Chapter 388 – Storms Come Without Warning (1)

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar no longer smiled or wore a good-natured expression. His eyes were serious, and his aura was as heavy as Mount Tai.

At his appearance befitting a grandmaster, Bang Jin-bo could only gulp down dry saliva. It was such a dramatic change that he could barely believe this was the same person who had been in front of him just moments ago.

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar spoke.

"Let's walk for a bit. I want to talk quietly."

"It's quiet here too!"

At Dam Ho's answer, Divine Beggar Divine Beggar frowned and looked at Bang Jin-bo.

Bang Jin-bo also had sense.

"I'll excuse myself."

"Stay here."

"Brother?"

"Just stay."

"Yes!"

At Dam Ho's words, Bang Jin-bo's bottom settled back on the ground.

Though Divine Beggar Divine Beggar was certainly a great person, Dam Ho's words carried more weight for Bang Jin-bo.

Dam Ho looked at Divine Beggar Divine Beggar.

"If you can't say it in front of this child, then you don't need to tell me either."

"Well… I suppose there's no choice."

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar made an awkward expression as he sat back down after having risen with effort.

'To think my authority wouldn't work this much. Damn!'

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar scratched his gray hair vigorously. Then dirt became embedded blackly under his fingernails.

He gave up trying to maintain a solemn expression. That only worked on those who were susceptible to it – it was useless against someone like Dam Ho who was immune to authority and dignity.

"Where are you going? From the direction, it looks like Anhui Province – is that right?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Can't you answer obediently even once? Really, you're being awfully stubborn."

"……"

"Alright, alright. Those eyes of yours… really going to stop my heart. I came looking for you to give you advice."

"Advice?"

"That's right! I would prefer if you didn't go to Anhui Province."

"Why?"

"Aren't you already guessing? Hell will unfold there."

"So what?"

"There's no need for you to jump into that hellish situation too. It would be better for you to prepare for the final battle with the Demon Cult at Shaolin Temple."

"……"

"I'm saying this all for your sake. Listen to the words of someone even a little older."

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar's voice was filled with regret.

Dam Ho stared directly at such Divine Beggar Divine Beggar. Divine Beggar Divine Beggar also didn't avoid his gaze.

"Why?"

"Didn't I say? Hell will unfold in Anhui Province."

"Why did you crawl out now?"

"What?"

"You've been in hiding for over several decades. So why did you crawl out now?"

"What does that mean?"

"Are you asking because you don't know?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I simply came out to protect the peace of the martial world."

"Really?"

Dam Ho's eyes sank even deeper.

For a moment, cracks appeared on Divine Beggar Divine Beggar's face. And Dam Ho didn't miss that change.

"Lee Gwan!"

"……"

"Where is he?"

"Sigh!"

Suddenly Divine Beggar Divine Beggar sighed and gulped down alcohol. Though liquor dripped down along his lips, he didn't care.

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar emptied a bottle of alcohol in an instant. Wiping his lips with his sleeve, he spoke.

"How much do you know?"

"Heavenly Evil Cult, Lee Gwan, suicide squad."

"You've found out quite a bit. But that's not everything."

"……"

"The affairs of the world are very complex and can never be explained by just one or two phenomena. The Heavenly Evil Cult is the same."

"So you are affiliated with the Heavenly Evil Cult."

"I might be, or I might not be."

"……"

"I told you, didn't I? It's very complex."

"Then explain."

"Sigh! How good it would be if I could speak so freely?"

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar let out a sigh. His sigh contained deep worry.

"Where is Lee Gwan?"

"I don't know!"

"Weren't you on the same side?"

"You still don't know about the Four Death Gods."

"……"

"Only Wind Moon Emperor Dan Gong-wol became somewhat known to the world, while many of their secrets remain hidden. Even those of us who were active in the same era know only an extremely small part about them. So I don't know much about him either. Moreover, his whereabouts are not fixed. Like a divine dragon hidden in clouds, it's difficult even to see his tail."

