Chapter 8: Jeok Ma-seong of the Ten Demon Guests (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8: Jeok Ma-seong of the Ten Demon Guests (1)
The plaza before the Palace of Supreme Clarity was a sea of activity, teeming with disciples of the Qingcheng Sect.
Word had already spread that the Qingcheng Sword Sovereigns were returning, drawing a massive crowd to the gates to welcome them home. Among the throng, one elderly man commanded immediate attention.
He was a giant of a man, standing nearly seven feet tall. Even compared to the youngest, sturdiest warriors of the sect, he looked like a titan who would never lose a contest of raw strength.
This was Song Hak.
"There they are."
Someone beside him pointed toward the mountain path. Seven imposing men and one woman emerged from the mist. Though their robes were weathered and worn from the long journey, the aura they radiated was sharp, and the energy swirling around them was anything but ordinary.
As the group of eight approached, the gathered disciples parted like a receding tide to clear a path. This was a gesture of profound respect for the man leading the vanguard: Taoist Song Mun.
As the head of the Azure Peak Pavilion—one of Qingcheng’s primary intelligence organizations—Song Mun had been entrusted with the heavy responsibility of leading this mission. He looked at Song Hak, a peer of the same generational rank, and spoke.
"You actually came out to meet us?"
"I just arrived," Song Hak replied gruffly.
"How unusual. I never thought I’d see the day you’d actually welcome me back."
"Since you’re joking, I assume you’ve returned in one piece."
"We ran into a bit of a situation on the way. Well... we managed to push through it."
"Is that so?"
Song Hak’s eyes sharpened as he followed the natural flow of the conversation. From that moment on, he stopped speaking aloud, shifting instead to Sound Transmission.
— I received the report via carrier pigeon. They say Jeok Ma-seong has appeared in this vicinity?
— The region is in an absolute uproar because of him, Song Mun replied internally. The Baekcheon Sect, in particular, is taking the brunt of the heat. Since he appeared in their territory, there isn't much they can do to deflect the blame.
— What is the current status?
— We managed to wound him severely, but he’s a slippery devil. He escaped. It looks like it’s going to be a long pursuit, so our group returned to the sect first.
— You’ve been through a lot.
— It was no trouble for me. It’s the Sect Leader, who stayed with the rear guard, who is truly suffering. It will likely take more time to track the demon down and drive him out of the province.
The sudden appearance of Jeok Ma-seong a few days ago had sent shockwaves through the Jianghu. He was one of the Ten Demon Guests among the remnants of the current Demonic Cult—a man belonging to the absolute highest echelons of the cult’s leadership.
In terms of martial prowess, he was a demonic master who stood above a sect elder but just below a sect leader, perched on the very threshold of the Absolute Realm. Perhaps because of his dark cultivation, he could not suppress his murderous nature, slaughtering anyone who crossed his path.
Upon hearing that such a monster was roaming the Jianghu, the Great Sects had mobilized to eliminate him personally.
"Still, we managed to save some face," Song Mun said aloud, returning to normal speech. "We executed one of the demonic horde."
"Truly? Who accomplished that?"
"She’s right back there. Isn't she already surrounded?"
Song Hak followed Song Mun’s gaze. There, a lovely young woman was being swarmed by disciples offering a hero's welcome.
"The Sect Leader must have been pleased."
"Pleased? That’s an understatement," Song Mun chuckled. "There was an absolute frenzy over the fact that a woman possessing both such strength and beauty had appeared in Qingcheng. Beyond that, she achieved several other notable feats during the mission."
"Heh." Song Hak wore a proud smile.
The girl was a true genius. The term 'talent of the ages,' a phrase people used for those who appeared only once in a blue moon, was perfectly suited for her.
"This conversation might get long. Let’s head inside to discuss the details," Song Mun suggested, gesturing toward a nearby building. Song Hak followed close behind.
Meanwhile, even after the elders departed, the area in front of the Palace of Supreme Clarity remained boisterous. Because of Yeon-hui’s presence alone, no one even thought of leaving.
Her pure gaze and the elegant Qingcheng Taoist robes harmonized so beautifully that she looked like a brilliant, untouchable rainbow. Not only the first-generation disciples but even the senior elders watched her with great interest.
"Junior Sister, you're back!"
"Senior Sister, you're finally here!"
"How was your journey through the Jianghu?"
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Yeon-hui was overwhelmed. As the youngest among the first-generation disciples, she was busy bowing and expressing her gratitude to everyone who approached. In the midst of the crowd, she spotted a handsome young man watching her with a particularly warm gaze.
