Chapter 446 – Avici Hell Opens (3)

The Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple were in extreme tension.

Before they could even dispatch forces, one of the Five Great Families, the Zhuge Family, suffered extinction, and Wudang Sect also suffered great damage, unable to support the Martial Alliance.

Ultimately, the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple had to block the Demon Cult's invasion with their forces alone. The consolation was that many martial artists from across the land had already entered the Martial Alliance to stop the Demon Cult.

Excluding sects and people too distant to help, over half the martial world's forces were inside the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple. The martial artists who entered the Alliance thought such forces could sufficiently compete with the Demon Cult.

In the Martial Alliance Leader's hall, Alliance Leader Nam Cheon-san and the martial world's supreme martial artists gathered. Dissatisfaction filled their faces. Like a volcano about to erupt, the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Gwang-cheon sitting at the head seat closed his eyes tightly.

Having served as Shaolin Temple's abbot for decades, though a monk cultivating Buddhism, he'd never abandoned a martial artist's life either, so he well understood what the current atmosphere meant.

Gwang-cheon slightly opened his eyes to look at Nam Cheon-san. If anyone suffered most torment right now, it would be Nam Cheon-san. As expected, Nam Cheon-san couldn't hide his bewildered expression.

The first to speak was Ju Yeon-rok, sect leader of Azure Void Sect.

"Alliance Leader, how will you take responsibility?"

"Calm yourself, Sect Leader Ju."

"How can I calm down? Alliance Leader. The suicide squad was annihilated. The martial world's greatest prodigies were all slaughtered in this mission. A catastrophe. Due to this incident, the martial world will endure thirty years of dark ages."

"That's right. Those in the suicide squad were core talents of each sect. It's no different from cutting off the current martial world's waist."

"What exactly did the previous generation suicide squad do? Didn't they say they'd protect the young prodigies? Just what…"

"It was a flawed mission from the start. A suicide squad… To think such outdated thinking would still work."

Though Nam Cheon-san tried to calm them down, he couldn't suppress the heroes' anger. Condemnation poured out like an erupting volcano.

Especially great was the fury of sects that lost prodigies included in the suicide squad. They attacked Nam Cheon-san as if facing mortal enemies.

Nam Cheon-san's face crumpled as if chewing bitter herbs. Though he'd indeed pushed for the suicide squad, the prodigies entered by their own will. So bearing all responsibility felt unjust. But with so many glaring at him murderously, he could only endure.

"What about the previous generation suicide squad? Surely they didn't just return alive alone?"

"Right! We sent prodigies trusting them, so shouldn't they take responsibility for this situation?"

People now raised even the previous generation suicide squad while demanding accountability.

Nam Cheon-san could only show a frustrated expression, unable to give a clear answer. Actually, the most frustrated person was him.

The one who proposed organizing the suicide squad was the previous generation's absolute master, Heavenly Sword King Jeok Gyeong-cheon. Because he and other previous generation martial artists would join, Nam Cheon-san could also push it forward. But as soon as the suicide squad's mission failed, Jeok Gyeong-cheon suddenly disappeared.

Though many searched for Jeok Gyeong-cheon's whereabouts, no good news arrived yet.

'Damn it!'

Nam Cheon-san bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

He had much to say. He wanted to say even he was deceived by Jeok Gyeong-cheon. But they wouldn't simply accept such excuses.

The enraged heroes needed someone to hold responsible for this situation. Nam Cheon-san was that sacrifice.

'Where exactly did Senior Jeok go? Surely he didn't hide to push all responsibility onto me?'

Ominous premonition arose, but Nam Cheon-san tried not to show it.

"The suicide squad's raid rather provoked the Demon Cult. That's why they're coming up for revenge."

"That's right. The suicide squad's rash attack brought disaster."

The atmosphere inside was flowing toward the worst.

Now people blamed the suicide squad for recklessly provoking the Demon Cult. Confusion and fear filled their faces.