"You want me to believe that?"

"Whether you believe it or not, what I say is true. I have no reason to force you to believe it."

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar's eyes looking at Dam Ho contained a mixture of complex emotions.

"If it were you, perhaps…"

"Perhaps?"

"No! The story has gone on too long. I should be going now."

Divine Beggar Divine Beggar suddenly stood up. Then he launched his body toward the void.

He writhed his body like a divine dragon and instantly disappeared into the darkness.

—Please reconsider going to Anhui Province. You should stay here.

Leaving only a single stream of secret voice transmission.

***

Woon Kyung polished his sword.

He sharpened and polished his sword every day. Though the time for martial arts training had decreased after unexpectedly becoming the sect leader of Mount Hua Sect, he never missed a single day of sword polishing.

Woon Kyung clearly understood his role. The sect leader was not one who fought at the front lines, but one who commanded the entire Mount Hua Sect.

Fighting at the front was the role of young disciples like Myeong-gyeong and Plum Blossom Swordsman. It didn't take very long for him to acknowledge and accept this fact.

He himself thought such tasks suited his nature, and indeed they did. He could lead Mount Hua Sect excellently because he had a more rational mind and broader thinking than anyone. However, that didn't mean his aspirations as a martial artist had completely disappeared.

He trained whenever he could. With the help of the Plum Blossom Divine Pill, his power had dramatically increased, giving him martial prowess incomparable to before. But he always thought it was insufficient.

"Sigh!"

It was when Woon Kyung put down his sword and sighed.

"What are you sighing about?"

Suddenly a misty voice was heard.

For a moment Woon Kyung thought he had heard an auditory hallucination.

The place where he was located was the upper palace at the peak of Lotus Peak. Outside, numerous disciples were standing guard, making it an absolutely restricted area that no outsider could approach.

Yet a strange voice was being heard in such a place.

Grip!

Woon Kyung firmly grasped the sword he had put down and opened his mouth.

"Who is it?"

It was a voice as cold as frost.

At that moment, someone appeared in his quarters like a phantom.

It was a middle-aged Taoist with an immortal-like bearing… A clean face was revealed. Clear features and mystical eyes, along with blue-tinged hair and beard, added to the mystery.

What was unusual was his right sleeve. The empty fluttering sleeve indicated that his arm had been severed.

Woon Kyung's eyebrows twitched.

The atmosphere felt from the Taoist was extraordinary. But as far as he could remember, no Taoist with such bearing existed anywhere in Mount Hua Sect.

Woon Kyung raised his sword and pointed it at the middle-aged Taoist.

"Who are you? How dare you intrude into Mount Hua's restricted area?"

"Hehe! I heard you had a calm personality, but you're completely different."

"Stop talking nonsense and reveal your identity first."

Woon Kyung's eyes flashed as sharp as blades. But his mind was very confused.

Though it was clearly a face he was seeing for the first time, strHeavenly Evily the atmosphere and aura didn't feel unfamiliar. Rather, they felt familiar.

At that moment, the middle-aged Taoist spoke.

"There's no need to be so wary. I am your master's younger brother."

"Master's younger brother?"

"That's right. I am called Jin Gung-ja. Have you ever heard my name?"

"Jin Gung-ja? Don't tell me, the Jin Gung-ja who participated in the suicide squad?"

"You do remember."

The middle-aged Taoist who revealed himself as Jin Gung-ja smiled faintly. Woon Kyung looked at Jin Gung-ja carefully.

When the suicide squad was organized, Woon Kyung hadn't even been born yet. He had no chance at all to meet masters like Cheon Gung-ja or Jin Gung-ja who had participated in the suicide squad. Therefore, even when the middle-aged Taoist in front of him revealed himself as Jin Gung-ja, he couldn't recognize him.

But he couldn't simply dismiss it as false either. The immortal energy felt from Jin Gung-ja was something that could only be acquired by dedicating oneself entirely to polishing Mount Hua Sect's martial arts.

