Chapter 35
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35
The Great Martial Dao outpost in Aegul County was vastly different from the one in Namsan Valley.
Befitting a city of its status, the outpost was magnificent—a grand three-story building crowned with a tiled roof adorned in vibrant dancheong paint.
A stone tablet engraved with the emblem of the Great Martial Dao stood at the main entrance. Inside, the bustling activity of numerous people was kept to a hushed murmur.
The moment Ise knocked on the main gate, an Outer Gate affiliate hurried out to greet them.
"We have been expecting you. Please, follow me inside. I ask that you keep your voices down."
His demeanor was polite but far from servile. He didn't even offer his name, only a request for silence—a stark contrast to the warm hospitality Hong Sa-deuk had shown them back in Namsan Valley.
They quickly understood the reason for his caution from his next words.
"A Foundation Establishment Cultivator dispatched from the main mountain is currently staying here on a mission. Please refrain from making any noise."
It made sense for such a large outpost to host another cultivator, but this wasn't just someone at the Qi Refining Stage. This was a Foundation Establishment expert. As the core martial force of the Great Martial Dao, it was only natural for them to receive top priority.
"A Foundation Establishment senior is here?" Ise asked.
"Yes. As chance would have it, two missions arose in this region at the same time."
Ise paused to think before asking the Outer Gate affiliate, "Would it be alright if we paid our respects to the senior cultivator?"
If they ended up crossing paths later, showing courtesy in advance was the wiser choice. The rest of the team nodded in agreement, silently waiting for the affiliate's answer.
"I will ask him and guide you inside if he approves. As for your mission regarding the Death Wind Black Tiger, a re-investigation is currently underway. Since we are prioritizing the Foundation Establishment cultivator's mission, it may take some time. I hope you understand."
"Understood."
The Outer Gate affiliate bowed respectfully and hurried back inside. A short while later, he returned with word that the senior cultivator had granted them an audience.
Following the affiliate to a guest room on the second floor of the main building, they found a male cultivator with sharp, defined features leisurely sipping tea.
"Welcome, come in. You wanted to greet me? What polite juniors."
"Greetings, Senior. I am Initiate Disciple Ise."
Following Ise's lead, the four initiate disciples introduced themselves one by one.
"I am Kwak Chan. Have a seat, make yourselves comfortable. Would you like a cup of tea?"
"No, Senior. How could we dare sit in your presence?"
"What? Hahaha! Initiate disciples these days are so strict about discipline. It's good to see, but I'm really not a difficult person to be around."
Kwak Chan was much more easygoing than they had expected. Appearing to be in his early thirties, he had a neat, handsome appearance with deep laugh lines crinkling around his eyes.
As the four stood rigid and tense before a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Kwak Chan waved his hand dismissively.
"If you act so stiffly, it makes me uncomfortable. Sit, relax."
Refusing repeatedly would be its own form of rudeness, so the four settled into neat, seated positions. After pouring and handing them each a cup of tea, Kwak Chan asked nonchalantly, "So, what kind of mission brings four initiate disciples here together?"
"It's a follow-up mission regarding the death of a fellow disciple," Ise replied. "We intend to recover the body and identify the fierce beast responsible."
"Ah... recovering a body. You have a tough job ahead of you."
Kwak Chan fiddled with his teacup for a moment before speaking in an intentionally light tone.
"I'm currently tracking the tail of a Demonic Path Sect that has appeared near here."
At the mention of a Demonic Path Sect, all four froze instantly.
These were groups that had deviated from the orthodox Dao of Cultivation to routinely practice Demonic Arts and foul sorcery. While they had encountered rogue individuals like Kim Si-won who dabbled in Demonic Arts, an entire sect was a completely different beast.
"Are you referring to the Cheolyang Lightning Sect?"
"That's right."
It was a faction that had crossed over from the Jeong Kingdom, disrupting the order of the Three Peninsular Kingdoms and openly challenging the authority of the Great Martial Dao. They were effectively the greatest threat to the cultivators of the sect.
Seeing their tense reactions, Kwak Chan chuckled softly.
"Ah, was this supposed to be a secret? Well, since they're operating nearby, it's probably better that you know anyway."
"We will keep this strictly confidential," Ise promised.
"Good. Just move carefully when performing your mission. When mission areas overlap, sometimes the two incidents turn out to be connected. Be extra cautious, and if you spot anything strange, let me know immediately."
"We will keep that in mind."
"And if you need help, don't hesitate to ask."
It was impossible to tell whether the Foundation Establishment cultivator's advice stemmed purely from kindness or if he had actually sensed an underlying connection between their missions. Nonetheless, just knowing a reliable senior was nearby brought them a great deal of relief.
