Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Double Agent
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Night had deepened. Taking advantage of the darkened streets, I slipped out of Akmin.
As soon as the sunlight vanished, the streets were filled with the sounds of clashing blades. Shouts from people that couldn't be heard during the day.
What the sword tips carried was greed. Mixed in was the suspicion that the other side might have secured the Ghost Company of Black Night's whereabouts.
"Where do you think you're sneaking off to at this late hour?!"
"You mad bastard...!"
Once greed got tangled up, people's eyes went blind.
And that soon applied to me as well.
"Empty out everything in your bosom."
Four men blocking my path. I clenched my fist with a creak.
"Get out of the way."
"Beat him!"
In preparation for any possibilities, I channeled my full power into my hand.
Having witnessed the vicious techniques of the Dark Hand Ghost Division, I no longer took any enemies within the cult lightly.
In one go.
Completely, entirely.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
Third Form.
Overpowering Demon Path.
The blood shadow enveloping my body swallowed the entire area. In an instant, I charged through the frozen warriors.
My reinforced body burned hot as if on fire. The movement technique I unleashed drew something closer to fist strength than mere aura.
---Craaaack!!!
With the clear bursting sounds, three thugs contorted. Shoulders and legs. Arms and abdomen-I pulverized them without missing a spot.
"Gaaaaah!!!!"
"Wh-what the...?!"
The things that had been scattering feeble sword energy flopped to the ground. I pointed at the sole remaining man I hadn't touched.
"Clean this up."
"Yes! Thank you for sparing me!"
Ambushers struck several more times after that. Choosing a time when no fiends would be around to avoid drawing attention had backfired instead.
But fortunately, none of them managed to grab hold of my ankle for long. All of them were a cut below, nothing more.
The real threats were probably watching this chaos from above. Now, six months after the incident erupted...
They had already sized up each other's skills plenty. The right move was to strike at the final moment.
I managed to slip out to the outskirts unscathed. After passing through the wide-open city gates, I immediately changed direction.
I sensed a few presences trailing behind. Just in case, I employed my now nearly perfected movement technique.
Ghost Spirit Step - Hidden
---Tap!
The tree I mounted without sound or footprint swayed. I watched the passersby from within its branches, keeping my breathing as low as possible.
"He was definitely this way...?!"
"Spread out and search!"
Only after sending a few off did the surroundings finally quiet down a bit. I leaped from tree to tree, taking utmost care not to leak any presence.
The lodge.
It was right where it had been marked on the map. A fair distance from Akmin, and the path there was as treacherous as I'd heard.
A annex carved into the cliffside like a sheer drop. But it wasn't empty.
Warriors from various sects were already standing guard. Their auras were substantial enough that they didn't seem like pushovers.
Should I break through? As I pondered, someone whispered from the side.
"Is what you're looking for in there, Young Master Mu?"
".......?"
Black Wind, who had silently sidled up beside me, muttered.
"Hmm. The defenses are thicker than expected. The opponents are from sects. If we cause a scene or get our identities exposed, it'll be a hassle in all sorts of ways... Not like we can massacre the cult's three pillars either..."
"When did you start following me?"
"Come on. Our paths just overlapped-what's the big deal? Since they did, I'll lend a hand for the sake of justice. Being able to contribute to rescuing someone? Whew. One more achievement to add to my record."
"Is there really any need to kill them?"
A voice popped out from the side.
A pleasant fragrance wafted over.
"Just lure them away with illusions. It's easy for me. Leave it to me, warrior."
"No, when did you...?"
"Hiding my presence isn't that hard. I'm sorry for tailing you secretly, but... I wanted to help."
"......"
These two had tagged along without warning. No point chasing them off now-I lowered my voice in warning.
"If you get in my way, I won't forgive you."
"Get in the way? Young Master Mu, I'll guide you through the inner paths. Easy info. I've already scouted the layout."
"I'll handle the guards. Don't worry-no blood will be spilled."
