Chapter 568: Side Story 68

Chapter side_68

“Groan, ugh……!”

“Gasp!”

Those gathered in the grand hall all swallowed groans and shed tears. Some were old, and some were not.

However, they were all sprawling on the floor in a messy state, which must be the same reason Sa Do-hak’s club was stained red with blood.

Even so, he sat in the highest seat and huffed, as if he could not suppress his anger.

“So, not a single one of you knows about Gu Ja-gok?”

“We…… We are sorry……!”

“You don’t even know when he disappeared?”

“We…… We apologize…….”

“You didn’t even know what that fellow was doing……?”

“We…… We have no excuses…….”

Hearing the voices coming from here and there, Sa Do-hak was dumbfounded.

How messy must the Demonic Cult have been for such a situation to occur? Just thinking about it, Gam Chun’s hardships during this time were clearly visible.

Since there was not even a single percent of unity anywhere, they could not properly defend against the invading Potala Palace and were pushed back every time.

Let’s out a sigh, Sa Do-hak glanced elsewhere.

“Bring all the information on the Ma Hyeong Squad from before. If you don’t have it, make it and bring it.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Also, place a request with the Haomen and chase them. If they refuse…… place the request under the name of the Hunan Dan Family.”

“Understood.”

Those who were sprawling on the floor slowly began to stand up. Although their entire bodies were creaking and in pain, they knew that if they showed such signs in front of Sa Do-hak, who was furious, their heads would fly off.

Thus, they had to show as fine a appearance as possible.

But the Hunan Dan Family?

What was that again?

The elders glanced at each other, asking silently if they knew. But they all shook their heads; not a single person seemed to know about a place called the Hunan Dan Family.

“What are you doing?! Move quickly!”

Soon, at the harsh voice, everyone hurriedly moved their bodies.

If they provoked the uncomfortable Sa Do-hak, they would not see a good end. Had those who knew him from a very long time ago not already experienced it enough?

Furthermore, since there was no longer even Dongfang Gu to dissuade such a Sa Do-hak, being careful and more careful was the secret to a long life.

* * *

“Hoho- then it must surely be the doing of that Ma Hyeong Squad.”

“It is not confirmed yet! Do not jump to conclusions.”

Inside the large room of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, Sa Do-hak, Dan Woo-hyun, Namgung Cheon, and the Gold Heaven Beast King were sitting together.

The other members were not visible, as if they had been left somewhere, which was because they had been left outside the Mount Tian Demonic Cult in preparation for any potential situation.

No matter what happened, Namgung So-hye and Jang Sam-tae were by their side.

In addition, if White Tiger and White Cat joined them, they would not be affected unless a Five Emperors-level expert appeared.

“It is a scripture that has been handed down in the Potala Palace for a long time. It must be found.”

Soon, at the Gold Heaven Beast King’s words, Sa Do-hak frowned as much as he could. Even without him saying so, if it was true that those bastards stole it, he planned to find it and return it on his own.

There was no need to rush him.

Why was he so restless?

“If it was that important, you should have taken good care of it!”

“We did take good care of it! Who would have thought that anyone would break through that formation, enter inside, and bring it out? And inside the Potala Palace of all places!”

The Gold Heaven Beast King was equally frustrated.

That scripture was like a secret treasure handed down in the Potala Palace for a very long time. Thus, it was protected by layers of formations, and its location was also in the center of the Potala Palace.

It was designed so densely that one could infiltrate but could never obtain it, and even if one was lucky enough to obtain it, one could not escape.

Yet, was it possible for someone to take it away so sneakily?

Looking at the Gold Heaven Beast King who was turning red and blue in the face, Sa Do-hak sneered, looking at his shoulders as if he had some right to be proud.

“The guys of the Ma Hyeong Squad are indeed good at that kind of thing. They learn how to break high-level formations from a young age. Actually…… they might even be better than the Zhuge Family, you know?”

“You must be very reassured that they are so reliable. Hahaha.”

The Gold Heaven Beast King clenched his fists and trembled.

Boasting in such a situation?

How was it any different from defending a thief?

Whether he was completely unaware of that fact, Sa Do-hak wore a large smile and rubbed the Gold Heaven Beast King’s insides raw. Had it not been for Sa Do-hak, his fist would have landed on his face.

“Hoho- be that as it may, what do you plan to do with the remains?”

At that moment, Namgung Cheon spoke up as if to change the subject.

Since they knew nothing about the guys who had already vanished, there was no use talking about it right now.

Moreover, since the original purpose of entering the Mount Tian Demonic Cult was to lay Cheon Mu-gwang’s remains to rest, he thought it was right to speak of that first.

Furthermore, Dan Woo-hyun did not seem to show much interest in anything else.

“I will bury him where the ancestors are buried. Once this little commotion is sorted out.”

Sa Do-hak was not unaware of that fact either.

Furthermore, did they not have to bury the remains quickly so they could go to Anhui? Seeing that Namgung Cheon brought it up first in this situation, he also seemed to want to go to Anhui as soon as possible to wrap this matter up.

“I will say this once more…… finding the scripture must be the priority. If not…… the march of the Potala Palace will not stop.”

And there was one more person who had little interest in the remains or the burial. For the Gold Heaven Beast King, finding the scripture was the top priority.

