novelraw Chapter 37 : Chapter 37
Chapter 37 : Chapter 37
Chapter 37 - Legacy of the Heavenly Demon (3)
“Junior Sister.”
Hye-ran looked at Sword Phoenix with a stern face.
“I have told you time and time again that the completion of the person comes before the completion of the sword. I do not see any change in you at all. If this continues, I have no choice but to speak to the Sect Leader and have the transmission of the Wisdom Light Lotus Flower Sword halted.”
Hearing Hye-ran’s words, the girl frowned and turned towards Hye-ran.
“Senior Sister. My strength is soon Emei’s strength, and at the same time, it will be the Central Plains’ strength, eventually completing the strength of the Murim. No matter how much I think about it, the Dao of the person and the Dao of the sword seem separate. Why do you always discuss the completion of the person?”
“The reason Emei is called by the alias Sword Pavilion and receives the respect of the Jianghu people is that we use that sword for the righteous path. The righteous path comes from a righteous mindset and righteous conduct.”
Hye-ran continued speaking to the girl with a serious expression.
“Do you think Bodhisattva Samantabhadra would be pleased to see your appearance right now, Junior Sister? The image you show to sentient beings is soon the image of Emei. I think you need to be more aware of the responsibility placed on your shoulders.”
“……I am a lay disciple anyway.”
As the girl grumbled while flipping her long hair once, Hye-ran looked at her with a straight face.
“How can you say such a thing when you are receiving personal instruction in Emei’s ultimate technique, the Lotus Flower Sword, despite being a lay disciple? You know that the Lotus Flower Sword is a swordsmanship transmitted only to monks who have entered the mountain order. Even so, if you have received grace from the Sect Leader, isn’t it proper to maintain at least the minimum level of conduct?”
At Hye-ran’s endlessly pouring lecture, the girl sighed as if exhausted and bowed her head slightly towards Jaun.
“……I apologize to the benefactor. My behavior was excessive.”
Jaun, receiving the girl’s apology with a reluctant expression, scratched his head.
“Look. The young hero is also extremely displeased. Please, think one more time before you act. Junior Sister.”
At Hye-ran’s continuing rebuke, the dispirited Sword Phoenix bowed her head deeply and stood by Jaun’s side.
Hye-ran, who had been looking at Sword Phoenix with sharp eyes, smiled again at Jaun.
“I apologize once again. Benefactor. Please ease your anger and let us move again.”
Watching Hye-ran and Sword Phoenix walking ahead, Jaun scratched his head.
‘These people…… I don’t think they are normal. Should I say I’m going separately even now?’
Jaun worried with a complicated mind, but soon shook his head and began to move his steps with the disciples of Emei.
***
“Waa…….”
The disciples of Emei let out exclamations while looking at Jaun coming down the stairs.
The situation was that Jaun had come down after washing his body at an inn they stopped at briefly on the way.
Jaun’s face, which had been covered by messy hair, was properly revealed, and muscles that had been hidden by dirt wriggled between the torn and worn-out clothes.
Sword Phoenix, who was looking at Jaun’s appearance—which was close to a metamorphosis—with blank eyes, opened her mouth.
“……Pass. Since you possess both strength and beauty, you are qualified to be with me.”
Jaun, who had become immune to Sword Phoenix’s nonsense while traveling together, sat down without making any particular reply.
“We ate well and even washed up, so I think we can depart now. If we go just a little further, it is Sichuan.”
Looking at Hye-ran and Hye-seung, who were staring blankly at his body as if they couldn’t hear anything, Jaun sighed inwardly.
‘……Haa.’
“I have things to do, so may we move right now, a little faster?”
Hye-ran, coming to her senses at Jaun’s words spoken with his face thrust right in front of her nose, hurriedly nodded.
“Y-Yes, let us do so, benefactor. There is not much time. Let us move quickly.”
Hye-ran’s cheeks were dyed red.
Shortly after, Jaun and Sword Phoenix’s party came out of the inn and started running toward the Tang Family, picking up speed.
After Jaun came out washed, Hye-ran and Hye-seung only stole glances at Jaun and couldn’t speak to him properly.
‘Well, it’s comfortable and good. Since I’ve already heard everything I need to hear.’
