Chapter 216: Light in the Night Sky
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SASAK, SASAK…
Three people were quietly moving through the forest under the slanting moonlight.
Members of the Sun Demon Assembly under the Sun Moon Demon Cult’s high-ranking First Seat.
The three, disguised in black hats and black robes, at some point halted their covert movements.
They had discovered the lights of scattered houses on a ridge not far in the distance.
“That’s the village.”
“The old woman who said she saw someone resembling Gam Tae…”
“Let’s handle it as quickly as possible.”
Thus, the three moved their forms again.
SASASA-T, SASASASA-T, SASASA-T-
Even more quietly, and even more swiftly.
Before long.
The three, having reached the village entrance, were making their way through the darkness of the forest when they discovered one person.
On the path entering the village.
A woman wearing a pitch-black round bamboo hat was standing alone by a tree.
FLINCH.
At that moment when the three’s expressions changed, having sensed an unusual air.
“You’re a step late.”
The woman situated in the darkness spoke in a low voice.
The three Sun Demon Assembly members finally noticed her identity.
“Black Rope Wondrous Lady …”
Sure enough, Na Rae-hyang slightly tipped her bamboo hat and revealed her face.
“First meeting, isn’t it? For you.”
Immediately, one Sun Demon Assembly member threw a question.
“Did you come after obtaining the same information?”
Na Rae-hyang, having nodded, received his words with her characteristic cold expression.
“Yes. I just confirmed it.”
“Confirmed?”
“Gam Tae’s hideout.”
“…!”
“An old woman I met earlier told me.”
“HOHO, where is it?”
“Sorry, but I can’t tell you that.”
“WHAT?”
“It won’t do if you find it before me. I have to receive payment, you see.”
Na Rae-hyang adjusted her clothes as if intending to leave with those words.
“KEUM…”
“Anyway, I’ve narrowed down the range. Just wait. I’ll find him.”
“The money can be… paid to you come daylight. Just hand over the information.”
At those words, Na Rae-hyang flashed her eyes and let out a sneer.
“Hmph. What kind of scheme is this?”
Nakedly emitted killing intent.
Befitting a peak female master included in the Five Elegants of Jiangxi, an intimidating air.
“…!”
The three Sun Demon Assembly members flinched at that moment.
“If you really want to know, bring your leader. Otherwise…”
As Na Rae-hyang trailed off, her right hand approached a sword hilt.
“…try to subdue me with force and find out.”
At that, the Sun Demon Assembly expressions hardened.
They had already known that Black Rope Wondrous Lady Na Rae-hyang’s temperament was unpredictable, but facing her like this was disconcerting.
‘KEUK, crazy wench…!’
What they all wanted was to attack together and break her spirit.
However, someone of Five Elegants of Jiangxi caliber was difficult to handle.
Unless the Sun Demon Assembly’s leader or vice-leader level, along with some upper-rank members, came, it was unreasonable to confront the powerful existence called Black Rope Wondrous Lady.
“Why, no confidence?”
When Na Rae-hyang asked again in a cold voice, one Sun Demon Assembly member replied.
“EUEUM… Fine. Calm down. We just need to find that old man ourselves anyway.”
“Don’t try to read people again. If you do, I’ll rip out all your tongues and throw them into the pig pens.”
Na Rae-hyang, having withdrawn her hand, fixed her bamboo hat and spoke coldly.
“Trust me and go wait. Or look elsewhere.”
At that moment, people’s voices were faintly heard from the lit houses in the distance.
Immediately after, the Sun Demon Assembly exchanged silent glances.
Some words passing through gazes.
Soon, the three rotated their forms and spoke quietly.
“Then we’ll be waiting.”
“Come to the arranged place five days from now.”
“We look forward to the results.”
Just as they seemed about to completely leave, one of them casually asked.
“Since when do you use a sword?”
Because Na Rae-hyang, who primarily used ultra-fine black iron wire as her main weapon, was carrying a sword.
“Why do you carry your head around?”
“WH-WHAT…?”
“Idiots. Isn’t it obvious? I’m disguising myself as a swordsman.”
“…”
“When the work’s done, get lost. I also have to move busily.”
When Na Rae-hyang tossed out annoyed words, the three disappeared into the darkness with furrowed brows.
SEUK.
