Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: An Unlikely Destination
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Neung Un-bi closed his eyes and summoned a distant memory.
Mount Hua, thirty years ago.
It had been quite a long time, and he had only visited a few times, but the scenery remained vivid in his mind.
If you followed the forest south of Huayin County in Shaanxi Province for a good while, a valley would come into view.
It was called the Blue Snake Valley.
Though not a particularly large valley, the dense thickets on either side created a gloomy atmosphere.
It had retained its rugged, natural state because people had long since stopped visiting.
The reason for this lay in the valley's name, Blue Snake.
In other words, it was Snake Valley.
From non-venomous rat snakes, king ratsnakes, water snakes, and threadsnakes to venomous ones like vipers, pit vipers, and fire snakes.
All sorts of snakes lived there in colonies.
Hence, there was no human traffic.
It was so dangerous that even snake catchers, who made a living from them, dared not venture there.
Of course, the Taoists of Mount Hua never traveled through the Blue Snake Valley either.
So why would Neung Un-bi remember such a place?
It was obvious. Back then, he had no choice but to sneak in.
Naturally, he had to take paths untrodden by people, and so his memories of Mount Hua were filled with such places.
In any case, past the Snake Valley, a sheer granite cliff unfolded.
You couldn’t help but be tense.
If your fingers lost their grip while climbing, you'd fall to your death.
Equipment? Ropes?
Using such things and leaving a trace would be troublesome.
While the waist of Mount Hua's South Peak had the famous cliffside plank road installed by the first Sect Leader, there was nothing on this ascent from Snake Valley.
You had to rely solely on the strength of your fingers.
After using minimal lightness techniques to make your body as light as possible, you had to grip the crevices of the rock with your fingertips and climb, and climb again.
Couldn't one just leap up with superior lightness techniques?
Bullshit.
You might make it up a little way.
But if you tried something like that, you’d run out of not just internal energy but also muscular strength before you were even halfway.
So, you had to conserve your internal energy as much as possible and rest in between.
About half a day. After climbing for that long, a resting spot would appear.
He had once paused there and looked down.
A magnificent sea of clouds had swallowed the valley.
The way the clouds swirled along the valley, as if a cloud dragon had descended to the earth, was even beautiful.
But if you knew the reality, your hair would stand on end.
If you fell into water, the impact might be cushioned, giving you a chance to live, but if you fell into the sea of clouds... it was a fatal drop.
After climbing for another half a day, the granite cliff finally ended, revealing the full view of Mount Hua.
Damn it… just reliving the memory made him feel drained of energy.
In any case, the cliff vanished from Neung Un-bi’s mind, and the true face of Mount Hua's Taoist temple emerged.
The first thing you encountered after climbing the cliff was the Lower Chess Pavilion.
They said immortals descended there to play chess or something.
There were no guards.
Not only was it far from the main temple, but the path to the pavilion was so treacherous it was called ‘the Acrobat’s Somersault.’
Unless you were a Taoist contemplating suicide out of despair, you would never visit on a dark night.
But what kind of person was Neung Un-bi, or rather, Cheok Wol-rin?
The ultimate master of stealth who had perfected the Three Nothings Footwork!
No matter how rugged the path, with his outstanding lightness technique!
“Absolutely not!”
“…”
“There is no way! Mount Hua? What kind of nonsense is that!”
The voice that shattered his long-held reverie was, of course, Wang Cheon’s.
He had just been about to picture the Taoist temple of Mount Hua…
He had momentarily forgotten about Wang Cheon.
The naysayer who would always say no when everyone else said yes.
“What in the world is this about Mount Hua?”
“Why not? What’s the problem? The great elder of Zhongnan asked us to go with him. We have plenty of time in our schedule anyway.”
“Do you think I’m concerned about the schedule?”
“…?”
“I would be happy if you said we were going wandering somewhere instead.”
Wang Cheon huffed, his voice sharp.
“Do you think they call the Taoist and Demonic paths polar opposites for no reason?”
“…”
“Traveling with a Taoist is one thing. We can just keep some distance. But to deliberately visit a Taoist holy ground? And you’re saying we’ll stay there for several days? Does that make any sense?”
