Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: What He Truly Wants
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Mak Yeohyeon wondered what kind of gift Scholar Cheon might desire.
'Money? Land?'
He already had plenty of land, and thanks to Scholar Cheon, he'd gained a gold mine—enough wealth to live leisurely for life. He planned to hand over that much.
It would be well worth it if it kept their connection going.
'A spirit medicine? A treasure?'
Mak Yeohyeon was prepared to grant whatever it was.
"It's nothing much, but when the time comes that I need it, I hope you'll lend me the Heavenly Asura Corps."
"Pardon?"
Mak Yeohyeon thought he'd misheard and asked again.
"Lend me the Heavenly Asura Corps?"
"Yes. Not now, but someday when I need it, I'd like to use the entire Heavenly Asura Corps."
Mak Yeohyeon tilted his head.
He'd lived his life hearing he was something of a genius, but he couldn't fathom what Scholar Cheon meant.
Then a thought struck him.
"Do you have some sect you need to get revenge on or something?"
The full Heavenly Asura Corps numbered nearly three hundred men.
That alone could wipe a mid-tier sect off the map overnight.
"Mind sharing your reasons? If they make sense, I don't see why not."
Just then, an elder from the Heavenly Heaven Sect at his side interjected.
"My Lord, we can offer other gifts, but lending out our sect's armed forces requires careful consideration."
"Shut your mouth. I clearly told Scholar Cheon I'd give him any gift he wanted. Are you trying to make me break my word?"
The elder paled under the sudden pressure filling the hall.
"Even if Scholar Cheon asked for my cherished daughter, I'd hand her over. What nonsense is this?"
Cheon Taesan flinched at those words.
'That's not a gift; that's poison.'
Cheon Taesan showed no reaction. He didn't want to give Mak Yeohyeon any openings.
In truth, Mak Yeohyeon had sent his daughter with Hopyeon Jang hoping she'd form a bond with Scholar Cheon.
That way, he could bring him into the Heavenly Heaven Sect as a son-in-law.
But the reports said he'd botched it so badly that Scholar Cheon looked at her like a dog eyeing a chicken, leaving him disappointed.
'Should I send the fairest beauty in the sect to seduce him? Wait, does our sect even have any beauties?'
He stared at Scholar Cheon for a moment while lost in thought.
"Let's hear your reasons."
Cheon Taesan inwardly sighed in relief that Mak Yeohyeon hadn't refused outright.
In truth, requesting an entire sect's armed force was outrageous.
It was only possible because of the tremendous contributions he'd made to the Heavenly Heaven Sect.
He'd secured the gold mine, ending their money woes, and cured Mak Jimong, solving their succession issue.
"Sect Leader, forgive me, but please clear the room."
By calling him Sect Leader instead of Supreme Lord, Cheon Taesan emphasized the official nature of the discussion.
"Everyone out."
No one dared argue with Mak Yeohyeon.
"Me too?"
Mak Jimong pointed at herself, and Mak Yeohyeon glanced at Scholar Cheon.
"The Young Lord should hear this as well."
"Alright? You stay."
With that, everyone else filed out of the hall.
A heavy silence settled over the remaining trio: Cheon Taesan, Mak Jimong, and Mak Yeohyeon.
"I've set up a barrier, so speak freely."
Sensing it was important, Mak Yeohyeon had erected a barrier.
"When I was with the Nangong Family, the Demonic Cult and Blood Cult joined forces in Hefei to stir up chaos over claiming the Little Palace Lord of the Ice Palace."
"I know of it."
Cheon Taesan nodded.
"At the time, I thought they were just after the Ice Palace."
"And?"
"Then this time, the Demonic Cult came to Gangseo for the gold mine."
"They must have found out about the gold mine."
"I focused on the fact that they came all the way to Gangseo to seize it. If they wanted gold, they could've gone to Sichuan, Yunnan, or Gansu. But they risked clashing with us unorthodox sects to come here. That means they've already secured those areas."
"Hmm. Go on."
Mak Yeohyeon sensed Scholar Cheon was laying groundwork for something crucial.