Even at this moment, the Demon Cult was drawing closer. Having annihilated the Zhuge Family and crossed into Henan Province, reaching here would be instant. The fact they must directly fight that terrifying Demon Cult paralyzed their reason.

The hall instantly became chaos.

Voices denouncing Nam Cheon-san and voices saying they must find reason and establish countermeasures mixed, evoking a marketplace.

Not one martial artist here wasn't a supreme master of the martial world, and not one didn't bear responsibility for a sect. People everyone revered outside. But nowhere in their appearance could be found the demeanor of great heroes truly caring for the martial world.

With eyes closed, their voices came even more clearly. The clearer their voices, the more Gwang-cheon felt his inner demons strengthening.

'Amitabha! Amitabha!'

However fierce the waves, eventually they would calm with time. Though emotions were aroused now raising voices like that, eventually the heroes would find reason. Right now, whatever he said, the heroes wouldn't listen.

As Gwang-cheon thought, after some time passed, the heroes raising voices gradually found reason. And someone appeared seeking Gwang-cheon's opinion.

"What does Great Master Gwang-cheon think we should do?"

Shaolin Temple was called the martial world's leader. And Gwang-cheon was Shaolin Temple's abbot. Naturally the questioning tone and attitude were respectful.

Only then did Gwang-cheon think the atmosphere had ripened for dialogue.

"Amitabha! Your anger is perfectly natural. This temple is also burning with anxiety not knowing So Cheon's whereabouts. However, rather than holding the Alliance Leader accountable right now, establishing countermeasures is urgent. As everyone knows, the Demon Cult has reached our doorstep. In this situation, dismissing the Alliance Leader and selecting a new one would likely bring internal strife."

"Then does Great Master think Great Hero Nam should continue maintaining the Alliance Leader position? Then who takes responsibility for this situation reaching this point?"

"Responsibility can be demanded later. Isn't surviving the priority?"

"Mmm!"

Gwang-cheon spoke of survival.

Instantly the hall quieted.

Coming from Shaolin Temple's abbot, the weight differed, making the sense of crisis also greatly felt.

With heavenly Shaolin Temple speaking of survival, no other sect dared object. Currently, the only ones somewhat avoiding the Demon Cult's storm were sects on the Central Plains' outskirts like Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect; the rest inevitably would be affected by this clash.

Meaning the moment Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance collapsed, their sects and territories also fell under the Demon Cult's influence. Then their fate was obvious.

"Huu!"

"Mmm!"

Sighs flowed from everywhere.

"Amitabha! Now is the time to unite strength behind the Alliance Leader. This monk thinks so."

At Gwang-cheon's words, the heroes only watched each other.

They too had no better solution, knowing Gwang-cheon's words were right. But passing it over like this didn't save face.

Then it happened.

Thud!

Suddenly Nam Cheon-san let down his hair and knelt.

"This Nam apologizes before all heroes. I admit recklessly involving previous generation seniors brought tremendous damage to the Martial Alliance. I know even death cannot repay this sin. However, if I may ask one thing, please give me opportunity to fight at the very front. I wish to atone even slightly by fighting at the forefront with a soldier's heart. Please postpone throwing stones at me until after overcoming the martial world's crisis. I will gladly accept without avoiding."

Nam Cheon-san's impassioned voice and eyes gradually moved the heroes' hearts.

Anyway, there was no alternative. The heroes' hearts gradually moved toward keeping Nam Cheon-san's Alliance Leader position.

Watching this, Gwang-cheon quietly exhaled. He thought they'd at least avoided the worst situation.

He too didn't trust Nam Cheon-san, but in the current situation, carelessly replacing the Alliance Leader was too dangerous.

Then it happened.

"B-big trouble!"

Suddenly the door burst open and a monk with deathly pale face rushed into the hall. Shaolin Temple's second disciple.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, Gwang-cheon jumped up asking.

"What happened?"

"The, the Demon Cult."

"What?"

"The Demon Cult appeared a hundred li outside Mount Song."

"Is that true?"

"News from the Beggar's Sect."

"Mmm!"

At the mention of Beggar's Sect intelligence, Gwang-cheon involuntarily groaned.

