Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Help Me Find My Memories
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"We'll proceed as you instructed."
The man who had spoken of opening a large inn wore a satisfied expression as he bowed to me politely.
Since I'd fully accepted his requests, there were no obstacles in his way.
He left the teahouse, and I was about to stand up myself.
That's when a man drenched in blood suddenly dashed down the street, sword in hand, fleeing for his life.
A rare sight of an armed warrior appeared, sending the merchants and passersby into a panic.
I was about to leap from the railing to block the armed man when a figure cut off the fugitive's path.
"Huh? It's Yuseong!"
Blood stained Yuseong's blade, suggesting he'd already clashed with the fleeing warrior.
Yuseong shouted,
"This bastard dared enter Sam Muhyeon, rob people blind, eat without paying, and beat a server to death demanding money. His moniker is Jade Death Sword, a scum from the unorthodox sects who lives by the blade."
At Yuseong's words, the surrounding merchants and passersby erupted in outrage.
"And so, in accordance with Sam Muhyeon's laws, I shall execute his punishment."
Yuseong bellowed, channeling his inner energy,
"I, Thunder Dragon Sword Yuseong—sworn brother of Sam Muhyeon's master, Scholar Divine Sword Cheon Taesan, and his left-hand man—hereby enforce Sam Muhyeon's laws!"
"Woooaah!"
The passersby and merchants cheered in response?
I widened my eyes in surprise, and the teahouse owner explained,
"Hero Yuseong has made great contributions to Sam Muhyeon's public safety. He deploys Thunder Dragon Sect warriors to catch thieves and bandits, and he cracks down on those lawless unorthodox and black path martial artists."
"Is that so?"
I hadn't known Yuseong was so dedicated to Sam Muhyeon's security.
"While Present Heaven Sect warriors handle security too, Hero Yuseong especially patrols late into the night. Thanks to him, we can do business without worry."
I was at a loss for words.
Yuseong continued,
"My righteous brother, whom I revere above all, once said this: Punishing yesterday's crimes prevents emboldening tomorrow's. He also said, 'To me, justice means those who deserve death must die.' I, too, follow my brother's justice."
"Well said!"
"That's justice!"
I covered my face with my hand.
Those were words I'd once said to Yuseong, back when his Heavenly Slaughter Star energy was strong, hoping to teach him a lesson.
"Now, I'll say this: The wicked should die quickly after birth—or better yet, never be born at all."
Listening to Yuseong, my heart ached.
Knowing his circumstances, those words felt like they were directed at himself.
'If he hadn't overcome his Heavenly Slaughter Star, he might have taken his own life. That's why he's so zealous about punishing villains here in Sam Muhyeon.'
Feeling his resolve made my chest tighten.
"Drag this scum away."
In the past, he would've killed him on the spot, but ordering his men to haul him off showed the Heavenly Slaughter Star's influence had indeed faded.
Then, Yuseong's gaze suddenly turned my way.
He must have sensed me watching.
I quickly ducked below the railing.
'If that guy spots me, who knows what he'll do.'
He'd probably drag me around boasting about the Scholar Divine Sword.
I stopped by a nearby inn and ordered some food.
My arrival caused a stir there too.
Everyone who met my eyes bowed deeply in greeting, delaying my order.
Even dishes I hadn't ordered appeared on my table, leaving me flustered.
I sighed and ate anyway.
I couldn't predict what variables might arise when removing Mae Yuyeon's soul from Yeoseol's ritual.
Unsure what might happen, I wanted to eat heartily and prepare.
I fiddled with the silk pouch in my pocket.
That morning, I'd retrieved the silk pouch I'd left with Mak Jin-yul.
After nearly five days absorbing his qi, the pouch's energy had grown substantially.
'This should reduce Mak Jin-yul's hostility toward me.'
I'd prepared the silk pouch as a precaution.
I might need the extra inner energy.
The inn grew chaotic for a moment.
"Feng Qingja's here!"
It was Feng Qingja, the famous storyteller of Sam Muhyeon.
I started to leave but sat back down.
Feng Qingja heard the latest news from everywhere first and shared it, offering insights into the recent martial world trends.
"Hear the tales carried on the wind, from Feng Qingja!"
Stroking his stylish beard, Feng Qingja took the stage.
He began with the latest from the western martial world.
Nothing worth close attention, but the updates mattered.
"Under orders from Unorthodox Supreme Mak Yeoheun, the unorthodox sects of the west are recruiting warriors or intensifying training to bolster their forces."
Someone asked at Feng Qingja's words,
"What's the reason?"
"The martial world has enjoyed long peace. Since the Great War of Orthodoxy and Evil fifty years ago, no major conflicts have arisen. Imagine the power accumulated. Now's the time it's bursting forth. The problem is, the Murim Alliance isn't preparing for a Demonic Cult invasion like the Unorthodox Supreme."
Someone from a corner of the inn spoke up.
"Doesn't the Murim Alliance think there's no Demonic Cult threat?"
Feng Qingja shook his head.
"This Feng Qingja has fresh news. The Demonic Cult in Xinjiang crossed Qinghai and attacked the Kunlun Sect."
I frowned at that.
First I'd heard of it.
"It's from merchants who went to Qinghai for business—reliable accounts. The Kunlun Sect was half-destroyed and retreated to Sichuan. As you know, to enter the Central Plains, the Demonic Cult must eliminate the Kunlun Sect first. This means they're advancing on the Central Plains."
