Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 97 : Tracking (2)

Hyun Jeong, the Wudang master, arrived at the inn after the Martial Alliance Leader had left.

Hyun Jeong, who appeared to be in his late forties, was a man with a dignified impression. With his half-white hair and graying beard hanging down, he first looked for the corpses as soon as he entered the inn.

Hyun Jeong examined Jo Han-yu's corpse lying in the coffin and looked at Woo Jeong-bong and An Chang-san, the master of the Definition Pavilion, who were standing next to him.

An Chang-san opened his mouth in a low voice.

"The corpse is not intact due to the demonic art. According to the witness, he fell into a state of qi deviation after fighting with Yeon Jeok-sim..."

"Senior uncle learned a demonic art? Are you telling me to believe that now? Who is that witness?"

"It's me. And it's true."

As Woo Jeong-bong answered, anger appeared on Hyun Jeong's face. Hyun Jeong ignored Woo Jeong-bong and said to An Chang-san.

"Senior uncle died fighting Yeon Jeok-sim. Over a hundred corpses of Demonic Cult members came out. Many of them persecuted senior uncle. Senior uncle fought against hundreds of Demonic Cult members alone. Senior uncle, who had faced hundreds of Demonic Cult members, suffered internal injuries and died from the vicious surprise attack of Yeon Jeok-sim."

Hyun Jeong spoke as if he had been at the scene. At those words, An Chang-san's expression hardened, and Woo Jeong-bong swallowed a groan.

Hyun Jeong spoke again.

"Senior uncle never learned a demonic art. Is there anyone who knows about that?"

An Chang-san, who felt Hyun Jeong's killing intent, knew that the atmosphere was not good. The moment his eyes met Hyun Jeong's, his hair stood on end, and cold sweat flowed down his back.

"There is no one."

"Let's keep our mouths shut. Is there a reason for senior uncle to learn a demonic art? He was a person who was called the best in the world. What was he lacking that he would learn a demonic art?"

"That's right. That can't be. I saw it wrong."

At An Chang-san's smile, Hyun Jeong threw a cold gaze.

"It seems you don't understand... If a rumor that senior uncle learned a demonic art circulates in the martial world, I will hold you, Pavilion Master An, responsible for it."

A faint chill was contained in Hyun Jeong's voice. An Chang-san, who read that, waved his hand.

"Of course."

"If you find Yeon Jeok-sim, please let Wudang know immediately. We have to get revenge, don't we?"

"Yes."

An Chang-san answered, exchanged greetings with Hyun Jeong, and then went outside.

Hyun Jeong looked at Jo Han-yu's corpse and said.

"Who knows about this?"

"Jo Sa-mae knows, but Jo Sa-mae will not open her mouth. And the innkeeper knows. But the innkeeper will also follow senior brother's will."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Although he heard Woo Jeong-bong's answer, Hyun Jeong's expression was still cold.

If it became known that Jo Han-yu had learned a demonic art, a lump of dung would fly at the main gate of the Wudang Sect.

There was no more disgraceful thing than this for Wudang, which valued honor.

Although he had to mourn Jo Han-yu's death, he also had to hide the fact that he had learned a demonic art.

Fortunately, the number of people who knew about that was very small.

The problem was that among those very few people, there was the Alliance Leader.

'Do I have to be dragged around by the Martial Alliance Leader?'

Hyun Jeong was worried that the position of the Wudang Sect in the Martial Alliance would be narrowed.

Woo Jeong-bong looked at the corpses of Cha-yong and Hyung Soo-pung with pitiful eyes.

"Senior uncle tried to kill me. Also, according to Jo Sa-mae, Senior Brother Hyung and Senior Brother Cha were also killed by senior uncle. Jo Sa-mae was also attacked by senior uncle, but she was barely able to save her life."

"Stop."

Hyun Jeong raised his hand and blocked Woo Jeong-bong's mouth.

"For the sake of our sect's honor, you should keep that mouth of yours shut. Do you know what I mean?"

It meant to be silent.

Woo Jeong-bong closed his mouth.

"Why is there no answer?"

"You told me to shut up."

"That's not it, it's about this matter."

