Chapter 349: Fire Demon (9)
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The moment they realized Sword Demon Ma Cheon-wi was dead, the remaining subordinates scattered in all directions. Being subordinate beings, they seemed incapable of fighting without someone leading them. Or perhaps they had received orders to disengage immediately if the Sword Demon died.
As the Blood Cult bastards dispersed, the battle swiftly entered a lull. Soon, the people of the Wudang Sect regrouped. It was the place where the disciples of Wudang and the martial artists of the Blood Cult had piled mountains of corpses.
Among the disciples coming from the opposite side of Cheong-ui and me, the ones taking the lead at the very front were Cheong-hwa, Myeong-gyeong, and Namgung Hwi, whom I had sent ahead.
“You have arrived.”
“Yes.”
Cheong-hwa wore a grief-stricken expression. I likely wore the same.
When Cheong-ui had retreated the disciples first, the belatedly arriving Cheong-hwa, Namgung Hwi, and Myeong-gyeong had taken the rearguard, so the casualties among the retreated disciples had fortunately not grown catastrophic. It was fortunate news amidst great misfortune.
However, what meaning did a meager blessing hold amidst immense tragedy? Master, Senior Brother Myeong-gyeong, the Sect Leader, the surviving disciples, and I were all deeply despondent.
Although it was true we had repelled the enemies who launched a surprise raid, it was far from a victory.
“……Let us clean up the aftermath.”
Cheong-ui spoke in a choked voice. Everyone lowered their heads. As was customary in battles among martial artists, the corpses were severed and mangled, making it difficult even to identify their remains.
First, we sorted out the corpses of the Blood Cult from the disciples of the Wudang Sect. My role was greatest there. Because among us, I was the only one who could sensitively detect the faint demonic qi remaining in their bodies.
I placed my hands upon the ambiguous corpses brought by the disciples, discerning the nature and resonance of their internal energy.
Even with the same spiritual energy, a martial artist has a unique resonance. Identifying the remains of the corpses brought back memories of their faces and gestures when they were alive. But since even I could not know the unique resonance of every single disciple of the Wudang Sect, some were passed over without identification.
The final examination of the corpses was handled by Cheong-ui. Although Cheong-ui was in no proper physical condition, no one could stop him. In truth, no one was in a normal physical state right now anyway. No one could fathom what the Sect Leader was feeling inside.
“……It is Myeong-yun.”
Remarkably, the moment Cheong-ui infused internal energy into the corpses, he identified their unique resonances.
That was proof of how attentively Cheong-ui had looked after all the disciples. Although Myeong-il was Cheong-ui’s direct disciple, as the Sect Leader, he had overseen the martial arts of the other disciples together as well.
The surviving disciples all observed a silent tribute, while only Cheong-ui and I moved about confirming the identities of the corpses.
The names of those identified were called out one by one. Along with that, tears burst forth from those who had particularly deep bonds with the named deceased.
Those who lost their closest friend, those who lost their master, those who lost their disciple. They were all indelible wounds.
Sometimes, a corpse speaks of many things. Inquiring into the remains revealed how recklessly they had circulated internal energy and how severely their energy meridians had torn as a result.
And that was true for the corpses of the Blood Cult as well. The corpses spoke of how even those who seemed heavily armed with fanatical faith had trembled in terror right before death.
Perhaps that agony was something only I, having actually died before, could truly empathize with. Even after quite a long time had passed, the most vivid memory remained none other than death.
Conducting the post-mortem examination, I too burned their deaths into my heart one by one.
“Let us cremate them.”
“Let us do so.”
I also agreed with Cheong-ui’s words. The corpses were already severely damaged, making them unsuitable for burying in the earth. A handful of ash would be preferable.
First, we separated the people of the Blood Cult from the disciples of Wudang. Several disciples protested, asking why we should cremate even the Blood Cult bastards who had harmed us, but Cheong-ui quietly shook his head.
“They are already dead.”
