The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 394

After Un Jeong and Un Mi arrived, a tiny spark of vitality was instilled in the Emei Sect. Fortunately, the fasting pills they brought were enough to provide at least one for each person. These fasting pills are small in volume, but eating just one ensures that one does not feel hungry for at least a day or two, even without eating anything else. Of course, the effectiveness and nutritional content vary greatly depending on the raw materials and the technology used to make them, but the fasting pills they had purchased were of quite high quality.

"I see. So Monk Ju Ryeong, being the fastest in movement techniques among the Emei disciples, was trying to break through the siege somehow."

"That's right. In fact, I almost succeeded. I never imagined that the guard would become stricter because of me..."

As Un Jeong had expected, the reason there were significantly more Four Evils Alliance warriors than indicated in his information was indeed because of Ju Ryeong. She had been trying to break through the siege and descend the mountain to find food and, furthermore, to seek external help.

"In the end, we were able to break through the siege and climb up here thanks to that, so it's a blessing in disguise."

Un Jeong said so and gave a grin. Although they were called monks, Monk Ju Ryeong and the Emei Sect Leader, Nun Yeong-hwa,  had long hair. The Emei Sect is a Buddhist sect, and they consider themselves monks and nuns and call each other as such. However, unlike the monks of the Shaolin Temple, they do not shave their heads.

In Shaolin, entering the priesthood means leaving the secular world and taking refuge in Buddhism. Therefore, cutting the hair given by one's parents signifies the severance of the ties formed until then. However, the Emei Sect views entering the priesthood as a link to the world. They consider themselves a type of monk and cleric, a connector and medium between ordinary people who serve Buddha and Buddha himself. Therefore, since there is no need to sever ties with the secular world, there is no need to cut their hair either.

"And Sect Leader."

"Yes, please speak."

"If you are willing, I intend to immediately request support from the Martial Alliance. Will you... accept the Martial Alliance's request for reconciliation?"

Un Jeong spoke with a bit of hesitation. He thought that what he was saying might place a burden on her. Currently, the Emei Sect is in a desperate moment of crisis. Rather than the sincerity of the orthodox martial world truly wishing to reconcile with the Sichuan martial world, it could be perceived as a kind of threat: "If you want help, reconcile with us."

Grin—

However, Nun Yeong-hwa showed a smile. That smile was so gentle that one couldn't help but think that Buddha's smile must be like that.

"There is nothing to reconcile or not."

"Pardon...?"

"In the first place, our Emei Sect has never had bad feelings toward the Central Plains martial artists."

"Ah...!"

"I don't know what other sects might think, but we are the same as in the past and now. Of course, it will be the same in the future."

"I see. We have been misunderstanding all this time. I apologize."

"No. It is also our responsibility for not having spoken of such things."

She continued with a grin.

"This sect... originally does not have frequent contact with the outside. In fact, human hearts can only be known when conveyed through words and writing. Our responsibility for not having taught our intentions until now is also great."

"No. I think it's a relief to learn the heart of the Emei Sect even now."

Un Jeong also smiled back. It was because he felt that this matter would also end well.

"Then for now... what we have to do is hold out like this. In any case, the enemies don't seem to intend to strike the Emei Sect while risking enormous damage."

"That's why they must have tried to starve us to death by cutting us off from the outside. Since you two have come, we can sustain our lives for a few more days."

"Now that we clearly know the intention and location of the Emei Sect, we intend to continue going back and forth to procure food."

"You mean you'll break through that siege... and go down and come back again?"

"That's right. When we climbed up this time, we were able to climb the mountain very easily thanks to Monk Ju Ryeong. If the Emei monks help us a little like that, it doesn't seem like it will be such a difficult task."

Nun Yeong-hwa nodded. It was because she understood what Un Jeong was trying to say.

"We... will have to become the bait."

"Yes. I ask this of you."

"No. We should be the ones asking. In the end, bait is just bait; the truly dangerous task is what you two are doing, having to break through the siege and go down and come back up the mountain."

Nun Yeong-hwa stood up. Not a single sound was made even though she moved. Nun Yeong-hwa bowed her waist slightly but clearly toward Un Jeong and presented her hands folded in front. It was a polite fist-and-palm salute. Usually, a warrior who is the leader of a sect rarely shows such a polite salute to a warrior of a much lower generation. Nevertheless, she saluted with all her heart. It meant she felt deep gratitude toward Un Jeong, Un Mi, and the orthodox martial world.

"S-Sect Leader. You don't have to do this."

"No. What I can do for you now is only this kind of formality.... When the Emei Sect returns to normal in the future, I will surely repay you then."

In her eyes, a will that was not visible until a moment ago seemed to be visible again. It was thanks to grasping the thread of hope she had somewhat let go of, due to the appearance of Un Jeong and Un Mi.

"Even the time spent like this is a waste. I'll quickly set a plan and go down the mountain to get food."

"Please do so."

They began to have a serious conversation. It was a simple plan: the Emei monks would lure the Four Evils Alliance warriors, Un Jeong and Un Mi would break through and go down, and then when they created chaos again at the appointed time, they would climb the mountain taking advantage of that chaos. However, to perform this operation, there were many things to coordinate. When they climbed up this time, it was fortunate that Monk Ju Ryeong happened to try to descend the mountain at that exact moment; otherwise, Un Jeong and Un Mi might have had to wait there for a long time.

