novelraw Chapter 214 : Chapter 214
Chapter 214 : Chapter 214
Chapter 214. Preparation (2)
Following the Beggars' Gang, Shaolin also joined.
Two of the most prominent forces in Jianghu had joined forces, so could there be any better news?
But it was by no means a situation to be complacent.
“There is something I must tell the two of you who have joined our cause.”
Senior Gang Leader and the Abbot. I told them the information I had gathered about the Demonic Cult.
“As Senior Gang Leader knows, we have fought a battle with a Guardian Envoy named Wi Mugyeol. He was a terrifying master whom we could barely kill only after launching a joint attack.”
I couldn't tell how high the position or level of a Guardian Envoy was in the Demonic Cult.
However, one thing was certain: he was not the leader.
“Actually, on the day I met Young Master Paeng, I came into contact with Young Master Paeng's Thunder Dragon Blade and was able to meet a person called the Thunder Blade Emperor.”
Since I had started talking, I told them everything I had heard from the Thunder Blade Emperor.
After I finished my story, Senior Gang Leader sighed with a frustrated expression.
“Heo.”
The Abbot also rolled his prayer beads and chanted the name of Buddha.
“Amitabha.”
“It may be hard to believe, but these are all things I have experienced myself.”
“Tsk. I didn't sigh because I don't believe you. You said that the one called the Cult Leader is a master that even you can't face right now, didn't you? That's why I sighed.”
The Abbot nodded as if in agreement.
“If I believe the words my sect elders said as they entered nirvana but do not believe the benefactor's words, would that not be a contradiction? Of course, I believe you.”
After saying so, the Abbot turned his head to the side and looked at Senior Gang Leader.
The two exchanged glances for a moment.
Senior Gang Leader asked me.
“So, what do you plan to do from now on?”
“Actually, I was thinking of asking for your help because of that issue.”
“Help?”
“Yes. The victims of the Heavenly Emperor Cult must be returned to their original lives. However, our numbers are small, and we do not have the capacity to take care of them.”
“Hmph. Don't worry about that. Our beggars will step up to help.”
“Shaolin will also help.”
“Tell me what you plan to do after this matter here.”
I couldn't understand why he kept asking, but I answered honestly for now.
“Of course, I must head beyond the borders to find traces of the Demonic Cult, mustn't I?”
For some reason, Senior Gang Leader sighed.
“Haa. I knew this would happen.”
Senior Gang Leader, as if frustrated, gulped down his alcohol and said.
“As this monk here said, perhaps you are the last hope to face that Demonic Cult Leader. You just said it yourself, didn't you? That if you master the Sun Moon Infinite Sword, you can defeat that Demonic Cult Leader.”
I did tell them that the Thunder Blade Emperor had said so.
But why was he saying that with such a frustrated face?
I was able to understand the reason thanks to the words that followed from the two of them.
“Benefactor. It seems that the beggars of the Beggars' Gang and the monks of our Shaolin will be enough to roam beyond the borders and find the whereabouts of the Demonic Cult.”
“Besides, there are those youngsters from the Twin Heroes Alliance, aren't there? There are countless people to find the traces of the Demonic Cult. So, your role is naturally to face that Demonic Cult Leader, isn't it?”
“Therefore, benefactor, how about you enter closed-door training and master the Sun Moon Infinite Sword until we find the Demonic Cult's headquarters?”
Closed-door training. It was something I hadn't even thought of.
“That is not possible. Rather, we will move around, so how about the two of you enter closed-door training?”
“Haa. Both I and this monk are already well over eighty years old. How much more can we grow even if we enter closed-door training? It is far more likely that a young fellow like you will grow.”
Still, it was a difficult proposal to accept.
It wasn't just because I had been dragged away by the Fighting Venerable for closed-door training until about half a year ago.
“Apart from the Demonic Cult, there are countless pieces of trash in Jianghu. How can I ignore those who are suffering from such bastards and just coop myself up in the mountains to train?”
Then, Senior Gang Leader answered with a flushed face.