Listening to their story, it turned out that Myeonghwa Sinni, the Sect Leader of Emei, was suffering from a serious illness, so they couldn’t properly respond to the Demonic Cult’s invasion of Sichuan.
‘For now, Emei seems to value the righteous path they believe in more than the Murim Alliance’s instructions, and since they have significant hostility toward the Demonic Cult, I could utilize them later if push comes to shove.’
Jaun, running using light footwork, looked back at Sword Phoenix’s party.
‘Maybe because they lived confined in the mountains, their personalities are a bit strange, but……. Their martial arts level is significant. Hye-seung and Hye-ran are both at the First-Rate level. On top of that, that kid Sword Phoenix seems like she will reach the edge of the First-Rate level soon. They will definitely be helpful.’
Every time Jaun’s gaze grazed them, the nuns’ faces flushed red.
‘……Let’s think about it later.’
Seeing that, Jaun let out a sigh and increased his speed.
***
As they got closer to the Sichuan Tang Family, Jaun’s eyes grew wider.
It was because martial artists of all kinds were gathered around the quiet Tang Family manor.
‘It seems the Murim Alliance’s request for support carries quite a bit of power.’
Looking around at the martial artists filling the surroundings, Jaun and Sword Phoenix’s party entered the Tang Family manor.
“You’ve returned.”
As soon as they entered the inner manor, Yeon Seung-il waving his hand came into view.
“I have returned. Squad Leader. Is your body holding up okay?”
“Yeah. Did you get what you wanted too?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Seung-il nodded as if pleased with Jaun’s hardened appearance.
“In that short time…… you became much more manly?”
“Because I am gradually getting used to life in the Jianghu now.”
“Very good. If you go through a big battle, you grow mentally in no time. Make those continuously accumulating experiences your own. If you do that, at some moment without realizing it, you will have become a much bigger person.”
Yeon Seung-il, who smiled at Jaun, turned his gaze to Sword Phoenix’s party.
“Squad Leader Yeon.”
Sword Phoenix greeted him politely.
“Oh, isn’t this Sword Phoenix. I heard the news about the Abbess late. They say she is better now?”
“Yes. She has improved a lot. I think there will be no major problems for the time being.”
“Good. The squad members are waiting for you, Sword Phoenix, with their eyes popping out. Go quickly and soothe them.”
“Soothe them? I did not raise my brats to be that weak. Everyone would have been enduring well on their own.”
At Sword Phoenix’s words, Yeon Seung-il nodded with a reluctant expression.
“Uh…… Sure. I bet they are. It was nice meeting you. Go on.”
“Yes!”
Sword Phoenix, who answered energetically, turned her body toward Jaun. Gazing at Jaun for a moment, Sword Phoenix slowly approached Jaun, tapped his buttocks, and grinned.
“Strong man. Let’s meet on the battlefield.”
Before Jaun could answer anything, the nuns, whose faces had turned red, and Sword Phoenix started running to the opposite side.
‘……That nutjob.’
Yeon Seung-il laughed heartily watching Jaun sigh deeply.
“Seems you formed a connection with Sword Phoenix. It’s a good thing. That child is a bit peculiar, but her skill is certain.”
‘I think she is more than just a bit peculiar.’
Jaun shook his head from side to side.
“Now, now. Let’s move too. The situation is unusual.”
As Yeon Seung-il took the lead and moved his body into the inner court, Jaun followed behind.
***
“The Tang Family blocked the Demonic Cult’s occupation of Sichuan…….”
“Yes, Strategist. The Red Blood Squad was annihilated. As for the Black Blood Squad, it is said that only the Squad Leader and a few search personnel survived.”
Jegal Mu-ui, who was tapping the table with his finger, raised his head.
“You mean in that process, all of the Tang Family’s mechanisms were lost and they even used the Ten Thousand Flowers Filling the Sky?”
“That is correct.”
Jegal Mu-ui slowly rose from his seat.
“Since the artisans of the Tang Family Village suffered damage, the supply of hidden weapons won’t be easy for the time being, so we definitely drained the Tang Family’s strength, but……. It is completely different from my prediction. The Tang Family shouldn’t have been able to block the Demonic Cult either. Tsk. Like this, creating a sense of fear about the Demonic Cult will be a bit slow.”
