Chapter 290
Chapter 290
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 290
Chapter Title: Ember
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Shin Seung extended both hands backward, shoving away the man who had approached from behind.
His opponent leaped back to evade Shin Seung's hands, but he didn't retreat obediently. He had twisted his blade and drawn his sword.
As the sword was unsheathed, the wound tore open once more, and Shin Seung spat up blood with a pained expression. Cough, cough.
The incident had unfolded so stealthily that everyone except Namgung Myeong noticed a beat late.
Dang Mujin immediately checked Shin Seung's wound. A hole pierced from back to front, blood streaming out steadily.
Even immediate treatment might not save his life—a fatal injury. And to make matters worse, there was no opportunity to treat him right now.
Dang Mujin confirmed the face of the man who had fallen back. He recognized a face he'd glimpsed briefly at the Demonic Cult.
A soft, composed impression like a scholar or official. Not particularly large in build, better suited to holding a brush than a sword.
Yet that sword was enormous, its blade riddled with small holes. Whenever the wind blew, it emitted strange sounds resembling chirping insects or mountain birds.
The scholar-like man shook the blood from his sword and spoke.
"Shin Seung, is that enough for you? That one over there must be Manryeokseung. I don't know the rest. Ah, you're familiar, aren't you? Though we never exchanged names."
The man's gaze turned to Dang Mujin. Hyeon Gong whispered quickly to him.
"Someone you know?"
"A Demonic Cult Absolute Peak Expert—Blazing Asura."
A faint sigh echoed from somewhere.
Everyone had harbored a subtle hope.
No way that guy is an Absolute Peak Expert too. He must have gotten lucky, or maybe that weird sword's sound helped him land one hit on Shin Seung. That was the expectation.
But Dang Mujin's words confirmed it. The newcomer was another Absolute Peak martial artist. Following Ghost King, that made two from the Demonic Cult alone. The situation looked utterly suspicious no matter how you sliced it.
At that moment, a faint rustling approached. Blood-Faced Mad Wolf's satisfied voice rang out.
"Didn't I say I wouldn't stay quiet?"
Blood-Faced Mad Wolf wore a sly, weasel-like smile.
A sudden thought struck. When they burned down Blazing Wolf Sect, Blood-Faced Mad Wolf's agitated reaction—could that have been part of his scheme too?
And to top it off, the enemies numbered more than just two.
A now-familiar energy emanated from the side. A massive gust of wind pressure crashed over the group.
Manryeokseung hurriedly straightened his stance, crossing his arms and using his entire body to shield the group from the onslaught.
The wind pressure soon died down. Peeking out, they saw the Western monk's face, as expected. Namgung Myeong muttered.
"Even Ghost King... As I thought, the Demonic Cult is tangled up in the Righteous-Demonic War."
The instant Ghost King's face came into view, Hyeon Gong's mind raced desperately.
'Enemy Absolute Peak Experts: three. Blood-Faced Mad Wolf, Blazing Asura, Ghost King. We have three on our side too: Shin Seung, Manryeokseung, Hong Geolgae.'
'But Shin Seung is effectively out of commission. That leaves us one short in numbers.'
'Hong Geolgae and Blood-Faced Mad Wolf are Absolute Peak, but their skills lag a bit. Still, the two seem evenly matched.'
'Even so, if I team up with Dang Mujin, Namgung Myeong, and Flower Beggar, we could take down Ghost King. Blazing Asura would be touch-and-go. We'd only know for sure in a clash.'
'...But if I joined their side, we could win stably. I could handle Namgung Myeong, and Hong Geolgae could hold his own decently.'
'If I tried switching sides, would they accept me? They'd take me now, but stab me in the back later? What would I gain, what lose? Wudang Sect Leader position is out, for sure. But as the saying goes, better a chicken than no bird—if I'm lucky, they might recognize my worth and give me a spot in the Demonic Cult...'
'No. Even calling it a chicken is too small. Risky or not, Wudang's leadership is far more appealing...'
As Hyeon Gong's thoughts reached that point, Blazing Asura spoke with a smiling face.
"Pleased to meet you. Outstanding righteous faction martial artists, all gathered here. Shame none will make it out alive."
Hearing that, Hyeon Gong's resolve hardened.
Betrayal requires the other side to accept you first. But Blazing Asura seemed intent on killing everyone.
Thus, Hyeon Gong shouted vigorously.
"Drunk on one lucky ambush, are you? Today marks your end!"
Hyeon Gong's judgment had formed in an instant, so no one sensed anything off.
He then glanced sidelong at Shin Seung's wound and Dang Mujin's expression.
'Fatal wound—hard to survive. Which means Manryeokseung is now Shaolin's real power here.'
Hyeon Gong dropped to one knee before Shin Seung, speaking clearly enough for Manryeokseung to hear.
"Senior Shin Seung. I swear on my life—I will cut down that Blazing Asura or whatever and lay his head before your spirit!"
