Chapter 519
Three days passed. Time went by rather quickly.
The Murim Alliance was steadily preparing for the Assembly Hall, and because of that, the noise and bustle around it gradually grew thicker.
Around then, we also finished preparing to depart for Xinjiang.
There were two carriages in total. Not that many. Since we were supposed to move quietly to begin with, it did not seem they had prepared anything too large.
The personnel were exactly the same as those I had recruited last time.
Peng Dojun had joined, but I had not removed Yu Yeon.
Even if it’s dangerous.
For now, I had judged that bringing her was the right choice. I also knew I could control the Heaven-Slaying Star.
When everyone in that lineup had arrived and was looking at the carriages—
“By the way, what about Lady Peng?”
I asked Peng Dojun, who was standing beside me.
“Hm? My sister?”
“Yes. We can’t bring her with us. Doesn’t she need treatment?”
“That? For now, I decided to receive help from the Alliance.”
“...From the Alliance? You were that worried about her, but you’re fine leaving her in someone else’s hands?”
When she could not be treated, he had been shielding her like that, but now he was leaving her behind as if it was nothing? At my words, Peng Dojun scratched his cheek lightly.
“Didn’t you say she’d be fine?”
“Yes?”
“Our friend Bang said she would be fine, so I figure she’ll be fine.”
“...Is that really something you can believe so easily?”
“Then is she not fine?”
“No, well.”
She probably would be fine. Just not for the rest of her life. That was why I had kept running my mouth at that god bastard—to make it fine.
Well, I had somehow cleaned it up, so she would probably be fine, but having him believe it this simply was a bit troubling.
What was he going to do if something else happened?
While that trust felt strangely heavy—
“So. We’re going to Xinjiang now, is that it?”
Peng Dojun, on the other hand, was completely calm. Only the interest in his eyes showed his emotions.
He wanted to go to Xinjiang right this instant. That attitude was unusually intense.
The others...
Poison Dragon was now naturally inspecting the carriage, Cloud Dragon looked buried beneath a mountain of worries.
And—
...Yu Yeon is calm too.
Yu Yeon did not seem to be thinking much of anything. Unlike Peng Dojun, she did not seem especially interested, nor did she seem to be thinking about anything in particular.
She simply drifted there. Like a ripple on water.
She was the same Yu Yeon as always. As I was looking at her—
“We’re ready.”
The departure preparations were finished. As soon as I heard that and was about to board the carriage, someone came looking for us.
“You are leaving?”
“Greetings, strategist.”
All the younger-generation members showed respect to the person who appeared—Thousand-Mile Divine Eye. He raised a hand slightly and dismissed the formalities.
“You are leaving early. I thought you would depart around noon at least.”
“It’s easier to go quickly. It’s still early, so why did you come out?”
“I still thought I should see you off.”
“Are you worried?”
I said it with a grin. I had meant it as a joke in my own way.
“Yes.”
“...”
Surprisingly, Thousand-Mile Divine Eye answered in the affirmative. His eyes were even serious. Thanks to that, I became quite embarrassed.
I had not expected him to say yes.
“Ah... I... see. Thank you for worrying.”
“If possible, I had hoped you would not go, but unfortunately, that cannot happen.”
“...You said there was no one who could go in my place.”
“That is exactly my point. How is it that we have no one who can replace you for something like this?”
Heh heh heh. He laughed quietly. Somehow, there was a touch of sorrow buried in that sound.
“Go carefully and return safely.”
“Yes.”
As for who else could be brought along as personnel, Lesser Moon Unit leader was not participating this time.
...I apologize. Orders came down from the main sect.
Internal affairs of the Azure Moon Sect.
Although Lesser Moon Unit leader had originally attended as my escort, he was unable to attend this schedule.
The fact that he reacted like that meant—
It must be Moon Immortal Sword’s command.
The Azure Moon Sect Leader. It was clear it was his order.
If it were not, there was no way Lesser Moon Unit leader would have moved so urgently.
And in any case...
Even if Lesser Moon Unit leader could not go, it probably would not be an issue. The Demonic Cult side did not want him either, so there was a high chance he would have been blocked from the start.
So if I was going to bring someone in the first place...
I had to bring an escort who would not stand out.
Thousand-Mile Divine Eye already had someone marked for that role.
My gaze turned toward the driver’s seat of the other carriage. The person driving the carriage that was not Poison Dragon’s.
...Sword Emperor.
Sword Emperor was joining the trip to the Demonic Cult. This time too, I thought he would say he had something else to do and not come, but Sword Emperor had informed us he would participate in the trip to Xinjiang.
Had he said it was Thousand-Mile Divine Eye’s request? Or a deal?
It was probably something like that.
Then, let’s see.
Just when I thought everyone was accounted for, I glanced to the side. Someone else was coming. I was not the only one who reacted upon seeing that.
“Ahaha. Well now. That’s one hell of a murderous presence.”
Peng Dojun laughed roughly. He must have felt it too. The other younger-generation members were the same.
Even the Alliance martial artists guarding Thousand-Mile Divine Eye flinched and placed their hands on their swords.
The person who appeared was none other than the Young Cult Leader. He approached me with a red gleam in his eyes.
“What is it?”
When I asked blandly, the Young Cult Leader smiled and said, “My friend is departing on a long journey, so I thought I should at least see him off.”
“How grateful.”
Since when had he worried about me so deeply, or been so close to me, that he had to see me off? I laughed in disbelief at his words.
That was not his purpose.
“Get to the point. I have to leave °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° soon.”
