the Martial Alliance.
With conflict already brewing between Alliance Leader Cheok Pae-myeong and the Maitreya Cult, he predicted the Leader wouldn't believe it if he disclosed the source.
"Hah. And what exactly does the Clan Leader take our Alliance for? Do we look like idle fools to be jerked around by unverified rumors?"
"I relayed it because it concerns the Blood Cult. And what do you take this old beggar for, Alliance Leader, that you dismiss news I delivered in person so lightly?"
They glared at each other once more, locked in another battle of wills.
"Haa. I'll pass it on to the Flying Dragon Pavilion and have them investigate. Now, if you'll excuse yourself?"
"Thank you for prioritizing the peace of the martial world."
Leaving behind words that could have been sarcasm or sincerity, the Iron Beggar King departed the Alliance Leader's Hall.
Once his footsteps had fully faded, Cheok Pae-myeong muttered with a furrowed brow.
"One after another, not a single one sits right with me."
"...Once the war with the Demonic Cult ends, we can deal with them all."
The Alliance Leader clicked his tongue in response to Gong Son-hyeon.
"Tch. We must."
Gong Son-hyeon watched the Alliance Leader for a moment before asking,
"But what do you think, Alliance Leader?"
"Think about what? You mean the news from the Iron Beggar King?"
"Yes."
"...If we're splitting hairs, it's not entirely baseless. There could at least be remnants left."
It was unlikely, but the possibility that the main force—not just remnants—remained hidden, as the Iron Beggar King suggested, wasn't zero.
However, the Blood Cult was no longer Cheok Pae-myeong's primary concern.
"Rather than the Blood Cult, I'm more curious about who fed him this information."
"I'll instruct the Flying Dragon Pavilion to cooperate with the Beggar Clan in hunting the Blood Cult and tracing the source."
"Do that. Also, select reliable men separately to dig into the Maitreya Cult."
"Understood."
As Gong Son-hyeon replied, Cheok Pae-myeong added,
"Even the slightest pretext will do—find something, anything. Linking it to that eerie sword used by the self-proclaimed Incarnation of Maitreya will give us ample justification."
"I'll keep that in mind."
After responding once more, Gong Son-hyeon offered a fist salute and left the Alliance Leader's Hall.
As he walked to issue orders to his subordinates, Gong Son-hyeon unwittingly glanced back at the hall.
'...Is it because the goal is near? The Alliance Leader seems unusually impatient.'
His guess was half right.
Unbeknownst even to himself, Cheok Pae-myeong was growing restless.
Left alone in the Alliance Leader's Hall, he dwelled on one thought even now.
'Maitreya Cult. I must deal with them quickly.'
In less than five short years, they had evolved from minor pests in the Three Evils Hunt to a real threat.
His instincts were warning him.
Give that masked man more time, and it could derail the grand scheme he'd long dreamed of.
* * *
Il-mok and his group left Sichuan and entered Gansu Province, heading toward Lanzhou.
With Sichuan matters fully resolved, Il-mok saw no reason to linger.
After several days of travel through Gansu, Il-mok and his companions arrived in Lanzhou.
Upon reaching the Maitreya Cult's scripture hall, Il-mok first met privately with Gu Yang-mun, to whom he had entrusted a letter for delivery.
"I entrusted the letter to the New Cult's warriors and sent it to the headquaters. I marked it as top-priority secure dispatch, so it will definitely reach there."
Il-mok nodded at Gu Yang-mun's report.
"You've had your hands full with this incident and the battle against the Emei Sect—much appreciated."
"Ha ha ha. How could it compare to what you've done, Young Master? More than that, everyone—you've all grown beyond recognition in the few years I couldn't join you."
"Hasn't Young Master Gu advanced greatly as well?"
"Mine is all thanks to you, of course. Ha ha ha."
Il-mok shook his head at Gu Yang-mun's confident, beaming smile.
'He's completely smitten.'
Over the next few days, as Il-mok awaited a reply from headquarters, a visitor arrived.
It wasn't from headquarters.
"Young Master, guests from the Hwangbo Clan and Wudang have arrived."
At Jin Ha-yeon's report, Il-mok let out a hollow laugh.
"...Reinforcements arriving after everything's wrapped up. How typical."
Still, he couldn't turn away those who had come with good intentions to help.
Donning his mask, Il-mok left the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult branch and headed to the Maitreya Cult's scripture hall.
Upon arrival, he saw a group of unusually burly men and women gathered together, mingled with an elderly man and a youth dressed in Taoist robes emblazoned with the taijitu pattern.
'Looks like just two from Wudang.'
He wasn't displeased.
One of those two was an elder whose power exceeded that of most entire sects or clans mobilized.
Approaching them, Il-mok offered fist salutes first to a burly middle-aged man among the large figures and the elder in the taijitu Taoist robes.
"It is an honor to meet the renowned Fist King and Tai Chi Sword Sage of the martial world. I am the Incarnation of Maitreya, leader of the Maitreya Cult."
The two had apparently recognized him as he approached and returned the salutes.
"I'd heard of our children's connection, but we've only now had the chance to greet each other properly. I am Hwangbo Ak, patriarch of the Hwangbo Clan."
"Amitabha. I've heard much about you from my disciple. I've long forgotten my name—please call me by my Taoist title, Muheo-ja."
"How could I dare address the famed Tai Chi Sword Sage so casually?"
"Ha ha ha. It's just an empty title."
Before Il-mok could respond, Hwangbo Ak tossed out a jest and burst into hearty laughter.
"This won't do. If the Tai Chi Sword Sage senior says that, how can I ever call myself Fist King without shame? Ha ha ha."
"You're overpraising this old hooked-nose fool, patriarch. Ha ha."
As they bantered lightly, praising each other and easing the mood, Hwangbo Ak spoke again.
"I heard the news on the way here. We set out to aid the Maitreya Cult, only to find you didn't need us after all. Still, we couldn't just turn back empty-handed, so here we are, presuming upon your hospitality. When a man draws his sword, he must at least chop some grass, no?"
"Your presence alone is gratitude enough."
At Il-mok's reply, Hwangbo Ak's eyes gleamed for some reason as he spoke.
"Ha ha ha. Glad to hear it. Then, since I'm already being shameless, I'll get straight to the point. I came here personally not just to help the Maitreya Cult, but even more to learn about you all."
Somehow, Il-mok felt he knew what the man would say next.
The emotion in Hwangbo Ak's gaze was quite familiar to him.
"A warrior proves himself not with words, but with martial prowess. So rather than wasting time on lengthy talk, how about we exchange a move or two?"
Gazing into those eyes brimming with fighting spirit, Il-mok thought exactly as expected.
'Hwangbo Yeon takes after her father.'
They were unmistakably father and daughter, though with a slight difference.
Hwangbo Yeon at least gauged the situation before challenging someone, whereas Hwangbo Ak tended to be more reckless.
"Father!"
The startled reactions of Hwangbo Yeon and Hwangbo Se-hee the moment he proposed a spar made it clear.
Similar to Hwangbo Yeon, but closer to the spoiled brats of the Duggo Clan.
Like Duggo Pae or Duggo Ryong.
Suddenly, a suspicion crossed Il-mok's mind.
'...No way the Hwangbo Clan practices demonic arts too, right?'