Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: A Benevolent Facade
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The Demonic Cult and the Central Plains had long lived as adversaries.
Bloodshed was commonplace for merely crossing into each other's territory, but under the reign of the current Cult Leader, Dam Un-cheon, trade with the Central Plains was permitted.
Merchants, who had no choice but to pass through the Demonic Cult's lands to trade with the Western Regions, welcomed this with open arms and flocked to Gansu day after day.
The Orthodox Murim Alliance of the Central Plains did not interfere.
How could they stop people from going to make money?
Of course, that was merely the official reason. The truth was the enormous tribute paid by the merchant guilds.
It was no small sum.
But why Gansu and not Qinghai?
Was it because Kunlun, with its bone-deep grudge against the Demonic Path, blocked the way?
Unlikely. That, too, was because of money.
Transportation costs were cheaper in Gansu, where large quantities of goods could be moved by wagon, than in Qinghai, where people had to carry loads on their backs over treacherous mountains.
Thus, merchants flocked to Gansu, and where people gathered, money naturally followed. And where money gathered, the struggle for power between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions was bound to intensify.
Because of this, disputes were incessant in the northern parts of Gansu.
After a long period of conflict, the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions agreed to occupy different routes. The ones who guarded these were the Southern Evil Sect, based in the Great Snow Mountain, and the Heavenly Pillar Gate, based in Jiuquan.
Merchants from the Unorthodox factions went to the Great Snow Mountain, while those from the Orthodox factions went to Jiuquan.
However, amidst the fierce rivalry between these two powers, there was one place that walked a precarious tightrope, maintaining its neutrality: the Dantain Gate.
A sect that walked the Middle Path.
It was difficult to separate them from the martial world, as their current Gate Master, Jong Se-in, was a rather skilled pugilist renowned in the area, yet the Heavenly Pillar Gate and the Southern Evil Sect did not carelessly invade their territory.
Part of the reason was their affiliation with the merchant guilds, but the most important factor was the public goodwill they had cultivated.
They had earned the respect of the common people by providing relief during famines and helping wandering refugees settle down. To attack them recklessly could easily result in a backlash.
Above all, their power was not really a cause for concern. Moreover, they showed no ambition to expand their territory.
And so, the Dantain Gate had survived for generations, left alone in the gap between the two powers.
Of course, no one knew that it was secretly a branch of the Demonic Cult.
Evil disguised as good to avoid suspicion.
But Neung Un-bi, who had secretly traveled to the city where they were based to investigate the Dantain Gate, could only manage a bitter smile as he looked out at the night streets.
Didn't it all look too… peaceful?
Even at this late hour, children played in groups in every alley, and the faces of the people walking the streets were filled with ease.
When the martial artists of the Dantain Gate, who had volunteered as a vigilante corps to maintain the city's peace, occasionally passed by, no one cowered in fear, grew wary, or pointed fingers behind their backs.
Instead, people would toss them leftover fruit, and children would flock to them, begging to be bought candy.
That alone told him how the Dantain Gate was perceived by the people within its domain.
Neung Un-bi suddenly felt the urge to ask ‘him,’ had he been there.
What is evil?
Is it them, who feign kindness while hiding their dark intentions?
Or is it the Heavenly Pillar Gate, which secretly frames the innocent to build false merits while outwardly flaunting its affiliation with the Orthodox faction?
…The answer seemed so obvious that he couldn't help but scowl.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
Wang Cheon, having returned from his own investigation into the Dantain Gate's reputation, asked as he saw Neung Un-bi lost in thought by the second-floor window of the inn, looking down at the street.
“Just a little… huh?”
Shaking his head to clear his complicated thoughts, Neung Un-bi looked at Wang Cheon and flinched in surprise.
What in the world…?
“Did you go out and fall into the water or something?”
Neung Un-bi couldn't hide his bewilderment at the sight of Wang Cheon, his hair plastered to his head like seaweed and his clothes soaking wet, dripping water onto the floor.
“Water, my ass.”
“…?”
“I did what you asked, and look at me now.”
“Huh? You did what I asked?”
“Yes, and all I got was a bucket of water dumped on me.”
At his irritated tone, Neung Un-bi tilted his head.
What on earth did he ask?
He had given Wang Cheon only one instruction.
Before the New Moon Squad returns, go through the back alleys and see if there are any malicious rumors about the Dantain Gate.