Woo Jeong-bong, as if disappointed by Hyun Jeong's words, crossed his arms and turned his head.

"He tried to kill me. No matter how much he is my senior uncle, this is not a matter that can be taken lightly."

"So what do you want to do? Should I get angry? Should I cut the corpse again? The honor of Wudang is at stake."

At Hyun Jeong's sharp voice, Woo Jeong-bong closed his mouth.

Hyun Jeong let out a long sigh and patted Woo Jeong-bong's shoulder.

"Let's meet the innkeeper."

At Hyun Jeong's words, Woo Jeong-bong led the way.

* * *

A pavilion was built on a small pond located on the way to the Geumgakwon beyond the back garden of the guest room.

Hyun Jeong, the Wudang master, who had climbed the pavilion, sat at a small tea table.

Behind him, Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok were standing.

"What kind of person is the innkeeper?"

"He's a good friend."

"A friend?"

At the answer 'a friend', Hyun Jeong looked at Woo Jeong-bong. Woo Jeong-bong nodded.

"He will keep the secret about our sect's affairs."

"You shouldn't make friends carelessly."

Hyun Jeong said, as if he didn't like the word 'friend', and then drank tea.

A short while later, Jin Sa-wol, who was holding a golden ruler, came in. Seeing Jin Sa-wol, who appeared to be in his twenties, Hyun Jeong was surprised that the innkeeper was young.

Hyun Jeong stood up from his seat and cupped his fist.

"I am Hyun Jeong of Wudang."

"I am Jin Sa-wol. Please sit."

At Jin Sa-wol's smile, Hyun Jeong sat in a chair.

Seeing Jin Sa-wol's good-natured smile, the expressions of Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok hardened. Jo Geom-ok even showed her killing intent, opening her eyes wide at Jin Sa-wol's artificial smile.

Hyun Jeong smiled and said.

"Thank you very much for your concern for our sect."

"Not at all. If it's a matter of the Wudang Sect, of course I should help."

"I heard that you were nearby when senior uncle passed away... Is that true?"

Jin Sa-wol looked at Hyun Jeong's expression and instinctively knew that it was about the demonic art.

Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"Although I was nearby, the number of Demonic Cult members was too large, and I was on the verge of death, so I was out of my mind. By the time I came to my senses, the Demonic Cult members had already left."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Woo Jeong-bong raised his fist, and Jo Geom-ok was saying with her eyes, 'That shameless bastard...'

Since Hyun Jeong could not see the expressions of the two, he nodded.

It seemed as if Jin Sa-wol was a person who knew nothing. No, it was clear that he was pretending not to know even though he knew.

Since Hyun Jeong had to drive a nail, he smiled and said.

"If a rumor that tarnishes the honor of the Wudang Sect comes out of the inn, I will not stand by."

"Such a thing will never happen."

Jin Sa-wol also smiled as if to tell him not to worry and poured tea into Hyun Jeong's teacup.

"I have a favor to ask of the Wudang Sect."

"A favor? What is it?"

At the word 'favor', Hyun Jeong showed curiosity.

Jin Sa-wol looked at Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok and said.

"I would like to hire Brother Woo and Miss Jo as guests of the inn."

"Guests? Are they the bodyguards of the inn?"

"That's right."

"Aren't there quite a few?"

When Hyun Jeong asked, Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"A little while ago, when the Demonic Cult attacked, they all left. They got scared and ran away."

"What a pathetic thing."

Hyun Jeong clicked his tongue as if he were genuinely angry. But he could not send Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok to the inn. He had to take them both to Wudang Mountain.

"But that seems a little difficult. Brother Woo and Sister Jo have a lot of things to do in Wudang Mountain."

"I will send three thousand nyang of silver to Wudang Mountain a year as the share of the two."

At the words 'three thousand nyang of silver', Hyun Jeong's eyes widened. Hyun Jeong drank tea, stroked his beard, and then turned his head to the pond.

"Hmph! Hmm..."

Three thousand nyang was by no means a small amount. It was the amount that a dozen or so small and medium-sized sects belonging to Wudang sent in a year.

Seeing Hyun Jeong smacking his lips, Jin Sa-wol smiled.

