Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Demonic Cult's Assault (3)
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I had no idea what Namgung Hye was thinking when she said that, but I gladly accepted.
"Everyone must be hungry, so eat first."
Seok Su-a spread out the dishes she'd brought from her family on the porch.
Gwang-u, who had been rummaging through the ruins, came running first, followed by Myeong-gak, Zhuge Ji, and Namgung Hye claiming their spots.
Then I called in Cheong-pung, who had been outside, and gave him a place on one side.
"By the way," Myeong-gak asked as he shoveled food into his mouth, drawing everyone's gaze to me. "Does the hunter know who these attackers were?"
"Didn't ask."
My casual reply left them all looking regretful.
"So you just killed them without knowing?"
"Monk, put yourself in my shoes. Could you seriously stop to ask questions with your house burning down?"
"Still, you should know who they are to take revenge, right? Anyway, I'll tell you what this humble monk suspects. In my estimation, the attackers were none other than..."
"Enough."
I cut Myeong-gak off mid-sentence. Gwang-u, his mouth stuffed with meat, chimed in.
"Brother Myeong-gak, how sly do you think Brother Un-san is? You think he doesn't know who they are by now? You don't know him at all."
"Really?"
"You really knew?"
"How did you figure it out?"
The diners all stared at me in surprise.
"That bastard..."
I clenched my fist, and Gwang-u quickly looked away.
"When did you find out? How?"
Zhuge Ji asked calmly.
"Don't know. Don't care. But don't think for a second you're dragging me into your war with them."
I played it cool.
Puhahaha...
Myeong-gak burst out laughing, spraying rice everywhere.
"No chance. You're already their target."
Hmph.
"Who says? Even among them, there must be someone reasonable."
Nothing in this world comes free. I wasn't about to step up and fight their enemies.
'I'm not living like my master.'
Roll roll roll...
As I poked through the remaining charred wood, a black iron orb rolled toward me.
Damn iron ball.
All I'd salvaged from the ruined house were a pot, a scabbard, a rusty sword with a burned hilt, and this orb.
The kitchen knives and farm tools had all burned at the handles too, so I'd need new ones.
Clang! Crash!
I tossed the iron orb into the pot and turned toward Seok Yang-ho and the retainers entering through the gate.
Dozens of retainers carried thick wooden poles and heavy-looking fabric.
"Set it up over there."
At Seok Yang-ho's command, the retainers began erecting a tent.
But it was just one tent.
More retainers filed in through the gate, carrying five beds and bedding.
And that wasn't all.
Dishes, utensils, pots—everything was coming through the gate one after another.
"What's all this? Why bring five beds?"
Myeong-gak answered instead of Seok Yang-ho.
"We're staying in the tent too."
"Why?"
"We already paid the silver. And to build the house, I need to be here supervising."
Ugh...
I knew their game.
They wanted to refine and advance their martial arts through mine.
And stick by my side to pull me into the coming war.
"Do as you like."
Their subtly worried faces relaxed at that.
"Looking forward to working with you."
"Please take care of us."
"You've got some fine juniors, Great Heavenly Demon."
Heh heh heh...
My sneer didn't faze the Great Heavenly Demon at all.
"Isn't a fight on the line always like that? When lives are at stake, what's there to regret?"
"You're right."
I thought the same as the Great Heavenly Demon.
I'd just spat out words my heart didn't mean in anger.
"Don't you want to know their base?"
The unexpected question left me speechless.
"Where... is it?"
Heh heh heh...
The Great Heavenly Demon laughed as if it amused him.
This demon was just toying with me, as usual.
But I was wrong again.
"Before leading my subordinates into the martial world, I sealed all my worthwhile martial arts in a cave on Gireun Mountain. I left a few reliable men nearby as a precaution, so naturally, the Demonic Cult will revive."
"So... you were certain from the start it'd revive?"
"Of course. It was just a matter of time. If I hadn't been sure, I'd have accepted death quietly."
Kahaha...
I laughed like a madman.
I'd thought myself too shrewd to be fooled, yet I'd missed this demon's true intentions entirely.
Composing myself, I asked gravely.
"Are your martial arts there too?"
"Naturally. Mine, the Five Demonic Lords', and all the cult's best techniques."
"What about the Five Demonic Lords' arts?"
Heh heh heh...
The Great Heavenly Demon chuckled playfully.
"Want to know?"
"Yes."
He stared into my eyes for a moment before speaking slowly.