“Why not?”
“‘Why not?’ Are you trying to wither our men to death?”
“Why would I kill our men… Ah!”
Only then did Neung Un-bi realize why Wang Cheon was objecting.
The reason the Demonic path disliked the Taoist path.
It wasn't just because of the long-standing grudge that made them fight at the mere sight of each other.
It was the inherent demon-subduing power of the Taoist path.
A holy ground was a place where that power had accumulated and seeped in over generations. Going there to fight would be one thing, but visiting and staying was a significant problem.
If demonic practitioners slept there, they would be plagued by nightmares every night and writhe in constant agony.
That was precisely why Wang Cheon was saying no.
A quick glance at Ju Seung and the Lunar Eclipse Squad showed them nodding in agreement with Wang Cheon.
“You’re right, there’s a point to what you’re saying.”
“See? That’s why going to Mount Hua is absolutely out of the question.”
“Hmm…”
As Neung Un-bi frowned deeply in thought, Jin San belatedly recognized the flaw in his proposal.
Though they had only been together for a short time, Neung Un-bi's group had consistently done the right thing, making him completely forget they were from the Demonic Cult.
After all, their actions and words were more righteous than those of the Orthodox Faction.
“Haha, my thinking was too shallow. Indeed, inviting a demonic practitioner to a Taoist holy ground…”
“…”
“My apologies. I failed to consider your position.”
“Not at all. How is that Elder Jin San’s fault?”
“It can’t be helped. Just pretend you didn’t hear my request to stop by Mount Hua.”
“Pardon?”
“You all wait in Huayin County for now. I’ll go to Mount Hua, and once I come down with the Sword Saint, we can join up and head to Zhengzhou.”
“That seems to be the best course of action.”
“Indeed.”
“But, roughly how long will that take?”
“Hmm, about ten days?”
“Excuse me?”
“I hear the Sword Saint’s wall-gazing training will end around then.”
“Wall-gazing training…?”
“That’s right.”
Jin San’s smile made Neung Un-bi’s expression change.
What? Ten days?
He was going to stay at Mount Hua for ten days? Wait until the Sword Saint finished his training?
Damn it all!
A man of the Sword Saint's caliber, doing wall-gazing? What a load of crap!
Right now, I’m burning with the need to find him!
That wasn't going to work. At this rate, he’d have to go to Mount Hua himself, grab the Sword Saint by the scruff of his neck, and drag him down.
“It’s a shame. I wanted to show you what a place like Mount Hua is like…”
“…”
As Jin San expressed his regret, Neung Un-bi, after a moment of thought, shot to his feet.
“Then let’s go.”
“Hmm? You’re going?”
“Yes.”
“But the Demonic and Taoist paths are opposites…”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Hmm?”
“I was once deeply immersed in Taoism, so I used to recite demon-subduing incantations like a habit.”
“What? You, the Cult Leader’s disciple, recited demon-subduing incantations?”
“Of course! I even used to wear a Taoist robe as my daily attire.”
“A Taoist robe, too? Is that true?”
“Indeed! The entire Demonic Cult knows about it.”
At Neung Un-bi's words, spoken while thumping his chest, Jin San stared at him blankly.
Seeing Wang Cheon press his forehead and shake his head, it seemed he wasn't just making it up.
“Shall I recite one for you if you don’t believe me?”
“Hmm?”
“Oh, my Lord of Thunder, receive the might of the Mother of Lightning, and purge all sickness from my body. Let all people be so blessed. Command me as a general of the Five Elements, a soldier of the Six Jia, that I may vanquish all evil energies and countless ghosts. Quickly, as if by law or decree.”
“…!”
What Neung Un-bi recited was truly a demon-subduing incantation.
Its effect seemed quite potent, as Wang Cheon and the other demonic practitioners grimaced.
“Hah… This man. Just how much more is he going to surprise me?”
Jin San was truly flabbergasted.
A demonic practitioner reciting a Taoist incantation? He had never met such an oddball.
“I’m a man who once even threw a talisman I personally drew to cure my master’s headache.”
“You threw a talisman at him, at Dam Un-cheon?”
