Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Double Agent
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Before getting to work with Gu Ok-gyeong, I heard from Suryeon about what had happened while I was gone.
"I've been waiting. Nearby. But along with the news of the Heavenly Dragon Society's crushing defeat, the Fourth Demon General officially announced it. All the Heavenly Dragon Society's warriors had been wiped out..."
Unable to finish her sentence, Suryeon threw herself into my arms.
"...and you as well, in the midst of it all..."
"I died."
".......? Then who is this in front of me?"
"A warrior who died and came back."
I set the Nine Nether Staff down in front of me. As I explained what had happened, Suryeon narrowed her eyes.
"Is that... even possible? Just what is this Heavenly Tribulation...?"
"I'm puzzled too, but..."
I stroked the Nine Nether Staff.
"Either way, it's undeniably the one who saved my life."
"...Then it's my benefactor too."
"How have you been holding up all this time, Suryeon?"
Suryeon rested the back of her head against my chest with a thud.
"...First, I parted ways with the group. There was no reason to stay with them without you."
"......."
"After that, I tried to rebuild the Killer Gate. It was the only thing I knew how to do. Luckily, it wasn't too hard. I was a rare master, and the kids under me were the same. I expanded the branches bit by bit and recruited new assassins. I made a bit of a name for myself. As the new Killer Gate Leader. But..."
Suryeon reached out her hand.
She gripped at the empty air.
"It felt hollow. Like there was a hole punched through my chest. Red Cloud. Do you remember what I told you? About the time after we parted ways and I wandered around. There was an even bigger hole in my heart than back then. Before, I had a place to return to after wandering, but that time, even that was gone."
"......."
"To fill that emptiness, I had no choice but to do something else. Isn't it funny? Only realizing how precious something was after losing it. So... I moved in my own way. Tormenting the Fourth Demon General who killed you. Of course, killing her outright would be impossible, but..."
Suryeon whispered.
"As long as I'm alive, I planned to keep tormenting her. It was emotional, not like me at all. But I wanted to do it anyway. Because it was what I truly desired."
I stroked her white hair. Suryeon, who had been quietly accepting it, asked me in turn.
"Aren't you going to ask about the others?"
"I thought your story was the most important first."
"...That's a nice consideration. But you're curious anyway, so I'll tell you. First... the people from the cult. They all went back. I looked into it separately because I was worried about Su-ah, and confirmed they all crossed the Divine River safely. They're probably at the cult now."
"I see. Then the rest..."
"Gu Hwa-rin, including your disciples, didn't return to Mount Hua. Instead... they formed their own group within the Murim Alliance."
"What?"
Suryeon spread her hand open.
"Everyone already knows that the Murim Alliance's is disgustingly lacking in justice. Anyone with eyes and ears couldn't miss it. Including not sending support warriors to the Heavenly Dragon Society, all the buried scandals are bursting out, sparking a war inside. The old Murim Alliance faction led by the current Alliance Leader... and the new faction led by the Alliance elders and Danri Jin-su. Ironically, even as the current Murim Alliance is at war, it's fighting a separate war internally."
"......"
"With things so chaotic, some young warriors stepped up against the old fogeys' power struggles. Saying we need to escape this rotten power fight and truly swing our swords for justice."
"No way..."
"Nine Deaths Society. A new group of young experts rising with the meaning of standing once more even after dying nine times. And the one leading it is Gu Hwa-rin."
I stared at the hand Suryeon had opened. She clenched it tight.
"But she didn't gather those people."
".......?"
"You did. Red Cloud."
"What?"
"Your actions. They brought the Nine Deaths Society together. Gu Hwa-rin might be the leader now, but you're the focal point."
She unfurled her fingers one by one.
"Clearing the shadows from the Qingcheng Sect."
"...That wasn't such a big deal."
"Exposing the Tang family's corruption."
"It just happened..."
"Removing the evil from Shaolin."
"That was my mission..."
"You even healed Mount Hua's sect leader."
"Hwa-rin did all that."
"Helping countless people on the way to the Heavenly Dragon Society."
"......."
"Essentially succeeding in conquering the mountain fortress alone."
"That... is way too exaggerated..."
"And finally, in place of all the Murim Alliance warriors who didn't come, you shared the Heavenly Dragon Society's fate."
Suryeon looked up at me sharply.
"I saw it all. Going to deny it?"
"...Hmm."
Individually, none seemed that impressive, but lined up like this...
It felt embarrassing somehow.
I scratched my neck awkwardly.
"So what exactly is this Nine Deaths Society doing?"
"Helping the outcasts and protecting those trying to escape power struggles under the Nine Deaths Society's name. You could call it a third force."
"Sounds like a good group."
"The intent is good. But look closer, and it's not that impressive. With young masters at the center, they get swept up in emotions often, and the group's size is tiny. Plus, neither of the split Murim Alliance factions looks kindly on them... so they're isolated."
