Chapter 64: Chapter 64
“……So you are saying that the Black Valor Slaying Demon was just lying dead on the road?”
“It’s hard to believe, but yes.”
At Hyeon-jin’s words, the handsome young man sitting in front, Seol Geom, touched his throbbing forehead.
The mission entrusted to them was to exterminate the demonic practitioner who had massacred the village.
But now the situation had become strange.
The guy they thought was a mere demonic practitioner turned out to be the archfiend who had brought a storm of blood to the Namgung Clan and Anhui Province in the past.
“Are you sure the corpse is the Black Valor Slaying Demon?”
“He undoubtedly used Blood Qigong.”
“……If so, then it is correct.”
Seol Geom had no choice but to admit it.
Blood Qigong was not known to the Murim.
Those who knew about Blood Qigong were only the party involved, the Black Valor Slaying Demon, the Namgung Clan, and a few in the Murim Alliance.
“Was there really no one nearby?”
Hyeon-jin nodded his head up and down.
After finding the corpse of the Black Valor Slaying Demon, they had searched Tong Mountain thoroughly, but they could not find a single person other than themselves.
“This is a very difficult situation.”
Speaking with a troubled face, Seol Geom picked up a brush. Soon, he wrote the contents of the report on the paper placed in front of him with elegant handwriting.
“The situation of killing an archfiend like the Black Valor Slaying Demon is a good thing for our Alliance, but we don’t know who took him down…….”
Whispering, Seol Geom set the brush down with a clack.
“First of all, you have worked hard.”
“What are you going to do about the mission?”
“For now, I will report that it was handled through your great heroics.”
“……But isn’t that a lie?”
“It can’t be helped.”
Seol Geom said with cold eyes.
“If we report that an unknown person who is not you had already handled it, what would others think?”
“That is…….”
“Aren’t there already an increasing number of people wary of you, Immortal, and the Mount Hua Sect recently? Wouldn’t it be better to use this as a stepping stone of opportunity?”
Hyeon-jin bit his lip tightly.
His conscience was pricked by the fact that it was a lie, but as Seol Geom said, it was a good opportunity.
Fame for taking down an archfiend like the Black Valor Slaying Demon was not something easily obtained.
“It will be a good result for you and Mount Hua. It will be like adding wings to the soaring reputation of the Mount Hua Sect anyway.”
“……I understand.”
A short while later, Hyeon-jin left, and Seol Geom, who was left alone in the room, picked up the brush again and wrote on a new piece of paper.
… A master appeared in Tong Mountain. Information needed.
Seol Geom, who had written the message to send to the Beggars’ Sect Leader, slipped the paper into his sleeve and stood up.
“The Black Valor Slaying Demon was an unexpected event.”
Seol Geom tapped the table with his index finger.
“Since we brought the corpse separately, would it be better to push for a deal with the Namgung Clan? If so, it would be better to entrust it to Immortal Hyeon-jin, who finished this mission.”
At that time when a new mission directive was about to be issued to the Mount Hua Sect by Seol Geom.
‘I didn’t expect to see the martial arts of the Blood Cult.’
Cheon-hwi, who had finished his breath cultivation, recalled the old man who had mastered the martial arts of the Blood Cult.
‘And to speak so proudly of it.’
He was so dumbfounded that he almost clicked his tongue.
What kind of place was the Blood Cult?
It was a closed, minority religious group.
To the point that the only ones who knew of their existence were the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Great Thunderclap Temple, which had been at odds with them since a long time ago.
You might think, ‘Then isn’t it okay to learn the martial arts of the Blood Cult?’, but that is a huge mistake.
It was precisely because of the Great Thunderclap Temple.
If the martial arts of the Blood Cult appeared in the world, the Great Thunderclap Temple would immediately move.
For some reason, those of the esoteric sect would rush in like mad dogs whenever it was said that the Blood Cult was moving.
Like longtime archenemies.
‘It was comfortable thanks to them.’
He recalled the mad monks of the Great Thunderclap Temple who ran wild together when they smashed the Blood Cult that had once provoked the Divine Cult.
