novelraw Chapter 146 : Chapter 146
Chapter 146 : Chapter 146
Chapter 146. It’s More Than I Expected.
“The Heavenly Killing Sect is as good as annihilated anyway, so there’s no reason to refuse a negotiation. We can just put anyone forward and say they were the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader, right?”
“Th-that’s true, isn’t it?”
Blood Qilin said as if what he heard was not wrong.
“We can just put up some random guy, say he was the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader, and announce it. There's no need to be conscious of public opinion.”
“Hmm.”
“Of course…….”
Jin Cheon’s gaze turned to the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader.
“You’d better pray you have some high-quality information. If I’m not satisfied, I’ll kill you at any time.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
The Heavenly Killing Sect Leader said emphatically.
“I promise to provide information that will satisfy your cult.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Jin Cheon decided to accept the negotiation with the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader for the time being and ceased any further use of force.
It would be troublesome if he rashly killed the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader here and gained nothing.
“But…….”
Shadowless had a troubled expression.
If the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader managed to survive through a negotiation with Jin Cheon, then Shadowless and the children he was looking after would be the ones in danger.
From his perspective, it was only natural that he was not pleased with the negotiation between Jin Cheon and the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader.
‘I’ll guarantee the safety of you and the children, so don’t worry.’
Jin Cheon’s heart-voice echoed in Shadowless' mind.
Hearing Jin Cheon’s heart-voice, Shadowless was able to feel somewhat at ease.
Although the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader was a bit of a concern, he had no choice but to accept it since Jin Cheon guaranteed their safety.
“Let’s move to a different location.”
“I will do so.”
“But first, eat this.”
Jin Cheon took out a wooden box from his bosom and opened it.
Inside, there was a black insect, and it was obvious at a glance that it was no ordinary, dangerous creature.
“Do you really have to go that far?”
“Then die.”
Jin Cheon took a step closer to the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader.
Flinch!
Feeling threatened, the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader instinctively reacted to step back.
His opponent was the Unrivaled New Demon… the terrifying master who had split the Diancang Quick Sword Clouded Void Sage in two.
Even Yeom Bi alone was a difficult opponent, but if Jin Cheon joined in, the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader would have no way to deal with it.
Besides, weren't there an overwhelming number of those terrifying Rakshasa Troupe martial artists?
“Alright, I’ll eat it.”
The Heavenly Killing Sect Leader swallowed the parasite with a reluctant expression.
“Pressure point sealing as well.”
“……Is there a choice?”
The Heavenly Killing Sect Leader obediently submitted to Jin Cheon’s pressure point sealing.
But Jin Cheon’s thoroughness did not end there.
Only after putting handcuffs made of black iron on the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader’s wrists did Jin Cheon let his guard down.
The opponent was the current leader of the number one assassin sect under the heavens and a master of the Realm of Transformation, so if he didn't take these precautions, he wouldn't know when something might happen. Such measures could never be considered excessive.
“Now, let’s move.”
“Understood.”
Jin Cheon took the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader and immediately left the scene.
Having caused such a ruckus in the middle of the night, it was obvious that government troops would soon be swarming in, and sects from afar would also start to move.
***
Jin Cheon’s party was only able to catch their breath after moving a great distance away from the Heavenly Killing Sect’s headquarters.
If demonic practitioners reeking of demonic qi were to wander around populated areas, the entire Sichuan Murim would be in an uproar.
Because of this, the martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult usually moved and rested in deep mountains with few people.
This was something that demonic practitioners who learned demonic arts could hardly avoid.
Of course, if one could hide their demonic qi to some extent like Jin Cheon, it would be fine to mix in with ordinary people, but…….
“Now let’s talk.”
Jin Cheon sat the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader down and opened his mouth.
“Do you have any information that would be helpful to my cult?”
“Of course, I do.”
“What is it.”
“My sect has been regularly commissioned by the Qingcheng Sect to eliminate masters from the Emei Sect and the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“This is quite interesting.”
Jin Cheon’s eyes glinted.
If it was revealed that the Qingcheng Sect had instigated the contract killings of several key figures from the Emei Sect and the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Sichuan Murim would instantly become a stage of chaos.
Furthermore, isn't it enough to become the starting point for the division of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance?
“Do you have proof?”
“There are bank notes issued by the Qingcheng Sect and bank notes issued by the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.”
“Bank notes alone will be difficult to prove anything with, won't they?”
“Knowing that, I have already secured documents containing the details of the commission from the person who placed the order. If you compare the handwriting, they won't be able to escape.”
“That's still not enough.”
Jin Cheon frowned.
“The Qingcheng Sect will try to frame your claims as the Demonic Cult's trickery, won't they?”
“Of course, they will.”
The Heavenly Killing Sect Leader answered as if he had expected it.
“But my sect has the belongings of the targets that were collected upon the successful completion of the assassinations, and there is plenty of evidence that we have no connection with your cult.”
“Hmm.”
“Common sense dictates that if important figures from the Emei Sect and the Sichuan Tang Clan went missing, who would benefit?”
“Naturally, it would be the Qingcheng Sect.”
“And this is a secret history unknown to the world, but the origin of my sect lies with the Nine Sects One Gang.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“In the past, my sect was a kind of righteous assassin group established by the Nine Sects One Gang for the purpose of assassinating the generals and high-ranking officials of foreign dynasties.”
“……!”
“The reason my sect was able to assassinate an emperor and become the number one assassin sect under the heavens was all thanks to the Nine Sects One Gang. The agreements and seals made when the leaders of the Nine Sects One Gang established my sect are still intact.”
“Where is that agreement? Don’t tell me it was lost when the pavilion collapsed?”
“How could that be? The important sacred artifacts and documents of my sect are kept safely in a separate safe house.”
