Chapter 417

From the Tang Family Main House to Dujiangyan wasn’t very far.

Master Haewol leisurely took a ferry toward Dujiangyan.

He had an appointment to meet with Demon Cult, and knowing that salt was tied up at Dujiangyan and not moving elsewhere, there was no need to hurry.

While slowly going up the river, he could see Tang family warriors preparing to withdraw everywhere. They seemed to have already received contact through messenger birds and beacon fires.

“Tang Family Head was overshadowed by King of Hell, but she was a decisive heroine. Her judgment is swift.”

Master Haewol rowed while briefly thinking of Tang Gwi-ok.

Upon arriving at Dujiangyan, Demon Cult didn’t seem to have arrived yet. However, he needed to find Tang Qing’s hidden salt storage warehouse at Dujiangyan before Demon Cult came.

“Let’s see.”

After arriving at Dujiangyan, he casually walked around with his hands behind his back as if he were originally from there. Dressed as an ordinary villager, he didn’t particularly stand out.

As soon as he walked a little, the salty smell of salt was already vibrating.

This place, which was formerly part of Shu territory, has salt mixed in the groundwater, so salt springs flow out just by digging the ground. Salt wells were dug to draw water, and workplaces where that water was boiled with fire to obtain salt were located everywhere. With fires lit and steam rising from workplaces in all directions, the villages resembled volcanic regions.

As time passed, Master Haewol made a strange expression.

This was like hide and seek.

Where were hundreds of thousands of geun of salt hidden?

Small amounts of salt were piled everywhere. With so many workplaces, small-scale warehouses were constantly visible. Those were precisely the salt well warehouses Baek Li-jung had mentioned.

But those were amounts naturally accumulated while obtaining salt. They couldn’t possibly have divided hundreds of thousands of geun into mere dozens of geun and scattered them throughout this area for storage.

There were also medium-scale warehouses, but they only stored at most a few dozen seok.

“How very strange.”

Salt wasn’t the only problem. Work to mix poison with salt was also necessary.

So it must definitely be piled up in large-scale warehouses or storage yards. The places where it was stored to avoid rain must have roofs.

Then it would be visible no matter how far away.

But it’s not visible. No warehouse or storage yard of that size.

Master Haewol couldn’t stand it and climbed the highest peak nearby to look down.

“Salt well warehouse… salt well warehouse…”

Even looking from above, no giant warehouse that could store hundreds of thousands of geun of salt was visible.

Salt was being made at nearby salt wells, and downstream there were widely spread fields.

But where on earth was the salt?

Then Master Haewol suddenly realized that what should be visible wasn’t visible.

There were no boats.

Dujiangyan was still in a blockaded state. Boats could enter but couldn’t leave. Yet the numerous boats that should have entered during this time were not visible.

Master Haewol looked toward the upstream of the Min River from atop the peak. Mountain-like peaks blocked layer upon layer like a folding screen, so the upstream scenery wasn’t visible from Dujiangyan.

“Oh ho.”

Master Haewol went down the peak and headed upstream on the Min River.

Following the winding waterway upstream, he reached the uppermost reaches of the Min River. Unexpectedly, the uppermost reaches looked like a lake spread wide like the sea.

And there, hundreds of boats were floating leisurely. Seeing that their gunwales were all low, they were clearly loaded with cargo. Probably sacks containing salt!

Master Haewol laughed incredulously.

“These guys, did their guts come out of their boats? They truly have thick nerve?”

The salt well warehouse Baek Li-jung mentioned was false. The truth was on those boats on the river. They had remained just as they came loaded with salt.

But something caught Master Haewol’s senses.

A boat in the middle of the wide river.

He could feel sharp fragments of energy flying from inside a boat at least dozens of zhang away.

“Hmm.”

Master Haewol briefly thought whether to retreat like this or check.

Then he saw a hawk circling in the sky above.

It was a signal that Demon Cult had arrived.

“No need to drag it out further.”

Wheeet!

Master Haewol blew a long whistle and immediately leaped up.

Thump!

He stepped on the water surface with flat water steps, advancing three to four zhang at once toward the boat in the middle of the river.

Chaos erupted from boats on the sides as Master Haewol passed by.

“What, what is it!”

Those on the boats hastily brought bows and grabbed nets in the sudden emergency, but Master Haewol had already passed them.

Master Haewol instantly arrived at the boat in the middle.

It was a transport ship with a wide beam and low gunwales that could stack lots of cargo. Master Haewol scattered twin palms toward the water while running.

Splash!

Water sprayed up and Master Haewol’s body rose. Master Haewol stepped on the gunwale and leaped onto the deck.

Hiss.

A smile appeared at the corner of Master Haewol’s mouth.

On the two-story deck at the stern of the ship, over ten figures were already there as if waiting for Master Haewol.

Most conspicuous among them were Baek Li-jung and Mang Ryo flanked by unorthodox sect masters, and one figure sitting in a chair at the highest place on the platform.

A giant with extraordinary eyes, wearing a leopard skin band around his forehead and armor like a general on his body. He had stuck a great sword as tall as an adult between his spread legs and placed both hands on the handle. The middle of the great sword even had dozens of blood lines carved like rain marks, making it extremely chilling.

One of the Three Martial Venerables and the leader of Northern Heaven unorthodox sect.

Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru.

With his particularly dark eye rims, he pressed his turned lips together and looked down at Master Haewol without saying anything.

Master Haewol looked up at Ga Mu-ru and snorted.