It was not for nothing that they were called a mysterious esoteric sect; their martial arts were unique.
From Soft Qigong where the body stretched or bent, to martial arts close to Demonic Arts.
Especially, whether they had known the martial arts of the Blood Cult for a long time, they were not shaken by their unique aura.
But it was strange.
Such people hadn’t appeared until the guy who learned the martial arts of the Blood Cult gained a moniker?
If they knew that guy had learned Blood Qigong, it was worth them stepping forward.
Questions naturally welled up.
‘Or has the Great Thunderclap Temple changed too?’
It was a somewhat understandable thought.
No matter how long they had been at odds with the Blood Cult, three hundred years had passed since their annihilation.
They might have already been forgotten.
‘Whether they do or not, it doesn’t matter.’
He stopped his train of thought.
Whether it was the Blood Cult or the Great Thunderclap Temple, what did it matter?
Anyway, there was no need to care so much about matters of the Outer Realms, which were far from the Central Plains.
‘I am no longer the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult now.’
Just then, the door burst open, and Cheon Yu appeared, calling out to Cheon-hwi who was sitting on the bed.
“Junior Brother! We have a new mission this time, want to go together?”
* * *
After the time it takes to eat a meal, Cheon-hwi, who exited the pavilion and arrived at the courtyard, was welcomed by carriages.
Cheon Yu waved his hand broadly.
“Junior Brother, over here.”
Cheon Yu, who came running breathlessly, looked at Cheon-hwi’s simple luggage and smiled sheepishly.
“I wanted to relax and share a drink with you, Junior Brother…….”
Cheon Yu, who whispered carefully in his ear, slyly pointed behind him and added his words.
“We’ll have to do it next time.”
At that time, Hyeon-jin approached.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and get in.”
“Understood.”
Cheon Yu nodded, led Cheon-hwi, and moved to the carriage at the very back.
There was already a previous guest in the carriage.
“Eldest Senior Brother! Junior Brother Hwi is here too.”
Gu Gyeom-wi welcomed them with a smile.
Despite being massive in size compared to most strong men, making the carriage cramped, he wore a bright smile.
At that time, the cloth in front was drawn back.
“We will depart now.”
At the coachman’s words, Cheon Yu and Cheon-hwi sat in their seats. At that moment, with the cracking sound of a whip, the horses whinnied, and the carriage departed.
“By the way, where is our destination?”
Cheon-hwi only then asked about the situation.
At that, Gu Gyeom-wi and Cheon Yu were flustered.
“Eldest Senior Brother?”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
After thinking for a moment, Cheon Yu added as if he had forgotten completely.
“Where we are going is the Namgung Clan.”
“The Namgung Clan……?”
Cheon-hwi tilted his head.
The Namgung Clan was famous.
They were the universally acknowledged head of the Eight Great Clans and a family like the pillar supporting the Flying Heaven Society.
The history and reputation they held were widely known throughout the world, beyond the Murim.
And Cheon-hwi knew the Namgung Clan very well.
‘Because in my past life, the head of the Five Great Clans or whatever was the Namgung Clan.’
Of course, then and now were different.
But the grain was the same.
‘Their history has grown deeper.’
The history of the Namgung Clan was deep.
They were comparable to Shaolin and Wudang in the Murim, which had a history of at least over eight hundred years.
But it was questionable.
The current Namgung Clan belonged to the Flying Heaven Society, which was at odds with the Murim Alliance.
And they were also the mainstay of the Eight Great Clans.
“Aren’t they feuding with the Namgung Clan?”
“It’s to hand over the corpse of the Black Valor Slaying Demon.”
Gu Gyeom-wi answered the question, and Cheon Yu added to his words.
“Because there is a deep grudge between the Namgung Clan and the Black Valor Slaying Demon.”
* * *
Only a fortnight after leaving the Murim Alliance, the group arrived in Anhui Province.
“Eldest Senior Brother, we have arrived in Anhui.”
Gu Gyeom-wi brought his face close to the window. As if the streets of Anhui were fascinating, he looked with sparkling eyes.
Cheon-hwi’s gaze also headed towards the window.
