Chapter 95
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Worst Demonic Cultivators (2)
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"Seeing you young ones fills me with such good cheer."
Namgung Hu stepped forward as the representative of the later-generation disciples and asked politely.
"Elder Yeong-gae, what brings you to this place?"
But Yeong-gae didn't answer the question. Instead, he beckoned to Tang Ho-seon, who stood beside Namgung Hu.
"Come here."
Tang Ho-seon had no idea what was going on, but she approached Yeong-gae anyway.
"Bring your ear closer..."
She was even more puzzled, but she bent at the waist and brought her ear to Yeong-gae's face.
"Is that guy the one you like?"
The moment she heard Yeong-gae's whisper, Tang Ho-seon's face flushed bright red.
Kehahaha...
Yeong-gae burst into hearty laughter, as if something was hilariously amusing.
But just as quickly, he rose from his seat as if nothing had happened and scanned the later-generation disciples.
They were all elite talents handpicked from their various sects and families—no one there was anything less than exceptional.
His gaze swept over their vibrant, spirited eyes, and then he spoke in a grave tone.
"The situation has grown far more urgent than I expected, so I've come to find you all on purpose. Change course immediately and head straight to Huanin County."
Yeong-gae's words left all one hundred-plus later-generation disciples visibly baffled.
No matter Yeong-gae's prestige in the jianghu, they couldn't just arbitrarily alter a prearranged plan midway.
Especially not when the fate of the entire martial world hung in the balance.
"What do you mean, Elder?"
"We have to go to Mount Hua, Elder."
"The sect leader issued a strict order. We can't defy it on our own."
Most of the later-generation disciples voiced their objections, but Namgung Hu was different.
Amid the growing clamor, he remained quietly lost in thought before finally speaking up.
"The Demonic Cult has begun moving in earnest, hasn't it, Elder?"
Surprisingly, Namgung Hu had zeroed in on the crux of the matter right away.
Yeong-gae was inwardly impressed.
'With this kid around, the martial world's future won't be all that bleak.'
What fortune did the Namgung Family have to produce a child like this?
And his younger sister, Namgung Hye, was just as brilliant—almost as if she'd taken after him.
'And to think she has that guy as her junior brother...'
Yeong-gae had roamed every corner of the jianghu.
He'd met countless children hailed as prodigies, as well as the prized geniuses of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families expected to succeed the Five Heavenly Kings.
And among them all, Namgung Hu stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Yeong-gae had thought no one could match him, but then he'd unexpectedly met that certain someone in Huanin County.
"Two of the Five Great Sovereigns—who succeeded the Demonic Cult's Five Emperors of a century ago—have appeared in Huanin County."
The air in the room grew heavy with shock.
Not a single later-generation disciple could find their voice first.
Most of them had set out from their sects and families dreaming of grand adventures in the jianghu.
They'd imagined swooping in with heroic flair to crush bands of evildoers tormenting innocent folk, earning fame across the land.
Just saying, "I'm a disciple of so-and-so sect," would make even the most vicious thugs cower, kneel, or flee in terror.
But the Demonic Cult's Five Emperors were no mere band of petty villains from their fantasies.
And among the gathered prodigies, at least half had never even seen real combat.
"You mean those Five Emperors from a hundred years ago, Elder?"
Tang Wan-su, standing beside Namgung Hu, regained his composure and asked.
"Were there any other 'Five Emperors of the Demonic Cult'?"
Namgung Hu followed up seamlessly.
"You said Five Great Sovereigns— which ones appeared in Huanin County?"
"The Infinite Sword Demon and the Nine Fingers Flame Demon."
"Then what is it we need to do?"
"You'll know once you get there."
Yeong-gae wanted to keep Un-san's identity under wraps as much as possible.
Un-san wanted it that way, and Yeong-gae knew their relationship wasn't exactly warm.
But this wasn't the time to let personal feelings get in the way.
With Super Grace Fairy dead, the Demonic Cult would unleash monstrous vengeance.
Yet he couldn't just keep the Five Heavenly Kings or Seven Star Lords pinned down in Huanin County forever.
They all had sects and families to protect.
In this situation, these young ones were the only ones free to move about.
"I'll discuss it with the others and decide, Elder."
"Do that. But keep in mind—time is short."
After finishing his talk with Yeong-gae, Namgung Hu gathered the later-generation disciples.
"I want to hear what you all think."
The disciples each voiced their opinions.
"We can't defy the sect leader's strict orders. I say we stick to the original plan and head to Mount Hua."
"The sect leader did give orders, but things are moving fast. Detouring to Huanin County first, then on to Mount Hua, doesn't sound bad. Our Tang Family will follow Elder Yeong-gae's words."
"It's not far from here to Mount Hua, so how about we go there first, then head to Huanin County? With lightness skill at full speed, three or four days should do it."
