Chapter 289
Chapter 289
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 289
Chapter Title: Spark
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The group believed that the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf deserved death for his crimes, but his evils didn't end there.
A similar situation had unfolded in the next village as well.
This time, six corpses dangled limply among the gently curved branches of willow trees. They were people who had even the slightest connection to Dang Mujin's group.
"That bastard looks like he needs his skull smashed with a club."
"...Amitabha."
In the past, when Beggars' Sect disciples spewed curses, the Shaolin monks would at least formally reprimand them. But not anymore.
The Shaolin monks and Beggars' Sect disciples carefully examined the bodies as they lowered them from the trees.
"These benefactors don't seem to have been dead for long either."
"Less than a day at the shortest. A day and a half at most..."
Since the villagers who had interacted with the group had been killed, they couldn't brazenly enter the village to stay or beg for food.
The group prepared to pass straight through without stopping.
But unexpectedly, the villagers approached them first. It was the first time since heading north.
"Please wait a moment!"
"...What is it?"
Expecting the villagers to hurl angry curses, Flower-Fire Old Beggar stepped forward to respond. Better him taking the abuse than anyone else.
Having lived his whole life as a beggar, Flower-Fire Old Beggar was used to taking verbal abuse from ordinary folk. He was even prepared to let them beat him with clubs a few times.
These were people who had lost neighbors and family. If taking a beating helped ease their pain, it wouldn't be so bad.
But their response was different from what he expected.
"Would you stay in our village?"
"Eh?"
Flower-Fire Old Beggar blankly echoed them.
No curses or clubbing—just a request to stay in the village.
And it didn't seem like a joke. Desperation filled the villagers' faces.
"Why would you say that?"
"The man who lost his ear killed our villagers and said as he left that he'd send his subordinates in a few days to kill ten more."
"Ah..."
If it were just anyone saying it, he'd dismiss it as bluffing. But given what the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf had already done, they couldn't take it lightly.
"Please. Protect our village so no more people die."
The group immediately understood why the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf had said that to the villagers.
His actions served two purposes.
First, by moving ahead and killing villagers, he hoped to make the group rush recklessly after him.
Second, by threatening to send subordinates later to kill more, he aimed to prevent the group from traveling at full strength.
They'd have to leave some people behind to protect the villagers.
Hearing this, Hyun-gong clicked his tongue.
"Cunning and thorough. Truly a beast of a man."
The Divine Monk spoke to the group, with the villagers at his back.
"Just to be sure, is there anyone here who doesn't know the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf is setting a trap?"
"No."
"Good, no need for long explanations. Our path forward is clear. We'll form a pursuit squad from the elite of elites, move as fast as possible, and take that bastard's head."
"What about those not in the pursuit squad?"
"Distribute them to the villages harmed by the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf to guard against any follow-up attacks. Blue Tiger, Blue Bell, Blue Ear! Go with the villagers!"
Flower-Fire Old Beggar asked the Divine Monk.
"Isn't leaving people behind and rushing after the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf exactly what he wants? Are we falling right into both schemes?"
"It's the only way to prevent harm to the innocent, so we have no choice but to break through head-on. Does anyone have a better idea?"
Shaolin, Beggars' Sect, Dang Mujin's group. Even Flower-Fire Old Beggar, who had raised the question, offered no objection.
Righteous warriors live up to the word "righteous" by choosing the proper path without hesitation, even knowing it's dangerous.
In such a situation, prioritizing one's own safety and shoving the risk onto others is the way of the unrighteous—the demonic sects.
However, hearing the Divine Monk, Flower-Fire Old Beggar fell into thought.
'...As expected, I should stay in the rear.'
He felt quite certain about the current situation.
When Geol-seon died chasing the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf, Light Flame Witch must have lent a hand.
And if he joined the pursuit squad now, he'd almost certainly clash with her. This was beyond suspicion—certainty.
Flower-Fire Old Beggar found that prospect uncomfortable.
Especially the idea of Light Flame Witch exposing their secret pact in front of everyone.
The best move here was to avoid facing her altogether.
At the same time, it would help the group.
Her trap likely involved him.
But if he wasn't there, the group wouldn't fall into it.
