novelraw Chapter 131 : Chapter 131
Chapter 131 : Chapter 131
Chapter 131. It Must Have Been Too Much Money to Refuse
Although the Heavenly Killing Sect was renowned as the world's foremost assassin sect, it was a group whose true nature was unclear.
Nothing was known about where they existed, how they accepted commissions, or even when, where, and whom they had killed.
The only certainty was the fact that they definitely existed.
Why?
Because from time to time, very occasionally, the targets they assassinated would become known.
The Heavenly Killing Sect would sometimes leave behind a mark reading ‘Heavenly Killing’ after a killing, thereby imprinting upon the world that they were a group that truly existed.
But that was all.
‘Almost’ nothing was known about the location of the Heavenly Killing Sect's headquarters, who belonged to it, or who its leader was.
And that was a very wise choice.
An assassin sect was a group that killed people on behalf of others for a fee, so there was nothing to be gained from revealing the location of their headquarters and its members.
They would surely face retaliation in some form from the targets of their commissions, and the Heavenly Killing Sect, not being fools, would hardly operate in plain sight.
“The Heavenly Killing Sect.”
The Sword Saint frowned.
“The commission fee is one thing, but how does one even submit a request to them?”
The Sword Saint said this because the Righteous Heavenly Alliance had no way to contact the Heavenly Killing Sect.
“I know a way.”
“Are you saying you know a way to contact the Heavenly Killing Sect?”
“That's right.”
“Heoeo.”
The Sword Saint clicked his tongue at the Great Divine Physician of Immortals’ words.
“How is it that you know a way to contact the Heavenly Killing Sect?”
“I just happened to learn of a way by chance. Of course, it’s not certain.”
“Not certain, you say…”
The Sword Saint did not believe the Great Divine Physician of Immortals.
‘No wonder those who had an uncomfortable relationship with the Qingcheng Sect have been dying off for the past few years.’
But since that was merely a suspicion, the Sword Saint did not press the issue further.
What was important now was whether they could commission the Heavenly Killing Sect, not whether the Great Divine Physician of Immortals was behind the recent assassination incidents.
“If we can place a commission, how much would the fee be?”
“I don’t know for sure, but it will be substantial. I don't know the details either.”
“Shouldn’t we at least have a rough idea to prepare the commission fee?”
“For the Unrivaled New Demon, wouldn’t it be about the annual budget of the Nine Sects One Gang?”
“The annual budget of the Nine Sects One Gang… Good heavens.”
After making a rough calculation, the Sword Saint wore a dumbfounded expression, looking quite surprised.
The annual budget of the ten sects of the Nine Sects One Gang was an amount that could allow one to live lavishly for generations, not just three.
“Isn’t that an excessive amount?”
“The opponent is a disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God. Besides, he has already reached the state of Extreme Demon at the age of a prodigy. To kill such a formidable figure, shouldn't we pay that price?”
“Hmm.”
“If that is difficult, our Alliance will have to step forward directly, in which case sacrifices will be inevitable.”
“That is true, but…”
“The decision is yours to make. Ponder it over.”
“I will.”
After the Great Divine Physician of Immortals left, the Sword Saint pondered for a long time.
‘Perhaps the commission fee is cheap.’
The reason the Sword Saint thought so was that raising a master was by no means an easy task.
The cost of raising a single direct disciple in the Nine Sects One Gang was astronomical, to say the least.
Didn’t they have to feed them good things from a young age, assign them good masters, and occasionally give them spiritual medicine, putting in at least twenty years of effort?
And that was just the minimum requirement.
For a martial artist to become a true master, they needed to accumulate experience through countless real battles, and sometimes they needed miraculous encounters and sudden enlightenment.
When all those processes, along with the time and effort invested in them, were calculated, the commission fee could not be said to be simply expensive.
Hadn't even Peng King Jin-in been split in two by Jin Cheon just now?
‘Considering the sacrifices that would follow in the process of killing the Unrivaled New Demon… it would be better to place a commission. If only it succeeds.’
