Chapter 81
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest (1)
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"Ow… Ah…"
My mouth still stung fiercely even after waking up, a testament to how badly it had been torn.
"High Monk. Do you have a cavity?"
Myeong-gak approached, showing unnecessary concern at my odd state.
"The demon tore my mouth with his hand."
"Ah… So that scream we heard from your room earlier was because of that? But by 'demon,' do you mean your master, High Monk?"
"My master?"
Zhuge Ji, who had been listening nearby, chimed in as I repeated the question.
"We've been assuming the one you meet in your dreams every night is your master."
Kekeke… Kuhahaha!
How absurd was this interpretation of my dreams?
Yet their misguided assumption posed no threat to me.
On the contrary, it was convenient to let them believe the figure from my dreams was my master.
"The demon I meet in my dreams is my master… Well, that could be."
Myeong-gak even offered sincere advice.
"You must forget the past to escape those nightmares, High Monk."
Kekeke…
"Got it. I got it."
How could they comprehend the existence of the Great Heavenly Demon?
They were merely judging the entity in my dreams based on their own knowledge and insight.
But the Great Heavenly Demon I had encountered in my dream had spoken of the Divine Monk thus:
"The Divine Monk cannot surpass me. Yet his eyes were fixed not on you, but on me."
Even before the era of the absolute masters now called the Five Heavenly Kings, there had been peers of their caliber.
Just thirty-odd years ago, there were the Two Stars and the One Heretic, supreme experts among them. Especially renowned among the Two Stars was the Grass Concealed Immortal of Kunlun.
He despised evil like a blood enemy and joined the world's masters in crushing the Yellow Sect's minions who had thrown the martial world into chaos. He personally slew their cult leader, the One Heretic Wei Zhongming, with his sword.
Shining alongside the Grass Concealed Immortal back then were the very masters now hailed as the Five Heavenly Kings and those called the Seven Star Lords.
Even at the time, the Divine Monk of Shaolin, the One Yang Prodigy of Wudang, and Hyun Won-ja of Mount Hua were known as the Three Heavenly Kings, but the martial folk ranked the Two Stars above them.
However, eighteen years ago, the Grass Concealed Immortal vanished from the martial world without leaving so much as a letter.
"I wonder if he's still alive. If he'd secluded himself to raise a disciple, one would've emerged in the martial world by now."
Middle-aged martial artists walking the road were chatting about famous masters of yore.
"He's probably passed on already. He was already seventy when he went into hiding."
"True enough."
As they conversed, they spotted an old man with disheveled hair shambling toward them from the opposite direction and halted.
Not a single black hair remained on his head; his white locks cascaded to his waist, fluttering in the wind. He was clad head to toe in red silk.
The treasured sword at his waist proclaimed him no ordinary man.
The elder, who walked at a yawn-inducingly slow pace, suddenly lifted his head and stared at the martial artists.
His eyes, filled with a gray haze, made it impossible to tell if they gazed upon the men or something beyond them.
"Is this… the road to Hubei?"
The old man stammered haltingly.
The startled martial artists nodded instinctively.
"Y-yes, it is."
"I… see. Then, do you know of a place called the Seok Family in Hubei?"
"W-well… It rings a bell, but also not… I'm not sure."
As if his stammer were contagious, the martial artists replied in kind.
"Why… don't you know? They say a remarkable young master lives there…"
The martial artists were dumbfounded and fell silent.
No one might know of Hubei's Seok Family, and they'd certainly never heard of any young master there.
Even if they did, they owed him no answer.
One of the martial artists subtly revealed his irritation.
"Old timer. If you're looking for trouble, try somewhere else. We may not look it, but we're fairly well-known in the martial world…"
Flash. Thud…
A gleam of light flashed, and two heads rolled to the ground.
"Not knowing… isn't something to brag about."
The elder, who had beheaded them with a single stroke, shuffled past the sprawled corpses at his tortoise-like pace.
And in an instant, his figure vanished like a mirage.
Two young women and one elderly woman.
The young women, swords at their waists, were breathtakingly beautiful, while the elder they attended had a stern, hardened visage.
The moment I faced them as evening fell, an inexplicable rage boiled within me.
'Why…?'
I desperately wondered why I felt such fury toward them.
They were strangers; we'd never met, never crossed paths. There was no reason for anger.
"Please come in."
I bowed politely, but the stern-faced crone haughtily lifted her chin.
"Are you the master of this place?"
"Yes."
The old woman glared at me with intensely grating eyes before raising her voice to the junior disciples bowing behind me.
"What reason do you have for staying here?"
The junior disciples bowed deeply and courteously.
"We share a bond with the High Monk and reside here with his permission. Moreover, we've received approval from our masters, so please quell your anger, Qingyin Immortal Maiden."
From Myeong-gak's words, I realized their identities.
They were disciples of the Emei Sect, and the crone was none other than their Grand Elder and one of the Seven Star Lords, the Qingyin Immortal Maiden.