“Yes!”
“In-incredible…! How did you manage to survive after doing such a thing?”
“Of course, I was beaten half to death.”
“You’re lucky you weren’t torn to shreds and fed to the beasts.”
“That’s what everyone else said. Hahaha.”
“…”
Jin San couldn't hide his surprise at the man’s hearty laughter, while Wang Cheon and Ju Seung, looking troubled, clutched their foreheads and sighed repeatedly.
What was there to be proud of…?
“So, the others may not be able to, but I’ll be fine. Let’s go together.”
“My lord!”
As Neung Un-bi made the decision on his own, Wang Cheon shouted.
“What?”
“Are you saying you’ll go alone?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Of course it is! What do you take us for?”
“…”
“The Taoist path is absolutely forbidden! If you keep being this stubborn, I’ll have no choice but to be impolite!”
Wang Cheon, glaring daggers as if he would absolutely not back down this time, shrieked, prompting Neung Un-bi to smirk.
“Go on, give it a try. You couldn’t stop me last time, right? Let’s see how you do this time. I was just looking for a place to show off my recently and rapidly improved martial skills…”
The air was thick with tension.
Just as they looked ready to start a brawl, and Jin San felt awkward and sorry, thinking it was his fault…
“I’ll go with him.”
“…”
A voice shattered the menacing atmosphere in an instant.
The one raising her hand with a smile was none other than Hyang-i.
“Hyang-i?”
“Lady Attendant?”
Both Neung Un-bi and Wang Cheon stared blankly at Hyang-i.
“I said I’ll go with him. So you won’t need any guards, right?”
“Lady Attendant! It’s a Taoist holy ground.”
“So what?”
“Pardon?”
“What does something like that matter?”
Hyang-i let out a smirk as she looked at Wang Cheon.
“That demon-subduing power only works on amateurs like you. I’m fine, you see?”
“…”
“Besides, you guys won’t be able to use your full strength in a holy ground, right?”
“Well…”
“The Taoist power permeates the place, so you demonic practitioners can’t even use stealth, your martial arts are far inferior to mine… What can you possibly do? You’ll just be a burden if you follow.”
“…”
Wang Cheon and the other cultists couldn't utter a word in response to her blunt remarks, which shifted between informal and formal speech.
That was harsh. Even if it was true, to stab them in the heart like this…
However, if Hyang-i went along, they wouldn’t have to worry about Neung Un-bi's safety.
Because of this, the heads of Wang Cheon and Ju Seung, who had been sunk in despair, drooped even lower.
They felt as if they had become useless…
“Well then, since we’re on the topic, shall we depart right away?”
Neung Un-bi gave a bitter smile at Hyang-i’s cheerful expression.
“Hey, piggy. Are you sure Mount Hua’s plum wine is really that good?”
“You little glutton! Are you going to keep calling me piggy?”
“You’d better answer if you don’t want to die. Huh?”
“…Yes. It’s not one of Shaanxi’s famous liquors for nothing.”
“Is that so? Hehehe.”
Hearing Hyang-i whisper to Woong-hyeon, Neung Un-bi shook his head.
Was it all for alcohol…?
Don’t you think you were too harsh on the others just now?
They look like their pride has been completely crushed.
Wang Cheon's shoulders were slumped as he hung his head.
He looked somehow pitiful.
Feeling the need to lift his spirits, Neung Un-bi firmly gripped Wang Cheon’s shoulder and said.
“Wang Cheon.”
“…Yes.”
“Take Ju Seung and the Lunar Eclipse Squad and wait in Huayin County.”
“Sigh, yes…”
“But this is the only time.”
“…Pardon?”
“This is the only time I’m leaving you behind. So work hard so you don’t have to hear things like that again.”
“…!”
At those words, delivered with a few pats on the shoulder, a fire of determination ignited in Wang Cheon’s eyes.
“Yes, my lord! I will! I will strive to never be left behind again!”
“…R-right.”
Neung Un-bi gave an awkward smile to the instantly re-energized Wang Cheon.
And so, the trip to Mount Hua was decided.
With Neung Un-bi, Jin San, and the two little gluttons.