Just as Flower-Fire Old Beggar was about to hint at opting out of the pursuit squad, the Divine Monk pressed on without pause.
"The rest is dividing into the rear guard and pursuit squad. First, Shaolin and Beggars' Sect's core forces go to the pursuit squad. Me, Man-ryeok Monk Blue Jade, and Flower-Fire Old Beggar."
"Uh..."
"Dang benefactor, please join us. Your martial prowess is outstanding, and you have irreplaceable skills that will be a huge help. Nangong benefactor, you too. Agile and silent movement is the heart of pursuit. Ruleweed Beggar joins as well. Fixed Words too."
The thought that a strange person had slipped in crossed Flower-Fire Old Beggar's mind, but something far more important loomed now.
Resolving to endure the humiliation, Flower-Fire Old Beggar sent a transmission to the Divine Monk.
- Divine Monk, elder. Can't I join the rear guard?
- Denied. Ruleweed Beggar is coming—how would the Beggars' Sect feel if you bowed out? They'd think they're being excluded.
- But...
- As sect leader, you can't act on personal whims anymore. You need to realize you're the head of the Beggars' Sect now. Besides, your skills are quite solid.
Suddenly praised, Flower-Fire Old Beggar's mind grew even more tangled.
'Should I insist I can't go? Or secretly confess to the Divine Monk about what happened with Light Flame Witch?'
No matter how he thought, neither felt right. One wrong move, and he'd be branded a demonic spy, his head crushed by the Divine Monk's palm strike.
The odds of being suspected of colluding with Light Flame Witch to take Geol-seon's life were high too. A hundred out of a hundred.
Even as the Divine Monk finalized everything, Flower-Fire Old Beggar found no answer.
*
"The state of the bodies confirms we're closing in on the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf."
"Keep moving."
The group ran in a pack, leaving a few behind at each village they passed, then pressing on.
Dang Mujin grew uneasy as their fighting strength dwindled. When he voiced his subtle worry, Nangong Myeong and Hyun-gong replied. Unlike him, they showed no concern.
"Why worry? We're with Hong Geolgae."
"Right. He slips up here and there, but things always turn out well. What's with the sudden granny fuss?"
Hong Geolgae was an indispensable friend to Dang Mujin's group, but also a sort of human talisman.
Even when things looked dire, giving your all ensured a good outcome—that certainty stemmed from him.
His luck was that special. Less a talent or skill, more a bizarre phenomenon.
Traveling with him, you'd find the only inn within a hundred li in some remote valley.
Paths that seemed endlessly lost turned out to be shortcuts upon arrival.
The day you enter an inn, fresh ingredients arrive. Head to a tavern craving liquor, and it's the day the finest brew comes in. A chain of big and small fortunes.
Dang Mujin's group could fight like desperate men on the brink of death yet stay fearless partly thanks to Hong Geolgae. With him, they felt invincible.
Lately, though, Dang Mujin worried more. Hong Geolgae's luck didn't seem what it used to.
Even Hong Geolgae himself appeared to doubt it.
Dang Mujin's suspicions deepened recently—when they heard Geol-seon had died.
Hong Geolgae reaching the absolute peak swiftly was great luck, but different from before.
The absolute peak, reached with lingering regrets.
Luck that felt somehow incomplete.
Then news of Geol-seon's death. Luck now came with strange caveats.
But with a crucial battle ahead, Dang Mujin didn't want to dampen morale with ominous talk. He phrased it tactfully.
"Just... I wonder if we should charge in relying solely on Hong Geolgae's luck."
Hyun-gong snorted.
"No need to doubt. Take away his luck—what's left?"
It sounded like a massive insult at first.
But Hyun-gong only said such things when the target was ready to clap back.
Sure enough, Hong Geolgae tilted his chin arrogantly.
"What's left? The prowess of a 'master.'"
"Kuhuhu!"
Nangong Myeong and Hyun-gong chanted "Brother Hong, Brother Hong!" in perfect rhythm, sending Hong Geolgae's shoulders sky-high.
In the usual cheerful atmosphere, Dang Mujin shook off his worries.