“You must go all the way to Xinjiang, and simply entering will likely be difficult. I thought I would attach a guide to you.”
“A guide?”
At those words, someone stepped forward. Their build and face were both completely covered, but I thought I knew who it was.
That’s Mi Yeonhwa.
The woman who had been from the orthodox faction, devoted herself to the Demonic Cult, and astonishingly become one of the Eight Demons.
“Her epithet is Severing Demon. She is the one who entered in place of the Sword Demon our friend Bang cut down. Her skill is outstanding.”
The Young Cult Leader lightly tapped Mi Yeonhwa as he continued speaking.
“Use her as you would a subordinate. There is no need to be concerned.”
“You’re telling him to take a Demonic Cultist?”
The one who stepped forward at that was Thousand-Mile Divine Eye.
“I do not believe this was in the agreement.”
He was full of displeasure. His expression made it look like he might lose his temper at any moment. Seeing that, the Young Cult Leader lifted the corners of his mouth and said, “It was not in the agreement, but I would like you to see it as consideration from our side.”
“Consideration? What absurd nonsense. You expect us to move with a Demonic Cultist when we do not know what she might do?”
“She will do nothing. I have given her that order.”
“Are you telling me to believe that right now—!”
“Strategist.”
I stepped in and stopped Thousand-Mile Divine Eye. He flinched at my action and shut his mouth.
“I’m fine. What he’s saying has a point.”
“...What?”
“We do need someone to guide us, and we’ll need someone once we arrive on their side too, so please allow me to take her.”
“...You...”
Thousand-Mile Divine Eye’s brow furrowed. He must have known there was something strange in what I was saying.
There was no way he did not understand what it meant to take this person along.
And yet I was going to take her?
For an instant, Thousand-Mile Divine Eye looked like he could not understand.
“...”
Before long, his expression eased.
“Do as you like.”
Seeing that, I realized it. Thankfully, Thousand-Mile Divine Eye seemed to have noticed that I had an intention.
“Thank you for your permission.”
After showing respect, I turned back toward the Young Cult Leader. More precisely, toward the direction of the one he had called Severing Demon.
“I look forward to working with you. He said you were Severing Demon, correct?”
[...]
Severing Demon gave no response, but I had a good guess what kind of reaction she was showing inside that robe she had pulled over herself.
“Hmm.”
The Young Cult Leader also showed some doubt at my reaction. He probably had not expected me to permit it so easily.
At this rate, that bastard might realize I had some intention, but that did not matter.
Because right now, he was not in a position to worry about that.
He’s probably too busy thinking about Do Woochun.
The rumor that someone was impersonating the Heavenly Demon. It looked like it would take him quite a while to grasp this side while he was busy figuring that out. The reason he attached Severing Demon, Mi Yeonhwa, was also likely surveillance hidden under the pretext of consideration.
There was one reason I accepted even while knowing that full well.
Because it happens to be Mi Yeonhwa.
I had already been wondering how to deal with her, so how grateful should I be that she appeared like this on her own?
“We’re ready, so let’s depart.”
We prepared to board the carriages. Everyone got on, and Poison Dragon and Sword Emperor headed to the driver’s seats.
After seeing who had boarded inside, I immediately stuck my head out the window.
Severing Demon seemed to have boarded on top of the carriage, because she was not visible inside.
“Then, I’ll be off.”
I waved as I spoke. Thousand-Mile Divine Eye saw that and turned away without another word.
The carriage began moving just like that.
Xinjiang, huh.
Now I had gone so far that I was even going to the Demonic Cult.
Feeling a faint tension, I swallowed a sigh inwardly.
Bzzzz.
The Divine Sword vibrated. The sensation felt as if the Heavenly Demon were laughing, and it made me extremely pissed off.
*****
“They have left.”
In the Alliance Leader’s office, Divine Spear looked somewhere in the distance. A carriage was slowly moving away. It was the carriage carrying the younger-generation members departing for Xinjiang.
“Is it truly fine to leave them like that?”
At Divine Spear’s question, someone behind him reacted.
“They will be fine.”
A cold-featured, handsome middle-aged man was drinking tea.
The Azure Moon Sect Leader, Moon Immortal Sword. He had left the Azure Moon Sect and arrived at the Alliance.
“They will carry it out without incident. He is a clever one.”
“You have firm faith in him.”
Divine Spear showed puzzlement at Moon Immortal Sword’s reaction. He had never seen the man respond like that before.
It was a reaction he had not even shown his own child, and just as Divine Spear was finding it strange that he showed such a thing toward Bang Seongyeon—
“That matter is settled, then.”
Tap. Moon Immortal Sword set his teacup down on the floor. Immediately after, he asked in a somewhat hardened voice.
“Tell me about the matter in Sichuan first.”
“...”
The sensation in the air sharpened as if edged. Moon Immortal Sword’s pressure was disturbing empty space.
There was one reason for that.
“What did you say happened to my daughter?”
Moon Dancer, Cheon Hyein.
Moon Immortal Sword’s daughter had gone missing in Sichuan. And that too—
“It seems Sky-Crushing Palace has moved.”
“...”
Because of Sky-Crushing Palace’s movements. At those words, Moon Immortal Sword’s eyes hardened beyond measure.
RUMBLE—!!!
The air vibrated as if it would tear apart. Seeing that, Divine Spear swallowed a groan inwardly.
That energy made Divine Spear recall something.
The Azure Moon Sect Leader...
He might be stronger than the beings beyond heaven currently active.