Chapter 408: Omen (2)
“Whew.”
Mujin let out a light breath after venting his anger to his heart’s content. No, after finishing subduing them.
“None of you are seriously injured, are you?”
At Mujin’s question, the trio, who had been half out of their minds, belatedly came to their senses and answered.
“We are fine, League Leader.”
“Thank you for saving us, League Leader.”
After responding appropriately to their thanks, Mujin swept his gaze over the men sprawled across the ground and spoke.
“I would like to send you straight to the Southern Barbarians, but with the situation as it is, would you help me with something first?”
“How may we assist you?”
“I did not kill them, so let us bind these men and take them to the League’s branch first. Once there, I will assign you guides who can also serve as escorts, and then you may continue to the Southern Barbarians.”
Even after what had happened, Mujin did not wish to stop them from going to the Southern Barbarians.
All the more so when he thought of Gonghwan, who had been forcibly separated from his parents for nearly ten years.
In any case, Mujin intended to remain in Yunnan for several days for the conference with the Southern Heavenly Society and the Demon Cult, so the chances of any serious incident occurring were low.
Thus, he planned to head to the League’s branch while he was at it and arrange an escort for them.
“We will do as you say.”
Accepting Mujin’s proposal, the trio used cloth, rope, and other materials taken from the carriage to bind the men and seal their acupoints.
Once the preparations were complete, they began moving toward the League’s branch together with Mujin.
Gonghwan watched Mujin, who seemed lost in deep thought, and cautiously asked.
“Is something troubling you?”
“It is nothing important, so do not concern yourself.”
Even after answering Gonghwan that way, Mujin maintained a solemn expression, causing Gonghwan to think.
Perhaps, as befitted the Leader of the Zhengmu League, he was agonizing over the safety of the martial world.
'I wonder whether the branch has any heavy pieces of iron. Hmm. I missed training yesterday, so today should be lower-body day, but if they do not have enough weight.......'
In reality, Mujin was trying to think of a way to make up for the lifting he had missed over the past two days.
***
Early the next morning.
After locking the attackers inside an unused warehouse at the Zhengmu League’s branch, the three Gong-generation disciples left the branch with several of the League’s martial artists.
All of them had traveled to and from the Southern Barbarians several times on missions.
Even after the Gong-generation disciples departed, Mujin remained at the branch for several days, alternating between work and lifting iron.
After roughly five days had passed, Mujin also left the branch and headed toward the agreed location.
It was the place where he had arranged to hold a conference with the leaders of the Southern Heavenly Society and the Demon Cult.
However, he did not depart alone.
The attackers he had subdued and dragged back last time were loaded onto a cart, while several martial artists from the League accompanied him to keep watch over them and assist Mujin.
After traveling for roughly half a day, they arrived near a temporary tent prepared on a low mountain.
As though there was no reason to delay, Mujin entered the tent.
Inside, two men familiar to Mujin had already taken their seats.
Gu Yangpae, whom he had met here five years earlier, and Dao Yuechen, who now truly carried the atmosphere of the leader of an enormous organization.
“The more often we meet like this, the harder it will become to deceive those people, will it not?”
At Gu Yangpae’s mocking question, Mujin clicked his tongue lightly and replied.
“It was only ever a matter of covering our eyes and pretending not to see. Judging by the current atmosphere, they do not seem particularly deceived anyway.”
After answering that way, Mujin explained the information he had confirmed several days earlier.
The number of reckless fools stirring up trouble in each faction’s territory had recently been increasing.
“We have also identified that problem on our side. It seems the Zhengmu League has concluded that the imperial family is attempting to sow discord.”
“It seems the Demon Cult and Southern Heavenly Society have reached the same conclusion?”
At Mujin’s words, Gu Yangpae said nothing in particular, while Dao Yuechen merely nodded instead of answering aloud.
“So, what does the Zhengmu League wish to do? Your current trick no longer works. Do you intend to wage an all-out war against the imperial family?”
“In the worst case, we are prepared even for an all-out war, but we have no intention of foolishly launching the first attack. That is precisely why I arranged this conference—to discuss the matter.”
At Mujin’s words, Gu Yangpae spoke bluntly.
“Then let this seat make one thing clear first. What this seat said at the previous conference was not merely part of the act. There is no reason for us to involve ourselves when you people in the Central Plains clash with the imperial family.”
