Chapter 122: Resurrection of the Demonic Cult (5)
The club and a single sword clashed in mid-air.
As time passed, Baek Myo-jin’s face grew increasingly distorted.
“Do not mock me!”
She was the only one attacking. The problem was that every single one of her strikes was blocked before it could even land.
It was as if he were playing with her.
In truth, So-mu was analyzing her martial arts—the swordsmanship of the Yeong Cult wearing the mask of the Demonic Cult.
“I think I understand now.”
At that moment, So-mu launched his first attack.
The blunt tip of his club lunged forward in a straight line. It was a basic stance of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, which every disciple of the Mount Hua Sect learned. For the Sword Saint, mimicking it was child’s play.
As the club approached, Baek Myo-jin instinctively flicked her wrist. Suddenly, the tip of her sword split into multiple phantom blades.
Deflecting the incoming club, a surge of sword force pressed down on his entire body. It was a flawless counter-stance.
So-mu tried a few other orthodox stances, but the result was the same.
To think every orthodox stance is countered the moment it is unleashed.
They weren’t merely learning orthodox martial arts. They had analyzed the stolen martial manuals and created customized counter-techniques.
Although it was still in its early stages, it was a remarkable feat. This meant there was someone of incredible genius among them capable of creating new martial arts.
There was no reason to drag this out any longer.
A brilliant flash of light flared around So-mu.
Flash!
The moment the blinding light faded, he was already behind Baek Myo-jin.
His club swept in a sharp arc, hurtling toward her back.
Clang!
Though she barely managed to block it, her balance was shattered.
So-mu immediately executed his footwork. Whirling around her at blinding speed, he unleashed a relentless barrage.
Dazed and unable to keep up, Baek Myo-jin soon took a direct hit.
Thwack!
Struck in the abdomen by the club, her upper body bent forward. Immediately after, the club rose high and struck her back.
Thud!
“Kack!”
Coughing up a mouthful of blood, Baek Myo-jin fell to her knees.
To defeat her without even using proper stances… Her eyes were filled with resentment.
Suddenly, a piece of information crossed her mind. There was a rumor of a terrifying warrior among the government forces.
“Wolf Fang Squad Leader So-mu…?”
In the martial world, only a very select few knew the Sword Saint’s true name, as he was always referred to by his title.
She still had no idea of his true identity.
Pulling his helmet down further, So-mu replied, “That’s right. I have a lot of questions for you too. Shall we go and talk?”
He struck the back of her neck with the edge of his palm.
Thack!
With her head slumped, Baek Myo-jin was hoisted onto So-mu’s shoulder.
The local officials would investigate the rest of the branch. He had no further business here.
When he descended to the first floor, everything had been cleared. He couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of the demonic cultists tied up by the constables.
“If you tie their legs together like that, how do you expect them to walk?”
Ban-du, the head constable, bowed deeply and replied, “We were worried they might try to resist along the way…”
“They will be taken to the prison in Chang’an, so the military will handle the transport. Good work, everyone.”
“Thank you, Commander!”
The constables breathed a sigh of relief. Dealing with captured martial artists was a heavy burden for local law enforcement. Transferring the prisoners to the army was a welcome relief.
The constables looked at So-mu with eyes full of deep respect. It was only natural, as he had single-handedly taken down an entire branch of the Demonic Cult.
As he walked out of the pavilion, the government soldiers were lined up in formation. Kneeling in front of them were five cultists—the experts of the Cheonsal Squad who had tried to escape from the second floor.
Hyeon-jeong of the Wolf Fang Squad stepped forward.
“We captured them all, but because they resisted so fiercely, we had to kill most of them.”
So-mu nodded.
“Good work. First, we return to Chang’an.”
***
The prisoners were locked away in the prison of Chang’an.
They would be interrogated one by one in due time. There was no rush.
First, So-mu needed to see Yeon Seo-hwa. There was something they had to discuss.
He traveled to the hermitage in the Yangju Mountain valley.
Having run all the way, So-mu let out a sigh. Contrary to his expectations, the place was empty.
Looking up at the sky, it seemed to be around the hour of the Snake (around 10:00 AM). It was the time she usually trained in martial arts with So-so.
I suppose they went out somewhere together.
Since Yeon Seo-hwa wasn’t there, he decided to meet someone else.
His body blurred as he vanished, heading toward a nearby village.
It was Taejin County, located fifty li from Chang’an Fortress.
Though the village had once been devastated by the pillaging of the Hui Dynasty, it was now bustling with life as the residents resumed their trade.
Since a large-scale employment policy was being implemented throughout Shaanxi, anyone with the will to work could easily find a job. Even so, there were always beggars who chose to beg for a living.
So-mu’s gaze landed on a beggar sitting in front of a street eatery.
With a flick of his finger, a few copper coins flew through the air, landing perfectly inside the beggar’s wooden bowl.
Clink!
The beggar’s eyes went wide, and he bowed flat on the ground.
“Thank you, milord! May blessings be upon you!”
“Is your Branch Leader still staying in this village? Tell him an acquaintance has arrived and to come quickly.”
The Beggars’ Sect disciple scanned the situation.
The young man wore the uniform of a high-ranking military officer and knew that the Branch Leader was staying in the village. Though he seemed too young to be an acquaintance, he didn’t look like he was playing a trick. Since he had even received copper coins, there was no reason to hesitate.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
Once the Beggars’ Sect member departed, So-mu took a seat at an outdoor table.
A middle-aged man wearing an apron approached.
“Welcome, milord! Since supplies are still scarce, we only have three dishes available today.”