Having made his decision, the Sword Saint immediately summoned the Great Divine Physician of Immortals.
“The commission, let’s give it a try.”
“I understand. You must have pondered a great deal. I truly hope for a good result.”
The Great Divine Physician of Immortals nodded his head.
“I will try to make contact with the Heavenly Killing Sect. But don’t get your hopes up too high. I might fail to make contact.”
“I understand. I will wait.”
Although the Sword Saint said so, he did not think that the Great Divine Physician of Immortals would fail to contact the Heavenly Killing Sect.
It was unlikely that a person as profound as the Great Divine Physician of Immortals would mention such a thing without any basis.
***
After leaving the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, the place the Great Divine Physician of Immortals headed to was a shabby Taoist temple rumored to be efficacious.
Named the Ten Thousand Blessings Taoist Temple, it was run by an old Taoist master who was nearly a hundred years old.
However, despite being small and shabby, the Ten Thousand Blessings Taoist Temple was always bustling with people.
The reason was simple; it was rumored that wishes made at the Ten Thousand Blessings Taoist Temple had a very high probability of coming true.
Thanks to this, not only ordinary people but also high-ranking officials and even martial artists frequented the Ten Thousand Blessings Taoist Temple.
When it came to wishing for fulfillment, there were no distinctions of age, gender, or social status.
“Ah!”
“Isn’t that Young Master Yu Geon-myeong of the Qingcheng Sect!”
People recognized the Great Divine Physician of Immortals, Yu Geon-myeong, and greeted him.
“May your wish be fulfilled.”
The Great Divine Physician of Immortals simply nodded in response to those who sent him favorable glances, offered a prayer to the Zhenwu Emperor enshrined in the Taoist temple, and placed a letter into a large wooden box in front of it.
A few days later.
The Great Divine Physician of Immortals received a letter sent by someone and headed to a nearby forest late at night.
“What brings you to call this time.”
Upon arriving in the forest, a voice from somewhere spoke to the Great Divine Physician of Immortals.
“What other business would I have with you besides a commission?”
“Who is it? The target.”
“The Unrivaled New Demon.”
“……!”
The voice was silent for a while.
The Unrivaled New Demon.
Even for the Heavenly Killing Sect, assassinating the Seventh Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was no easy task.
If the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were to determinedly find and wipe out the Heavenly Killing Sect, it would not be an entirely impossible task.
Of course, it would not be easy…
“Isn't the Unrivaled New Demon a disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.”
“You know well.”
“Moreover, his martial prowess has reached the state of Extreme Demon. Assassinating such a person is not an easy task. Don't you know?”
“But it's not impossible, is it.”
The Great Divine Physician of Immortals retorted as if asking what he meant.
“Weren't you the ones who dealt with even the Divine Nun Guanyin (觀音神尼) without a trace? Don't feign weakness.”
The Divine Nun Guanyin was a former sect leader of the Emei Sect, a master known to have reached the Realm of Transformation, just like Peng King Jin-in.
As a master from the Emei Sect, one of the three sects supporting the Sichuan Murim along with the Tang Clan and Qingcheng Sect, her fame and presence were truly immense.
To think that the Heavenly Killing Sect had dealt with such a person as the Divine Nun Guanyin without a trace…
“It was not an easy task.”
“But you did it, didn't you.”
“The Unrivaled New Demon is a different story. He must be dealt with more covertly, more certainly.”
“I understand.”
The Great Divine Physician of Immortals nodded as if he understood perfectly.
“But if I show sufficient sincerity, wouldn't the story be different?”
“Hmm.”
“Take this for now.”
The Great Divine Physician of Immortals took out a bank note from his bosom and threw it.
“……!”
The voice, the assassin of the Heavenly Killing Sect, was startled.
The bank note had flown precisely toward his hiding place.
“It's a down payment. Half of the commission fee, so that should be enough.”
“Th-this is.”
The Heavenly Killing Sect assassin was surprised once more after checking the amount on the bank note.
