Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Demonic Cult
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A short while later, the Cult Leader's subordinate returned with three small pouches.
"This should be enough, right?"
Mok Wana also sidled up next to Dang Mujin. The two of them opened the pouches together.
The first pouch contained poisonous herbs. The second held medicinal herbs. The third was filled with venomous creatures.
Mok Wana peered inside the pouch of venomous creatures and wrinkled his nose.
"Ugh."
Even Mok Wana, who was used to such things, found the sight unpleasant. To Dang Mujin, it was downright revolting. Hundreds or thousands of live insects and snakes writhed together inside the pouch.
'These must be the poisons prepared as feed for the scavenger bird.'
If it had been ordinary insects or small animals mixed like this, they would have devoured each other in an instant, turning the pouch into a chaotic mess.
But the venomous creatures inside didn't eat one another. They simply squirmed.
Poison knows poison. Moreover, they instinctively knew there was no guarantee they could withstand another venomous creature's toxin just because they carried their own.
Dang Mujin nodded.
"This will be sufficient."
"Is that so? If you need more, tell me ahead of time. This was everything I had gathered. Collecting more will take some time."
"Understood."
The Cult Leader's subordinate left, and silence fell over the Poison Blood Pool. Mok Wana, who had been gauging the mood, approached and asked,
"That thing you said earlier... was it true?"
The question came out of nowhere, making it hard to grasp the meaning. Dang Mujin asked back.
"What?"
Mok Wana hesitated, speaking in a voice so small it could slip into a mouse hole.
"...That story from before."
Dang Mujin racked his memory. He recalled the conversation where the Cult Leader's subordinate had brought up marriage.
Now he understood the question. Mok Wana must have been bothered that such a topic was discussed without his consent.
Dang Mujin immediately waved it off.
"Sorry. I thought it would be easier for them that way to get what I wanted without raising suspicions. Don't worry too much."
"Worry? Hm..."
Mok Wana's reaction felt oddly nuanced.
"Why?"
"It's nothing. I just asked in case. Don't mind it."
Mok Wana said no more and shut himself in his little hideaway.
Dang Mujin pondered if he had done something else wrong. But nothing else came to mind.
'He must have been really upset... It'll blow over soon enough.'
Dang Mujin took a small portion of the venomous insects from the pouches and stepped out of the Poison Blood Pool.
*
Dang Mujin's footsteps led toward the Leader's Quarters. He could see the scavenger bird still perched on its roof. Before, the sight hadn't sparked any particular thoughts, but now he had a hunch.
Birds never stay still for long. Their restlessness far surpasses that of wild beasts or mountain animals.
Whether they have food or not makes no difference. Even when full, birds hop about; when hungry, they become even busier.
There was only one situation where such a bird would remain motionless: when brooding eggs.
Dang Mujin climbed a tree dozens of paces from the Leader's Quarters and quietly observed the scavenger bird.
After quite some time had passed, the scavenger bird shifted slightly to adjust its position.
In that moment, a glimpse of pink flesh appeared between the feathers on its chest.
'As expected.'
When birds brood, they often pluck the down from their own chests. For one reason: to transfer their body heat directly to the eggs.
The absence of feathers on the scavenger bird's chest meant it was brooding eggs as well.
With his suspicions confirmed, Dang Mujin approached the Leader's Quarters. With each step, the poisonous miasma grew thicker.
Unlike before, when he had to observe from thirty paces away, he could now venture within five paces and endure it reasonably well.
'I'll go all the way.'
Dang Mujin rummaged in his bosom and pulled out the poison-detecting liquor. The first time he encountered the conical-hatted stranger, he hadn't brought it, but the second time, when he eliminated the foe, he hadn't repeated the mistake.
Unlike before, the poison-detecting liquor had regained its pure white color.
It darkened as it absorbed poison but returned to white when left in a poison-free area.
Dang Mujin was about to put the poison-detecting liquor to his lips but felt uneasy and wiped it a couple more times with his sleeve.
'This should be fine.'
He bit down on the poison-detecting liquor with his lips and front teeth. Contrary to its appearance, it allowed air to pass through, and the air that entered via the liquor carried not a trace of poison.
Dang Mujin leaped onto the roof of the Leader's Quarters. The scavenger bird stared straight at him. Facing a bird as large as a man—even without its wings—was an odd sensation.
