Chapter 197

Chapter 197
## Chapter 197: Illusory and Real (2)

Xilai Hall of the Shaolin Temple.

The residential and training quarters once reserved for Shaolin’s novices had been entirely repurposed as the primary command center for the Beggars’ Sect. This shift occurred following the arrival of the Sect Leader, the Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar, who had brought his elite officers to the temple to provide reinforcements.

Leaning back in a relaxed posture while sifting through a mountain of intelligence reports, the Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar focused on a specific scroll and spoke aloud.

“They’ve already navigated the Three Gates Gorge and reached Xin’an? That quickly?”

“It is true. Their pace has exceeded all our projections.”

Hwe So, who was nearby organizing the relentless stream of incoming data, replied. His weariness was etched into the lines of his face.

“Earlier today, we informed the Shaolin leadership that it would take them ten days at minimum, yet they have reached Xin’an much sooner.”

“At this rate, they will be upon us in six or seven days,” Hwe So added with conviction.

A deep, troubled sound vibrated in the Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar’s chest as he processed this reality.

“Is the group staying together?”

“Entirely. However, their reconnaissance teams are out in force. While we are neutralizing their scouts as we find them, the cost is high. We are losing many of our own brothers in the process.”

The Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar pressed his lips together, his expression darkening with the weight of his disciples’ lives.

“We cannot permit them to evade us, regardless of their tactics. Our priority is to expose any collaboration with the North Sea Ice Palace. I want a tail on them so tight that even an ant’s movement is recorded.”

“Understood!”

Hwe So responded, aggressively rubbing his scalp as flakes of dry skin fell away.

Suddenly, the entrance to Xilai Hall was kicked open with a violent crash. Every person in the room snapped their head toward the noise.

“What is the meaning of this?”

Hwe So glared at the intruder, only to realize it was his junior, Cheok Bong.

“It’s a disaster, senior brother.”

Cheok Bong’s face was drained of all color, looking like a ghost.

Normally, Cheok Bong was a man of leisure who preferred his clothes loose and his pace slow. Seeing him in such a state caused even the Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar to sit upright and drop his casual demeanor.

“Speak plainly. What has occurred?”

“The contingent from the North Sea Ice Palace… they have vanished.”

“What are you saying? Vanished? Our previous reports stated there was no change in their position.”

“The reports were wrong.”

Cheok Bong stepped forward and offered a crumpled piece of paper.

“This message just arrived from our youngest member.”

Hwe So grabbed the letter and scanned it frantically.

“Heaven help us!”

Hwe So gripped his hair in frustration, his face now a mirror of Cheok Bong’s panic.

The Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar snatched the parchment and read it for himself, his features turning to stone.

“You fools! How did you allow things to deteriorate to this point?!”

“It appears they meticulously manipulated our perception, siphoning off their numbers over several days.”

“That is no excuse! How do you lose track of over a hundred warriors disappearing?!”

The Sect Leader’s furious shout seemed to make the very roof of Xilai Hall tremble.

“The confusion likely started when the reinforcements from the Shaanxi offensive began merging with them,” Hwe So stammered.

“Even so, that is at least a hundred men. Possibly many more have slipped away into the shadows. Unbelievable!”

The Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar sighed heavily, shaking his head. After a long silence, he turned to Hwe So.

“Where do you suspect they are heading?”

“I cannot say for certain, but the most logical destination…”

“Speak.”

“They may be striking toward Shandong.”

“Indeed. I am of the same mind. With Haomen decimated, the Blood Cult is likely feeling the pressure. These missing forces are almost certainly moving to bolster them. It is the most probable scenario.”

“We must remain open to other possibilities as well,” Cheok Bong interjected.

The Sect Leader nodded solemnly.

“A fair point. We must be prepared for anything. Hwe So.”

“Yes, master.”

“Call upon every available man to hunt for their trail. We must locate them immediately.”

“It shall be done.”

“Also, send word to the Shandong Yin Clan. There is a high probability the missing group is descending upon their territory.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Thousand-Hand Divine Beggar stood up abruptly.

“I must consult with the Abbot at once.”

—

Fengyun County, thirty li northwest of the Shandong Yin Clan’s headquarters.

As night blanketed the county, a variety of individuals began to filter into the area. They arrived in small, unassuming groups—porters carrying heavy loads, traveling merchants, scholars accompanied by servants, and rugged hunters.

Maintaining a steady but inconspicuous rhythm, these travelers eventually converged at the Baijia Inn, the largest establishment in the county.

When the clock struck midnight, several figures moved through the shadows toward the grandest suite on the third floor.

“It seems our assembly is complete,” remarked the elderly man sitting alone in the room. He was Mo Gong Jeong, the Grand Elder of the North Sea Ice Palace. He looked around as the others entered.

“Yes, Grand Elder,” Buk Ri Do replied with a deep bow.

“Give me the count. How many have arrived?”

“Exactly forty.”

Mo Gong Jeong’s brow twitched.

“So few? Did we lose men on the road?”

“No, sir. They are simply traveling in fragmented groups to avoid the prying eyes of the Beggars’ Sect. It takes time to navigate undetected.”

“We planned for staggered departures, so this delay was expected,” added Elder Buk Ri Song.

Mo Gong Jeong let out a derisive snort.

“You are too soft. Staggered starts are just an excuse for tardiness. When the time for battle comes, they should be here to the second.”

“Be reasonable. With the Beggars’ Sect and other enemies watching us like predators, our men are being cautious to ensure the mission isn’t compromised.”

“He is right, Uncle… I mean, Grand Elder.”

Buk Ri Do corrected his address quickly upon seeing Mo Gong Jeong’s expression.

“The rest will be here by tomorrow at the latest.”

