Chapter 159: Chapter 159
Cheon Woo-jin deliberately did not say or do anything special, merely looking at the man. Because he was curious whether the disguise art recognized by the innkeeper would work on a martial artist as well.
Soon the man tilted his head.
“Why are you suddenly scarfing down noodles?”
It worked.
Separate from his pleased heart, Cheon Woo-jin spoke in an emotionless voice. Cheon Woo-jin even imitated the voice of the dead demonic cultist identically.
“Because I suddenly got hungry.”
“…What are you saying, crazy bastard. Whatever, come out immediately. A muster order has been issued.”
Cheon Woo-jin pondered for a moment.
If it was a muster order, it meant the Demonic Cult intended to use martial force for something. He had merely intended to explore the outer courtyard more, but he thought it would also be good to enter the inner courtyard.
Soon Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head and rose from his seat. He deliberately did not reply. Because if they were acquaintances who knew the dead guy, he might sense something strange from his speech habits.
At that, the owner wore a worried expression. Merely roaming around this vicinity and entering the inner courtyard were completely different matters. He could truly die.
For some reason, although he was a Central Plains person seen for the first time, the owner thought he was at least not an evil person. When such a person was walking into the jaws of death, how could he not be concerned?
The owner grabbed Cheon Woo-jin’s wrist without realizing it.
Then the martial artist who had come looking for his friend crumpled his face.
“Old man, do you want to die?”
It was a cliché remark, but the owner, sensing that sincerity was contained within, was startled out of his wits. The old man, facing the killing intent genuinely emitted by the demonic cultist, trembled all over his body. It was an energy far too dangerous for someone without a shred of internal energy to handle.
“Let us just go.”
“…Huh?”
The man wore a surprised expression. His friend was a bastard who never let such situations slide.
At that, Cheon Woo-jin looked at the man with his unique dry gaze and spoke once more.
“I said let us go.”
“Y-Yeah.”
Cheon Woo-jin walked out without even looking back.
Watching that back, the man let out a feigned dry cough as if nothing was wrong. Because he was ashamed of himself for being momentarily intimidated by his friend.
Of course, if he had known that he was not his friend, but the Heartless Wanderer, a master of the Realm Beyond the Heavens famous recently, he would have pissed his pants, though.
* * *
The place Cheon Woo-jin arrived at, led by the martial artist, was a certain training ground in the inner courtyard. The training ground of a scale large enough to accommodate easily hundreds of people was filled with people wearing martial robes of various colors.
Looking at it, martial artists seemed to have been conscripted in large numbers from various martial units. One question was that among the gathered martial artists, none had surpassed first-rate.
‘Is there another purpose?’
Just around the time he was thinking thus.
Two men stepped onto the podium.
A bald middle-aged man whose face was covered in burn marks, and a young martial artist assisting him.
Cheon Woo-jin could tell the moment he saw him.
A master who used poison arts.
Originally, those who handled poison often had their skin and hair melted, so many possessed such an impression.
Surprisingly, among those who used poison arts, someone of Dok-ra-su’s caliber was on the handsome middle-aged side.
The middle-aged man looked at the martial artists gathered in the training ground with satisfaction for a moment, then opened his mouth. The voice forcing its way through his lips sounded as if iron was being scraped with a hook.
“I am Jwa Ryang, Leader of the Poison Demon Corps. From now on, I am also the person who will lead you.”
Then the surroundings became wildly noisy.
Focusing on the words heard from here and there, the Poison Demon Corps was an organization handling poison in the Demonic Cult, and in particular, the corps leader seemed to be the Demonic Cult’s foremost poison arts master called the Poison Lord.
Cheon Woo-jin had also heard the moniker Poison Lord before. The three martial artists under heaven who used poison best were precisely the Poison King, the Poison Lord, and the First Valley Lord of Poison Valley.
“Who told you to open your mouths without permission?”
The Poison Lord spoke in a low voice. Even though it was not a loud voice, it was distinctly heard in the ears of these many demonic cultists. Due to that characteristic scraping voice, the demonic cultists felt the hairs on their entire bodies stand on end and shut their mouths.
Soon, the hall became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.
