Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Rising Where You Have Fallen (1)

The place Sage Cheong-heo headed was far from the Wind and Dust Inn. When they reached a spot devoid of all traces of people, he spoke:

"I am Cheong-heo of the Wudang. I know you are already watching. Come out now."

"…"

"Escort Lim."

No answer came. But Sage Cheong-heo waited with patience.

After a moment, the sound of rustling reached his ears, and the earth some ten zhang away heaved upward.

A sharp light gleamed in Sage Cheong-heo's eyes.

In that instant, the ground tore open and a figure emerged.

"Escort Lim?"

"I am sorry, Sage. I had to confirm whether there were pursuers."

The man who spoke as he threw aside the cloth he had used as camouflage was Lim Ho-ryeong, escort of the Northern Road Escort Agency.

Lim Ho-ryeong was in a wretched state. His left arm was missing entirely, and his body was covered in old scars. His dust-caked robes were tattered as rags.

"Are you all right, Escort Lim?"

"I am fine. But the others of the escort agency…"

Tears streamed down Lim Ho-ryeong's cheeks.

Everyone of the Northern Road Escort Agency had perished, leaving only him. Had Chief Escort Mak Gyeong not desperately drawn the enemy's attention, even he would not have survived.

Taking advantage of the enemies' momentary carelessness, he had hidden in a pit of sand. Any ordinary person would have been consumed solely with preserving their own life. But Lim Ho-ryeong was no ordinary man.

The reason he had fought so desperately to survive was to avenge his fallen comrades.

Sage Cheong-heo consoled him:

"It is a relief that at least you survived."

"Sage. Kuh!"

Lim Ho-ryeong's shoulders shook.

Sage Cheong-heo watched him in silence. He knew that at times like these, no words could offer comfort.

After a moment, having composed himself, Lim Ho-ryeong spoke:

"I am sorry."

"Not at all. If you are able, I would hear what happened."

"I tracked them to their stronghold."

"Truly?"

"I staked my life on it."

Lim Ho-ryeong clenched his teeth. His two eyes were entirely bloodshot.

The attackers had taken the Northern Road Escort Agency's cargo and fled north. They could have escaped as they were, but Lim Ho-ryeong had secretly pursued them.

He believed that uncovering the enemies' identities and bringing them to justice was the only way to avenge the fallen members of the escort agency.

At the risk of his life, he had tracked them for two days and ultimately discovered their destination.

"Is it truly certain that they are remnants of the Demonic Cult?"

"I overheard their conversation. They used the word 'Main Cult.' As far as I know, in the martial world, only the Demonic Cult uses that term. And they wore garments bearing an emblem reminiscent of the Sacred Flame."

"Hmm!"

Sage Cheong-heo let out a low murmur.

It was not yet confirmed. But the fact that the words invoking the Demonic Cult had passed their lips made the journey here not in vain.

"You have worked hard."

Sage Cheong-heo patted Lim Ho-ryeong on the back.

A tremor ran through Lim Ho-ryeong's body.

It was as though the scent of his comrades' blood upon his flesh had not yet faded, lingering still at his side. Until their vengeance was avenged, that scent would never leave.

A tremor passed through Sage Cheong-heo's eyes as well.

'I pray it is not the Demonic Cult…'

He prayed that Lim Ho-ryeong was mistaken.

While all others slept, Dam Ho cultivated his energy under Sage Hyeon-so's watchful gaze. He no longer needed Nourishing Essence Pills to cultivate the Heavy Heaven Heart Method without difficulty.

Dam Ho's Heavy Heaven Heart Method had already reached the fifth level of attainment. It was the fruit of the Nourishing Essence Pills' aid combined with his own blood-soaked effort.

On the journey here, Dam Ho had not rested a single day. While others spent their time in idle talk or drink, he had cultivated. Thanks to this, he now understood the Heavy Heaven Heart Method deeply.

Sage Hyeon-so murmured:

"The Heavy Heaven Heart Method is a sturdy foundation. Just as the Mount Hua Sect's heart method developed from the Heavy Heaven Heart Method, as your understanding deepens, you will be able to forge a heart method of your own."

Watching his disciple's progress advance with each passing day brought Sage Hyeon-so great joy.

At that moment, Dam Ho finished his cultivation and opened his eyes.

"Master."

"Oh, good! You have finished?"

"Yes."

"Well done."

Dam Ho released his lotus posture and rose.

Since leaving Mount Hua, he had ridden nearly without rest all the way here, yet there was no trace of fatigue upon his face. The Heavy Heaven Heart Method had served him well.

Conversely, Sage Hyeon-so's face was deeply troubled.

"Is something troubling you, Master?"

"No."

"Master."

"It is nothing. I simply have much on my mind. Do not worry."

"Yes."

"You brat."

As Sage Hyeon-so forced a smile—

"Martial Uncle!"

Mu-gyeong's voice came from outside.

"Come in."

At Sage Hyeon-so's permission, Mu-gyeong and Un-gyeong hurriedly opened the door and entered.

"What is it?"

"Sage Cheong-heo has ordered an immediate sortie."

"At this hour?"

Sage Hyeon-so glanced out the window. It was still the early hours of dawn, the darkness not yet lifted.

"He said it was urgent."

"Urgent?"

Sage Hyeon-so's eyebrow twitched.

At this moment, there was only one thing that could be called urgent.

'The Demonic Cult.'

Sage Hyeon-so rose quickly and said to Dam Ho:

"Hurry and prepare. Follow me."