In other words, the opponent had definitely learned Mount Hua Sect's martial arts. And for a very long time at that.

Woon Kyung frowned deeply.

"If you're really Master's younger brother Jin Gung-ja, show me proof."

"You're quite suspicious, child. It can't be helped."

Suddenly Jin Gung-ja drew up his power. Then the surrounding air changed. And the faint plum blossom fragrance felt in the air.

"Supreme Clarity Cultivation Method?"

"That's right. The Supreme Clarity Cultivation Method that only elders of the main sect and above can learn. You're not doubting the Supreme Clarity Cultivation Method, are you?"

"Not that. But…"

Woon Kyung shook his head. His face was full of confused light. Then Jin Gung-ja approached with a gentle smile.

"I am definitely Jin Gung-ja, your master's younger brother. I participated in the suicide squad following Senior Brother Cheon Gung-ja and made distinguished contributions to ending the first Righteous-Demon Great War."

Jin Gung-ja's voice was very gentle. Woon Kyung found himself listening to his voice without knowing it.

"I had circumstances that prevented me from returning to Mount Hua Sect until now. I'll tell you about that later, so don't doubt me. I am Jin Gung-ja, a member of the suicide squad and a martial artist who was an elder of Mount Hua Sect. That is, your master's younger brother."

"Are you really Master's younger brother?"

"That's right, Woon Kyung. You've had many hardships. I'm sorry I couldn't come find you sooner."

Jin Gung-ja walked toward Woon Kyung with big strides. For some reason, Woon Kyung just stared at such Jin Gung-ja blankly.

"The weight that Mount Hua Sect's leader must bear is never light. I want to share that burden on your shoulders from now on. Will you allow me to? Woon Kyung."

"I, I…"

"You don't need to think so difficultly. You don't need to worry either. If you just allow it, I will live the rest of my life for Mount Hua."

"……"

"I've really come a long, long way to get here. As you can see, I've suffered many injuries and need a place to rest. I want to rest this old body in Mount Hua, my hometown. Will you accept me?"

"If you're Master's younger brother, of course…"

"Thank you."

Jin Gung-ja's smile deepened. Conversely, Woon Kyung's pupils became hazy.

"My vital energy has been greatly damaged, so I'm wondering if there are any remaining Plum Blossom Divine Pills? Right now I desperately need the Plum Blossom Divine Pill. Could you give me a Plum Blossom Divine Pill?"

"The Plum Blossom Divine Pill is…"

That's when it happened. Suddenly a clear energy arose from within Woon Kyung's body and swept through his entire being. Then focus suddenly returned to Woon Kyung's previously hazy eyes.

"Where did you hear about that?"

"What do you mean?"

"The Plum Blossom Divine Pill."

"Why?"

"Besides Mount Hua Sect disciples, there's only one place that knows of the Plum Blossom Divine Pill's existence."

"……"

"Heavenly Evil Cult. You're a martial artist of the Heavenly Evil Cult."

Woon Kyung still clearly remembered. The incident when a strange person who revealed himself as Blood Spirit Messenger had tried to kidnap Jong Ri-yeon along with the Plum Blossom Divine Pill. Master Hyeon-so had told him that Blood Spirit Messenger belonged to the Heavenly Evil Cult.

Woon Kyung roared in anger.

"How dare you impersonate Master's younger brother Jin Gung-ja. Unforgivable."

For a moment Jin Gung-ja made a bitter smile.

"As expected, completely bewitching a child who is the leader of Mount Hua Sect with sorcery like Dream Soul Technique was too much."

Just moments ago, he had used a soul-stealing technique called Dream Soul Technique against Woon Kyung. It was literally a method to bewitch the opponent and make them listen to one's words.

Actually, using Dream Soul Technique against someone at the level of Mount Hua Sect's leader didn't make sense, but since Woon Kyung had been sect leader for a relatively short time and was young with insufficient cultivation, he thought it was worth trying once. And as he intended, Woon Kyung almost fell for it. If only he hadn't mentioned the Plum Blossom Divine Pill.

