Chapter 99: Have You Ever Met Someone From Outside the Heavens
If the orthodox faction has the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Families, the unorthodox faction has the Six Heavens.
Six forces that claim to be the sky of the unorthodox faction.
The Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven, the pinnacle of the Black Abyss Heavenless Faction which boasted of being the number one force in Sichuan, wore a strange expression as he listened to the report that had just come up.
“You’re saying the three orthodox forces have joined hands and are at our front gate?”
It was the news that the representatives of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Qingcheng Sect, and the Emei Sect had visited the headquarters of the Black Abyss Heavenless Faction.
Well, that could happen. Looking at the recent atmosphere in Sichuan, it was something that was bound to happen eventually.
However, contrary to expectations, it was said to be a meeting for peace negotiations rather than declaring war.
“Wuchang.”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t the previous report say that the orthodox bastards were also sharpening their blades, planning to have a showdown this time?”
“That was so.”
“Those rigid, slow-moving, upright-living fellows wouldn’t change their minds so suddenly.”
For an organization of the Black Abyss Heavenless Faction’s scale, information management was extremely important. Reports compiling various events happening all over Sichuan came up daily.
According to the contents of those reports, war seemed unavoidable.
Sichuan was vast and wide. Naturally, it took quite some time for sects located far apart to share and unite their intentions.
Moreover, when issues of pride and face arose, it was game over. It was common for a boat with too many oarsmen to go up a mountain.
In that sense, the orthodox faction’s movement this time was incredibly swift. Considering the sluggish reactions they usually showed, it was to the extent that the term ‘unprecedented’ could be used.
“Should we strike?”
The one called Wuchang asked calmly. Despite hearing that the three orthodox forces had united, he did not seem particularly frightened.
“Hmm…”
Perhaps tempted, the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven pondered.
But he soon shook his head.
“No, let’s watch and wait this time. It would be fine if it were on a board we prepared, but we can’t play on a board set up by the Demonic Cult bastards.”
The Black Abyss Heavenless Faction also knew that the Demonic Cult was behind what was currently happening in Sichuan.
“Then I’ll go have a talk with those gentlemen.”
“Yes.”
“Ah, and.”
Stepping toward the window, the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven stopped as if recalling something he had forgotten.
“The guy who uploaded the report saying the orthodox bastards are sharpening their blades—beat him half to death and bring him to me by the time I return from my business.”
Whoever it was, they were bound to wail.
“I will have him ready shortly.”
The Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven lightly threw himself out the window.
Since the office of the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven was on the fifth floor of the building, he fell as if plummeting, but before touching the ground, he kicked the air and shot forward in the blink of an eye.
In an instant, reaching a place where the five-story wooden pagoda looked smaller than a palm, he could see a group of people.
Some of them recognized the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven and stepped forward.
The Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven scanned the faces of those approaching him and let out a chuckle.
“You’ve grown much stronger?”
“Living a good life brought about good things indeed.”
At the probing gaze of the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven, Tang Cheon-gi waved his hand.
“Emei and Qingcheng. And…”
The gaze of the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven paused on one spot.
“…Hudo.”
“Long time no see.”
As if they were acquainted, the two experts acknowledged each other.
The sight of the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven, who looked to be in his prime, and Taoist Master Hudo, who looked as if he had just emerged from the path of immortals, speaking to each other as equals was extremely peculiar.
“Have you ever met someone who came from beyond the heavens?”
Frowning, the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven suddenly addressed Taoist Master Hudo with incomprehensible words.
Taoist Master Hudo shook his head as if he didn’t understand at all.
“I do not know what you mean.”
“The Black Death God’s Nine Heavens Mara Art. The Mad Martial Sovereign’s Limitless Great Sun Qi. The Pale-handed Divine Demon’s Cold Sky Demonic Manual. Have you heard of or come across these?”
“I have not.”
“Hmm… Indeed, did I jump to conclusions? If you had raised your realm with those, your aura would have become quite rough.”
The expressions of Abbess Jugok, Sect Leader of the Emei Sect, and Taoist Master Cheong-gyeong, Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect, contorted, feeling ignored by the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven’s incomprehensible talk.
Yet the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven paid no heed.
Instead, he scolded them.
“Tsk, tsk. Seeing your inner thoughts revealed just because you were slightly ignored shows you still have a long way to go. Your cultivation is so shallow.”
