Chapter 265
Chapter 265
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 265
Chapter Title: Infiltration
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Even though Dang Mujin had promised to help Ilsunja, the fact that Ilsunja had come straight to the Tang Clan Manor without stopping by the Qingcheng Sect or Emei Sect was meaningful in several ways.
If Ilsunja had judged the gap between the Tang Clan Manor and the Qingcheng Sect or Emei Sect to be too vast, he would have headed to the Qingcheng Sect or Emei Sect first before visiting the Tang Clan Manor.
In other words, in Ilsunja's view, the Tang Clan Manor was a force that did not yield to the Emei Sect or Qingcheng Sect, and Dang Mujin was a big enough figure to serve as a connection to Elder Yeongheo and Abbess Hyangbaek.
Dang Mujin realized this fact a bit late. To be precise, after he had already sent someone to deliver the message to the Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect.
'Since when did I become someone who could summon the sect leaders of the Qingcheng Sect and Emei Sect at will?'
Of course, it wasn't a one-sided command but more like a request. Still, the fact remained that it was something unimaginable in the past.
*
The next day, in the evening, Qingcheng Sect Leader Elder Yeongheo and Emei Sect's Golden Justice Hall Master Abbess Myeongryeon arrived at the Tang Clan Manor.
Abbess Myeongryeon had a subtle bad history of once imprisoning Dang Mujin in the underground chamber of the Golden Justice Hall, but Dang Mujin did not pay much mind to it. He knew it had not been done out of malice.
However, Abbess Myeongryeon seemed burdened by the fact, subtly avoiding Dang Mujin's gaze.
'If that's the case, she should have sent someone else...'
Ilsunja, lacking any leisure of mind, got straight to the point as soon as people gathered.
"I believe you can guess why this beggar has come."
Elder Yeongheo nodded, as did Abbess Myeongryeon.
Ilsunja shared only the essential information they needed to know.
"A group of northern unorthodox warriors has once again occupied the Gongdong Sect. The Zhongnan Sect and Huashan Sect have interpreted this as a sign that the unorthodox forces are rising in earnest. We desperately need your help."
His attitude was humble, as if he had forgotten his position as the Zhongnan Sect Leader.
This also meant that Ilsunja was under immense mental pressure.
Indeed, responding with pride in such a situation could spell the end of the Zhongnan Sect's history.
Elder Yeongheo readily agreed.
"Among the Qingcheng Sect Daoists, I will select those who can head north immediately to provide aid and have them arrive at the Tang Clan Manor by the day after tomorrow. It won't be mere show, so do not worry greatly."
However, Abbess Myeongryeon's response was different.
"Sect Leader Abbess Hyangbaek has entered secluded training to prepare for the coming crisis but suffered internal injuries, so it will be difficult to provide immediate assistance."
"What?!"
It was completely unexpected news.
Elder Yeongheo could not hide his astonishment.
"Is Abbess Hyangbaek's condition serious?"
"She will have difficulty moving for the time being. The reason I have come in her place is precisely because of that."
Sustaining internal injuries during cultivation was not a simple matter like catching a cold or indigestion.
If the qi and blood were disrupted to the point of vomiting blood, that would be fortunate. In severe cases, it could lead to mental confusion or even loss of life.
Dang Mujin spoke to Abbess Myeongryeon.
"Would you perhaps need the help of a physician?"
"Fortunately, she has passed the critical stage. The physicians say she will recover fully with time and rest, so we do not need assistance right now."
Elder Yeongheo and Ilsunja looked relieved, but Dang Mujin felt something off.
Abbess Hyangbaek was someone who knew well the extent of Dang Mujin's medical skills. She also knew that Dang Mujin could provide significant help to a martial artist with internal injuries.
Conversely, this meant that Abbess Hyangbaek, knowing Dang Mujin could help, had not sought his assistance.
This implied one of two things.
Either Dang Mujin's help was truly not needed, or she was faking an illness because she did not want to go to the Zhongnan Sect.
Dang Mujin's reason told him that a sect leader of her stature would not feign illness, but his intuition whispered otherwise.
'Isn't the timing a bit too coincidental?'
'Abbess Hyangbaek wasn't exactly thrilled about attending the last Wudang Mountain conference either. Think about how burdened she felt being among the other sect leaders. Isn't she just faking illness this time to avoid it altogether?'
'A sect leader wouldn't feign illness? That could happen. But look back at all the people you've met so far. Everyone has some flaw in their character, big or small.'
Dang Mujin's thoughts leaned more toward intuition than reason.