'Her temperament is as foul as the rumors say.'
Hiding my thoughts, I led them to the kitchen.
"Please enter. I'll prepare a meal."
But the Qingyin Immortal Maiden showed no intention of moving.
"Do you think I came here to eat? We heard rumors of a young master appearing in the martial world and came to verify. Draw your weapon and face me at once."
The Qingyin Immortal Maiden was utterly unreasonable.
"Please hold, Elder. The High Monk does not draw his sword lightly."
The flustered Myeong-gak stepped forward to block her.
But that only fueled her rage further.
"What did you just say? He doesn't draw lightly? Are you saying I draw carelessly?"
"N-no, that's not what I meant at all."
Myeong-gak stammered excuses in panic, but she refused to listen.
Instead, she flew into a greater temper and bellowed.
"What are you dawdling for?!"
With no choice, I fetched the longsword from the kitchen and stepped out.
As I entered the courtyard, her eyes grew even fiercer.
"As a senior of the martial world, I'll yield the first move."
"Good grief…"
I was beyond even sighing.
Why were all these so-called martial masters so alike?
Shing…
I slowly drew my sword.
And advanced at a moderate pace with footwork.
Clang! Thud…!
As if waiting, the Qingyin Immortal Maiden's sword flashed out, clashing against mine.
After several exchanges, she suddenly leaped back.
A cold smile curled her lips.
"A decent blade, but not enough to match me. Try blocking this."
The Qingyin Immortal Maiden thrust forward swiftly.
The blade piercing toward my chest curved toward my right shoulder.
I twisted aside to evade.
But her sword, as if anticipating my dodge, abruptly changed direction.
Clang!
I deflected the pursuing blade, sweeping toward her lower body—only for sword light to flare before my eyes.
Clang! Thud…!
With each clash, I was steadily pushed back.
Pfft!
A sword pierced my retreating shoulder and withdrew.
The Qingyin Immortal Maiden sheathed her blade with evident satisfaction.
"You're worthy of being called a master. In time, you might even gain fame in the martial world. What are you waiting for? Show us in."
What kind of person was this?
She was utterly selfish, considering only her own thoughts and moods.
I glanced at the junior disciples watching anxiously from the courtyard's edge.
They bowed repeatedly to me, as if pleading, 'Please, just this once.'
I looked down at my bleeding shoulder and sheathed my sword.
"Please enter."
After ushering the Qingyin Immortal Maiden and her Emei disciples into the kitchen, I served the rice, soup, and some sliced lamb Myeong-gak had prepared.
I could have steamed fresh fish, but that would prolong their stay.
"Bring wine, and you lot come in too."
She even called the junior disciples inside.
As they entered and took seats, the questions began immediately.
"Tell me in detail what happened here."
Myeong-gak, speaking for the juniors, gave a concise account of events.
"The audacity! How dare those fiends defile the martial world without fear!"
The Qingyin Immortal Maiden roared in fury and downed her wine in one gulp, as if her throat burned.
"What did the Divine Monk say?"
"Our master said nothing to this little monk."
"What? How can the one meant to lead the martial world be so complacent? How will we exterminate the fiends like this?!"
She bellowed again, draining another cup.
"I heard one of the Five Heavenly Kings is staying at the Seok Family. Was your master here too?"
"Yes. The One Yang Divine Lord and the Sky-Piercing Sword King visited, as did Elder Young-gae and the great hero Paeng Cheon-ho."
Eeeeeek.
Bam!
Gnashing her teeth, the Qingyin Immortal Maiden slammed the table with her palm and rose.
"Such events transpired, yet no one informed me? Had I not come, you'd have kept it all secret!"
Unable to bear it longer, she grabbed her sword and stormed out.
"Master."
Her Emei disciples hurriedly followed.
"How dare your master treat me with such disdain?!"
The Qingyin Immortal Maiden even pointed accusingly at Myeong-gak as she vented.
"It's not disdain, Elder. We only meant to spare you worry."
"Don't give me that nonsense! Do you think I'll fall for your lies?!"
Evidently done with the juniors, she whirled around and left the house.
"That'll be two taels of silver for the wine."
I followed the Qingyin Immortal Maiden out, demanding payment.
As she passed through the gate, she turned, glaring ferociously.
Her expression was savage, and murderous intent emanated from her entire body.
"What… did you just say?"
The horrified junior disciples blocked my path.
"H-High Monk."
Their faces were desperate.
But I had no intention of retracting my words.
"I said two taels of silver for the wine."
"I humored you as a rising star of the martial world, and you dare…"
I calmly withstood her killing intent.
"If you lack the silver now, you can pay next time."
Hmph.
"Demanding two taels for that trash wine and food. You've got some guts."
Sneering at me, the Qingyin Immortal Maiden departed.
Her trailing disciples shot me glares as well.
"How rude. It was an honor of a lifetime that our master even stopped here."
I said nothing, merely watching them leave.
"Primordial Heavenly Lord. You endured well, High Monk."