Chapter 53
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Exorcism (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As the young Taoist crested the hill and approached the gate, the door swung open as if they had been waiting.
"Come in, Cheongpung."
The ones who emerged were Myeong-gak, the sender of the letter and an old friend, along with a young man Cheongpung had never seen before.
'So that's him.'
Cheongpung immediately realized the man standing beside Myeong-gak was the one mentioned in the letter.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his complexion looked pale—clearly, something was amiss.
"Come in, Cheongpung. We've been waiting anxiously."
Facing Myeong-gak, who beamed like lovers reuniting after a century apart, Cheongpung felt an odd sensation, as if he'd stumbled into a trap.
"Please, come in. We've been expecting you. I'm the hunter from Go Castle."
Cheongpung quickly clasped his hands in response to the unfamiliar young man's greeting.
"Primordial Heavenly Lord. I am Cheongpung, descended from Wudang Mountain."
"This way, please."
Cheongpung stepped through the gate, pleased by the young man's deferential guidance, treating him like an honored guest.
'The land isn't cursed, nor is there any demonic aura...'
As Cheongpung surveyed the house, he suddenly witnessed a bewildering sight.
"What are you doing? We have a guest—hurry and prepare some tea!"
"Patron. My friend is here; mind my dignity a little."
"Shall I bring the tea, then?"
"No, no. I'll do it."
At the hunter's command to fetch tea, the renowned Myeong-gak grumbled but shuffled toward the kitchen.
'This... feels like I've come to the wrong place...'
"Please, come inside. Taoist Cheongpung."
A chill ran down Cheongpung's spine, making his steps grow heavier.
They had barely settled in the room when Myeong-gak brought out the tea.
"Here you are, Taoist Cheongpung."
Cheongpung sipped, but the taste escaped him entirely.
"Borrowing Master Myeong-gak's words, it seems you've been possessed by a ghost. Could you describe the symptoms?"
The hunter drained his cup in one gulp and poured out his troubles.
"A demon visits me every night; I can't get a wink of sleep. I've tried every method to drive it away, but nothing works. Please, Taoist, exorcise it for me."
"When did the demon first appear?"
"It's been years now."
Having grasped the situation, Cheongpung pulled a bundle of talismans from his robe.
"First, I'll chant an incantation to soothe the resentful spirit and burn the talismans. These will bind and dissipate the spirit, send it to the afterlife, and summon a heavenly messenger—all at once."
"I know nothing of incantations or talismans. I just want that demon out of my dreams."
"Don't worry. The Heavenly Lord will protect you. Prepare the altar."
Cheongpung nodded firmly and rose.
Myeong-gak fetched a large tray, placed it on the platform in the courtyard, and lit incense before it, creating a passable altar.
"Kneel beside it."
The hunter complied, and Cheongpung began chanting the incantation.
"Primordial Heavenly Lord, Supreme Ancient Lord, Eternal Protector—we beseech thee. All things in creation have their proper place..."
Finishing the chant, he ignited a talisman.
"Return to your rightful place. By the Heavenly Lord's power, I guide you."
The red-inked talisman crumbled to ash and scattered.
"It's done. The resentful spirit should have returned whence it came."
The exorcism rite concluded simply.
Satisfied, Cheongpung helped the hunter to his feet.
But facing the hunter, Cheongpung recoiled in shock.
Bloodshot eyes and a twisted grimace were no sign of a departed demon.
Unwanted laughter burst from my mouth.
It was the Great Heavenly Demon's roar.
"Damn..."
A futile farce.
The chants and talismans changed nothing; the demon refused to yield.
Instead, it mocked the Taoist through my lips.
I'd hoped the Taoist might expel the demon.
Myeong-gak had sworn he would.
"You frauds..."
I saw the flustered monk and the even more panicked Taoist.
"Time for a beating."
As I advanced with fury, the Taoist stumbled back.
"W-wait, patron. You might not be possessed—you could just be deluded into thinking so. So..."
"Calling me crazy? Huh? You con artist Taoist."
I closed the distance in an instant and swung at his face.
The Taoist ducked, palm-thrusting my chest.
But I was already circling to his left.
Crack! Thud!
Struck by my elbow, the Taoist cried out and tumbled across the ground.
Tsk tsk...
Turning at the tongue-click, I saw Myeong-gak shaking his head over the fallen Taoist.
"I underestimated him too and paid dearly, Taoist Cheongpung."
