Chapter 372

Chapter 372 – In the Storm, It's Not Just a Small Boat That Sways (1)

"Ah! I ate well. Thanks to you, I survived."

Yo Sa-ran muttered as she set down the porridge bowl. Her face clearly showed the expression of truly being saved. ​

Hwang Hye-ryeong asked such Yo Sa-ran:

"Would you like more?"

"No! This is enough."

Yo Sa-ran shook her head gently. ​

"But sister, how did you end up wandering around in the mountains?"

"I lost my companions."

"Really?"

"Yes!"

Yo Sa-ran nodded. ​

"How did that happen?"

"I don't know! I guess they found me bothersome. They suddenly disappeared."

"Is that so?"

"Thanks to that, I wandered the mountains all day."

"You wandered all day?"

"Yes!"

Hwang Hye-ryeong frowned. ​

The mountain Yo Sa-ran said she had wandered all day wasn't very wide or high. It was such a small mountain that even someone without martial arts knowledge could escape in half a day. ​

"Sister, perhaps?"

"Yes?"

"Don't you usually have trouble finding your way?"

"Hmm!"

Yo Sa-ran let out a contemplative sound with her brow furrowed for a moment. From her appearance like this, Hwang Hye-ryeong instinctively knew her guess was correct. ​

'She's directionally challenged.'

Sometimes there are such people. People whose sense of direction is broken and who wander the same path several times more than others. Yo Sa-ran seemed to be that type. ​

"Ha! You must have had a hard time."

"Yes!"

"Then let's go together tomorrow. I'll guide you down the mountain."

"Really?"

Yo Sa-ran's eyes widened. Her already dreamy-looking pupils mysteriously shone as they caught the light. Hwang Hye-ryeong thought her eyes were very beautiful. They were like gems that emitted their own light in the darkness. ​

"Ha! This is so grateful. Not only did I get food, but you'll even take me down the mountain. How can I repay this kindness?"

"You don't need to repay anything. It's nothing much."

"No. If you receive kindness from someone, you must repay it."

Yo Sa-ran briefly caressed her red lips with her long, white fingers. Her appearance like this looked very sensual even in the darkness. ​

"Good! As repayment, I'll play a song for you."

"A performance?"

"I learned how to play the pipa from an old friend. It should be worth listening to."

Yo Sa-ran immediately took the pipa she had been carrying on her back into her hands. And without anyone having time to stop her, she played the pipa. ​

Twang! Twang twang! ​

Powerful pipa sounds echoed through the darkness. ​

"Ah!"

"Hmm!"

Not only Hwang Hye-ryeong but even Muk Il-gwang admired Yo Sa-ran's performance. ​

Yo Sa-ran's pipa sound contained such strong power and spirit that it couldn't possibly be considered played by a woman. It was so magnificent and moving that it created the illusion of thousands of troops galloping across vast plains. ​

Muk Il-gwang forgot his wariness toward Yo Sa-ran and became absorbed in the pipa sound. His heart was stirring. ​

He swore such playing was a first in his life. Yo Sa-ran's white fingers moved back and forth over the pipa strings without rest. ​

Hwang Hye-ryeong was enchanted by the fantastic movement as if her fingers had multiplied into dozens. And when Yo Sa-ran's playing finally ended, she forgot about dignity and applauded. ​

"Wow! Sister, that was really amazing. It was the best playing I've heard in my entire life."

"Really? Then the effort I put into learning paid off."

Yo Sa-ran showed a proud expression at Hwang Hye-ryeong's lavish praise. ​

"It really was the best."

"I'm glad I listened to my friend's advice. He said it would be very useful to learn."

"Your friend?"

"Yes! I had a friend who was versed in music. I learned from him."

"He must have been really amazing?"

"He really was amazing. When he played, everyone would be mesmerized."

"I'd like to meet him once too. If sister is this good, I wonder how good the person who taught you is."

"I'd like to introduce you too, but I can't."

"Why?"

"He's not of this world anymore. A few years ago, he picked the wrong fight with the wrong person and was beaten to death."

"I'm sorry. I brought up something I shouldn't have."

"It's okay! His fate ended there, so what does little sister have to be sorry about? Besides, it was a long time ago, so it's fine."

Though Yo Sa-ran acted as if it was nothing, Hwang Hye-ryeong couldn't do the same. So Yo Sa-ran smiled. ​

"You're kind!"

"Yes?"

"What's your name, little sister?"

