Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: The Fruit Bears
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“Division Leader Neung, wasn't it worth crossing swords with the Scholar's Divine Sword?”
Mo Donggwak couldn't wrap his head around why Division Leader Neung had retreated without even properly engaging the Scholar.
There was the excuse of protecting him, but considering Neung's usual demeanor, something felt off.
“If you'd just kept the Scholar pinned down, we could've swept in and wiped out the rest.”
Neung fixed Mo Donggwak with a steady gaze.
“Third Young Master. It wasn't just the Scholar. Someone with an aura rivaling the Cult Leader's had me pinned with their energy.”
“Who?”
“They were a hundred zhang away.”
“Someone a hundred zhang out could threaten you with their energy alone?”
That would require someone on the level of their Cult Leader or one of the Two Great Guardian Kings.
“Holding off just the Scholar? No need to withdraw. But against a hidden expert on top of that? I had no confidence.”
“Heh...”
Mo Donggwak had no choice but to believe Neung's grim expression—there had indeed been a hidden master.
“But isn't it strange? Why hide instead of jumping in to help the Scholar and crush us?”
“No idea. But someone capable of pressuring me with their energy was lurking.”
Mo Donggwak pondered for a moment before speaking.
“More importantly, we need to pull back the forces attacking the Tang Clan—fast. Pushing the plan further is too risky.”
“Understood.”
Neung, who had been staring blankly into the void, released a messenger pigeon.
I headed to the Murim Alliance's Sichuan Branch alongside the White Tiger Unit.
With so many casualties, I lent a hand in rallying them.
And since I worried about an ambush during withdrawal, I escorted them all the way.
“If you hadn't shown up, brother, we'd all be dead.”
Pang Soun sidled up beside me and said.
Wunsang chimed in.
“He's right. We owe our lives to you, Scholar Cheon.”
I had no ready reply, so I answered with a smile.
“We've never properly met—let's introduce ourselves. I'm Nangong Seongjin.”
“Cheon Taesan. I spotted you from afar a few times back at Alliance HQ.”
“Thank you.”
Nangong Seongjin summed up his feelings in one word.
“I've been away from the family, but I keep up with the news. Heard you set Mubaek straight. My thanks.”
“No need. Young Master Nangong Mubaek was just lost for a time. Even without me, he'd have found his way back eventually.”
Nangong Seongjin nodded silently.
Raised with proper education in a prestigious house, he was the model of what that should produce.
No flaws to pick at.
Small wonder Nangong Hak had tapped him as the next Family Head.
His own brothers harbored no grudges over Seongjin taking the heir's seat—he had the talent and martial prowess to back it up.
“But when did your skills level up again?”
Pang Soun jumped right in.
“Level up? Same as before.”
“What're you talking about? Back then, at least I could see the orbs. Today? They moved so fast I couldn't even track them. I couldn't have blocked a single one. And that guy was a Demonic Cult division leader—he still managed to.”
Pang Soun wasn't one for beating around the bush.
If he was curious, he asked straight out.
“Was it like that?”
My vague response prompted Wunsang.
“Young Master Pang, Scholar Cheon might be far stronger than we know. No telling how much he's holding back.”
Wunsang's words didn't sound like a joke.
“Hahaha! Does that make this Pang the brother of the world's top expert?”
Even nonsense gains traction eventually.
Wang Cheong approached me.
“Scholar Cheon. Thanks to you, my men survived. Much obliged.”
“Think nothing of it.”
I replied with a smile, and he returned it.
“But we failed the mission—no backlash for that, right?”
His silence confirmed Alliance politics were at play.
Nangong Seongjin spoke coldly.
“For Sichuan, they only dispatched Azure Dragon and White Tiger Units out of the Six Battle Units. The ones that didn't suit their tastes. Block the Demonic Cult, and the losses hurt; fail, and they can pin the blame.”
Of the Six Battle Units, Azure Dragon and White Tiger stayed neutral—quietly discarded by the Alliance Lord's faction and the elders.
It was bad enough when I was there, but with the Demonic Cult stirring, it had worsened. Regrettable.
Factions form in any organization with people—that's natural.
But jockeying for power amid crisis? The Alliance lacked that discernment.
White Tiger had nearly been annihilated.
Capturing Mo Donggwak was an impossible task.
The real issue was issuing it so casually.
No use complaining, though. I sighed inwardly.
“Unit Leader Wang, no more reckless missions. The Demonic Cult isn't what it used to be.”
Wang Cheong nodded, clearly feeling it too.
“I sense it as well. Problem is, Alliance command doesn't.”
Pang Soun spat a curse.
“Those greedy old fogeys... Bickering over scraps like vultures. Makes me sick. Shouldn't age turn you wise, not a slave to greed? Acting like they'll live forever—it's a mess.”
I eyed Pang Soun.
“True, but not for a little brother to say. Back at the Alliance, you were the biggest headache for those old-timers.”
“Hmph! That's exactly why I rebelled.”
“Is that so?”
I laughed, and the others joined in.
Pang Soun remained a legend—a scourge—at the Alliance even now.
Before reaching the Sichuan Branch, a White Tiger warrior rushed up.
Wang Cheong had sent him to scout the Tang Clan.
“The Tang outer clans took heavy losses, but thankfully, the Demonic Cult didn't breach the Tang grounds—they retreated.”
