Chapter 94
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 94
Chapter Title: The Worst Demonic Cultivators (1)
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"Namu Amitabha, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva."
"Primordial Heavenly Lord."
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung were the first to offer greetings to the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians.
"Ah, you were here too? It's been a while. I hope the Divine Monk and One Yang Child are well."
"Yes, our masters are both in good health. They've been expecting you, so please come in."
As they stepped into the courtyard, they also exchanged greetings with Zhuge Ji, Namgung Hye, and Hahu Young.
The Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians were mostly middle-aged men in their mid-forties to early fifties.
After greeting the junior disciples, they grabbed Myeong-gak and Cheongpung.
"We heard that our master fought a duel here before taking his own life. Do you know what happened?"
Myeong-gak and Cheongpung hesitated before introducing me, who had been watching from the back.
"This one knows all about Senior Ultimate Grace Immortal."
As I stepped forward, all eyes from the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians turned to me.
I could sense their anxiety, unease, and anger.
"We are the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians."
Unexpectedly, one of the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians clasped his hands first in greeting.
"Here, I am known as High Duke."
I bowed in return.
"Did you cross swords with our master?"
"Yes. And I heard the words he left behind."
Hearing my answer, they didn't know what to do.
Some trembled, some shed tears, and others glared at me with killing intent.
"How did you end up crossing swords with our master...?"
Finally, the one who seemed to be the leader of the Twenty-Four Guardians asked, suppressing his emotions.
I looked around at them before turning to Hahu Young.
"Bring out some liquor and snacks."
The Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians sat in a circle in the courtyard.
Hahu Young went around filling their cups with liquor.
Once the cups were full, I began recounting Ultimate Grace Immortal's story.
"At that gathering were the Divine Monk, One Yang Child, Sword King, Spirit Valley, Dao Lord, Lady Yeo, and even the Zhuge Family Head. And to say this upfront, I knew nothing about this Ultimate Grace Immortal beforehand—I only learned the story afterward. So please don't doubt the tale I'm about to share. The man known as Ultimate Grace Immortal was a demonic cultivator."
"What do you mean? Our master, a demonic cultivator?!"
As expected, a few of the Twenty-Four Guardians erupted in fury and shot to their feet.
"Zhiyang, Cheongsu—hear the story to the end."
The ones who had leaped up were apparently named Zhiyang and Cheongsu.
At the leader's call for calm, they swallowed their anger and sat back down.
I continued the tale.
"I said we crossed swords, but that's an exaggeration from the rumors. How could I dare duel the supreme master of the martial world? The disciples and talents from the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families here can vouch for that. He wasn't in his right mind—he didn't just come after me but smashed this house's walls and chopped down trees outside."
The Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians' gazes shifted to the walls, then back to me.
They must have noticed the freshly rebuilt sections.
"Then suddenly, he pulled a silk pouch from his bosom and swallowed a black pill inside. After taking it, he grew even more ferocious, and that's when I collapsed from a grievous wound. I later heard that pill was a bewitching drug that clouds the mind."
I undid my upper robe, baring my torso before the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians.
Countless sword scars crisscrossing my upper body still hadn't fully healed, tinged with red.
I refastened my robe, feigned a parched throat, and drained my cup.
"At that moment, he looked at me collapsed on the ground and cried out, 'Noksan!' It seemed he mistook me for someone named Noksan."
The Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians' eyes began to redden.
Some were already tearing up.
"He held my collapsed form, tears streaming down his face, muttering these words: 'Why have you fallen into demonic obsession? Did you not know it would drag you into pitch-black darkness? Foolish child. Yet this master cannot forget you, even though you took your own life lost to that obsession.'"
I paused, pouring myself another cup from the bottle.
As I emptied it and glanced around, more than half were already weeping.
The rest were barely holding back.
I had agonized over how to fulfill Spirit Valley's request.
It wasn't difficult, but the issue was whether they'd believe me.
I had added and trimmed countless details to Spirit Valley's requested story.
And this was the final version that remained.
Having them sit in a circle in the courtyard and pass the cups was planned from the start.
"After holding me and weeping for a long while, he finally realized I wasn't his disciple. He even seemed to recognize the Five Heavenly Kings and Seven Star Lords watching over you. He said to the Divine Monk, 'I've finally escaped the demonic obsession.' Then he thrust his own sword into his body."
"Master..."
"Master..."
I stopped at the Twenty-Four Guardians' sobs and glanced at the junior disciples.
They were deeply immersed in my story too, and even Hahu Young had reddened eyes.
What an... absurd fool.
What does she know to tear up like that?
"So that's how Master passed..."
