Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: The Cult Leader's Plan
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The masked stranger.
He approached the warriors of the Waning Moon Squad, who watched him with cold eyes.
But the swords aimed at him only gleamed more sharply.
It was then.
“Let him pass.”
“...?”
Everyone was baffled by Hyang-i's words.
“Everyone... let him through.”
But Neung Un-bi, sensing that Hyang-i had a reason, gave the order. The Waning Moon Squad parted, though their guards remained up.
The masked man paused for a moment before resuming his approach, stopping before Neung Un-bi and bowing his head.
“It has been a long time, Third Young Master.”
“...?”
A long time? Did we know each other?
He couldn't possibly recognize the masked face, nor could he recall ever meeting anyone who gave off a similar impression.
As Neung Un-bi tilted his head, his eyes glinting with suspicion, Hyang-i spoke.
“It’s Number One.”
“Number One?”
“Yes. One of the Cult Leader’s little rats. They call themselves the Shadow Guard.”
“...The Shadow Guard?”
“Yup.”
At Hyang-i's words, Neung Un-bi narrowed his eyes and stared at Number One.
Despite being called a rat, the man showed no sign of agitation.
The Shadow Guard, serving the Cult Leader.
So, this was one of the 'birds and rats' who reported every single thing that happened within the cult?
“Their stealth skills are incredible. The first time I saw one, I nearly jumped out of my skin. He just dropped from the ceiling while I was brewing tea.”
“Huh?”
“Well, I’ve been on high alert ever since. Within about ten paces, I have the upper hand.”
Neung Un-bi couldn't hide his surprise at Hyang-i's words.
Only ten paces?
This was Hyang-i, who made a mockery of even the masters of qi force?
“Since Lady Hyang-i has already spoken, I suppose I don't need to introduce myself.”
“...”
His voice seemed to carry a hint of amusement.
Neung Un-bi shook his head to clear his thoughts and asked with a puzzled expression.
“But how did you find this place?”
“That is a professional secret.”
“What?”
The curt reply left Neung Un-bi flabbergasted.
“Secret, my foot. He followed your scent.”
“Scent?”
“Lady Hyang-i!”
Number One cried out urgently, trying to stop her, but there was no silencing her once she'd started.
“What’s so secret about something like that?”
Ignoring Number One's glare, Hyang-i continued her explanation.
“They use different methods for each disciple, but in your case, they can track the unique scent of the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill.”
“Scent?”
“Huh? Did I not tell you? That’s what I was tracking, too. You can smell it faintly when you’re nearby.”
He had no memory of being told such a thing.
But 'scent'... was that a literal expression, not a metaphor?
Unable to contain his bewilderment, Neung Un-bi suddenly brought his nose to his own body.
“What are you doing?”
“Well, you said there was a scent.”
“You idiot. You think you can smell that with your nose? Only those with advanced training can sense it. Like me, or the Shadow Guard.”
“...”
“Who wouldn’t know you’d hidden in the desert? The Shadow Guard must have scoured this place under the Cult Leader's orders. Then they caught your scent nearby and found you.”
“Ah...”
Neung Un-bi nodded at Hyang-i's detailed explanation.
He never imagined such a thing was possible.
He was once again amazed by the abilities of those who served as Dam Un-cheon's eyes and ears.
But to think they served not only as birds and rats, but as dogs too...
So they were dogs as well as birds... what a combination.
“...Pfft!”
He couldn't help but let out a laugh, despite the urgency of the situation.
“...?”
“Ahem, ahem!”
When everyone turned to look at him at the sudden burst of laughter, Neung Un-bi cleared his throat and pretended to be nonchalant.
His thoughts had momentarily strayed, but he was genuinely impressed by Number One and the other members of the Shadow Guard.
To think they had penetrated the desert, which must be teeming with pursuers from the Orthodox Faction...
“The Cult Leader has ordered us to escort you back, Third Young Master.”
“The Cult Leader?”
“Yes.”