Also, with the disappearance of the Ma Hyeong Squad, it was confirmed that all responsibility lay with the Demonic Cult.

In that case, the Potala Palace would stop at nothing to retrieve the scripture. Since the justification and meaning lay with the Potala Palace, the eyes of those watching this war also turned in favor of the Palace.

However, the Gold Heaven Beast King’s tone and actions could not help but be annoying to Sa Do-hak.

He frowned deeply and spoke.

“I said I’d find it and return it, so stop nagging so damn much.”

“H-Haha- Cult Leader Sa seems to have a rather rough mouth, though?”

“Why, you want to try me? You’ll have to bring three or four of your Great Dharma Kings, though?”

“…….”

Sa Do-hak fully released his momentum and pressured the Gold Heaven Beast King. His expression, as if asking if he wanted to hit a rock with an egg, was literally threatening, and it looked as if he could take action right away if things went wrong.

“What is the big deal about that one Buddhist scripture that you’re making such a fuss, anyway!”

“We are doing this because it is not just any scripture, is it not?”

The Gold Heaven Beast King spoke in a soft tone, but a force like thick bones could be felt within those words. Also, his gaze looking at Sa Do-hak did not back down at all, as if saying try me if you want.

Sa Do-hak’s eyes narrowed.

The Gold Heaven Beast King also resisted by emitting his momentum.

Even though Sa Do-hak was evaluated as the most outstanding in the Demonic Cult, he clearly showed that he had no intention of backing down.

“Stop it there. It is noisy.”

“Ahem!”

“……I apologize.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s words that followed, Sa Do-hak and the Gold Heaven Beast King withdrew their momentum and turned their gazes away.

Their feelings toward each other were extremely uncomfortable, but because there was a giant presence like Dan Woo-hyun, they could not reveal it openly.

“Indeed, what is that scripture that you are so desperate for?”

“…….”

“Is it so important that you cannot speak of it?”

The Gold Heaven Beast King swallowed a short groan.

Every single scripture kept in the Potala Palace was important. There were various scriptures, including those about Buddha, but the stolen one was the most secret among them, and it was something unknown to anyone else.

“It is…… something written by the Great Dharma King who traveled with the Martial God a thousand years ago.”

The moment his words were heard, Dan Woo-hyun, who rarely showed any change in expression, widened his eyes. At the same time, the gazes of Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak quickly poured onto Dan Woo-hyun.

Their expressions were asking if he knew about it.

“Did such a thing…… exist?”

“Since it has been kept sealed inside the Potala Palace without anyone’s knowledge…… it is only natural that you do not know.”

The Gold Heaven Beast King wore a bitter smile.

A thousand years ago, the scripture of the Great Dharma King.

Since the Great Dharma King was the only one who knew its contents, no one knew what was written in it, but seeing that it was a thousand-year-old object and had been guarded until now, its importance could not be denied.

Had they not protected at least that much in the last attack?

“Interesting…….”

Once again, the gazes of Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak turned toward Dan Woo-hyun.

However, no one in particular came to mind.

He had seen many monks, but a lama?

No matter how much he searched his head, no one came to mind.

“It might be something false.”

The Potala Palace had already suffered once due to the Martial God’s items. Also, since the secret manual was already stolen by Geum Wang-su, it was correct that it should not exist, but looking at the Gold Heaven Beast King’s tone, it did not seem like that.

Had something else been hidden?

Indeed, it was the Potala Palace, which could be said to be the beginning of the Central Plains martial arts world.

A small smile hung on the corner of Dan Woo-hyun’s mouth.

He had become interested.

“Oops……”

“H-Haha- you have become interested, my friend.”

“Rather than interested…… it looks like it will be fun.”

It was the same for Sa Do-hak and Namgung Cheon.

Since it was a scripture written about the Martial God a thousand years ago, it meant that a human named Dan Woo-hyun, whom they did not know about, was written in it. Rather than secret manuals and such, that side seemed more interesting.

“That scripture…… I will definitely find it for you.”

As Sa Do-hak spoke with a full smile, the Gold Heaven Beast King swallowed hard. He was talking about finding it, but why did it feel so threatening?

Moreover, why did he only say he would find it and not mention returning it?

Anxiety had already begun to sprout.

“I will give you a warning beforehand, but…… that scripture is something that has been handed down in the Potala Palace for generations.”

As if Sa Do-hak did not want to hear any more, he waved his hand with a nonchalant expression, and the Gold Heaven Beast King could not say anything more. He instinctively realized that it was useless to talk further.

Thus, if possible, the Potala Palace had to capture those Ma Hyeong Squad guys first.

“Then…… this old man will leave first.”

“Alright.”

Watching him rise from his seat, no one came forward to stop him. Since they were not companions in the first place and their paths were different, they knew they had to move to get what they wanted.

Thus, the Gold Heaven Beast King planned to move on his own.

The man stood up, closed the door, and disappeared. Just as when he came in, he would slip out through the secret passage so as not to be caught by others.

“Then…… what now? The scripture of the Great Dharma King…… it seems interesting, but……”

“I will find it myself!”

In the first place, Sa Do-hak was in a position where he had to capture the Ma Hyeong Squad who had stolen the scripture and run away. Also, since he was curious about the content, there was only one thing to do next.

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