“From now on, anyone who gets on my nerves, I shall melt alive.”
Fear dwelt in everyone’s expression. That the Poison Lord’s methods were cruel was already famous within the Demonic Cult. Afraid that their eyes might meet his by any chance, everyone was busy burying their gazes on the ground.
Of course, excluding just one person.
The Poison Lord’s gaze turned toward Cheon Woo-jin.
Among the bastards who were scared and avoided eye contact at merely a single word, that clear and nonchalant gaze stood out by far.
The Poison Lord, who engaged in a brief staring contest with Cheon Woo-jin, curled up one corner of his mouth. To think he would discover a pearl in the mud where such vermin were gathered.
“What is your name?”
Then everyone looked at Cheon Woo-jin.
Cheon Woo-jin was troubled. He did not know the name of the demonic cultist he had killed. If he did not answer, he would arouse suspicion.
When Cheon Woo-jin remained still, the corner of the Poison Lord’s mouth that had been pleased went back down. Soon, he asked again with sunk eyes.
“I asked what your name is.”
Cheon Woo-jin looked at the demonic cultist who had brought him. He hoped he would tell him the name, but he was already avoiding his gaze as if they were no longer friends.
They said the term ‘cutting ties’ was popular among young children these days, and in short, he had cut ties with Cheon Woo-jin.
Cheon Woo-jin let out a sigh inwardly. He had wanted to sightsee the Demonic Cult a little more, but it seemed this was as far as it went.
He brought his hand to the Crane Feather Fan tucked inside his robes. He intended to kill everyone and leave the Demonic Cult just like that.
It was at that moment.
– Name: Won Hee-sang. Age: twenty-eight. Affiliation: Red Crow Squad. Martial prowess: late second-rate. Hometown: Ruoqiang, located southeast of the Heavenly Mountains.
Cheon Woo-jin’s brow twitched. Someone had sent a sound transmission upon knowing he was in trouble.
Just how?
Soon, the sound transmission continued.
– Glad to meet you, Hidden Dragon Squad Leader. I am Hae Won, Espionage Hall Master of the Martial Alliance. I know your personality from rumors, but for now, play along with me first.
The Espionage Hall was literally the espionage organization of the Martial Alliance. All hall members, including the hall master, spread out and operated across the world under different identities and appearances.
If the Courier Hall occasionally engaged in espionage activities during the process of procuring intelligence, the Espionage Hall was an organization specializing only in that.
Cheon Woo-jin spoke calmly without outwardly showing that he had heard the sound transmission.
“I am Won Hee-sang belonging to the Red Crow Squad.”
The Poison Lord gazed intently at Cheon Woo-jin.
He was exuding a blatantly ominous atmosphere, but naturally, Cheon Woo-jin did not flinch in the slightest.
Did that appearance please him quite a bit?
The Poison Lord’s momentum softened somewhat.
“Never hesitate when asked again.”
“Yes.”
Having passed the crisis like that, Cheon Woo-jin looked for the person who had sent him the sound transmission. He was the Vice Leader of the Poison Demon Corps standing together with the Poison Lord on the podium. To think the Espionage Hall Master of the Martial Alliance had risen all the way to the position of Vice Leader in the Demonic Cult.
Thinking thus, he asked the Espionage Hall Master.
– How did you know it was me?
As expected, even if he could fool the eyes of the innkeeper and a second-rate martial artist, could he not fool the eyes of a Martial Alliance hall master?
However, the answer that returned was unexpected.
– There is not just one or two members of the Espionage Hall within the Demonic Cult. Ah, the hall member asked me to relay that he would spend the silver coin well. To give an extra silver coin while eating mere noodles. As expected from rumors, you are truly a magnanimous person, indeed.
Cheon Woo-jin burst into an empty laugh. To think that the waiter of that small inn was a member of the Espionage Hall.
This was why all martial artists had to be careful of women, children, and the elderly.
* * *
Spearheaded by Poison Lord, the Leader of the Poison Demon Corps, hundreds of martial artists left the Demonic Cult. The fortunate thing was that they were marching not toward the west where the Martial Alliance was situated, but south.
