Chapter 81: Appearance of the Giant Demon (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 81: Appearance of the Giant Demon (1)
Even as he asked the question, his hands trembled uncontrollably.
Yeong Gae looked at Wang Gae and chuckled before continuing.
"You wouldn't know, since you only recently became a Branch Leader. In this context, the term 'Giant Demon' refers to those madmen who fall into Qi Deviation while practicing heterodox arts. At least once a year, one of these lunatics starts running amok. Usually, reports like this go straight to the top, but… so, you say he was wounded while fighting the Flying Dragon Gate? What kind of sect is this Flying Dragon Gate?"
The beggar wearing a bandana over his forehead bowed his head and replied.
"It is a minor sect consisting of about a dozen members. We have identified about five first-class experts among them."
"He was wounded fighting a sect like that? Then, just as the report says, his skill must be somewhere between first-class and the Peak Realm."
Yeong Gae tapped his fingers for a moment, then turned his gaze to Wang Gae.
"Predict his current path of movement and send out official requests for cooperation to nearby sects and renowned experts."
"Requests for cooperation, you say?"
"Opportunities to take down a Giant Demon don't come often. If we put out a call for help, they’ll all come running."
"Will they really?"
"Martial artists often stake their lives on reputation alone. In truth, there’s nothing quite like this for boosting one's fame. The target hasn't reached the Peak Realm yet, and he’s from the Unorthodox Faction to boot."
"Ah, I see."
Wang Gae nodded as if he finally understood and gave an order to the disciple standing beside him.
"Quickly send out cooperation requests to the renowned experts in the vicinity."
"Yes, sir!"
The disciple withdrew at the command. Perhaps due to the intimidation the word 'Giant Demon' carried, his face was slightly flushed.
"If you hadn't been here, Party Leader, we would have faced a very difficult situation."
"Newbies are always like that. That’s how they grow."
Yeong Gae continued. "Anyway. You mentioned a major incident occurred nearby just now?"
"Yes, in the Muhyeon region of Xi'an."
"And a Qingcheng Taoist was involved."
"There were two of them. One is named Song Yeo-guk, the former Estate Owner of Gujangwon. He used to be a secular disciple of the Qingcheng Sect. The other is a first-generation disciple of the Qingcheng Sect named Seok Myeong."
"Seok Myeong? That’s a name I’ve been hearing a lot lately."
"His name is being discussed frequently among the Rising Stars these days. A few months ago, at the Golden Martial Association…"
"Cheol Gun. Right, they say he defeated Cheol Gun?"
Rumors in the Jianghu are often chaotic and contradictory. Some said Qingcheng was defeated by Cheol Gun, while others said they fought to a draw. However, within the Beggar Sect, the rumor that he had defeated Cheol Gun was considered the most credible.
"Ah, my friend who’s been stuck as a Branch Leader for ages is stationed there. Heh."
He let out a short laugh and continued. "Who were the others?"
"A boy named Hyeok-jin and a girl named Cheol So-yeon. The boy, Hyeok-jin, is the one the Flash Divine Sword, Baek Yang-cheon…"
"Enough, that’s not the important part."
Yeong Gae cut him off and changed the subject.
"An Unorthodox Faction was established, but unlike the old Black Snake Union, they haven't actually done anything yet. So why did a fight break out?"
"There were rumors that the people from the old Gujangwon were taken in as slaves by the Black Snake Union. Song Yeo-guk, the former Qingcheng Taoist, found out and was met with disaster while trying to lead them out."
"Did they know the Samu Alliance was behind them?"
"They likely didn't. Even if they did, they might not have been afraid, being from the Qingcheng Sect."
"Is it a case of being brave through ignorance? No matter how great Qingcheng is, there’s nothing to gain from provoking the Samu Alliance…"
The reason the Beggar Sect hadn't directly eliminated the Black Snake Union was because of the Samu Alliance backing them.
The Unorthodox Faction was currently shaped by a power struggle between the "Three Strongest": the Golden Martial Association, the Samu Alliance, and the Old Black Alliance. Among them, the Samu Alliance was the most powerful.
The Samu Alliance's influence was expanding to a point where it was becoming difficult to keep in check.