* * *
The Outer Gate affiliate informed them that because they were prioritizing Cultivator Kwak Chan's matters, it would take about two days to deliver the updated investigative information on their target.
While it felt a bit like being pushed to the back of the line, the outpost's hospitality was nothing to complain about. They were provided with splendid meals, comfortable sleeping quarters, and access to a luxurious hot spring the likes of which they had never experienced in their lives.
After telling the other three to prepare their gear for the mission, Ise informed them that he would be stepping out for a while.
As soon as he left the outpost, he pulled out the Pine Branch he kept safely tucked in his robes. It contained a map indicating the location where Scholar Wisaeng had reburied his family's graves.
Since it wasn't far, he decided to visit them while he had some free time.
After walking for about four hours outside the city limits, a public cemetery came into view, resting on a sunny slope at the foot of a mountain.
The burial site was maintained much better than he had expected. The burial mounds were neatly shaped and firmly packed, and aside from a little moss growing over the names engraved on the headstones, nothing was damaged.
It was a resting place far too dignified for common folk who had scraped by a living from the dirt.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Ise slowly fell to his knees.
He didn't intend to stay long. Instead of speaking, he gently brushed his palm over the earth of the mounds and laid the chrysanthemums he had brought before the gravestones.
'I am doing well. I won't be able to visit often, but I will try my best.'
Ise's forehead slowly touched the ground. Once. Twice. He continued to bow deeply for a long time, silently praying for their peaceful repose.
Quite some time passed before he finally stood up again.
"You've grown quite dignified."
At the sudden voice, Ise spun around reflexively. Scholar Wisaeng was standing just three steps behind him.
'...I didn't sense his presence at all.'
Was it because he had grown emotional before the graves? Or was it because the man before him was merely a mortal, completely devoid of Spiritual Energy, Demonic Energy, or even Turbid Qi?
Vowing never again to lose focus to the point of dulling his Dokkaebi Sense, Ise stared at the scholar.
"Scholar Wisaeng. It has been a long time."
Wisaeng still had the appearance of a scholar whose exact age was impossible to guess. A faint scent of ink wafted from him, as if he had only just put down his brush.
"The Great Martial Dao uniform suits you well. So, you became a cultivator after all. Your body looks sturdy as well." Wisaeng slowly scanned Ise up and down. "When I saw you before, you looked somewhat sharp and on edge, but now you seem quite composed."
"I owe you a great debt of gratitude, Scholar. Thank you for taking such good care of the graves as well."
"What I did was nothing." Wisaeng smiled faintly as he looked at the gravestones. "Your family must be pleased to see how well you have grown."
A brief gust of wind blew past. For a moment, only the sound of rustling grass filled the space between them.
"Ah, by the way, how is Master Mongryeon doing?" Wisaeng asked.
"You know my master?"
"Of course. She is quite a famous figure around these parts."
"Is that so? I haven't seen her since entering the Great Martial Dao either, but I'm sure she is doing well. She is strong, after all."
It was a fond, nostalgic name. Though only a few months had passed, merely uttering her name warmed his heart.
The two exchanged light conversation in front of the gravestones. Wisaeng was plain and softly spoken as always, while Ise shared news of his recent circumstances with utmost courtesy toward the benefactor he hadn't seen in so long.
"If you ever need help with anything, submit a request to the Great Martial Dao and specifically name me. I will fulfill your request before anyone else's."
Initiate disciples could not accept private requests directly, but they were allowed to accept designated requests made through official channels.
Scratching his head somewhat bashfully, Ise added, "I am always waiting for a chance to repay my debt to you."
"That is reassuring."
Wisaeng chuckled softly. It was the same smile Ise had seen when they first met—a gentle expression where only the corners of his lips curled up slightly.
* * *
By the time he returned to the outpost, Cultivator Kwak Chan had already departed for his mission. The Outer Gate affiliate delivered the updated information the following morning.
"Additional traces of the Death Wind Black Tiger have been confirmed in the Mount Aegul region, northeast of Aegul County. The last search area where the late Cultivator Yeom Bo is presumed to have died is also nearby. However, several mortals we dispatched to scout have gone missing... so further investigation on our end is difficult."
"Understood. We will investigate the area directly."
"I apologize for the inconvenience. Here are the map and the investigative report. I will also provide you with plenty of Messenger Talismans attuned to this location. If you require assistance, please contact us right away."
"Yes, thank you."
After quickly scanning the report, the four initiate disciples moved out immediately.