If Feng Qingja was right, my predictions about the Demonic Cult matched perfectly.
They were openly revealing their ambition to invade the Central Plains in earnest.
"The Unorthodox Supreme learned of this swiftly and is strengthening unorthodox forces. Truly a wise lord."
Cheers and shouts erupted from various spots.
Most here belonged to unorthodox sects, after all.
"The Unorthodox Supreme sent this message to each sect: 'To preserve peace, grow strong. Peace is a word granted only to the mighty.'"
The audience sighed in admiration and cheered.
Someone on this floor asked,
"But why is the once-quiet Demonic Cult suddenly provoking now?"
Feng Qingja, perhaps to draw the crowd's eyes, lit his pipe and puffed on it.
'No way he knows such inside details.'
I figured he'd dodge with some unrelated nonsense.
"Recently, this Feng Qingja heard a peculiar tale."
Smoke from his pipe scattered into the air.
"The Demonic Cult developed a great technique doubling innate qi. Using it, they've boosted their followers' prowess. Imagine: a second-rate expert becoming peak master in an instant. First-rate becoming transcendent. Their forces maximized. That's why they covet the Central Plains."
Even ignorant commoners knew what inner energy and innate qi were, so questions flew immediately.
"The Demonic Cult's always had Burst Demon Pills or Sleep Demon Pills that explode innate qi. Doesn't seem special."
The questioner was clearly a martial artist.
"Spot on. In the Great War fifty years ago, Burst Demon Pills devastated the righteous sects. But this new innate qi amplification differs crucially from those pills."
Feng Qingja took another drag, drawing out the suspense.
The inn fell so silent, you could hear chopsticks clinking bowls.
"Burst Demon Pills explode potential qi, killing the user within two hours. But this improved amplification lets them survive two or three years."
The more I heard from Feng Qingja, the more convinced I was he wasn't just a storyteller.
Unorthodox forces strengthening was obvious to see.
But knowing Demonic Cult details inside out? Only a spy would.
Did the Murim Alliance know about this innate qi amplification success?
I shook my head.
The Alliance neglected Demonic Cult and Blood Cult surveillance amid the Alliance Lord's faction and elders' power struggles.
They often missed external threats due to internal fights.
Even during my Inspection Unit days, tensions between the two factions peaked.
That's why my probes into elder corruption drew Alliance Lord faction support—and misunderstandings.
I circulated my three spiritual energies to read Feng Qingja's blood flow.
'As expected!'
He wasn't a mere storyteller.
He had the blood flow patterns of a martial artist.
'A master, at that.'
His blood flow paused and surged at over two hundred points.
That meant he'd cultivated an advanced art using over two hundred meridians.
Such flows only appeared in peak experts or higher.
'Why is a master like that wandering as a storyteller? Spilling Demonic Cult intel suggests he wants to counter them.'
I tried gauging his intentions, but lacked info for certainty.
Not that I cared to expose him.
His aims didn't seem malicious.
If he praised the Demonic Cult, it'd be different, but he subtly warned about Demonic and Blood Cult movements.
Feng Qingja's final words lingered in my ears.
"The martial world may need to prepare for war. The Demonic Cult strikes every fifty years. Lastly, from this Feng Qingja: Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. Until next time."
With that, he left the stage.
I stepped out and watched him enter another inn.
He'd repeat his tales there, no doubt.
'At least the Unorthodox Supreme heeded my words and is strengthening now. But the Murim Alliance worries me. They need to wake up and prepare.'
I decided to send Eunbi, Nangong Cheolwoong, and the rest back to the Nangong Family tomorrow.
Others might not get it, but Nangong Hak would understand my letter.
With a heavy heart, I headed to Cheongyo's house.
Entering Cheongyo's house, I saw Yeoseol sitting blankly on a chair in the courtyard, staring into space.
"Yeoseol hasn't eaten."
The girl with a hearty appetite skipping meals?
I sensed some psychological shift in her.
"Yeoseol, you haven't eaten?"
Yeoseol ignored my question, saying something unrelated.
"Brother, if I change, will you abandon me?"
Following her gaze, I spotted a cat dozing off after scavenging trash, head bobbing.
In her eyes, it looked abandoned by someone.
"Of course not. You're my sister—changed or not, you'll always be my cousin."
"Always?"
"Yeah, obviously."
At that, Yeoseol lunged and hugged my neck tightly.
"Brother, I'm scared. Weird thoughts keep coming. My old memories are fading, replaced by strange ones. I can't recall happy times with you clearly. I'm scared."
Mae Yuyeon's memories were gradually overtaking hers, creating dissonance.
As her body matured and absorbed more natural qi, Mae Yuyeon's consciousness strengthened too.
To the trembling Yeoseol, I said,
"Yeoseol, who's your brother?"
"Huh? Cheon Taesan."
"And?"
"Scholar Divine Sword?"
"And?"
"Delinquent Rehabilitation Scholar?"
"Not that."
"Um... handsome scholar?"
"Your brother doesn't need any of that. What I love most is being the brother who always protects Yeoseol."
"Hiiing!"
Yeoseol whimpered like the cat and squeezed my neck harder.
I felt her bristling anxiety, like cat fur, slowly subside.
"Brother, I don't want to lose my precious memories."
"I know. This brother will protect them."
I scooped her up and headed to Songran's room.