Chapter 186
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: The Pursuers
*Rumble, rumble.*
On a shattered mountain path, Mu-heun carried Danri-ak, the Second Blade of the Three Supreme Blades, and Mu-baek, the Third Blade, to a nearby cave. To be precise, he had taken them to a nearby hill.
“Heavenly Demon’s Thunderous Blast.”
*CRACKLE!*
With a sound like a thunderclap, half the hill was sheared away.
“Eight Demons’ Explosive Art.”
*BOOM!*
With a sound like the earth erupting, a cave formed in the center of the sheared rock wall.
“This should be a suitable place for an interrogation.”
“Of course. I will stand guard outside.”
“Thank you. However, Cheon-hyang will be watching from the sky, so you don’t need to overexert yourself.”
“Hoho, it’s my pleasure.”
Seol Ha-ryeong smiled brightly, telling him not to worry.
“Well then… I’ll be counting on you. I’ll create a ki barrier to prevent any sound from escaping the cave. If anything urgent happens, please tell Cheon-hyang to let you in.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Ah, I’ll tell Cheon-hyang to listen well to you, Ha-ryeong.”
“Hoho~ It’s alright. At first, I thought she was a rather prickly owl, but as we spent more time together, I learned she could use ice arts too, you see? Now we often exchange knowledge about them.”
After leaving the Heavenly Dragon Fortress, Ha-ryeong and Cheon-hyang had continuously shared their knowledge of ice arts. At first, Ha-ryeong, who had reached the Transcendent Demonic Realm, had looked down on Cheon-hyang. However, she couldn’t help but be impressed by Cheon-hyang’s ice arts, which displayed power beyond that of a Supreme Master, and they came to acknowledge each other.
Since then, they had mutually agreed to spar and had been steadily training to harmonize their ice arts.
“Hoh…”
“As we exchanged knowledge about ice arts, I’ve become quite close with Cheon-hyang. Hoho~”
“That’s good to hear. Well then.”
“Take care.”
Mu-heun took Danri-ak and Mu-baek to the deepest part of the cave and stood them against the wall. Then, he began to draw out his yin energy.
‘Of course, I can’t match Ha-ryeong or Cheon-hyang, but I’m quite adept with yin energy myself.’
*Swoosh.*
Using Myriad Fragrance, he drew a fist-sized formation on his palm—a formation that gathered moisture and radiated warmth. He would infuse it with yin energy.
“Freeze.”
Danri-ak and Mu-baek were propped against the wall. Their hands and feet began to freeze, sticking to the rock.
*Crack, crackle.*
Mu-heun drew upon the yin and water energies from the Yin-Yang and Five Elements within his dantian, freezing their limbs solid. The two men were stuck fast to the wall, completely frozen.
Their dantian had already been destroyed and the meridians in their limbs severed, so their lives as martial artists were already over.
“Now, I’ll have you confess every piece of information you know.”
Mu-heun recalled the poisons he had seen when fighting Dang Baek-ho. A potent poison that inflicted the pain of torn muscles and dislocated bones. And a truth serum.
He began to manifest them through Myriad Fragrance.
“I shall manifest all of creation through the Myriad Fragrance.”
Afterward.
“GAAAAAAAAAAH!”
The cave filled with horrific screams.
However, not a sound could be heard outside, where Seol Ha-ryeong and Cheon-hyang stood watch, discussing ice arts.
***
Having interrogated the Asura’s Seven Melodies, Mu-heun already knew who had hired them and the Three Supreme Blades to kill him.
But he had no concrete proof.
The crisis in Hubei had been so urgent…
In the process of preparing for the war against the Mahoraga, he had killed all of the Asura’s Seven Melodies. No, it wasn’t so much that he killed them as he sealed their acupoints, cast a Soul-Stealing Art on them, and sent them to the front lines of the battle against the Ghost Spirits.
In any case.
They were all dead.
Thus, he only had their verbal testimony, lacking any decisive physical evidence.
‘I need proof they can’t deny.’
Frankly, if he wasn't planning to make a move, he didn't need evidence. But simply taking the hit wasn't in Mu-heun's nature. There would surely, no, *definitely* be a time to strike back later.
Therefore, he needed proof that the Ice Demon, Yeon A-ryeong, and the Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi, had commissioned the murder of the Dragon Demon, Baek Mu-heun.
And the ones who would provide that proof…
He had captured the Three Supreme Blades.
About thirty minutes later, Mu-heun emerged from the cave. The cave was still silent, but Seol Ha-ryeong and Cheon-hyang, sensing his approach, immediately rushed to him.