His experience meeting countless people, combined with a physician's instinct for spotting malingerers, was solidifying his gut feeling.
'The probability that Abbess Hyangbaek is feigning illness is about seventy or eighty percent.'
However, upon second thought, even if Abbess Hyangbaek was faking it, nothing would change.
Abbess Myeongryeon had already firmly stated that no help was needed. Going to the Emei Sect with an attitude of distrusting her words would be a massive discourtesy, and if Abbess Hyangbaek was truly recovering from internal injuries, it would make the situation even worse.
'Abbess Hyangbaek is still young. She'll serve as Emei Sect Leader for at least another twenty years. It's not good to sour relations now.'
Thus, Dang Mujin gave a brief response.
"We hope for her swift recovery. If you ever need help, please let us know at any time."
"Thank you. Excluding the sect leader, the Emei Sect has five peak-level experts, so we can dispatch two of them to the Zhongnan Sect, excluding those absolutely necessary."
Abbess Myeongryeon's voice carried a subtle gloom. It seemed one of the two already decided for dispatch to the Zhongnan Sect was herself.
Elder Yeongheo, after a moment's thought, replied.
"No. With your sect leader bedridden, it wouldn't look right to pull your people away. The Qingcheng Sect will provide a few more, so have the Emei Sect remain in Chengdu."
A flash of clear anticipation crossed Abbess Myeongryeon's eyes. It seemed he had guessed correctly.
Dang Mujin added his own words.
"I think that's the right call as well. In return, if the Emei Sect keeps an eye out to ensure no issues arise for the Qingcheng Sect and Tang Clan Manor, it will lead to good results for everyone."
Abbess Myeongryeon looked at Dang Mujin with eyes full of gratitude, as if repenting her past mistake and ready to lock herself in the Golden Justice Hall underground.
'She really didn't want to go to the Zhongnan Sect.'
Ilsunja did not mind much either. It was better to entrust Sichuan to the Emei Sect as Elder Yeongheo suggested and receive additional reinforcements from the Qingcheng Sect than to squeeze a small number from the Emei Sect.
"The Qingcheng Sect will leave only one peak-level expert in Sichuan Province and gather as many movable personnel as possible."
"That would be more than we could ask for."
Now it was Dang Mujin's turn.
"How many personnel does the Tang Clan Manor need to mobilize?"
Before Elder Yeongheo and Abbess Myeongryeon arrived, Ilsunja had stayed one day at the Tang Clan Manor, observing its people.
Not only Dang Mujin and his friends from before, but also Three-Eyed Monk, Jang Il-nam, and numerous Demonic Cult warriors. This level of force would be an immense help.
However, the Tang Clan Manor's forces had a sticky point.
Bloodied Guest Jang Il-nam had no grudge against righteous sect warriors, but his unorthodox origins were concerning.
Suspicious gazes would fall on him, inevitably causing discord around him.
The situation was even worse for the Demonic Cult warriors led by Three-Eyed Monk.
They had been quiet in recent years, but Three-Eyed Monk had built his infamy by killing righteous sect warriors.
The Shaolin Temple and Three-Eyed Monk were in complete enmity, and rumor had it that even the Jeongseng Sect viewed him unkindly.
It was certain that Three-Eyed Monk would stir up even greater waves than Jang Il-nam.
'Preventing internal division takes priority, even if it means receiving less help. Besides, with the Qingcheng Sect stepping up aggressively, we've already received far more support than expected.'
After a concise judgment, Ilsunja spoke to Dang Mujin.
"The help of the Tang Clan Manor Lord and his three friends should suffice."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. Your four individuals' skills are so outstanding that they compare favorably even to a full mobilization from a major sect."
"I'm worried it places too much burden on the Qingcheng Sect."
Elder Yeongheo, who had been listening to Ilsunja and Dang Mujin, burst into hearty laughter.
"I have my own schemes in stepping forward like this, so do not worry. The Zhongnan Sect readily promised to strike the Demonic Cult together, so if we show sincerity first, they should return even greater aid, like incurring a debt of gratitude."
"Haha! Is that so?"
Thanks to the two showing goodwill once more, the conversation ended in an extremely harmonious atmosphere.
A discussion where no one was dissatisfied.
Exactly two days later, Dang Mujin and his group departed Sichuan Province, blending in among the Qingcheng Sect Daoists along with Ilsunja.
*
Since Ilsunja wanted to check what had happened in his absence, the group headed not straight to Mount Zhongnan but to the area near Pingliang County at the base of Mount Gongdong.
As they walked, Namgung Myeong grumbled.
