Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: An Insane Proposal
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There were two places where the Demonic Cult bordered the Central Plains: Gansu and Qinghai.
But the path was already decided.
Those damn Taoists of Kunlun were just too fierce.
Well, I could understand their sentiment.
After long years of animosity and pointing blades at one another, how many of their brethren had died in nameless fields and mountain foothills?
Their grievances, unable to even erect tombstones, were beyond words. That resentment had seeped into their very bones, to the point where the mere sight of the character for 'demonic'—no, 'ghostly'—would send most of them into a fit, drawing their swords first and asking questions later.
Thus, even the most reckless members of the Demonic Cult avoided Qinghai.
This applied not only to the main roads but to mountain paths and side trails as well.
I had no idea why those Taoists were so hell-bent on blocking roads instead of cultivating the Way in the mountains…
This was why there were plenty of Kunlun Taoists revered for dying on the battlefield, but few who were said to have reached the pinnacle of the Way and ascended to immortality.
The bloodlust I had witnessed when I once went to a black market near Qinghai to buy a robe was still vivid in my mind.
In any case, for these reasons, most cult members traveled to and from the Central Plains through Gansu.
Of course, Gansu also had checkpoints manned by government officials and martial artists, but it was nothing compared to Qinghai. As long as you weren't traveling by carriage, there were plenty of paths to take.
However, disguising one's identity before crossing the border was essential. A net is still a net, no matter how coarse its weave.
Having arrived at the border of Gansu, Neung Un-bi's party had also temporarily set down their packs to prepare for the crossing.
“…A merchant caravan.”
“…”
“We’ve also brought trade goods. Tea.”
Juseung untied the bundle on his back and showed a container filled with tightly dried tea powder.
It looked convincing.
The fine color confirmed it was the snow tea that the Celestial Mountains were famous for. Juseung, dressed to the nines in silk, and the members of the First Squad of the Crescent Moon Brigade, disguised as a manager and guards, also looked the part.
Furthermore, with each pack filled with tea boxes, anyone would take them for merchants.
Nodding, Neung Un-bi turned his gaze to the people next to him.
“Are you guys bandits? Is that a fur coat?”
“We are a party of hunters.”
“Ah…”
Neung Un-bi nodded blankly.
This group also looked quite plausible.
Their disguises were so perfect that, at a glance, one might believe they were a band of bandits from the Green Forest.
Moreover, why was that one guy standing there with his shirt wide open, his chest exposed?
“You’ll be cold.”
“I’m fine.”
The Second Squad Leader, Ungi, flexed his exposed chest muscles.
Was he showing off?
“…Button up. You’ll catch a cold.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Neung Un-bi’s remark, Ungi hastily fastened his shirt.
It seemed he was cold after all.
In any case, these disguises seemed sufficient.
“And the Third Squad?”
“Well…”
“…”
He didn't need to be told.
Having trained in the martial arts of his past, Neung Un-bi’s senses were now much sharper, and he couldn't possibly fail to notice.
Two of them by that tree over there, one by that rock.
Fortunately, he couldn't see their hair.
They were hidden quite well.
“A band of assassins? You’re not disguised as something like that, are you?”
“…!”
Juseung flinched.
So I was right. *Sigh*…
“Commander of the Crescent Moon Brigade.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“I understand the intention is to follow and protect me from the shadows, but… assassins? Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Well… it’s the identity that the Third Elder Department already assigned.”
“…”
“Should I request a new cover identity?”
Juseung asked with a sheepish expression.
The Elder Departments of the Demonic Cult were responsible for handling the numerous tasks delegated by the Cult Leader.
They were meticulously divided to handle duties efficiently: the First Elder Department managed the organization and finances; the Second handled various supplies; the Fourth, with the Strategic Council at its core, was in charge of strategy; the Fifth oversaw the training of martial artists; the Sixth was a cooperative body for external affairs; and the Seventh was led by the gracious Demonic Doctor.
This was why the Cult Leader never thought about working and just lazed around all day. Pointlessly tormenting his disciple.
In any case, the Third Elder Department was in charge of all intelligence for the Demonic Cult. Its role was comparable to that of the Beggars' Alliance in the Central Plains.
It was safe to assume that 99.9% of the spies infiltrated into the Central Plains had passed through their hands.
So creating a cover identity was a piece of cake for them… No, wait, assassins!? What were these crazy bastards thinking?
Their stealth skills were so poor that even I could detect them, so what gave them the confidence to assign such an identity?
