Chapter 96
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: True Intentions
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Pang Soun picked up on Un-sang's words.
"Now that you mention it, you're right. The Demonic Cult's division leaders are usually peak transcendent experts, aren't they? If the rumors are true, they should be at the Flower Realm or Manifest Realm. But that one didn't feel like transcendent level or higher."
"That's because innate true energy amplifies the realm but doesn't amplify internal energy. It also means you can't manifest martial prowess beyond the peak level even with amplified innate true energy."
Pang Soun immediately chimed in on Cheon Taesan's explanation.
"This needs a lot more research and verification. The silver lining, as Scholar Cheon said, is that peak experts and above don't get any stronger. If even they reached higher realms, just thinking about it makes my head spin."
Cheon Taesan could empathize with their fear.
They were terrified by the Demonic Cult's inhuman strength.
They knew that if the balance of the martial world tipped, the endgame would be war.
No faction would sit idly by while the Demonic Cult grew this powerful. That realization troubled their hearts.
Pang Soun's eyes suddenly sparkled.
"Brother, what about your real identity? Is it like that storyteller said?"
Un-sang asked.
"What did the storyteller say?"
Un-sang hadn't listened to the storyteller's tales even when traveling with Pang Soun and Zhuge Dowon.
Taoists believed one shouldn't get too caught up in worldly gossip.
But Pang Soun had gone around inns, teahouses, and relay stations, listening to every rumor because it was about his brother.
"There are too many to list, but I'll share the most plausible ones I think fit. First, the theory that you're a secret disciple raised by the Murim Alliance Leader. Probably because the Alliance's scholar has absurd martial prowess."
Un-sang stared at Cheon Taesan before asking Pang Soun.
"And?"
"Next is the idea that you're a joint successor of the Nine Great Sects. They say you showed off their martial arts fighting Demonic Cult thugs in Hefei."
"What about Wudang Sect techniques?"
"Hmm, no Wudang stuff. But Shaolin and Kunlun Sect techniques, apparently."
Un-sang looked at Cheon Taesan.
"Do you know Wudang Sect martial arts too?"
It was important to Un-sang.
A joint successor he didn't even know about?
Cheon Taesan couldn't answer.
He actually did know Wudang techniques.
He could perform their famed sword art, the Flowing Cloud Sword.
"You do know it. That's why you couldn't respond to Taoist Un-sang."
"I don't."
"Yeah, figured."
Pang Soun replied indifferently.
"There's also talk that you're a secret expert raised by the Nangong Family."
Un-sang spoke up.
"Isn't that because Scholar Cheon was with the Nangong Family?"
"Maybe, but you saw how he beat that fourteen-wing leader."
"Ah, that Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique was the most beautiful I've ever seen. To manifest a heavenly dragon with sword energy..."
As Un-sang answered dreamily, Pang Soun wagged his finger like, see?
"As Taoist Un-sang knows, does the Nangong Family pass down the Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique to outsiders? Even ignoring that, is there anyone in their direct line who performs it that perfectly? I've never seen a heavenly dragon from Nangong Sungjin or Nangong Munseol."
Nangong Sungjin and Nangong Munseol were Nangong Mubaek's older brother and sister.
Nangong Sungjin belonged to the Azure Dragon Unit, and Nangong Munseol to the Phoenix Unit.
"Hearing it now, Young Master Pang is right. And how could the scholar's skills surpass our martial uncle's? That's impossible."
Cheon Taesan had no intention of playing along with their back-and-forth.
The more he explained, the deeper the misunderstandings would grow.
Pang Soun asked him.
"So how can I get as strong as you, Brother? Your internal energy aura wasn't even that intense."
Honestly, only Pang Soun could ask such a question.
It was too blunt and lowbrow.
Un-sang was inwardly shocked that Scholar Cheon, around their age, had displayed prowess surpassing all Twelve Dragons of the martial world, the top young experts.
'At that level, could he be a rejuvenated elder?'
That said it all.
Who could use a sheet of paper as a flying leaf dagger or pierce a peak expert's forehead with a marble?
That required entering the transcendent realm.
Was the shock too great?
No one had pointed it out.
Or maybe the gap was too wide to comprehend.
Either way, the storyteller's tales about Scholar Cheon's identity all seemed plausible.
Cheon Taesan knew Pang Soun neglected effort despite his talent.
Anyone with Seven Stars Seven Origins spiritual energy couldn't lack talent.
Yet Pang Soun didn't dominate other young experts for one reason.
Laziness.
"Young Master Pang, do you know what process it takes to become a famed sword?"
Grasping the intent, Pang Soun stared at Cheon Taesan.
"You've probably never repeated a single form more than ten times in practice."
"Huh? How did you know?"
"You grasp the form after one or two tries, so no need. You're a genius, after all, Young Master Pang."
"That's a secret only our direct line knows. That I'm a genius."
He said it half-jokingly, earnestly. Zhuge Dowon and Un-sang looked at them like weirdos.
"If you want to become a famed sword like that—sharp, unbreakable—you must be prepared to endure the forge's flames. Famed swords are tempered dozens of times from fine steel."