Mujin sighed lightly to himself at Gu Yangpae’s difficult attitude.
He thought the man was ungrateful, but rationally, he understood the situation.
The leader of an organization naturally had to consider the interests of the group he led.
And from the Demon Cult’s perspective, there could be no better outcome than for the orthodox and evil factions to destroy one another in a war against the imperial family.
However, just because Mujin was willing to let it pass did not mean everyone else was.
“You flap that open mouth far too carelessly.”
Dao Yuechen, who had remained silent until then, stared at Gu Yangpae with cold eyes.
At the same time, a chilling sensation ran across the back of Gu Yangpae’s neck.
'I felt it the last time I saw him as well, but he is no easy opponent.'
They had both been present on the battlefield during the final battle against Shincheon, so they had at least vaguely recognized one another’s existence.
And today, Gu Yangpae could tell for certain.
That man was more dangerous than Pai Jinsheng, the previous leader of the Southern Heavenly Society.
However, as the Heavenly Demon, he could not possibly tuck his tail before a mere display of pressure like this.
He had already experienced fights that chilled the back of his neck more times than he cared to remember.
“It seems becoming leader of the Southern Heavenly Society has made you eager to show off your strength.”
No sooner had the Heavenly Demon finished answering as though treating him like a child than a murderous atmosphere began flowing between the Heavenly Demon and the Leader of the Southern Heavenly Society.
Amid an atmosphere where either might attack at any moment, a cold silence fell and the air grew heavy.
Watching the scene from beside them, Mujin had a thought.
'This reminds me of the final battle of Part Two.'
The final part of the original novel’s second installment, The Tyrant of the Evil Path, had depicted a confrontation between the Heavenly Demon invading the Central Plains and the Tyrant Emperor, so this could be considered quite an entertaining spectacle.
However, Mujin knew that the moment those two fought here, only the imperial family would benefit.
'Somehow, I have ended up playing the same role as the Divine Monk in the novel.'
Mujin let out a faint sigh, then casually stepped between them and spoke.
“Stop.”
When Mujin’s enormous muscles blocked their view of one another, the tension that had been stretched taut gradually began to loosen.
Amid that, Mujin turned his head toward Gu Yangpae and spoke.
“I will not ask you to help us when there is no benefit in it for the Demon Cult. If you believe the losses would outweigh the gains, you may withdraw.”
“......Judging by how confident you are, it seems you have some sort of scheme prepared.”
At Gu Yangpae’s question, Mujin answered with a self-assured expression.
“It is not as though we merely sat idle while Emperor Taiping waged his war.”
At that confident attitude, Gu Yangpae nodded.
“Very well. There is no harm in hearing it.”
Mujin then turned his head and asked Dao Yuechen.
“What will the Leader of the Southern Heavenly Society do?”
“This matter is more urgent for the Southern Heavenly Society than for the Demon Cult, so I will hear you out.”
Mujin and Dao Yuechen were practically allies, but they saw no need to reveal that fact.
***
After the tedious conference, which had continued for more than one shichen, finally came to an end.
Mujin, Dao Yuechen, and Gu Yangpae emerged from the tent.
“Are those the men?”
Dao Yuechen pointed toward the men loaded onto the cart as he asked.
When Mujin nodded, Dao Yuechen approached the cart without another word.
According to the investigation, the men who had attacked the Gong-generation disciples were martial artists from the evil faction.
However, even calling them members of the evil faction was somewhat strange.
It had only been around two years since they joined the Southern Heavenly Society and began operating under the name of the evil faction.
In other words, they had not been active for very long.
Dao Yuechen approached until he stood directly before the cart, then slowly turned his head and examined the faces of those lying inside.
And immediately afterward.
CLACK.
A strange sound echoed through the area.
It sounded like something striking against another object as it was inserted.
The people gathered nearby naturally turned their gazes toward the source of the sound, and they easily discovered what had caused that small noise.
At some point, Dao Yuechen had taken hold of the hilt of his black blade.
Yet the mystery remained.
The black blade had not even been drawn, but the sound they had just heard was clearly that of a blade returning to its sheath.
The question that arose in all their minds was soon answered.
RUSTLE.
THUD.
Five or six of the men on the cart collapsed where they were.
DRIP.