"What I'm saying is, you should at least ask for my opinion before deciding to go. Do you know how it feels to get notified in the middle of a meal?"
Before Dang Mujin could respond, Hyeon-gong interjected on his behalf.
"Whether you knew or not, the result would've been going anyway. Where's the time to go back and forth looking for you during the meeting?"
Unlike Namgung Myeong, who had little interest in the Gongdong Sect's fate, Hyeon-gong had to head to Mount Zhongnan immediately for the Wudang Sect's sake. He had finally been promised the successor sect leader position; nothing could be more frustrating than trouble arising in the Wudang Sect.
Guessing such backstory, Namgung Myeong was not easily persuaded and kept grumbling.
"This is a pretty important matter. I might not have wanted to go to the Zhongnan Sect."
This time, Hong Geolgae interjected.
"You were obviously bored out of your mind lately; there's no way you wouldn't come. Besides, even if you stayed in Chengdu, you wouldn't have spent the time constructively."
"Me?"
"Yes."
Namgung Myeong shut his mouth and reflected on his recent days.
Had Namgung Myeong, the eldest son of the great Namgung family, been so idle as to be criticized by a beggar like Hong Geolgae?
Unfortunately, it was an undeniable fact. It had been quite some time since there were no worthwhile targets left to plunder in Sichuan Province.
To gain constructive experience—that is, the thrill of a good heist—Namgung Myeong had to leave Sichuan Province.
Sichuan Province had become too narrow a nest for a bird like Namgung Myeong.
"Well, you're not wrong."
The moment Namgung Myeong spoke, the group's steps halted.
Ilsunja spoke to the others.
"If we enter Pingliang County, we might catch the eye of Gongdong Sect warriors, so let's stay here for the night."
"Brother Ilsunja, how do you plan to scout Pingliang County from here?"
Over the past few days of travel together, the distance between Ilsunja and Elder Yeongheo had grown quite close. Though their age difference was not great, Ilsunja respectfully addressed Elder Yeongheo as elder brother.
Being in the position of receiving aid, and with Elder Yeongheo's superior martial prowess, Ilsunja had no complaints.
"We should send the least suspicious-looking people into Pingliang County."
"The least suspicious people..."
The group's gazes naturally turned to Dang Mujin and his companions.
The reason was simple. Everyone else present was a Daoist.
People's atmospheres vary by occupation. And Daoists had a particularly thick aura unique to them.
It wasn't just about clothing.
A neat impression and well-groomed beard. A voice subtly leisurely, like an immortal at play.
Yet with a firm mouth and expression, slightly stiff movements. Finally, combined with the faint herbal scent, it made a complete Daoist.
In contrast, Dang Mujin and his group clearly lacked any Daoist vibe, so they were inevitably selected.
Ilsunja approached Dang Mujin with a trusting expression.
"Tang Clan Manor Lord, could you and your friends check the atmosphere in Pingliang County and the Gongdong Sect's situation?"
"It's no difficult task."
"Thank you. If you sense any danger, withdraw immediately. Standing and fighting isn't the only virtue."
Dang Mujin and his three friends waited for the surroundings to darken before infiltrating Pingliang County.
What was unusual was that Hyeon-gong, a Daoist, was naturally included in the scouting team. Even Ilsunja and the Qingcheng Sect Daoists took it for granted.
When Dang Mujin voiced his doubt, Hyeon-gong answered matter-of-factly.
"I'm still young, so the typical Daoist aura hasn't fully settled in me yet."
It wasn't very convincing.
Elder Yeongheo's disciple Jin-hae was not much older than Hyeon-gong, yet unlike him, Jin-hae looked every bit the Daoist to anyone.
Jin-hae had a straight back and neck that seemed unyielding no matter what came, and his eyes were remarkably clear.
Reading the mood, Hyeon-gong added one more line.
"Besides, do you know how many years it's been since I left Wudang Mountain? I used to be as stiff as Jin-hae back then. I've softened up lately."
No one could really relate to that either.
In retrospect, Hyeon-gong had always seemed somewhat odd from their first meeting. Outwardly a clear Daoist, but his Daoist aura was remarkably faint.
If Namgung Myeong hadn't recognized him, the group would have assumed Hyeon-gong was impersonating a Daoist.
Hong Geolgae made a deflating sound.
"Shh. Be quiet now."
Namgung Myeong pulled out four black masks from his bosom and handed them to the group. The four donned them skillfully.
No need for conversation or transmission techniques.
The four silhouettes leaped onto the roof of a nearby building simultaneously, soon melting into the night of Pingliang County, where not even the moon had risen.