novelraw Chapter 108 : Chapter 108
Chapter 108 : Chapter 108
Chapter 108 Secret Scheme (1)
‘Whew.’
Jaun, who had run for a full day using lightfoot arts, looked up at the gates of Ak-yang with a weary look.
As usual, the area in front of the Ak-yang city gates was bustling.
Brushing off his dust-covered long robe, Jaun took out a piece of black cloth.
‘There is no need to cause a commotion unnecessarily.’
Jaun, who meticulously covered his face with the black cloth except for his eyes, headed toward the gates of Ak-yang.
Ak-yang, which he returned to after two months, had not changed much.
Passing through the gates and quickly moving through the noisy marketplace, Jaun moved his steps toward the Outer Court of the Sado Alliance while organizing his complicated thoughts.
Since he had not received a separate reply to his letter, there were many things he was curious about.
Whether they had discovered other grottoes or altars, whether all the discovered traces of the Blood Cult had been handled well, and how many martial artists remained within the Sado Alliance and how many of them could be provided as support.
He had to create an appropriate response plan depending on the situation.
Everything was opaque, but one thing was certain: the later the response, the stronger the power of the Blood Cult would become.
After passing through the Outer Court, Jaun stepped directly into the Inner Court.
Passing through the garden where elegance and splendor coexisted, the Crystal Path appeared before Jaun’s eyes.
‘It’s been a long time.’
It had already been several months since he first passed the Crystal Path with Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong.
The Crystal Path he faced again felt slightly different from that time.
Taking a deep breath, Jaun placed his foot on the Crystal Path.
Before Jaun could even take ten steps after getting onto the Crystal Path, rough energies from all directions began to swarm toward him.
However, Jaun had no intention of wasting time in a place like this.
Feeling the swarming energy, Jaun threw off the black cloth he had wrapped around his mouth.
“Eh?”
“Tha-that person is?”
“It’s Heartless Soul Stealer!”
“Gasp! It really is! Heartless Soul Stealer has returned!”
The martial artists who identified Jaun hurriedly withdrew their momentum.
Amidst the heated gazes of the martial artists who gathered in an instant, Jaun walked forward without hesitation.
As Jaun walked past them, some of the martial artists bowed their waists toward him.
Some even knelt on one knee to show their respect to Jaun.
Jaun, who had already sufficiently proven his martial prowess through the Life-and-Death Tournament, was being recognized as one of the legitimate martial artists belonging to the Alliance Leader’s Palace.
Breaking through the Sado Alliance martial artists who each showed their respect, Jaun quickly ran across the Crystal Path and reached the Alliance Leader’s Palace.
“Enter.”
Along with the Alliance Leader’s voice, the door to the room opened on its own.
Jaun stepped inside the Alliance Leader’s room.
The Alliance Leader, who was sitting at a small table reading something intently, looked at Jaun while rubbing her eyes as if fatigued.
Staring blankly at Jaun, the Alliance Leader stood up from the table.
The Alliance Leader, who looked here and there at Jaun, who was catching his breath with a weary face covered in thick dust, clicked her tongue.
“Your heart is in a hurry.”
At the Alliance Leader’s words, Jaun nodded.
“At times like this, one should slowly observe the surroundings and go around. A fellow named haste is not very friendly with a fellow named precision.”
The Alliance Leader, who was looking here and there at the letters sorted on the table, picked up a handful of letters gathered in one corner.
“I gathered them because I thought you would look for them anyway.”
The Alliance Leader walked toward Jaun with steady thuds and thrust the letters toward him.
Jaun, who received the letters, began to scan them quickly.
‘As Miss Muhyang said, there was also a grotto in the north of Hunan Province. Fortunately, it seems only a few first-rate martial artists visited the grotto over there.’
As he read through the letters, Jaun raised his head and looked at the Alliance Leader.
The Alliance Leader was responding more actively than he had expected.
They had already found and destroyed two altars, and the grotto in the north was already being managed by the Sado Alliance.
The fact that other places except for Hunan Province were a bit slow was a slight flaw, but if they responded actively as they were now, it seemed good results could soon come from other regions as well.
‘At this level, the worst-case scenario where the Sado Alliance collapses helplessly will not happen.’