To be exact, he was looking at a giant wall and signboard that stood out even from outside the window.
‘Righteous Qi Reaches the Autumn Heavens?’
He looked at the phrase ‘Righteous Qi Reaches the Autumn Heavens Namgung Clan’ written prominently on the signboard.
It was a crude handwriting, but no matter who wrote it, it was the skill of a considerable master.
‘Hmm. Quite decent? At this level, it must be a swordsman who has reached at least the Heavenly Martial Realm.’
When he felt the fierce intent contained in the rapidly scrawled handwriting.
Clatter…
Hyeon-jin opened the carriage door.
“Come out.”
Following his words, as they came out, all the other Plum Blossom Swordsmen had also come out.
“……For what matter have you come from the Mount Hua Sect to our Clan?”
A gate guard of the Namgung Clan, stiffened and exuding killing intent, spoke.
“I came because I have something to deliver.”
“What is it?”
Even seeing the people around, he stood perfectly straight without any intimidation.
“It is the corpse of the Black Valor Slaying Demon.”
“……!”
The gate guard’s eyes widened.
He looked at Hyeon-jin with an unbelievable face and opened his mouth.
“……Are you certain?”
Hyeon-jin nodded his head.
“That is correct.”
Seeing that, the gate guard frowned and bowed politely.
“Please wait a moment.”
“I understand.”
The gate guard immediately went inside.
Because of that, the group was left in a position of standing blankly at the main gate of the Namgung Clan.
“……It will take some time.”
Just as the Plum Blossom Swordsmen were feeling awkward.
Creaaak…
The closed door opened.
“The Clan Head has permitted your visit.”
The gate guard came out.
“Thank you.”
As Hyeon-jin stepped inside and the group tried to follow him.
Step…
The gate guard blocked the way.
“The person the Clan Head permitted is only one.”
At the gate guard’s iron wall-like words, Hyeon-jin asked with a troubled expression.
“Are you saying we cannot enter together?”
“That is correct.”
“But shouldn’t we move the corpse?”
“Our Clan will provide the manpower for that…….”
“Are you thinking of leaving guests standing?”
A profound voice was heard from afar.
The owner of the voice was an old man with a benevolent impression who was sweeping the yard with a broom.
“E-Elder?”
The gate guard was startled upon seeing the old man sweeping and bowed his head.
“Have you been well…….”
“No need for greetings.”
With those words, the old man stopped sweeping.
The old man, who put his hands behind his back, looked at the Taoists standing awkwardly in front of the gate and moved his mouth.
“More than that, how long do you plan to leave the Taoists standing out there alone?”
“……It is the Clan Head’s order.”
“The Clan Head’s order, you say?”
Wrinkles formed on the old man’s forehead.
“That is correct.”
The gate guard’s confident voice grew as small as a crawling bug.
The old man shook his head side to side.
“Let them inside.”
“But if I do that…….”
“I will take responsibility for this matter.”
“E-Elder, you mean?”
As the gate guard flinched.
“So let them in.”
“……Understood.”
The gate guard abruptly turned his body.
“Please, all of you come in.”
Cheon-hwi subtly looked at the old man.
‘Who is he? Usually in a Clan, the Clan Head’s power is no different from absolute.’
He was certainly no ordinary person.
‘And the martial prowess he possesses is not ordinary either.’
At that time, the old man approached.
“I am sorry to have kept you waiting.”
The old man, who politely cupped his fists, met eyes with Hyeon-jin and the Taoists one by one.
It was a soft gaze.
However, Cheon-hwi caught a glimpse of the fierce and intense thunder contained within that gaze.
‘He’s quite strong?’
At that time, the old man also stared at Cheon-hwi.
When the old man, who looked at Cheon-hwi longer than the others, subtly stepped back.
“Immeasurable Life Buddha.”
Hyeon-jin softly chanted a Taoist chant.
“Thank you.”
The old man who stepped back smiled without a word.
It was an ephemeral smile like an illusion.
A short while later, as the old man put his hands behind his back and left for somewhere, the gate guard watched with a complicated face before turning his body.
“Follow me.”
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