“Good.”
Jin Cheon smiled.
This was more than convincing, and wasn't the evidence sufficient?
“To be honest, it’s more than I expected.”
“In return, I also have a condition.”
“A condition.”
Jin Cheon sneered.
“I’m sorry, but you should consider your own situation. In fact, this is not a deal. What you have is merely the price for your life, necessary to beg for mercy.”
“Then I have no choice but to keep my mouth shut.”
“Heh.”
Jin Cheon snorted and looked back at Shadowless.
“It seems our Heavenly Killing Sect Leader doesn't know a thing or two. I'd like the person who experienced it firsthand to explain.”
As if he had been waiting, Shadowless told the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader about Jin Cheon’s special ability.
He explained why the special-grade assassins, who wouldn't open their mouths to any torture, obediently cooperated with Jin Cheon.
“S-such a technique…….”
The Heavenly Killing Sect Leader looked back at Jin Cheon as if he couldn't believe it.
“But there must be a reason why you don’t use that technique, right?”
“There is.”
Jin Cheon answered as if he knew he would say that.
“Absorbing another person's memories is not a very pleasant experience. You end up knowing everything, even things you don't want to know.”
“Hah…….”
“And maybe because I’m absorbing all of a person’s memories, it feels like someone has rummaged through my head. It’s unpleasant, so I try not to use it if possible, but if you insist on holding out, I have no choice.”
Jin Cheon ostentatiously deployed the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand and placed it on the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader’s head.
Shiver!
The Heavenly Killing Sect Leader flinched.
The moment Jin Cheon's hand touched the top of his head, he shuddered unconsciously at the eerie and sinister feeling that was transmitted.
“If you cooperate well, I’ll let you live the rest of your life in comfort.”
“How so?”
“You’ll lose all your martial arts, but you’ll be able to live in luxury with the money you’ve saved up.”
“A-are you saying you’ll cripple my dantian?”
“Did you think I would just let go of someone who was the leader of an assassin sect? When I don't know when and how you might retaliate?”
“That is…….”
“You’ll lose your life as a martial artist, but you weren’t living openly and displaying your martial arts anyway.”
“…….”
“With the money you’ve saved up, you could live comfortably in a forest of meat and wine for the next thirty years. If you really want to die, then there’s nothing I can do.”
At Jin Cheon’s words, the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader was silent for a while, as if deep in thought.
He too was a martial artist, and even a strong one who had pioneered the Realm of Transformation, so he couldn't be indifferent to hearing that his dantian would be crippled.
However, Jin Cheon’s words also had a point, so it seemed better to live the rest of his life comfortably rather than die.
As Jin Cheon had said, he was not a person who had built his reputation as a martial artist by openly displaying and brandishing his martial arts, so it seemed he didn't have to be too attached.
“Alright.”
The Heavenly Killing Sect Leader opened his mouth as if he had made a decision.
“I will cooperate fully, so I hope you will show mercy and keep your promise.”
“Of course.”
Jin Cheon gave a slight nod.
“I will show you more than enough mercy, so just think about cooperating fully.”
“Understood.”
In the end, the Heavenly Killing Sect Leader chose to live.
Since the Heavenly Killing Sect was already annihilated, he chose to live a long and comfortable life, however thin, rather than lose his life as well.
***
The Heavenly Killing Sect Leader was truly cooperative with Jin Cheon.
Not only did he tell him the location of the safe house, but he also handed over all the materials and evidence stored there to Jin Cheon.
“Now what are you planning to do?”
“I have to send a letter to the abbess of the Emei Sect and the clan head of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Secretly.”
Jin Cheon decided to contact them in advance.
If he were to rashly expose everything, the Qingcheng Sect would mobilize their disciples and actively try to suppress the situation, so his intention was to give the Emei Sect and the Sichuan Tang Clan enough time to prepare.
Jin Cheon immediately sent letters to the leader of the Emei Sect and the clan head of the Sichuan Tang Clan respectively through the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s intelligence organization, the Bat Squad.
The letters contained the belongings of the missing Emei Sect masters and Sichuan Tang Clan masters, so there would be no room for doubt about their credibility.
***
“Amitabha, Amitabha.”
Upon receiving the letter, Abbess Hyeonchok of the Emei Sect repeatedly chanted the Buddha's name to calm her mind.
To think that a rosary belonging to the Divine Nun Guanyin, a divine monk of the Emei Sect who had gone missing years ago, would be enclosed in a letter that had arrived so suddenly…….
‘Could the Shaolin abbot have predicted even this?’
Abbess Hyeonchok thought that might be the case.
There must have been some sign for the Shaolin to take the drastic measure of closing its gates and not get involved in the affairs of the Murim. There must have been something, right?
But to think that a letter containing the Divine Nun Guanyin’s rosary would be delivered like this…….
‘I will have no choice but to agree to a meeting. Amitabha, Amitabha.’
Abbess Hyeonchok decided to contact the person who had sent the letter.
Having sent the rosary of the missing Divine Nun Guanyin, it was almost impossible to refuse a meeting.
The situation was the same for the clan head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Heavenly Poison Hand Dang Seong-yeong.
“So there was someone behind it after all.”
Dang Seong-yeong was already investigating at the family level, finding it strange that direct blood relatives of the Sichuan Tang Clan had been going missing one by one in recent years.
However, he hadn't found any clues so far, so the mysterious disappearance cases had long fallen into a state of confusion.
But to think that a letter containing various poisons and hidden weapons belonging to the missing direct blood relatives would be delivered…….
‘It could be a trap.’
Although Dang Seong-yeong knew that the intention of the person who sent the letter was by no means good, he could not refuse this meeting.
As the clan head of the Sichuan Tang Clan, he had a duty to determine the whereabouts or survival of his missing kinsmen.