Chapter 142: Chapter 142
“At worst, it could escalate into an issue with the Demonic Cult.”
The Sword Maiden spoke in a low voice.
The Dragon Head Sect Leader and the Disciplinary Hall Master also nodded with serious expressions.
For the past several decades, there had been no clashes between the Martial Alliance and the Demonic Cult.
Perhaps it could be called an enforced peace brought about by the terror known as the Dark Emperor.
However, the Dark Emperor had vanished.
And for the first time since then, a clash between the Martial Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Cult had occurred.
The Dragon Head Sect Leader spoke with a face that was uncharacteristically sober.
“However, unless their main headquarters is attacked, those Demonic Cult bastards will not be able to stir easily either. The Black Overlord Castle will not just sit by and watch either.”
It was a common-sense thought.
However, the anxiety dwelling on the faces of the Sword Maiden and the Dragon Head Sect Leader did not easily disappear. Because few beings were further from common sense than those Demonic Cult bastards.
Biting her lip lightly, the Sword Maiden pondered for a moment before speaking.
“They even deployed the Inescapable Heavenly Net merely to catch three Courier Hall martial artists. The crux of the matter will be what kind of information the Courier Hall obtained from the Demonic Cult to deliver to the Martial Alliance.”
Those present did not know what that information was.
However, what was certain was that the Demonic Cult did not want that information leaking outside, to the extent of deploying the Inescapable Heavenly Net.
“Ultimately, we must know what that information is to formulate a response.”
When the Dragon Head Sect Leader spoke thus, everyone’s gaze turned toward the fallen Courier Hall Master.
All the physicians of the Kunlun Sect were attending to treat him. Because the Kunlun Sect had suffered the most wounds in orthodox history, their medical arts had naturally developed.
The physicians stated that the urgent priority was first eliminating the demonic qi that had encroached upon the Courier Hall Master’s body.
This was why fighting the Demonic Cult was terrifying. Demonic qi was like poison, slowly eating away at the opponent’s body.
Although everyone was covered in dirt and dust from breaking through the Inescapable Heavenly Net, they could not even think of washing up and merely waited.
How much time had passed like that?
Twitch.
The Courier Hall Master’s fingers moved.
Soon, the physicians who had been taking a brief rest rushed over in haste to examine his body, and the martial artists also approached and waited.
The Courier Hall Master’s eyes slowly opened.
He carefully observed his surroundings and grasped the situation.
“Sect Leader, Mad Dog, Sword Maiden…”
Having examined their faces, the Courier Hall Master let out a sigh of relief. Finally, the hellish nightmare had come to an end.
Despite the physicians’ dissuasion, the Courier Hall Master raised his body.
Though he could not stand completely, he cupped his fists with at least his upper body raised.
“…Thank you, everyone.”
Managing the intelligence of the Martial Alliance, the Courier Hall Master knew better than anyone what it meant to enter the Inescapable Heavenly Net.
These were people who had risked their lives for him.
The Dragon Head Sect Leader acted humbly, saying it was only natural, while the Disciplinary Hall Master and the Sword Maiden felt relieved that he had crossed the crisis.
Soon, the Courier Hall Master’s gaze turned toward the members of the Hidden Dragon Squad.
To think even those young fellows had come here.
Along with shame, something surged within his chest. It was surely the emotion of an orthodox martial artist witnessing the chivalry of young martial artists.
“Come here for a moment.”
What the Courier Hall Master pointed to was Song Yi-yeon.
Having been singled out unexpectedly, Song Yi-yeon widened his eyes and approached.
“You were the one who carried me on your back and ran, right?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Right, so it wasn’t a dream after all. You went through a lot of trouble.”
Song Yi-yeon scratched his head. In truth, he had merely run; the one who cleared the path was Young Hero Cheon, and those guarding by his side were the seniors of the Martial Alliance.
“I did nothing. Rather, compared to what the Courier Hall Master gave me, it is nothing.”
Before the incident erupted, the Courier Hall Master had taught Song Yi-yeon his secret footwork and lightness arts. Passing down a secret martial art containing a martial artist’s entire life was something that could hardly be converted into monetary value.
“Yi-yeon.”
“Yes, Hall Master.”
Song Yi-yeon bowed his head in a polite manner.
Soon, the Courier Hall Master spoke with solemn resolve.
“You must join the Courier Hall.”
“…”
A brief silence followed.
Soon, Song Yi-yeon spoke to the physicians of the Kunlun Sect.
“Physicians. It seems the Hall Master is still very sick. His condition is extremely poor.”
However, no one stepped forward.
Song Yi-yeon looked at Cheon Woo-jin.
Even Cheon Woo-jin turned his head away and ignored him.
Recognizing that he had no allies here, Song Yi-yeon wore a troubled expression.
