Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Shaolin's Reckoning
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"Ugh..."
A staggering body retreating. Entrails spilled from the split belly.
"Uwaaaack!!!"
Something black and murky burst from Akbi's mouth. Black chunks crushed by meticulously honed Formless Hard Qi.
I stared blankly at the wriggling living thing crawling on the ground. The Heavenly Tribulation within me issued a warning.
That thing... a fragment of Heavenly Tribulation inside Akbi.
But its color seemed off somehow. Come to think of it... Akbi's regenerative power had always felt like it couldn't quite keep up with mine.
I stomped it flat. A half-baked Heavenly Tribulation fragment that hadn't even fully absorbed into the body.
The First Demon's words came to mind. That in the world, only she, the Heavenly Demon, and I possessed a complete Heavenly Tribulation.
So this was...
A half-fragment from one of the others?
They'd stolen the wrong one. I said nothing more. I simply pressed my sword to Akbi's throat.
With the Heavenly Tribulation gone, regeneration had completely halted. Blood endlessly seeped from the pierced chest.
"You... you are..."
"Where are the other two?"
"You... fucking bastard..."
Akbi spat up blood and laughed.
"Fuck... off..."
His unfocused gaze hit the floor.
The spilled blood scattered. I shook it off my sword.
I wanted to hear the rest of the story... but he wasn't someone I could afford to spare.
This would have to suffice.
I reached out my hand. Insights gained from the battle with Akbi had seeped into every part of my body.
A light epiphany. A valuable experience that solidified my Formless Hard Qi and made my internal energy usage even more refined.
It felt like both body and mind had grown stronger from a proper real battle. And moreover, the Salt Blood Division...
The sixth form of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art felt fully settled after dancing on the edge of life and death.
There seemed to be other gains as well, but I'd have to examine them later. I turned my head.
Just then, amid the quaking ground, Emptiness's Sword Heart pierced the enemy.
"Namu Amida Butsu..."
The corpse crumbled. With that, Emptiness immediately turned his steps.
"Red Cloud! Lend me a hand!"
I hurried over. Suryeon lay amid the corpses.
Her body was torn to shreds. Blood bubbled from her mouth as if she'd suffered severe internal injuries.
"She... she helped me. Thanks to her, I won. But this is..."
"Wounds torn by Sword Heart."
I'd experienced it before. The power that could crush those who hadn't reached the realm, even from the aftermath alone.
I scooped Suryeon into my arms. She lifted her gaze to me.
Her twitching hand reached up and grabbed me.
"...I've... finished... what I had to do..."
"...Suryeon."
"Thank you... Red Cloud... thanks to you... still..."
"No need for last words."
I slipped my hand into my robes.
I pulled out the spirit pill from Kunlun.
Xiao Xian Pill.
A recovery-specialized elixir verified by Kunlun's elders.
I placed it in her mouth, but she couldn't chew it properly. I took it back out, chewed and crushed it myself.
Then I immediately pressed my lips to Suryeon's.
"......!"
Suryeon's eyes widened.
Mouth to mouth.
After passing all the crushed pill fragments, I placed my hand on her back. I deliberately guided my energy to spread the effects evenly, aiding her recovery.
Emptiness gasped.
"What in the world...?! Effects visible to the naked eye...! Where on earth did you get such a treasure?!"
"From Kunlun. They called it the Xiao Xian Pill."
"Kunlun's Xiao Xian Pill! Its value is inestimable, impossible to buy with money...!"
Suryeon, struggling to circulate her energy, turned to look at me.
"That... precious thing... why give it to a girl like me..."
"No special reason. I just saved it for the right moment."
Her condition was improving.
The immediate crisis was averted. I let out a sigh of relief.
"Saving a comrade's life with a mere Small Immortal Pill is more than enough."
"......."
Suryeon immediately began meditating. It seemed pointless to guide more energy, so I turned back.
Corpse Mountain Blood Sea. In the end, all the enemies here were dead.
Shaolin's two pillars, the Scripture Pavilion Lord and Arhat Hall Master, of course...
And renowned masters like the Four Great Vajras and Eighteen Arhats were all dead too.
"...This matter."
Emptiness spoke up.
"I'll take responsibility for it."
"...Venerable One. I have a request."
"A request, eh. I think I know what it is. Before I answer, one question."
Emptiness smiled weakly.
"I'm out of strength now. All stamina depleted, on the verge of collapse. I've poured endlessly, and poison accumulates within. But you still have energy left. Now would be the perfect time to kill me."
"......"
"Will you kill me?"
"I have no intention of staining my hands with innocent blood."
"Innocent... I've committed too many sins for that. Namu Amida Butsu..."
Emptiness stood beside me.
"Are you with the Demonic Cult?"
"Yes."
"...What did you come for?"
He'd already heard everything, so no point hiding it.
I just trusted his cooperation.
"Among the spies who betrayed our cult, three committed inhuman atrocities."
"...Who are they?"
"The Akbi we just killed is one. He turned people like Baek Daedae into living corpses and took them away."
"What did the other two do?"
"One killed civilians who couldn't wield swords and toyed with their corpses. The other slaughtered countless people to grow his power."
"...Utter villains. I believe you. So, what will you do once it's all over?"
"Return to the cult. My goal is solely those three. That's all-hunting beasts unworthy of being called human."
"Then why fight so hard in this affair?"
"......"
I looked down at the crushed corpses.
I recalled the atrocities they'd committed.
"...I had orders too, but before that, everything they did here was wrong. Killing innocents and profiting from it..."
I confirmed with my own eyes that the hole-ridden Blood Wind Robes were regenerating.
