Chapter 166: The Character Demon

At the unexpected words, Gongse Dan-yeong’s gaze wavered slightly.

‘Part of the Sun Moon Demon Cult’s followers have come to this region…’

Yeok Bi-mang in the adjacent seat reacted no differently.

It was probably highly credible information.

Since Northern Dipper Beggar Woo Yong had a status as an elder of the Beggar Sect Main Hall with a full seven Beggar Rank Knots, there was no way he would bring up such matters based on rash assumptions.

“Grandfather, then did the Beggar Sect determine this by activating its border information network?”

The Beggar Sect’s information network was foremost in being vast, and moreover its range covered not only orthodox and unorthodox factions but even the foreign martial realms beyond the borders.

In other words, the initial clue regarding the Sun Moon Demon Cult’s stirring was highly likely to have been from their home base.

Sure enough, Woo Yong nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. To be precise, it was a clue obtained through a place strategically allied with our Sect. After all, it’s not only demonic forces that exist in those foreign lands.”

“Ah…!”

The moment she heard those words, Gongse Dan-yeong immediately knew where.

Kunlun Divine Palace.

One of the few orthodox factions across the entire foreign martial world.

Having oriented toward Taoist martial arts since ancient times, Kunlun Divine Palace was situated in the majestic mountain range at the western edge of the vast region called Qinghai – the so-called Kunlun Mountains.

It boasted the longest history and tradition along with Heavenly Demon Cult, the progenitor of demonic factions, and its combat power was definitely upper tier in the foreign lands as well.

Long ago, one of the various nations that had established themselves in this land had once obtained the border region of Qinghai, and at that time Kunlun Divine Palace received the same treatment as the Nine Great Sects as a prestigious orthodox Taoist martial arts sect.

That period was roughly thirty to forty years.

Now, during the time when dynastic names and imperial houses had changed multiple times, the western border had also undergone many changes and was only slightly overlapping with the eastern part of the Qinghai region, so it was strictly classified as a foreign martial world.

However.

Since Kunlun Divine Palace had actively exchanged with the orthodox factions of the martial world, including the Nine Great Sects, and achieved great development at that time, they still maintain friendly relations now.

They were too far apart to frequently come and go, but they hadn’t let go of that connection.

Currently, the martial sect among the Nine Great Sects in closest contact was Kongtong Sect of Mount Kongtong in the Gansu region.

Geography played a major role in that.

In truth, the Gansu and Qinghai regions shared a border, making travel relatively convenient.

After Kongtong Sect, one could point to Emei Sect in Sichuan region and Mount Hua Sect in Shaanxi region, and again geography was the main reason.

The remaining Nine Great Sects were each situated deep in the continent, so traveling wasn’t as easy as one might think.

However, the Beggar Sect was an exception, because in the past they had made an agreement with Kunlun Divine Palace and established a subsidiary branch hall in the Qinghai region.

Woo Yong continued speaking quietly again.

“Through a key figure of Kunlun Divine Palace, news related to the Sun Moon Demon Cult was received at our Sect’s Qinghai regional branch hall.”

“Indeed… What exactly was the news?”

“That over time, the Sun Moon Demon Cult Patriarch who had devised new demonic arts might be plotting to advance into the martial world for territorial expansion.”

“If Kunlun Divine Palace is expressing such concern to that degree, then such plans must already have progressed considerably…”

“Our Sect also judged it that way. So we deployed search teams. It was about a year ago that we first heard that story. But only recently did we achieve some results.”

“Ah! Did you find something?”

“Yes, a few months ago, we barely managed to learn that one of Kongtong Sect’s first-generation disciples had made contact with a mysterious demon who had appeared in the Gansu region.”

“…!”

A light of surprise appeared in the eyes of both Gongse Dan-yeong and Yeok Bi-mang.

“At that time, when the Sect Master happened to discover a letter with suspicious contents and tried to interrogate him, he chose to take his own life without hesitation. Afterward, Kongtong Sect kept that embarrassing incident strictly secret…”

“For the Beggar Sect, due to the Sun Moon Demon Cult news received at the Qinghai branch hall, they must have dug into that matter all the more tenaciously.”