"Good. Then it would be better to go down as quickly as possible, so let's move immediately."

"I think that would be good too. Since everyone has strength now thanks to having eaten something."

Un Jeong and Nun Yeong-hwa immediately stood up. Their fight was one where they just had to hold out. Now, the mental strength to hold out was sufficiently filled.

* * *

Meanwhile.

Un Cheol and Un Shik, who remained in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, were secretly hiding around a building. They waited until late at night for their target to come out.

Originally, the Wudang Sect does not teach martial arts for hiding one's presence. To be precise, they learn to neatly manage their energy in the process of handling it, but they do not teach completely erasing one's presence like a true assassin. However, currently, Un Cheol and Un Shik are lying flat on their bellies like assassins, hiding in the bushes and observing the surroundings.

'Senior brothers. There are many orthodox warriors who think of ambushes and surprise attacks as cowardly, but I don't think so. If the unorthodox fellows and the Demonic Cult fellows come out like that, we can respond in the same way. It's a luxury to worry about cowardice in this blood-splattered martial world where people kill and die.'

Unhwi's voice seemed to be heard in Un Cheol's ears. Their current stealth technique was taught by Unhwi. He didn't know how Unhwi had mastered stealth techniques, but since he was such an amazing and special child, he decided to just accept it.

Tap—

While concentrating somewhere for a long time, Un Cheol moved only his fingertip to touch Un Shik. As Un Shik flinched and opened his eyes wide, he could see a person coming out of a door quite far away. Focusing internal energy on his eyes and looking there, his face was clearly visible.

'Four Evils Alliance Black Sword Great Leader, Sa Ju-hwang.'

Before leaving for the Qingcheng Sect, Unhwi had handed them a drawing with the faces of several people. It was precisely the list of those they had to assassinate. Un Shik confirmed that the face of the man who just came out of the building was the face on that list. Glancing at Un Cheol, he too seemed to have recognized him at a glance and was staring at him intently.

Black Sword Great Leader Sa Ju-hwang looked left and right as if to check who was around, then began to move his steps. Fortunately, there were no subordinates following him. Un Cheol and Un Shik slowly followed behind him.

'Where is he going?'

He began to run somewhere, wearing light clothing and using movement techniques with light steps. Since he hadn't expected him to run, Un Shik looked at Un Cheol with slightly flustered eyes, but Un Cheol spoke calmly in a very small voice.

"There is no one following him. Let's follow too."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

The two began to follow behind Sa Ju-hwang while hiding their presence as much as possible. Fortunately, Sa Ju-hwang didn't seem to even think that they were pursuing him.

'Where on earth is he going in the middle of the night?'

He went closer and closer to a residential area. It was a good thing that he was moving further away from where the Four Evils Alliance members were gathered, but since they didn't know with what intention he had set out, Un Cheol and Un Shik followed him persistently.

'A private house?'

Meanwhile, Sa Ju-hwang slipped into a private house located a bit apart from other places. Un Cheol and Un Shik moved close to that house. This place could be a secret location of the Four Evils Alliance, or it could be a place where Sa Ju-hwang had a personal acquaintance. The moment they moved close to the house and raised their hearing with internal energy.

"Aaaargh!"

"Be quiet! Even if you scream, there's no one to help you anyway."

"Great Hero, Great Hero! Why are you doing this!"

"Why am I doing this? Didn't you also lose your husband not long ago? You must be lonely, so I'm trying to comfort you."

"Save me! Save me!"

"I told you it's no use even if you scream!"

Thud!

Ending with the sound of a blow, the woman's scream was no longer heard. Judging by the sound heard from inside, it was obvious what had happened. Sa Ju-hwang was trying to rape a widow who had lost her husband. Un Shik looked at Un Cheol while raising his body as if ready to enter immediately. However, he was not in the place where Un Cheol had originally been.

Bang!

He had already moved his body, roughly opened the door, and entered the house. Un Shik also hurriedly used his movement technique to follow behind him.

"W-what. Who are you!"

Sa Ju-hwang was in a state that made one's eyes narrow automatically. He had taken off his pants, which were hanging at his ankles, leaving him in only his underwear, and he was trying to untie the coat strings of the fainted woman.

"I am... a Grim Reaper. A Grim Reaper who has come to punish a fellow like you."

Un Cheol spoke as if growling and then approached him by stepping with his footwork. The startled Sa Ju-hwang tried to block Un Cheol by swinging his arm, but he lost his balance because of the pants caught at his ankles.

Thwack!!

Thanks to that, he was hit hard on the back of the neck by the sword Un Cheol swung while still in its scabbard, and he fainted with his eyes rolling back. Un Cheol slung him over his shoulder indifferently, as if picking up a log.

"Senior Brother. Are you going to take him without finishing him off?"

"No. I will finish him. But if I kill him here, won't it cause harm to that woman?"

"Ah...!"

Un Cheol glanced at the woman and then used the arm not holding Sa Ju-hwang to gently push her body and lay her down properly on the bed.

"Un Shik. Let's go. To dispose of the trash."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

They soon disappeared into the darkness again with Sa Ju-hwang.

(End of Chapter)