He never knew such a short answer could bring so much relief. The moment he heard the words 'Cult Leader,' he felt as if he had already been rescued.
“Hoo...”
Neung Un-bi let out a sigh of relief without realizing it.
This time, Wang Cheon and the Waning Moon Squad wore similar expressions.
“But why?”
“...?”
“Was there a reason to send the Shadow Guard and reveal their existence to the Third Young Master? If the goal was a rescue, wouldn't it be simpler to mobilize the main forces and break through the blockade?”
Hyang-i’s sharp question, after a moment of thought, made Neung Un-bi feel a belated sense of doubt.
Really, why?
As everyone looked at Number One, he let out a sigh.
“Mobilizing the main forces is impossible.”
“What?”
“The Third Young Master is currently a sinner who has committed a great crime against the cult.”
“What? A great crime? What are you talking about!”
As Hyang-i scowled in annoyance, Number One sighed again and retorted.
“Surely you are not unaware?”
“...?”
“Because the Third Young Master rescued those pursued by the Orthodox Faction and fled, the truce between the Orthodox and Demonic has been broken, and all Demonic Cult branches in the Central Plains have been withdrawn. This has resulted in enormous losses.”
At those words, Neung Un-bi’s face darkened.
“The Six Families and the Elder Council must be in an uproar.”
“And the Council of Elders as well. Because of this, the Cult Leader’s position has become quite difficult.”
It made sense. Wasn't it the Cult Leader himself who had appointed him to the inspector position?
No matter how powerful he was as the head of the Demonic Cult, he couldn't have avoided responsibility for the massive losses caused by Neung Un-bi's actions.
“And despite all that, the Cult Leader is still trying to save me?”
“Yes.”
Neung Un-bi nodded at the short reply.
“Well, fine. It doesn't seem like there are any other options anyway. But if this happens, isn't the Cult Leader breaking his promise not to help me? If that gets out, the Six Families and the Elder Council won't just stand by.”
“That is likely.”
“Which means you have a way around it?”
“We do.”
“What is it?”
“First, the Six Families and the Elder Council are unaware of our movements.”
“Unaware?”
“Yes. The identity of the Shadow Guard is known only to a select few, including the Cult Leader. Most only have a vague suspicion.”
“Hmm... so on the surface, he's not helping me?”
“Correct. The conclusion will be that the Third Young Master broke through the Orthodox Faction’s inescapable net and returned to the Demonic Cult on his own.”
“...”
“No one in the history of the Demonic Cult has ever accomplished such a feat.”
Staring into Number One’s calm eyes, Neung Un-bi understood the meaning of his words a beat too late.
“You don't mean...?”
“Yes. Even if you have caused losses to the cult, you cannot be punished. Because you will have accomplished something no one else has ever achieved.”
“Ah!”
Neung Un-bi could only stand there, mouth agape.
Was that the idea?
Is this how he plans to quell the controversy and my wrongdoings?
His surprise was brief, quickly replaced by a question.
What on earth did the Cult Leader want from him—no, from Neung Un-bi?
Making the Snow Mountain Manor his ally, and now that he thought about it, even sending him to the Central Plains as an inspector seemed strange.
Moreover, even now, when everything had fallen apart, he was still trying to save him.
If he were here, he would want to ask.
Why go to such lengths?
Just as his thoughts grew more and more tangled, Number One spoke in a heavy tone.
“It will not be an easy task.”
“I imagine not.”
“Furthermore, our role is only to get you safely to the blockade. After that, you are on your own, Third Young Master.”
“I understand that as well. It would be problematic if your movements were discovered. It would bring great trouble to the Cult Leader.”
“It is possible that all of you may die with the Demonic Cult in sight. The moment you are discovered, the Orthodox Faction warriors forming the blockade will attack all at once. According to our intelligence, even the Orthodox Murim Alliance forces that you lured north using the Blue Wolves are joining them.”
Number One paused, looking steadily at Neung Un-bi, before speaking again.