While moving, the Espionage Hall Master’s sound transmission continued.
– Poison Valley is a place where each of the valley lords possesses their own forces. I did not know either, but it seems the Demonic Cult had ordered everyone from the First Valley Lord to the Fifth Valley Lord to strike the Martial Alliance. However, the only one who moved was the Fifth Valley Lord.
Other than the Fifth Valley Lord, there were those who refused using this or that excuse, or those who did not answer the letters at all.
Since the Demonic Cult was experiencing succession issues, they seemed to have judged that the cult had no leeway to care about Poison Valley.
However, unlike their judgment, the Poison Lord, the foremost poison arts master of the Heavenly Demon Cult, could not tolerate this.
– The mission is to completely wipe out Poison Valley, secure the poisons they possess, and return. Because the Poison Demon Corps, the direct subordinates of the Poison Lord, are all masters proficient in poison arts.
Cheon Woo-jin, who had been listening the entire time, asked back.
– Are those conscripted from each martial unit, including me, that is, Won Hee-sang, the original owner of this face, human shields?
None among those gathered exceeded first-rate. Martial artists of this level would not be able to exert any strength against Poison Valley, which handled poison.
– That is right. Their purpose is to be deployed first and drain Poison Valley’s strength.
– I am going to die right now, then.
The Espionage Hall Master walking ahead alongside the Poison Lord flinched slightly.
– Ahem, when the full-scale attack begins, you pull out. With your martial prowess, it is something you can easily do, is it not? Even if the Poison Demon Corps Leader notices by any chance, I will step forward first saying I will capture you.
He could just pretend to chase Cheon Woo-jin who fled for a bit and return saying he lost him. He would receive some suspicion, but since there was trust he had built with the Poison Lord all this time, it would not be a big problem.
Afterward, the two did not converse for a while.
It was partly because the Poison Lord kept talking to the Espionage Hall Master, and Cheon Woo-jin also had something he was pondering deeply in his own way.
.
.
.
When they arrived at Poison Valley after moving for quite a long time like that.
The hundreds of demonic cultists were spellbound by the scenery of Poison Valley. Truly, a canyon so deep that its end could not be known lay before them. Occasionally, magnificent nature makes humans feel reverence, and right now was such a time.
– Hall Master, if the Righteous-Demonic War breaks out, both Poison Valley and the Poison Demon Corps would cause great damage to the alliance.
– Probably so. However, since we get to clear out Poison Valley this time, it is rather a good thing for the alliance.
– Would it not be better if the Poison Demon Corps and Poison Valley collapsed together?
The Espionage Hall Master flinched once more.
Of course, the best thing was the mutual destruction of both forces. Ahead of the war, what could be better than completely eliminating poison, the most formidable card the Demonic Cult could play?
– It would be good. According to the intelligence network of the Demonic Cult, Poison Valley’s refusal of orders was not particularly for the sake of the Martial Alliance. It is merely because they are on the verge of completing a tremendous poison recently. The Poison Lord stepping forward personally must also be to prevent the completion of that poison.
Preventing the completion of that poison which would act fatally upon the Martial Alliance, and having Poison Valley and the Poison Demon Corps destroy each other: how wonderful would that be?
– But that will not happen. The Poison Demon Corps is strong. On top of that, they are in a state of having made thorough preparations, including Poison-Warding Beads. Poison Valley will be no match for them.
Right now was a time to be satisfied merely with the destruction of Poison Valley.
Soon, Cheon Woo-jin’s answer was heard.
– Yes.
From that brief answer, the Espionage Hall Master sensed something uneasy. It was an intuition gained while conducting all sorts of espionage activities for decades.
– If by any chance you are thinking of doing something useless…
It was at that moment.
Soon, Poison Lord, the Leader of the Poison Demon Corps, commanded the attack.
Hundreds of martial artists conscripted from various martial units charged madly toward the canyon, and the elites originally belonging to the Poison Demon Corps pretended to rush forward together, then subtly slowed their pace.
In the end, just as Cheon Woo-jin and the Espionage Hall Master said, the hundreds of demonic cultists were merely human shields to drain Poison Valley’s strength.
