Chapter 83
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest (3)
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"The Clear Sound Fairy Nun who visited this evening looked more like an enemy to them than the Nine-Finger Flame Demoness standing right next to me. I even tolerated that wretched old hag who stabbed her sword into my shoulder, so it makes no sense that they can't tolerate a woman who merely ate some food, drank some wine, and chatted with me. If they won't step aside even after I've said all this, then you lot will have no choice but to leave this place. It's because I can't tolerate you."
"Lord Gong..."
The later-generation disciples stared at me with heavy expressions before stepping aside to either flank.
The Nine-Finger Flame Demoness strode out confidently through the path they had cleared.
"You won't return in one piece next time."
Namgung Hye's warning halted the Nine-Finger Flame Demoness's steps just as she was exiting the door.
"It seems you all amassed tremendous merits in your previous lives. That's how you were able to meet such a remarkable master whom you call Lord Gong. Remember this well. It's only because you're with Lord Gong that you've managed to keep your lives until now."
Namgung Hye glared at the Nine-Finger Flame Demoness as if she wanted to devour her on the spot.
But that lasted only a moment before she relaxed her fierce gaze.
Hmm...
"I'll be watching to see how long you can remain so arrogant."
The Nine-Finger Flame Demoness left behind a cold smile and exited through the door.
"Don't pursue her. You'll die."
The stealthy presence that had tried to follow her retreated and knelt on one knee before me.
I waved my hand, and the shadow servant melted back into the darkness.
The later-generation disciples' expressions remained dark.
"That witch is showing favor to Lord Gong. But her true intentions are hard to fathom, so please be cautious."
Zhuge Ji did not forget to offer his advice.
"I'm being plenty careful. Go inside and get some rest."
The later-generation disciples hesitated as if something weighed on their minds before retreating into the room.
I, too, headed inside to meet the Great Heavenly Demon.
The Great Heavenly Demon was steeped in lingering resentment.
Guessing the reason, I sat before him without a word.
"The women of Emei are as arrogant as ever."
A venomous killing intent laced the Great Heavenly Demon's voice.
He still hadn't forgotten the grudge from days past.
Tsk tsk tsk...
The intense killing intent soon dissipated, replaced by his usual laughter.
"Why did you deliberately offer your shoulder to that woman? And don't tell me you yielded because of those young pups with you. No one knows better than I that your nature isn't so mild."
This devil was indeed hard to fool.
"It was my choice."
Tsk tsk...
"Have you compromised with the world, then?"
"Think what you will."
The Great Heavenly Demon watched me intently for a moment but said no more on the matter.
"Could it be you've taken a liking to that wench called the Nine-Finger Flame Demoness?"
"As if. If she points her blade at me, I'll cut her down without hesitation."
Pleased with my answer, the Great Heavenly Demon nodded.
"Come now, on your feet. Shall we have a lively spar today as well?"
I slowly rose and faced the Great Heavenly Demon.
"Don't rip my mouth open. It hurts too much."
Tsk tsk tsk...
"If you hate the pain that much, then surpass me."
Whoosh...
In an instant, the Great Heavenly Demon's figure split in two.
Tsk tsk tsk...
Almost simultaneously, the devil's laughter echoed from behind my back.
The air in the room grew oppressively heavy.
No one spoke to break the tension; only the sound of sipping tea filled the space.
Growing irritated by the stifling atmosphere, the Clear Sound Fairy Nun spoke first.
"From what I've heard, the Demonic Cult's revival is already certain, so why are you all sitting idle? We must devise countermeasures immediately!"
Her voice grated like nails on metal, causing Namgung Jak and the One Yang Child to furrow their brows slightly.
As the room's mood grew even heavier, Zhuge Zhong, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward.
"The younger later-generation disciples are already mobilizing to locate the Demonic Cult's hidden lair."
His words only fueled the Clear Sound Fairy Nun's anger further.
"Zhuge Family Head! Is that what you call proper communication? How could you proceed with such matters without informing our Emei Sect at all?"
Hahaha...
Zhuge Zhong deflected her fury with laughter.
"Everything has its order. By now, Young Master Namgung Hu should be meeting with Emei's sect leader."
But the Clear Sound Fairy Nun, dissatisfied with everything, refused to calm down.
"What nonsense is that? Visiting our Emei Sect without any prior notice to meet the sect leader?"
As she latched onto the point, the Divine Monk, who had been sitting silently with eyes closed, finally spoke.
"Fairy Nun, enough. We didn't come here to fight, did we? If our conduct was improper, I apologize on our behalf."
With the Divine Monk intervening, the Clear Sound Fairy Nun's twisted expression softened.
"If the Divine Monk says so, I won't raise further objections to this matter."
But Elder Beggar's following words reignited her rage.
Tsk tsk...
"I can't fathom where you stashed your years."
"What did you just... what did you say? Were those words directed at me, Elder Beggar?"
Her face flushed red, as if she might leap from her seat at any moment, prompting Elder Beggar to smirk derisively.
"One should know restraint with age and possess a magnanimous character, yet I see no change in you whatsoever."
Grrrr...
The Clear Sound Fairy Nun ground her teeth and shot to her feet.
"What was that? This filthy beggar beggar is begging for death?"
Her fury was so intense that even those called the Five Heavenly Kings shook their heads and looked away.
"Namo Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."
But as the Divine Monk's Buddhist invocation resounded through the room, the standing Clear Sound Fairy Nun glared at Elder Beggar before sitting back down.
"From now on, no beggars near Emei Mountain will be allowed even to beg."
Heh heh heh heh...
Elder Beggar brushed off her threat with hollow laughter.
As the mood settled, Peng Tianhu of the Peng Clan cautiously spoke up.