The Tang outer forces had held off the Demonic Cult.
The Tang Clan had real depth.
“Is the Tang Family Head alright?”
“Yes. He clashed with Demonic Cult Division Leader Sin Eung and held the advantage. Sin Eung got hit by Thousand Heaven Flower Rain and was injured.”
Few in the martial world could dodge the pinnacle of hidden weapons, Thousand Heaven Flower Rain.
“Got it. Good work.”
The reporting warrior lingered with one more item.
“Unit Leader, on the way back from the Tang Clan, I heard something odd.”
“What?”
“Know the Seop Manor?”
“Of course. One of Sichuan's major families, right?”
“Word is, the Seop heir fell to demonic energy and slaughtered his estate's people.”
“Reliable intel?”
“Locals are hushing it, but the estate's guards recognized the demonic qi.”
Wang Cheong hesitated.
White Tiger was too battered for side tasks, but ignoring demonic qi? Impossible.
That's when Cheon Taesan spoke.
“Unit Leader, leave this to me. Seems the Demonic Cult is sowing demonic qi widely to sow chaos in Sichuan. We need to clean it up fast, or it'll spiral.”
“You, Scholar Cheon?”
“Yes. I'll handle it. Bring the Seop heir back here. Interrogation at the Branch will sort it.”
Wang Cheong was grateful—Scholar Cheon stepping up.
Seop Manor warranted his personal touch, but White Tiger came first.
“Then take Nangong Gongzi and ten White Tiger men. Escort him back.”
Since Cheon Taesan wasn't White Tiger, Wang Cheong attached Nangong Seongjin.
“Why're you tagging along, little brother?”
Pang Soun laughed from behind as he followed.
“Fun stuff always happens where you go.”
He said that, but I knew he was here to help.
“Did the Demonic Cult really target Seop Manor too?”
Nangong Seongjin replied.
“Even minor dojos are getting Demonic Cult manuals. Not conquering by force anymore—they're luring with power, slowly addicting and absorbing. Probably fed Seop Manor that power, planning to reclaim it once hooked. Demonic qi needs demonic arts to control.”
Pang Soun nodded.
“True, Sichuan doesn't hate the Demonic Cult like before. Brilliant—whoever planned this. Flooding the world with their manuals for free.”
“And they avoid civilians who don't know martial arts. Back then, they'd slaughter them for sport.”
“Then the Alliance needs a new strategy against them. Warriors craving advanced arts? Demonic Cult hands 'em free demonic manuals—they'll be grateful.”
Nangong Seongjin stared at Pang Soun instead of answering.
“What? That look?”
“You've changed a lot. Never thought the Alliance's top punk would turn out like this.”
Pang Soun chuckled.
“Embarrassing to say, but it's all thanks to Brother Cheon. Without him, I'd still be a wastrel, lost in madness. No idea what gripped me back then.”
I smiled inwardly at his words.
'Why? You were born with the Green Lord Star's energy.'
Pang Soun changed the subject.
“Speaking of, Seop Hyeonlok's a notorious punk himself. Demonic Cult might've exploited that.”
Nangong Seongjin answered gravely.
“Just reports—not confirmed. We'll know when we see.”
Seop Hyeonlok had finally unleashed the Explosive Demon Pill's demonic qi.
I'd volunteered to lighten Tang Jinin's burden.
If she stepped in, rumors would fly.
With Seop Hyeonlok's betrothal to Tang Garyeong next month, it'd look like the Tang Clan schemed to sabotage it.
With White Tiger men along, we could frame it as Alliance authority.
Chatting idly, we soon reached Seop Manor.
As we approached the gate, guards blocked us.
“Manor Lord's orders—no visitors for now.”
Nangong Seongjin responded.
“Do we look like randoms? Here on White Tiger Unit Leader Wang Cheong's orders. Open the gate.”
But the guards didn't budge—clearly under strict instructions.
I poked Pang Soun's side—he was standing idly by.
Time for a punk.
Reading my eyes, Pang Soun grinned mischievously.
“You bastards! Think polite gets you laughed at? Obstructing a Murim Alliance mission? If the gate ain't open by the count of three, I'll kill every one of you and smash it down!”
Pang Soun shouldered his saber, radiating killing intent.
“Know who I am? Pang Soun—Pang Soun!”
The guards' eyes widened.
Pang Soun's infamy reached even Sichuan gatekeepers.
Knowing he was the type, and unwilling to die, they stepped aside.
But no opening the gate.
I nodded, and Pang Soun raised his saber high.
“I warned you. Don't blame me!”
Kiiieeeek!
At that moment, Seop Manor's main gate creaked open.
The chief steward greeted us.
“Welcome. We announced no visitors, so the guards must've been overly rigid. My apologies as steward. What brings White Tiger Unit here?”
The old steward was composed.
Nangong Seongjin stepped forward.
“I'm Nangong Seongjin, here on Unit Leader Wang Cheong's orders. Reports say your heir fell to demonic qi and killed retainers. As you know, the Demonic Cult is spreading manuals, plunging the martial world into chaos. We must investigate if your son is involved.”
Nangong Seongjin was a pro—polite yet firm on duty.
“Oh dear, no such thing.”
“No need for excuses. Take us to the heir—we'll confirm ourselves.”
“Unnecessary.”
“Not your call, steward.”
That's when it happened.
A group emerged from the main hall.