Woon Kyung drew his sword.

"Reveal your identity."

"He… That person is indeed Master's younger brother Jin Gung-ja."

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from the entrance of the upper palace.

"Master's younger brother?"

Master Hyeon-so was standing at the entrance.

ROOOOOAR!

The lion’s roar Beom-gon unleashed was clearly transmitted all the way to the inner courtyard of the Tang Family Main House.

Tang Qing, who had been drinking tea with Tang Gwi-ok in the rear garden, raised his head.

A warrior rushed in and reported.

“Shaolin Temple is attempting to enter!”

The warrior left immediately after delivering the message.

Tang Qing muttered.

“It has finally begun.”

Tang Gwi-ok also nodded at Tang Qing’s words.

“Eighteen Stone Vajras. Shaolin Temple seems to have put considerable effort into this.”

Tang Qing giggled and laughed.

“That’s right. But conversely, if eighteen Stone Vajras die, Shaolin Temple will feel just as much pain.”

Another warrior came running.

“Shaolin Temple has just broken through the first outer courtyard gate!”

Even while the warrior was reporting and immediately leaving, other warriors came running in.

“They are breaking walls in a straight line heading toward the inner courtyard.”

Reports from warriors continued in succession.

“The fifty who blocked them in the first wave have been completely annihilated.”

“The second water gate has also been destroyed.”

“Forty vassal warriors from the Byeon and Yeom families have been completely annihilated.”

In half an hour, news continued to come that about one hundred fifty had already died and the path had been cleared to the third water gate.

“They’re faster than expected by fifteen minutes. Are they truly elite?”

However, contrary to his words, Tang Qing rather showed a welcoming expression. He still leisurely leaned back in his chair.

Tang Gwi-ok said to Tang Qing.

“Older brother, considering damage to our family, wouldn’t it be good to start suppressing them soon?”

“What are you talking about?”

Tang Qing frowned and laughed.

“We need to take damage. Eighteen Stone Vajras have set out, so it would be disappointing if they died without causing any damage at all.”

Tang Gwi-ok’s voice became slightly subdued.

“Older brother. I don’t oppose what you’re doing, but the vassal families’ warriors are also our family’s dependents. Having our dependents get hurt…”

Bang!

Tang Qing stamped his foot. Tang Qing frowned and said.

“My work is the family’s work, and everything I do is for the family. You just need to comfort the family members well so they don’t waver even after this matter ends. That’s your job. Do you understand?”

Tang Gwi-ok let out a low sigh.

“I understand.”

Only then did Tang Qing relax his expression.

“Well then, let’s allow the monks to enjoy slaughter a bit more.”

Tang Qing enjoyed his tea leisurely without caring about the continuous news of annihilation.

For Shaolin Temple to reach the point he was thinking of, they would need to exert more effort.

* * *

The stench of blood vibrated in the air.

The Shaolin monks advanced straight toward the inner courtyard. When there were walls, they broke walls; when there were traps, they crushed them. Since they didn’t move along paths, the Tang family warriors’ formations and battle arrays using terrain features were meaningless.

The Shaolin monks’ killing intent grew thicker as time passed. Beom-gon, who was leading the charge in beating Tang family warriors to death at the front, was even breathing heavily. Not because he was out of breath, but because his killing intent had reached extreme levels from slaughtering dozens of people.

Swoosh!

Tang family warriors appeared on top of a dead-end wall more than a zhang ahead. They held square boxes in their hands.

When they manipulated the devices, hidden weapons poured down blackly with the sound of wind.

Since the path was narrow, normally invaders would have become porcupines unable to avoid the hidden weapons.

However, their opponents were Shaolin monks.

As soon as they saw the hidden weapons, they drew up their Iron Cloth technique and swept their robe sleeves.

Clatter clatter clack!