"I wonder if Huashan's Hyun Won-ja and the Tang Family's Tang Gok-cheon are aware of the current murim situation."
"Hyun Won-ja said he'd emerge later due to Huashan matters, and the Tang Family Head should be en route here by now. Additionally, we've received letters from Kongtong's Demon-Subduing Sword Lord, Jeomchang's Four Days Sword Lord, Qingcheng's Green Mountain Demon-Exorcist, and Zhongnan's Six Swords Unbreakable Wall stating they'll visit our Zhuge Family."
The Demon-Subduing Sword Lord of Kongtong, Four Days Sword Lord of Jeomchang, Green Mountain Demon-Exorcist of Qingcheng, and Six Swords Unbreakable Wall of Zhongnan held the positions of the Seven Star Lords alongside Beggars' Sect's Elder Beggar, Peng Clan's Sword Lord, and Emei's Clear Sound Fairy Nun in the jianghu.
With Zhuge Zhong answering his query, Peng Tianhu nodded in understanding.
But he soon posed the next question.
"What do you all think of this young man called Lord Gong?"
Zhuge Zhong was the weakest in martial arts among those gathered.
Unable to answer readily, he turned to Elder Beggar.
"What do you make of him, Elder Beggar?"
As Elder Beggar smiled, preparing to respond, the Clear Sound Fairy Nun snorted derisively.
Hmph!
"He wasn't even half the braggart words the beggars spouted. I merely stabbed his shoulder with my sword to punish his false reputation."
Elder Beggar's smiling face twisted in an instant.
Not only him—the One Yang Child, Namgung Jak, Zhuge Zhong, and Peng Tianhu all hardened their expressions.
Peng Tianhu asked in shock first.
"Are you saying this young Lord Gong lost to the Clear Sound Fairy Nun in a duel?"
"Of course. How could that greenhorn withstand Emei's sword arts?"
Elder Beggar sighed and shook his head, glaring at the smug Clear Sound Fairy Nun.
Whew...
"You've created an unnecessary source of conflict. How do you plan to handle the fallout later?"
The Clear Sound Fairy Nun's thin eyebrows shot up again.
"What do you mean by that?"
Elder Beggar met her gaze squarely.
"Do you happen to know Mountain King Wu Zhonghu?"
"Of course. The second strongest in martial prowess among the Five Kings of the Green Forest..."
Mid-sentence, the Divine Monk suddenly clasped his hands and chanted.
"Namo Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva."
All turned puzzled eyes toward the Divine Monk.
But soon, the One Yang Child and Namgung Jak paled and rose from their seats.
"What... is happening?"
Elder Beggar and the Sword Lord followed suit, and the bewildered Clear Sound Fairy Nun gripped her sword leaning against the table.
Who else in the world could emit such overwhelming aura?
Creak.
The door opened without the Divine Monk even touching it.
Seok Yang-ho, the Seok Family Head who had been waiting outside, bowed respectfully.
"Do you have a command for me?"
"A guest is at the gate. Please receive him properly."
Whose words could one dare ignore?
Seok Yang-ho hurriedly dashed toward the main gate.
"Open the gate!"
At the family head's urgent shout, the main gate swung wide open.
Seok Yang-ho spotted an elderly man with white hair approaching the gate.
"Is this the Seok Family?"
The old man, with gray eyes, white hair, clad in red silk robes, straightened his hunched back.
His broad shoulders and towering stature exuded an innate oppressive presence.
"I am Seok Yang-ho, head of the Seok Family."
Unaware of the elder's identity, Seok Yang-ho still bowed deeply in greeting.
"I heard a hunter brother lives here. The one I'm seeking is the elder among brothers. Do you know him?"
At the elder's question, Seok Yang-ho hesitated before recalling the Divine Monk and answered honestly.
"Yes, I do. He lives in the house on the hill by the riverbank."
"I see."
With that, the elder turned and walked away.
His steps were so slow they were almost tedious to watch.
But after a dozen paces, he turned back.
"It seems there are those here with business for me. Come out and show yourselves."
As if on cue, the Divine Monk led the two of the Five Heavenly Kings and three of the Seven Star Lords out through the main gate.
Tension crackled between the mysterious elder and the absolute masters who shook the jianghu.
Yet soon, a trembling voice escaped the Divine Monk's lips.
"Amitabha... Patron, are you not Kunlun's Super Grace Immortal senior?"
At the Divine Monk's question, the two Five Heavenly Kings and three Seven Star Lords startled and scrutinized the elder closely.
The white hair, deep gray eyes, and wrinkled face did not match their memory of Kunlun's Super Grace Immortal.
But the treasured sword at his waist and his aura proclaimed him to be none other than the once pinnacle figure of the righteous path, Super Grace Immortal.
"Could it truly be... Super Grace Immortal senior?"
The Clear Sound Fairy Nun trembled with emotion.
Super Grace Immortal was her idol, the one she longed to stand beside always.
She had devoted herself to martial arts to emulate him and hated evil like a blood feud.
Namgung Jak of the Namgung Family and Peng Tianhu of the Peng Clan were equally thrilled.
At just under twenty, they had followed Super Grace Immortal to subjugate the Demonic Cult, ascending to their current positions.
"We pay respects to Great Senior Super Grace Immortal."
Their bows were impeccably courteous.
But in the next moment, something astonishing occurred.
"Who are you lot?"
The elder demanded sharply.
"Super Grace... Immortal senior...?"
The most shocked was, predictably, the Clear Sound Fairy Nun.
Yet the elder spared her not a glance.
His gaze lingered on where the Divine Monk stood.
"I don't even know who I am, yet why do you call me Super Grace Immortal?"