The Samu Alliance was born from an agreement to maintain equal relations between the "Three Factions Under Heaven": the Thunderclap Faction of Shanxi, the Black Cloud Faction of Hebei, and the Iron Sword Hall of Shandong.
Their influence and information network were unrivaled, and their experts were as numerous as grains of sand. The fact that the Three Factions within the Samu Alliance had grown into Five Halls was enough to show how much they were flourishing.
"However, sir."
Wang Gae spoke to Yeong Gae, whose expression had hardened due to the gravity of the situation.
"I saw a bizarre sight when I went to investigate the interior of the Black Snake Union."
"A bizarre sight?"
"Yes. Someone had set a fire, and the entire interior of the Black Snake Union was burned to the ground."
"A fire?" Yeong Gae raised an eyebrow and asked back.
Wang Gae continued. "And there was something else strange."
"What else?"
"I smelled the stench of rotting corpses coming from what appeared to be a burnt warehouse."
"The stench of rotting corpses?"
"Yes. The smell of smoke was so strong I didn't notice at first, but I released the dogs just in case, and that’s where they found it. It was definitely a place where many corpses had been gathered. However, since no bodies were actually found, I couldn't tell how many had died."
"There’s a smell of rotting corpses, but no actual bodies? How strange."
Yeong Gae tilted his head at the incomprehensible report.
The smell of rotting corpses was present, but there were no traces? How was that possible? It would be impossible unless the bodies had been dug up right before the fire or completely dissolved.
'But why set the fire?'
Yeong Gae thought, scratching his head as things became increasingly complicated.
For now, he had to set priorities. The important question was whether the Samu Alliance was planning to act on its own.
"For now, let's take a step back and investigate. This is an incident that the Successor of the Beggar Sect is also watching with interest. First, let's deal with the Giant Demon."
"Yes, I understand."
Wang Gae gave a short bow.
Yeong Gae opened his hand and walked toward a window. The sunlight was shining brightly today. However, Yeong Gae's heart as he looked at the light was not so bright. For some reason, he felt a lingering sense of unease.
'Could it be that the Demonic Path is stirring again?'
*
The area in front of the main gate of the Azure Lake Gate was crowded with people. It was because of the group lingering in front.
"Safe travels."
The Sect Leader came out to bid Seok Myeong farewell. Seok Myeong bowed and said, "Thank you for your help. I will not forget this kindness."
"Kindness? We are simply grateful that you entrusted us with such good people."
As he spoke, he looked to his side. Many elderly people and children had gathered there. They were all people from Gujangwon who had been rescued by Seok Myeong. The Azure Lake Gate had decided to take them in.
Most of them would be accepted as mere dependents, but some would become new disciples to replenish the Azure Lake Gate's lost strength. A man is always at his strongest when protecting his family.
"Hyung, goodbye."
Among the watching crowd, a child who looked to be about six or seven years old suddenly approached. It was Hyeok-jin, who had suffered a major injury. His severe wounds had healed enough for him to move around freely.
"I’m going to become brave and strong just like you, Hyung. Right here."
"Just like me?"
"Yes, just like you."
At those words, Hyeok-jin's eyes wavered. It was something he had always wanted to hear—to be someone who helps others.
"Are you going to start blubbering in front of all these people?"
Cheol So-yeon, with a blunt expression, tapped him on the shoulder.
"Who said I was?"
Hyeok-jin widened his eyes and tried his best to hide his reddened rims.
Just as Seok Myeong was about to give his final farewell and depart, a young girl approached from the crowd. It was the girl named Jeong Wol, whom they had helped.
"There’s something I need to tell you."
After hesitating for a moment, she began to whisper something into Seok Myeong's ear. After listening for a long time, Seok Myeong asked her, "Is that true?"
"Yes, I saw it clearly with my own eyes."
Seok Myeong nodded. Then he spoke again. "This sounds like a serious matter, so do not tell anyone else."
"I won't."
She replied and turned away. With that, Seok Myeong and his party left the Azure Lake Gate.
*
The mountain ridges receded into the distance. The night of frantic slaughter was over, replaced by impossibly peaceful weather and a flat main road.
Step, step.
They walked and walked. Perhaps the repetition had become tedious.
"What did you talk about?" Cheol So-yeon approached and struck up a conversation.