Pang Soun focused on the words resonating in his heart.
No one had ever told him outright to train like this.
They knew he'd lash out.
Not just Pang Soun—even Un-sang closed his eyes as if meditating on Cheon Taesan's words.
And for the first time, Zhuge Dowon looked at Cheon Taesan without hostility.
They had all grown up hearing they were geniuses in their clans.
It didn't sound like it was just for Pang Soun.
It struck their hearts because it was their story too.
It happened when the group hurried along and reached Zhanggo County, the border between Hunan and Chongqing.
Hundreds of officials marched soldiers linked like dried fish along the official road.
Onlookers passing by clicked their tongues in pity.
"Dear me, what a mess. Even people from Twin Tiger Martial Hall are being hauled off."
"They colluded with Demonic Cultists, so they'll be beheaded."
"Twin Tiger's been around for thirty years. Why would they collude with Demonic Cultists? You learned martial arts there yourself, for your escort job, and your son too. Don't say such things."
"Then what? They learned Demonic Cult techniques. Where else? From Demonic Cultists."
Their words seemed off, so Cheon Taesan asked.
"Excuse me, is this only happening at Twin Tiger Martial Hall?"
"What are you talking about? Four days ago, even Fengtian Martial Hall's escorts were called Demonic Cultists and all beheaded."
Even for Demonic Cultists, officials didn't usually root them out and execute like this.
Unless the Demonic Cult did something particularly heinous, officials stayed hands-off.
"Is there a reason Zhanggo County is especially harsh?"
"The magistrate studied under Kunlun Sect as a lay disciple, I hear. With Kunlun nearly wiped out this time, his grudge against Demonic Cultists is sky-high, or so the rumors go."
Cheon Taesan realized why the Demonic Cult distributed manuals even to small martial halls.
"The Demonic Cult isn't just demonicizing the martial world by spreading demonic arts."
Pang Soun asked.
"Then what?"
"They want riots."
"Riots?"
"If small martial halls, clans, and mid-tier gangs get branded Demonic Cultists by officials like this, what happens? They'll fight back rather than die sitting down. Or actually join the Demonic Cult. Either way, riots break out."
Un-sang nodded.
"Makes sense. Martial hall students are locals, and locals will rise up if their families are killed."
"It sows chaos in the nation and shakes the martial world. Killing two birds with one stone."
Cheon Taesan watched the officials drag people away.
"We can't just let this slide. Ignoring it is as good as aiding the Demonic Cult's plan."
"Brother, what do you plan to do?"
"I'll go meet the magistrate."
"We will? On what authority?"
"I'm heading to the capital now."
Zhuge Dowon stayed quiet before muttering.
"Good grief, now you're meddling in official affairs too? Just a scholar. Doubt the magistrate will even see you."
Pang Soun spoke up.
"I'll go with you, Brother. I may not be much help, but this little brother will stand behind you and lend strength. The Pang Family may not have much pull in Hunan, but we're still one of the Five Great Families."
At Pang Soun's words, Un-sang stepped forward.
"This poor Taoist will help too."
Dang Jin-ok seemed begrudging but agreed.
"I'll go as well."
As we moved, Pang Soun turned.
"Why are you coming, Young Master Zhuge?"
"Pardon?"
"The magistrate might not see us. Why waste the trip?"
He scolded him outright.
"Since we're all going, I'll add my support."
Zhuge Dowon brazened it out, and Pang Soun smirked.
"They say people endure injustice but not disadvantage. Fits you perfectly, Young Master Zhuge."
Even openly rebuked, Zhuge Dowon couldn't snap back at Pang Soun.
Pang Soun hadn't been like this before.
He wasn't overly friendly, but he didn't hurl barbs or scold outright.
But since the scholar showed up, he followed him like a brother, and whenever Zhuge said anything to the scholar, Pang Soun glared daggers and barked.
'It's all that guy's fault.'
Zhuge Dowon knew it was petty but couldn't stop the fiery resentment and jealousy boiling inside.
Upon arriving at the county office, a guard blocked the main gate.
"What business?"
"To see the magistrate."
"The magistrate has ordered no audiences for the time being."
"We're from the Murim Alliance."
"Murim Alliance?"
"Yes. This one from the Tang Clan, that from the Pang Family, and this from the Zhuge Family."
I introduced those standing behind me, and the guard frowned.
"Still no good. The magistrate said even if Murim Alliance warriors come, no audiences."
"Think we're asking because we lack power?"
As the guard kept refusing, Pang Soun shouted.
"You want to make enemies of the government?"
The guard's resolve was ironclad.
The magistrate must have laid down the law hard.
Everyone looked to me, asking what to do with their eyes.
"If they're refusing this hard, do we really need to meet him?"
Zhuge Dowon seemed reluctant to sour relations with officials.
"We still need to warn them of the Demonic Cult's plan and stop it from playing out their way."
I couldn't just back off. Innocent people would die, public sentiment would shatter, riots would erupt, and it'd all follow the Demonic Cult's script.
With no choice, I pulled a plaque from my bosom.
"Recognize this?"
I held out the plaque.