Chapter 84
Chapter 84
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: An Unwelcome Encounter
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Shaanxi.
There are countless descriptions of it, but to the martial artists, it is known primarily by one name: Mount Hua.
So rugged it defies description, it is the Western Great Mountain of the Five Great Mountains. Despite its treacherous granite peaks, it bears the character for "flower" (華) in its name.
Though its origins are varied, Neung Un-bi once thought it might be because of the plum blossoms.
The Daoist lineage that took root on Mount Hua—the Mount Hua Sect.
Known as one of the Five Great Daoist Sects, they turned their backs on the secular world, seeking immortality through health cultivation and alchemy.
That is precisely why they are so profoundly skilled in internal energy arts.
With their swords, they paint plum blossoms, and with their unique internal energy, they release their fragrance.
Madmen, weren't they? A sword isn't a brush...
He had dismissed them as such.
But after learning the truth, he could never harbor such thoughts again.
The true essence of Mount Hua was not the plum blossom, but the Purple Mist.
He had met one of them just once.
An old Daoist he encountered while infiltrating Mount Hua during his days as an assassin.
Of all the men he'd met, this one was the most fitting of the Orthodox Faction.
He remembered they had spoken at length.
The gist of it was one thing: that nothing could be changed through harm.
But at the time, his own values were firm, and he refused to be persuaded, ultimately drawing his sword and telling him to stop spouting nonsense.
A master of sword ki? What did that matter?
It was a realm he had yet to reach, but he believed he could face it.
He trusted in his Three Nothings Footwork and Three Battles Sword.
But the moment the man floated in the air and stained the sky purple, he realized it had been a miscalculation, an act of arrogance.
His sword split the purple-dyed sky in two. No, it seemed to.
His trusted footwork and swordsmanship were of no help. It was all he could do to evade, as blocking was too difficult.
If the man hadn't shown him mercy once more, he would never have escaped.
After that, he avoided Mount Hua whenever possible.
For fear of meeting that terrifying Daoist, Cheong Jin.
*Could he still be alive?*
Even then, his beard had reached his chest. Thirty years had already passed...
But what would happen if they met?
He was a Daoist, and Neung Un-bi was of the Demonic Cult. If they met, they would undoubtedly draw their swords without a word, just like in the past.
Were they called polar opposites for nothing?
Just as in his past life, he decided he should avoid the Huayin county of Shaanxi, where Mount Hua was located, in this life as well.
“My lord? What are you thinking about so intently?”
“Hmm?”
As Neung Un-bi was reminiscing about old memories, Wang Cheon spoke to him.
“It's nothing, just an old thought...”
“An old thought?”
“...”
“Hmm... Well, it has been quite a while since we left the Cult. I understand. I feel the same.”
Wang Cheon glanced northward, toward the Demonic Cult, with a look of longing.
*Understand, my foot... He probably thinks I'm homesick or something.*
An amused snort escaped him. Wang Cheon pointed somewhere with his finger.
“Oh! The merchant leader suggested we rest there for today.”
Turning his head, Neung Un-bi saw a small village at the tip of Wang Cheon's finger.
“Ah, a Swallow's Nest?”
“Pardon?”
“Hmm?”
“How did you know that?”
“...”
“That's strange. I only just learned a place like this existed after hearing it from Merchant Leader Ohdeung...”
Wang Cheon stared at Neung Un-bi with a puzzled expression.
*Damn it, a mistake. It was so familiar that I let it slip.*
*These guys think I'm the Third Young Master who's only ever lived in the Demonic Cult.*
“Ah, it's from when I was a child...”
“When you were a child?”
“Yes. You know I used to live in the Central Plains, right? Before my Master brought me to the Demonic Cult. The memory of seeing it back then just came back to me vividly.”
“Ah! I see... wait, is that even possible?”
Wang Cheon, who had been nodding along, suddenly tilted his head and asked in a strange tone.
“What is?”
“I heard you came to the Cult when you were three.”
“Hmm?”
“You don't mean you remember that time, do you? When you had just stopped babbling? Vividly?”
“...”
Hearing Wang Cheon's words, Neung Un-bi felt a cold sweat break out.
*This guy can be surprisingly sharp at times.*
“Ahem. As you know, I was called a child prodigy so often my ears burned.”
“A child prodigy?”
“Yes. Then again, how could an ordinary person like you understand the memory of a prodigy?”
“...”
“Now, let's hurry. My butt's sore from riding for so long.”