None of the Wudang Sect people were in healthy shape, but without uttering a single complaint, they all prepared for the final farewell.
While the Blood Cultists were simply burned in dug-out pits, the Wudang Sect people could not be burned like that.
We carried our brothers to Mount Wudang. Mount Wudang was still burning. Because it took a long time for an entire mountain to burn completely.
Cheong-ui walked toward the place on Mount Wudang where the flames burned most fiercely. With all the Wudang disciples already exhausted, heading toward the blazing fire could have been a dangerous act, but everyone followed without complaint.
Together with the gathered corpses, we arrived where the flames raged violently. It was a nameless valley of Mount Wudang.
If a head remained, Cheong-ui stroked their cheek; if there was no head, he patted their shoulder before gently pushing them into the valley.
Crack, crackle. Along with the burning sounds, the corpses entered the flames one by one.
Even without Cheong-ui giving explicit instructions, the survivors stood in neat ranks, paying their respects. Cheong-ui also bowed his head at the very front.
Standing behind him, I raised my head, gazing as if chasing the smoke. Black smoke reached the ends of the sky.
“Junior Brother.”
Myeong-gyeong, standing beside me, spoke quietly. Myeong-gyeong was also watching his senior martial brothers and martial uncles ascending into the sky.
“Yes.”
“Where are they going? Leaving us behind.”
“Who knows. At least it will be a better place than here.”
I genuinely thought so.
This place called the Central Plains was truly an arduous place for a person to survive.
“I hope so.”
“It surely will be.”
We could not share a particularly profound conversation. Perhaps those words were not for those flying into the sky, but words comforting ourselves.
The fire demon blanketing Mount Wudang served the grateful role of carrying the disciples of Wudang into the heavens.
Descending the path after cremating all our brothers, I gazed at Mount Wudang.
Even though night had fallen, the flames raged unabated. The sky of Mount Wudang, originally dense with stars, was also hazy with smoke.
* * *
As we sorted out the corpses to some degree, we received visits from truly many people. Not only the sects belonging to the New Justice Association, but merchant companies and individuals deeply tied to Wudang gathered donations little by little to support us.
“This is truly the underlying strength of Wudang.”
I looked back toward where the voice came from. Behind me, Gwan Seo-ye, wearing green martial attire, had her neck bowed halfway.
“Thank you.”
“Pardon?”
“I heard you warned us in advance that Wudang would be raided. Thank you for running straight to Wudang without reporting to me first.”
“Do not mention it.”
Gwan Seo-ye covered her mouth and smiled. In truth, the Demonic Cult of Torofan had played a major role during this raid incident.
Not only had they warned of the raid in advance and provided safe houses, but particularly at the end when the Wudang Sect was being pursued, martial artists of the Demonic Cult had stepped forward to stall for time. That was why Gwan Seo-ye was still here.
Even if they were of the Demonic Cult, as long as we shared memories of fighting together as allies, we could not chase them away heartlessly.
“Where will the Wudang Sect establish its new foundation?”
“Who knows. That depends on the Sect Leader’s will.”
“If you come to Torofan, we can prepare a space for you.”
“Would the Sect Leader like that?”
“One never knows.”
“I know.”
At my resolute answer, Gwan Seo-ye changed the subject.
“Then leaving the Wudang Sect aside, what will the Heavenly Demon do now?”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“For now, I must maintain composure.”
I tore my gaze away from Gwan Seo-ye and looked toward Jun County. Because it was on a hill, the people of Jun County moving here and there looked small.
The returned people of Jun County came bearing food and money that would help the people of the Wudang Sect. Just as Gwan Seo-ye had said earlier, this was the underlying strength of Wudang.
That even if their home evaporated in a single instant, there were people to support them together. Was that not the power of the values the Wudang Sect had protected all along?
“I thought you would rather be fired up with rage.”
“In my experience, staying coldly calm is more helpful in times like this.”
“You are remarkable. Had my brothers suffered like this, I feel I would have lost my mind.”