“Did you sell off all your previous words somewhere? There are the beggars of our Beggars' Gang, the monks here, and the youngsters of the Twin Heroes Alliance. Also, the villains you have already killed number in the hundreds, so why are you trying to find and kill them all by yourself again.”
“……”
Hearing that, it seemed to be a valid point.
The Seven Evils that would later drive Jianghu into chaos were all gone.
Also, many of the evil leaders who were active during this period had lost their lives at my or my comrades' hands.
The Unwol Sect Leader, Sura Blood Blade, Nine Dragons Fortress Leader, Black Heart Ghost Claw, and so on.
Moreover, thanks to the Fighting Venerable's intervention, the other two leaders of the Underworld were already dead.
There were not many Underworld masters left who could be called experts, and only mediocre ones were scattered here and there.
This level should be manageable by the martial artists of the Beggars' Gang, Shaolin, and the Twin Heroes Alliance.
However, there was still one problem left.
“Even so, closed-door training is inefficient.”
“Inefficient, what do you mean by that?”
“The reason I grew strong quickly was precisely because of life-and-death duels. By continuously fighting life-and-death duels with masters who were my equal, no, masters who were several levels above me, I was able to grow rapidly.”
Then, Hwangbo Ak sided with me.
“Kuhahaha! As expected, Brother Jin knows exactly how important a life-and-death duel is!”
So I was anxious.
Because it meant my logic was on the same level as that guy's.
And as expected, Senior Gang Leader immediately refuted.
“So who is left now that is similar to or better than you?”
For a moment, it felt like I had been hit on the head with a blunt weapon.
“What should we do? Should I or this monk hold a duel with you every day?”
At least in Jianghu, the only active masters of the Heavenly Ladder Realm were those two.
No, since the Shaolin Abbot had also been in seclusion until now, it was only Senior Gang Leader.
It meant that to find an opponent for a life-and-death battle, I had to find a piece of trash in seclusion.
Or search beyond the borders.
Yes. Beyond the borders remained.
“We have to find the Demonic Cult anyway, don't we? I can just fight against the masters of the Demonic Cult or the masters beyond the borders.”
“We mentioned closed-door training precisely because we thought you would say that.”
When I looked at them with a puzzled face, Senior Gang Leader sighed again and said.
“You said it yourself, didn't you? That you killed the guy named Wi Mugyeol in a joint attack.”
“Yes.”
“But the guys who killed a Guardian Envoy are roaming around beyond the borders? Do you think the Demonic Cult guys will just leave them be?”
“……Wouldn't I be able to grow faster by fighting the Demonic Cult masters who come looking for me?”
“What if the Demonic Cult Leader comes right away? What will you do if that monster that you are no match for right now comes looking for you?”
All the reasons why I had tried to personally roam beyond the borders and find the Demonic Cult were completely refuted.
Now, I stood still and asked myself.
Is it really okay?
To ignore the trash and just coop myself up in the mountains to train?
Can I endure that?
As I was contemplating such worries, I heard Senior Sister Baek Hyang's voice.
“Senior Brother.”
I turned my head and looked at her.
Worry was etched on my Senior Sister's face.
“How about we enter closed-door training together this time, as the Gang Leader and Abbot have suggested?”
My Senior Sister was particularly emphasizing the word 'together'.
Following that, I heard the Tang clan guy's voice.
“I agree as well. Calm your temper a bit and try to stay still for a little while. Who knows? This time, you might attain enlightenment by staying quiet, contrary to expectations.”
Nam Geon also nodded with a face full of worry.
“B-big bro got hurt again. E-even after molting, you get hurt. B-big bro needs to get stronger.”
To that, Senior Sister Choyeon added her encouragement.
“Or it would be good if we became stronger. So, let's do it together, Senior Brother.”
Following that, Paeng Daecheol said, stammering.
“Ahem. Uh, Great Hero. I-if it's not too much trouble, may I join you in that closed-door training?”
For some reason, a laugh escaped me.
Closed-door training together.
Could that even be called closed-door training?
As I was smiling, Hwangbo Ak snorted loudly.
“Hmph. If Brother Jin is going into closed-door training, I'll move separately. I hate being cooped up in one place.”
For some reason, that seemed ridiculous, so I said to him.