As they entered the dense forested area of Mount Aegul, Pi Ga-ram stepped to the front. The specialty of the Dark Snake lay in tracking and stealth. His sharp eyes began sweeping over the tracks on the ground.
Broken twigs. Faint footprints stamped in the dirt. Traces of bodily fluids left on blades of grass. Excrement.
Usually a guy with little presence, the moment he began tracking, Pi Ga-ram moved with uncanny agility, as if possessed. Though Ise had also studied Dark Snake techniques, Pi Ga-ram's depth of skill was on a completely different level.
Penetrating quickly and covertly deep into the mountains, Pi Ga-ram finally spoke to Ise, his tone certain.
"There are two types of footprints presumed to belong to the Death Wind Black Tiger. It looks like there are two of them."
"Two?" Ise asked.
"Yeah. One looks like a juvenile, and the other an adult."
Ise knitted his brows. This directly contradicted the information he possessed.
"The Death Wind Black Tiger is a highly territorial, solitary Demon Ghost. If two were in the same territory, they would normally fight to the death."
"Could it be a mother and her cub?" Seol Ryeong suggested.
Ise shook his head. "Those beasts abandon their young as soon as they are born and immediately relocate to a new habitat. They are Demon Ghosts, completely devoid of maternal instinct or familial affection."
It was a definitive anomaly. Ise wrote down the details of this phenomenon and activated a Messenger Talisman, sending it back to the Great Martial Dao outpost.
"The threat level of a juvenile is Grade 8, but an adult reaches up to Grade 6. Still, with our current combat power, it's not an impossible matchup. Let's keep moving."
Ise neatly assessed the situation and ordered them to resume the search.
He had witnessed the power of a Grade 6 Aseongyongma back during his time at the Ghost-Guarding Temple. Furthermore, during a recent mission, they had faced a Grade 6 Demonic Beast stationed right beside a target originally thought to be Grade 8.
Though it had been a struggle, it was well within their power to handle. This was especially true now that he was accompanied by companions who wielded four ghost treasures, including his own Twin Sickle Spirit Domain Uprising.
An adult Death Wind Black Tiger forms Bone Paste, a type of Demon Core. Mixing that Bone Paste with its heart and liver to create a cured paste produces an extraordinarily potent Spirit Food. It was a valuable cultivation resource far too good to miss out on.
Of course, the bizarre coexistence of two individuals remained a factor that required extreme caution.
About fifteen minutes after Ise made his decision and resumed the search, thick Demonic Energy spilled out from the edge of a rocky mountain where craggy cliffs shot upward.
"It's a Demon Ghost," Ise warned.
At his brief warning, Hong Won-seo and Pi Ga-ram reflexively fell back into formation, while Seol Ryeong pulled out her talismans.
However, the creature that appeared was not a Death Wind Black Tiger.
It was a massive bird of prey resembling an eagle. The Six Virtues Guard. A Grade 7 Demonic Beast.
Known by the grand title 'King of Raptors'—an absurdly lofty name for a mere Qi Refining Stage Demon Ghost—the creature had arrived like an uninvited pest. The beast, which was said to prey even on tigers, rolled its fierce eyes before snapping its massive wings wide open.
It was a clear display of threat. Of course, Ise had no intention of letting go of free poultry that had practically delivered itself to his doorstep.
"Just support me. I'll take care of it," Ise said curtly.
He launched himself off the ground. At the exact same moment, the Six Virtues Guard spread its wings and plummeted straight down toward him, razor-sharp talons outstretched.
Closing the distance in an instant with his Dokkaebi Footwork, Ise honed the blade of his Small Axe with surging Spiritual Energy.
The two clashed fiercely.
Spiritual Energy extended from his left hand—which gripped his shield—wrapping around the Six Virtues Guard like a spiderweb. As the raptor flipped upside down in a split second to evade, the Small Axe in Ise's right hand struck down toward its beak.
He aimed for its most vulnerable spot: its white nape.
Targeting the weakness with pinpoint accuracy, the axe blade bit mercilessly into its flesh. In that instant, the Six Virtues Guard realized that something had gone horribly wrong.
It shrieked, scattering Demonic Energy as it desperately attempted to take flight. But before it could escape, the Twin Sickle Spirit Domain Uprising strapped to Ise's back plunged straight into it. The beast's wings lost all power mid-ascension, and it crumpled to the ground.
Seizing the opening, Ise's Small Axe cleaved cleanly through its neck. Only the raptor's severed head remained pinned beneath the Small Axe, dripping with dark blood.
A single instant.
That was all the time it had taken him to hunt down a Grade 7 Demonic Beast.
When Ise held the beast's severed head high to show his companions, the expressions on all three of their faces contorted in simultaneous shock.