“Here at the inn?”

“As we discussed, they are currently hidden throughout Fengyun County and the surrounding villages. We will all gather at the Golden Pine Forest and launch a direct assault on the Shandong Yin Clan from there.”

“Ah, yes. My mind must be failing me in my old age. I seem to forget the details,” Mo Gong Jeong said, though his sharp, piercing gaze suggested he was far from senile.

“We strike at night tomorrow, then.”

“That is my concern,” Buk Ri Do admitted. “The journey here was grueling. Beyond the physical strain, the mental toll of evading capture has left the men exhausted.”

“Tsk, move a little distance and they crumble? Pathetic!”

Mo Gong Jeong clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“In my prime, we would march for days and go straight into a bloodbath. The youth of today lack the constitution.”

Buk Ri Song chuckled softly. “It is a different era.”

“Exactly!” Mo Gong Jeong barked. “No fighting spirit left in them.”

“Regardless, if the strategists say they need rest, we should probably follow the plan,” Buk Ri Song suggested.

Seeing an opening, Buk Ri Do added, “A night raid carries too many risks. It is better to strike at the first light of dawn the day after. It is only a one-shichen journey if we move quickly. We can catch them while they are still waking up.”

“Fine. We will follow that plan. But what is the status of the Shandong Yin Clan?”

“The situation remains unchanged since we began our move.”

“Excellent. In a few days, we will see why the Blood Cult was so desperate for our assistance.”

“They want to challenge the Orthodox Heaven Alliance,” Buk Ri Song noted.

“And to eliminate the Sword Empress,” Buk Ri Do added.

When the Blood Cult offered a staggering sum to buy an attack on the Shandong Yin Clan, the North Sea Ice Palace had been rife with theories. The consensus was that the move was a massive feint designed to draw attention to Shandong and the Yin Clan, leaving the Sword Empress or the Orthodox Heaven Alliance vulnerable.

“The Sword Empress… yes,” Mo Gong Jeong mused, agreeing with the assessment.

—

“Little brother, I feel like I’m wasting away.”

Cheol Woo stretched his limbs as he sat, looking at the meager spread on the table with clear dissatisfaction.

“Is this it? This wouldn’t fill a bird.”

“Look at the hour. You should be happy there’s any food at all,” So Su Rin replied, picking at some thin noodles in a light broth.

“It’s still pathetic.”

“The flavor is good, though. The soup is quite rich,” Noe Jeon remarked, finishing his bowl and letting out a loud burp.

“The alcohol is even better. This is high-quality stuff,” Man Chu added, laughing as he rattled the bottle.

“Is that so?”

Cheol Woo’s mood shifted instantly. He held out a large soup bowl instead of a small cup.

Man Chu tipped the bottle, and a stream of golden liquid filled the bowl. The rich aroma filled the room, drawing an appreciative look from Cheol Woo.

“Now that is a scent!”

“Wait until you taste it.”

Cheol Woo downed the entire bowl in one go and sighed in satisfaction.

“Incredible. That hits the spot.”

“See?”

“I never thought I’d find liquor this refined in a place as remote as this.”

Cheol Woo held the bowl out for a refill while grabbing a piece of charred meat.

“Give me more.”

So Su Rin tried to swat his hand with her chopsticks, but he didn’t even flinch.

“You should eat as well. Stop just looking after him,” So Su Rin said to Gwa Yu, who was currently feeding scraps of raw, fatty meat to Black Wolf. The wolf was swallowing the pieces whole.

“Man Chu,” Sima Geon called out, interrupting the drinking session.

“Yes, brother?”

“Where exactly are we right now?”

“We’ve crossed into Northern Jiangsu Province.”

“How far to Shandong?”

“I’d guess about two days. Let me check.”

Man Chu reached into his pack and produced a tattered map.

“We are right here. If you go about a hundred li to the west, you’ll hit the Orthodox Heaven Alliance.”

“We’re close. How long has it been since Neung Sojeo and the Sword Pavilion departed from the Alliance?”

“The word is they left about five days ago.”

“Dammit,” Cheol Woo grumbled, his mouth full of food. “We pushed ourselves to the limit and we’re still five days behind?”

Man Chu looked at him with a mix of amusement and annoyance.

“Five days is an achievement. Look at the ground we’ve covered. We only narrowed the gap this much because we didn’t stop to breathe.”

“Any word on the Blood Cult’s movements?” Sima Geon asked.

“Nothing major yet. But it’s hard to be certain. There are too many moving parts; we could have overlooked something.”

“Did you pass on the warning?”

“I did. Using the information we beat out of Haomen, I made it clear that the Blood Cult is hunting the Sword Empress and the Sword Pavilion. I’ve confirmed that message was received multiple times.”

“Well done.”

“But do we know which route Neung Sojeo took after leaving?” So Su Rin asked.

“The trail goes cold after they left the Orthodox Heaven Alliance. The Beggars’ Sect has been pouring all their resources into the Shaolin region, so their presence in Shandong is thin. Besides, Shandong is the backyard of the Yin Clan and the Alliance anyway.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Sima Geon said, his hand gripping Man Chu’s arm with intensity.

“Just ensure we don’t lose the trail of Neung Sojeo and the Sword Pavilion. Ask your contacts for help. I’ll make it worth their while.”

“Don’t worry. Given the stakes, it shouldn’t be an issue. The leadership values its connection to you brothers.”

“I appreciate it.” Sima Geon let go, nodding slowly.

“Stop brooding and have a drink,” Cheol Woo said, pouring for him. “She isn’t the type to be easily taken down.”

Sima Geon accepted the drink in silence, his eyes reflecting deep anxiety. Cheol Woo, despite his bravado, shared that same shadow of worry.