"......"
"Above all, since Gu Hwa-rin is aiming to purge the Murim Alliance... they have no choice but to clash."
"...What's that supposed to mean..."
Suryeon looked up at me.
She tossed the question at me bluntly.
"Red Cloud."
"Yes?"
"Why did you tell us to go back then?"
"......"
Well...
I had known it deep down.
That this time, no matter what, we couldn't overcome it.
I held my tongue. Suryeon pressed on my cheek.
She let out a rare sigh.
"...Everyone felt it. We could have fought. We could have shared your fate there. But we chose to go anyway. Like always with you... we foolishly thought you'd handle it somehow."
"......."
"Our half-hearted actions led to half-hearted results. We lived, you died. Even though we could have fought together, one word to leave pushed us all away to survive. Too late for regrets. We could have at least died together, but we didn't even manage that. And steeling ourselves for death afterward felt like we had no face to show you. So we survived pushed out like that... Outwardly fine, but inside, we were all rotting."
Suryeon spun around.
She hugged me.
"In Gu Hwa-rin's case... she needed someone to hate, it seems. The Murim Alliance that didn't send support warriors, and the Alliance Leader who sent you to die at the Heavenly Dragon Society from the start. So... she founded the group to take down the current Alliance Leader."
"......."
"It's not just Gu Hwa-rin. Your absence was too big. Bigger than we thought... Everyone's faces from that last sight were all distorted. Like they'd crossed a river of no return."
Suryeon rubbed her face against my body.
"I thought the same. I wanted to die. Life had no meaning."
"What am I supposed to do if you think of dying without me..."
"So don't leave. If you don't want me to die. Don't go back on the initiation talk later, saying it never happened. If you don't want to see me sleeping on your roof forever."
I sorted out the current situation. Once we take down the target...
Next, visiting the Nine Deaths Society would be timely. If her rampage continues, the Murim Alliance might move against her.
She's an acquaintance, someone I care about...
I can't just leave her be and depart. Helping her is the right call.
As I pondered, the door rattled open. Gu Ok-gyeong strode in and scowled fiercely.
"You pedo or what? Only into kids?"
"...Ok-gyeong. Watch your mouth."
"The Fourth Demon General's known for her rough talk, but this is worse than a sewer."
"Oh yeah? Wanna go? No mercy even if you're a friend's friend?"
"Didn't you need me, young lady?"
"...Tch. This brat."
"I'm an adult."
"Adult?! For real?!"
Gu Ok-gyeong jumped in surprise and trailed off, placing a hand on my body.
"Anyway, time to raise hell. Red Cloud. Windless Asura. Ready to play?"
"Exactly what do I need to do?"
"Simple. The hermit holed up in the mountains draws attention full force. By killing those inhuman trash. We have guys under the Fourth Demon General handling one axis. Guess who?"
I shook my head.
Gu Ok-gyeong grinned.
"The ones that fake Fourth Demon General handles best right now. Green Forest Seventy-Two Bandit Dens. Scared folks call 'em bandits like it's glorious... but they're just retarded mountain thieves. Bragging about leeching off others. Fooling fellow warriors is whatever. But those bastards are vicious-only raiding unarmed civilians. Hell, making captives into slaves is daily routine."
"...And you've overlooked that? Until now?"
"The elders back 'em. Tried to deal with it, but the underlings bitched so much we gave up and shipped 'em far away. So this time, just wipe 'em all out. With the Black Forest Hall mess too, nothing's off limits now. Might as well clean out all the thorns in my side to grab power easier. Meaning I'm using you."
"Isn't it weird saying 'using' right in front of the person?"
"Mutual using-that's friendship, right? They're pure scum anyway, no guilty conscience. Those fuckers enslave whole villages. Kids starve to death left and right, so when slaves die off, they raid nearby villages to restock."
Gu Ok-gyeong shrugged.
"See powerless people as tools. The worst even among unorthodox sects. So, yeah? Let's do it. Better than other bullshit. Iffy? Hang back. I'll play Windless Asura and strut."
"......."
"Reeeed CLOOOOUD."
Her flailing arms were childish. I nodded.
People not even human. Gotta confirm their true nature myself...
But from her words alone, they seemed deserving of death.
I didn't know what was justice or evil.
But at least one thing I knew.
The difference between humans and beasts.
"...Fine. I'll check it out and help."
"What, more checking?"
"Suryeon."
She naturally grabbed my sleeve. I realized what she meant to say.
Her injured hand wouldn't let go of my sleeve.
"...From now on, life or death together."
I'd planned to let her rest, but she clearly didn't want that.
So I nodded slightly.
"Let's travel together after so long. Like before. Can you gather info on the bandits for me?"
Suryeon smiled.
"Leave it to me."
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