All the hidden weapons pouring through the rain struck their robes and bounced off.

The narrow path and high walls that limited the trajectory of hidden weapons actually worked in the Shaolin monks’ favor.

Beom-gon bounced off all the hidden weapons and leaped onto the wall. He spun like a whirlwind and kicked in all directions. Sweeping his legs in all directions was like wielding a crescent blade. The Tang family warriors who had been shooting hidden weapons had their limbs fall off and their waists split in half.

Blood poured in all directions from atop the wall.

“Hm?”

Beom-gon’s killing intent-filled eyes gleamed. Among the ordinary warriors, there was one martial artist dressed distinctly differently.

A high-ranking vassal warrior pointed a black tube at Beom-gon.

Bang!

Four hidden weapons shaped like small, sleek tops were fired. Beom-gon spread his sleeve trying to deflect them with Iron Cloth technique. Suddenly the hidden weapons wrapped around the Iron Cloth and penetrated through.

Thud thud thud!

The robe sleeve tore with a rough sound like bones being torn at joints. Fresh blood also spurted from Beom-gon’s side. Blood and wet water spread in a whirlwind.

Beom-gon’s mouth split wide.

“Pointed spinning tops?”

Hidden weapons that destroy protective energy shields. Not only do they penetrate protective energy shields, but the top-like sides have serrated edges that tear all the flesh as they spin past.

The warrior aimed the black tube once more. Beom-gon shook his sleeve to wrap around his palm and blocked the tube’s opening with his palm. It seemed like he was saying ‘go ahead and shoot if you dare.’

The warrior’s face, covered in colleagues’ blood and rainwater, contorted. He had just seen that Iron Cloth couldn’t block the pointed spinning tops, yet he was showing such recklessness!

The warrior pulled the device hard and shot the hidden weapon.

Poof!

But nothing happened.

Thud thud, the pointed spinning tops fell without being able to penetrate the palm Beom-gon was spreading. The warrior continued pulling the string to shoot spinning tops.

Bang! Bang!

The pointed spinning tops that had just penetrated through his robe sleeve could no longer exert any power.

Beom-gon smiled so widely his mouth nearly split.

“Golden. Orchid. Iron. Pillar.”

Golden Orchid Iron Pillar was a protective energy technique one level higher than Iron Cloth. The warrior’s expression darkened.

Beom-gon turned his body, twisted his waist, and kicked the warrior’s side. The warrior blocked with his forearm but it was meaningless. Splitting through the arm and crushing ribs, Beom-gon’s shin tore through the warrior’s body.

“Aaaaah!”

The warrior let out a frail scream. The warrior’s arm and part of his upper body separated from his body. The warrior’s body fell from the wall, gushing blood copiously.

Whoooosh.

The ceaselessly falling rain washed the blood that had splattered on Beom-gon’s face and flowed to the ground.

On the ground, pools had already formed with the blood that had been washed away.

Beom-hae called Beom-gon from behind.

“Junior brother. Step back and rest.”

“Senior brother. It’s just a small wound on my side.”

“Don’t forget this is the Tang family.”

They had to be careful of poison at all times. Beom-gon showed a dissatisfied expression as he was getting excited, but he suppressed his killing intent and came down from the wall.

Then he took out a square box from his bosom, opened it, and put a pill inside into his mouth. It was a pill specially brought to counter Tang family poisons.

Only then did Beom-hae say.

“Then let’s go.”

At Beom-hae’s words, one Shaolin monk rushed out and struck the wall with both fists.

Crash!

The thick wall, more than three spans thick, burst apart. The corpses hanging on the wall fell and collapsed.

The Shaolin monks passed through the wall without hesitation and continued forward.

* * *

“Older brother?”

Unable to withstand Tang Gwi-ok’s urging, Tang Qing got up.

Tang Qing spoke as if pathetic.

“How is it that you’re still so immature now as you were decades ago? Should I neglect a hundred-year grand enterprise because of your petty nagging?”