"I'm called Hwang Hye-ryeong."

"Your name is as pretty as your heart. I like it."

"Thank you."

"We won't be traveling together for very long, but let's get along well during the time we're together."

"Yes!"

As Yo Sa-ran nodded at Hwang Hye-ryeong's answer, her gaze turned toward Muk Il-gwang. ​

"You too."

"Yes?"

"Let's get along well."

"Yes!"

At Yo Sa-ran's unexpected words, Muk Il-gwang nodded reflexively. ​

Yo Sa-ran smiled at such Muk Il-gwang. For a moment, Muk Il-gwang felt dizzy. ​

It wasn't because Yo Sa-ran's gaze was captivating or seductive. Her eyes strangely had the power to shake people's hearts. Even Muk Il-gwang, who had raised his guard to the fullest, was shaken to that extent. ​

'What exactly…?'

Then Yo Sa-ran began playing the pipa again. This time she even added singing. ​

Her clear voice that flowed from her small lips harmonized with the pipa sound and spread far and wide. ​

Muk Il-gwang forgot what he had been wary of just moments before and became absorbed in her voice and playing. ​

Yo Sa-ran's playing continued until dawn. ​

***

Yueyang by Dongting Lake was a city with a very deep history. Since ancient times, countless poets and scholars had visited this place, charmed by its beautiful scenery, and accordingly many historical artifacts existed throughout. ​

However, recently the most famous thing in Yueyang wasn't the old artifacts but the massive complex of halls built on the site of the old Martial Alliance. ​

The complex of halls built on the empty lot that had been destroyed, burned, and left only as ruins exuded such tremendous intimidation that just looking at it made people's spirits wither. ​

The complex of halls reminiscent of a massive fortress was precisely the Demon Cult's main headquarters. When the Demon Cult's main headquarters was first established, the people of Yueyang and Hunan Province trembled in fear. ​

The people thought the Demon Cult would oppress the people of Yueyang and force them to believe in the Demon Cult. But contrary to their expectations, even after occupying Yueyang, the Demon Cult didn't impose any particular restrictions on the people or force proselytization. ​

The only ones the Demon Cult showed hostility toward were sects with roots in the martial world. They made no interference or intervention in anything else. As the situation became like this, even those who had initially looked with suspicious eyes could gradually focus on their daily lives. ​

When people's wariness had thus faded, the Demon Cult secretly infiltrated among them. ​

Demon Cult followers scattered throughout the Central Plains were deployed to Yueyang and all of Hunan Province, and they naturally infiltrated among ordinary people to spread rumors favorable to the Demon Cult. ​

"It's not the Demon Cult but the Divine Cult."

"The name Demon Cult is a name maliciously given by the Central Plains sects who feared their doctrine."

Along with rumors, enormous funds were released into the market through many Divine Commerce groups. Many people benefited from this, and negative perceptions gradually improved. ​

Though the beginning was difficult, once perceptions changed for the better, the Demon Cult rapidly expanded its influence in Yueyang and Hunan Province. For people who hadn't received much benefit even when the Martial Alliance was intact, the Demon Cult's support was like sweet rain in a drought. ​

"What has the Martial Alliance or martial world people ever done for us? They only knew how to show off their strength, but have they ever given even a speck of help?"

"The Demon Cult is rather better than the Martial Alliance that does nothing."

Such stories burst forth everywhere. ​

Thus popular sentiment began leaning toward the Demon Cult starting from Yueyang and Hunan Province. Especially the popular sentiment in Yueyang, where the Demon Cult's main headquarters was established, was fully supporting the Demon Cult. ​

Rumors were already circulating that more than half the people living in Yueyang believed in the Demon Cult. ​

At the center of all these plans was the strategist Sang Han-cheon. All these processes were carried out under his command, and eventually Yueyang became a solid base for the Demon Cult. ​

Sang Han-cheon had chosen the second-largest of the Demon Cult's halls as his residence. Like the Martial Alliance's Namgung Chang had done, he too set up a strategy department in his residence. ​

The most brilliant minds in the Demon Cult took positions in the strategy department, and information from all under heaven was collected. ​

Even sitting here, Sang Han-cheon grasped the affairs of the world like reading his palm. His face was hardened stiff like a stone. ​

"Namgung Chang is dead?"

"That's correct. It's intelligence that just came in. We're currently confirming its veracity, but it seems to be true."