"Talk about?"
"What that girl, Jeong Wol or whatever, said."
"…It was nothing much."
"You looked quite serious, though."
"That’s…"
Just then, Hyeok-jin cut in. "Seok Myeong Hyung, let us know too. What on earth is it?"
With Hyeok-jin joining in, Seok Myeong looked troubled. He thought for a moment before speaking.
"Fine, I’ll tell you."
Seok Myeong recounted what he had heard from Jeong Wol.
"She said the Black Snake Union was conducting some kind of experiment. The problem is that those experiments were being performed on humans."
"On humans?"
"Yes. One or two people would enter the warehouse every day, but no one ever came out. She went in once out of curiosity, and the people had vanished without a trace."
"Weren't they just killed?"
"She said that only the martial artists disappeared, not the servants. There were no bloodstains, only a foul stench, so she couldn't be sure. However, I thought it was suspicious, so I told her not to speak of it."
"Why did you do that? You should dig deeper into things like that."
At that, Cheol So-yeon scolded Hyeok-jin. "Why do you only see one side of things? It’s because the Samu Alliance is behind them."
"What’s so great about the Samu Alliance? Seok Myeong Hyung is from Qingcheng. There’s nothing to fear."
"Good grief."
Cheol So-yeon gave up on trying to convince Hyeok-jin. It would be better if he just didn't know. To say such things while knowing what kind of place the Samu Alliance—the largest organization in the Unorthodox Faction—was... she wondered if he thought the Nine Sects and One Gang were some kind of heavenly gods. She was now too tired to even explain it to him.
"Hm?"
While Cheol So-yeon and Hyeok-jin were bickering, Seok Myeong suddenly stopped and looked back.
"What is it?"
When Hyeok-jin asked curiously, Seok Myeong tilted his head and said, "I feel like someone is watching us."
His senses had become incredibly sharp. As Song Yeo-guk had said—when the water rises, the boat floats—the internal qi was circulating through his body once more. He wasn't sure if the Five Elements Four Changes Formation had been fully dispelled, but he could at least sense movements from a distance.
"It’s probably just someone passing by."
"That could be, but since they’ve been lingering for fifteen minutes, I can't help but be concerned."
"For fifteen minutes?"
Hyeok-jin's eyes widened, and he too looked around. Just as he turned his head in the direction Cheol So-yeon was looking—
Rustle.
The bushes shook, and someone stepped out. It was a beggar wearing clothes patched together from old cotton rags. He approached with a swaggering gait and addressed Seok Myeong.
"Are you Seok Myeong?"
"I am, but…" Seok Myeong replied with a stiff expression, slightly on guard.
At those words, the beggar grinned, revealing yellowed teeth. "I’ve come to ask a favor."
"A favor?"
"A Giant Demon has appeared nearby. He’s causing quite a ruckus, so I’m asking for help from any experts passing through the area."
"Experts?"
"That’s right. I was looking for nearby experts and luckily found you. I hope you’ll lend a hand."
"If such help is needed, I should naturally assist. But did you just say 'Giant Demon'?"
"I did. Ah, I almost said something misleading. He’s not some cold-blooded, merciless Great Archdemon like you might think. You can just think of him as a madman. He’s an Unorthodox Faction fellow who went crazy after falling into Qi Deviation."
"I see."
Seok Myeong understood. He also understood why the man had come to ask for help. There likely wasn't anyone nearby capable of stopping the madman's rampage.
"How skilled is he?"
"He seems to be beyond first-class, but hasn't reached the Peak Realm."
"But why did you come to me?"
"You’re asking because you don't know?" The beggar tilted his head for a moment before continuing. "Your name is already widespread throughout the Central Plains. As a Qingcheng Taoist, didn't you fight to a draw with Cheol Gun of the Golden Martial Association?"
"Ah."
As if he were too lazy to say more, the beggar pointed in one direction and continued. "If you run in this direction for about two hours, you’ll find him. What do you plan to do? Will you join us?"
When he pressed for an answer, Seok Myeong nodded.
"Of course I must help."
A martial journey is one where you find many places to go even if no one calls for you. To have a Giant Demon subjugation fall into his lap at a time like this—it was something he welcomed.