Chapter 90
Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: 25. Is Gambling Okay? Even Monks? (4)
"Why are you here by yourself, layman?"
Tang Sachun, who had been deep in thought with his arms crossed, opened his eyes at the voice of Baek Naham coming from right beside him.
Baek Naham was holding a leather pouch, and as he walked, it made a clinking sound from the chips inside knocking together.
No wonder he hadn't been visible—he must have gone to cash in his chips at another table.
'Lady Changhye too, and now even a monk... No. Maybe that's exactly why he uses that mind-reading technique?'
"It's just that I had the advantage in internal energy."
"......!"
He'd only thought it to himself, but if he'd answered that, then it really was mind-reading, wasn't it?
As Tang Sachun eyed him suspiciously, Baek Naham asked again.
"I asked why you're alone. Where's your brother?"
"Brother is in the middle of a job."
"A job?"
"He was playing the part of a waiter, getting a martial artist drunk. Truly befitting of the future Shadow Gate Leader. There's no better way for a Shadow Gate operation."
"Engaging in something dangerous again..."
Seeing Baek Naham's disapproval of the Shadow Gate Leader's actions, Tang Sachun started to say something but held back.
Even he could sense the dangerous auras of the martial artists here.
And the Shadow Gate Leader was just an ordinary man without a scrap of internal energy.
No matter if his true nature was matchless...
"No, but when are you going to release Brother's pressure points?"
"When the time comes, Master will free him."
"Isn't it better to release him sooner, given how he keeps doing these dangerous things?"
"I think if he gains power, he'll do even more dangerous things."
"......"
It wasn't wrong, so Tang Sachun didn't argue further.
"Why are you all gathered here?"
With no more martial artists daring to bet at the roulette table, Changhye approached them, her pouch of chips clinking.
"Where's the layman?"
"The Shadow Gate Leader is currently getting one martial artist plastered."
"Ah......"
Changhye let out a small sigh as she interpreted Tang Sachun's insane answer appropriately.
"He's off doing something dangerous again. Makes me wonder if I should release his pressure points at all..."
"Master, shouldn't we take Brother and head back now?"
Baek Naham spoke in a calm tone.
"We've drawn too much attention already. They've surely noticed we're outsiders. Brother might be fine since he has no internal energy, but we..."
"Hey, you lot."
Before Baek Naham's concerned words could finish, a group of martial artists appeared and surrounded the three.
Tang Sachun and Baek Naham immediately went on guard, but Changhye just stared at them without changing expression.
The burly man who seemed to be their leader stepped forward.
"Have you won enough already? We've been watching, and all three of you are raking it in."
Changhye smirked and replied leisurely.
"It's because the guys here are weak."
"I'll admit the folks here are pathetic weaklings who've wasted decades. But."
The burly man stepped right up to Changhye and asked.
"Why do you all have such pure auras? Like you're filled with justice and chivalry, straight out of the righteous sects?"
At the burly man's question, the three, including Tang Sachun, weren't too surprised.
'Talking about righteous sects means these guys are demonic cultists, alright.'
Their auras were fierce, and it was ridiculous to think anyone but demonic cultists would be in a gambling den named after the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
"You lot..."
The burly man narrowed his eyes and said.
"Now I see—two of you are righteous sect bastards, aren't you?"
"......?"
We're three people... two of us?
Tang Sachun shot back as if asking what nonsense that was.
"Two of us are righteous sect bastards? Are your eyes bad?"
"You're giving off such disgustingly pure auras and claiming you're not righteous sect?"
"That's not it. All three of you are righteous sect bastards. What about these two makes you think they're not?"
"The other two look righteous even if they're circulating energy. You, even giving you the benefit of the doubt, seem more evil sect than righteous."
"What?!"
Tang Sachun bristled.
"How am I not righteous sect material?"
"Weren't you just scaring the dealer at the card table to win money?"
At that, Changhye and Baek Naham both looked at Tang Sachun, but he just stood tall and proud like always—utterly 'Tang Sachun'.
"Misunderstanding."
"You licked an electric shock device and call that a misunderstanding?"
"It was merely an advantage in internal energy."
"Tang Family Head, don't use my words like that."
The burly man stared at Tang Sachun with a dumbfounded look for a moment, then smirked.
"You guys are fun. If you're righteous sect, why not go crawl back to the Namgung Family? Forgotten the non-aggression pact between righteous and demonic?"
'Namgung Family? Righteous-demonic... non-aggression?'
Sensing something ominous in his words, the three exchanged glances.
"I see you rolling your eyes, you punks."
"...As you said, we're righteous sect warriors."
Changhye, who seemed to be gauging something, spoke first.
"But I've never heard of this righteous-demonic non-aggression."
"What?"
The burly man frowned, then nodded as if it made sense.
"You lot must be new arrivals to this world, huh?"
New arrivals to this world...?
They stayed silent, figuring the burly man would spill more on his own, neither confirming nor denying.
And sure enough, he kept flapping his three-inch tongue.