"Yes!"

Sage Hyeon-so and Mu-gyeong rushed out first.

Un-gyeong, watching Dam Ho gather Sage Hyeon-so's belongings, spoke:

"Perhaps you should not go."

"What?"

"If they truly are the Demonic Cult, no one will have the luxury of helping you."

"Junior Brother."

"Rather than becoming a burden to everyone, it would help them all if you remained here."

Un-gyeong's gaze was cold. So cold it sent a shiver through the body. But it was not enough to shake Dam Ho's eyes.

"Why do you think I would be a burden?"

"Do you ask because you do not know?"

"No matter what you say, I am going."

"Cheong-gyeong!"

"I cannot let my Master go to that dangerous place alone."

When Dam Ho took this stance, Un-gyeong had nothing further to say.

"I have given you my warning."

"I heard it clearly."

"You are as stubborn as a mule."

Un-gyeong shook his head and turned. He was about to step outside when he suddenly looked back.

"But… do be careful."

He left without waiting for Dam Ho's answer.

Dam Ho stared for a moment at the door through which Un-gyeong had vanished. But it was only a moment—he quickly packed his things and stepped outside.

Before the Wind and Dust Inn, the young masters of every sect had already gathered. Mounted and waiting, their faces were tense.

After a moment, Sage Cheong-heo, Sage Hyeon-so, and Yeom Jung-hwa of the Zhongnan Sect emerged. At their side was Lim Ho-ryeong, his left arm gone.

Sage Cheong-heo addressed the young martial artists:

"There is no time, which is why I have summoned you all at this hour. From now, we will leave the Jade Gate Pass and head directly into Xinjiang. Everyone, take particular care of your own safety and be mindful not to fall behind. Then—we depart."

Sage Cheong-heo mounted first and set off. Behind him, Yeon So-ha and the Wudang disciples followed.

"We move out as well."

Yeom Jung-hwa led the Zhongnan disciples after them.

Last to move were the Mount Hua disciples.

Mu-gyeong galloped to Sage Hyeon-so's side.

"Martial Uncle."

"What is it?"

"Verify that they are truly of the Demonic Cult, then withdraw."

"But…"

"The Grandmaster has ordered it. Leave the fighting to the Wudang, and prioritize your own safety above all else. So should a battle break out, do not hesitate—pull back."

"Understood."

In the end, Sage Hyeon-so nodded.

In terms of rank and age, he was the eldest, but the true leader of the Mount Hua delegation was Mu-gyeong. Sage Hyeon-so had to follow his command.

'Could it truly be the Demonic Cult?'

Sage Cheong-heo had arranged for Sage Hyeon-so and Yeom Jung-hwa to meet Lim Ho-ryeong as well. Lim Ho-ryeong recounted the battle that had occurred near Lop Nur Lake.

Lim Ho-ryeong's account was so detailed it felt as though one had witnessed the battle firsthand. The martial arts of the enemies described in his account closely matched the Demonic Cult's arts as Sage Cheong-heo knew them.

In particular, the sword technique wielded by the attackers' leader bore a striking resemblance to the Nine Extinction Blades—one of the Demonic Cult's most renowned supreme techniques.

Above all, the flame emblem embroidered upon their garments immediately recalled the Sacred Flame, the symbol of the Demonic Cult.

Sage Hyeon-so's face darkened of its own accord.

Twenty years ago—how many sacrifices had been made? The peace of the martial world had been bought with the deaths of countless souls.

If these were truly the remnants of the Demonic Cult, the martial world might yet be forced to pay an even greater price.

'Amitabha! I pray it is not the Demonic Cult…'

Sage Hyeon-so prayed with all his heart, again and again.

In the distance, the Jade Gate Pass was visible.

The soldiers guarding it came into view. As though arrangements had already been made, they opened the pass.

A wilderness red as blood lay spread before them.

***

The man's room was vast. Lining its walls were countless bookshelves, each filled with a multitude of volumes.

The man's desk stood at the center of this library, within arm's reach of any book he might need.

The man, who appeared to be in his late forties, had an austere, refined face. His skin, unusually fair for a man, his sharp gaze, and his firmly closed lips were all striking features.

He was absorbed in a text when—

"Master."

A quiet voice emerged from the empty space.

The man addressed as Master raised his head. The voice continued:

"It is Rai-gong."

"What is it?"

"We have a tail."

"A tail?"

"It seems the meal we had before is causing trouble. A survivor from the Northern Road Escort Agency has been confirmed."

"Did not Sect Leader Jong say he had handled it properly?"

"My apologies."

At Rai-gong's answer, the man frowned.

"Where did the tail appear?"

"As confirmed—the Wudang, Mount Hua, and Zhongnan."

In that instant, the man's gaze turned to ice. He closed the book he had been reading and rose from his seat.

Three of the Nine Great Sects were involved. That meant the entire Nine Great Sects might mobilize.

If the Nine Great Sects moved, the Five Great Families would follow, and in turn the entire world would be set in motion.

"We still lack the strength to contend with the world."

"What shall we do?"

"We abandon this place."

"What? Are you saying we are to give up the Heavenly Demon Prison so easily?"

"It was something we would have had to do eventually. The timing has merely been advanced."

"Understood."

"I will report to the Cult Leader. Begin the operation."

"By your command!"

Rai-gong's presence vanished.

The man, left alone, murmured:

"Even if we abandon the Heavenly Demon Prison, we must still leave them a parting gift."

The man's eyes gleamed with a sinister light.