Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Plundering the Dead
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The reason was simple.
There was the clear option of simply asking Jeok Muryong.
She had already confirmed the extent of his prowess several times over.
Even he himself had publicly declared that he owed Neung So-hwa two debts.
No matter who—or what group—
if she just said the word, he would sweep them away in an instant.
At first, she had been stunned and half-doubting.
But now, it went beyond conviction to something approaching blind faith.
Because the power possessed by the man called Jeok Muryong was the real deal.
'So...'
All Neung So-hwa had to do was make the request.
In fact, if she thought about it, there was no need to agonize over whether to head to Luoyang or Kaifeng.
She could just return to Heavenly Center Mountain with Jeok Muryong as he was and execute the traitors.
Eliminating a few as an example might even quell the chaos in True Heaven Palace entirely.
There was no more effective tool of control than fear stained in blood, after all.
'But...'
Neung So-hwa still couldn't be entirely sure if that was truly the right path.
Not because she wanted to hold back her trump card, but simply because she didn't want to increase unnecessary killing.
She couldn't even begin to guess how many warriors had met their end on Heavenly Center Mountain.
'That must be the true nature of Hero Jeok Muryong.'
A man who would unleash a sea of blood and mountains of corpses on anyone blocking his path.
For a man who called himself the Heavenly Demon, it was probably only natural.
'Even so, if possible, I'd prefer to see as little blood as I can.'
True Heaven Palace had already suffered too many sacrifices amid its schism.
That was Neung So-hwa's honest sentiment—she didn't want any more.
Even if it meant she wouldn't inherit the Palace Lord's seat.
"For now, let's head to Zhengzhou and decide from there, Choyoung."
"Yes, my lady. Let's do that."
With that settled, Neung So-hwa and Jin Choyoung soon began chatting about other matters.
At the same time,
Jeok Muryong sat in a separate room, circulating his energy and regulating his breathing.
Wooooong.
Just like last time, the phenomenon of Three Flowers Gather at the Crown was occurring.
The desperately devoured meals worth dozens of people had thoroughly permeated every corner of his body.
His already somewhat fleshed-out frame was now developing a proper muscular build.
With each breath, vast amounts of energy gathered and steadily accumulated in his dantian.
A Great Circadian cycle far surpassing last night's level.
Like an ancient tree with roots dozens of zhang deep greedily sucking up groundwater,
Jeok Muryong's body was rapidly growing stronger.
"Hoo."
Finishing his session, Jeok Muryong opened his eyes.
Glancing down at his forearm, he saw fully formed forearm muscles bulging prominently.
Perfectly balanced—not excessive, not lacking.
A physique just shy of its peak condition.
Considering the balance of essence, energy, and spirit, this might actually be more ideal.
Either way, it was growth at an astonishing speed.
'It's only the early stages, so progress is swift.'
In terms of inner power alone, he could safely say he'd recovered at least thirty percent of his peak.
Considering it had only been two days since his return, it was undeniably terrifying progress.
'So, what's next?'
Jeok Muryong rested his chin on his hand, pondering.
Regaining his strength was going smoothly.
It wouldn't stay this straightforward forever, but he figured he could push through whatever came.
His current level of skill was already enough to crush those hailed as the pinnacle of their generation.
And so, Jeok Muryong found himself pondering anew.
His targets for revenge had vanished.
Not only Elder Hwang, but the entire Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had been buried under the earth long ago.
From his perspective, even the fake knockoff Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had crumbled decades prior—what a hollow feeling.
'Well, maybe it's for the best.'
They were the ones who betrayed him, after all.
Even if their lineage had persisted to now, he doubted he'd view them favorably.
That was the extent of Jeok Muryong's thoughts on the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
No lingering attachments remained.
'Instead of dwelling on that, maybe I should just eat one more time.'
Grrrrumble.
His stomach reacted immediately at the mere thought of food.
The food he'd crammed down had been neatly digested during his meditation.
"Mm."
Jeok Muryong let out a groan.
Heading to the dining hall and ordering was no issue.
He had no money, but he could just put it on Neung So-hwa's tab.
He knew she wasn't the type to be stingy over a few silver taels.
'Still, somehow...'
It didn't sit right with his pride.
Regardless, Jeok Muryong was the Heavenly Demon.
Even if his ties to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were completely severed, even if the world had long forgotten,
his self-awareness as the Heavenly Demon remained untarnished.
In short, only his pride endured.
Asking for credit on a midnight snack didn't befit the Heavenly Demon.
Eating the Wall Grain Pills from the dirt wasn't fitting either, but still.
"......"