"No wonder your speech was weird. Righteous sect newbies from another world, barging in with your naive sense of justice."
"Terms like 'small victory' or 'layman' this and that—definitely odd."
"No, everything I've called weird so far is you. Now I get it—you must be one of those who went nuts crossing worlds."
"Coming at us with full aggression right off the bat. Wanna fight?"
At Tang Sachun's taunt, the burly man snorted.
"Can't gauge your opponent's skill and yapping like thunder without rain—yep, righteous sect alright. Since you don't know who I am, I'll tell you. I'm Ma Jinro, Eighth Elder of the Heavenly Demon Divine Church."
"Hea... Heavenly Demon... Ma Jinro?"
Tang Sachun muttered in surprise.
"No wonder you look like a toad..."
"What does that mean?"
"If I explain, I'd have to censor your name."
"You're getting more confusing. Looks like otherworld newbie. Better not get cocky. To face me, you'd need to be Shaolin Abbot level at least."
"......"
Baek Naham and Tang Sachun both turned to look at Changhye.
Changhye smiled radiantly.
"Is that so?"
* * *
In conclusion, the demonic cultists got wrecked.
Ma Jinro, slumped on the floor, muttered bitterly.
"Urgh... Dirty Shaolin bastards. How did two of you pull off the One Hundred Eight Arhats Formation..."
Changhye, looking tired, cut him off.
"Tell me what this righteous-demonic non-aggression is."
"Lady Changhye has spoken. Get on your knees already."
As Changhye spoke coldly, Tang Sachun chimed in annoyingly from the side.
He'd become deferential after witnessing her power firsthand.
At the words 'Lady Changhye,' the demonic cultists reacted, starting to whisper among themselves.
"Changhye? Isn't that the former former Shaolin Abbot?"
"That Shaolin Abbot died ages ago."
"Yeah, remember how the Murim Alliance went berserk saying our Church Lord killed the Shaolin Abbot?"
"Stop whispering and explain the non-aggression pact like I said."
Ma Jinro didn't seem to believe the Changhye before him was that Shaolin Abbot, but having felt the gap in power personally, he knelt down obediently.
"Righteous-demonic non-aggression means exactly that. Righteous sect martial artists summoned to this world and us evil-demonic-outside martial artists aren't allowed to interfere with each other."
"Not allowed?"
"The owner of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, the Ten Thousand Demon Bright Virtue Sword... our Heavenly Demon Divine Church's Church Lord, and the Namgung Family Head. Those three set the rule."
Tang Sachun pondered for a moment.
Heavenly Demon Divine Church's Church Lord... sounds like the cult leader.
I know the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains' owner is Lion President.
Is Ten Thousand Demon Bright Virtue Sword his nickname?
"What happens if you break the rule?"
"Anyone who violates righteous-demonic non-aggression vanishes without a trace."
"No wonder you demonic cultists follow it so well. Scared of dying?"
"We serve the Heavenly Demon, and the Ten Thousand Demon Bright Virtue Sword is the one closest to the Heavenly Demon. No reason not to follow. No idea what the righteous sect folks are thinking, though."
The three weren't too shocked, having heard from the waiter that Lion President was the Heavenly Demon.
Ma Jinro continued.
"But that Church Lord rubs me the wrong way. A guy without a scrap of internal energy daring to claim the Heavenly Demon Divine Church's leadership."
Seems the cult leader really has no internal energy.
No clue how he pulls off being Church Lord without it, but...
'Is he planning to hand the seat to the Heavenly Demon after claiming it?'
"Weren't there any who rebelled against such a guy being Church Lord?"
"Anyone who showed even a hint of discontent vanished at some point. No internal energy, but he definitely uses weird sorcery. No point picking a fight with that—you won't even break even."
In the end, it's about valuing their lives.
Tang Sachun clicked his tongue as Changhye asked.
"Gathering demonic cultists here to establish the Heavenly Demon Divine Church?"
"That's what I hear. Plenty of believers already—just waiting for the Heavenly Demon to return."
"Isn't the Ten Thousand Demon Bright Virtue Sword the Heavenly Demon?"
"He's infinitely close to the Heavenly Demon, but not the Heavenly Demon himself. We served the true Heavenly Demon up close in the Central Plains. The Heavenly Demon isn't some lowly being."
The three exchanged glances again.
After a pause, Tang Sachun asked.
"You... served the Heavenly Demon up close?"
"Yeah. I was an elder, after all."
"Then... what do you think of Heavenly Demon Wi Hwajin?"
"Heavenly Demon Wi Hwajin?"
Ma Jinro tilted his head.
"Who's that?"
"You don't know Heavenly Demon Wi Hwajin?"
Then another demonic cultist near Ma Jinro whispered in his ear.
"Elder, you know, that idol who debuted from the Nine Great Sects, Heavenly Demon."
"Oh, that Heavenly Demon."
Ma Jinro seemed to recall who Heavenly Demon Wi Hwajin was, but still looked puzzled.