“That’s right. The moment Sect Master received that report, he judged it was related to the Sun Moon Demon Cult, visited Kongtong Sect, and after lengthy persuasion, we confirmed the contents of that letter on the condition of sharing our Sect’s information.”

“What did it say?”

“There were no words that would directly allow inferring identity or origin, but it said that whatever the mysterious demon was looking for was somewhere here in the Hunan region.”

In an instant, Gongse Dan-yeong’s pupils held a gleam.

‘Wait! Could that possibly be related to the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique?’

According to what Mun Bin had said, besides Netherworld Sword Fork Jeo Gyeom, an unidentified masked person targeting the Ghost Shadow Sword Technique had appeared.

Soon she changed her expression and asked.

“What could it be? A secret manual? A weapon? Or… A person?”

“Who knows. Why, is there something on your mind?”

When Woo Yong casually asked in return, Gongse Dan-yeong shook her head.

“Hmm… No. Honestly, there is something that comes to mind, but I’m being cautious since it’s not certain. I’ll investigate a bit more and then tell you.”

“Yes, yes. Please do.”

“Anyway, our tower will also quickly mobilise our information network. Should I contact you directly going forward, Grandfather?”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t want to involve even you…”

“Goodness, what do you mean… After coming all this way and saying such things. Please don’t worry too much.”

“You rascal, understood. I’ve made arrangements with the branch Hall Master here, so you can contact through him.”

“Yes, Grandfather.”

“If the Sun Moon Demon Cult has been harboring ambitions to advance into this land again after eighty years and is definitely conducting covert activities… They must have made various preparations. Exercise caution in all matters.”

He was saying that if she got too deeply involved, she might face a dangerous situation, so she should think first of her own personal safety.

“I’ll keep that in mind. Ah, but besides the Kongtong Sect’s first-generation disciple, there’s a possibility that another person has already been secretly recruited, right?”

“Hmm… I’ve also had this thought.”

“Pardon?”

“That perhaps to avoid the constraints that the long distance would place on their activities, they might have set up some kind of forward base in the Gansu region early on…”

At that, the expressions of Gongse Dan-yeong and Yeok Bi-mang darkened.

It was a scenario they didn’t want to think about.

However.

It was something that couldn’t be dismissed.

Gongse Dan-yeong opened her mouth with a hardened expression.

“Is this an omen of troubled times?”

“Troubled times… When was this martial world ever not troubled times? There’s only a difference in degree.”

Gongse Dan-yeong and Yeok Bi-mang quietly nodded after hearing Woo Yong’s words.

Right.

The martial world was always in troubled times.

Whether much blood was shed or little – that was the only difference.

Just as drinks arrived, Woo Yong tilted the bottle and spoke.

“The Sun Moon Demon Cult will probably try to swallow one region of this land first, and whether that’s the Gansu region or wherever, if they succeed…”

Having trailed off, he downed his drink, then muttered while emitting an intense gaze.

“A great battle would be inevitable, wouldn’t it?”

At that, Gongse Dan-yeong held her cup and replied.

“I’m nervous.”

“Yes, naturally you’d be nervous… Even the renowned Dragon Martial Gate completely lost its lineage after the bloodshed with the Nine Demon Alliance twenty-one years ago.”

“We’ll need to join forces. To capably stand against a great demonic force.”

“From ancient times, the martial world has disparaged the character ‘Demon’ as a word for corrupt groups, using it as a derogatory term. But over there, in the foreign martial world represented by the Five Demon Cults, the meaning is entirely different. They take great pride in that ‘Demon’ as a symbolic character for powerful martial arts. Facing such a group is what we’re talking about.”

“Especially since the Five Demon Cults are groups with deep demonic hearts, their techniques must be more cruel than expected.”

“But then again… Who knows. This martial world is infinitely vast, and within it, a mysterious orthodox hero who could shock the Sun Moon Demon Cult with equally powerful strength might pop up. Haha.”

At that, Gongse Dan-yeong smirked and said.

“Pfft, that seems like too vague a hope?”