Along with Hao Sect, the most reliable information network was precisely the Beggar's Sect. If they said so, it must be true.

The atmosphere that seemed to regain peace rapidly chilled. The threat that felt distant approached as reality.

No longer time to fight over responsibility. Before crisis, they must unite.

Gwang-cheon hurriedly raised Nam Cheon-san.

"Alliance Leader, please rise."

"Great Master!"

"Apology is offset by merit. The martial world needs the Alliance Leader's leadership."

"Thank you. This Nam pledges his life to repel the Demon Cult."

Nam Cheon-san clasped fists to Gwang-cheon bowing his head.

'The Demon Cult extends my lifespan.'

While feeling relief, it was also pathetic.

When he first became Martial Alliance Leader, he was full of spirit. He had conviction to repel the Demon Cult's threat and protect Central Plains' peace. But while sparring politically with Military Advisor Namgung Chang focusing on expanding his influence, he'd somehow become worldly.

The young martial artist full of spirit was worn and worn by worldly winds becoming a cunning martial artist, ultimately reduced to desperately protecting his position.

Though knowing this fact, Nam Cheon-san couldn't help clinging to the Alliance Leader position. Because right now all he had left was just the prestigious title of Alliance Leader.

Nam Cheon-san knew that without even that, he was nothing.

***

Sang Han-cheon indifferently gazed at the massive mountain visible far away.

One of Central Plains' Five Sacred Mountains, the Central Peak, namely Mount Song. On Mount Song coexisted Shaolin Temple, the martial world's leader, and the Martial Alliance.

Setting aside the Martial Alliance living off others having lost their Yueyang base, just the fact Shaolin Temple existed made Mount Song look great.

"Finally arrived here?"

For Central Plains martial artists, Mount Song was a place to visit anytime. Anyone could come if they wished, freely entering Shaolin Temple through open gates.

But those gates free to everyone were uniquely closed tight only to the Cult.

Buddhist Shaolin negated the Cult.

They defined the deity they believed in, Bright Venerable, as false.

That the Demon Cult became recognized in people's minds as a heretical cult was greatly influenced by Shaolin Temple's hostile attitude.

This place easily visited by others was too distant and harsh for Cult members. So it took too long.

Perhaps because decades were needed to stand at this place, even cold Sang Han-cheon's face was slightly flushed red.

"Once Shaolin Temple collapses, Central Plains will lose its center and fall into internal strife."

The Martial Alliance might have greater power. Actually, the Martial Alliance gathering Central Plains' numerous sects and figures far surpassed Shaolin Temple in forces. But Sang Han-cheon rather thought Shaolin Temple a more threatening existence.

Then it happened.

"Military Advisor."

With a familiar voice, an old man suddenly appeared before him. Recognizing the old man, Sang Han-cheon bowed.

"You've arrived? Thank you for your hard work."

Not many received such respectful greetings from Sang Han-cheon.

The old man's name was Wi Gang-hwi.

Director of the Cult Protection Division and an absolute master called Phantom Demon Emperor. He qualified to receive Sang Han-cheon's greeting.

Behind Wi Gang-hwi appeared dozens of old men. Those each emanating extraordinary presence were precisely Cult Protection Division martial artists.

Having received Sang Han-cheon's orders, they were returning after devastating Wudang Sect. Some were wounded, some died unable to come together. But their faces held more exhilaration at having Shaolin Temple before them than loss.

They too anticipated coming to Shaolin Temple as much as Sang Han-cheon.

Wi Gang-hwi spoke representing them.

"Shaolin Temple is our portion. We absolutely cannot yield that. You focus on the Martial Alliance."

"I understand."

"Just give the order. We're ready to attack Shaolin Temple anytime."

Wi Gang-hwi's shoulders kept twitching as if unable to contain excitement. The same for other Cult Protection Division martial artists.

Though everyone feared Shaolin Temple, they rather felt fighting spirit. Because they believed collapsing Shaolin Temple would achieve a Cult world.

Knowing their hearts, Sang Han-cheon smiled faintly.