“*Sigh*…”
A sigh escaped him involuntarily.
“Commander.”
“Yes?”
“Assassins is just not right, is it?”
“But in order to remain by your side, my Lord…”
“…”
I get that you’re trying to be loyal… but are you stupid, or just thoughtless?
“They’re messing with you.”
“That’s what I think, too.”
Neung Un-bi let out a bitter laugh at Wang Cheon’s words, while Juseung just tilted his head in confusion.
Poor, innocent Juseung, who knows nothing but loyalty to his lord.
Then again, what fault was it of theirs?
They were individuals trained to do as they were told.
“Hmm, perhaps… it’s a test from the Strategic Council?”
“There’s a high probability of that.”
Neung Un-bi nodded with a grim expression at Wang Cheon’s words.
It was a relief that not everyone in the party was a fool. Unlike Juseung and the warriors of the Crescent Moon Brigade, Wang Cheon had been by his side for over a decade and knew a thing or two about the political dynamics within the cult.
A tea caravan and hunters.
There was no overlap between them, so it was impossible for them to travel together.
In other words, they were deliberately separated.
To make it easier to target him.
And on top of that, assassins?
This was complete nonsense.
The identities he and Wang Cheon had assumed were that of scions from a respectable clan in some rural area. The clan's history and lineage had been meticulously fabricated.
A young master and his guard, roaming the world.
It was perfect for staying inconspicuous. No one would suspect a thing.
But the story changes if assassins are crawling all over the place.
A young master from a rural clan threatened by assassins?
Wouldn't that look strange to anyone?
This had to be the handiwork of the Third Elder, instigated by the Strategic Council.
A big ‘screw you.’
If you didn't know, you'd fall for it. Even if you knew, there was nothing you could do.
“Damn it all, I never thought they’d pull such a crude stunt, even if the Cult Leader said he wouldn’t get involved.”
“I know, right… Huh?”
Wang Cheon tilted his head at Neung Un-bi’s grumbling.
“What?”
“No, what you just said. That the Cult Leader said he wouldn’t get involved… What on earth do you mean?”
“It’s just as I said. He only gave me the mission to inspect the Central Plains branch. He said he would absolutely not intervene in the process.”
“…”
At the casually spoken words, Wang Cheon blinked blankly.
“Um, what… kind of bullshit is that?”
“…”
It wasn't exactly the tone a subordinate should use with his lord.
But they had always been close, and it was a reaction anyone would have in this situation, so Neung Un-bi let it slide.
“My Lord! Who was the bastard? Which son of a bitch proposed such a crazy condition?!”
“I told you, it was the Cult Leader.”
“The Cult… That son of a bitch!”
“…”
As soon as he got the reconfirmation, Wang Cheon shot to his feet and spat out a curse as if shouting.
What a temper…
But ‘son of a bitch’?
Was he deaf? I told him several times that the bastard was the Cult Leader.
It was a good thing he had left the cult. If anyone had heard that, his severed head would have been hung on the gates of the Snow Mountain Manor in an instant.
“Wang Cheon.”
“What!”
“I said it was the Cult Leader.”
“Even if it is the Cult Leader, how could he say something so crazy? This is basically giving the opposition permission to kill you, my Lord!”
“Well, yeah.”
“‘Yeah’? Is this a situation to be so calm about?”
“…”
Seeing the furious Wang Cheon reminded him of the saying, ‘like mother, like son.’ He wouldn’t be able to say a word in front of the Cult Leader anyway…
But he let him be.
The one Wang Cheon served as his lord now was him, not the Cult Leader. It was perfectly fine to curse the king in his absence, wasn't it?
And venting like this would prevent resentment from building up inside him.
“By the way, Wang Cheon.”
“What!”
“Is there another way, if I’m not calm?”
“Well…”
There wasn't. There wouldn't be.
At most, a protest?
Of course, protesting would only get them a single sentence in return about a mistake in processing the orders.
“Damn it! I thought it was strange that those people, who are hell-bent on getting rid of you, didn't oppose the inspection mission to the Central Plains. So that’s what was going on…”
Wang Cheon grumbled, kicking a stone at his feet.
But did he really think I’d set out for the Central Plains without a plan? I could end up dead before I even met ‘him.’
It was obvious that assassins sent by the opposition would be targeting him, but the important thing was that he had gained freedom of action. He had received a mission, but his route wasn't controlled, so he could go wherever he damn well pleased.
“Everyone.”
“…?”
“I have a plan. Want to hear it?”
“A plan?”
“Yes.”
