Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: To Zhengzhou Once More
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Once news arrived that an unidentified force was stirring in the Shanxi Province area, the Demon-Slaying Pavilion and the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion ordered their agents in the Henan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces to investigate.
Zhuge Mun-hyeon issued an emergency order to the Information Tower and immediately went to see Alliance Leader Yang Cheon-rin.
The Alliance Leader's Hall.
Yang Cheon-rin's expression was stiff, as if he had already heard the news.
“What is the scale of their forces?”
“It is difficult to report the specific circumstances just yet. We have mobilized all agents from the Demon-Slaying and Demon-Dispelling Pavilions, so please wait.”
“The Dark Blood Heaven Cult. Is it them?”
“We presume so, but it is not certain.”
Yang Cheon-rin clicked his tongue at Zhuge Mun-hyeon's cautious reply.
“Who else could it be but the Dark Blood Heaven Cult? They are a massive force that has even recruited the former Great Demon, Seop Yu-heun.”
“Others may speculate, but as the head of intelligence, I cannot speak on matters I do not know for sure. The remnants of the Evil Emperor Union, the Black Way Union, and the Blood Palace have also vanished into the shadows. They are more than capable of rising up.”
“These bastards are popping up as if they've been waiting for this.”
Yang Cheon-rin frowned and shook his head.
He was displeased by the existence of these forces, which were springing up like poisonous mushrooms everywhere following the death of the former Alliance Leader, Hwa Un-ryong.
“Then send the Soul-Chasing Sword Squad to Zhengzhou Prefecture and prepare them to strike immediately if necessary. Also, issue an emergency order to the four divisions. And...”
Yang Cheon-rin paused for a moment before asking carefully.
“What is the level of the Evil-Repelling Sword Squad?”
“They still fall short of the Soul-Chasing Sword Squad.”
“I see. *Tsk*.”
Despite his disappointed tone, Yang Cheon-rin's eyes gleamed, raising suspicion in Zhuge Mun-hyeon's heart.
“Strategist Zhuge.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“I've heard that Hwang Yeop, the Vice-Commander of the Evil-Repelling Sword Squad, is quite competent.”
“Surely you don't intend to send Guyang Cheon?”
“Not Guyang Cheon of the Evil-Repelling Sword Squad, but Agent Affectionate of the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion. Hwang Yeop can lead the squad while he is away. He defeated the Dark First Blood, the Seventh Blood, and even Seop Yu-heun. Who in the Alliance knows the Dark Blood Heaven Cult better and can deal with them as well as he can?”
Yang Cheon-rin had already concluded that the unidentified force in Shanxi was the Dark Blood Heaven Cult.
The Evil-Repelling Sword Squad was growing rapidly thanks to Guyang Cheon's efforts, so Zhuge Mun-hyeon was reluctant to send him away.
“Is there a problem?”
“I will see to it.”
Reading the firm resolve on Yang Cheon-rin's face to send Affectionate, Zhuge Mun-hyeon immediately complied.
“And shouldn't the other provinces be investigated as well?”
“We are gathering information from various directions.”
“Understood. Report if any additional important information comes in.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
Zhuge Mun-hyeon bowed respectfully and left the Alliance Leader's Hall.
Evil-Repelling Sword Squad.
I leisurely observed the squad members as they trained.
Their skills had improved considerably, allowing me to watch them with a more relaxed attitude.
-Sir Affectionate.
It was nice to hear Pure's telepathic message after so long.
-Has a deployment order been issued?
-Yes. I'm sorry.
-What does Pure have to be sorry about? Which is it?
-The order came for Agent Affectionate. As you know, an unidentified force is stirring in the Shanxi Province area, and the order is to confirm their identity.
-Good. Get ready. We'll leave tomorrow morning.
-Understood.
After confirming that Pure's subtle presence nearby had vanished, I continued to watch the squad members with a relaxed expression.
That evening.
I summoned Hwang Yeop.
“You called for me?”
“I've received orders and must leave for a while. As Vice-Commander, you will continue their training.”