Pretending to sympathize with Taoist Master Hudo, he chewed out the three orthodox forces.
“It must have been hard on you too. Gathering such fools to resolve the situation in Sichuan.”
Seeing that Taoist Master Hudo was the only outsider, he assumed it was Hudo who had united the three orthodox forces.
Taoist Master Hudo shook his head with a bitter smile.
“I persuaded the Emei Sect, but the rest was not my doing.”
“Not yours?”
“It is a child named Yeon Cheong-un. Recently, he has been called the Little Heavenly Dragon.”
[Do you mean Mu-ae’s grandson?]
Surprised, the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven asked Taoist Master Hudo via sound transmission.
They called Yeon Cheong-un’s grandfather, Yeon Ja-yeom, Mu-ae.
Had there been anyone who knew its meaning, many would have gasped in shock, but the only person who heard those words was Taoist Master Hudo.
Swallowing the shocking truth, Taoist Master Hudo continued.
“I learned a lesson from that child.”
“Oh?”
It was an utterly absurd story.
Although the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Qingcheng Sect did not show much reaction since they already knew, Emei Sect Leader Abbess Jugok, who knew nothing, could not close her wide-open mouth.
“I wondered where the fellow called the Sword Immortal had sold his sword. This sounds interesting. Let’s hear the story.”
[Is Mu-ae doing well?]
“If that is the price for peace, very well.”
[He is the same as ever. Upright, proper, and always filled with worries. Let’s share a cup of tea and catch up. Considering our respective positions, I don’t think there will be another meeting like this in the future.]
“I accept. Hahaha! A story about the junior to whom the Sword Immortal handed over his sword is more than enough. Hahahaha!”
Abbess Jugok and Taoist Master Cheong-gyeong could not hide their bewilderment as they listened to the conversation passing between the Lord of the Black Abyss Heaven and Taoist Master Hudo.
To think that a story about a mere junior was brought up as the price of peace that would decide the fate of Sichuan!
It was like a negotiation from stories passed down through historical tales.
Hence, doubts arose.
Just what kind of fellow was the Little Heavenly Dragon, Yeon Cheong-un?
“Tsk!”
Conversely, Tang Cheon-gi, annoyed that the treasure he wanted to monopolize had become known to the whole neighborhood, clicked his tongue quietly.
“Samyang County, was it? Those rascals better be making good progress. Tsk! If they are just idling around, I won’t let them off. Dammit!”
***
A young man who appeared to be a junior of the Sichuan Tang Clan dressed in green headed toward a secluded spot out of people’s sight and welcomed someone.
“In the end, it finished with just testing the waters.”
If Taoist Master Hudo had been here, he would have drawn his sword.
It was the person who had targeted Teacher Emerald Bamboo’s life and fought a duel with Taoist Master Hudo.
“Somehow, if ‘He’ finds out about this result, I think we will get scolded a lot. Right?”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Of course not. There’s no way anyone would mock the Shadow Heaven Squad Leader right in front of his face. That requires immense courage. I don’t have that kind of courage.”
His manner of speaking playfully to irritate others was genius.
“I don’t think I’ll be the only one getting scolded.”
“That might be so, but at least it won’t be me. I handled everything I was assigned well. That idiot Sagong Pae has completely come over to our side. He will act exactly as we order inside the Qingcheng Sect.”
The junior of the Sichuan Tang Clan continued to speak playfully.
“Wow! Every time that bastard Mae Gyeong-pung of the Mount Hua Sect acted cocky, it twisted my stomach, but this time I can talk big too. Ahem!”
“…Are you done playing around?”
“Yes!”
Then, sensing a dangerous tone slowly creeping into the Shadow Heaven Squad Leader’s voice, he immediately adopted a alert attitude.
To the Sichuan Tang Clan junior who was ready to listen, the Shadow Heaven Squad Leader gave instructions.
“There is a man named Teacher Emerald Bamboo.”
“Ah, that old man. I know him. The gentleman who should have died even visited the Sichuan Tang Clan in perfectly healthy condition…”
A leopard cannot change its spots; the Sichuan Tang Clan junior, who was playing around again, quickly shifted his stance under a glaring gaze.
“Ahem! What about that old man?”
“It seems that old man caught some trail regarding ‘Him’.”
“Oh? Isn’t that dangerous?”
When those words came out, the lightness completely vanished from the Sichuan Tang Clan junior’s attitude.
“Should we kill him?”