Na Rae-hyang, having also turned her steps, let her eyes sink deeply.
‘It was a dead end. The old man she saw…’
It wasn’t Gam Tae.
Though quite similar.
She had already gone there yesterday and confirmed it.
However, the reason she came back to this mountain village and waited for the Sun Demon Assembly group to appear was solely one.
Information disturbance.
She intended to delay as much time as possible by doing that.
To secure clues about the reality of the demonic forces and to understand their true purpose.
Also,
To prevent the massacre of civilians.
Soon.
PIT.
With a small sound, Na Rae-hyang disappeared.
After a short while passed from that point.
The Sun Demon Assembly all reappeared at that same spot.
“Let’s interrogate them directly.”
“Starting with that old woman’s house.”
“Come, let’s go.”
Right at that moment, someone’s cold voice was heard.
“I knew you’d do this.”
A black-clad woman who had appeared ghost-like one zhang behind.
It was Na Rae-hyang.
The startled three whipped their heads around and quickly fanned out.
“I had roughly guessed. The series of recent civilian massacre incidents, that the main culprit was you.”
Na Rae-hyang spewed ferocious fighting spirit and killing intent while speaking in a vicious voice.
She was already holding a sword she had drawn from her waist.
A posture laden with murderous intent.
Enough to make one’s hair stand on end.
The Sun Demon Assembly members, having sensed the threat, assumed battle-ready stances.
“Black Rope Wondrous Lady!”
“WHAT ARE YOU UP TO!”
“KEUM, REFRAIN FROM RASH ACTIONS!”
But Na Rae-hyang only emitted even more terrifying formless force.
“Your leader once said this. If a martial world master interferes in this matter or a traitor appears, whoever handles it will receive a reward worth the large sum paid at the time.”
The blade trembled.
WOONG-
The effect of tremendous true energy injected into the sword.
“Idiots, you should have left when I told you to leave.”
Na Rae-hyang’s intention was obvious.
She was going to dispose of the three and fabricate the situation.
As an abrupt outrage committed by a fictional swordsman…
Na Rae-hyang, having raised her sword straight before her chest, quietly spoke while shooting sharp eyes.
“Sacrifice of the few for the many. I can’t accept that. No one should be killed innocently as a sacrifice.”
As such, Na Rae-hyang rapidly advanced and drew a horizontal trajectory with the sword in her right hand.
SHUKAAAAK-!
When a chilling piercing sound burst.
PEOPEONG!
The Sun Demon Assembly member standing in the center was flung hard backward.
“WOOT!”
Outstanding sword technique and formidable sword force evocative of a sword master.
Fortunately, he avoided internal injury.
The remaining two swiftly widened the gap between them.
‘That wench, she handles swords well too!’
Na Rae-hyang, having injected true energy into her sword again, emitted fierce eye light.
“When you all go to the afterlife, tell them I sent you.”
She launched her body straight away and did not spare her internal power as she unleashed her techniques.
PEOPEOPEONG, PEOPEOPEOPEONG…!
* * *
“EU… EUEUP…”
Quiet moans filled the shabby house.
They belonged to the Sun Demon Assembly member whose limb tendons had been severed.
From Country Magistrate Ju Yu-gang’s cruel torture, his cheek muscles were convulsing.
JJEOK-
Along with an unpleasant sound, one of the Sun Demon Assembly member’s fingernails was pried up.
“EUEUP… EUEUP!”
His face, now gagged, was a mess of tears, snot, and blood.
Ju Yu-gang’s harsh touch didn’t end there.
KKWADEUEUK!
He even broke his finger joints. Only then did Ju Yu-gang ask coldly.
“How is it, now do you feel like talking?”
At that, the terrified Sun Demon Assembly member slightly nodded.
SEUK.
The moment Ju Yu-gang removed the gag.
“STUPID… FOOL…”
The Sun Demon Assembly member bit down hard on his own tongue along with those words.
TUTUK…
Crimson blood gushed and dribbled down his chin.
It was final resistance.
Refusing to divulge secrets no matter what torture was inflicted.
Even the composed Ju Yu-gang was stunned.
‘THIS…!’
Truly frightening.
The blind loyalty of a fanatic steeped in demonic path doctrine.
His hands and feet were already broken and bent in a mess.