“Where are you going?”
“My good man, if I were going to tell you that, I would have said so already.”
“Are you perhaps going to Shanxi Province? The Soul-Chasing Sword Squad is bustling with preparations to depart, ready to confront the unidentified force that has appeared there.”
“I'm leaving the Evil-Repelling Sword Squad in your hands while I'm gone.”
“Please be careful.”
Hwang Yeop complied immediately with a disappointed look on his face and withdrew.
‘They said he was first-rate in everything except martial arts, and it's true—he's even ridiculously good at gathering information. He'll be a great help later on.’
I thought about Hwang Yeop's value and smiled faintly.
I could trust him with the Evil-Repelling Sword Squad.
It was too much to expect him to fill my shoes, but he would at least raise the squad members' skills to the next level through training.
Perhaps what the squad members needed was time to digest the martial arts I had taught them and make them their own.
That's why I could leave the Martial Arts Alliance with peace of mind.
The next day.
Around dawn.
I shot northward with Pure.
Xiangyang Prefecture.
In just two days, we had arrived in Xiangyang Prefecture from Wuhan Prefecture.
She and I were in disguise, so we revealed ourselves naturally.
“You've improved again, haven't you?”
“What has?”
“Your martial arts. You're completely different from two months ago.”
“There's an old saying that if you part with a scholar for three days, you should rub your eyes and look again. Two months is enough time for a nameless novice to become a master. So it's only natural that I've grown.”
“You seem like a greedy person who has everything.”
“Hahaha.”
“Do you think it's them again?”
“I don't know.”
Honestly, I wasn't too concerned about identifying the unknown force.
No matter which heretical sect was stirring or whether the former Great Demon was involved, I had ways to deal with them, so I felt at ease.
Besides, once we reached Zhengzhou Prefecture and met Elder Geum of the Full Moon Tower, I would be able to get accurate information.
If even Elder Geum didn't know, then we would have to consider it the emergence of a new power.
“If you're rested, shall we set off again?”
Pure nodded slightly.
When I executed my movement art, she immediately did the same and followed.
I deliberately used my movement art to its fullest, and Pure pushed her internal energy to its limit, desperately struggling to keep up with me.
Zhengzhou Prefecture.
Pure was completely exhausted.
“That was too much.”
“Did you feel anything?”
Only then did Pure's expression harden.
“You have to push any martial art to its limit to identify its weaknesses. You specialize in movement and stealth arts, don't you? I deliberately traveled quickly from Wuhan to Zhengzhou to give you a stimulus. Surely you didn't feel anything at all?”
“My thinking was shallow. Just a moment.”
She sat cross-legged and entered a state of meditation.
To help her meditate comfortably, I placed my palm on her back and gently circulated my internal energy through her meridians for one full cycle.
Pure meditated for a long time.
I hoped she would take this opportunity to make a leap forward in her movement art.
It was probably the first time since she started learning martial arts.
That she had used her movement art with all her might like this.
“Did you have an epiphany?”
Finishing her meditation, she shook her head with a sullen expression.
“I definitely feel something, but I can't quite give it a concrete form.”
“Looks like you need more stimulus.”
“Oh no. Surely you don't intend to use your movement art at full power again?”
“No. Try performing your movement art. I'll watch.”
“From the incantations...”
“It's fine. I've already grasped the flow of your internal energy. Show me in detail.”
Pure immediately stood up.
Her trust in me was absolute.
I calmly observed the movement art she performed.
It was a clean movement art, with no unnecessary flourishes.
“How is it?”
Pure looked at me with eyes full of expectation.
“Is this the movement art issued to the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion's messengers?”
“Yes.”
“It has no unique characteristics. It's too focused on just running fast. But it's not practical to learn a new movement art now.”
She swallowed nervously, listening intently to my words.
Pure was the one who knew best just how strong I was.
That's why she considered this a great opportunity.
“Watch this.”
I got up and performed a movement art.
“*Gasp*.”
Her eyes widened.
Because the movement art I performed was her own.