“What kind?”
Pausing for a moment to catch his breath, Neung Un-bi began to speak, his eyes glinting with cunning.
“They will constantly target us. They’ll try to kill you and me by any means necessary.”
“That’s right.”
“But, fortunately for us, their actions are just as restricted as ours. Once we cross that border, we’re in the Central Plains.”
“That may be true, but they aren’t the type to miss such a golden opportunity.”
“True. But if they move recklessly, they’ll draw attention. So they’ll be very careful in choosing a place to strike.”
“Hmm…”
Every word was true.
“Therefore, from this moment on, we abandon the cover identities assigned by the Third Elder Department.”
“…Pardon?”
“If we use the identities they’ve given us, our movements will inevitably be traced.”
“That’s true.”
“So we have to ditch them.”
“But if we do that…”
“It will be difficult to receive even basic support for the inspection mission, but that doesn’t matter. As long as the Cult Leader has declared he won’t interfere, everything provided to us will be tainted with their intentions. It would only hold us back.”
“But even so, won’t they still tail us?”
“Of course. It would be strange if those bloodthirsty bastards didn’t tail us. They’ll probably start making their move in earnest the moment we cross the border.”
“Then?”
“I told you, I have a way. A way to completely tie their hands.”
“…”
As Neung Un-bi spoke with a voice full of conviction, a look of anticipation bloomed in the eyes of Wang Cheon and the Crescent Moon Brigade.
“From now on, we travel only through the territories of the Orthodox Faction.”
“…”
It was groundbreaking.
So groundbreaking that it left them speechless.
A member of the Demonic Cult, the Third Young Master of the Cult Leader no less, traveling through the territory of the Orthodox Faction?
Openly? With his face exposed?
“My Lord…”
“What?”
“Forgive my rudeness.”
Wang Cheon approached with a serious expression and placed a hand on Neung Un-bi’s forehead.
“That’s strange. You don’t seem to have a fever…”
“…”
He seemed to think I was crazy.
But I wasn't crazy. There was nothing wrong with me.
“My Lord.”
“What?”
“If we get unlucky and get caught, we’ll die.”
“If we’re unlucky! But as long as we don’t get caught, it’s fine. There are so many people in the world, who’s going to check my face one by one? It’s not like I’m going to cause any trouble.”
“…”
Faced with such a shamelessly brazen answer, Juseung was at a loss for words.
You fools, you say that because you don’t know.
It might sound crazy, but I had been a master of this sort of thing for a long time.
After killing someone from the Orthodox Faction, you hide in the Unorthodox Faction’s territory. After killing someone from the Unorthodox Faction, you hide in the Orthodox Faction’s territory. That was the standard procedure.
Did they think they’d be pursued?
One wrong move could escalate into a war between factions. What kind of madman would do such a thing?
By the time they sent official requests for cooperation and persuaded each other to investigate, I would have already made my escape. How would they ever find me?
“Absolutely not!”
“What do you mean, ‘absolutely not’? Do we really have to do this even after coming all the way to the Central Plains? You oppose every single thing!”
“Then who else will oppose it?”
“What?”
“Look. Juseung, the Crescent Moon Brigade… if you say let’s do something, they’ll all just say ‘yes’!”
“…”
“Someone has to oppose it, and it has to be me!”
It was absurd.
Did he feel some sort of sense of duty to oppose everything?
But what could he do?
Within that opposition was a heart full of concern for Neung Un-bi.
Worry that he might make the wrong decision and put himself in danger.
However, he had not a speck of intention to change his decision. Having learned through many experiences what to do in such situations, Neung Un-bi smiled and said.
“This… is an order. Not a request. And I am your lord.”
“…”
“If you don’t like it, you can go back. I won’t stop you.”
Neung Un-bi said it as if driving a final nail, then smiled brightly.
He wished not only Wang Cheon but all of them would just get lost. It would allow him to move more freely.
But no one uttered a word.
In this moment, Neung Un-bi was truly grateful for the Cult Leader’s teachings. Thanks to them, he had quelled the dissent.
“Hehehe…”
“…”
“Let them try to follow if they can! Hahahaha!”
How did I finally obtain this freedom! You think I’ll let myself be tied down by the likes of you?
Staring at Neung Un-bi’s sinister laughter, Wang Cheon let out a sigh so deep it seemed the ground would collapse.
For the first time, he was regretting his decision to serve Neung Un-bi as his lord.
Damn it all… It looked like he was going to the Orthodox Faction’s territory whether he liked it or not.