This time, Tang Gwi-ok didn’t back down either.

“Hundreds of loyal warriors from vassal families have already been injured. Unnecessarily driving them as shields is not right. If there’s a way to stop the Stone Vajras, it’s time to try it now.”

“Even if it’s hundreds, the proportion of our family’s total strength is less than ten percent! Are you saying to ruin the grand enterprise because of just that?”

Tang Gwi-ok said quietly.

“It’s not ‘just that.’ Each one of them is the foundation of our family. If they’ve done wrong, that’s one thing, but if they haven’t done wrong, they shouldn’t be driven to death.”

Tang Qing’s mouth twisted.

“You’ve gone so far as to lecture this older brother?”

“When the grand enterprise succeeds and our family rules over the martial world, these are the people who could be our family’s greatest strength.”

“When there’s power, subordinates will flock in overflowing numbers. That’s human nature and power.”

“Older brother.”

Tang Qing made an irritated sound.

“Shut that mouth. Work has its flow. No matter how much you nag, it’s not time yet.”

“Must there be sacrifice? Didn’t you say that even if Shaolin Temple intervenes now, it can no longer be stopped?”

“Suppose Shaolin Temple’s elite sent to strike our family died without accomplishing anything. Would that look normal to others? They’d realize we’re hiding our strength. That’s not advantageous to us at all.”

Tang Gwi-ok was silent then asked.

“How much more… is needed?”

Tang Qing showed three fingers.

“Thirty percent. That’s the number I’m aiming for. Thirty percent of our family must die from this Shaolin Temple attack.”

Tang Gwi-ok closed her eyes.

“Thirty percent…”

“Of course, that’s just the headcount shown externally. Actually, less than twenty percent of our family’s real strength will be consumed.”

“Thirty percent is a lot.”

Tang Qing snorted.

“Fine. Twenty percent. Considering you, I’ll stop at twenty percent.”

* * *

Beom-hae raised his hand to stop the Shaolin monks.

“Strange.”

A destroyed space was visible before them. There were no human corpses, but pools of blood flowed on the ground, and traces of battle remained intact.

“It seems like a place we’ve already passed through.”

Beom-hae asked.

“How long has it been since we entered?”

It was dark due to rain and they were constantly under attack, so they couldn’t know the exact passage of time.

“It seems like half a day.”

The Shaolin monk who answered also thought it strange.

No matter how much they fought while advancing, if they had broken through straight for half a day, the inner courtyard should have been visible.

However, the Shaolin monks were still trapped within the outer courtyard walls.

Beom-hae looked around.

“The Tang Family Main House was built according to formation principles. Did we unknowingly fall under the influence of the formation?”

All the Shaolin monks tilted their heads in puzzlement.

“That can’t be. We came in breaking through all the walls blocking our way in a straight line from the entrance of the Tang Family Main House.”

Beom-hae touched the walls on both sides that were well over twice a person’s height and said.

“But we moved following these left and right walls.”

“Don’t tell me…”

Beom-hae closed one eye and stretched his hand forward. Rainwater splashed and water got wet and flowed, so he couldn’t see exactly. However, he concentrated his eyesight and gauged from where he stood to the final dead-end wall.

Beom-hae said.

“The walls aren’t laid out in straight lines.”

The walls and alleys were curved so subtly it was hard to notice!

There was a half-step difference in a distance of three to four zhang. This degree of curvature wouldn’t be unreasonable to miss while turning.

It wasn’t a big difference, but when this difference accumulated, they would end up going in a completely unintended direction.

Since half a day had already passed, with that distance they might have gone in a complete circle.

Only then did the Shaolin monks realize that the complex patterns carved on the left and right walls weren’t meaningless. The extremely calculated and meticulously carved patterns were cleverly made to create optical illusions so the wall’s curvature couldn’t be detected.

“Hmm.”

Beom-hae’s eyes narrowed.

As expected of the Tang Family Main House.

The saying that it was an impregnable fortress wasn’t said for nothing.