Chapter 195
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: Battle of the Three Demons (5)
Having blinded and deafened the enemy, Mu-heun decided there was no longer any need to hide his martial prowess.
“Lady Ha-ryeong.”
“Yes, speak.”
“I will head to Golmud first.”
“Understood. I will follow at the fastest pace I can manage.”
Mu-heun and Ha-ryeong ran at their fastest pace, and in no time, Mu-heun was so far ahead he was out of sight.
Ha-ryeong was purely astonished by Mu-heun's movement technique.
“So he was matching my pace this whole time…”
It was only natural. The only one who could currently keep up with Mu-heun's speed was Cheon-hyang, flying high in the sky.
Meanwhile, Mu-heun, running at a speed that even a master like Seol Ha-ryeong couldn't dare to match, called out to Cheon-hyang.
[Cheon-hyang!]
[Yes! Master! Just give me an order!]
[Take this letter and deliver it.]
[At your command!]
***
Chu Hon-bi carried Dok-chwi to where Hyeol-sa and Dae-rang were.
*Gulp…*
The Heavenly Demonic Corpse, Hyeok, stood there, his ominous aura unconcealed, causing Chu Hon-bi to swallow nervously.
“By Lord Baek Mu-heun's order, I have come for my comrades.”
“Ta...ke... them. No, ta... take them.”
“Yes... thank you.”
To Chu Hon-bi, Hyeok seemed to be practicing how to speak. His appearance was so peculiar that she felt an indescribable sense of unease. However, rescuing her comrades was the priority, so she walked awkwardly toward them.
Then, she placed the Butterfly Dream orbs she had received from Mu-heun on the foreheads of Hyeol-sa and Dae-rang.
“It should be fine now. Even if we hide, the Gu poison won't act up and kill you.”
Chu Hon-bi quickly stood up, cupped her fist to Hyeok, and spoke.
“I will hide my comrades and then go to the Emei Sect to deliver Lord Baek Mu-heun's message.”
“Go... go.”
“Yes!”
Chu Hon-bi immediately took her comrades to a nearby forest. After checking the surroundings, she began to dig.
Once a large pit was formed, she placed her comrades inside, along with Dok-chwi, who was still recovering from the shock of being frozen and thawed.
After thoroughly concealing the pit with branches and grass.
“Rest here for a while..., I'll be back soon.”
She thought to herself as she left her comrades.
‘I thought I'd spend my whole life being used by the Ice Demon, Yeon Ah-ryeong, only to die. This is a miracle. He even instantly melted the ice on Dok-chwi, frozen by that damn owl, with his violet flames...
Moreover, he didn't even kill my comrades Hyeol-sa and Dae-rang, merely subduing them. No, he actually healed them before leaving them tied up for me.’
Chu Hon-bi recalled the times she was worked to the bone following the Ice Demon's commands.
‘Perhaps, Baek Mu-heun... he might be a master worth serving.’
***
Mu-heun arrived at the Beggars' Union branch in Golmud. It was late at night, but the situation was urgent, so he pounded on the door and shouted.
*BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!*
“Is the branch master of the Beggars' Union here!”
A gatekeeper emerged and said.
“Who are you, pounding on the door at this hour?”
As if he had no time to waste, Mu-heun immediately presented a golden plaque.
“Here! This is the golden plaque given to me by the Beggars' Union Leader, Wi Guk! Bring your branch master at once!”
The gatekeeper's eyes widened upon seeing the plaque. He hastily turned back, saying.
“I-I'll bring him right away!”
As if he had known that the one who received the golden plaque from Leader Wi Guk would be coming, the branch master rushed out to greet Mu-heun.
“My goodness! The owner of the golden plaque has arrived! I've been waiting. Ah! Of course, I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly. Given the distance, I thought it would take at least two more days. Haha.”
However, Mu-heun was in no mood for idle pleasantries.
“Where are they?”
“Ah! Forgive my absentmindedness. Right away! I'll guide you!”