“The Cult Leader instructed me to relay all of this and then follow your decision, Third Young Master.”
“My decision?”
“Yes. If you do not wish to return to the Demonic Cult, we will guide you to a place where you can live in hiding.”
“...!”
At those words, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung shot to their feet and interjected.
“Live in hiding? You want us to live like farmers, eating grass and tilling fields? That’s absurd!”
“That’s right. Even if there’s a ninety percent chance of death, we must go back!”
The warriors of the Waning Moon Squad nodded in agreement with their words.
“You could really die. Are you okay with that?”
“We have never feared death.”
“...”
“Furthermore, if we can die for our lord, that too would be an honor for us.”
Neung Un-bi sighed at Wang Cheon's words.
Honor, my foot... There's no such thing as an honorable death in this world. When you die, it's just the end.
Well, your name might be remembered, I suppose.
But the conclusion had already been reached.
Just as Wang Cheon and Ju Seung said, he had no intention of running or hiding any longer.
“Alright. Let’s go back, then. Steel yourselves.”
“Yes, sir!”
“But... we all return alive.”
At Neung Un-bi's words, everyone broke into a bright smile.
“You have made your decision. Very well. Let us move quickly. I will explain how we will break through the blockade as we go.”
* * *
The Orthodox Murim Alliance's blockade stretched for a staggering three thousand li north of Gansu and Qinghai.
Its scale was truly unprecedented.
Every sect of the Orthodox Faction, with the exception of Shaolin, Mount Hua, Zhongnan, and a few others that the Alliance had forcibly sealed for investigation, had been mobilized, swarming like ants.
As Neung Un-bi's escape continued, the once-loose net had grown tighter and stronger, transforming into a massive human curtain.
The purpose was to counter an invasion by the Demonic Cult.
However, when Neung Un-bi's trail was discovered at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, the attention of the entire martial world turned to Gansu.
Moreover, the aftermath of the Sword Emperor's death was more severe than expected. The martial artists of the Central Plains, having lost one of their brightest stars to the hands of a demonic cultist, were enraged. They gnashed their teeth and focused on Neung Un-bi's expected path through the desert.
Thus, it was only natural that the blockade of the Central Plains' martial world, which had spanned three thousand li, converged on northern Gansu to surround the desert.
They were, in effect, fishing.
Like catching fish in a stream with a hand net, the rear search party, led by the Beggars' Alliance, would stir up the desert and drive Neung Un-bi's group forward, right into their waiting trap.
“Damn bastard, how dare he kill the Sword Emperor?”
“He must have used some despicable trick. Otherwise, how could a brat who’s barely come of age kill the Sword Emperor?”
“You’re right. I heard they suspect poison.”
“Those vile Demonic Cult bastards.”
The murmurs of those watching the desert were all the same.
It was then.
“Hm? But who are they?”
“The Nangong Family?”
A man suddenly tilted his head, watching a group of people wandering near the desert.
Judging by the blue robes embroidered with the word ‘Azure Sky,’ they were clearly warriors of the Nangong Family.
“I heard they were wiped out in the Qilian Mountains...”
“Shh! Man, what if they hear you?”
“Huh?”
“They must be from the main family.”
“From the main family in Anhui?”
“Yes.”
“But I heard they were on guard at the front of the blockade.”
“Aigoo, use your head. Who would be the most furious after the Sword Emperor’s tragic death?”
“Hmm...”
“They’d be more venomous than anyone here. They must not have been able to stand the news that the bastard was crossing the desert. They were probably patrolling nearby and are now heading back to the main family’s camp since it’s getting dark.”
“Now that you mention it, that makes sense.”
“So don’t stare so obviously and just ignore them. Getting involved will only cause a headache.”
“Right.”
The warriors of the Orthodox Faction, not ignorant of the Nangong Family's tragic circumstances, deliberately looked away as their contingent returned.
Thanks to this, the Nangong Family warriors headed north along the blockade without being stopped by anyone.
There were about thirty of them.