It was at least twice the amount received for assassinating the Divine Nun Guanyin.
However, there was something the assassin did not know; the bank note the Great Divine Physician of Immortals had given was only a quarter of what the Righteous Heavenly Alliance had originally provided.
“If the assassination is successful, I will give you the other half.”
“It is too large an amount to refuse, but I cannot rashly accept. This is not under my authority. As always, the approval of the higher-ups is needed.”
“How many days will it take.”
“At least three days are needed.”
“I will wait, so just let me know discreetly when the approval from the higher-ups comes through.”
“I understand.”
Three days later.
Flutter.
As the Great Divine Physician of Immortals was drinking tea at an inn, a black flag was lowered in a room of the inn across the street.
“Yes, it must have been too much money to refuse.”
The Great Divine Physician of Immortals muttered to himself and smiled slightly.
In the bosom of the Great Divine Physician of Immortals lay one-third of the bank notes given by the Sword Saint.
***
Mount Song, where Shaolin was located, had been a sacred place of Buddhism since ancient times, a place where countless Buddhists came and went.
As a result, the area near Mount Song was always crowded with people who came to offer prayers, so it was far from quiet.
Of course, within the precincts of Shaolin, where the martial monks were, it would be as quiet as a tomb…
Jin Cheon's party unpacked their luggage at an inn at the foot of Mount Song and caught their breath for a moment.
During that time, Jin Cheon had to ponder how he could meet the Shaolin Abbot.
And with good reason; the Shaolin Abbot, the Mount Tai and Big Dipper of the Righteous Dao Murim, was not someone just anyone could meet.
It was nearly impossible to have a quiet, private meeting with the Shaolin Abbot without a considerable status and position.
“I can't help you this time. I can't approach the Shaolin precincts.”
“Really?”
“The Daoist energy within the Shaolin precincts is too strong.”
It was not just Seop So-yeon.
Jin Cheon's party were all demonic practitioners who had learned demonic arts, so just being at the foot of Mount Song was a considerable burden.
‘He told me not to even go near the Shaolin precincts.’
Jin Cheon was bothered by the advice the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief had given him, so he didn't dare to think of infiltrating the Shaolin precincts.
- That place is a true den of demons. The slightest sign of presence, and martial monks pop out from all directions. It wasn't for nothing that my master failed when he tried to steal the Jade Buddha Staff. So don't rashly try to enter the Shaolin precincts. This is my sincere advice.
Jin Cheon accepted the advice of the Heavenly Evasion Divine Thief, the greatest thief under heaven, and decided not to break into the Shaolin precincts.
Instead, the method Jin Cheon took was…
“I'll send a letter.”
“A letter, you say?”
“Request the cooperation of the Bat Squad to find someone who can deliver a letter to the Shaolin Abbot, and bribe them. I'll give that person my letter.”
“Will he meet you?”
“Of course.”
At Danmok Cheong's question, Jin Cheon nodded his head as if there was no room for doubt.
“As long as the letter is delivered properly, the Shaolin Abbot will come on his own.”
Jin Cheon was confident.
It was not just anyone, but about the whereabouts of Great Monk Gongheo, the greatest master produced by Shaolin and a renowned high monk under heaven. The abbot would not ignore the matter.
“I will send the letter quickly.”
Danmok Cheong, without asking any questions, followed Jin Cheon's order.
The Bat Squad, upon Danmok Cheong's request, succeeded in recruiting a certain high-ranking official, and through him, delivered Jin Cheon's letter to the Shaolin Abbot.
“Heoeo.”
The Shaolin Abbot was greatly surprised upon receiving the mysterious letter.
Someone claiming to know the whereabouts of Great Monk Gongheo, who had been missing for a long time, had sent a letter. It would be stranger if the abbot was not surprised.
“The Eternal Prosperity Inn. I must go quickly. Amitabha, Amitabha.”
As Jin Cheon had expected, the Shaolin Abbot immediately headed for the Eternal Prosperity Inn at the foot of Mount Song.