"When battle begins, you'll stand at the very front."

"Then what are we hesitating for? Hurry and give orders."

"Everyone is tired from the long journey. Now is time to rest and gather strength."

"Mmm!"

"However, I won't make you wait long."

The smile at Sang Han-cheon's lips deepened.

He looked up at the sky.

To drop lightning, the sky must gather power for quite a while. But such condensed power destroys everything.

This war would also be so.

Sang Han-cheon smelled the thick blood scent carried on the blowing wind.

'After this wind passes, a new era's wind will blow.'

The Emei Sect female monks were amazed.

They had known that Baek-won was a spiritual creature, but without Jin Ja-gang, they would never have realized she could distinguish poisons.

“We’ve got a lead. I’ll immediately assign someone to you.”

Abbess In-eun was about to assign a young female monk who hadn’t been poisoned as a guide for Jin Ja-gang.

But suddenly Baek-won bared her teeth and screamed.

“Kkeek! Kkeek!”

The female monk hesitated and couldn’t approach.

Abbess In-eun glared at Baek-won.

“Baek-won! What are you doing!”

Baek-won seemed slightly dejected by Abbess In-eun’s scolding, but she continued showing her teeth to prevent the female monk from approaching. She looked as if she was protecting Jin Ja-gang.

“It’s fine. Baek-won will guide me, so it’ll be alright.”

“Is there nothing else you need?”

“It’s fine.”

Jin Ja-gang bowed in greeting and immediately left the Iron Tile Hall.

Yeong-gwi, who had been waiting, welcomed Jin Ja-gang.

“Kkeek!”

Baek-won shrieked again.

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t hold back his anger.

“Can’t you stop that!”

Then Baek-won looked at Jin Ja-gang resentfully, stomping the ground with her feet. Then she turned her back and looked elsewhere. Even when Jin Ja-gang called, she had no intention of moving.

Baek-won continued looking elsewhere, pouting her lips.

“Kkeuk, kkeuk.”

She seemed to be feeling sorry for herself somehow.

If Baek-won wouldn’t help, the clue to this matter would be lost.

Yeong-gwi shook his head.

“Just leave her be. I’ll follow at a distance.”

When Yeong-gwi backed away from Jin Ja-gang, Baek-won glanced around cautiously, then ran to Jin Ja-gang. She climbed onto his shoulder and waved her front paws while making “kkeek kkeek” sounds.

When the flustered Jin Ja-gang tried to remove Baek-won, Yeong-gwi smiled awkwardly.

“The madam warned you to be careful of Emei Sect’s female monks…”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Yeong-gwi as if asking what she meant.

Yeong-gwi gestured toward Baek-won with his eyes.

“She’s female.”

Gasp.

“Kkeak kkeak!”

Baek-won was cheering without knowing anything.

***

Jin Ja-gang descended the mountain following where Baek-won pointed.

But partway down, Baek-won pointed to a path that turned sideways. When Jin Ja-gang asked why she was pointing in that direction, she seemed frustrated and instead climbed trees and advanced ahead herself.

Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi had no choice but to follow Baek-won.

A spectacle was unfolding of dozens of monkeys following Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi from above in the trees.

Baek-won’s movements were almost like those of a martial arts master in human terms. The other monkeys couldn’t keep up and gradually fell further behind. If Jin Ja-gang hadn’t learned lightness skills, he would have faced considerable difficulty.

The place where Baek-won led Jin Ja-gang after a long while was a small temple.

The plaque read “Soun-am.”

This was the place Abbess In-eun had mentioned.

“Why did she bring us here?”

Jin Ja-gang asked, but Baek-won just looked at him expectantly with bright eyes, as if wanting praise for doing well.

“Let’s look around first.”

Yeong-gwi checked the surroundings, but there were only corpses everywhere. The buildings were intact, but all the people had been brutally crushed to death. They were killed not by poison but by martial arts.

Even though Yeong-gwi had seen many gruesome sights, looking at these decomposing corpses wasn’t easy.

Yeong-gwi muttered.