Jaun, who was quickly scanning the remaining letters, stopped his hand at the last letter.
After carefully re-reading the last letter, Jaun spoke.
“There is a possibility that two Pavilion Lord-level martial artists of the Demonic Cult and one combat squad will be dispatched to the grotto on the south side of the Gold Clothes Sect. Is this…… true?”
“Based on our predictions, yes. It is not certain yet since we haven't obtained proper information, but if they find out that the Tyrant Blade Pavilion Lord is dead, they will have no choice but to move that way.”
The Alliance Leader walked to the map hanging on one wall.
Tapping the red dots marked on the map, the Alliance Leader began to draw the movement path with her finger.
“This is as much as we have grasped. Besides this, there might be another infiltration squad that we do not know about. After all, the movement of the Tyrant Blade Pavilion Lord was also caught in our information network belatedly.”
The Alliance Leader, who was frowning while looking at the map, let out a small sigh.
“Things have become a bit complicated because the Tyrant Blade Pavilion Lord happened to be passing near that area. The Demonic Cult wouldn't care much about a few first-rate martial artists disappearing…… but they wouldn't be able to just overlook the death of the Tyrant Blade Pavilion Lord.”
The Alliance Leader tapped the left and right sides of the south of Hunan Province.
“The left and right sides of Hunan Province. We intend to increase the personnel to guard those parts, but it is beyond our capacity to block even the Demonic Cult members coming up from the south. As they have done until now, the Demonic Cult fellows will once again infiltrate through the south, namely Guangdong Province.”
Jaun examined the map intently.
Guangdong Province and Guangxi Province in the south of Hunan Province, combined with Guizhou and Yunnan regions located to their left and right, were commonly called Nanman.
The Nanman region was a place that was hardly developed as it was filled with dense forests and a tropical climate.
Inside the dense forests, poisonous creatures and insects swarmed all year round, and even unknown endemic diseases were so prevalent that no one even tried to go near, so it was a place that was difficult to say was under the management of the Jianghu.
Although sects commonly referred to as outer powers existed, such as the Nanman Wild Beast Palace and the Ten Thousand Poison Sect, they were basically places that lived independent lives without entrusting themselves to giant powers like the Murim Alliance or the Sado Alliance, so it was not easy to ask for help.
Therefore, it was a place where surveillance had to be lax, and the majority of Demonic Cult spies used this situation to infiltrate the Sado Alliance through Nanman.
Jaun, who was lost in thought for a moment, spoke.
“For now, it would be good for us to concentrate our strength in the south of Hunan Province. If they enter the Sado Alliance's jurisdiction through Nanman as we expect, a justification will also be created…… so catching them then would be the best.”
The Alliance Leader stared blankly at Jaun.
“……Do you intend to go yourself?”
“Yes. Since it is a matter related to the Demonic Cult, I will handle it personally.”
“It might be dangerous. This infiltration is different from before.”
“Even if it’s dangerous, if I don't move now, it will eventually only bring about an even more dangerous situation.”
The Alliance Leader let out a small sigh.
“When estimating the Demonic Cult's response, I think it would be better to have as much additional support from the Sado Alliance as possible. Mad Dragon overexerted himself a bit this time.”
The Alliance Leader, who turned her body back, stared blankly at the map.
“Fine. If that is your thought, I will additionally dispatch three Elder-level martial artists and the Man-wol Squad, which is one of the main combat squads of the Sado Alliance. Since Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong and that fellow Mad Dragon are also there, that much should not be insufficient.”
“Thank you.”
Jaun bowed deeply toward the Alliance Leader.
‘At this level, it’s not insufficient.’
Three Elder-level martial artists of the Sado Alliance, the Man-wol Squad, plus Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong and Mad Dragon, were a force sufficient to block the Demonic Cult’s raid.
When Jaun’s face brightened, the Alliance Leader stared blankly at Jaun.
“Since there is something I promised, I should also keep that promise.”
“Thank you.”
When Jaun expressed his gratitude once more, the Alliance Leader nodded.
“Good. Since we also need time to prepare, I will send the support personnel to the grotto tomorrow. So, move with the support troops then, and how about resting in Ak-yang for today?”
At the Alliance Leader’s proposal, Jaun was lost in thought for a moment.