The Golmud branch master was of a much lower rank than Hwa Su-yeon, the branch master of the major city of Sichuan. Unlike her, who was a Seven-Knot Beggar, this branch master was a Five-Knot Beggar.
“This way. Their condition has improved since they first arrived, but they were in an unspeakable state back then.”
Mu-heun took in the sight of Seo-bong and Ho-ryang lying there miserably, their bodies covered in wounds.
It seemed the Beggars' Union branch had taken pains to prepare a high-quality sickroom and had called a renowned physician from Golmud to treat them... but their condition was not something that could be treated in a place like this.
No, to treat injuries of this severity, they would need to go to the provincial capital of Qinghai at the very least.
“This..., I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.”
It was the first time. The first time subordinates he had taken in had ended up in such a state. That's why he was all the more confused. He didn't know what to say.
However, there was one thing he had to do.
“Branch Master.”
“Yes, just say the word.”
“Could you please give us a moment alone?”
“O-Of course.”
Mu-heun immediately closed the door to the room and began to treat the two men.
The acupuncture needles he kept tucked in his clothes.
The Myriad Fragrance Grand Restoration Formation, which he had dedicated his entire past life to creating.
The medicinal herbs prepared by the Beggars' Union branch.
He would use everything at his disposal to heal them.
***
The Golmud branch master of the Beggars' Union watched as a violet flame flickered inside the sickroom he had so diligently prepared.
“To think the Leader would give a golden plaque to a member of the Demonic Cult... It's enough to make a ghost weep. Anyway, I wonder what's going on with that man to make him wear such a grim expression.”
Just then.
“Good evening.”
“Gah! W-What the!”
“I'm sorry for startling you... I am Seol Ha-ryeong, one of Lord Baek Mu-heun's companions.”
Seol Ha-ryeong, having rushed over, had leaped over the wall and come straight to where Mu-heun was. The Golmud branch master was dumbfounded.
“Th-This place isn't somewhere you can just...”
Just then, the door to the sickroom opened, and Mu-heun came out to introduce Ha-ryeong.
“Ah, this person is with me. Please understand.”
“Is there any question? If the owner of the golden plaque says so, then so it shall be!”
The branch master immediately changed his attitude and welcomed Ha-ryeong and Mu-heun warmly.
“Branch Master, by any chance, do you have a topographical map of the Qaidam Basin?”
“Eh? Ah... Yes, I believe we should have one.”
“Could you bring me one? The most detailed one you have.”
“Yes, yes. I'll bring it right away. Please, have a seat and wait.”
“Thank you.”
While the branch master went to fetch the map, Mu-heun instructed Ha-ryeong on what to do next.
“Lady Ha-ryeong, are you aware of the current situation?”
“Uh, to some extent.”
“The Dragon Demon Pavilion took over the trade routes of the Red Demon Pavilion. At that time, they needed martial artists to escort the first caravan, and warriors who follow me volunteered.
That's when the Ice Demon, Yeon Ah-ryeong, and the Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi, realized that their request to the Valley of Villains to kill me had failed. That's why they kidnapped the warriors under my command in a region outside the Cult's influence.
To lure me out and kill me.”
“...You have a plan, I assume.”
“Of course. I intend to take this opportunity to eliminate two of my competitors in the race for Cult Leader.”
“...!?”
“I, too, would have preferred to recruit these powerful individuals and have them join me in the great war to come. However.”
“...”
“My Senior Brother and Senior Sister have crossed a line that should never have been crossed.”
“...I understand. But isn't it too dangerous to face both of them at once?”
“We'll have to see, of course, but it's not impossible. And I'm confident I won't die.”
“In that case, I will trust you, Lord Mu-heun. What should I do?”
“I have treated Seo-bong and Ho-ryang. They are no longer in danger of dying, but... this place might be attacked. I would like you to stay here and protect them, Lady Ha-ryeong.”
