Chapter 129
Chapter 129
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult
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In truth, despite its name, the demonic art's qi was pure and pristine. The problem lay solely in the cultivation process, where far too many impure energies became intermingled.
Thus, it was entirely natural for Dugun Un to misunderstand. This had nothing to do with the Golden Demon Art's level being high or low. It was merely a difference in perception.
At any rate, though hard to believe, if he'd discovered a way to escape the Golden Demon Art, he would undoubtedly exploit it somehow. That much was certain if it was the Heavenly Demon Dugun Un knew. After all, the Heavenly Demon was a man of great ambition.
"Soon enough, a storm will rage through Qinghai and Xinjiang."
That storm would surely threaten the Central Plains martial world.
Dugun Un fell into thought for a moment. Then he suddenly recalled that Jegal Lin was still at the Henan Escort Bureau.
"Ah, come to think of it, your granddaughter is still at the Henan Escort Bureau, isn't she?"
"Yes, she is. But lately, she hasn't been sending any word..."
"At least send her a letter and ask. About what the Heavenly Demon and Sword Demon might be up to when they meet."
"I shall do so."
As Jegal Jung-cheon bowed his head, Dugun Un waved him off—a signal to withdraw. Jegal Jung-cheon quietly exited the Alliance Leader's office.
Once outside, Jegal Jung-cheon frowned.
"What on earth is that girl doing?"
It had been quite some time since he'd sent a letter to Jegal Lin. Lately, marriage proposals had been flooding in. Starting with the Alliance Leader Jeong Cheon and the Victory Dragon Unit Leader, the number of people and families vying for Jegal Lin had skyrocketed.
So he'd passed the news along to her, but there had been no reply whatsoever. It was clear she wasn't thinking about it, but marriage had its proper timing.
"She needs to decide quickly before all the desirable matches slip away. Tsk, tsk."
Jegal Jung-cheon's steps quickened. At any rate, he still had to write another letter today. Though the odds of a response were slim.
"It might be faster to go see her in person. Why is she suddenly making me worry like this..."
Jegal Jung-cheon shook his head. His granddaughter seemed so changed all of a sudden, leaving him oddly unsettled. Firmly believing she couldn't possibly have someone else in mind, he quickened his pace even more.
In the deepest recesses of the Paeng Family manor in Hebei, within a serene pavilion exuding a subtle elegance amid tranquil scenery, a man quietly turned the pages of a book.
How much time passed like that? Finally, having reached the last page, the man gently set the book down on the table.
"Whew. What an extraordinary man the Heavenly Qi Master was."
The reader was Wol Yeong. The book he'd been perusing was the Formation Compendium, supposedly left behind by the Heavenly Qi Master.
Wol Yeong had already read it five times over. Yet parts still eluded full comprehension. If not for the insights gained from debating with Jegal Lin during her previous visit, which had opened new pathways, it would have been far more challenging.
"As the saying goes, 'Read a book a hundred times and its meaning will appear.' If you don't understand, just keep reading until you do."
Muttering to himself, Wol Yeong opened the book again. He intended to start from the beginning once more.
Wol Yeong lost himself in the book, reading it countless times. As he pored over it repeatedly, his eyes suddenly gleamed intensely. He'd discovered something peculiar.
"No matter how I look at it, this seems entirely unrelated to formations."
It was ingeniously woven into the book. Phrases interspersed amid the content flowed seamlessly when reading normally. But upon multiple readings, they began to evoke a persistent sense of incongruity.
Wol Yeong gathered them all. Yet even collected, their meaning remained obscure. For a time, he obsessed over them like a madman.
Days and nights cycled several times. Paeng Mi-ryeong visited dozens of times, only to be turned away at the door each instance. He wished for no interruptions—only to study the Formation Compendium. No, to unravel those phrases.
And so Wol Yeong plunged deep into the Formation Compendium.
Paeng Jin-pyeong gazed at Chwi Wol, seated before him, with eyes alight with curiosity. Since taking refuge in the Paeng Family, this was the first time Chwi Wol had voluntarily emerged from his quarters.
"You wish to contact the Martial Alliance?"
Paeng Jin-pyeong eyed Chwi Wol with genuine surprise. Chwi Wol nodded quietly.
"Yes."
"That's no great difficulty... but may I ask why?"
Paeng Jin-pyeong was intensely curious. Why on earth did Chwi Wol want to reach out to the Martial Alliance? He was an extremely reclusive man. Aside from the recent guests, he rarely met outsiders—or even people within the Paeng Family.
For such a person to suddenly seek ties with a place as prominent as the Martial Alliance was astonishing indeed.
"For the sake of the world. And I ask that this be handled in utmost secrecy."
Paeng Jin-pyeong looked puzzled but nodded readily, as it was no trouble.