“If we're together, don't you think we could hold duels with each other every day?”
Then that fool let out a cry of admiration, “Ah!”
“Uhahahaha! A duel every single day! That doesn't sound bad at all!”
He was a truly simple-minded fellow.
***
Around the time Jin Yuseong and his comrades were settling on entering closed-door training.
An old man who had been eavesdropping on their conversation from the side approached Jin Yuseong.
He was an old man, yet he was not.
He was a man who had aged rapidly due to his prenatal qi rampaging because of the Heavenly Emperor Cult Leader's spell.
He cupped his fist towards Jin Yuseong and said.
“Great Hero. This is a presumptuous request, but I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Please speak.”
“Could we also join in the search for those called the Demonic Cult?”
He had overheard their conversation from the side.
It was clearly a preposterous story.
It had even reached the point of talking about the Heavenly Realm and such.
If someone else had said such things, they would have been treated as a madman.
But this time, the case was different.
It wasn't simply because he owed him his life.
The conversation partners of the Great Hero who had saved him were different.
The Gang Leader of the Beggars' Gang and the Abbot of Shaolin.
Some of the most prominent figures in Jianghu were conversing in a serious tone.
The weight carried by their words was entirely different.
As if the others felt the same, they all cupped their fists towards Jin Yuseong without anyone saying who should go first.
“Great Hero! We will join you as well!”
“Please give us a chance to repay this kindness!”
Jin Yuseong and his comrades looked around at them with various expressions.
But Jin Yuseong had no intention of using them.
He hadn't saved them with that intention in the first place.
The moment Jin Yuseong was about to utter words of refusal, the Beggars' Gang Leader beat him to it.
“Tsk. Where do you youngsters think you're being greedy. Yes. It's a hundred years too early for you to face the Demonic Cult guys, so how about helping them instead?”
Saying so, the place the Gang Leader pointed to was where the dazed common folk were gathered.
“If you cooperate with the Twin Heroes Alliance youngsters and help them, it seems our Beggars' Gang beggars can search for the Demonic Cult guys more earnestly.”
His words were harsh, but it meant that the Beggars' Gang would take on the dangerous work.
The Shaolin Abbot also agreed with this.
“Amitabha. This humble monk also thinks that would be better.”
In Jin Yuseong's view, this was not a bad picture.
The martial artists who were similarly victimized by the Heavenly Emperor Cult helping the pitiful common folk.
Furthermore, what if they cooperated with the Twin Heroes Alliance to punish the villains of the Central Plains and save the common folk?
‘I think I can enter closed-door training with a slightly more at ease mind.’
Having organized his thoughts, Jin Yuseong cupped his fist towards them.
“I am also of the same mind. If you truly wish to repay your debt to us, please help the pitiful common folk instead.”
“We will do so, Great Hero!”
“We will do our best to surely repay this debt!”
As things were getting sorted out, the old man who had first spoken to Jin Yuseong cautiously opened his mouth.
“Great Hero. My lifespan is not much longer anyway. Also, although I dare not compare myself to the three of you, I have built a reputation in Jianghu. Therefore, I will pursue the Demonic Cult along with the Beggars' Gang and Shaolin.”
“We feel the same way.”
The group of four, who had their prenatal qi taken by the Heavenly Emperor Cult Leader, all expressed the same intention.
After pondering for a moment, a rather useful idea came to Jin Yuseong.
“In that case, please lead them instead. Furthermore, please look after the next generation of the Twin Heroes Alliance.”
This idea did not come simply out of sympathy for them.
“The next generation of the Twin Heroes Alliance all harbor a sense of justice, but many still lack martial arts and real combat experience. If the four of you, who were renowned in Jianghu, were to give them guidance, it would be a great help.”
Jin Yuseong had already passed on basic martial arts and combat teachings through Teacher Sama.
In addition, if they provided slightly higher-level teachings, the average level of the Twin Heroes Alliance would likely rise significantly.
Moreover, the four martial artists each used different weapons.
Unlike Jin Yuseong, who only taught swordsmanship.
“Therefore, please become the martial arts instructors of the Twin Heroes Alliance.”