The leader of the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians sighed deeply and drained his cup.
But the story couldn't end here.
"There's still more to tell."
"Speak."
"Before closing his eyes for the last time, he said, 'I've left a heavy burden for Kunlun's disciples. Poor souls.' That was his final breath."
Waaaaah...
"Master!"
"This unworthy disciple has doubted you all this time. Forgive me, Master!"
Countless among them pounded the ground in wrenching sobs.
I let them weep.
There was no stopping it with my power anyway.
After crying for a long while, they began rising one by one.
"Thank you, High Duke."
"No need. I merely relayed what happened."
The leader of the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians shook his head firmly.
"No, that's not true. Thanks to your story, we've escaped long years of wandering and doubt."
Their faces were streaked with tears, but their expressions were those of people who had set down a heavy load.
"Ah, there's one more thing I haven't mentioned."
I spoke as if it had just occurred to me.
"Tell us."
"After Ultimate Grace Immortal passed, something unseemly happened. Ami Sect's Lady Cheongeum tried to kill me, claiming I had blocked his path and caused his death. Thankfully, the Divine Monk and Elder Spirit Valley intervened, so nothing came of it—but she didn't seem like she'd give up easily."
The leader of the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians wore a bitter expression.
"Lady Cheongeum would do that. But how is that your fault, High Duke?"
Perfect.
Everything was unfolding as I desired.
But right then, Myeong-gak popped out from behind me.
"Master instructed that if the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians visited here, to tell them to stop by Shaolin."
"Got it. We'll do that."
The moment I heard Myeong-gak's words, blood surged to my head.
This... damn bald bastard...
If I'd known the Divine Monk had left such instructions with him, I wouldn't have agonized so much.
They'd trust one offhand word from the Divine Monk over a hundred of mine.
"Then we'll head straight to Shaolin. Thank you, High Duke. And thank you all."
"At least have a meal before you go. Sending you off like this would be poor hospitality."
A serene smile graced the faces of the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians.
"With this frame of mind, I could run day and night for a hundred days without fatigue or hunger. Farewell, then. If we meet again, I'd love to hear more tales. Until next time."
They bowed in unison as I returned the gesture.
I bowed back.
"Safe travels."
After escorting the Twenty-Four Guardians to the gate and returning, the junior disciples chattered noisily in excitement.
"What a convincing story. Even I, who saw it with my own eyes, started doubting my memory."
"A truly moving tale. Thanks to High Duke, the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians can end their long wandering and start anew."
Puhahaha...
"Now I see High Duke has even more con artist in him than I do."
I stared blankly at the gleefully laughing Myeong-gak and reached for his round, steamed-bun-like face.
Thick flesh pinched between thumb and forefinger.
Owie... Ouch!
"Baldy, having fun?"
As I yanked, Myeong-gak was dragged toward me by his cheek.
"Wh-what's wrong? What did this little monk do...?"
"Baldy. Why didn't you mention the Divine Monk summoning the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians?"
Owie... Ouch!
"Please... let go of my cheek."
I released him, and Myeong-gak rubbed his face furiously with his palm.
"Master... What does summoning the Kunlun Twenty-Four Guardians to Shaolin have to do with this?"
"You really think that? Really?"
As I glared with bulging eyes, Myeong-gak flinched and averted his gaze.
"Sorry. This little monk only realized Master's deep intent after hearing Elder Spirit Valley's request to you."
This... sly fox.
The Great Heavenly Demon had called the Divine Monk a sly fox.
But now I saw his disciple was no slouch either.
Puhahaha...
Myeong-gak eyed me warily before flashing a cheeky grin.
"It won't happen again. I swear. I could swear on Buddha himself."
Sigh...
His antics were so ridiculous I could only exhale deeply.
Namgung Hu, hurrying toward Mount Hua via Hanzhong, spotted an inn flying a white flag from afar and brightened.
"An inn over there!"
The junior disciples quickened their steps in delight.
Upon arriving, one side of the spacious courtyard held a stack of firewood, with tables and chairs scattered about.
From a shabby building extending toward the mountain came the raucous squeals of pigs, apparently raised by the inn.
Nothing unusual—common sights at any roadside inn.
But what immediately caught Namgung Hu and the juniors' eyes upon entering was something else.
An elderly man sitting at a table in the courtyard, drinking.
"Elder Spirit Valley."
Namgung Hu rushed to the table where Spirit Valley sat.
Kekekeke...
Spirit Valley, mid-sip, laughed heartily as Namgung Hu and the young juniors ran toward him.
"Greetings, Elder Spirit Valley."
"Greetings, Elder Spirit Valley."