The Espionage Hall Master watched the receding back of Cheon Woo-jin mingling among hundreds of demonic cultists, then sent a sound transmission.
– Now is the time! Hurry and slip away to return to the Martial Alliance.
However, no reply was heard.
Ah, what on earth was this deepening sense of unease?
Soon, fierce shouts erupted wildly from within Poison Valley, and beyond the canyon, pitch-black and purplish-blue poison mists began to spread.
Poison Valley had begun scattering poison against the assault of the demonic cultists.
Desperate screams burst out incessantly. They were screams far more cruel and gruesome than a war where people merely killed each other with sabers and swords.
A war of those who practiced poison arts was always like this. The demonic cultists struck by poison writhed in agony, to the point where they stabbed their own chests with swords saying they would rather choose death.
A battle of poison generally did not last long either.
Because it was not a one-on-one duel but a clash of vast quantities of poison against poison, the outcome did not exceed a single meal’s time.
It was merely a battle of whose poison was stronger, and right now, Poison Valley was in a state of having consumed far too much poison while killing hundreds of demonic cultists.
Soon, around the time all hundreds of demonic cultists had died and even the screams subsided, the elites of the Poison Demon Corps finally began to take their steps.
.
.
.
Once again, two hours passed.
Poison Valley, having exhausted its strength, could by no means defeat the Poison Demon Corps, which had even prepared Poison-Warding Beads.
The Poison Lord, thinking the battle was over, descended below the canyon. Down there, corpses bleeding from the seven orifices and whose entire bodies had melted were strewn about.
Hundreds of demonic cultists, dozens of Poison Valley people, and even a few Poison Demon Corps martial artists.
The Poison Lord, walking nonchalantly among their corpses while holding his sect’s weapon, the Poison Mist Fan, came to an abrupt halt.
In the darkness of the canyon far away, a man was standing. His face was not visible, veiled by shadows. However, if someone had survived in such a battle of poison, there would be only one person.
“Is it the First Valley Lord?”
The Poison Lord thought thus.
Even so, he did not worry in the slightest. Because he considered that there was not a single poison arts master who could face him other than the Poison King of the Central Plains.
Soon, the man standing beneath the shadows walked out with steady footsteps. The shadows cast upon his face were slowly peeled away, revealing his appearance.
“Won Hee-sang?”
Because the first impression had been so intense, he remembered the name.
While the Poison Lord frowned, the Espionage Hall Master accompanying him by his side swept his chest in relief.
‘Just what on earth is he trying to do!’
Soon, the Poison Lord asked in an indifferent tone.
“Why are you alive?”
“Was I supposed to die?”
The voice was already that of Cheon Woo-jin, not Won Hee-sang, but the Poison Lord was so dumbfounded that he did not even notice this.
“Yes, because your role was death.”
“Not a shred of regret, I see.”
“Everyone died for the cult. When I allowed them to enjoy that glory, why should I feel regret?”
“I see.”
Cheon Woo-jin, who had been nodding, let out a chuckle.
Seeing that smile, the Poison Lord felt a sense of dissonance.
“Kill him!”
The elites of the Poison Demon Corps surged toward Cheon Woo-jin. It was truly a fierce and menacing movement like venomous serpents.
However, standing right where he was, Cheon Woo-jin began to undo the disguise art that had felt stifling the entire time. Gradually returning to his original face, he soon completely regained his true appearance.
However, the Poison Lord did not see that face.
Because the poison mists scattered by the Poison Demon Corps piled layer upon layer, completely blanketing Cheon Woo-jin. It was a deadly poison where one could not avoid death even if a single pinch touched the skin. Scattering it to the extent of blinding the view, no master whatsoever would be able to survive.
Just around the time the Poison Demon Corps gradually narrowed their encirclement with such conviction.
Suddenly, a hand thrust out from within the poison mist.
It was so fast and sudden that no one could react. Soon, a martial artist of the Poison Demon Corps whose throat was seized was dragged into the poison mist.
Crunch.
The sound of something being crushed.
Following that, blood flowed out from within the poison mist, staining the ground.
Seeing this, the martial artists of the Poison Demon Corps finally stopped their steps.