Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Hearing the Answer
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We turned the carriage around that we had temporarily parked and followed behind Ye So-ha until we arrived at none other than a brothel.
Even as all the people in the area had flocked toward Mount Wudang, it seemed to be operating normally, as quite a lively clamor emanated from inside the brothel.
And standing at the entrance was a woman in a blue veil whom I remembered seeing before, waiting for us.
“Leave the carriage with me and go on inside.”
As far as I recalled, she was the maid who attended Ye So-ha.
She was just as suspicious as ever, but I had no desire to waste more time bickering in front of the brothel, so I quietly stepped down from the carriage.
After handing the carriage over to the veiled woman, my companions and I entered the brothel, and the courtesans standing near the entrance immediately lit up.
“Oh my~? What brings such a handsome young master here? Welcome to the Heavenly Fragrance House.”
One of the courtesans chattered as she approached and tried to swiftly grab my arm.
Before I could dodge, a stick came swinging down on her head.
-Whack!
“Ow!”
The courtesan clutched her head with a fairly clear, ringing cry.
A middle-aged beauty who had somehow appeared behind her with a stick in hand clicked her tongue.
“This impatient wench just can't tell when to butt in and when to stay out.”
“Eek!”
It must have hurt quite a bit, as tears welled up in the courtesan's eyes while she glared at the woman.
But she wilted under the fierce gaze returned to her.
Having subdued the courtesan with a mere look, the middle-aged beauty then bowed politely to us and spoke.
“The young lady is already waiting on the top floor. Please, go on up.”
A flicker of surprise entered the eyes of the courtesans as they watched the woman bow.
This middle-aged beauty was undoubtedly the madam of the brothel, or someone of equivalent standing.
Yet she was treating us with such utmost courtesy.
It had to be because of Ye So-ha, but just what was that woman's true identity?
Hoping I'd get answers to that mystery today, I set foot on the stairs.
We climbed the stairs and arrived at the top floor, entering an opulent room that was clearly the madam's quarters.
“Welcome. This should be a suitable place for our talk, don't you think?”
Seated at the innermost seat of the large round table—the place of honor—Ye So-ha greeted us with a subtle smile.
I eyed her suspiciously for a moment before taking a seat farthest from her, near the entrance.
Naturally, my companions clustered around me as well, resulting once more in us facing off across the table.
Seeing this, Ye So-ha let out a plaintive whine.
“Hey? I have no intention of eating you all alive or anything. I really don't get why you're so on guard.”
“We've been tangled up with too many shady characters lately for that. Especially when the other side's only revealed a single name, we can't just take them at their word.”
At my pointed remark, Ye So-ha put on an incredulous expression.
“Is that something to say to someone who hasn't even given her name?”
“I'd call it self-inflicted karma.”
It wasn't me who'd snuck up from behind and left the worst possible first impression.
“Tch.”
Ye So-ha gave her shoulders a brief shrug after clicking her tongue,
Then she said,
“Fine, then. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Ye So-ha, sect leader of the Hao Gate. And this is the Hao Gate's branch in Gyeonhyeon.”
She dropped an enormous bombshell.
“…What?”
For a moment, I found myself wearing a blank expression without realizing it.
What did that woman just say? Hao Gate leader?
“The Hao Gate leader…! You mean you're her?”
My companions were just as stunned by Ye So-ha's declaration.
Hwa-ryeon in particular wore a rare look of clear shock on her face.
Delighted by our reactions, Ye So-ha nodded with a broad, pleased smile.
“Yes. That's me, the leader of the Hao Gate. One of the Ten Supremes: the Flame Venerable and slayer of the Radiant Venerable. Guardian of those who dwell in the underbelly of the martial world.”
After hearing her rather lengthy self-introduction, I suppressed my confusion and asked again.
“So you're claiming to be that Hao Gate leader? The one whose gender, age, and name are all complete mysteries?”
“That's right. And you've already learned two out of those three from me, haven't you? Oh, but I can't tell you my age. It's a woman's secret, to preserve her allure.”
I stared at Ye So-ha, who winked nonchalantly with one eye, my expression indescribable. Then I spoke up again.
“Can you prove you're the Hao Gate leader?”
“Proof? Information would be the most convincing, wouldn't it?”
With considerable confidence, Ye So-ha began rattling off every detail of our activities since Hebi.
She didn't know the finer minutiae, of course, but aside from that, she knew everything as if she'd been traveling with us the whole time.
She even knew about the incident in Goseonghyeon right before this, where I'd clashed with the Jeongmu Sect.
“…That happened?”