…He said to check, not to ask directly.
“That old man was strong, too. Poured a whole bucket right on me.”
“What exactly did you ask?”
“I just asked if the Dantain Gate Master does bad things. That’s all I said.”
“You asked him directly?”
“Yes. And he started yelling at me to get lost if I was going to spout such nonsense. He even pointed his finger at me and threatened to call the Dantain Gate patrols…”
“Hmm…”
“What do you mean, ‘hmm’?”
“…”
Should he call this foolish or just inexperienced?
Who gathers information so blatantly?
He was lucky it was water and not filth.
“Let’s just go in, shall we?”
“Go in where?”
“We can just go to the Dantain Gate and reveal that you’re the Third Young Master on an inspection mission. The Cult must have sent a secret directive about your visit, so they’ll be eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
“…”
“So why are we going through all this trouble? You gave me a pointless task, and I got soaked for nothing. Besides, we’re already short on travel funds, so why are we wasting money at an inn?”
Wang Cheon grumbled, peeling his clinging clothes away from his skin.
He couldn't even dodge it, and now he's throwing a fit…
Besides, why was he making a fuss when it wasn’t his money they were spending?
The money they currently had was a small donation(?) from the bandits who had been based in Akwa Marsh.
Acquired purely through his own efforts.
“Sigh, go and change your clothes. You must be cold.”
“Hmph, I was going to anyway.”
“…”
This so-called Guard Captain may call him lord, but his words and attitude were a mess.
And after he’d lost, even when fighting with all his might.
Second only to one, above all others? Even if I somehow become the Cult Leader, I'm not giving you that position.
Neung Un-bi shook his head as he watched Wang Cheon turn on his heel and head towards his room.
In any case, the Dantain Gate Master’s reputation is said to be high, but this is beyond rumor.
He had thought there must be some reason why the Dantain Gate hadn't intervened in the Heavenly Pillar Gate's affairs.
Some kind of deal…
Well, perhaps there were good members of the Demonic Cult, just as there were foolish ones like Wang Cheon.
“Sigh, was my suspicion for nothing, then?”
He began to think that perhaps his sensitivity was a prejudice born from the perception of the Demonic Cult.
In truth, his desire to investigate the Dantain Gate was not only part of his inspection duties but also stemmed from a slight suspicion. However, the biggest reason was to ask for some help.
The Heavenly Pillar Gate.
If he hadn't seen it, he could have ignored it, but now that he had, how could he leave those bastards be?
But he couldn't do it alone.
He could send a message to the main cult, but the ill-tempered Cult Leader would surely reply, telling him to stop his damn meddling and just do his inspection properly.
It was, after all, a matter that could cause friction with the Orthodox faction.
Thus, he planned to use the information the Dantain Gate possessed.
Why should they fight?
A pointless fight could escalate into a full-blown war between the Orthodox and Demonic factions, and innocent people would suffer.
Besides, it was said that only fools like Wang Cheon, unable to control their temper, resort to fists. Truly brilliant men fight with their minds.
The Dantain Gate had lived for a long time in the territory of the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, hiding its true identity.
They must have a detailed understanding of the dirty deeds the Heavenly Pillar Gate had committed over the years.
He needed to know that. He needed to expose it all to the world.
Even if the authorities generally didn't interfere with the martial world, if rumors of the Heavenly Pillar Gate's evil deeds exceeded a certain limit, they couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
That was why he needed to understand the Dantain Gate. If there was some reason they had overlooked the Heavenly Pillar Gate's behavior, he could face an unexpected backlash and meet a swift end.
And who knew which of his rival brothers they might be connected to?
His opponents were already going to great lengths to kill him. If he walked in recklessly and was ambushed, he would be a sitting duck.
“Damn it all. I already died once, yet I still have to worry about my life like this… Nothing’s changed, from then to now.”
Not as an assassin, and not now, as the supposedly great Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult.
He suddenly felt sorry for himself.
“Still, it’s not all bad. Being of high status means I can drink fine wine like this.”
That was about the only good thing that had changed from the past.
Neung Un-bi picked up the bottle of Thousand-Day Wine on the table, filled his cup, and smirked.
It was a hollow smile.
Later, when the night was deep and his face was flushed from the wine, the monks returned.
Unlike Wang Cheon, they hadn't been doused with water, but they too came back empty-handed.
“So they were really just refugees?”