“What did you crawl here to get and eat?”

Ga Mu-ru gave no answer. He just continued looking down with bulging eyes. Even so, he emanated enough intimidating presence to make ordinary people’s knees weak.

Knowing he had always been a man of few words, Master Haewol didn’t expect an answer either.

“Oh, it’s been a long time. Alliance Leader.”

It was Mang Ryo who spoke naturally.

“The elixir you gave me last time was very deliciously consumed.”

Master Haewol also answered with a smile at the corners of his mouth.

“You were still alive? You have a tenacious life.”

Mang Ryo scratched his throat as if gathering phlegm and spat out saliva mixed with blood.

“Must be a defective product.”

“Oh dear. How unfortunate.”

After giving a frivolous response, Master Haewol next looked at Baek Li-jung.

Master Haewol’s eyelids slightly frowned.

Baek Li-jung stared straight at Master Haewol and asked back.

“Haewol. What business did you come here to do?”

“Such an impudent fellow. Am I your friend?”

Master Haewol looked at Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru, Baek Li-jung, and the unorthodox sect masters in turn and said.

“I’ll advise only once.”

Master Haewol grinned.

“I intend to take over all the boats on this river, so if you all get off the boats without wagging your tails, I’ll spare your lives.”

Mang Ryo giggled and said.

“Oh my, I thought the noble Alliance Leader had boarded, but some bastard thief without even a sword has come visiting.”

Master Haewol looked around casually and said without concern.

“No one? Nobody? I’ll advise only once and won’t advise further.”

Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru remained silent, but rather Baek Li-jung snorted.

“Coming here alone to tell us to hand over the boats?”

“No.”

Suddenly.

Swoosh! Water columns shot up and four masters descended behind Master Haewol.

They were all masters of three men and one woman with outstanding energy, wearing unique attire with their entire bodies wrapped in white cloth rarely seen in the Central Plains.

Master Haewol said without looking back.

“You came not too late.”

Thunder Emperor Ga Mu-ru opened his mouth for the first time.

“One Leader… Six Enlightened Body!”

It was a heavy bass voice so rough it grated on the ears, but everyone heard it clearly.

One Leader Six Enlightened Body refers to Demon Cult’s leader and six great masters. Four of them had come to this place!

The young woman who covered her head, neck, and face entirely with gauze was Demon Cult’s Vanishing Master who governed good devotion.

The giant with a rough beard was Earth Store Master who governed rule.

The old man with a bald head and hooked nose was Myriad Enlightened Master who governed perfection.

[TL Note- Enlightened Teacher changed to Enlightened Master.]

Unlike the others, the middle-aged man wrapped in red cloth all over his body and holding a burning flag was Fire Flame Master who governed fire.

Moreover, there were more Demon Cult followers besides these. Ferry boats appeared one after another from upstream, enveloping the river in tension.

Baek Li-jung’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You brought in Demon Cult. You said I joined hands with unorthodox sects, but you’re the one who has fallen.”

“Does it look that way?”

“I’m ashamed of myself for once admiring you, following you, and trying to be even a little like you. Your current appearance is nothing but an ugly old man who can’t let go of his position of power.”

“Hehe, to dare say such things in front of me without hesitation. You’ve grown up a lot.”

Baek Li-jung spoke heavily.

“Haewol. I’ll ask you just one thing.”

“I permit it.”

“Why aren’t you surprised?”

“Should I be surprised?”

“Since you met me in an unexpected place, naturally you should be surprised, shouldn’t you?”

“That’s true too.”

The corners of Baek Li-jung’s lips twitched.

“There’s no reason to be surprised. Because you must have known.”

Master Haewol didn’t answer.

Baek Li-jung’s expression twisted like a demon laughing. But immortal energy was visible in his eyes. His expression and eye light were completely opposite!

“Originally, it was you who drove me to change. So you’re not surprised. Am I wrong?”

Master Haewol looked at Baek Li-jung with a frowning expression.

Then he suddenly scolded Baek Li-jung.

“What on earth are you doing? When removing evil and following good wouldn’t be enough, you’re accepting both pure and turbid?”

Removing evil and following good means abandoning evil and following good, while accepting both pure and turbid means accepting both clear and murky things, that is, good and evil without discrimination. Originally it means having a broad mind, but in the current situation it’s different.

What would happen if you can’t properly distinguish between good and evil, yet don’t have that much capacity, but recklessly accept good and evil?

“Damn fool. You disappoint my expectations to the end.”

Baek Li-jung’s lips lifted and his teeth showed. Baek Li-jung growled like a wolf in a low, deep voice.

“When… did you ever have expectations? You… abandoned me who believed in and followed you. Is this the reward for serving you?”

Master Haewol answered in a calm yet somewhat cold tone.

“Originally, you weren’t the vessel I wanted. You were too corrupt, intoxicated with power, and coveted authority. Look at yourself now. Could I trust someone like you and entrust great plans to you? I gave up expectations of you long ago.”

“Then why did you incite me to the end? Until I became like this?”

A smile appeared on Baek Li-jung’s twisted lips.

“Shall I tell you? You tried to use me as bait. So you drove me until I was pushed to the worst situation.”

Master Haewol stared at Baek Li-jung. He didn’t deny it. Baek Li-jung spat out words filled with killing intent.

“You’re trash. So whatever happens to you from now on, it’s all something you brought upon yourself. Do you understand?”

Baek Li-jung’s smile deepened.