"Ah... Even those words, cough cough. Thank you. Jeong-eon."
It was a bit awkward, invoking "spirit" for a monk who wasn't dead yet.
But the intent was undeniably good, so Shin Seung and Manryeokseung's expressions weren't bad. It even boosted morale somewhat.
However, one other person was racking his brain busily in this situation: Flower Beggar.
Flower Beggar's mind was a whirlwind.
He didn't want to betray them.
He regretted accepting Blazing Asura's offer the moment he did.
Yet betraying might let him enjoy glory as Beggars' Sect Leader.
Having already shaken hands with Blazing Asura, was it pointless to cling to conscience now?
Such dilemmas swirled.
But unlike Hyeon Gong, Flower Beggar couldn't sort his thoughts quickly.
It takes non-experts relentless effort and experience to reach an expert's level.
The unorthodox and Demonic Cult martial artists stepped forward one by one.
Manryeokseung knew his skills were the highest among those who could fight, so he turned toward the strongest-looking foe: Blazing Asura.
Dang Mujin debated throwing his flying wheel but decided against it.
No room to widen the distance and fight leisurely now—bad conditions for the wheel.
That left poison arts for combat.
Dang Mujin raised his hand to gauge the wind.
'Wind direction... that way.'
The breeze blew from behind Dang Mujin toward where Blood-Faced Mad Wolf stood.
To deploy poison without harming allies, he had to face Blood-Faced Mad Wolf. Quite fortunate for Dang Mujin. Better than soloing Ghost King or Blazing Asura.
Dang Mujin said to his comrades.
"Fall back. I'll handle Blood-Faced Mad Wolf."
"You sure?"
"Have to try. I won't fold right away, at least."
Blood-Faced Mad Wolf smirked derisively at Dang Mujin's words.
"One fluke success and you're arrogant? Know your place."
Even if Blood-Faced Mad Wolf lagged among Absolute Peaks, he wasn't comparable to mere Peak-level scrubs.
Then the wind blew. Blood-Faced Mad Wolf felt an odd scent envelop him briefly.
Suspecting poison, he held his breath, but the faint whiff he inhaled held no toxin.
"What was that?"
"Ever heard of blood fang worms?"
Dang Mujin pulled a wide canister from his robes, uncapping it. Hundreds of bugs smaller than rice grains crawled out and spread tiny wings.
The flying insects didn't scatter far but hovered around Blood-Faced Mad Wolf, drawn to the scent Dang Mujin had scattered.
Blood-Faced Mad Wolf snorted.
"Ha! Poison bugs are all you rely on?"
"As if."
Dang Mujin drew his sword. Even if set aside before, it had its uses now.
He lightly dragged his finger along the blade. It nicked the tip, mixing blood and poison that coated the edge.
Dang Mujin muttered.
"I hate killers who slaughter the innocent, like you. I hate seeing patients I've treated turn up dead. I especially hate hearing physicians I've trained have been killed. But what disgusts me most is you excusing your atrocities with my name. Coward."
Blood-Faced Mad Wolf let Dang Mujin's words flow in one ear and out the other as he assessed.
Poison on the sword? Just don't get cut. Bugs? Shake them off by moving fast.
But moments later, he realized the air around him was thick with insidious poison qi. Unlike the earlier scent, this was colorless and odorless. Yet it numbed his limbs in seconds—a potent paralytic.
Blood-Faced Mad Wolf's expression turned serious.
'No sign of him spreading lower poison. How?'
Dang Mujin still stood motionless. Yet the poison qi showed no sign of fading.
'...Could he infuse poison qi naturally into his breath?'
Martial artists are like rocks. Higher skill makes them denser, harder.
But Dang Mujin felt different. Due to the subtly permeating poison qi, Blood-Faced Mad Wolf thought he resembled mist.
Mist can't choke someone outright. But it envelops without escape.
Thus, Blood-Faced Mad Wolf felt clear dread. Even victory wouldn't leave him unscathed.
Just as Yu Jin-gwang had declared his death to the Imperial Physician Sword Sect Leader on Wudang Mountain, Dang Mujin pronounced Blood-Faced Mad Wolf's doom.
"You're dying in this forest."
*
Blazing Asura sized up the foes before him.
Manryeokseung, and to his left, Flower Beggar.
Flower Beggar had ended up there by chance, but Blazing Asura interpreted it differently.
'Positioned next to the strongest, Manryeokseung, to shine when my signal drops? Flower Beggar... I worried he wouldn't deliver, but he's more cooperative than expected...'
Of course, the pact and evidence might have sealed this from the start.
Blazing Asura raised his sword and approached Manryeokseung and Flower Beggar, slowly lifting it.
His signature Demonic Cult art, Mad Old Man's Dance, assailed them both. Even with Flower Beggar yet to betray, they fell into disadvantage.
But breaching Manryeokseung's defense would take time.
To end it quickly, Blazing Asura decided to use Flower Beggar.
