Chapter 352

Chapter 352: Preparation (2)

The unfamiliar title caused Cheok Pae-myeong to scowl. He maintained that grimace for a brief interval before a buried recollection finally reemerged in his thoughts.

“It must relate to the events during the Sichuan massacre.”

In the midst of the slaughter that occurred near the site of the Blood Tears Heavenly Demon’s Secret Cave, the Sword Dragon along with several other young geniuses had fallen into a trap set by the Tang Family, and it was the Maitreya Luminous Cult that had extricated them. That particular occurrence was also the catalyst that had initially drawn the Hwangbo Family close to the Maitreya Luminous Cult.

The Chief Strategist offered a low bow to the Alliance Leader’s deduction. “That is precisely my deduction as well, Alliance Leader.”

“I cannot say I am pleased to watch their ranks expand in this manner.”

The Alliance Leader appeared far more restive than usual, prompting the Chief Strategist to choose his words with care to pacify him.

“Please, do not permit this to disturb your peace, Alliance Leader. In fact, a piece of positive news arrived during your absence.”

“Positive news, you say. My curiosity is piqued.”

The Alliance Leader’s attention was caught, and Gongsun Hyeon’s eyes shone as he elaborated.

“The ancient fiend of the Demonic Cult has perished.”

This piece of information was clearly unforeseen as well, causing Cheok Pae-myeong’s eyes to widen significantly.

“The Heavenly Demon? That individual?”

“Indeed, Alliance Leader. Reports from our undercover agents indicate he succumbed to sickness in his advanced years, and Wi Jin-hak, the First Disciple, has assumed the position of Cult Leader.”

The passing of the Heavenly Demon and the ascension of Wi Jin-hak to Cult Leader had not exactly been kept completely hidden. Even so, there was a valid explanation for why the intelligence took so long to arrive at the Martial Alliance.

Several years prior, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had executed a ruthless elimination of undercover agents following the scandal involving the previous Chief Elder, Deung Bi.

Furthermore, the Martial Alliance had been so utterly preoccupied with the conflict against the Blood Cult that it lacked the resources to embed fresh agents within the Demonic Cult.

“With the Heavenly Demon no longer a factor, there is no reason to lose sleep over an insignificant sect like the Maitreya Luminous Cult. We merely require a plausible pretext to obliterate them, and everything will proceed smoothly from that point forward.”

Cheok Pae-myeong parted his lips to reply to Gongsun Hyeon’s advice, but instantly brought a finger to his mouth, gesturing for silence. A moment later, the footsteps of someone nearing the Alliance Leader’s chambers reached their ears.

“Alliance Leader, the Beggar King of the Beggars’ Gang requests an audience.”

Cheok Pae-myeong traded a swift look with Gongsun Hyeon before granting permission in a solemn tone.

“Bring him inside.”

The sentry rushed off to execute the command, and shortly thereafter, the Beggar King strolled casually into the Alliance Leader’s chambers.

“If I am not mistaken, we encountered one another in Sichuan just days ago, so what brings you to my residence so soon?”

Cheok Pae-myeong made zero attempt to mask his annoyance.

“Do not tell me you have further grievances regarding the Sichuan occurrence?”

“Haha. What else remains to be said on that matter? If the Maitreya Luminous Cult misbehaves and reveals their malice, we discipline them. If they do not, we let them be. It is quite straightforward.”

“Then for what precise purpose did you travel all this way?”

“Trust me, this elderly beggar had no true desire to undertake this journey either, but I was forced to arrive in person due to critical intelligence. I suspected that if I dispatched some ordinary young beggar, the grand Alliance Leader would simply dismiss him without a second thought.”

For a few quiet, tense moments, the grinning Beggar King and Cheok Pae-myeong locked gazes in a silent clash of wills.

“Very well, what is this momentous intelligence that compelled your aging body to travel all this way?”

“It is possible we have been misled by the Blood Cult.”

“Misled? What is the meaning of this?”

“I am suggesting that the adversaries we clashed with previously might not have represented the primary strength of the Blood Cult at all.”

“Did you consume a spoiled meal from the gutters today?” The Alliance Leader let out a derisive laugh, making no effort to conceal his contempt.

Regardless of how lofty a status the Beggar King possessed within the Beggars’ Gang, a beggar remained a beggar, and Cheok Pae-myeong secretly wondered if the old man had ingested something foul on his travels.

“Whether this intelligence was gathered poorly or gathered flawlessly is precisely what I intend to ascertain from this moment onward.”

“And from what preposterous source did this piece of information originate?”

“Given that it remains unverified, I cannot disclose that source at this moment. However, it is intelligence that warrants serious contemplation.”