I ignored the writhing Taoist and approached Myeong-gak.
"Your turn."
Puhahaha...
Myeong-gak burst into laughter and vanished over the wall.
Whoosh...
Chasing him, I suddenly felt it all pointless.
He'd come all the way from Yangyang for me; I couldn't lash out just because the exorcism failed.
Sigh...
I halted, gazed at the sky, exhaled deeply, and wandered aimlessly.
"Ah... that damned demon."
Returning home, Myeong-gak scanned the house and approached Cheongpung, who sat rubbing his eyes in the courtyard corner.
"Where'd he go, Taoist Cheongpung?"
Cheongpung, nursing a blackening eye, glared fiercely at Myeong-gak.
"You bald bastard! You should've warned me that patron's martial arts were insanely strong!"
Myeong-gak's eyes hardened at the insult.
"I wrote it in the letter, you idiot Taoist! If you'd prepared properly, you wouldn't have gotten smacked so easily!"
Unable to hold back, Cheongpung snapped.
"You shameless monk..."
"What kind of Taoist can't even exorcise a ghost?"
Snarling at each other, they charged like they'd planned it.
Forgetting their martial prowess, they grappled and rolled like street thugs.
"Die, you monk!"
"You die, you Taoist!"
After much tumbling and brawling, their anger subsided.
Caked in dirt, they rose and sat side by side on the platform.
Silence fell, broken by Cheongpung.
"We're not kids—what's this nonsense?"
Myeong-gak snickered.
"You were cursing each other moments ago—why bother with etiquette now?"
Hahaha...
Cheongpung laughed brightly and nodded.
"Fair point. Let's drop the pretenses."
They grinned at each other.
"Never imagined a young expert like that. Maybe even surpasses the Namgung Family's Heavenly Dragon of the Sky-Piercing Sword."
"I told you to prepare well. I learned the hard way underestimating him."
"I can imagine. What now? Exorcism failed—we're out on our asses."
Myeong-gak clapped Cheongpung's shoulder nonchalantly.
"No worries. He's not harsh on the pitiful. But he holds grudges— you'll suffer long-term. Like... a cheerfully vicious demon."
"So, like you, eating scraps here?"
Puhahaha...
"Exactly. Why else would this monk call you? You'll see— no stranger in the jianghu than that hunter. My master once said: if righteousness spans ten feet, evil spans a hundred. When good flourishes, can evil sit idle?"
Myeong-gak hadn't summoned Cheongpung for a mere ghost.
Since those hunter brothers settled in Huanin County, incidents never ceased.
And top beauties with hidden depths had taken interest in them.
'Maybe hidden powers spotted them before us.'
A dark red lump sank into a vessel brimming with potent liquor.
Gulp gulp... crunch crunch...
The middle-aged man drained the liquor and chewed the lump, eyes flashing bloodily.
"So the Dark Serpent didn't die to the Five Great Families, but to some nameless hunter?"
"Yes."
Kekekeke...
As the man grinned, sharp crimson fangs like a beast's gleamed.
"What a fool. Meant for the Five Heavenly Kings' hands, yet slain by a beast-bloodied wretch. What of the Phantom Witch?"
"She vows to behead the hunter and offer it to you."
Tsk tsk tsk...
"That old hag thinks pretty face and ambition win battles. Even trash like the Dark Serpent isn't felled by luck. She wandered to her death, ignorant—wolf fodder suits her."
The man had foreseen the Phantom Witch's demise.
The kneeling woman trembled in fear.
His voice was low, but experience told her of his rage.
One wrong word, and her head would roll.
His tone deepened further.
"Seek the Ghost Death. Convey my command: a hundred Ghost Shadows will overwhelm even the Seven Armies."
"As you command."
Night fell, but footsteps led farther from the village.
I'd sworn not to expect from the Wudang Taoist, yet hope had crept in.
'Ah... I'm hungry.'
Wandering thoughtlessly, I lost track of location—and my stomach growled.
Head full of worries, yet this wretched gut demanded food.
Scanning for an inn yielded nothing—not even a shabby hut.
Leave the village? The thought flickered, then faded.
The Great Heavenly Demon's warning loomed too large.
It emerged even in daylight now; who knew when it'd seize my body?
Turning back, I halted midway.
Far off in the darkness, hooves and cart wheels approached.
"Prepare to camp."
The sounds stopped; a man's voice rang out.
Soon, firelight flickered roadside, shadows dancing in the glow.
"What's that smell?"