“This goes beyond horrible to bold. To commit slaughter on Mount Emei. They deliberately implemented complete annihilation.”

Yeong-gwi covered her nose and mouth with cloth and continued examining the corpses. The bodies of monks were everywhere, and the stench of blood filled the air. Due to the hot weather and long abandonment, flies were buzzing around.

Baek-won shook her head while watching Yeong-gwi turn over corpses and search even the ground where bodies had been.

But Yeong-gwi didn’t stop.

“This is strange…”

“Why is that?”

After examining the corpses for a while, Yeong-gwi answered.

“There aren’t even twenty dead. Since this isn’t a large temple, the complete massacre wouldn’t have taken even an hour.”

Jin Ja-gang nodded.

After thinking, Yeong-gwi said.

“If the one who did this was a considerable master, they could have finished the annihilation before Emei Sect noticed. But would it have been possible to come up here without being detected by anyone?”

Emei Sect already knew Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi were coming. If an unidentified outsider had visited, they would certainly have investigated. No matter how skilled this master was, even pretending to be a simple temple visitor wouldn’t have fooled Emei Sect’s eyes.

After thinking briefly, Jin Ja-gang said.

“There were two opportunities. When the rebellion occurred in Emei Sect. And right after Abbess In-eun suppressed the rebellion and left her post to help us.”

“That’s what’s strange.”

Yeong-gwi showed part of a corpse.

Rotted flesh was covered with fly eggs and maggots like sesame seeds. It was a disgusting sight, but neither man cared.

“When you raise poisonous insects, you see many bugs.”

Yeong-gwi said.

“When an animal dies, ants come first. Then flies. But flies don’t lay eggs on fresh meat, so they wait for it to spoil and decompose before laying eggs. That time is usually two or three days after mating. The eggs hatch within a day and spend about seven days as larvae before becoming pupae.”

Jin Ja-gang realized what Yeong-gwi was trying to say.

“Since we can see maggots, it’s already been two or three days, and if we can see pupae, at least ten days have passed.”

“Exactly. But when larvae become pupae, they come out of the meat and crawl into the soil.”

This was why Yeong-gwi had dug into the ground beneath the corpses. She showed the soil she’d dug up in her palm.

Fly pupae were visible. And pupae that had just started hatching and were wriggling were also visible.

“In warm weather, pupae hatch in five days. Exactly like the current weather.”

Yeong-gwi said.

“At least fifteen days have passed since the slaughter occurred.”

A strange look flashed in Jin Ja-gang’s eyes.

It hadn’t been fifteen days since the rebellion in Emei Sect.

Today was the thirteenth day.

This meant the slaughter at Soun-am had occurred at least two or three days before the rebellion!

“The rebellion was just around the corner. Yet they risked being discovered to commit this act…?”

Wasn’t this incomprehensible by common sense!

“If it was before the rebellion, it was when Emei Sect’s guard was at its highest due to the salt convoy. Yet they could come here without being detected… Either they were someone familiar who visited often, or there’s a possibility of an insider.”

Jin Ja-gang stopped speaking suddenly.

“No, wait.”

There was something he’d missed.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Baek-won. The fact that Baek-won had brought him here meant the Five Paths Fatal Poison had been here.

“They brought the Five Paths Fatal Poison and had this temple’s monks pass the poison to Emei Sect, then immediately… killed them to silence them…”

Looking at it that way, it roughly fit together.

But there were still parts that couldn’t be explained.

Jin Ja-gang looked up at the sky. The blue sky was blazing with hot sunlight. The clear sky without a single cloud quickly heightened Jin Ja-gang’s suspicions.

“Why?”

Why!

Jin Ja-gang looked at Yeong-gwi. His eyes were full of doubt.

“If their target was Emei Sect, there was no need to destroy evidence. When the rebellion occurred, instead of destroying evidence, they should have attacked Emei Sect.”

That’s right.

Wouldn’t it have been much more beneficial to attack when Emei Sect was in internal strife! If even one more master of this caliber had joined in, Abbess In-eun couldn’t have held out.