The scavenger bird tilted its head askew, as if displeased with something.
It seemed to realize he wasn't the usual feeder. Dang Mujin slightly opened the pouch to show the venomous contents inside and approached.
"Come on, dinner time. Who brings it shouldn't matter, right?"
A concave food bowl was already placed before the scavenger bird. Clear signs that someone had deliberately kept it pinned down.
Dang Mujin poured a heap of venomous creatures from the small pouch into the bowl. The scavenger bird, as if starved for days, pecked voraciously at the food.
While it was engrossed in eating, Dang Mujin gently parted the feathers under its belly. There lay an egg the size of a human head, faintly glowing blue.
He had hoped for a chance to snag a chick if luck was on his side, but that was impossible. Only the shell remained; the contents had long vanished.
A small hole pierced the bottom of the egg. Someone had evidently extracted everything through it.
Yet, to avoid detection by the scavenger bird, they had stuffed it with dirt, sand, and rice bran of appropriate weight and sealed the hole. Dang Mujin clicked his tongue.
'Thorough.'
Birds might be dim, but they don't brood rotten eggs.
If a rotten smell emanates, the parent abandons it by pecking it open.
Conversely, some birds will brood a scentless egg for a month or even a year.
'Even in death, brood the egg to the end, huh.'
The scavenger bird was pitiable, but he had confirmed everything needed. Dang Mujin descended from the roof and returned to the Poison Blood Pool.
*
Even while staying in the Poison Blood Pool, Dang Mujin occasionally descended to the village to gauge the atmosphere.
The village mood was chaotic enough for outsiders to notice.
People huddled in groups, whispering while eyeing each other. Corpses or bloodstains occasionally appeared. No doubt Demonic Cult disciples from the Law Faction who had rebelled against the new Cult Leader and paid the price.
As he bought sundries for daily needs, Dang Mujin asked the merchants,
"Have you seen the Grand Protector today... no, the Cult Leader?"
The merchant, clearly displeased with the new Cult Leader, replied in a voice laced with irritation.
"Today? Yeah, I saw him. He roams the village two or three times a day, morning and evening. Not buying anything—beats me why he wanders so much."
"Hm."
It had been three days since the former Grand Protector slew the previous Cult Leader and claimed the throne.
The Cult Leader prowled the village, occasionally holding minor events or ceremonies. It seemed a process to solidify his influence and assert his presence.
Chewing on dried fruit, Dang Mujin thought,
'The Cult Leader will soon seclude himself.'
He was one of the world's top martial artists, and now he had obtained a peerless manual to boot.
For now, he was stabilizing the Demonic Cult with external activities, but the time would come when he secluded to master the art perfectly. Especially since he had seized control through raw power.
On the fifth day after the Grand Protector took the throne, the Cult Leader's outings ceased.
Dang Mujin watched quietly for a day. But two days passed, then three, with no sightings reported.
Instead, the Right Protector, Left Protector, and occasionally an unfamiliar transcendent expert paraded the streets to assert presence.
'He's probably in closed-door training.'
He'd emerge stronger, but no need to worry about that now.
'Must find Elder Three-Eyed before it's too late.'
To win over Elder Three-Eyed, the Cult Leader had subdued rather than killed him on the platform.
He might kill him if he held out, but for now, he was alive and imprisoned somewhere.
Dang Mujin's escape plan from Heavenly Mountain was simple: cause a commotion, rescue Elder Three-Eyed, and use his prowess to flee the vicinity.
'An elder like Three-Eyed, used to escapes, can surely handle one more like me.'
The problem: he didn't know exactly where Elder Three-Eyed was held. The Demonic Cult surely had a prison, but its location eluded him.
'Grab anyone and ask? No, that's a last resort. Some way... Aha!'
Dang Mujin sought out the Cult Leader's subordinate who had provided the venomous insects.
"What is it? Why'd you come?"
"I have an urgent request."
The subordinate frowned.
"Urgent? I told you to give notice for venomous insects. Even rushing takes five or ten days."
"No, it's not insects. I need something else."
"What?"
"A person. Someone trained in martial arts."
As Dang Mujin spoke in a low, steady voice, the subordinate asked back.
"A person? For what reason?"
"I'm a physician—what other reason? Whether researching medicine or poison, humans are the benchmark."
As Dang Mujin muddied the explanation, the subordinate looked exasperated.
