Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Illusory and Real (2)
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Shaolin Temple's Xilai Hall.
The place where Shaolin's young disciples trained and lodged had already fully transformed into the Beggars' Sect's base, as the Sect Leader Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar and his high-ranking officers had relocated en masse to aid Shaolin Temple.
Lounging obliquely and flipping through the mountain of reports like dust, Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar fixed his gaze on the one in his hand and asked.
"They passed through the Three Gates Gorge and reached Xin'an? Already?"
"Yes. Their movement speed is faster than expected."
Hwe So, sorting reports flying in from all directions a short distance from Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar, replied with a face weary from exhaustion.
"We told the Shaolin side it would take at least ten days during the day, but Xin'an is much faster than that."
"Fastest six days, latest seven, and they'll arrive."
A heavy groan escaped Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar's lips at Hwe So's firm assertion.
"No one moving separately?"
"None. However, their scouts are active in great numbers. We're eliminating them on sight, but in turn, many of our own disciples are falling."
Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar bit his lip, his face full of regret at the sacrifice of his disciples.
"We can't let them slip away, no matter what schemes they might pull. Especially, we must uncover any links with the North Sea Ice Palace. We need to track even the movement of a single ant."
"Hoo! Understood."
Hwe So replied, vigorously ruffling his hair from which dandruff was dropping in clumps.
Bang!
The door to Xilai Hall burst open noisily, and dozens of eyes turned simultaneously in that direction.
"What is it?"
Hwe So shot an angry glare at the man who had kicked the door open, confirming he was his junior brother Cheok Bong, and asked.
"Big trouble, senior brother."
Cheok Bong rushed in with a face pale as death.
Unlike his usual laid-back demeanor that strained his clothes, Cheok Bong's actions made not only Hwe So but even the reclining Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar sit up straight.
"Speak. What happened?"
"The North Sea Ice Palace bastards have vanished."
"What nonsense is that? The North Sea Ice Palace vanished? We just got a report saying no unusual activity."
"But it wasn't true."
Hwe So handed over a crumpled letter.
"It just flew in from the youngest."
Hwe So snatched the letter and read it quickly.
"My god!"
Hwe So clutched his head, his expression no different from Cheok Bong's.
Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar snatched the letter from Hwe So's hand and read it, his face hardening rigidly.
"You idiots! What the hell have you been doing until things reached this point?!"
"It seems they've perfectly deceived our eyes and diverted their forces over more than a day or two."
"Even so! How could you miss over a hundred men disappearing?!"
Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar's roar shook the roof of Xilai Hall.
"It seems gaps opened up as those who attacked Shaanxi kept joining them."
"Even so, at least a hundred. That means possibly even more forces have vanished. Ha!"
Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar shook his head with a long sigh. After a long moment of grim expression, he asked Hwe So.
"What do you think their goal is?"
"I don't know. The most likely is..."
"Most likely?"
"They might have gone toward Shandong."
"Yes. This master thinks so too. With Haomen smashed, the Blood Cult bastards are in a bind. They're probably moving to aid the Blood Cult. That's the highest possibility."
"We can't rule out the chance it's not."
Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar nodded heavily at Cheok Bong's words.
"You're right. We must consider all possibilities. Hwe So."
"Yes, master."
"Mobilize every available man to track their whereabouts. We must find them. And as quickly as possible."
"Understood."
"Inform the Shandong Yin Clan of this too. High chance the vanished ones headed there."
"Yes."
Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar sprang to his feet.
"This master needs to meet the Abbot."
Thirty li northwest of the Shandong Yin Clan's base in southern Shandong, Fengyun County.
As darkness fell over Fengyun County, people began arriving one after another.
Porters with bundles, merchants, scholars with attendants, hunters, travelers—they came in twos and threes, a diverse group.
Arriving in Fengyun County at appropriate intervals, they checked into the largest inn, the Baijia Inn.
Around midnight, people moved stealthily toward the largest guest room on the third floor of the Baijia Inn.
"Seems everyone's who was coming has arrived."
The elderly man occupying the large room alone, North Sea Ice Palace's Grand Elder Mo Gong Jeong, said as he glanced left and right.
"Yes."
Buk Ri Do bowed politely in response.
"How many have arrived so far?"
"Exactly forty."
Mo Gong Jeong's brow furrowed slightly.
"Isn't that too few? Did something happen en route?"
"No. They're just scattered, and it took time moving while evading the Beggars' Sect's eyes."
"The departures were staggered from the start, so it's unavoidable."
Mo Gong Jeong snorted at Elder Buk Ri Song's words.
"So leisurely. Different departure times is just an excuse. They should arrive precisely on time when the moment comes."
"Don't be too harsh. With the Beggars' Sect and enemies everywhere watching our every move like hawks, they're late from being cautious not to get caught."
"That's right, Uncle... Uncle."
Buk Ri Do, gauging Mo Gong Jeong's mood, quickly changed his address and continued.
"At latest, all will arrive by tomorrow."
"Here?"
"Didn't I mention before? Scattered around Fengyun County and nearby areas, they'll assemble at Golden Pine Forest, then strike the Shandong Yin Clan right away."
"Ah, right. This old man must be getting senile. Keeps forgetting."