Even while talking with Abbess In-eun, Jin Ja-gang couldn’t shake off one persistent doubt.

The fact that the rebellion led by In-eun’s opposition faction ultimately failed.

Why?

If they instigated the rebellion, they should naturally have made it succeed as much as possible.

Yet why did they leave it to fail… and even destroy evidence before the rebellion occurred, as if they knew it would fail?

Wasn’t this an attitude as if it didn’t matter whether it succeeded or failed!

At Jin Ja-gang’s doubt, Yeong-gwi also felt chills down his spine and shuddered.

“That’s exactly… like the distribution of poisoned salt that the King of Hell had planned?”

King of Hell Tang Qing had planned for over ten years to distribute the Five Paths Fatal Poison mixed with salt. However, the Five Paths Fatal Poison had already been taken outside before then, and Tang Qing’s plan would have been difficult to succeed even if implemented.

The similarity couldn’t be denied.

Yeong-gwi said.

“Certainly the rebellion we’re thinking of and the aspect of the rebellion occurring now are too different.”

Countless fights were breaking out throughout the martial world. From internal rebellions to seize power, to conflicts between sects and factions.

Yet there was no talk of everyone succeeding.

Half succeeded and half failed.

If someone benefited from this, what benefit could they possibly gain?

Jin Ja-gang still couldn’t get even a clue.

Jin Ja-gang showed Baek-won the Five Paths Fatal Poison and asked once more.

“Are you certain you saw the one who brought this here?”

“Kkeek kkeek.”

“Have you seen them somewhere else?”

“Kkeek.”

“Guide us there.”

Baek-won seemed to find it easy as she climbed trees and ran ahead.

Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi soon followed.

Bokho-am… It was a small hermitage where a few monks lived. Nothing had happened there. The monks who saw Jin Ja-gang greeted him with joined palms.

Jin Ja-gang observed them carefully but couldn’t see anything particularly unusual.

Baek-won started running again.

Ohyeon-sa.

A temple built by carving caves at the edge of a cliff, where about thirty monks resided.

There was no problem there either. The head monk who welcomed Jin Ja-gang even asked what the matter was.

“Haven’t you seen any suspicious people recently?”

“We were all worried because ominous things happened at Emei Sect and Soun-am, but we haven’t seen any strangers lately. Namu Amitabha Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.”

The head monk permitted them to look around the temple if they wished. Jin Ja-gang didn’t refuse and thoroughly examined the temple.

There was nothing particularly strange to be seen.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Baek-won with suspicious eyes.

“Are you certain you saw them here?”

Baek-won stamped her feet and threw a tantrum.

“Kkeak! Kkeak!”

Baek-won immediately ran elsewhere. Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi had no choice but to follow her.

After going down the mountain and climbing up another steep peak, they reached Mannyeon-sa.

Built like a fortress on a high peak, it was a place difficult for outsiders to approach secretly. A monk from Mannyeon-sa was already waiting at the gate when he saw Jin Ja-gang coming.

Several monks at Mannyeon-sa had learned martial arts, but they weren’t first-rate masters who could easily kill people. As expected, there were no particular problems there either.

Yeong-gwi suspected Baek-won.

“Isn’t Baek-won misunderstanding our words? Everywhere we’ve gone, everyone says they haven’t seen any suspicious people.”

Baek-won raised her front paws and jumped up and down.

“Kkyaaak!”

Jin Ja-gang showed the Five Paths Fatal Poison to Baek-won again.

“The one who brought this. You remember them, right?”

Baek-won blinked and scratched her cheek. According to Abbess In-eun, this meant affirmation.

“Then do you know where you last saw the one who brought this?”

Baek-won scratched her cheek again. Then she started running as if frustrated.

Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi followed Baek-won down from Mannyeon-sa.

Going down peaks and around mountains, the scenery seemed somehow familiar.

Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi spoke less and less.

They could tell where Baek-won was going.

When Baek-won finally stopped at the mountain summit.

Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi were speechless.

It was Emei Sect’s main mountain.