Inside the cave, only two limp corpses remained, stuck to the wall.
“What happened? Did you find proof that the Ice Demon and the Flame Demon ordered your assassination?”
*Screech!*
[If they don't talk, should I peck their heads with my beak?]
“Hmm…”
“Could it be… there’s no evidence?”
*Screech!?*
Mu-heun calmed Cheon-hyang and gave Ha-ryeong an awkward smile as he spoke.
“It’s not yet complete proof, but it’s as good as found.”
“As good as found, but not complete…? Then…”
Ha-ryeong placed a hand on her chin and furrowed her brow.
“You’ve found their base. And the proof of their dealings with the Ice Demon and Flame Demon is there, isn’t it?”
“Haha, you’re getting sharper by the day, Ha-ryeong. You’re completely different from when you first came to the Central Plains.”
“Hohoho~ I suppose I’ve improved by constantly learning at your side, Mu-heun.”
“Haha, in any case, the headquarters of the Three Supreme Blades is said to be in the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai.”
“The Qaidam Basin… isn’t that where Chaka Salt Lake, known as Qinghai’s cornucopia, is located?”
“It seems they were secretly building their power on one side of it. They said there’s a ledger there, stamped with the seals of those they’ve done business with.”
Qinghai Province. That was land protected by the Kunlun Sect. But in the gap left by Kunlun’s weakened influence, the Three Supreme Blades had secretly been growing their strength.
‘This could have been dangerous for Kunlun… no, for you, Pae-seon.’
Now that Gu Pae-seon was firmly in place and the two Cloud Dragons had almost fully recovered, it would be fine. The Three Supreme Blades probably wouldn’t have been able to invade easily. But the Kunlun of the past might have been annihilated in vain…
“Then, we just need to go to their base and find the ledger.”
“Yes. It’s on our way back anyway, so let’s stop by the Qaidam Basin.”
“Hohoho, and while we’re at it, we can help ourselves to the wealth the Three Supreme Blades have accumulated.”
“Yes, of course. But first, let’s stop in Sichuan. We need to greet Gam Pa-pa.”
“Understood.”
Mu-heun approached the cave where he had interrogated Danri-ak and Mu-baek. He then extended his hand.
*Fwoosh!*
Energy flowed from his fingertips. A violet-black dragon coiled around his arm and shot forward.
“Heavenly Demon Palm.”
*KRA-BOOOOOOM!*
They were men who had committed countless murders. He never had any intention of letting them live. After extracting the information, he killed the remaining members of the Three Supreme Blades and collapsed the cave.
“You’ve burned the bodies of the Three Supreme Blades’ subordinates as well, I presume?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Then, let’s head to Sichuan.”
Mu-heun erased all traces, just in case they were being followed.
However.
In the sky, a single hawk circled overhead.
Having decided on their next destination, Mu-heun and Ha-ryeong headed for the Sichuan branch of the Martial Alliance to meet with Gam Pa-pa.
***
- Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Flame Demon Palace -
A man dressed in black robes and a black conical hat, his head bowed, finished his report.
“What…? The Asura’s Seven Melodies are all dead?”
“Yes… it is certain. The Asura’s Seven Melodies confirmed that Baek Mu-heun had entered the Martial Alliance’s Heavenly Dragon Fortress, then went to the Fierce Sword Sect in Xianning, Hubei.”
“They killed everyone in the Fierce Sword Sect, disguised themselves as its members, and entered the Martial Alliance.”
“If the operation had succeeded, they would have fled immediately. But…”
“But?”
“It’s said that when the Asura’s Seven Melodies left the Heavenly Dragon Fortress, they were practically crippled.”
“What?”
“The already crippled Asura’s Seven Melodies engaged in battle with a certain group, and in the process, they were all killed.”
“Damn! Useless bastards!”
The Soulshadow Assassination Squad.
Flame Demon Cho Yeom-wi’s hunting dogs and intelligence network.
The squad leader broke out in a cold sweat before the Flame Demon.
It was partly due to the Flame Demon’s fiercely blazing energy, but also because of the Ice Demon, who stood beside him, exuding a chilling aura.
Just then, the Ice Demon, Yeon A-ryeong, asked the squad leader with a cold smile.
“I understand that the Asura’s Seven Melodies all failed. What about the Three Supreme Blades?”
“They have not yet made their move. According to my findings, the Three Supreme Blades were lying in wait to ambush Baek Mu-heun on his way back from the Martial Alliance’s Heavenly Dragon Fortress.”