"Why bring up an idol all of a sudden?"
"No, he's not an idol—he's the Heavenly Demon."
"I know it's a Heavenly Demon concept. Sure, he even resembles the one I served at first. I thought it was the Heavenly Demon returned. But..."
Ma Jinro closed and opened his eyes slowly.
"My Heavenly Demon isn't like that."
"What kind of Heavenly Demon otaku talk is that?"
"Look at the Ten Thousand Demon Bright Virtue Sword—even those at the pinnacle of demonic arts end up looking similar. That's the optimal body for cultivating demonic arts. If that guy's an idol under the Church Lord, who knows if he even practices demonic arts... but he's not the Heavenly Demon. Absolutely not."
"Why are you so sure?"
"The Heavenly Demon..."
Ma Jinro lowered his gaze and murmured rapturously.
"...abandoned all humanity and became a rakshasa himself..."
At the cryptic words, Tang Sachun raised one eyebrow, while Changhye muttered softly.
"He sounds just like the Hwajin brother I saw last..."
Hearing that mutter, Tang Sachun asked Changhye quietly.
"You mean he's a different person?"
"But that Heavenly Demon recognized me. He is definitely the Heavenly Demon."
"Then why do these guys..."
"Well... to them, the Heavenly Demon is religion. It's a matter of faith."
A matter of faith.
Tang Sachun tilted his head, then saw Changhye extend her hand toward the demonic cultists.
"You've worked hard talking. I'll pray for your rebirth in paradise."
"No, wait, Lady Changhye."
Tang Sachun grabbed her arm in panic.
"That line sounds like something you say right before mass murder!"
"What are you talking about? They're demonic cultists. Of course we kill them."
"What the..."
The demonic cultists, never imagining a Shaolin monk would slaughter them, sat there stunned.
"What righteous sect guy, a Shaolin one at that, talks about killing so easily...!"
Ma Jinro raised his voice indignantly.
"W-We figured you'd spare our lives, that's why we talked...! What did we even do to you...!"
No wonder they spilled everything so willingly.
They thought we wouldn't kill them.
With his arm held by Tang Sachun, Changhye let out a small sigh.
"As expected of filthy demonic cultists—you don't even remember the atrocities you committed in the Central Plains..."
As killing intent surged from Changhye, even Tang Sachun felt fear.
Then someone landed between them.
"......?!"
'I didn't sense their approach at all...!'
Yet Tang Sachun... didn't feel like going on guard.
The man had such a gentle aura.
He even carried a familiar plum blossom scent...
The handsome man who parted the righteous trio and demonic cultists smiled softly at Changhye.
Tang Sachun's expression grew subtle as he looked at the face.
"...Brother?"
At Tang Sachun's mutter, the man tilted his head as if wondering what he meant.
Ma Jinro shouted urgently.
"S-Sword Saint! These guys are trying to break the righteous-demonic non-aggression pact!"
"Hmm."
"They'll kill us, and even the Church Lord wouldn't want that. P-Please spare us, Sword Saint...!"
The man called Sword Saint by Ma Jinro glanced at the cowering demonic cultists, then back at the righteous three.
"These guys started it, right?"
That voice.
'It's not Brother...'
Looking closer, even his appearance was slightly different.
His build alone screamed martial prodigy.
"Seems you came here needing money... If you back off quietly, I won't touch whatever winnings you made here."
"......"
"Uh... why are you staring like that?"
The man scratched his cheek awkwardly, and Changhye lowered her arm.
"Let's withdraw."
"Master, that man..."
"No, Lady Changhye. He looks too much like Brother. Did the President clone Brother or something? Coveting those matchless genes?! Son of a bitch!"
"...This isn't the time for nonsense. We need to pull back."
As if refusing to engage the man further, Changhye vanished first.
Baek Naham followed, and Tang Sachun, unable to hide his unease, glared at the man before leaving.
The remaining man tilted his head with a strange expression, but that was it.
Soon he too vanished, leaving the demonic cultists behind.
* * *
"Hic, I missed you, Hea... Heavenly Demon..."
"......"
The martial artist I'd been trading cups of bamboo leaf liquor with.
The guy using the ridiculous name 'Demonic Church Deputy.'
He finally collapsed.
I'm the best drinker in the dorms, but this martial artist gave me a run for my money.
'Heavenly Demon kept a loose-lipped guy like this as deputy...'
By now, Senior had finished fleecing the roulette table and moved on ages ago.
I need to get out before this Demonic Church Deputy sobers up and gets suspicious.
I poured the last of the bamboo leaf liquor from my cup into my mouth.
Thanks to him mistaking me for a waiter, I played along and got some Central Plains info.
'But I overheard something weird.'
Right before passing out drunk, the Demonic Church Deputy slurred with bleary eyes.
-I'm so lonely. But starting a family scares me.
-Huh? Why scared?
-Started about thirty years ago...
-Newborns born among martial artists began disappearing.