As if to cut off any further questions, Neung Un-bi patted Wang Cheon on the shoulder and spurred his horse on.
“How remarkable. Someone who sometimes forgets what happened yesterday remembers things from when he was three.”
Although it strongly felt like an evasion, Wang Cheon just tilted his head as he watched Neung Un-bi's back.
*Well, how could he, who had never been a prodigy, understand their memory capacity?*
“Wait for me!”
“...”
Wang Cheon even used his whip to catch up, but Neung Un-bi only sped up more.
He was afraid Wang Cheon would ride up beside him and ask more difficult questions.
In any case, because Neung Un-bi was racing ahead, the merchant caravan also picked up its pace and entered the village.
A "Swallow's Nest" (Yeonso) is a rest stop inn located along the main roads.
The name came from how travelers on long journeys frequently came and went, much like swallows that fly busily all day, treating their nests as mere rest stops.
For small groups, camping outdoors was fine, but it was a different story for a merchant caravan.
Especially for a large group like Neung Un-bi's, camping would require operating three or four wagons just for the supplies, and the transportation costs were not insignificant.
Thus, most caravans used these Swallow's Nests.
Although the main roads were established, the land was so vast that the distance between towns was considerable.
Visitors to the Swallow's Nests would rest for a while, eat a meal, or feed their hungry horses.
When dusk fell, as it was now, they could also seek sleep in the lodgings provided at the Swallow's Nest.
The cost of staying was not small, but considering the transport costs and the need to recover stamina for the next day's travel, it wasn't a losing deal.
“Hah!”
As Neung Un-bi and Wang Cheon approached faster than the rest of the group, the guards at the entrance of the Swallow's Nest ran out in surprise.
*Because they approached too quickly?*
*Unlikely. It was because of the flag.*
The symbol of the Demonic Path hanging next to the Nakmyeong Merchant Caravan's flag: the Sun and Moon Banner.
There was no way someone living in Gansu, which bordered the Demonic Cult's territory, wouldn't recognize it, and no way they wouldn't be shocked.
A Swallow's Nest was a place that didn't discriminate among its guests, welcoming caravans, travelers, Orthodox Faction members, and Unorthodox Faction members alike, but this was likely the first time the Demonic Path had shown up so openly.
*I told him not to hang the flag.*
*He insisted it was fine now that the Orthodox Murim Alliance had acknowledged us...*
“H-Halt!”
“...”
At the martial artist's shout, his face filled with alarm and vigilance, Neung Un-bi pulled on his reins and came to a stop.
*Hee-hee-hing!*
The horse, which had reared up on its hind legs, stopped right in front of the man's nose.
“W-Who are you?”
He had already seen the flag, but he asked just in case. Wang Cheon, who had followed close behind, answered.
“This is the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult. Open the way at once!”
“D-Demonic Cult?!”
The martial artist's face twisted in horror. He abruptly gave a signal, and soon, men with drawn swords poured out from all directions.
“What? Why are they suddenly pointing their swords at us?”
Seeing the martial artists draw their swords and aim, Wang Cheon's eyebrows shot up in anger as he glared.
*...It's your fault. Because you insisted on hanging the flag, because you announced we were from the Demonic Cult.*
“Wang Cheon.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Why the temper?”
“Well, these bastards are shoving their swords in our faces without reason.”
“Aigoo... It's only natural.”
“Pardon?”
*Honestly, I wonder why this guy even has a head on his shoulders.*
Neung Un-bi shook his head, dismounted, and approached the martial artists.
Their surprise was understandable.
The agreement to establish Demonic Cult branches was a pact made between those at the very top; it hadn't been publicly announced throughout the Central Plains yet.
In such a situation, who wouldn't be shocked to hear someone announce they were from the Demonic Cult?
And the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult, no less. Even if his identity was unconfirmed and just a claim, to the guards of the Swallow's Nest, it was no different from a monster suddenly appearing out of thin air.
The only place in the Central Plains where the Demonic Cult was treated as human was in some parts of northern Gansu. The majority of the Central Plains likely still saw them as three-headed, six-armed monsters.
That's why Neung Un-bi spoke as gently as he could, a smile on his face.
“As introduced, I am Neung Un-bi, the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult. We are merely stopping by on our way to Shaanxi, so please calm down and sheathe your swords.”
“...”
He tried to calm them with a polite tone, but the martial artists only exchanged glances, showing no intention of sheathing their swords.
“Hah, this is... How should I explain this?”
After a moment of thought, Neung Un-bi seemed to have an idea and spoke again.