Jegal Mu-ui, who had been deep in thought with a frown for a long time, gave instructions to the man standing in attendance in front of him.
“Since the situation has changed, let’s do this. For now, abandon the Guizhou region and recover Gansu. The plan to concentrate power in the Murim Alliance by creating a sense of fear regarding the Demonic Cult is on hold. Instead, let’s go with a picture where the Murim Alliance steps forward to the front lines to retake Gansu.”
Jegal Mu-ui, who fell into deep thought after speaking, soon nodded.
“Right. In the current situation, that is advantageous. Pushing the Anti-Demon Squad to the front, we will proceed with total war.”
“I will obey your command.”
Jegal Mu-ui, looking at the man bowing deeply, opened his mouth again.
“To stage a situation where we overwhelmingly retake the Gansu region, I think we need some Super Peak Masters just in case. Are there any among the Elders who volunteered?”
“Actually, Elder Tak requested to be dispatched to Sichuan.”
“Ho-oh. Elder Tak of Diancang?”
Jegal Mu-ui’s eyes widened.
“The old man who rarely moves his body has risen for some reason. Is it because of that child named Jaun? Hmm…….”
Jegal Mu-ui, who was tapping the fan in his hand, spread the fan open with a snap.
“Good. Just in time, Shaolin’s elites should also be in the Gansu region for other matters. That amount of reinforcement should be enough. Proceed as such.”
“Your orders shall be executed.”
The man slowly walked backward and exited the Strategist Office.
“The plan is going awry little by little. And coincidentally, that child Han Jaun is always involved where the plan goes awry.”
Jegal Mu-ui, tapping the Gansu region on the map where the Central Plains were drawn, muttered as he returned to the table.
“Whether it is coincidence or inevitability…… will probably be decided this time.”
Jegal Mu-ui frowned slightly and slumped into his chair.
***
“Rookie! No, our pretty youngest!”
Baek-myo approached Jaun and patted his shoulder.
“This big sister felt it exactly when you jumped into the middle of two hundred Demonic Cultists. ‘Ah, this guy is qualified to be our squad member!’, ‘He is a proper member of the Anti-Demon Squad!’ like that.”
“Baek-myo. There is no time.”
Looking at Yeon Seung-il who cut her off, Baek-myo stuck out her tongue.
The group gathered in front of Yeon Seung-il looked at the table together.
“Right here, bordering Sichuan. The Demonic Cultists are gathered in the south of Gansu. Since the Kongtong Sect of Gansu has been completely disintegrated by the Demonic Cult’s attack, we cannot expect support.”
Yeon Seung-il pointed to the Gansu region with his finger.
“First off, we take the vanguard in the Gansu region. The main unit including the combat squads will depart in three days, and we are scheduled to depart right away tomorrow. Everyone get ready and assemble here tomorrow morning.”
At Yeon Seung-il’s words, the group all nodded.
“According to what is known, two combat squads directly under the Mad Demon are in the Gansu region. However, just as we reinforced our personnel, they will also have significant reinforcements. It will be a large-scale battle, and it is obvious it won’t end easily. So everyone, steel your hearts.”
Baek-myo, surprised by the scale that had become larger than expected, gulped down dry saliva.
“At this rate…… isn’t it almost the level of the Great War between Good and Evil?”
“Superficially, since there hasn’t been a clash of personnel at the Elder level or higher, it will be classified as localized warfare, but…… it is certain that it is practically a battle staking the pride of the Demonic Cult and the Murim Alliance.”
Yeon Seung-il explained that the gathering of both sides’ forces in the Gansu region was also part of that.
“Especially since this invasion by the Demonic Cult showed aspects of all-out war different from before, the possibility of this leading to the Great War between Good and Evil is not low.”
Listening to Yeon Seung-il’s words, Hyeon-dam’s face darkened.
“Innocent blood will flow again.”
“Preventing that as much as possible is what we must do.”
“Amitabha.”
The two looked at each other with hardened expressions.
“A situation where we strike up to Gansu first. Our role as the vanguard is the most important. The Reconnaissance Squad must make accurate positioning and quick judgments. Everyone, stay sharp.”
At those words, the group nodded simultaneously.