“I… meant to tell you later, but things got rushed…”
Awkwardly scratching my cheek, I shot Ye So-ha a sharp glare.
There was no need to bring that up, was there?
Whether she sensed my irritation or not, Ye So-ha chuckled merrily and continued.
“And you're here, of course, to seek the Wudang Sect's aid. Though that blood-red sky is giving you a real headache.”
“…….”
“How about it? Proof enough?”
It was chilling information-gathering prowess and insight.
With details like that, I had no choice but to believe she was the Hao Gate leader.
“…I'll believe you, for now.”
“I suppose I should say thanks? Well then, now to get down to business…”
“Before that, I'd like answers to the question I asked you back then.”
I recalled our conversation in that alley in Hebi, where Chil-ji had died.
-“May I ask why you targeted Chil-ji?”
-“Simple. Because she's our enemy.”
-Does that mean you're hostile to Tyrant Heaven Fortress?
-“Hmm… that's a bit tricky to answer.”
Back then, Ye So-ha hadn't given a proper reply and had vanished after saying she'd explain next time.
Now that the next time had arrived, it was time for answers.
At my demand, Ye So-ha flashed a deep smile.
“You didn't need to remind me. That's the main topic, after all.”
“…!”
Her words made my eyes sharpen instinctively.
My gaze drifted naturally to her curved lips, waiting for them to part once more.
A moment later, her lips opened.
But the answer that came out deviated quite a bit from my expectations.
“To answer back then: 'In a way, yes, and in a way, no.'”
“…Are you joking?”
As my voice chilled instantly, Ye So-ha raised both hands to calm me.
“Now, now, easy there. I'll explain in detail right now.”
…Honestly, it feels like she's just toying with me for fun.
When I glared at her with fierce eyes, she finally wiped the smile from her face and began the real explanation.
“What the Hao Gate is truly hostile to isn't Tyrant Heaven Fortress itself, but the ones scheming from the shadows behind it.”
“Scheming from the shadows behind it?”
She nodded emphatically at my question and continued her explanation.
“Yes. To put it plainly: the Demonic Cult.”
“…!”
-Thud!
The moment the words “Demonic Cult” hit the air, my master shot up from her seat.
With the most terrifying expression I'd ever seen on her face, she fixed Ye So-ha with a cold stare and demanded,
“Can you stand by those words?”
“Yes. We've been clashing with them in the shadows for a very long time now. The Demonic Cult is undoubtedly behind Tyrant Heaven Fortress.”
“How could that be…!”
Ye So-ha glanced sideways at the stunned Hwa-ryeon and quietly added,
“Of course, the Demonic Cult of today is quite different from the one you faced, Lady Hero.”
With that preface, Ye So-ha continued her explanation.
“In the past, they were known as the Ming Cult. Now, they're the Bloodwood Cult. They call themselves the Divine Tree Cult. They've become a cult worshiping an entity they dub the 'Divine Tree.'”
Bloodwood Cult.
Cultists worshiping an existence they call the Divine Tree.
Divine Tree… God's Tree?
Just what was so special about a tree that they worshipped it… Ah.
Suddenly, a scene from Hebi flashed in my mind.
Chil-ji, transformed into a massive tree monster attacking Ye So-ha, only to burn to ashes in white flames.
“…So what exactly is this Divine Tree? It's not just some fictional entity, right?”
“No. As you yourself saw, young hero, it grants its worshippers grotesque yet immensely powerful strength in exchange for shedding their human forms.”
Chil-ji had transformed into a hideous shape that moved like a living colossal tree.
She'd burned away pathetically in Ye So-ha's white flames and turned to ash, but that form had been undeniably threatening.
Any ordinary martial artist would have been too intimidated to even face her.
In other words, Chil-ji transforming like that meant…
“So Chil-ji, who belonged to Tyrant Heaven Fortress, was actually a follower of the Bloodwood Cult?”
“Yes. More precisely, the entire Divine Tree Squad is their puppet force.”
Divine Tree Squad and Bloodwood (Divine Tree) Cult.
Hearing it laid out like this, the naming was blatantly obvious.
I inwardly snorted in disbelief when Hwa-ryeon, seated beside me, spoke up.
“…Divine Tree Squad. I've heard of them. It was newly formed after Joo Do-han became fortress lord.”
“Yes. And there's talk that Squad Leader Il-ji is quite… close with the fortress lord.”
-Creak.
As Ye So-ha added that casual aside with feigned innocence, Hwa-ryeon clenched her fist tightly.
“…Truly, has that bastard Joo Do-han really… joined hands with the Demonic Cult?”