On top of that, with his tongue severed, obtaining the desired information was a difficult matter.
This left no choice.
He just had to kill him.
He had to be satisfied with having prevented a massacre.
Soon, Ju Yu-gang’s sword scattered sharp energy.
SEOGEOK-!
The neatly severed head spurted blood fountains as it rolled onto the wooden floor.
Ju Yu-gang wiped the blood from the blade and moved his steps.
Thus, going outside to the yard, Deputy Country Magistrate Ban Bu-bong and bodyguard Dam Maeng-gi approached and asked.
“How did it go?”
“Did he reveal the hideout?”
Ju Yu-gang shook his head and spoke while gazing at the night sky.
“He didn’t confess to the very end.”
“AH…”
“Truly obstinate. The conviction a demon cultist holds…”
“Anyway, just as Sect Leader Cheol predicted, the enemy took the bait. For now, we must continue the hunt by spreading rumors about Gam Tae and gathering information.”
At that moment, far in the distance, a fairly large white light was seen streaking long across the night sky.
Could it be a comet?
The surprised Ju Yu-gang immediately operated internal power to boost his eyesight.
“HM? A horse and people…!”
His eyes immediately went round.
Ban Bu-bong and Dam Maeng-gi, having lifted their heads too, looked in that direction and spoke.
“PARDON? All of a sudden…?”
“I don’t see anything though?”
By then, that light had already disappeared.
Ju Yu-gang, having rubbed both eyes, waved his hand dismissively.
“I thought that was Divine wind and Sect Leader Cheol’s party just now.”
“PSSH, no way…”
“Seems you’re tired from exhausting your mental energy.”
“Must have been a shooting star. Now, let’s finish cleaning up and get going.”
Ju Yu-gang, having said that, let out a smirk.
HUT, surely.
No matter how crazy a horse thing he is, there’s no way he can leap that high and far as if flying through the sky.
Well, unless he obtained some absurdly incredible fortuitous encounter.
* * *
Just past midnight, White Peak Sword Sect’s training grounds.
With torches lit brightly, Qidiao Gon, on night patrol duty, was making his rounds of the premises and came here to check the main gate’s security before stretching lengthily and turning his steps.
“EUTTCHA… Shift change time is approaching.”
But then, one person quietly appeared not far away.
“On patrol?”
The figure’s identity was none other than Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo.
“HM, you’re still awake?”
When Qidiao Gon countered with a question, Seol Pan-gyo approached.
“Yes. For some reason… I couldn’t fall asleep easily.”
“HUT. Probably because you’re startled. When I first came here too, I was the same.”
“Quite a mysterious place. No… I should say mysteriousness about Sect Leader Cheol is more correct.”
“Yes. He is a mysterious person. Unpredictable too.”
“When might Sect Leader Cheol return?”
“WHO KNOWS. Considering Divine wind’s remarkable speed, perhaps within tomorrow…”
At that moment, a ‘KUNG’ sound echoed faintly from the far distance of darkness.
The two startled people simultaneously cast their eyes toward the night sky beyond the main gate.
‘WHAT IS IT?’
It was several tens of zhang away.
Soon.
FLASH FLASH.
A large, pure white light traversing the void and rapidly flying toward White Peak Sword Sect came into view.
A horse.
Moreover, on top were four people packed tightly together.
‘EOEOK! TH-THAT…!’
At the moment both were identically shocked, Divine wind descended into the training grounds.
KKWAKWANG!
Simultaneously with the roar of descent.
CHARARARARARA- CHARARARARARA-!
All the square stones laid on the training grounds floor rose up like a great wave and then settled down, raising a cloudy dust.
SEUSEUSEUSEU, SEUSEUSEUSEU…
Hae Su-yeon, pouting her face, murmured.
“HING, no fun. It’s too comfortable, so there’s no excitement.”
Amid that, as the dust cleared, Cheol Ryu-heun released the reins and HWIK jumped down.
Then, seeing Seol Pan-gyo standing with a dazed expression, he tossed out an indifferent voice.
“Clean that up.”
“YES, YYET…?”
When Seol Pan-gyo, having reset his expression, looked puzzled, Cheol Ryu-heun strode past his side and instructed.
“Have this training ground completely tidied up by tomorrow morning. If you want to pass the Guest Retainer interview.”