“Yes. There was no trace of any connection to the Cult.”
“And the Dantain Gate?”
“We couldn’t find any link to the branch either. There were only occasional pursuers sent from the Heavenly Pillar Gate.”
“Pursuers… were there many?”
“There were many, and they seemed to be giving it their all. Their expressions, their eyes, even their auras were fierce.”
“Any word on whether the escapees were caught?”
“I’m not sure. It’s not certain, but it seems they are safe for now.”
“That’s a relief.”
“…However, they appeared relentless. It seemed they had mobilized all the martial artists from their main house to search every inch of Gansu.”
“They would. You all should return and rest.”
“Yes, we will leave the usual guards.”
“…”
Neung Un-bi gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
He didn't enjoy being guarded, as it felt like being watched, but he was in no state of mind to care about such things now.
A relentless pursuit…
Of course.
The Heavenly Pillar Gate wouldn't just let the escapees go.
They would do everything in their power to capture them.
If word got out from one of the escapees, their public image would suffer a fatal blow.
Hadn't their son been scheduled to go to the Orthodox Murim Alliance soon?
It had been a day since they left the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
The same amount of time since the pursuit began.
He had erased all their tracks, but the escapees were just refugees who didn't even know basic footwork. They would be caught by martial artists in no time.
This meant he didn't have the luxury of fully investigating the Dantain Gate before making a move. Even if a dangerous situation might arise… he had no choice but to face it head-on.
He would have to steel himself for a possible ambush.
* * *
The next day, Neung Un-bi and his party headed straight for the Dantain Gate.
“Welcome!”
The Dantain Gate Master, Jong Se-in, opened the gates wide to greet Neung Un-bi.
“It’s been far too long!”
“…”
Neung Un-bi held back an incredulous laugh as Jong Se-in threw his arms around him and patted his back.
They had never met before, yet his actions were utterly natural.
Even though Wang Cheon had sent word ahead, there wasn't a hint of awkwardness. It was as if they had known each other since birth.
“It has been a long time, Gate Master.”
“Haha! Indeed, it has.”
Jong Se-in finished his greeting with another pat on the back.
“Steward!”
“Yes, Gate Master.”
“I have a distinguished guest today. Announce that all my afternoon appointments are canceled.”
“I will do so.”
After hearing the steward's reply, Jong Se-in led Neung Un-bi inside.
“Come, let’s go in. There is much I wish to hear.”
“Yes, Gate Master.”
As Neung Un-bi followed, he glanced back.
They were all exceptional.
These people acted as if this were a common occurrence, their performance perfectly routine.
This must be how they had managed to survive for so long without being discovered.
“You all may return to your quarters. It seems the Gate Master and I have much to discuss.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Wang Cheon and the New Moon Squad bowed and withdrew.
As Neung Un-bi walked with Jong Se-in along the long corridor that followed the central courtyard, a strange light glinted in his eyes.
A room at the end of the corridor.
The residence of the Dantain Gate Master.
Two martial artists guarding the entrance bowed sharply to Jong Se-in.
The fierce aura they exuded was palpable enough to momentarily drive away all the worries that had filled his mind.
At the same time, he caught a strong scent. A demonic scent, which he hadn't noticed before, seemed to prick his nose.
They were practitioners of a high level of demonic arts.
And that wasn't all.
Neung Un-bi’s eyes darted around the area.
He could sense twelve of them.
While not comparable to the New Moon Squad, highly skilled hidden guards were protecting the Dantain Gate Master's residence. He cautiously checked for any killing intent, just in case, but felt none.
“Do not let anyone within ten paces until I give an order.”
“Yes, Gate Master.”
“Come, let us go inside.”
“Yes.”
The moment he followed Jong Se-in into the room, the door closed.
Click.
The instant they were cut off from the outside world, the hierarchy was starkly reversed.
“Jong Se-in, Head of the Demonic Cult's Qilian Branch, pays his respects to the Third Young Master.”
“…”
Neung Un-bi silently watched Jong Se-in bow deeply, his voice low.
Impressive.
As expected of a branch head, I suppose?
Though he had instantly changed his demeanor and prostrated himself, there was no trace of servility.
Even while bowing, he seemed to carry himself as an equal.
He didn't know much about him yet, but he seemed to be an ally, not an enemy.
And one thing was certain.
This man… he won't be easy to deal with.