“Understood. You can count on me.”
“Also, if a girl named Ha Na-rin from the Emei Sect arrives... please let her meet Seo-bong.”
“...?”
“There's a reason.”
Just then, the branch master returned with the map of the Qaidam Basin.
“Sorry for the wait. Here. This is probably the most detailed map of the Qaidam Basin in existence.”
“Thank you.”
Mu-heun examined the map meticulously. And he located the position of the Salt Lake near the Valley of Villains.
“So the Valley of Villains is roughly around here.”
“That's right. However, we haven't been able to pinpoint its exact location. They're a relatively new group... and the Three Supreme Blades of the World and the Seven Melodies of Asura are such ferocious men. Everyone was reluctant to get close.”
“This is enough. Thank you. Ah, and could you get me about six sharp pieces of metal?”
“Ah, of course. I can get you ten if you'd like.”
“Six will be enough. Thank you.”
After receiving the sharp metal pieces from the branch master, Mu-heun rose from his seat and expressed his thanks. Then, he looked at Ha-ryeong and said.
“They are men I cherish. Please... I'm counting on you.”
“You can trust me with them.”
Having given his final instructions, Mu-heun left the Beggars' Union branch. He then entered the forest and called for Hyeok.
“Are you here?”
“I... am.”
“You've gotten quite good at speaking now.”
“Practiced...”
“Good. I have a job for you. Your hands will be doing some hard work, so attach these.”
Mu-heun attached the sharp metal pieces to the back of Hyeok's hands.
“Now, dig into the ground.”
*Nods.*
“Listen carefully. You must go exactly where I tell you to go, and you must come out when I tell you to.”
*Nods.*
“Alright, now go.”
*FWOOSH!*
The moment Mu-heun's final command was given, the Heavenly Demonic Corpse, Hyeok, dug into the earth without a hint of hesitation.
“Now, let's see your faces, you sons of bitches.”
***
-The Valley of Villains, Qaidam Basin-
“Senior Sister, what happened? What do you mean you've suddenly lost track of him?”
The Flame Demon, Cho Yeom-wi, questioned the Ice Demon, Yeon Ah-ryeong, accusingly. He suspected the Ice Demon knew Baek Mu-heun's whereabouts but was pretending not to.
“I don't know either. The trackers with the Gu poison have suddenly gone silent.”
“What do you mean, silent? Shouldn't you be inflicting death-like pain on them with the Gu poison?”
“I already tried.”
“Then...?”
“It's no use. Something seems to be wrong with the connection to the Gu. I can't feel anything at all.”
“What? No, that's just absurd.”
“Shut up! Do you think I'm joking?!”
As Yeon Ah-ryeong shouted, a chilling frost swept through the area.
“No, that's not it, but...”
Cho Yeom-wi took the brunt of the chilling frost head-on but seemed unaffected. However, the others in the Valley of Villains were not so fortunate.
The men, who were already trembling in breathless fear.
Upon feeling the chill, they screamed and collapsed.
These men were originally Unorthodox Sect followers of the Three Supreme Blades of the World and the Seven Melodies of Asura. They had been living comfortable lives, basking in the infamy of their leaders.
But despair had suddenly befallen them.
Moreover, these new demonic masters who had suddenly appeared refused to let them go.
Just then, the Ice Demon, Yeon Ah-ryeong, gathered the Unorthodox Sect followers of the Valley of Villains and spoke.
“You will all attack Golmud. Now.”
“What? Senior Sister, what are you thinking? Why are you sending away the pawns we're supposed to use when Baek Mu-heun gets here?”
“You know as well as I do. Can't you drop the pathetic act?”
“Haha? Was I found out?”
“...”
“My, my... How scary. Yes, yes. Understood. Let's send these guys out right now and force Baek Mu-heun to show himself.”
The Flame Demon, the Ice Demon, and the Dragon Demon. The start of the Battle of the Three Demons began between the Qaidam Basin and Golmud.