What Sima Ak gave me was truly a treasure. If only the world were full of people like him, but it wasn't.
"My sword drew itself. That's all."
"...You walk the righteous path. You understand justice. I feel ashamed for assuming you were Demonic Cult remnants."
Emptiness wiped his face.
"Don't worry. Having received your grace, I won't speak of your story outside. I'll keep it alone for life. But if lies slip into your actions... I'll step in myself then. Any objections?"
"None. If it ever happens, stop me. That's what I want too."
"...Refreshing. Red Cloud. Step back. I need to clean up. Your sword marks are too distinct..."
The Venerable One raised his hand.
Sword Heart roiled in all directions.
"I'll turn the area inside out once. This is my pure goodwill-don't refuse."
Inside Repentance Cave. The terrain filled with rocky mountains.
A massive palm strike crashed down upon it.
. . .
The twisted formation of Repentance Cave.
Geum Pyeong and Myo Cho-a, unable to advance beyond it, spotted two figures emerging belatedly.
Emptiness, the Heavenly Fragrance Monk, one of the Four Venerables, and...
Bloody Red Cloud.
"What...?!"
"What happened inside?!"
Emptiness stared at them impassively.
"...You're part of the inspection squad too, yet so slow."
"......."
"Step aside."
"At least explain..."
"Now."
The heavens and earth shook. Just the pressure of his aura made Geum Pyeong and Myo Cho-a tremble.
"You dare block my path?"
"Th-that's...!"
Different.
Unlike the rumors of him as a symbol of gentleness. Too different.
What the hell happened inside...?!
The Venerable One strode forward. Myo Cho-a struggled to her feet and grabbed Red Cloud's robe.
"W-wait! Red Cloud! Just a moment...!"
"Back off! How dare you touch a patient!"
The overwhelming pressure made Myo Cho-a vomit blood. Unable to endure, Geum Pyeong dropped to one knee.
Internal injuries from pressure alone. Amid it, the Venerable One raised his hand.
"Go wait in Henan Province. Shaolin's stance will be announced after things are sorted."
"Th-then Red Cloud..."
"Shaolin will look after him. He's no less than the greatest contributor here..."
Emptiness moved. His tattered robes fluttered.
"Shaolin will remember the Murim Alliance's Surveillance Division as benefactors."
"......!"
Emptiness.
The word "benefactor" directly from one of the Four Venerables.
Myo Cho-a watched his receding back.
She couldn't know exactly what happened... but one thing was clear.
He'd resolved it. Without dying-in fact, carried on Emptiness's back.
What kind of sorcery was this...?!
. . .
Shaolin announced its stance. They sorted the tale of the rotten Scripture Pavilion Lord, Arhat Hall Master, and others, with the Venerable One himself putting the final period.
The Eighteen Arhats and Four Vajras who lusted for power and wealth, targeting him-he'd personally subdued them. Some questioned it, but they all fell silent.
One of the Four Venerables.
"Venerable One" was no light title.
With minimal treatment for his wounds, the Venerable One personally handled the businesses first. Near-dictatorial actions drove many from Shaolin, collapsing the wealth and glory overnight.
Desolation hung over the depopulated Shaolin. But not everyone left.
Monks who truly wished to leave the secular world and cultivate stayed. They agreed with dissolving the businesses and tidied the empty spots one by one.
Shaolin's forces shrank dramatically. It meant one thing.
With the massive sect backing the businesses collapsing, unorthodox sects stirred in the shadows. Henan and Shaolin territories grew chaotic, other sects slinking in.
"...Much to do."
"What will you do with it all?"
"Handle the aftermath first. Aid those who lost families, help vagrants find work-that's priority. I released all businesses, but who knows what evils might arise... must stamp them out too."
Emptiness rolled his shoulders.
"No time to fully detox even. Once done, must seal the gates... until then, I'll run around myself."
"Seal the gates?"
"Shaolin suffered irreparable losses. History built up crumbled, topped with dishonor. Time for introspection. At least a few years with doors closed. While I'm abbot... focus inward."
"......."
"Separately, the name 'Emptiness' is yours. The grace you gave is immeasurable. I'll aid you where it doesn't violate justice. Come anytime. Shaolin's benefactor."
"Thank you."
"Thanks from me, not you. Anyway..."
Emptiness lowered his voice.
"You're my publicly announced benefactor now. I said the inspector saved me from peril, so eyes will focus on you. Can you fully hide your skills amid that?"
"I even fooled the Murim Alliance Leader. No issue."
"...The more I see, the more versatile you are. Terrifying. And... I separately recovered the corpse you mentioned. What to do with it?"
"I said leave traces where all can see, so none like him arise again. Plan to follow that."
"Meaning...?"
"Plant it in the marketplace of Anui Province, where the Murim Alliance is."
"...Won't ask for mercy. He outraged even my master's corpse-heaven-defying villain. But given the timing, with Shaolin's mess, won't you be fingered as culprit?"
"Hanging the corpse in Anui is for the distant future. When I catch and kill all sinners, end of mission-then stake them all at once in Anui. Until then... store the bodies separately. Can't afford mission hiccups."
"Storage place?"
"Originally planned to prepare one, but..."
I glanced around the room.
"Suryeon offered to help."
"...Her condition?"
"Much better. Good thing I gave emergency aid in time."
"Tell me if you need anything. And separately..."
The Venerable One stared at me impassively.
"You gained much from that fight... Seems I can help a bit. What say you?"
"...Pardon?"
"Experiencing various martial arts changes things. Especially for you now."
Emptiness stood.
"Undigested insights wriggling inside, no? I'll straighten your vague enlightenment personally. It'll surely help."