With opinions split every which way, Namgung Hu was the one in a bind.
But he didn't show a hint of panic.
"Then let's do it like this: The five brothers of the Zhongnan Sect, go with those who want to head to Mount Hua. As for me, I'll stop by Huanin County on my way to the Zhuge Family."
In other words, split the hundred-plus disciples into two groups and move separately.
But Namgung Hu hadn't accounted for one thing.
Among these hundred-plus prodigies were men who admired Tang Ho-seon, called the jianghu's top beauty— and women who swooned over Namgung Hu, the jianghu's greatest genius.
And even aside from admirers of those two, plenty had their eyes on other men or women, leading to mixed joy and sorrow.
Those headed the same way struggled to hide their delight, while those splitting off fought to conceal their disappointment.
The men pining for Tang Ho-seon and the women smitten with Namgung Hu were especially torn up inside.
After facing each other every day, now they faced parting here.
"The situation's urgent, so the sect leaders and family heads will understand."
Namgung Hu pulled several letters from his travel pack and handed them to the five Zhongnan brothers.
These were recommendation letters—not just from the Five Heavenly Kings, but from the leaders of every sect and clan he'd passed through, vouching for the others.
The five Zhongnan brothers tucked the letters away and bid Namgung Hu farewell.
"They say it's better to part quickly if you must part at all. That way, we meet again sooner, right?"
"Well said, brothers. I look forward to seeing your heroic and noble figures again soon."
After clasping hands with the five Zhongnan brothers, Namgung Hu turned to Yeong-gae.
"Since time is pressing, we'll part here and head to our destinations, Elder."
"Go on, then. Be off."
"We'll meet again, Elder."
"See you next time, Elder."
The later-generation disciples split into two groups—north toward Mount Hua, east toward Huanin County—and hurried on their way.
Yeong-gae watched their retreating figures fade into the distance, then rose from his seat.
"Ungrateful brats. Least they could do is cover the tab."
He glanced back to see the innkeeper and waiters peeking from a corner.
"I'll settle the bill next time I pass through."
With that, Yeong-gae ambled off eastward, following Namgung Hu's path.
The innkeeper didn't emerge from his hiding spot until Yeong-gae was completely gone.
It was the first time in his life he'd laid eyes on so many young jianghu prodigies at once, and he feared getting caught up in their heavy atmosphere might spell disaster.
Only after Yeong-gae vanished entirely did the innkeeper and waiters step out.
Whew...
"What a shock. First time in my life seeing so many jianghu folk all at once."
Unlike the terrified innkeeper, the young waiters were awestruck for a different reason.
"I never knew the jianghu had so many beautiful women. Especially the one in the middle— she was so stunning, I thought I'd go blind."
One young waiter muttered dreamily, earning a fierce scolding from the innkeeper.
"You fool! No matter how pretty, mess around with jianghu women and you'll lose an arm before you know it. Don't you dare harbor wicked thoughts, or you'll end up a cripple."
The young waiters shrank back, heads bowed.
"We know that, boss. But weren't you thinking the same?"
Ahem...
"These damn kids!"
Shadows flickered amid the thick, acrid smoke.
Kekekeke...
Hehehehe...
Sinister, chilling laughter echoed repeatedly through the haze.
"How many have you killed?"
Hehehe...
"Only seven. You?"
"Me? Eight."
Amid the choking smoke, men guzzled liquor and tore into meat while lounging atop blood-soaked corpses.
And corpses were being tossed into the rising smoke.
"What? You killed eight? Liar!"
Hehehe...
"Now that I think about it, nine."
"You bastard..."
Clang! Crash!
The men, who'd been drinking and eating amiably moments ago, now swung swords at each other like mortal enemies.
Kekekeke...
Puhahaha...
The onlookers didn't try to intervene—they just watched the spectacle.
Slash.
In an instant, the arm of the sword-wielding man was severed by a blade.
Kikikiki...
But the one-armed man only let out eerie laughter, showing no pain.
He picked up his severed arm with his remaining hand from the floor.
And pressed it to the gushing stump.
Of course, it didn't reattach.
Puhahaha...
"What an idiot."
Hehehehe...
"The funniest guy in the world."
Ignoring the jeers from the smoky figures, the armless man called out.
"Hey, reattach my arm for me."
He handed his severed limb to the man he'd just been fighting.
Whoosh!
The man took it and hurled it far away.
Puhahahaha...
The others rolled on the ground, clutching their bellies.
"You son of a..."
The armless man seemed truly furious now, his eyes flashing murderously as he exuded terrifying killing intent.
Slash.
But his head promptly tumbled to the floor.
Thud!
A kick sent the rolling head flying, revealing a rotund middle-aged man whose waist was several handspans thick.
As soon as he appeared, terror filled the eyes of those lounging on the corpses, drinking.
"We greet the Sovereign."
All who spotted him prostrated themselves on the ground.