“Hmm. But you’re saying there’s a chance they, too, will fail?”
“What? Elder Sister, surely not. The Three Supreme Blades are all at the pinnacle of the Extreme Demonic Realm. No matter how much of a genius our sixth brother is in martial arts, he can't possibly stand against them.”
“The Asura’s Seven Melodies weren’t far behind in terms of power. But they all failed, didn’t they?”
“That’s because they made a foolish choice!”
“…A foolish act. Yes, trying to kill Baek Mu-heun while he was observing the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly inside the Martial Alliance’s Heavenly Dragon Fortress was indeed foolish. It was like sticking their necks out in the enemy’s camp.”
“Exactly. Didn’t you hear the Soulshadow Squad Leader’s report? The Asura’s Seven Melodies entered the Heavenly Dragon Fortress, came out half-dead, and then were killed in a battle with some other powerful warriors.”
“Yes, that’s true. But you know as well as I do, don’t you? Our sixth brother isn’t someone who relies solely on his martial skill.”
“That is…”
“The Red Demon Pavilion Lord, Hwang Cheol-ung.”
“…”
“Think back to what happened then. He didn’t overestimate his own strength and accepted help from the three Palace Lords and the elders. Is there any guarantee he won’t do the same this time?”
Cho Yeom-wi recalled the incident where the Red Demon Pavilion was erased from the world.
“…You have a point.”
“Indeed. Soulshadow Squad Leader.”
“Yes, Ice Demon.”
“What are the chances that the Three Supreme Blades will fail?”
“…They exist. I’ve heard that Baek Mu-heun’s party numbered three when they left the Heavenly Dragon Fortress. It will depend on who they are, but…”
“So you’re saying failure is not out of the question.”
“That is correct.”
Yeon A-ryeong wrinkled her nose and said.
“Younger Brother. Shouldn’t we prepare for the worst?”
“Are you talking about any evidence that might link us to this?”
“Yes, and to eliminate that evidence…”
“Don’t tell me.”
“Yes, exactly what you’re thinking.”
“Hee-hat! Hahahahahahaha! As expected of you, Elder Sister! Wow! You truly are a terrifying woman!”
“You would have thought of this much too, wouldn’t you? You only act frivolous on the surface; you’re always the meticulous one.”
“Hahahahahaha! Well, this has turned out to be quite the coincidence.”
“We’ll go to the Qaidam Basin in case the Three Supreme Blades fail. And we must ensure that he has no choice but to go there.”
“Is there any question?”
Cho Yeom-wi shifted his gaze from Yeon A-ryeong to the Soulshadow Squad Leader. He then smiled pleasantly and said.
“Squad Leader.”
“Yes.”
“Who is accompanying the merchant caravan?”
“The Azure Dragon Unit, which can be considered Baek Mu-heun’s attendants, and the Wind Leaf Unit from Blade Leaf Valley.”
“Good. Are *those guys* there too?”
“Yes. We have also confirmed the presence of Pa-sun and Un-pyo, who participated in the Divine Dragon Assembly with Baek Mu-heun.”
“Excellent. This time, I will move personally. The main cult must not find out, so only the Soulshadow Assassination Squad will move.”
“As you command!”
After giving his orders to the Soulshadow Squad Leader, Cho Yeom-wi looked at Yeon A-ryeong. In response, Yeon A-ryeong also curled her lips into a smile and said.
“Naturally, I will move with you. We don’t know how much stronger Baek Mu-heun has become, so it’s best to be certain.”
“Haha! That wasn’t my intention.”
“…I will move with the Seven Robes of White Ice.”
“Yes, Elder Sister!”
“Then, I’ll see you in Qinghai.”
“Yes, Elder Sister!”
Cho Yeom-wi saw Yeon A-ryeong off with a bright smile. However, as soon as she left, his expression hardened, and he turned around.
“Summon the Four Demons of the Crimson Pearl. We will travel together.”
“As you command!”
‘The Seven Robes of White Ice… the seven ice arts masters that Yeon A-ryeong is cultivating. Baek Mu-heun isn’t the only problem. Elder Sister will also be an enemy in the future. I can’t let my guard down.’
As she departed from the Flame Demon Palace, Yeon A-ryeong thought of Seol Ha-ryeong.
“If only there wasn’t that nagging feeling about her, I would have included her in the Seven Robes of White Ice. Thinking about it now, it’s a shame.”
She then glanced back briefly at the receding Flame Demon Palace.
‘This is the last time I cooperate with that disgusting Cho Yeom-wi. After I’ve dealt with Baek Mu-heun, that is.’