"I thought you were just a young physician, but you're no lightweight. Even the infamous Demonic Physician didn't seek test subjects this quickly."
"Well, I've come all the way from home to distant Heavenly Mountain—no reason to hold back. Might as well gather knowledge while the opportunity lasts."
With a suitable excuse, the subordinate clicked his tongue without suspicion.
"You're lucky. If you'd said this under the previous Cult Leader, trouble would've brewed. The Demonic Physician went out himself to procure subjects back then."
"Conversely, doesn't that mean I can get them now?"
"Sharp one. You knew, huh? So many rebelled against the Cult Leader and got caught—the prison's bursting. A few vanishing won't raise eyebrows."
Mentioning experiments naturally brought to mind those whose deaths wouldn't cause issues.
To Dang Mujin, the first thought upon such a request would be prisoners. Those locked in the state prison.
And fortunately, things were heading his way.
"Could I use martial artists as subjects, by chance?"
"How high in skill?"
Mentioning transcendent would seem too contrived.
Dang Mujin proposed a moderate level—enough to be segregated from ordinary prisoners but not elite.
"First-rate is sufficient. If that's too much, a solid second-rate works."
"Got it. I'll check with superiors and bring one to the Poison Blood Pool tomorrow. One enough?"
Of course, it wouldn't go smoothly. Dang Mujin needed the state prison's location, not a martial artist subject. Delivering a prisoner directly would complicate things.
"One is enough. But could I see and select the prisoner myself?"
The subordinate eyed Dang Mujin.
'Suspicious?'
Dang Mujin's heart sank, but he kept a calm face.
Fortunately, the subordinate deemed it reasonable.
"No reason not to. I was heading to the prison anyway—come along."
"Ah, really?"
"Yeah. I'm not without pull, but they won't just nod from afar. Follow me."
The subordinate led Dang Mujin casually up Heavenly Mountain.
Past the Demonic Cult's main base where the Leader's Quarters stood, deeper in, they reached a place ringed by sheer rock pillars.
Block the entrance, and no escape—nature's own prison.
'No wonder I couldn't find it till now. Who'd expect it here?'
Two broad buildings of thick stone and iron stood there. The guards at one building exuded particularly high skill. At least three peak experts visible.
Tension subtly etched their faces.
Seeing that, Dang Mujin inwardly cheered. What else could make three peak experts tense but the prisoner inside?
'Perfect.'
The subordinate chatted with a warden, then beckoned Dang Mujin and entered.
Unlike the Emei Sect's surprisingly comfortable underground state prison, this surface one reeked of dampness and biting chill despite being aboveground.
At least forty prisoners crammed inside, two or three per cell.
Dang Mujin feigned a cruel expression, embodying a mad physician eager for human experimentation.
The prisoners meeting his eyes shrank back, sensing something ominous.
The warden said to Dang Mujin,
"Any first-rate or below—pick one. We'll pierce and chain their limbs; no rebellion possible."
The warden, innately cruel, boasted of brutality without shame. Dang Mujin inwardly tsked but responded smoothly.
"My thanks for the consideration. If any ailment arises, visit the Poison Blood Pool anytime. I must repay the favor."
Physicians were scarce on Heavenly Mountain. Unlike brawling martial artists, they rarely fled after mishaps.
Pleased by the goodwill, the warden smiled contentedly.
"But peak or above—even restrained—might overwhelm you. Pick from around here."
"Understood."
Dang Mujin scanned the cowering prisoners, glancing inward now and then.
In the deepest cell, a foot protruded—fully half again larger than average. Undoubtedly Elder Three-Eyed.
'Great.'
Dang Mujin straightened and pointed at a suitable one.
"This one, please."
"Merely second-rate?"
"It's fine. It's not inner force quantity but constitution that matters. I can handle him alone—no need for limb piercings."
"I see. Very well."
As they turned to leave, Dang Mujin heard a familiar voice.
"...You said to trust only you? Bragging about being the world's luckiest or whatever."
"Who was it strutting like a top expert, only to crumble against three?"
"If your skills matched mine, we'd have crushed three easily. For real."
Dang Mujin doubted his ears and glanced at the source. A familiar voice led to familiar faces.
'Why are those guys here?'
Two cells from Elder Three-Eyed's: Namgung Myeong and Hong Geolgae were imprisoned.