"I figured if they came into the Supreme Lord's unorthodox territory to steal a gold mine, they must desperately need funds."
"True. Why would the Demonic Cult need money so badly?"
"As the Dragon Flag Captain probably reported, suspects believed to be from the Demonic Cult attacked the descendants of the Grand General and the Grand Scholar."
"Yeah. The bastards raided official residences. Who knows what they're after."
From that, Cheon Taesan realized Mak Yeohyeon hadn't grasped the full picture.
"Do you know they attacked using the Heavenly Heaven Sect's poison arts?"
"So I heard. Our techniques must have spread even to the Demonic Cult."
"But consider this interpretation. What if the Grand General and Grand Scholar's descendants had been killed by unorthodox martial arts?"
"Huh? Wait..."
Mak Yeohyeon frowned as he pondered.
Mak Jimong, who had been listening quietly, chimed in.
"Then the Grand General or Grand Scholar would think we unorthodox folk killed their heirs. Since it was our techniques."
Cheon Taesan looked at Mak Jimong.
"And then?"
"And then? Well, uh, maybe the Grand General would see us as enemies?"
Realizing something was off after speaking, Mak Jimong's eyes widened.
She'd just grasped the gravity of it.
"Exactly. The Grand General would raise an army against the Heavenly Heaven Sect, and the Grand Scholar would move the imperial court."
"My goodness!"
Mak Jimong shivered as she realized the massive backlash that could have followed.
Mak Yeohyeon spoke in a grave tone.
"So, the Demonic Cult was provoking the officials and the court to turn them against us?"
"Yes. More precisely, they aimed to check the unorthodox sects through them."
"Why?"
Mak Yeohyeon had a hunch about the Demonic Cult's intentions.
"They want a Righteous-Demonic War."
Mak Jimong muttered.
"Righteous-Demonic War? The Demonic Cult starting a war? But why drag us into it?"
"You're called the Supreme Lord of the Unorthodox, but you're firmly one of the Righteous-Unorthodox. You're even hailed as the Righteous King of the Shadows for walking the righteous path among us."
Mak Yeohyeon grinned slightly at the praise, even amid the tension.
"I like that. 'Walking the righteous path of the unorthodox.'"
"The Demonic Cult likely figures that in a war with the orthodox sects, you'd side with them over us, so they're pulling these schemes."
"So they gathered forces through the Ice Palace, money from the gold mine, and all that. Then tie our hands, and the Righteous-Demonic War ends in the demonic path's victory."
"There hasn't been a war in the martial world for nearly fifty years. As you know, the Demonic Cult can only hold together by directing their power outward once it builds up. Staying idle breeds internal strife."
"I get it. But with so little information, it's hard to take your word at face value, Scholar Cheon. Our strategist hasn't given any hints either."
Cheon Taesan couldn't point out how incompetent the Heavenly Heaven Sect's strategist division was.
Among the righteous, demonic, unorthodox, and black path, the unorthodox had the slowest intel and worst analysis.
They just didn't realize it themselves.
"If you need a strategist, I recommend Hopyeon Jang from Hopyeon Manor. He'll offer you sound counsel."
"Oh? If you recommend him, Scholar Cheon, I trust it. Alright, I'll meet him."
Cheon Taesan knew Hopyeon Jang was a genius who shone despite lacking a special constitution.
"I'll order a full investigation into the Demonic Cult's movements starting now."
Cheon Taesan added,
"One more thing. Their learning our exclusive unorthodox arts seems to serve another purpose."
"What purpose?"
Mak Jimong blurted without thinking.
"Think about it. These are the ones trying to turn the officials and court against the unorthodox. Won't they try other tricks?"
Mak Jimong, unused to deep thinking, grew irritated first.
"So, what's their plan?"
Mak Yeohyeon murmured softly.
"Yes, you're right, Scholar Cheon. They won't sit idle. They learned our arts for a reason. They'll likely cause trouble at the upcoming Yongmu Tournament."
The Yongmu Tournament was the martial world's grandest competition, open to all—orthodox, demonic, unorthodox, and black path warriors alike.