The Beggar King remained completely unfazed as he concealed the fact that the tip had come from the Maitreya Luminous Cult. He had wrestled with the dilemma throughout his entire journey to the Martial Alliance before ultimately settling on this path.

Aware of the growing animosity between Cheok Pae-myeong and the Maitreya Luminous Cult, he recognized that the Alliance Leader would dismiss the alert entirely if he discovered who had provided it.

“Ha. What do you take this Alliance for? Do we appear like idle fools with nothing better to do than pursue every uncorroborated rumor you present to us?”

“I brought this to your attention because it involves the Blood Cult. And I wish to understand why you disregard intelligence that this elderly beggar took the trouble to deliver in person as though it means nothing.”

Their gazes locked once more, neither individual prepared to back down first.

“…Very well. I shall relay this to the Flying Dragon Pavilion and instruct them to investigate. Now, if you would be so kind as to depart.”

“How considerate of you, placing the security of the martial world above all else.”

It was impossible to discern if the Beggar King uttered those words with genuine sincerity or as a sarcastic barb, but he turned on his heel and exited the Alliance Leader’s chambers after delivering that line.

The instant the sound of his departing steps faded entirely, Cheok Pae-myeong uttered a low mutter, his brow furrowed in anger.

“This individual, that individual… every single one of them vexes me deeply.”

“Once our conflict with the Demonic Cult concludes, we shall possess the means to handle all of them.”

Cheok Pae-myeong clicked his tongue at Gongsun Hyeon’s assessment.

“Hmph. We absolutely must.”

Gongsun Hyeon observed the Alliance Leader for a brief moment before offering a question.

“What are your thoughts, Alliance Leader?”

“Thoughts on what? Are you referring to that absurdity the Beggar King just uttered?”

“Yes.”

“If I had to evaluate it, the scenario is not entirely out of the question. At the very least, a possibility exists that some surviving remnants are still hiding in the shadows.”

No matter how minimal the likelihood, he could not entirely dismiss the chance that it was not merely stragglers lurking out there, but the Blood Cult’s actual main force, precisely as the Beggar King had asserted.

However, it was not the Blood Cult that dominated Cheok Pae-myeong’s thoughts the most.

“Rather than the Blood Cult, I am far more intrigued by the identity of the person who supplied this information to the Beggar King.”

“I shall command the Flying Dragon Pavilion to collaborate with the Beggars’ Gang to track the Blood Cult, and to uncover the origin of that intelligence during the investigation.”

“See to it. Furthermore, select some trustworthy individuals to unearth scandals regarding the Maitreya Luminous Cult.”

“As you wish.”

Cheok Pae-myeong added a final directive before Gongsun Hyeon could depart.

“I care not if it is the flimsiest pretext. Uncover something, anything. Fabricate a narrative regarding that sinister blade wielded by the fool proclaiming himself the Incarnation of Maitreya, and that will provide us with all the justification we require.”

“I shall bear that in mind.”

Gongsun Hyeon offered a polite salute and exited the Alliance Leader’s chambers.

As he departed to instruct his subordinates, Gongsun Hyeon found himself stealing a glance back at the pavilion over his shoulder.

‘Is it because his ultimate ambition is finally within reach? The Alliance Leader appears uncharacteristically anxious.’

His deduction was only partially accurate.

Even Cheok Pae-myeong himself failed to fully comprehend just how restless he was becoming.

Left solo in his massive hall, Cheok Pae-myeong’s thoughts continuously drifted back to a single focus.

‘The Maitreya Luminous Cult. I must eliminate them swiftly.’

Less than five years had elapsed, yet that individual had transformed from a weakling who could be crushed in three strikes into a monumental hazard.

Every single intuition in his body was blaring a caution.

That if he permitted that masked fool any additional time to develop, the grand design he had dedicated his life to constructing might collapse into ruins.

Following their departure from Sichuan and crossing the border into Gansu Province, Il-mok and his comrades journeyed toward Lanzhou.

With affairs in Sichuan already concluded, Il-mok found no justification to dally. They traveled at maximum speed and spent several additional days journeying across Gansu before ultimately arriving in Lanzhou.

Upon reaching the Maitreya Luminous Cult’s scripture hall, Il-mok first gathered in private with Ouyang Mun, who had been dispatched ahead previously with a missive.

“I delivered the missive to martial artists from the Divine Cult and instructed them to transport it to the main headquarters. I ensured they understood it was a highly critical confidential document, so it will undoubtedly arrive at the main headquarters.”

Il-mok nodded in approval at Ouyang Mun’s briefing.

“You have exerted great effort, both with this task and during the clash with the Emei Sect.”

