Chapter 89
Chapter 89
************************-
Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Chasing the Rumors
************************-
Black Peony didn't remove her veil. She still wore it everywhere.
Even after becoming friends with me, nothing changed.
"Wearing it my whole life because of a scar-taking it off overnight would just feel strange. I'm satisfied knowing there's now a relationship where I don't have to wear it."
I didn't pry too deeply. It was her choice, after all.
"It'd be easiest to call you Nameless when we're out and about, right?"
"I'd appreciate that."
"Alright. But if you're going with a fake name anyway, wouldn't something less obvious have been better? Nameless just screams 'totally fake from the start'."
"...Is it that weird?"
"Red Cloud has some subtly odd quirks. It's cute, though."
Black Peony turned her gaze away as she fiddled with my hair.
"What we're doing now is backtracking the rumors. We'll use soul subjugation arts, of course. The worry is... whether we have enough of this mistwater whitesoft as a base. Normally, you'd subdue someone with it and then drain their lacking internal energy, but this time our goal is to stay under the radar, so we can't afford to injure the targets."
"Is that the foundation for using soul subjugation arts?"
"My dantian was shattered long ago by heart demons. I can't store it inside, so I rely on external substances. It's also a symbol of my efforts."
"...Hmm."
After some thought, I voiced one solution.
"What if we supplement it with my internal energy?"
"Red Cloud's... internal energy?"
Black Peony tilted her head.
"It's not impossible... but can you really trust me that much? If something goes wrong and I absorb all your innate true qi..."
"If that was your plan, you wouldn't have even mentioned it. It's fine. Isn't this our first joint effort as friends?"
I placed my hand on my outer robe.
"Take as much as you need. I recover quickly anyway."
"...Aren't you giving your trust away too easily?"
"Half-hearted trust is worse than none at all."
"You called me a stranger before."
"...That's a different matter."
"You hate seeing others naked, but you want to show yours... Could it be... exhibitionism?"
"I never said anything about showing my naked body."
"I'm kidding. Just remove your top."
Black Peony placed her hand on my body. I flinched in surprise.
"...I've misunderstood you."
"In what way?"
"When I saw your sword, I thought you were some impossible freak who'd reached a high realm through sheer effort. But your bones and muscles are sturdier than I expected. Nothing too special up to there... but hmm... this..."
Black Peony groaned softly.
"Now that I think about it, it was strange. Mistwater whitesoft-it's a sea of qi dense enough to take physical form. Yet right after you left, it visibly decreased. The tub that was full barely covered the bottom. I just assumed it vanished due to some method I didn't understand..."
"...Ahem."
"The principle I couldn't grasp hid something I could understand. Thief."
"Wasn't it the fault of the person trying to kill me?"
"I never actually killed anyone. I just sucked them dry and tossed them aside. I only drain their innate true qi enough that it doesn't fully harm them. They recover after a few years. It was a warning from the start. Chasing empty dreams is fine, but know that destruction lies at the end."
Black Peony fiddled with my body.
"...Honestly, it was just venting. But I want to check a few things. Mind circulating your qi lightly?"
I followed her instructions, trying a few methods.
Black Peony, watching, let out a small gasp of admiration.
"The amount of internal energy is one thing... but your body itself is so vast it can hold more, and the recovery speed is incredible. It's like a beast's body. Full of wildness."
"You can tell that much?"
"This is the body they called the world's greatest prodigy. It's obvious. If my dantian were intact, I'd have reached the Flower Realm ages ago, right?"
It didn't sound like bravado. She truly believed it herself.
Indeed... in that scene, I'd felt a genius I could never catch up to.
"I'll take just a little. That should be enough."
My heart began pounding rapidly following the tips of Black Peony's fingers. The internal energy surging over my body molded itself to her touch.
The formless took on form through compression, flowing into the gourd she held.
That's when I realized something.
"...Mistwater whitesoft, put simply... is it close to sword aura?"
"Exactly, Red Cloud. Not a perfect match, but close enough. It's a special technique that traps another's qi and shapes it into a visible liquid. The basis of demon illusion arts. Soul subjugation is mixed in for categorization."
She closed the gourd's lid and groped my body more.
"Feeling any fatigue? Or other issues? Speak now if there are. This is still your qi-I can give it back."
I moved my body. A bit of stiffness, but that was it.
It wasn't enough to hinder movement in the first place. The drained spots were filling back up in real time.
After lightly circulating for half a day, the lost energy was fully replenished. Black Peony peered into the gourd.