A gourd swayed at the Soul-Seducing Enchantress Black Orchid's waist. The popped-out red liquid darted through the air with a swoosh-
Suddenly, the warriors' eyes went glazed.
"Huh...? Why are you here...?"
"Oppa~ Come here..."
Black Wind clicked his tongue in distaste.
"Similar to what happened to me. No pillars or natural formations to use as axes... How'd you pull it off?"
"You saw it. My Myriad Thread White Dew works like a mobile formation. Want me to make those guys shake their hips in midair too?"
"Impressive! Praise! Whew. Scary enough to make me talk. Young Master Mu, hear that? Traveling with that chatterbox will shorten my lifespan. Better wrap this up quick."
"Chatterbox? You done talking?"
"Follow me."
Black Wind stepped out lightly. Flawless lightness skill, nothing to nitpick.
We passed through the main gate simultaneously. The interior was fairly spacious. But the exterior was far from intact.
Everything was smashed in places. Like clashes had erupted here and there-no spot was unscathed.
Black Wind fiddled with a broken wall.
"Someone locked up in here or what?"
"No idea."
"...Huh? Then why?"
"Planning to search for clues from here on."
"Clues... huh..."
Black Wind glanced at me.
"Let's be straight. Young Master Mu, you're practically my benefactor. If you hadn't stopped the Soul-Seducing Enchantress, I'd have kept getting drained, sucking away even my innate true qi. Recovering my original realm would've taken years. Of course, I intend to repay that grace, which is why I followed you. It looked fun too, and I had business in Akmin anyway."
"What's your point?"
"But here's the thing. I can't just blindly help you when I don't even know who we're saving. Straight up-if you're planning to rescue some archfiend of the ages, wouldn't it be weird for me to go along with that? So just tell me who it is. Then I'll cooperate."
"Didn't I say I don't need cooperation?"
"In that case, try doing it alone. Tracking isn't that easy, you know."
"......."
I examined the traces. Rifled through the broken spots, searched for any possible signs of Wolhyang.
But all I could discern was that a massive battle had taken place here. A clash that shook the entire lodge.
"......."
I needed help.
From someone skilled at this sort of thing.
"Young Master Black."
"You're catching on quick. Thought it'd take you a day longer."
"The one I want to rescue is Killing Blood Squad member Wolhyang."
"Ah. Yeah. Should've said so earli- What? Killing Blood Squad?"
Black Wind staggered back.
"No, what... I figured it wasn't some ordinary person, but... Killing Blood Squad? You mean from the Killing Blood Squad?"
"Ki-Killing Blood Squad? Th-that explains the intensity... Young Master Mu, really from the Killing Blood Squad?"
"Not the Killing Blood Squad, but... I can't reveal the affiliation otherwise. I'm just late to the chase, following the vanished trail."
"...Ahem..."
Black Wind cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Chasing after a Killing Blood Squad member... What a tasty twist. Fine. I'll help. We were curious anyway."
"We...?"
"Overhear it and let it slide. Haha! Alright, let's track 'em."
Black Wind scanned the scene.
"What happened here was a massive clash. But many against one. See here? Multiple sword trails on this side, just one on the opposite. Wow. You can tell from the traces alone. Facing off against experts like this all at once... Killing Blood Squad members really are monsters."
"That's it?"
"If that was all, they wouldn't call it tracking skill. After the bloodbath... here's the weird part. The advantage was with the Killing Blood Squad member, but then the trail cuts off abruptly. Ambush? Nah, not that type. There'd be resistance marks otherwise. Must've eaten some bizarre attack. One the Killing Blood Squad couldn't react to. Not dead, though. More like disarmed. Then carted off. That way."
Black Wind pointed in a direction.
"Not just the Killing Blood Squad member-two more were here. One fatally wounded and dead... the other captured. A kid, from the size. Small, so probably a girl. From the hair... rare color..."
"If it's a rare hair color in the Seven Stars Gate, there's only one."