"If you don't like it, let's make it five thousand nyang a year. How about that?"

As the amount went up to five thousand nyang, Hyun Jeong turned his head towards Jin Sa-wol and smiled brightly.

"Hohoho. I can't decide right now, so I'll let you know after I inform the sect leader."

"Thank you."

Just by looking at Hyun Jeong's expression, the answer had already come out.

* * *

In the inner part of the Guyeon Mountain Range, where the southern part of Makbusan and the plains of Poyang Lake met, low mountainous areas and basins continued endlessly.

There were numerous villages, and several streams crossed and flowed, and the area was full of clouds and fog.

In a small mountainous area called Nobongsan, a five-story pavilion appeared with the fog.

It was a pavilion that seemed quite large in scale to be in an unknown mountainous area.

Around it, several houses were gathered, making it look like a large village.

A middle-aged man who was lying down on the fifth floor of the pavilion opened his eyes as light came in through the fog.

"Kraaak..."

Although he had woken up from sleep, his body was still not in good condition.

Although fifteen days had passed since he had been to Muyeondo, his internal and external injuries were still tormenting him.

Although a month had passed, it was still inconvenient to move. He needed more time to get better.

He, who was touching his collarbone, gritted his teeth, recalling Jin Sa-wol.

"Lord Yeon."

A low voice was heard from outside the door, and a middle-aged man who looked like a scholar came in, holding a bowl of decoction.

He held out the bowl to Yeon Jeok-sim and said.

"Although Lord Yeon did not occupy the inn, the Cult Leader is very pleased because you killed Jo Han-yu and Namgung Yu, the young lord of the Namgung family."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Yeon Jeok-sim opened his eyes wide, thinking, 'What kind of nonsense is this?'

Chae Gong-gong, one of the fifteen demonic lords, the Jiangxi Demonic Lord, smiled and then spoke again.

"Right now, the martial world is greatly pleased with Lord Yeon's achievements. Jo Han-yu died after fighting with Lord Yeon, unable to overcome his internal injuries. On top of that, didn't Lord Yeon kill Namgung Yu, who had burned down the Golden Demonic Pavilion? This is truly a great achievement."

"That can't be..."

"All the members of our sect are pleased with Lord Yeon's achievements. Since you killed Jo Han-yu, who was an enemy of our sect, what could be more joyous than this? Although the Martial Alliance is pressing our sect because of this incident, our sect is ready to have a decisive battle with the Martial Alliance."

Chae Gong-gong clenched his fist and spoke, and Yeon Jeok-sim was flustered. But first, he drank the decoction.

"Kraak!"

After drinking the bitter medicine, Yeon Jeok-sim, who had come to his senses, had a hardened expression.

He was out of his mind because of his injuries when he came here.

He had to hide here for a few days to treat his injuries. He still did not know the situation of the martial world.

"Tell me in detail."

At Yeon Jeok-sim's words, Chae Gong-gong reported in detail about the affairs of the martial world.

Yeon Jeok-sim had attacked the inn, and the Martial Alliance and the Namgung family had fought with the Demonic Cult to protect the inn.

In that fight, Jo Han-yu and Namgung Yu had died.

"Me?"

The problem was the part where Yeon Jeok-sim had killed Jo Han-yu and Namgung Yu. This was in fact a very serious error.

'What happened?'

Yeon Jeok-sim was looking at Chae Gong-gong with a hardened expression. Chae Gong-gong had a gaze full of respect.

'If I say here that I didn't do it... Ha...'

It was a matter that made him sigh.

Although it was good that his reputation had risen, he did not want to become a public enemy of the martial world for something he had not done.

But to tell the truth now was also a funny thing.

He had not been able to occupy the Thousand Gold Treasury at the inn, nor had he taken over the inn. In a state where he had achieved nothing, if he said that he had not killed Jo Han-yu and had not killed Namgung Yu, he would surely be punished.

The Cheon Cult Leader was not a person who was generous to his subordinates.

"Go out."

"Yes."

As Chae Gong-gong went out, Yeon Jeok-sim decided to ask for help from the Yeon family and practiced his breathing.

'First, let's get my body back to normal.'

(End of Chapter)