“Please call the owner of this place.”
“T-The owner?”
“That's right. Wouldn't it be faster for a superior to handle this?”
“...”
As he spoke with a smile, the martial artist nodded and hurriedly sent someone inside.
A short while later, a man who appeared to be the owner came rushing out.
“A-Are you the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult?”
“I am.”
“I am Seong Il-guk, the owner of the Imtaek Swallow's Nest.”
“A pleasure. I am Neung Un-bi.”
“But the Demonic Cult... why are you here?”
His eyes were filled with a potent mix of suspicion, wariness, and fear. The owner, too, seemed to have heard nothing.
It seemed that not only had no word come down from above, but even passing travelers hadn't carried any rumors.
“There's no need to be so surprised. We have recently made an agreement with the Orthodox Murim Alliance, so travel to and from the Central Plains is now unrestricted.”
“What? I haven't heard anything about that...”
The owner's face was a mask of perplexity as he shook his head.
It was understandable. The appearance of the Demonic Cult alone was enough to cause a panic, and when they entered the territory of the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, a fight was inevitable.
And the innkeeper would be the one to bear the full brunt of the damages.
“Look here, owner.”
“Yes?”
“Then please confirm it.”
“Confirm it?”
“As I understand it, Swallow's Nests keep contact information for the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions to prepare for potential threats, do they not?”
“W-We do, but... it would take at least half a day to get a response.”
“Half a day?”
“Yes.”
*Half a day? Why the hell would it take so long for a carrier pigeon to go back and forth?*
“W-Will you wait?”
“Hmm...”
The innkeeper's face was on the verge of tears.
He was scared, but he also didn't want to accept Neung Un-bi's group.
If he let the Demonic Cult in and a fight broke out, wouldn't it be a disaster?
In the end, they would be the ones to suffer the most.
“You fool! Are you saying the Third Young Master must wait on this roadside for half a day!”
“N-No, that's not it... I also have my position to consider...”
Unable to hold back any longer, Wang Cheon roared, causing the innkeeper and his men to flinch and take a step back.
To them, that was how the Demonic Cult was treated.
A feared existence, regardless of their skill level. An existence they wanted no part of.
It was a prejudice the Demonic Cult had built over the years. Who was there to blame?
“What is this commotion?”
“Huh? Isn't that the flag of the Demonic Cult!”
“The D-Demonic Cult?”
The commotion outside drew out the guests staying at the Swallow's Nest one by one. As soon as they saw the flag, they began to murmur and then abruptly joined the standoff.
*Sigh, really...*
He once again regretted not stopping Wang Cheon from hanging the flag.
It was an unnecessary nuisance, a source of conflict.
*And they haven't even done anything yet.*
“Hah, I suppose it can't be helped. A fight is going to break out at this rate.”
“...So what if we fight! They're the ones picking a fight first.”
“...”
*This guy is nothing but belligerent.*
*And if we fight? Do you think the Orthodox Murim Alliance will just stand by?*
At Wang Cheon's words, Neung Un-bi sighed as if he were pathetic and looked at Ohdeung.
“Merchant Leader. Why don't we just camp nearby?”
“What? Camp?”
“The sun is already setting. We can't possibly wait until they finish their confirmation, can we? It will be well past midnight.”
Hearing Neung Un-bi, Merchant Leader Ohdeung couldn't hide his troubled expression.
“But to ignore a Swallow's Nest...”
“Why?”
“No, we'll be fine, but you, Third Young Master... our camping preparations are not very good.”
“Is that all? I'm fine. I'm used to camping outdoors.”
“What? You are, Third Young Master?”
“That's right. So let's not cause any unnecessary trouble and withdraw.”
As Neung Un-bi was persuading Ohdeung, a powerful shout came from the distance.
“Over there! What's going on?”
“...?”
The heads of those standing in a standoff on both sides turned in one direction.
A man was running from the direction Neung Un-bi's group had come from. With his Daoist robes fluttering, he closed three yards with every step.
Anyone could see he was a martial artist, and a very skilled Daoist at that.
*Of all the people...*
*My luck has to be bad, but does it have to be this bad?*
The situation was already bad enough, but why did a Daoist, the polar opposite of the Demonic Cult, have to appear?
And judging by the distinct plum blossom pattern on his sleeve, he seemed to belong to Mount Hua.
*Son of a bitch...*
Suddenly, he felt he could understand the heart of his master, Dam Un-cheon, who hated even the brush of a Daoist's robe.