“Watch closely. I've modified it.”
After performing it in detail a few times, I sat down next to her.
“Do you see the difference?”
“Yes. A little.”
“I observed and contemplated your movement art on the way from Wuhan to Zhengzhou. So, take your time and learn this. It will be better than before.”
“Where are you going?”
“You always have good intuition. I'm going to the Full Moon Tower.”
At the mention of the Full Moon Tower, her expression hardened.
“You'll be seeing Lady Hwangbo, then.”
“I'm meeting Elder Geum to get information. The Information Tower's intelligence network is the best, but at least for Shanxi and Henan provinces, they can't match the Full Moon Tower. It's a matter of geographical advantage. If I have time, I'll see Yeon-mae too.”
“Sir Affectionate.”
“What?”
“If you're so indifferent to women, you'll lose them all later.”
“Hahaha. How embarrassing. I wish I could act as my codename 'Affectionate' implies, but that's the hardest part. Anyway, I'll be back, so you practice the movement art here.”
“Sir Affectionate.”
By the time she called for me urgently, I had already completely vanished.
Hurriedly extending her senses, she detected my presence disappearing far to the east and sighed.
“Honestly, he's like a block of wood. A block of wood.”
Pure shook her head, expressing her disappointment.
At the same time, the plain, disguised face vanished, revealing her enchanting and beautiful features.
**
Full Moon Tower.
I headed straight for the ninth floor, where Elder Geum was.
“See? What did I tell you? I said it was about time you came.”
“Speak of the devil. It seems I can't escape your grasp, Grandfather.”
I gave a bitter smile watching the affectionate conversation between Elder Geum and Hwangbo Yeon.
“Brother. It's been a while. Are you busy?”
“Yeon-mae. I'll tell you the details in a bit.”
“*Sigh*. You're impossible. I'll be waiting.”
Hwangbo Yeon frowned slightly and brushed past me.
I immediately approached Elder Geum and sat down in front of him.
“You really don't know women.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“And you still have no intention of changing?”
“I have too much to do.”
“I'll say it again, I didn't give you that Azure Stone Milk for no reason.”
“I'm well aware.”
Elder Geum, who never makes a losing deal, had readily given me the Azure Stone Milk.
Thanks to it, my internal energy increased by two sixty-year cycles.
The reason he gave it to me was simple.
It was because of Hwangbo Yeon.
“Alright. Enough of that talk. You came because of the unidentified force stirring in Shanxi, didn't you?”
“That's right. Is it the Dark Blood Heaven Cult?”
“That's where it gets strange.”
“That's not like you, Elder Geum.”
“My good man, do you think I know everything? According to the information we've confirmed so far, the force on the move is not the Dark Blood Heaven Cult.”
I swallowed hard.
I expected some new and crucial information to come from his lips.
“However, if the Dark Blood Heaven Cult has joined with the remnants of the Black Way Union and the Evil Emperor Union, then they must be considered part of the Dark Blood Heaven Cult's forces. We'll need to investigate further to know for sure.”
“An alliance. Just thinking about it gives me a headache.”
“Indeed. If that happens, the martial world will be split between the righteous and the unorthodox factions. The Martial Arts Alliance will take the east, and they will take the west.”
“Do you believe that's possible, Elder Geum?”
“It's not impossible. After all, their common enemy is the Martial Arts Alliance. It wouldn't be strange at all for them to join forces, at least until the Alliance is brought down.”
“Then their joining forces and moving in unison must all be because of the former Alliance Leader's death.”
“That's right. The great mountain they never dared to challenge has disappeared.”
Elder Geum sighed briefly and handed me a piece of paper.
“This is the intelligence on their movements in the Shanxi Province area. Compare it with the intelligence you received from the Martial Arts Alliance.”
“Thank you.”
“Meeting you has caused me great losses. Right now, I'm giving you information worth at least twenty thousand taels for free.”
“I'll make sure you never regret this investment.”
“Gwahaha. I like that confidence of yours.”
Elder Geum, seemingly in a good mood, kept bursting into laughter.