The bodies and heads of those who had fallen separated cleanly.
“!?”
Shock entered the eyes of those who only belatedly understood what had happened.
And the Heavenly Demon Gu Yangpae and Mujin were equally astonished.
'I did not see it.'
Even with eyes that had reached such lofty realms, neither of them had seen the process of Dao Yuechen cutting them.
Gu Yangpae finally understood the source of the ominous chill he had felt earlier.
At the same time, using his exceptional comprehension, he began devising a countermeasure.
'The dead men were positioned only within the reach of his blade. Judging by the fact that he deliberately walked all the way over there, that invisible slash only extends as far as the blade itself can reach. If I fight him, I will have to maintain distance by any means necessary.'
Likewise, Mujin also formed his own impression of the move Dao Yuechen had performed.
'Holy shit, is that the Heart-Becomes-Slaughter I have only heard about?'
Although Mujin was practically Dao Yuechen’s ally, his instincts as a martial artist compelled him to consider how he would respond to that martial art.
'......If Dao Yuechen comes within one zhang of me, I will simply have to keep my protective aura active the entire time.'
Not only was the attack invisible, but considering Dao Yuechen’s black blade, there was a risk that even Mujin’s skin, which had reached the level of the Indestructible Vajra Body, could be cut.
It seemed he would have to use natural energy to maintain his protective aura endlessly and turn the fight into a contest of endurance.
While thinking of countermeasures, Mujin suddenly had another thought.
'If Mukyeong’s concealment art were combined with Dao Yuechen’s swift blade, becoming the number one martial artist under heaven would be all but guaranteed. Well...... that would be impossible.'
It was not because both required profound enlightenment.
It was simply because Mujin knew that Dao Yuechen’s swift blade could not be combined with anything else.
'You have become even more twisted in the few years since I last saw you.'
Mujin looked at Dao Yuechen with a bitter expression.
Even through his clothes, it was obvious that the balance between the left and right sides of his body was completely distorted.
Dao Yuechen’s swift blade art was a technique that could only be performed by turning the body itself into nothing more than a tool for swinging the blade.
Now that his body had reached such a state, even if he learned other martial arts besides that swift blade art, he would struggle to perform them properly.
Even the lightness skills, footwork, fist arts, palm arts, and kicking arts Dao Yuechen practiced were likely forced to remain at a lower realm than his swift blade art.
Whether they understood Dao Yuechen’s sorrow or not.
“Ooooooh!”
The martial artists of the Southern Heavenly Society exclaimed in admiration at Dao Yuechen’s display of force and looked up at him with expressions filled with pride.
“Dispose of the corpses and take the survivors back to the Society. We must make them confess why they disobeyed the Society’s orders, must we not?”
“We obey!!”
The moment Dao Yuechen issued his order, they answered in thunderous voices and moved in perfect unison.
Their movements were nothing like those of an evil-faction group normally dismissed as thugs or ruffians.
***
Beijing. Forbidden City.
The place where the man who called himself a being bestowed by heaven and claimed to be the master of the Central Plains, considered the center of the world, resided.
The emperor.
Deep within the Forbidden City, a man dressed in imperial yellow dragon robes sat upon the imperial throne with a bored expression.
“Director of Ceremonial. How is that matter progressing?”
At the question of the emperor, Emperor Taiping, the Director of Ceremonial hurriedly lowered his head and answered.
“It appears those lawless martial artists have noticed something amiss. Their leaders are said to be preparing a conference in Yunnan.”
At the old eunuch’s answer, the corners of the emperor’s mouth twisted strangely.
“As expected. They truly dared attempt to deceive Us.”
“This servant is deeply ashamed, Your Majesty. If Your Majesty gives the command, I shall personally lead a great army and take the lead in exterminating them.”
Realizing that the emperor was enraged, the Director of Ceremonial hurriedly prostrated himself fully and shouted.
The emperor waved his hand dismissively, as though the matter were bothersome.
“That will not be necessary. We have already prepared the chess pieces, so the Director of Ceremonial should remain faithful to his own role.”
At the emperor’s order, the old eunuch who had prostrated himself carefully rose.
Even then, he never lifted his head, so as to avoid the gaze of the enraged emperor.
The emperor’s quiet mutter entered the Director of Ceremonial’s ears.
“Now then, let Us watch and see how they respond this time.”