'Well, luck with caveats is still luck. And no guarantee Geol-seon's death ties to Hong Geolgae. How far away was it? Linking everything to him would be abnormal.'
*
The group dwindled until only the Divine Monk's pursuit squad remained. Dang Mujin's four plus three others—seven total.
Soon after, they spotted faint human traces and halted.
Blurry footprints not yet fully covered by dust.
"The Blood-Faced Mad Wolf's footprints?"
"The direction's off a bit."
The footprints veered.
Until now, the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf had moved directly opposite the righteous warriors' path, but these headed into the nearby woods.
Dang Mujin scanned around and spotted a small dirt clod to the right of the prints.
He picked it up and examined it.
Dropping one or two water droplets on fine dust naturally forms a small clump.
This matched exactly. About half the size of a pinky nail.
Dang Mujin rubbed it lightly between his fingertips, brought it to his nose, and sniffed.
His sense of smell sharper than most, he caught a fishy scent from the tiny clod.
"Blood."
He checked the clod's position. One or two handspans from the footstep.
The scene formed in his mind.
A man strolling with sword in right hand. A drop of blood from the blade tip falls, drawing in surrounding dirt, slowly hardening into a clod.
Or blood dripping from cloth wrapped around his right ear. The severed ear wound wouldn't have healed yet.
Either way, high chance it was the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf.
"These footprints and blood seem to be his traces."
The Divine Monk nodded at Dang Mujin's words.
"Is that so. Follow at once."
The group entered the woods, tracking the signs.
Unsure where the enemy might spring from, the seven moved with extreme caution. Barely a breath sound.
Night insects kept chirping undisturbed. Their shrill chorus filled the air without cease.
Unbroken insect song in the woods was crucial. People approaching silenced insects first.
If the song continued unbroken, detecting intruders grew hard.
How long had they gone?
Suddenly, Nangong Myeong halted the group with a whisper.
"Halt."
"Something there?"
"People."
Nangong Myeong pointed into the dark, but nothing visible.
Dim crescent moon lit a pitch-black night. No fires, trees blocking everywhere. Seeing anything would be the anomaly.
His voice brimmed with certainty, so someone must be there.
Flower-Fire Old Beggar asked hesitantly.
"...How can you pierce this darkness?"
"Any Nangong family warrior has this much night vision."
Absurd claim, but as the sole Nangong here, they had to accept it.
The Divine Monk asked Nangong Myeong.
"Can you tell who it is in the dark?"
"I'll approach closer to check."
"Please. You're the best at sensing presences in darkness..."
Nangong Myeong moved even more stealthily than before. No twig snaps, no crunching old leaves.
Looking closely, his feet avoided crushing leaves. He literally walked atop them.
The Divine Monk and Man-ryeok Monk marveled.
"...Is the Nangong family's footwork that stealthy and light? I thought Nangong's Infinite Steps were fast and sturdy, but noisy and rigid in changes."
"I didn't know either. Broadens my horizons unexpectedly."
Nangong Myeong stopped at a distance, scrutinizing without closing in.
White cloth wrapped around his head, including where the right ear had been.
'It's the Blood-Faced Mad Wolf.'
Nangong Myeong considered advancing to strike, then changed mind.
Leave the finish to Dang Mujin. He'd hurl a flying wheel through the trees to sever the sleeping wolf's head.
Insect song still blared. Nangong Myeong carefully turned back.
In the dark, he saw the group's eyes watching him. Seven people. Fourteen eyes.
That realization hit, and sticky unease gripped him.
'The group including me makes seven?'
While he'd stepped away, someone had snuck close.
Then, faint moonlight glinted off a massive blade.
Nangong Myeong sucked in breath and yelled.
"Watch out! Behind!"
With his shout, the huge blade moved. Targeting the Divine Monk.
In life-or-death duels, missed sights meant relying on other senses to dodge. Veterans evaded by blade's wind alone.
The Divine Monk should dodge even a rear strike. Nangong Myeong believed so.
But the giant blade brought only a whistling—like wind or insects.
The sword's cut through air was faint, masked by fake insect noise.
Thus, the Divine Monk sensed it not by ear, but skin. Faint wind pressure, then blade piercing flesh.
The massive blade impaled the Divine Monk's back.