Chapter 120: Resurrection of the Demonic Cult (3)

A military official of the fifth rank, Chungmu Guard Commander So-mu. He had been appointed to take full charge of this operation.

This was the first time in history that the government forces had intervened in the martial world on such a massive scale.

At the entrance of the government office of Najin County.

Behind So-mu, who was dressed in his official military robes, around three hundred soldiers marched in line.

The County Magistrate and the local constables quickly stepped forward and saluted.

“We have been waiting for you, Commander.”

Nodding, So-mu walked inside the courtyard.

As he took his seat at the head of the table, the regular soldiers who followed him lined up along the left and right sides. Every one of them was an elite soldier who had cultivated martial arts.

Seeing this formidable display, dozens of local constables stood back, feeling intimidated.

“No need to be tense. How is the progress?”

The County Magistrate stepped forward and bowed.

“We have posted wanted notices throughout the villages under our jurisdiction. Furthermore, our investigative runners are searching everywhere. If any traces are found, they will report to us immediately.”

Investigative runners were lower-level officials tasked with tracking fugitives or collecting evidence.

In So-mu’s hand was a wooden cudgel, the kind used to beat criminals. Tapping it against his palm, he spoke.

“Since they are colluding with the enemy state and disrupting the order of the country, they must all be captured and punished under the law of the state. If they are spotted, do not act rashly. Report to me immediately.”

“Understood, Commander. But I have one question…”

So-mu nodded.

“If it is something I can answer.”

“Are the regular forces only deployed to our office? Even if the enemies are spotted here, if they escape, we won’t be able to pursue them.”

“You don’t need to worry about that. The forces are divided into twenty units, searching all of Shaanxi. The squad leaders of the Wolf Fang Squad are leading each unit, keeping them coordinated.”

The prestige of a Wolf Fang Squad squad leader surpassed that of centurions in other units. Not only because of their military achievements, but because each individual possessed the martial prowess of a general. It was only natural for them to command the regular soldiers.

“Indeed… as expected of your reputation, your plan is flawless.”

“Just find them. I’ll handle the rest.”

“Yes. Having you stationed at our office makes us feel truly secure, Commander.”

So-mu sat quietly, waiting for information.

The Demonic Cult forces were bound to be concentrated in Shaanxi and Hubei, regions close to the territory of the Hui Dynasty where coordination and supply lines were easy to establish.

Time continued to tick away as the thorough search went on.

Contrary to expectations, there was no news even as the sun began to set.

“Any word from the other government offices?”

The County Magistrate replied with a dark expression,

“We are maintaining our intelligence network, but the other locations have not reported any findings either.”

“They’ve hidden themselves thoroughly. But they won’t be able to escape Shaanxi.”

Clasping his hands, So-mu fell into deep thought. Since a massive search was underway, clues would eventually surface. The problem was that they had no idea when.

The tedious wait dragged on.

It was just as he sat in his chair, watching the sunset.

“Stand back!”

A shout echoed from the entrance of the office.

The commotion continued. So-mu focused his senses on the presence outside.

“This area is off-limits to civilians! Identify yourselves!”

“Move.”

“Eek…”

He sensed someone backing away in fear. And then, a familiar voice.

A bright smile spread across So-mu’s face.

“Escort her in politely. Unless you want my men to get hurt.”

At the Magistrate’s shout, the constables hastily cleared a path. A woman then stepped through the entrance.

Her hair was elegantly pinned up, and she wore a black silk robe embroidered with snowflakes. Furthermore, her walk radiated a bewitching, almost magical charm.

The soldiers in the courtyard stood dazed, staring blankly at her.

And in her hand, she dragged a battered, bloody figure of a man.

“I suppose you needed my help after all.”

Standing up, So-mu approached her and sent a telepathic transmission.

— Seo-hwa, how did you get here?

— You practically advertised to the Demonic Cult to go into hiding by moving your troops like this. Do you actually intend to catch them?

— In truth, I was beginning to regret it myself. But who is this guy?

— I caught him at the market on my way here. He was hoarding food supplies. That means he knows where their hideout is, right?

She had accomplished what nearly ten thousand soldiers and constables had failed to do. Although he wanted to hug her, there were too many eyes watching. He had to explain the situation to his men first.

“This lady is an expert I invited from outside, so treat her with the utmost respect.”

“Yes, Commander.”

All the officials bowed.

So-mu’s gaze fell upon the man dragged like a dog. Although he was concealing his demonic qi, his eyes bore the distinct traces of demonic cultivation.

“Unmistakable. We just need to interrogate him now.”

A cold yet enchanting smile played on Seo-hwa’s lips.

“Can you do it?” So-mu asked.

He wasn’t entirely confident. The captive’s eyes were filled with a stubborn resolve to keep his mouth shut even if killed. Furthermore, torture and interrogation were not So-mu’s specialties. Still, he had to ask.

Squatting down, So-mu offered a polite proposal.

“If you answer my questions honestly, I will give you a painless death.”

The cultist let out a mocking sneer, keeping his mouth shut.

To mock him after being offered mercy. Just as So-mu’s mood began to sour, Seo-hwa’s voice sounded from behind.

“He won’t be able to speak. I’ve sealed his acupoints so he can’t commit suicide.”

So-mu nodded and patted the cultist’s shoulder as if offering sympathy.

“Well, since you don’t know who she is yet, I suppose you would act like this. Good luck.”

Standing back up, So-mu looked at a dilapidated building nearby and said,

“I heard that is where they interrogate captives.”

Seo-hwa uttered a single word.

“Fifteen minutes.”

It meant she would make him talk within that time.

Being dragged by his hair, the cultist’s eyes shook with sudden terror. He had spotted her slender, delicate hand clutching a bundle of silver needles.