They were braised pork, chicken porridge, and stir-fried vegetables.
“Give me one of each. No alcohol.”
“Understood. Please wait a moment, milord.”
Resting one arm on the table, So-mu gazed at the village scenery.
The residents, who had been in despair not long ago, now had faint smiles on their faces.
Seeing that his efforts had yielded meaningful results warmed his heart. Although their quality of life could not yet compare to that of the people of Hanzhong, the satisfaction of the villagers seemed even higher.
Indeed, material abundance is not the only source of happiness. Regaining lost freedom and escaping hunger—what greater joy could there be?
A moment later, food began to emerge from the kitchen.
Looking at the dishes placed on the table, So-mu was taken aback. The portions were massive, easily filling the large bowls to the brim.
“I only ordered one portion of each. I think you misheard me. Do not worry, I will pay for all of it.”
The middle-aged owner bowed deeply.
“Milord, this is indeed one portion.”
It was absurd. At a glance, it looked like enough to feed ten people.
“How can one portion be this much…?”
“It is indeed one portion. I simply added a bit of my heart to it.”
“Your heart…?”
“Are you not the government soldiers who gave us our lives back? If our circumstances allowed, we would want to repay you in any way we can.”
Under such circumstances, it was a heartwarming gesture. However, the “heart” he had added was so massive that it was overwhelming. It was rather burdensome.
“In any case, thank you. If there is anything you need, feel free to tell me.”
The owner hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
“Actually… there is one favor I would like to ask.”
So-mu nodded readily.
“Go ahead.”
“Until recently, I had lost everything and wanted to die. My family was entirely slaughtered by those Hui bastards…”
The eatery owner’s voice cracked, and he wiped his tears with his sleeve.
“I am truly sorry to hear that…”
“No, it is fine. On the day I was about to end it all, a young child comforted me. She played music for me… and hugged me warmly. It felt like seeing my deceased daughter again… She gave me the courage to live.”
“What a kind-hearted child.”
The middle-aged man could no longer hold back his tears.
“Ugh… But I haven’t been able to say thank you to that child yet. I wanted so desperately to tell her.”
Everyone has at least one regret when they look back.
So-mu took the man’s wrist, subtly channeling a warm stream of true qi into him.
“Tell me who she is, and I will deliver your words.”
“That is… I actually do not know her name… She did mention her father was a government soldier. That is why I thought to mention it…”
So-mu chuckled. He held out his hand near the table to measure a height.
“Was she about this tall, with her hair tied up like rabbit ears?”
The eatery owner’s face lit up instantly. He cried out in joy, “Y-yes! That is her! It was definitely that child!”
A warm smile spread across So-mu’s face.
“I promise you. I will make sure she gets the message.”
“T-thank you! Thank you so much!”
The middle-aged man bowed repeatedly and withdrew.
Delivering a message to his daughter was no trouble at all.
I should bring her here for a meal sometime.
Just then, a familiar voice spoke from beside him.
“What is so pleasant that you are smiling like that? How rare. I never expected to see such an expression on your face.”
Heo-gyu sat opposite him and immediately grabbed a pair of chopsticks.
“Let’s talk over food first. I’m paying today, so eat up.”
“Why did you order so much? Are you sure it’s alright to eat all this?”
It is always suspicious when someone acts out of character. Ordering so much food for him made Heo-gyu hesitate to eat right away.
And So-mu knew exactly what he was thinking.
“I didn’t come here to ask for a favor, so don’t worry and eat.”
“Haha! In that case, I will dig in.”
Watching Heo-gyu eat heartily was a pleasant sight. For a Branch Leader of the Beggars’ Sect, he was remarkably down-to-earth. Today, he seemed particularly friendly.
After observing him quietly, So-mu spoke in a low voice, “Yesterday, I raided the Demonic Cult’s branch at Mount Agwi. We captured them all and threw them into the prison.”
Before he could even finish his sentence, So-mu’s palm quickly slammed onto the table, projecting a qi barrier. He was just in time, as Heo-gyu spat out his food in shock.
Pfft! “W-what did you say?!”
For a branch of the Demonic Cult to be wiped out and arrested overnight… It was a shocking and massive event.
“It is exactly as I said. And they are definitely not the Demonic Cult of the past.”
Calming his racing heart, Heo-gyu replied, “They are definitely the Yeong Cult. In the Righteous Alliance, we are now calling them the New Demonic Cult.”
So-mu nodded.
“Yes. In any case, now that it is confirmed that the Hui Dynasty and the Demonic Cult are the same force, our government military can no longer stand by and watch the Righteous Alliance get targeted.”
“Indeed. If the Alliance falls, how can the military alone stop both forces? We are officially bound to the same fate now.”
So-mu clasped his hands on the table, his expression turning serious.
“The problem is that the Righteous Alliance will not be able to hold out. Not if we fail to stop the scheme they are currently executing.”
Heo-gyu tilted his head in confusion.
“You know very well that we will not fall so easily. What kind of scheme could they possibly be running…?”
“They have been creating new martial arts specifically designed to counter the orthodox sects. Most orthodox stances are countered the moment they are unleashed.”
This was a grave threat. Heo-gyu stared blankly, unable to believe his ears.
So-mu proceeded to explain everything he had discovered during his battle with the branch leader.
Half an hour later.
Heo-gyu had completely lost his appetite, unable to even pick up his chopsticks. The news was deeply shocking.
Seeing this, So-mu said with a meaningful smile, “For a beggar to stop eating… how rare.”
“How can I swallow any food after hearing this…?”
“There is no need to worry. I have a solution.”