In front of Sang Han-cheon, his trusted subordinate was kneeling on one knee and looking up. His name was Chu Go-wol, who oversaw the Demon Cult's intelligence organization and received Sang Han-cheon's deep trust. ​

The information Chu Go-wol brought was that the Martial Alliance strategist Namgung Chang had died at Shaolin Temple. ​

Finding it hard to believe, Chu Go-wol had ordered the intelligence organization to verify the information once more and rushed to Sang Han-cheon. ​

"Namgung Chang is dead? And beaten to death by the Fist Demon?"

Sang Han-cheon's eyes trembled. ​

It was hard-to-believe information. ​

Namgung Chang was the Martial Alliance's strategist. Though he had been driven from Yueyang after falling into his own scheme, he was still the second-in-command of the massive force called the Martial Alliance. The fact that such a person had been beaten to death by another was hard to believe. But the moment he heard that the one who killed Namgung Chang was Dam Ho, he thought it might be true. ​

The Dam Ho he knew was absolutely not someone who thought about consequences. He was someone who would first ruthlessly destroy anything that bothered him. If it was him, he might kill Namgung Chang without regard for consequences. ​

"Is it because of old grievances after all?"

Sang Han-cheon muttered. ​

Three years ago, Namgung Chang had intentionally leaked information about Dam Ho's route. Even knowing it was a scheme to kill with a borrowed knife, Sang Han-cheon had taken Namgung Chang's bait and dispatched the Blood Name Unit and two of the Seven Great Demon Masters. ​

In this fight, the Demon Cult lost Blood Sea Judge Deung Cheon-so and Full Moon Fairy Jin Hye-won, along with hundreds of Blood Name Unit members. Even thinking about it now, it was a painful loss. ​

At that time, Dam Ho had been held back by them and arrived late at Mount Hua. Because of this, the Mount Hua Sect suffered great damage, and his friend Cho Yeon-woon had his left foot severed. ​

"Did he not forget the grudge from that time and repay it?"

Since it was the Fist Demon who did it, it made sense. ​

Sang Han-cheon tapped his chin with his finger. Chu Go-wol silently watched such Sang Han-cheon. ​

It was quite a while later that Sang Han-cheon opened his mouth again. ​

"Find out about the atmosphere at Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance. If Namgung Chang really was killed by the Fist Demon, morale would have dropped, so we must use that situation."

"Understood."

The enemy's confusion was a great opportunity for them. ​

Sang Han-cheon was never someone who missed opportunities. Even at this moment, countless schemes to utilize the current situation were arising in his mind. ​

"He's truly reckless. Though they're freeloading at Shaolin Temple, to kill the strategist at the place where the Martial Alliance's main force is located."

"Right! He's no different from a mad dog that bites anything without regard if it's an enemy. In his eyes, everything that bothers him would look like an enemy."

"It's really suspicious how such a martial artist could emerge from Mount Hua Sect, which can be called a prestigious righteous sect."

"There are bound to be mutants anywhere. But the appearance of such a mutant is itself a great opportunity for us."

"An opportunity?"

"Hasn't the Namgung family become like a kite with a broken string because of him?"

"Ah!"

Instantly Chu Go-wol let out an exclamation without realizing it. ​

"First, move the Golden Demon Pavilion and Divine Transformation Hall to Anhui Province. I'll get permission from the Cult Leader."

"Understood."

Chu Go-wol answered with a stern expression. ​

Both the Golden Demon Pavilion and Divine Transformation Hall belonged to the Inner Circle and boasted powerful strength within the Demon Cult. Even if just one of them was deployed, they could erase any ordinary sect in the Central Plains without a trace. ​

Sang Han-cheon was never someone who missed given opportunities. He who would burrow into even the smallest gap wouldn't miss such a good opportunity. ​

"Ah!"

Chu Go-wol, who was getting up to carry out Sang Han-cheon's order, suddenly let out an exclamation as if something had occurred to him. ​

"What is it?"

"Come to think of it, that person is in Anhui Province."

"That person?"

"The Blood Wheel Witch is still there."

"Perfect! Send her an urgent message."

"Yes, sir!"

Chu Go-wol withdrew with his answer. ​

A cold smile appeared at the corners of Sang Han-cheon's mouth as he was left alone. ​

"Of all places, she's there – it's a disaster for the Namgung family."

The Four Great Military Commanders who symbolized the Demon Cult's military might. ​

Among the Four Great Military Commanders, the most persistent and cruel commander's name was Blood Wheel Witch Yo Sa-ran. ​