Seeing this, the Courier Hall Master continued.
“Why do you dislike the Courier Hall? Rising from a combat squad straight to a hall-level martial artist is an exceptionally unprecedented promotion. You’ve grown far too full of yourself, truly.”
“Ahem.”
“Cough! Right, I see. It’s because you want to stay in the Hidden Dragon Squad. Is that fellow your connection?”
The Courier Hall Master pointed at Cheon Woo-jin.
Song Yi-yeon did not bother to deny it. He hadn’t thought of it as a connection, but it was true that he wanted to stay by his friends’ side.
Soon, the Courier Hall Master continued.
“You chose quite a sturdy connection. To think the connection called the Courier Hall would look so shabby.”
“It’s not particularly that…”
“Very well, fine. Let us postpone recruiting you to the Courier Hall for later. Yi-yeon, do you have a master?”
In an instant, the air in the room flinched.
What the Courier Hall Master meant to say was clear.
Song Yi-yeon also replied with a somewhat trembling voice.
“…No, I do not.”
“Do you want to be my disciple?”
Silence followed. The Courier Hall Master was one of the swiftest-footed men in the Martial Alliance. Nor was his martial art on the weak side among Hall Masters.
In fact, those lined up to become his disciple were tremendously numerous.
“Why on earth would you choose me…”
“Do you know what I thought each time I crossed the brink of death trapped in that hellish Inescapable Heavenly Net? ‘Ah, I haven’t finished teaching that fellow yet. If he goes around bragging that he learned from me after learning just that much, it will be a humiliation even in death. Right, let’s live. Let’s live and teach him properly.'”
“…”
“What, do you dislike becoming my disciple as well? If you hate it, there is nothing I can do, but…”
“I will do it.”
“I knew you would.”
“How did you know?”
“You are a fellow who finds joy when running, and I am a martial artist faster than anyone else.”
Song Yi-yeon performed the Rite of the Nine Bows in silence. It was the etiquette performed when a martial artist took on a master.
Around the time the Courier Hall Master wore a pleased smile at that sight.
The Disciplinary Hall Master and the Sword Maiden approached.
“Not only did you come back alive, but you even took in a fine disciple. Congratulations. Why do good things keep happening only to you, bastard?”
The Disciplinary Hall Master grumbled for no reason.
The words of the Sword Maiden beside him continued.
“Hall Master, I do not wish to disturb this moment, but there is something I must ask. What on earth was the information the Courier Hall obtained that caused the Demonic Cult to deploy even the Inescapable Heavenly Net just to catch three hall members?”
The Disciplinary Hall Master, the Courier Hall Master, and the Sword Maiden shared the same generational seniority.
Having interacted like friends since childhood, the atmosphere between them seemed comfortable.
However, the Courier Hall Master shook his head. No matter how longtime friends they were, principles were principles.
“That information is beyond my authority. Only the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist have the authority to know.”
Because the Sword Maiden also knew that the Courier Hall Master was a strict follower of principles, she could pester him no further.
It was at that moment.
Suddenly, a voice was heard from the entrance of the Kunlun Sect.
“I give permission. Tell them, Hall Master.”
Everyone’s heads turned.
Four men were stepping through the entrance.
Led by Chief Strategist Sima Hwi, on the left were the Divine Physician and the disguised Dok-ra-su, and on the right was White Sword Hall Master Danwoo Myeong, guarding them as the sword of the Martial Alliance.
“Chief Strategist, what brings you here?”
It was the Dragon Head Sect Leader’s inquiry.
Having first confirmed that the Courier Hall Master was safe, the Chief Strategist smiled bitterly and spoke.
“Because the Alliance Leader threw a fit saying he would come in person right away, I said I would come in his stead alongside the White Sword Hall Master to dissuade him.”
“Hahaha, the Chief Strategist is truly remarkable too. Given Bukli Cheon that punk’s temperament, he would have rushed here a hundred times already. In all under heaven, ‘now’ only you can persuade that fellow.”
Before the Chief Strategist, there had been one person as well.
Everyone naturally thought of the White Flower Sword Immortal, then glanced at Cheon Woo-jin once.
“So, what kind of information is it?”
It was the Sword Maiden’s question. If a Righteous-Demonic War were to erupt, the Namgung Clan always stood at the forefront. There was no particular reason. It was merely the pride of the Namgung.
Nodding, the Chief Strategist spoke.
“A member of the Three Pillars Under Heaven. The master of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Cult Leader Wei Tianyang.”
A strange silence fell over the area.
Never did they expect the Demonic Cult Leader to be mentioned all of a sudden.
Taking that brief breath, Sima Hwi continued speaking.
“It is said that he passed away. The cause of death was illness due to old age. Although specific details have not yet been confirmed, it is certain that he is dead.”