* * *

Ye Woon-rang was sitting on a rock in a garden, chin in hand, lost in thought.

The secret history that Seop Pyo – no, that Gal Jung-heon had revealed earlier had been heartbreaking.

‘I never imagined he had lost his family in such a way…’

He finally understood the inside story of why he had lived behaving like a righteous knight despite having trained in demonic arts.

A one-on-one duel thirty-three years ago.

Nine Demon Alliance Master Gal Jung-heon had gallantly challenged Dragon Martial Gate Master Ba Hun, but was defeated before his peerless martial prowess.

Thus the plan to establish a foothold for advancing into the martial world ultimately came to naught.

At that time, Gal Jung-heon had been placed in a life-or-death crisis from recklessly using the demonic power contained in the Demon-Devouring Sword, but Ba Hun used the Divine Martial Sword’s divine power to heal his injured body.

-Why… did you spare me?

To Gal Jung-heon’s puzzled question at the time, Ba Hun extended his hand and made a proposal.

“To sever the chain of long-standing enmity and opposition in our generation.”

That as long as Dragon Martial Gate stood, he would ensure no orthodox or unorthodox sect invaded the Nine Demon Alliance’s territory.

He said let’s walk new paths together.

That the moment they started a collective fight for ambitions that called for blood, both sides would lose more than they gained.

Through that conversation, Gal Jung-heon was moved by the other’s character and staked his personal honor on a promise.

-If in the future I come to perfectly master the Demon-Devouring Sword’s power… I will challenge you again. Not as the representative of our Alliance, but as a single martial artist. Though I don’t know when that will be.

A firm will to no longer walk the bloody path that would cause large-scale sacrifice.

Afterward, Gal Jung-heon returned and publicly announced the promise he had made with Ba Hun, who represented the martial world, entrusted major and minor affairs to his only disciple Gwi Ya, and then devoted himself solely to martial training.

There was only one goal in life.

Not as a demon burning with ambitions of conquering the martial world, but as a pure martial artist – after fully comprehending the Demon-Devouring Sword’s power, to once again determine the high and low of martial prowess with Ba Hun. That was everything.

But then.

Tragedy struck.

While learning the new power of the Demon-Devouring Sword, he lost control and went berserk, causing his wife and daughter, whom he had gained late in life, to depart from this world.

It was truly a horrific thing.

At that time, Gal Jung-heon was made to witness his wife and daughter being swept up in the Demon-Devouring Sword’s terrifying power and dying as their bodies rotted away hideously from head to toe.

That changed everything.

Gal Jung-heon ultimately cast off his position as Alliance Master, and that seat went to his disciple Gwi Ya.

Within the Nine Demon Alliance’s territory, there existed a forbidden zone in a treacherous mountain valley where a powerful barrier formation had been in effect since ancient times.

Gal Jung-heon, who had been living almost like a cripple, one day entered that place with the Demon-Devouring Sword and began harsh training to ensure that tragedy would never repeat.

In truth, that forbidden zone was essentially a prison that one could not escape from unless they attained great enlightenment.

In other words, Gal Jung-heon had imprisoned himself so that he couldn’t go anywhere until he achieved mastery sufficient to perfectly control the Demon-Devouring Sword.

At that time, his disciple Gwi Ya harshly criticized Gal Jung-heon’s choice not to hand over the Demon-Devouring Sword, and finally led the charge against the Dragon Martial Gate, driven by twisted ambition.

Having heard that Ba Hun had retired and secluded himself, he judged that he could obtain hegemony over the martial world.

However.

It was a misjudgment.

The new Alliance Master Gwi Ya and all his subordinates inflicted mutual destruction and were killed to the last man.

Ye Woon-rang let out a heavy gaze and thought.

‘Haah… Watching his wife and daughter rot away and die… Must have been suffering beyond words.’

But at that moment, an indifferent voice was heard.

“The time has come.”

When Ye Woon-rang, startled by the voice that came without even a hint of presence, turned his head, Cheol Ryu-heun standing with hands behind his back came into view.

“Pardon…?”

“Shall you become the new dragon?”