"We called them the Five Demonic Lords: Black Heaven Asura with the Asura Demon Scripture, Blood Chonghwa with the Blood Demon Scripture, Great Radiant Demon Venerable with the Ghost Demon Scripture, Blood Heaven Sword Demon with the Moon River Asura Scripture, and Shadowless Demon Lord with the Demon Shadow Scripture. Who in the martial world could stand against them?"
"If I fought them, who would win?"
"Even one would be a handful. But victory isn't always decided by martial prowess alone, so how could I presume to say?"
Hmph.
"If they're that great, why not conquer the martial world now? Hiding and launching petty raids—how will they ever take over?"
I figured this would finally make the Great Heavenly Demon drop the mask and strike.
But he showed no killing intent.
"A hundred years ago, there were no Five Kings. The martial world has changed. And I'm not leading the Demonic Cult now."
Why was this demon being so inexplicably kind and explanatory?
"Why show me such kindness?"
Heh heh heh...
"I live if you live. And I happened to revive in a One Immortal Sect disciple's body."
"That's all?"
The Great Heavenly Demon just stared without answering.
I met his gaze steadily.
No usual piercing killing intent today.
Finally, his closed lips parted.
"You're standing before an impossibly high wall. You might leap it in an instant, or spend a lifetime failing. No matter how you struggle now, you can only inflict trivial wounds on me—you'll never match or surpass me."
I knew exactly what he meant.
This demon before me was an unclimbable mountain.
"One step is one sword, and a myriad swords. The myriad swords are one sword, one step."
"What does that mean?"
Heh heh heh...
"Can you see this?"
As the Great Heavenly Demon finished speaking, swords flew from all directions.
No gaps, packed tight—a wall of blades.
I couldn't dodge it.
Couldn't even block.
As I stared blankly at the sword-wall encircling me, it vanished.
Only one sword tip remained before my eyes.
"This sword was before your eyes from the start. See it, and you'll match me."
I was speechless.
Even as the great demon, in martial arts, he was heaven itself.
"Points form lines, lines form planes, yet all that remains is empty void."
Kahaha...
The four watched Un-san laughing on the porch.
"Why's he laughing like a lunatic today?"
"How should I know? Ask the monk."
"Quiet down. Why are a monk and a Taoist so loose-lipped?"
Tense and crouched before the tent, peeking inside, they deflated when Un-san flopped onto the bed and fell into deep sleep.
"Guess we call it a night."
As they rose to head to their own tent nearby, they froze and turned.
Un-san, deep in sleep moments ago, had come out.
Oh...
"Finally..."
"Worth the wait."
Tense again, they waited for him to unleash his martial arts.
But he headed to the wall.
Whoosh...
They stared blankly at Un-san's back as he dropped his pants and unleashed a mighty stream.
Shake shake...
As he shook off the last drops, Zhuge Ji and Namgung Hye whipped their heads away.
"Unbelievable..."
A rare slip from Zhuge Ji, who never uttered undignified words.
Un-san shuffled back inside and buried himself in bed again.
"Let's... go in."
"Original Heavenly Lord. Indeed."
The next morning, after an early breakfast, the four emerged from their tent.
I leaned against the wall, gazing at the ruins.
My eyes fixed on the site, but my mind replayed last night's martial display.
'How is that possible?'
That dense sword-wall wasn't illusion.
Each blade brimmed with vicious killing intent.
As if drawn, I rose and raised my hand toward the ruins.
Swish swish...
My hand traced swift arcs, dominating space.
Shifting steps whipped the ash into whirlwinds across the yard.
I lost track of time.
Suddenly, I felt eyes on me.
I halted and turned.
The four stood side by side at the gate, watching.
"When did you get here?"
No answer—they offered what they held.
Myeong-gak had leather shoes, Cheong-pung a fine steel sword, Namgung Hye and Zhuge Ji bundles of clothes.
I'd planned to buy them in the village anyway, so I pulled out my pouch without hesitation.
"How much?"
"Gifts. We wouldn't burden you with debt over this—take them."
"Thanks."
I took the items into the tent, stripped off my old clothes, and changed into the new ones.
The old rags went into the makeshift kitchen stove.
After lunch, twenty-odd villagers arrived.
Carts loaded with timber followed, and Zhuge Ji began directing like she'd been waiting.
"Stack that over here. Ah, no—not there, here."
I watched her from the side.
I knew she was knowledgeable and well-educated, but issuing orders so fluidly spoke of real experience.
Myeong-gak, Cheong-pung, and Namgung Hye directed people too.
They all had experience commanding others.
They possessed what I lacked.