Watching the man get dragged away, So-mu sent him a final telepathic message.

— Your guess is correct. She is the Jade Flower Saintess.

So-mu walked back to his chair, sat down, and crossed his arms, enjoying the cool breeze. Now that his worries were gone, his mood began to improve.

A short while later, the door to the interrogation room opened.

Creak—

The cultist emerged, his face drenched in tears. He looked like an entirely different person, his demeanor having shifted completely.

So-mu approached and asked,

“Why are you crying?”

“I-I will talk.”

“I told you to listen when I was being nice.”

“Ugh… I will tell you everything, so please just kill me…”

Yeon Seo-hwa crossed her arms and shrugged.

— I can leave now, right? I promised So-so I’d take her out for dinner.

— Thank you, Seo-hwa. What are you guys having?

— She said she wants duck.

— Ah, yes. It’s her favorite. Anyway, thank you for your help.

So-mu opened his right palm, and the cultist was lifted into the air.

“Urgh…”

Seeing telekinesis for the first time, the local officials gasped in awe.

“Tell me.”

“There… there is a branch on Mount Agwi.”

A branch of the Demonic Cult was bound to be of a significant scale. Ordinary martial sects wouldn’t dare attack it, but it was a different story for the government forces. How could a single branch handle the sheer numbers of the military? Furthermore, these were elite soldiers trained in martial arts.

Now that the location was confirmed, there was no reason to hesitate.

With a nod from So-mu, two soldiers stepped forward and grabbed the cultist.

Grasping his cudgel, So-mu stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice,

“Move out.”

Around three hundred soldiers and fifty constables formed ranks and followed behind him.

Instead of tension, anticipation filled their faces. With the greatest hero of Shaanxi, the Commander of the Wolf Fang Squad, leading them, they had nothing to fear.

They moved toward Mount Agwi as swiftly and stealthily as possible.

Along the way, three other units joined them.

***

At the mid-slope of Mount Agwi, about one li away from their target.

The assembled suppression force numbered over fifteen hundred men.

Fifteen members of the Wolf Fang Squad awaited So-mu’s commands.

“Do not enter, just surround the perimeter. Wait for my command.”

“A branch of the Demonic Cult is bound to have quite a few masters. Please be careful, Commander.”

It was Hyeonjeong of the Wolf Fang Squad. Possessing a Mount Hua Sect background, he was naturally cautious. By the standards of ordinary martial artists, his caution was only natural.

But who was So-mu? To the Sword Saint, the enemy’s force was laughable.

“Just maintain the perimeter. Make sure not a single one escapes.”

“Understood.”

The fifteen Wolf Fang Squad members scattered, each leading a hundred soldiers to secure the perimeter.

So-mu marched toward the enemy stronghold, accompanied only by the local constables.

“Don’t worry, I won’t ask you to fight. Just prepare the binding ropes.”

The constables let out sighs of relief.

Unlike the soldiers, most of them had never cultivated martial arts. They knew better than anyone that they wouldn’t last a single clash against a martial artist.

A moment later, the massive Demonic Cult branch came into view.

It was a two-story pavilion large enough to house over a hundred people, boasting a freshly constructed exterior.

Building such a structure secretly in the mountains was no easy task. It must have been built during the period when this region was under the control of the Hui Dynasty.

“They certainly prepared well during that time.”

So-mu scanned the surroundings.

The soldiers were slowly closing the perimeter from all directions.

So-mu walked toward the entrance of the pavilion, a wooden cudgel gripped in his hand.

Behind him, the Chief Constable asked in a trembling voice,

“C-Commander. Are we going in alone…?”

The soldiers were only maintaining the perimeter.

Even if he was the Commander of the Wolf Fang Squad, this seemed far too reckless. Attacking a branch of the Demonic Cult all by himself—it was a terrifying and absurd sight.

“Is there a problem?”

“N-No, but…”

“Watch closely. This is what happens to those who challenge state authority.”

Walking with large strides, So-mu soon reached the entrance.

There was no hesitation in his movements. His palm, coated in a crimson current of force, slammed into the doors.

Boom—!

The doors shattered instantly. The scene inside was exactly as expected: dozens of cultists stood armed and waiting. Even at a glance, most of them were first-class martial artists.

Furthermore, the demonic qi radiating from the second floor was even stronger than that of the first floor.

Despite the formidable force, So-mu stepped inside without hesitation.

“Did you know we were coming? Yet you didn’t flee. Though it wouldn’t have mattered anyway.”

The cultists looked at the constables standing behind So-mu and sneered.

“Did you really come here with just these few?”

“Haha. You walked straight into your own grave.”

Martial artists had a habit of looking down on the martial arts of the military. For the masters of the Spirit Cult who had taken over the Demonic Cult, their arrogance was sky-high. Furthermore, since So-mu was concealing his qi, he felt like an ordinary man to them, making him look like easy prey.

So-mu thrust his cudgel forward and spoke in a calm voice,

“You are under arrest for colluding with the enemy state and plotting treason. If you surrender peacefully and cooperate with our investigation, you will be treated with decency.”

The cultists clutched their bellies, unable to contain their laughter.

“Hahaha!”

“Haha! Who is this guy? Is he insane?”

“If you shut up and leave now, we might consider letting you live.”

So-mu chuckled as well. He found it amusing himself. There was no way these people would let themselves be bound peacefully.

“I suppose that clarifies things. Thank you for resisting. I prefer it this way too.”

Before the cultists could process his words, So-mu’s figure vanished from his spot. Or so it seemed.

In the blink of an eye, he was already swinging his cudgel toward the cultist standing at the front.