"I've never seen mistwater whitesoft this red before."
"...Is that bad?"
"Qi usually takes on its owner's color. And nature. Ironically, this energy is incredibly pure. But once ignited, it's like an arrow nocked and ready to rampage. You've got a temper, huh."
"......"
"It's a compliment. A man needs some wildness-being too innocent is no charm."
"Dan-hwa, you're more mischievous than I thought."
"Because we're friends. Don't like it?"
"I like it."
"...Why?"
"Because we're friends."
Black Peony grinned broadly.
"Shall we go hunt down the source of these rumors, then?"
"Where do we start?"
"First... we should track down whoever framed the Myriad Demons Clan. They're one of the strongest pillars upholding our cult. There must be a reason for slandering them."
"We should start with the Myriad Demons Clan's key figures currently in Akmin."
"I already got the rough situation on the first day we parted. Didn't I say it'd be helpful?"
Black Peony lightly fanned herself with her folded fan.
"The Myriad Demons Clan sent a squad here under the pretext of cooperation. If you add up all the minor units, it's a group of about five hundred warriors. At the end of it all is the Nine Heavens Jade Maiden, Geum Seo-ryeon, leader of the Mighty Demon Squad. That's where we start-with the rumors aimed at them."
It was good to have a clear direction. Since I was just following, I nodded.
Black Peony moved immediately.
A drunkard we encountered at the inn belched loudly.
"I heard somethin'-the one holdin' the Ghost Lion Black Night Squad now is the Nine Heavens Jade Maiden! No doubt! The Myriad Demons Clan already swallowed it up, but they're playin' dumb with duck excuses. If they get caught with it, they'll tangle with the Raksha Clan, so they're just waitin' for a chance to sneak it outta Akmin..."
The drunkard's eyes glazed over under the soul subjugation art.
"Uh... who told me? That'd be... Baek... yeah..."
We kidnapped a humming wanderer walking the streets, following the connected ties.
"W-what're you doin' to me?!"
"Shh. Look here."
Mr. Baek's eyes blinked under the soul subjugation art.
"Ah... Myriad Demons Clan...? Well... the Nine Heavens Jade Maiden for sure... no, that Ak-gok bastard told me. He went on and on over drinks, so of course I believed him..."
We went to find the man called Ak-gok. He named another.
We tracked down that connected other as well. The trail suddenly cut off with word he wasn't in Akmin anymore.
"...This means..."
"We go back to the start. Didn't I say it'd be tedious and grueling?"
Not every rumor led back to the source.
We had to toil through countless hours to find the enemy.
We cut back on sleep. It had already been seven months since Blood Squad member Wol-hyang went missing.
For ten straight days, Black Peony and I hustled about.
It was only natural to feel sorry for her. It was no different from dragging an outsider in and forcing her to overdo it.
"I've dragged you into my stubbornness."
"Don't say that. We're friends."
There were times I felt like I was exploiting her unusual fixation on our friendship. Out of guilt, I asked several times.
"Dan-hwa, if there's anything you want from me, just say it."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'll do what I can."
"...I'll save it for later. It's urgent now."
Black Wind, whom we'd parted from, hadn't returned as if something urgent had come up. But Hwacheon Gwonma, whom we'd met before, came looking for us instead.
The burly man, casually downing drinks at our inn, casually asked.
"Hey, found anything?"
"How about your side, sir?"
"Honestly, I was wandering clueless about where to start. My disciples are useless. They were cocky at first, but after a day or two, they wanted to head back. Can't do that, though. Especially not with that little Mi-ryeong possibly still alive-I can't just drop it. Plus, there's the promise."
"Promise...?"
"I've been old friends with the Seven Stars Sect's sect leader for years. Haven't met much, but coincidences piled up and we watched each other's backs. Long story... but one thing's sure: entrusting Mi-ryeong to me was as good as handing her over."
Hwacheon Gwonma scratched the back of his head.
"Already sent my two disciples back home. I'm the only one left scouting around. Looks like you're chasing something... Mind giving a hint?"
"No. Can't trust..."
"Let's travel together."
"Nameless?!"
"We've crossed hands before. Rough, but not the type to deceive."
I laid out clear conditions.
"What we're doing now is tedious and rough work, sir. We might end up hostile to a sect."
Hwacheon Gwonma nodded vigorously.
"I came to Akmin prepared for that much. I'll do anything if we find Mi-ryeong."
"They plan to hand the Ghost Lion Black Night Squad to the Raksha Clan the moment it's found."