“Heavens…!”
The Dragon Head Sect Leader let out an exclamation of shock. The Sword Maiden, the Disciplinary Hall Master, and the Kunlun Sect martial artists were the same.
“The real problem is that the Young Cult Leader has not been definitively decided. There are five young masters under his wing, and besides them, the Six Families of the Demonic Cult will surely be eyeing that position.”
Everyone’s tension was palpable.
The current Cult Leader had not been a particularly domineering person. Because of that, a Righteous-Demonic War had felt like a very distant tale.
However, when a new figure rose to the apex, it was common to wage war to rally their subordinate factions and consolidate their authority.
Amidst that heavy silence.
The Chief Strategist asked the Divine Physician, who was already examining the Courier Hall Master’s body.
“Venerable Elder, how long do you think the treatment will take?”
From here in Qinghai to Wuhan, where the Martial Alliance headquarters was located, the distance was exceedingly great. He could not be moved until treated to a certain extent.
“It will take at least a month. Neutralizing all the encroaching demonic qi and reconnecting every single severed qi channel thread by thread is no easy feat.”
“I should also remain here during that time to observe the Demonic Cult’s movements.”
Saying so, the Chief Strategist suddenly looked at Cheon Woo-jin.
“Could you perhaps stay with us as well?”
In preparation for unforeseen circumstances, even an extra pair of hands was sorely needed. What was more, a martial artist of the Realm Beyond the Heavens was an existence worth a hundred men. As long as Cheon Woo-jin and the Dragon Head Sect Leader remained here, there was nothing to fear unless the new Demonic Cult Leader came in person.
Cheon Woo-jin nodded nonchalantly.
His was a life of simply training, eating, and sleeping every day. Where he was did not matter much.
“Cough!”
Suddenly, the Courier Hall Master coughed up blood.
Everyone wore worried expressions, but the Divine Physician spoke calmly.
“He merely discharged dead blood, so do not make a fuss, everyone.”
Saying that, the Divine Physician lined up the medicinal herbs and acupuncture needles he had brought, telling the Kunlun Sect physicians to fetch warm water.
“I will start a fire.”
Dissuading Song Yi-yeon, the Kunlun Sect physicians disappeared somewhere. When they reappeared shortly after, they carried a large jar filled with steaming hot water.
The Divine Physician spoke with curiosity.
“Did you boil water in advance?”
“No. There is a hot spring nearby, so we scooped it from there.”
The Divine Physician nodded nonchalantly. Hot spring water fundamentally possessed beneficial properties for the body, so it was actually for the best.
Just as the martial artists who had not yet washed were lightly washing their hands and faces with the warm water brought by the physicians.
Cheon Woo-jin tilted his head repeatedly.
At that, Song Yi-yeon approached and asked.
“What is the matter, Young Hero?”
“This water. Do you not feel anything?”
“What do you mean?”
Cheon Woo-jin’s eyes narrowed. Soon, he tossed the same question to the Sword Maiden, the Disciplinary Hall Master, and the Dragon Head Sect Leader, but only answers of not knowing returned.
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin, who kept tilting his head, asked the physician who had fetched the water.
“Where is the hot spring from which this water was scooped?”
At that, the physician took the lead, saying he would guide him personally.
Following behind him, Cheon Woo-jin gestured with his eyes for the disguised Dok-ra-su to follow.
Dok-ra-su had already been feeling prickled by the Dragon Head Sect Leader’s ‘You bastard have truly lost your mind. Crawling all the way here?’ gaze, so he gladly followed Cheon Woo-jin.
.
.
.
Thus, the three arrived at the hot spring.
Scalding hot water, as if truly boiled, flowed gently.
After touching the water a few times, Cheon Woo-jin spread his qi sense. The energy felt from the scooped water was felt even more fiercely.
Extending his qi sense strand by strand like threads, Cheon Woo-jin traced back along the energy felt in the hot spring water.
Soon, when the skein-like qi sense reached the source, an extraordinarily hot energy was felt.
“Is it over there?”
Cheon Woo-jin approached a boulder.
He lightly pushed aside the boulder that must have weighed hundreds of catties.
Then, between the rocks, sat a single bright red flower, looking as if it were drenched in red dye.
It was the cause that made the river waters of this area boil.
“This.”
Cheon Woo-jin pointed at the flower.
Approaching with a puzzled face, Dok-ra-su’s mouth slowly fell open, and he ultimately let out a shriek.
“Ack!”
Unlike Dok-ra-su, who fell halfway backward, Cheon Woo-jin spoke in a nonchalant tone.
“It is the Sun-Rivaling Flower.”
It was the very spiritual herb said to be needed to treat the Poison King’s dementia.