“Haha, how could that possibly compare to the hardships the Young Master has endured? Furthermore, everyone appears to have advanced so significantly during the few years I was separated from you. I nearly failed to recognize them.”

“Have you not advanced quite a bit yourself, Ouyang?”

“That is entirely due to my spouse. Hahaha.”

The absolute conviction on Ouyang Mun’s countenance as he chuckled caused Il-mok to shake his head in amusement.

‘Observe this completely infatuated man.’

Several days elapsed while Il-mok passed the time awaiting a response from headquarters, until an unanticipated guest arrived.

And it did not happen to be a courier from the Divine Cult.

“Young Master, visitors from the Hwangbo Family and the Wudang Sect have arrived to meet with you.”

Jin Ha-yeon’s announcement elicited a dry chuckle from Il-mok.

“Talk about tardy reinforcements. Splendid.”

Nevertheless, he could not simply turn away individuals who had traveled with at least some measure of good intentions.

He donned his mask and departed from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s branch office, heading toward the Maitreya Luminous Cult’s scripture hall.

Upon his arrival, he was greeted by a gathering of remarkably robust individuals of various genders. And positioned directly in the center of the group were an elderly gentleman and a youth clad in Taoist vestments adorned with the Taiji emblem.

‘It appears Wudang merely dispatched two individuals.’

That detail did not trouble him in the least.

Because one of those two individuals was an elder whose worth surpassed an entire sect or family mobilizing collectively.

Il-mok advanced toward them and offered a respectful greeting, first to a middle-aged man within the larger gathering, and then to the elderly gentleman in the Taiji-adorned vestment.

“It is a privilege to cross paths with the Fist King and the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal, whose reputations echo across the martial world. I am the incarnation of Maitreya, who guides the Maitreya Luminous Cult.”

The pair had evidently identified Il-mok as he drew near, and they returned his greeting in a similar fashion.

“I was aware of your existence through my offspring, but it appears we are only now officially meeting. I am the patriarch of the Hwangbo Family, Hwangbo Ak.”

“My pupil has shared much regarding your deeds. I have long since discarded my birth name, so please address me by my Taoist title, Muheoja.”

“How could I dare to address the celebrated Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal by his Taoist title so informally?”

“Hahaha. It is nothing more than a meaningless title.”

Before Il-mok could fashion a reply, Hwangbo Ak interjected with a witty remark and dissolved into a booming laugh.

“Come now. If the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal himself speaks in that manner, where does that leave someone like me? I would be too ashamed to refer to myself as the Fist King anywhere. Hahaha.”

“The Patriarch praises this old, decaying Taoist far too much. Haha.”

With that casual banter brightening the environment, Hwangbo Ak spoke once more.

“We received the intelligence during our journey here. We mobilized to assist the Maitreya Luminous Cult, but as it eventuated, there was no requirement for our intervention whatsoever. We could not simply retrace our steps after traveling all this distance, so we arrived unannounced. A warrior who has unsheathed his blade ought to at least strike something, after all.”

“The mere fact that you journeyed here is more than sufficient for me.”

Upon hearing Il-mok’s response, Hwangbo Ak’s eyes glinted as he pushed forward.

“Hahaha. Splendid to hear. Well then, given that I have already discarded all modesty, let me proceed directly to the matter at hand. My primary motive for traveling here in person was not solely to assist the Maitreya Luminous Cult. In truth, I desired to discover more about you individuals.”

Il-mok possessed a strong suspicion regarding exactly where this conversation was heading. The expression in Hwangbo Ak’s eyes was one he detected instantly.

“A martial artist demonstrates his worth through his martial arts, not through discourse. Therefore, rather than remaining here trading pleasantries, how about we engage in a spar?”

Observing those eyes radiating with intense competitive fervor, Il-mok could only offer an internal sigh. ‘Ah, so Hwangbo Yeon inherits this trait from her sire.’

The fruit clearly did not fall far from the tree, though one slight distinction existed. Hwangbo Yeon at the very least possessed the discretion to assess the environment before requesting a duel, whereas Hwangbo Ak functioned as an absolute force of nature.

“Father!”

The panicked outbursts from Hwangbo Yeon and Hwangbo Se-hui the instant Hwangbo Ak voiced his demand confirmed everything.

He shared traits with Hwangbo Yeon, but he seemed closer in temperament to the reckless individuals from the Dokgo Clan, specifically personalities like Dokgo Pae or Dokgo Ryong.

And that reflection brought Il-mok to a sudden, startling theory.

‘Wait, do not tell me the Hwangbo Family has been secretly practicing Demonic Arts this entire time?’