"Exactly. The rumored star, Yeon Mi-ryeong. Probably her. The woman unrivaled in handling poisons worldwide. She was here, got nabbed. Wolhyang likely went with her. They took some unknown ambush hit, but doesn't look dead. Got subdued? That's weird too... A Killing Blood Squad subdued? Hmm... Definitely hit by something freaky... Anyway, dragged off just like that..."
Black Wind stroked his chin.
"...or so it seemed. They deliberately faked the direction. The thugs split here on purpose. Headed into the woods. The trail sharpens like they tried to shake pursuit by intentionally veering. The latecomers left this place too, but they stopped somewhere first."
"Stopped?"
"Keh heh heh. Can fool the others, but not this Black Wind. I don't get called a tra... ahem. Anyway, not for nothing."
Black Wind reached into his bosom.
Sprinkled some unidentified powder.
Footprints emerged clearly on the ground. Most of the tangled steps pointed toward the woods we'd crossed, but two were different.
The connected five footprints cut off at the lodge's center.
Black Wind lifted a collapsed debris pile. Fiddled with what looked like solid flooring.
"Hmmm..."
"Something inside?"
"Thick. Real thick. Nothing in this world stays uncracked forever. No idea if these thugs built it or if it's Seven Stars Gate handiwork, but they poured a fortune into it. But once it's in Black Wind's hands, every locked door might as well be open-"
Black Wind turned his head.
His face stiffened.
"Young Master Mu, you got backup?"
"No."
"Then uninvited guests dropped by."
Black Orchid tapped her fan. Black Wind placed his hand on his sword.
---Boom!
A heavy thud echoed through the ruined lodge. Amid the billowing dust, a giant moved his hand.
A whirlwind in an instant quelled all the dust. His upper body, practically stripped bare, rippled with vivid, thick brown muscles.
A body honed to the limit. And the natural weight emanating from it.
"Who the hell are you lot?"
I rested my hand on my sword.
"We are..."
"Ah, save it. I'll hear the story later anyway. Folks willing to spill the truth in this Akmin? Few and far between."
The man cracked his knuckles.
"At this hour, taking out the guards and waltzing in? You ain't the good guys. I'll pulp you first, then talk."
"No, wait. Let's talk first..."
"Talk? What need for talk between warriors? Only this fist to exchange. Sick of liars!"
Two men landed belatedly beside him, panting.
"Master! How many times did I tell you not to go alone...!"
"Why blame me for your slowness? Bunch of dimwits, always."
"Who in the wide world can keep up with Master...!"
"The world's vast, the sky high. Flattery's bad for the body. Enough chit-chat. Perfect timing-the disciples I've raised number just right..."
The beastly man grinned.
"One each, one at a time."
"......."
Not the talking type.
The Soul-Seducing Enchantress waved her fan.
"Leave it to me, warrior. I'll handle them all..."
"They don't look easy enough for that. You're strong in prepared spots, Young Lady Black, but weaker in improvised ones, right?"
"...How'd you."
"Saw it when you took out the gatekeeper. Much fainter than the aura I felt before."
"......."
"I won't refuse help, but handling one each is plenty."
No matter how versatile the Myriad Thread White Dew, it had limits. Especially if it formed an array.
Black Orchid nodded gracefully. Black Wind sighed.
"Guess I have to take one too. Not confident in head-on fights."
"Just buy time. I'll catch up after clearing mine."
"Ah, fine. Since I'm helping, I'll handle my share. You watch out too, Young Master Mu. That big guy in the middle ain't a pushover."
The giant cracked his neck.
"I'll yield first move. Last courtesy to juniors. But if you don't come at me by the count of ten..."
His voice dropped low.
"I'll smash that head myself."
"...Quite the foul mouth, elder."
I drew my sword.
Ghost Sword White Night let out a wailing screech.
"If you hound us as you please, we'll strike back."
"Hounding and retaliation. That's the cult's law."
The giant bared his teeth.
"Wanna defy it? Be stronger than this seat. Come on, pup. Before asking questions, I'll chew, rip, and taste that freakish sword of yours! Kra ha ha!"