He swung his sword horizontally, left to right.
It seemed aimed at Flower Beggar, but truly targeted Manryeokseung's vitals, anticipating betrayal.
Blazing Asura sent a transmission.
- Now! Fall back!
But Flower Beggar startled and clumsily blocked the sword anyway.
'...What?'
Blazing Asura continued his sword dance without panic, pondering.
'Transmission too late, so he defended on instinct?'
Blazing Asura flowed into the next move and transmitted earlier.
- Next horizontal slash—don't block, retreat.
Yet again, Flower Beggar awkwardly thrust his staff, twisting Blazing Asura's sword path. Blazing Asura's brow furrowed.
He stared into Flower Beggar's eyes. Deep confusion dwelled there.
Blazing Asura felt momentary disarray too.
'...What the hell is with this guy?'
But the situation was simpler than thought.
Flower Beggar knew the fight favored the enemy and betrayal might save his skin.
The issue? He wasn't cowardly enough yet.
Had he lived cravenly all his life, maybe. But Flower Beggar's life held few such stains.
He'd been decently conscientious lifelong, only wobbling briefly to accept Blazing Asura's offer—then regretting it repeatedly.
That lingering regret kept him from cleanly betraying; he blocked the sword.
Yet Flower Beggar lacked even self-confidence. Would he block the next strike or dodge to let Manryeokseung die? He didn't know.
Instead, Blazing Asura judged swiftly.
'Refusing betrayal? No matter. If he can't be used on cue, use him however possible.'
Sowing discord sufficed.
Blazing Asura swung his sword and shouted.
"Flower Beggar! Time to join us!"
Flower Beggar panicked.
"W-Why me?"
"Denying our pact now? Hurry!"
"When did I?!"
"You stamped your palm print but deny it?"
All eyes turned to Blazing Asura. He swiftly pulled a scroll from his robes and tossed it high. It unfurled, fluttering in the sky.
Its contents were illegible from afar, but the palm print on Blazing Asura's scroll was clear. Whether it matched Flower Beggar's? Unclear.
Blazing Asura shouted again.
"Didn't you promise to join if I made you Elder? I went further—offered you Sect Leader, even killed Geolseon! Now fulfill your role!"
Betrayal aside, linking Geolseon's death complicated things gravely.
Flower Beggar instinctively denied.
"That's not my palm print!"
"Is it? I'll leave the scroll—compare later! Ha!"
The stamped scroll lay spread out. Blazing Asura's claim gained weight.
Flower Beggar noticed Manryeokseung subtly distancing himself. He risked rejection by both righteous martial world and Blazing Asura.
'Join Blazing Asura now?'
Then Hong Geolgae leaped in, unleashing palm strikes.
"Flying Dragon in the Sky!"
Not the clumsy Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms Flower Beggar knew. Anyone could tell—these air-shaking strikes exceeded Peak-level prowess.
'An Absolute Peak Expert!'
Contrary to his earlier vows, Hong Geolgae couldn't even strut properly. No time.
Hong Geolgae yelled at Flower Beggar.
"Flower Beggar! Is Blazing Asura telling the truth?!"
"No, no!"
"Tell me honestly!"
Hong Geolgae's shout wasn't mere accusation.
He demanded the simple truth.
The Absolute Peak's aura shook his chest.
Flower Beggar's regrets and fears began unraveling.
He even sensed faint hope in Hong Geolgae's voice.
Flower Beggar bellowed.
"I did eye the Elder spot and make a pact—that's true! But the Elders retired on their own whims, making me one automatically! My Elder position has nothing to do with him!"
No prior tales of deceased prior Elders contradicted. Credible enough.
Hong Geolgae pressed.
"And Geolseon!"
"I swear on my life—Geolseon's death has nothing to do with me! I've never dreamed of Sect Leader!"
No evidence here. Geolseon was dead and silent.
Thus, Flower Beggar expected no belief from Hong Geolgae. Just testimony. Lingering suspicions remained.
But Dang Mujin's group reacted differently. Dang Mujin, Hong Geolgae, Namgung Myeong—they glanced at Hyeon Gong.
Hyeon Gong replied gravely.
"...It's undoubtedly sincere."
Judgment from the world's top betrayal and scheming expert.
Like an Absolute Peak piercing a third-rate form, Hyeon Gong saw through others' ploys effortlessly.
To him, Flower Beggar spoke truth.
Dang Mujin's group shed all doubts, trusting Flower Beggar fully with their backs. He was ally now—no hesitation.
But unaware of Hyeon Gong's nature, Flower Beggar interpreted differently.
'Ignoring Blazing Asura's evidence and circumstances, believing my word alone? In a life-or-death stakes?'
Tears welled in Flower Beggar's wrinkled eyes.
Had anyone ever trusted him so in his life?
Flower Beggar roared thunderously.
"I, Flower Beggar, future Beggars' Sect Leader! I stake my life to carve a path for my juniors!"