"For secrecy, an ordinary Alliance member won't do. Someone like the Strategist Jegal, at least."
"I want the former Alliance Leader."
Paeng Jin-pyeong's eyes widened like saucers at Chwi Wol's words.
"The Alliance Leader? Are you serious?"
"Yes. I wish to speak with him alone."
Paeng Jin-pyeong pondered briefly. He considered whether secretly meeting the Alliance Leader was feasible.
"For now... we could invite him here under some pretext. Why don't you devise the plan?"
A faint smile graced Chwi Wol's lips as he bowed his head.
"Thank you."
"Thanks are unnecessary. We're no ordinary allies, after all. Ha ha ha!"
Paeng Jin-pyeong laughed heartily and nodded. At any rate, Chwi Wol was a vital figure in the Paeng Family. Incurring one more debt was hardly a loss. He was the man Paeng Mi-ryeong had taken an interest in. Though his legs were impaired, he was more than sufficient as a match for her—in fact, overflowing.
As Paeng Jin-pyeong's laughter subsided, Chwi Wol drew a letter from his bosom.
"This can be delivered to the Alliance Leader."
Surprise flickered in Paeng Jin-pyeong's eyes. Chwi Wol had anticipated this and prepared everything in advance. It made him covet the man anew. If he could fully bring Chwi Wol into the Paeng Family, anything seemed possible.
Paeng Jin-pyeong carefully accepted the letter and tucked it away.
"I'll deliver it to the Alliance Leader personally. Does that please you?"
Chwi Wol bowed deeply.
"I trust only in you, Family Head."
Paeng Jin-pyeong smiled warmly at the sight.
The next day, several men departed hastily from the Paeng Family toward the Martial Alliance.
"Wol Yeong wants the Moon Guardian Bow?"
A faint smile played at the Blood Demon's lips. The name suited Wol Yeong perfectly, but it was a treasure crafted by the Heavenly Qi Master—not something Wol Yeong could casually claim.
After a pause, the Blood Demon addressed Hyeol Yeong, who stood motionless before him.
"What do you think?"
Hyeol Yeong immediately bowed and replied.
"I judge it best to give it to him."
"Why?"
"Wol Yeong has lost his legs. He needs compensation like that to muster his strength. Besides, the Moon Guardian Bow isn't as impressive as one might think."
The Blood Demon nodded. As Hyeol Yeong said, the Moon Guardian Bow was somewhat disappointing for a treasure of the Heavenly Qi Master.
Compared to the Thousand Islands or Blood Shadow Sword, which were truly remarkable—the former harboring the power to command thunder qi, the latter demonic qi—the Moon Guardian Bow was merely a decent bow, nothing more.
"Wol Yeong must know the Moon Guardian Bow holds no great power. So why do you think he wants it?"
"It seems he's simply drawn to it because it's the Heavenly Qi Master's possession. Deep down, he'd prefer the Blood Shadow Sword or Thousand Islands, but he knows full well that's impossible."
The Blood Demon nodded.
"You're right. Very well, give the Moon Guardian Bow to Wol Yeong."
"As you command."
Hyeol Yeong bowed respectfully.
"By the way, what has Wol Yeong been up to lately?"
"Same as always. Since reading the Formation Compendium, his skills have advanced by leaps and bounds, it seems. The aura emanating from the Paeng Family feels ominous."
The Blood Demon nodded.
"Good. But how long does he plan to stay with the Paengs?"
Hyeol Yeong gave a wry smile.
"It'll take some time, I suspect. He was always brimming with martial talent, so it's not easy for him to regain his composure."
"Tsk, to be shaken by something like that."
The Blood Demon clicked his tongue softly, then waved Hyeol Yeong off.
"Enough. You're dismissed. And you must claim the Blood Shadow Sword for yourself soon. We can't leave the Martial Alliance as they are forever."
"Understood."
Hyeol Yeong performed a formal fist salute and vanished. The Blood Demon stared at the spot where he'd stood before turning away.
"Advanced by leaps and bounds after reading the Formation Compendium? Hard to believe."
The Blood Demon produced a booklet from his bosom—the Formation Compendium. What he'd sent to Wol Yeong was a copy; this was the original.
He too had pored over it multiple times. Yet he'd gleaned little from it. The notion that Wol Yeong had progressed from such a book was difficult to accept.
"Could he surpass even me?"
The Blood Demon shook his head immediately. To surpass him would mean surpassing the Heavenly Qi Master himself. No one who advanced from reading that man's book could outshine him.
"Then what is it? I can't fathom the reason..."
Shaking his head, the Blood Demon rose from his seat. No need to dwell on it now. After all, he could do as he wished these days—things impossible before.
"Now, everything is mine."