"Senior Brother Seok Jun, I’m back," Yeon-hui said, weaving through the crowd to greet him.
Seok Jun welcomed his junior sister with a bright, beaming face. "Yes, you worked hard. It must have been a difficult journey, wasn't it?"
"Not at all. I was with the Martial Uncles of the Qingcheng Sword Sovereigns. Oh? Senior Brother Seok Hu and Senior Brother Seok Gyeong are here too."
Seok Hu and Seok Gyeong were part of the group following Seok Jun. They had dressed up specially today, hoping to make a good impression on Yeon-hui.
"I heard your performance this time was incredible!" Seok Hu chirped.
"I heard you were even named one of the Three Beauties of Sichuan," Seok Gyeong added, unable to hide his excitement. Both men spoke with flushed faces, clearly thrilled to be in her presence.
"No, it was nothing special," Yeon-hui demurred.
She stayed for a while, recounting her travels. Since these were the senior brothers she was closest to, her joy at returning was doubled. The other disciples who couldn't get close watched the group with envious eyes.
"I see, so that's what happened," Seok Jun said, his affection for Yeon-hui evident in every word. Even the disciples who usually acted tough and stoic transformed into gentle lambs in front of her.
"By the way," Seok Jun said, shifting the topic. "I heard you fought a fairly strong group on your way back... Is your body okay? Are you injured?"
"I'm fine, really."
"That’s a relief. For now, focus on recovering. It was a long trip; resting should be your priority, shouldn't it?"
"Yes, I'll do that. Senior Brother Seok Jun, you really are warm-hearted." Yeon-hui giggled, covering her mouth. Her eyes, curved like crescent moons, were breathtakingly beautiful.
At that sight, Seok Jun’s smile widened.
"Anyway..." Yeon-hui began to peer around the plaza again, her eyes searching the crowd.
Curious, Seok Jun asked, "Who are you looking for?"
"The Eldest Disciple."
Seok Jun’s eyebrows twitched reflexively.
"Where could he be? I'm sure he heard the news that we were arriving today..."
Seeing Yeon-hui’s distracted behavior, Seok Jun’s expression darkened. He had feared as much—she was looking for him.
"Yeon-hui, isn't it more important right now to report to the Martial Uncles and Grand Uncles staying in the sect?"
"Ah... you're right."
"Go and greet them quickly. After that, get some proper rest. Then you can do whatever else you need to do."
"I understand, Senior Brother Seok Jun." With a slightly pouting face, Yeon-hui gave a short bow and slipped through the crowd. She vanished from sight in an instant.
Once she was gone, Seok Hu and Seok Gyeong turned to Seok Jun and grumbled.
"Senior Brother, you should have given us more of a chance to talk to her!"
"How could you just send her away like that? What if Junior Sister Yeon-hui feels slighted?"
They were frustrated. It had been a long time since they’d seen her, and their hopes for a long conversation had been dashed.
"Be quiet."
However, as soon as Seok Jun shot them a fierce look, they immediately shut their mouths. Seok Jun’s face was contorted with suppressed rage. Normally, he was a generous man, but this was different.
It was because of that man’s name—and no one else's.
Grit.
He ground his teeth, staring at the spot where Yeon-hui had disappeared. His lips trembled with a silent, bitter resentment.
*
The office within the Taoist temple felt dignified and austere. A magnificent ink wash painting hung on the far wall, and tall windows to the left and right offered a sweeping view of the garden. It was well known that no one except elders was permitted inside the office of Taoist Song Mun, the head of the Azure Peak Pavilion.
"Tell me more about what you mentioned earlier. In detail," Song Hak pressed as soon as the door was closed.
He was referring to the identity of the demonic master and the circumstances of the incident. To a man who had initially thought this was just a group of crazed Unorthodox Faction thugs, the mention of a 'demonic person' of such high rank had set his nerves on edge.
"Nothing is certain at the moment," Song Mun replied. "Our best guess is that there is a high probability he is Jeok Ma-seong, and that he secretly set foot on Sichuan soil with two subordinates. That is all we know for sure."
Song Hak’s expression crumpled. He had tried to remain calm, but the name was too significant to ignore.
"If it is Jeok Ma-seong... isn't he a Bishop of the Eight Great Holy Mountains? The man officially ranked fifth within the Demonic Cult?"
"That is correct."
"A truly formidable monster has suddenly crawled out of the shadows."