“At least one person has to keep their wits about them.”
Right now, I was calmer than ever. Watching the people of Jun County and the Wudang disciples weeping in each other’s embrace down there, I remained numb. I had deliberately crafted my mental state that way.
“Because we cannot just sit idly by.”
“Please give your orders. We are ready to follow.”
Gwan Seo-ye knelt on one knee. The Wudang Sect was likely even more anxious to act than the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
However, marching in to attack right this moment was out of the question. We were unprepared, and reacting emotionally could ruin everything.
“For now, focus on the imperial palace. Because there might be subsequent raids.”
“Yes. But they will likely be unable to do so. With the raid on the Wudang Sect now known across the Central Plains, the unrest is quite severe.”
“Really? Even in the imperial palace?”
“Yes.”
“That is unexpected.”
I thought it would have repercussions only among the common people at most.
“Is not Mount Wudang itself a symbolic place of Daoism? It is also essentially property of the Great Empire. Burning it down seems to have caused fierce debate and controversy even within the empire.”
“Then again, there is no way they reached an agreement through a ministerial council to raid the Wudang Sect. Backlash was bound to emerge.”
“Yes. It will likely be difficult for the Emperor to act more arbitrarily from here on.”
“A blessing in disguise.”
I nodded my head.
“Then we must take advantage of the chaos in the imperial palace.”
“Indeed so.”
I slowly descended the hill. The hill connected to the backyard of a humble manor. This modest estate was the temporary residence provided by Jun County for the New Justice Association.
Many people were gathered in the New Justice Association Master’s chamber. From the New Justice Association strategists composed of Peng Chae-hyang and Zhuge Yan, to Cheong-ui of Wudang, and even Yeo Hong-yang of the Heaven’s Gift Merchant Company.
“The meeting starts in a quarter-hour, yet you all arrived early.”
“Because we have no time to delay.”
Cheong-ui spoke in a low voice. Cheong-ui seemed eager to avenge the deceased Wudang Sect members as quickly as possible. I looked around the room.
“Then let us begin.”
I announced the start of the meeting.
Immediately, a general overview of the scale of damage followed from Zhuge Yan’s mouth.
Although property damage such as burned buildings was specified, how could the value of Wudang Sect buildings be converted into simple monetary worth? Cheong-ui showed displeasure at that, but let it pass since it was merely for the report.
“That concludes the details of the damage.”
“Right. How are the other places belonging to the New Justice Association?”
“Everyone is ready to charge straight into Beijing the moment the order drops.”
The raid on the Wudang Sect was not a shock to Wudang alone. Naturally, it posed an immense threat to the other sects and the Namgung Clan belonging to the same New Justice Association. So it was only natural that they were enraged together.
“No. Even combining all of the New Justice Association, we are objectively lacking. We have at most roughly one thousand martial artists.”
Prince Xian had spoken of an army of four hundred thousand to advance to Beijing. Even mobilizing all of Prince Xian’s soldiers amounted to only eighty thousand. Now was not the time to invade swept away by emotion.
“I think so as well.”
“Though I wish to slice off the heads of those imperial bastards this very instant.”
Cheong-ui spoke. I nodded my head.
“I understand the Sect Leader’s feelings. But there is an order to all things.”
“……Understood.”
Fortunately, Cheong-ui also seemed to realize he was agitated. He was by no means unreasonable.
“Then what is your plan?”
Cheong-ui asked. Being hasty did not suit Cheong-ui at all, but in the current situation, it was completely understandable. I had no intention of dragging things out either.
“We are going to starve the Great Empire to death.”
“Starve them to death?”
“In truth, there is no other way. Because charging in head-on yields no answer.”
“How do you intend to starve them to death?”
At Cheong-ui’s question, I paused briefly before answering.
“All the money in the Central Plains—we will intercept every last bit of it.”
Cheong-ui blinked as if it were a direction he had never even imagined.
For now, this was my true specialty rather than the sword.