"I didn't come for that in the first place. If you want it, take it-I'll look the other way."
"There might be intense combat."
"That's my specialty."
Hwacheon Gwonma laughed. Black Peony dragged me away by the collar, yelling.
"Th-this won't do! Nameless! How do you know he's telling the truth?!"
"Don't martial artists speak with force? Since we've clashed, I know his sincerity to some degree..."
"That's not the issue! It's about trust! What if he betrays us at the end?!"
"I'll take responsibility then."
"Pardon?"
I fiddled with Ghost Sword Baekya.
I'd already crossed hands with Hwacheon Gwonma. If I poured out everything...
I figured I could at least kill him, if not just subdue.
More than anything, my heart felt heavy. A warrior who'd come to Akmin to keep a promise to a dead friend.
"Didn't you hear it the first day we met him? He brought up the last survivor of the Seven Stars Sect, Yeon Mi-ryeong, before even mentioning the Ghost Lion Black Night Squad."
"True, but..."
"He came to Akmin to honor a vow to a fallen comrade. I don't want to send him back empty-handed."
"It's someone else's story."
"Everyone's story always starts with someone else's. Nothing's yours from birth."
I turned my head.
"He's overheard, and my heart's moved, so why not rely on him once? Alone, it might be trouble, but don't I have the much smarter Dan-hwa with me?"
"...Urk?"
"If you sense anything suspicious, just tell me. I'll handle getting rid of him. That won't do...?"
"Do you know what you just said?"
"Pardon?"
"It means... you're trusting me without limits, right?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Her words hit an odd note, and I tilted my head.
Who else would I trust if not her, who's personally out gathering info for me?
Our first meeting was bizarre, but now it's different. Of course I trust her.
"I trust Dan-hwa. I couldn't say it before, but now I can for sure."
"......"
Her face behind the veil seemed to twitch. Black Peony cleared her throat and nodded.
"...Well, I can monitor him to some extent anyway. But make this his last addition. More people means we can't stay covert, and it could mess up the work."
"Of course. Sorry for being stubborn."
"No need to apologize. It's your story-you get to choose. Plus... it's like gaining another card. A Flower Realm expert like Hwacheon Gwonma won't lose in combat..."
"Kuhk."
The burly man thrust his face in. Snot was dripping from his nose.
Hwacheon Gwonma was crying.
"What a guy! Knew it when we fought... outstanding! Nameless, was it? You're the real deal! I swear, absolutely no betrayal! Willing to risk danger considering others' plights... How many in the cult are this righteous?!"
"You know 'righteous' is an insult to cult members, right?"
"Strength and righteousness aren't opposites. They can align. This Hwacheon Gwonma, Gun Ho-gwang... I'm truly moved! If I betray, cripple my dantian! I swear on the name Hwacheon Gwonma!"
"Lower your voice...!"
"Krughung!"
I got buried under the charging giant. I pushed him back with my hand.
"Too close, sir."
"Want the Blazing Heaven Fury Sword? Just say the word. I'll teach it anytime."
"Why's the talk suddenly going there?"
"With talent like yours and a personality I like, how could I not covet you? Just become my disciple."
"No thanks."
"Prickly one. But I won't let you go. No sect? We'll stamp it later for sure."
"Shouldn't we talk about something else, sir?"
"Right. So, what do I do?"
"Just follow along. I'll handle the details. Don't speak unless necessary, no pointless actions. Act normal. Got it?"
"Understood."
Our group grew by one, but the work stayed the same. Hunting the source of the rumors.
A few third-rate warriors. Trails cut off several times. After poking around among vulture-like ronin, we finally caught something.
"There's a seal on the memories. But it's a simple trick-easy to break."
A voice leaked from the courtesan under soul subjugation.
"One-Eyed Bird Sim Yul ordered it..."
Black Peony's veil shook.
"One-Eyed Bird Sim Yul... he's from the Myriad Demons Clan's Lion-Cleaving Squad. A squad that came with the Mighty Demon Squad spreading rumors that the Mighty Demon Squad has the Ghost Lion Black Night Squad... With a seal too, this reeks of suspicion."
"Definitely fishy. So, we kidnap this Sim Yul next?"
"Sim Yul's no ordinary guy. He's a squad leader over one unit. Pretty famous too..."
Black Peony sighed.
"He won't be alone. We'll have to face the squad he leads. Hwacheon Gwonma. Your time to shine."
"Smash 'em all?"
"Just subdue them. Please. I don't enjoy kicking beehives."
```