"Don't even get me started. Once the suspicion solidified that he was one of the Eight Great Bishops, not only the Baekcheon Sect but also the Beggar Sect, the Sichuan Tang Sect, and even the Martial Alliance jumped into the fray."
Song Mun frowned deeply. It was a clear indication of how volatile the situation had become.
After a moment of silence, Song Hak asked, "What was his purpose?"
"His purpose?"
"If even the Beggar Sect moved, they must have uncovered why he entered Sichuan."
"Well..." Song Mun paused, his eyes rolling as he processed the information. "Nothing has been revealed yet. We succeeded in capturing his two subordinates, but in the brief moment we looked away, they crushed Bone Melting Powder hidden in their teeth. They dissolved completely, leaving not even a corpse behind. Unless we find Jeok Ma-seong, it will be difficult to grasp their objective."
"Good heavens."
"Come to think of it, it’s very rare for a demonic master of that level to act independently. It has happened in the past, of course, but back then, it was usually a lone operative or an intelligence agent from a spy unit. It wasn't a heavyweight master like Jeok Ma-seong."
"That’s true," Song Hak admitted.
The Eight Great Bishops were the eight masters serving directly under the Cult Leader. They were supreme experts, so powerful that they would not easily fall regardless of who they fought in the Central Plains.
"That’s why... and this is purely my own conjecture..." Song Mun leaned in.
Song Mun was known as the strategist of Qingcheng, excelling at analyzing events based on fragmented information. In the past, even the previous Abbot of Shaolin, the Great Monk Gyeong Won, had marveled at his insight. This was why Song Hak had been pressing him for his true thoughts.
"The point is, why did a heavyweight like one of the Eight Great Bishops suddenly appear in Sichuan? Furthermore, how could such an existence be so easily spotted? When you synthesize those facts, two theories emerge."
"Two theories? Go on."
"First, he has likely been staying in the Jianghu for quite a long time. Demonic masters of his level aren't careless enough to have their tracks discovered overnight. The fact that they were found at all suggests they have been hiding here for a significant period."
"..."
"And the second is that he was in a very desperate situation when he was discovered. The place he was first spotted was the Mural Cave, the heart of the Baekcheon Sect. Do you know what that place is? It’s where the low-ranking warriors of the Baekcheon Sect live. Why would a Bishop enter a place like that instead of the Sect Leader’s private quarters or the elders' secret vault?"
Song Hak hesitated before answering. "Are you saying he went there to find something? A spiritual medicine, or perhaps a Divine Weapon..."
"Or perhaps a secret manual."
Song Hak’s eyes widened as the realization hit him. "...You're saying something unexpected flowed into the Baekcheon Sect?"
"Probably. What’s certain is that he stayed in the Jianghu for quite a while. Despite that, he suddenly revealed himself. We calculated backward to see how this event came to be, and a plausible theory emerged."
Song Mun lowered his voice.
"Perhaps... the Demonic Cult lost something vital in the Central Plains."
"Something vital? Like what?"
"Who knows. As you said, it could be a spiritual medicine or a Divine Weapon. What’s certain is that Jeok Ma-seong is searching for it without even returning to the cult's headquarters. That means it is of paramount importance."
"Ho." Song Hak’s eyes flashed. It made sense. There was no other reason for a master of the demonic path to stay in the dangerous enemy territory of Sichuan for so long.
"Wouldn't the other sects realize this as well?"
"It seems the Beggar Sect has already guessed it."
"The Beggar Sect, huh..."
Song Mun continued calmly. "While pursuing Jeok Ma-seong, the Beggar Sect began investigating the area around the Baekcheon Sect. It fell through because Song Won-gang, the leader of the Baekcheon Sect, strongly opposed it, but they definitely smelled something."
"Did you tell the Sect Leader?"
"Of course."
"What did he say?"
"Why do you think he sent me and the Qingcheng Sword Sovereigns as the vanguard?"
"Then..."
"That’s right. He ordered us to search the area around the Qingcheng Sect as well. Since we are close to the Baekcheon Sect, there is a chance whatever they are looking for might have come this way."
"Hmm..." Song Hak fell into deep thought. The incident was far more significant than he had initially imagined.
Song Mun slowly stood up from his seat.
"For now, I plan to mobilize the disciples under the pretext of searching for ancestral relics. If we announce that Jeok Ma-seong is in the area, it will cause absolute chaos. Even the vanguard doesn't know the full truth, so be careful with your words. As of now, no one in Qingcheng knows this except for you and me."
"I understand," Song Hak replied gravely. "I shall help as well."