Unlike his sighing head-shake, Mo Gong Jeong's eyes were crystal clear.
"Attack at night once they arrive tomorrow."
"That's the concern. Honestly, getting here wasn't easy. Physical fatigue aside, everyone's mentally worn out a bit."
"Tsk tsk, after moving how much? So frail!"
Mo Gong Jeong clicked his tongue with a displeased face.
"It's different from our time. Back then, we fought right after days of nonstop travel day and night, but kids these days can't."
As Buk Ri Song chuckled in agreement, Mo Gong Jeong raised his voice.
"Exactly! These youngsters lack fighting spirit, fighting spirit."
"What can we do? The planners say it's tough, so we should go along with what they want."
Receiving Buk Ri Song's glance, Buk Ri Do quickly spoke up.
"Moving at night is too risky; better at dawn the next day. If we speed up a bit, it's generously within one shichen to arrive. We can hit them just as they're starting to wake."
"Got it. We'll do that. But have you grasped the Shandong Yin Clan's situation?"
"No major changes from when we departed."
"Good. Then no problem. Anyway, in a few days, we'll know. Why the Blood Cult begged our palace so desperately."
No sooner had Mo Gong Jeong finished than Buk Ri Song and Buk Ri Do chimed in one after another.
"It's the Orthodox Heaven Alliance."
"To eliminate the Sword Empress."
When the Blood Cult sent an unimaginable sum to request an attack on the Shandong Yin Clan, the North Sea Ice Palace buzzed with speculation on their intent.
Many opinions floated, but the prevailing one was to divert attention to the Shandong Yin Clan—and by extension, Shandong's martial world—to target the Orthodox Heaven Alliance or the Sword Empress.
"The Sword Empress, yes."
Mo Gong Jeong agreed with Buk Ri Do's view.
"Little brother, I'm dying."
Cheol Woo stretched as he sat, then looked disappointed at the food on the table.
"What, that's all? Who're they trying to feed this to?"
"It's too late. Be grateful you can eat anything."
So Su Rin picked up thin noodles soaked in broth and continued.
"Still, it's too skimpy."
"Tastes good though. Especially the broth."
Noe Jeon, who had emptied a bowl in the blink of an eye, said with a burp.
"Liquor's good too. Top-notch stuff."
Man Chu shook the bottle and laughed.
"Really?"
Only then did Cheol Woo brighten, holding out a large bowl instead of his cup.
Man Chu tilted the bottle, and amber liquid poured out.
Admiration burst from Cheol Woo's mouth at the fragrance filling the room.
"Heh heh! Killer aroma."
"Tastes even better."
Another exclamation escaped as Cheol Woo drained the bowl in one go.
"Kya, good stuff."
"Right?"
"Yeah. Never dreamed of booze this good in a backwater like this."
Cheol Woo held out the bowl again and grabbed half-burnt stir-fried meat.
"More."
So Su Rin smacked the back of Cheol Woo's hand with chopsticks, but he ignored it like it was wind past his ears.
"You eat too. Don't just cater to that guy."
So Su Rin spoke to Gwa Yu, who was tossing uncooked meat lumps to Black Wolf. The lumps were mostly fat and not great quality, but Black Wolf devoured them greedily.
"Man Chu."
Sima Geon called Man Chu, who was exchanging drinks nonstop with Cheol Woo.
"Yes, brother."
"Roughly where are we?"
"Northern Jiangsu Province."
"How long to Shandong?"
"About two days, I figure. Hold on."
Man Chu rummaged in his bundle and pulled out a worn map.
"We're about here. Left about a hundred li is the Orthodox Heaven Alliance."
"Close. How long since Neung Sojeo and Sword Pavilion left the Orthodox Heaven Alliance?"
"Heard about five days."
"Ugh, we rushed like mad, and still five days behind?"
Cheol Woo mumbled through his snack.
Man Chu gave him a look of disbelief.
"Five days is nothing. Consider the distance we covered. We narrowed it this much by traveling nonstop."
"No special Blood Cult movements?"
Sima Geon asked.
"No notable changes yet. Hard to say though. Too many variables; might've missed something."
"You warned them?"
"Yes. Based on intel from ransacking Haomen, warned clearly that Blood Cult's targeting Sword Empress and Sword Pavilion. Confirmed multiple times."
"Good work."
"But do they know which way Neung Sojeo headed after leaving?"
So Su Rin asked.
"Not well after leaving Orthodox Heaven Alliance. Beggars' Sect focused intel on Shaolin area, less on Shandong. Shandong has its own martial world centered on Yin Clan and Orthodox Heaven Alliance anyway."
"Doesn't matter otherwise."
Sima Geon gripped Man Chu's arm firmly.
"Just make sure to track Neung Sojeo and Sword Pavilion's whereabouts. Ask upstairs for me. I'll repay the debt."
"Got it. Given the situation, no big issue. The higher-ups don't take ties with you brothers lightly."
"Thanks."
Sima Geon nodded, releasing Man Chu's arm.
"Don't worry too much, have a drink. She's not one to go down easy anywhere."
Sima Geon silently took the drink Cheol Woo poured, his face full of worry. Cheol Woo's expression wasn't great either, thinking of someone.