After a moment's thought, Jeok Muryong stood.
Come to think of it, there were endless ways to get money without begging Neung So-hwa.
To be blunt, he could just rob a passerby or two—but that hardly suited the Heavenly Demon's dignity.
But taking money from the ones he'd already swept away?
'No problem at all.'
Opening the window, Jeok Muryong nodded.
Soon, his figure shot toward Heavenly Center Mountain faster than the wind.
"Mm."
"Amitabha. What a truly horrific scene."
Somewhere on Heavenly Center Mountain.
Two monks surveyed their surroundings with grim expressions.
At their feet lay a sea of blood and corpses.
Numerous bodies were strewn about in all manner of twisted forms.
"When the Abbot summoned us so suddenly, I was baffled, but I never imagined he'd foreseen this tragedy."
"Mm."
"But how did the Abbot know a bloodbath would occur here?"
"How should I know? He must've consulted some fortune-teller."
"Senior Brother."
"What is it, Junior Brother?"
"Nothing. I misspoke."
The sighing monk appeared even more slender next to his senior brother—a burly giant called by that title.
They were monks from Shaolin Temple.
The senior was Baek Un, the junior Beom Won—both leading figures among Shaolin's young warrior monks, members of the Eighteen Arhats.
They had come to Heavenly Center Mountain on orders from Abbot Go Hye Seonsa.
Hurrying there was all they'd been told; they never dreamed of such carnage.
"I don't know who did this, but we can't just let it slide."
"Junior Brother, Beom Won."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
"Enough idle chatter. Come here and help me search the bodies."
"Pardon? Search them? You want me to mock the departed souls I can't even console?"
"Console, mock—whatever. We need to check them for clues about the culprit, don't we?"
"Ah."
Beom Won approached his senior with an awkward look.
Baek Un had already poked at a few corpses with his monk's staff.
"Whoever it was, clean work. Didn't waste more than two strikes on any one of them."
"Meaning..."
"One strike, one kill. Sent them to the afterlife one by one."
"Senior Brother, the phrasing..."
"Fine, I'll rephrase. Sent one donor per strike straight to the underworld."
"......"
"What? These donors didn't accumulate any merit in life anyway. Best case, they'll wander the animal realm."
"Let's drop it. Did you find anything else?"
"A top-tier master. Maybe sword energy projection—at least vacuum grasping level."
Beom Won jumped at Baek Un's words.
"Such an expert committed this slaughter?"
"That's why he could. It takes power to crush people like this."
"This isn't the time for wordplay, Senior Brother! If a monster like that is roaming Henan freely, who knows how many victims there'll be?"
"Hm. Well..."
"Pardon? 'Well'?"
"Odd thing to say now, but do you think these donors were all innocents?"
"No, not exactly, but..."
"To me, they look like well-trained warriors. Their usual job? Probably crushing people. This time, they just got crushed instead."
"Senior Brother."
"I won't call it karma, but... doesn't seem like the work of a mindless asura mad for slaughter."
"Even if they were dangerous, isn't this excessive?"
"Might be just right to someone."
"Senior Brother!"
"Shh."
Baek Un suddenly pressed a finger to his lips.
"Battle ready, Beom Won."
"Pardon?"
"Someone's coming."
Whoooosh!
A fierce gust swept in.
Amid it, Beom Won barely caught Baek Un's following words.
"Extremely fast."
Thud.
The wind stopped.
A young man stood just a few steps from the two monks.
As if he'd been there from the start—an optical illusion of sorts.
Not just the earnest Beom Won, but even the ever-relaxed Baek Un wore a tense expression.
-Senior Brother...
-Leave it to me.
The two exchanged a transmission.
Baek Un cleared his throat a couple times before speaking.
"Hard to call this a poetic night, it seems."
"It's decent enough."
A surprisingly calm voice.
Which only made it harder for Beom Won and Baek Un to relax.
"No need for preambles—may I ask who you are, donor?"
"Jeok Muryong."
"Donor Jeok... We are monks of Shaolin Temple. I'm Baek Un; that scrawny one over there is Beom Won."
"Muscle pig Baek Un, stick insect Beom Won. Got it."
Baek Un gave a wry smile before continuing.
"Then let me ask again, Donor Jeok Muryong. What brings you here?"
"To get some money."
"Pardon?"
"Some of these guys had money pouches. Thought about taking them earlier but passed; should have grabbed them despite the hassle."
"......"
Baek Un and Beom Won gaped blankly.
Any normal person would dress it up, but to admit it so brazenly?
"So you're the one who... did this to them?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
Jeok Muryong said flatly.
"Any problem with that?"