Fifty years ago, to end the long Righteous-Demonic-Unorthodox wars and foster unity, it was established as a quinquennial event where all factions gathered for camaraderie and sparring.
If Demonic Cultists posing with unorthodox arts killed competitors or incited riots there, the unorthodox would instantly become public enemies.
Even if the truth came out later, it'd be too late.
Martial artists, driven by passion, raged first at what they saw before sorting facts.
"They'll definitely stir something at the Yongmu Tournament."
Mak Yeohyeon pondered, recognizing it wasn't trivial.
"So, what should we do?"
"Gather as much intel as possible on the Demonic Cult, Blood Cult, and Ice Palace movements. And from now on, strengthen unorthodox unity. They might have approached other unorthodox forces too."
"Right, the Demonic Cult always sows division before acting. That's why you had me clear the hall—just in case."
"Yes, Supreme Lord."
"There are Demonic Cult and Blood Cult rats here too, no doubt."
"So now, you need to step in and tighten control. And form alliances with nearby forces."
"Looks like I've got my work cut out."
"My predictions could be off, but all signs point one way. That's why I'm warning you."
"If I hadn't met you, Scholar Cheon, we'd be in real trouble. That's why you want the Heavenly Asura Corps. Fine, granted."
Cheon Taesan decided to push his luck a bit more.
"Thank you, Sect Leader. Might I ask for one more small thing?"
"Huh? You sly one. So this is what you really wanted. Go on."
Cheon Taesan smiled faintly.
"I heard there's a book in Sanskrit you obtained from Wolyeong Sintu's tomb. I'd like to see it."
"What? How'd you know? That's top secret. As expected of the Murim Alliance's Inspection Unit."
Mak Yeohyeon frowned briefly before chuckling ruefully.
"Means we've got Murim Alliance spies too. Then the Demonic Cult must have theirs. Time to weed them all out."
Mak Yeohyeon gave a wry smile.
"I can show you. But since I've already promised the Heavenly Asura Corps, you get one hour with the book. That work?"
One hour with a Sanskrit book meant barely skimming a few pages.
"That's plenty."
But Mak Yeohyeon didn't yet know what kind of person Scholar Cheon was.
Sanskrit was no different from any other script to him.
"Good. It's in the sect's secret vault, so the Young Lord will take you."
Only the Sect Leader, Young Lord, and a few others could enter the Heavenly Heaven Sect's secret vault.
Cheon Taesan inwardly cheered at finally getting the true gift he wanted.
I'd once seen the Murim Alliance's secret records listing what Wolyeong Sintu had stolen.
Among them was the item I truly wanted, confirmed stolen by him.
It was the Spirit Mountain Flower from the Potala Palace.
The Spirit Mountain Flower () was the flower Buddhists called udumbara.
Wolyeong Sintu had two treasure troves: one uncovered after investigation, the other still hidden.
I believed—no, I was certain—the Spirit Mountain Flower was in that undiscovered trove.
It was the only herb that could treat my mother's condition.
As the herb with the strongest Buddhist properties, nothing else could alter her constitution.
I believed the Sanskrit book left by Wolyeong Sintu held clues to that second trove.
'Finally, I've made it this far.'
I'd studied medicine to cure my mother's unique constitution.
But the more I learned, the more I realized there was no cure, leading to despair.
Then, in a medical text, I read that only the Spirit Mountain Flower, brimming with Buddhist essence, could treat it.
From a book by a physician once called the Divine Healer in the Murim Alliance's vault, I learned of the Spirit Mountain Flower.
Scouring texts for leads on it, I found records of the legendary thief Wolyeong Sintu stealing it from the Potala Palace fifteen years ago.
Inquiries led me to the Heavenly Heaven Sect holding Wolyeong Sintu's relics.
One reason I'd come here under the pretext of treating Mak Jimong was finally within reach—I was deeply moved.
Thankfully, curing Mak Jimong and gifting the gold mine had earned my requests' approval. Otherwise, forget the secret vault; even borrowing the Heavenly Asura Corps would've been impossible.