The junior of the Sichuan Tang Clan asked, filled with murderous intent.
“No, do not touch him for now. He doesn’t seem to be acting alone. Keep him alive and watch him. We must dig up the roots.”
“This is a chance to earn merit. Understood.”
“You’d better, Tang Yeong-jin. If you want to keep playing around.”
Leaving a strange warning, the Shadow Heaven Squad Leader vanished from the spot.
To the eyes of the Sichuan Tang Clan junior named Tang Yeong-jin, the Shadow Heaven Squad Leader really appeared to vanish like a mirage.
Failing to see even the end of the movement was proof that there was such a gap in skill between the two.
“Pfft! Showing off. In organizational life, martial arts aren’t everything. And a difference of this level can be easily overturned with just one merit.”
Tang Yeong-jin grumbled, dissing the Shadow Heaven Squad Leader in annoyance.
However, realizing what he needed to focus on, the light in his eyes cooled down.
“Just when I thought there would be work to do because the clan is changing its system… things turn out like this.”
After the trouble caused by some married-in sons-in-law, the Sichuan Tang Clan reorganized its interior and began the process of releasing the power it had only accumulated inside to the outside.
Among those, there was one peculiar matter.
“I was thinking of going to the branch family they are setting up in Samyang County this time. Sheesh!”
Being peculiar meant it was also easy to stand out. Tang Yeong-jin had planned to challenge himself in that direction.
But now, the priority had changed.
“’If you want to keep playing around’? Hmph! The next time we meet, my ability and position will be quite different.”
Pondering how to target Teacher Emerald Bamboo’s surroundings, Tang Yeong-jin snickered as he came up with a plausible scheme.
***
After resolving the matter of the Seonhwa Sect, we immediately dashed back home.
This was because there was no longer anything for me to do in Sichuan.
If the reward Queen Mother of the West said she would give was related to Kunlun, I would have had to stay in Sichuan, but it was in a completely different direction, so there was no problem.
‘She said she would look into the Meridian Mirror, right?’
Queen Mother of the West said she felt she should first investigate the object called the Meridian Mirror that connects me to the heavens.
She said if she could grasp the principle by which it operates, more direct support might be possible. Once that was understood, she said she would prepare a proper gift.
I was also curious about it, and on the other hand, since I also worried about whether the connection might suddenly break, I was very glad.
[Yes, yes, you only need to trust me. Hohoho!]
When I showed signs of trusting and relying on her, Queen Mother of the West was also very pleased.
The way back home was quite comfortable.
At the center of it was Yi Hwa.
“Wow! She’s like a real-life Snail Bride.”
Baek Mu-ho was to the point of marveling.
The biggest thing was the meals.
Usually, when eating outdoors without a kitchen, it was common to just nibble on dry rations, but Yi Hwa utilized the divine power of fire to prepare warm meals for every meal.
Our standard of living rose to a degree incomparable to when we were heading to Sichuan.
Perhaps because she found this camping novel, Yi Hwa clearly seemed to enjoy it.
Through the journey, I also learned various things about Yi Hwa.
She said she had been in a highly dangerous state from taking in uncontrollable power while fulfilling her responsibilities as the Divine Maiden and her innate constitution. Strangely, when I was close, that power would stabilize, which seemed to be related to the divine power of fire accumulating inside me.
In short, I needed Yi Hwa, and Yi Hwa also needed me.
Thanks to this, we had a time where we made skin contact once a day, and Yi Hwa liked it when I placed my hand on her cheek or head.
Though at times she made embarrassing sounds, saying she felt good, perhaps because the power was stabilizing.
I made an excuse to Baek Mu-ho that the act was a kind of sorcerous ritual, but his suspicious eyes showed he was half-believing.
In Samyang County to which we returned like that, there was a peculiar guest.
“……Emergency rations?”
“Who are you calling emergency rations!”
“Ah! Sorry. The most impressive parts when traveling with you were your rapidly improving swearing and the food that automatically got presented to us.”
An unexpected fellow was waiting for us near the village entrance.
“Call me by name, by name!”
“……Baldy?”
“What kind of name is that! Did you seriously forget my name already!?”
“Striking a sore spot is impolite, child.”
“It’s Beom-gak! You scoundrel!”
At Baek Mu-ho’s teasing, Beom-gak yelled out loud.
Why was the guy who, even when separating at Shaolin, said he would never get involved with us again, here?
“Oh, right, Baldy.”
“Is there something wrong?”