Since he moved to the Sado Alliance right after standing as the protector for Mad Dragon, fatigue was accumulated in his body.
In any case, it would take some time for the Demonic Cult to move after hearing the news about the Tyrant Blade Pavilion Lord.
Jaun, who decided to take a day’s rest, nodded.
“I’ll do that.”
“Right. Then I will contact you separately tomorrow morning. Rest in a comfortable place. If by any chance you have no place to rest, my room is always open, so don't be concerned.”
When the Alliance Leader raised her head and blinked one eye, Jaun gave an embarrassed smile.
“It’s fine. I’ll rest nearby and be out at the Ak-yang city gate tomorrow morning.”
Jaun, who bowed deeply toward the Alliance Leader, turned his body and moved outside.
The Alliance Leader, who watched Jaun’s retreating back for a long time, tapped her head.
After a bit of time passed, an old man wearing an eye patch suddenly appeared next to the Alliance Leader.
“Did the news leak well?”
“Yes. Alliance Leader. One fellow from the infiltration squad took the bait. Probably within two or three days, those Demonic Cult fellows will run to the grotto with fire in their eyes.”
The Sado Alliance Leader stretched her stiff waist and tapped it.
“Those Demonic Cult fellows should send some decent kids though.”
“Since I adapted the story to be a bit provocative, they won't be able to endure without coming.”
“Right. There must be no mistake. We must eliminate them without leaving evidence while they are in our hands.”
“If necessary, I will have the Man-wol Squad and the Grand Elder move.”
“Tsk. Tell them to do whatever they want about that. I’ll pretend I didn't hear it.”
“I understand.”
One-eyed Pursuing Old Man, who performed a deep fist-palm salute, disappeared from the Alliance Leader’s Palace as if evaporating.
***
“Young Master Jaun!”
Ice Rakshasa Pan Bing-yeong waved her hand while looking at Jaun, who arrived in front of the grotto with the Man-wol Squad.
Mad Dragon, who was sitting in a corner of the grotto creating a whirlwind from his hand, also gave a wide smile while looking at Jaun entering the grotto.
“Did things go well?”
“Yes. Thanks to the Alliance Leader’s active help, the talk ended quickly.”
“Really? Hmm.”
Mad Dragon tilted his head once and turned his eyes behind Jaun.
“Is this all for the support troops?”
“No. Three Elders decided to come as additional support. I heard they are moving separately because they have a place to stop by in the middle.”
“Well. I’m sufficient for most fellows on my own, so don't worry. Since I’ve recovered my energy to some extent, there won't be a big problem.”
Mad Dragon, who stood up and rotated his shoulders round and round, grinned while looking at Jaun.
The Man-wol Squad members, who only then discovered Mad Dragon walking slowly toward Jaun, flinched in surprise and quickly formed ranks.
“We behold the honorable countenance of Mad Dragon, the guardian dragon of the Sado Alliance.”
All members of the Man-wol Squad, who were lined up outside the grotto, prostrated themselves on the spot and touched their heads to the ground.
Mad Dragon, who glanced at the Man-wol Squad members, moved his steps with steady thuds toward the outside of the grotto.
“Where did the Squad Leader fellow go?”
“He is currently moving separately with the Elders!”
“Tsk tsk. To think a Squad Leader fellow is moving while leaving the members behind. Anyway, he has no basics, no basics.”
Mad Dragon, who walked out of the grotto, scanned the Man-wol Squad members.
“You guys should be enough to loosen up with. Since I’ve been rotting here for a long while, it’s quite boring; how about playing with me for a bit?”
the martial artist who appeared to be the most senior jumped up from his spot and bowed his waist deeply.
“I-if you give us such an opportunity, we will also do our best……!”
“No, no. If you do your best, it’ll be too tiring for each other, so let’s play enough to just sweat lightly. Everyone get up and form ranks.”
At Mad Dragon’s words, the Man-wol Squad members got up in an instant and created a square formation.
Watching that scene, Mad Dragon turned his head and looked at Jaun.
“Watch closely. If you’re going to join forces with these fellows in the future, you have to know roughly how they move.”
As Mad Dragon drew his saber, tension began to fill the eyes of the Man-wol Squad members.