ISS 43

Qilian Mountains!

The Qilian range, sitting in Gansu Province, was counted among the most famed mountains in the Central Plains.

The range, which begins southwest of Zhangye County in Gansu and stretches into Qinghai, extended for thousands of li and connected westward to another renowned range, the E’ajiin (E’a Gold) Mountains.

Whooooosh!

A strong wind swept through Qilian, sending echoes through the valleys.

Tall peaks rose like raised fingers, piercing the clouds as if propping up the sky, and the long, sheer cliffs that stretched out resembled a screen of rock.

Between cliff and cliff the gouged valleys were narrow, long, and gloomy — like the mouth of hell.

Whooooosh!

When the wind reached the valley’s end it scattered in all directions.

Because at the valley’s end stood a fortress.

The whole fortress had been constructed from the red agate stone that Gansu was famous for.

A single signboard hung above the great gate.

“Xie Dao Meng — The Evil Path Alliance!”

The Xie Dao Meng, the coalition of the heterodox schools of the Central Plains’ martial world, had settled within a valley of the Qilian Mountains.

More than twenty people were seated at the central hall of the alliance.

These were the elders of the council who led the Xie Dao Meng.

On the main seat sat a man in his late forties to early fifties.

He was the leader of the heterodox martial world, the supreme master of the sects — the Evil Emperor, Hyeok Se-gi.

“Demons….” His voice was low but powerful.

“Cheolpae Sword’s Sija-myeong would not speak lightly.” A small, wizened man seated to Hyeok Se-gi’s right said. One would make a grave mistake to underestimate him by appearance alone.

This man was Sima Joon-seong, the military commander of the Xie Dao Meng, the practical second-in-command and head of the Sima clan.

“I know that. Which makes this all the more astonishing. That a demon who vanished thirty years ago would reappear now.” Hyeok Se-gi said.

Everyone was flustered by the sudden reappearance of the demons, just as he had said.

“There must have been a few people who scattered across the Central Plains while fighting the demons thirty years ago.” An elderly man seated to Hyeok Se-gi’s left contributed.

Though he looked well into his sixties, even Hyeok Se-gi, the alliance leader, would not act rashly against him.

This was Heo Ja-saeng, the Grandmaster of the Sa-ryeong Gate and the First Elder of the Xie Dao Meng.

Thirty years ago he’d fought against the demons and earned great merit.

“Elder’s reasoning has merit, but if this is the result of some conspiracy, the problem becomes much more serious.” Sima Joon-seong said.

“A conspiracy?” Heo Ja-saeng asked.

“Yes, Meng-ju (Alliance Leader)! If we follow the First Elder’s words, there is little to worry about — we just recover the demonic arts. But if the demons conspired and released demonic techniques across the Central Plains’ martial world, the situation would be grave.”

“Why do you think so?” Heo Ja-saeng demanded.

“It’s the timing of when the demonic techniques appeared.” The gathered elders murmured.

“The timing…?” They asked him to explain in detail.

“If they had acquired demonic techniques thirty years ago, these incidents would have happened long ago. Those who cultivate demonic arts, no matter how much they restrain themselves, once they reach a certain level they will be consumed by demonic influence.”

“That’s true.”

“But the reason it’s been quiet until now and suddenly appears — I reckon the demonic techniques were released only five to ten years ago.”

The elders narrowed their eyes. By their expressions and demeanors it was clear they placed great trust in Sima Joon-seong’s words.

There were two families in the Central Plains that could argue the world with their heads alone.

One was the Je-gal family among the orthodox schools, the other the Sima family among the heterodox. These two clans constantly vied to be supreme; they competed and contrasted but neither had yet bested the other.

“So if, as you say, it’s been five to ten years — isn’t it true that once someone cultivates demonic arts, they fall into demonic influence quicker than that?” Heo Ja-saeng asked.

“That’s correct. But for it to happen as your Excellency suggests, they would have had to devote themselves completely to cultivating the technique.”

“You mean they hid the fact they had cultivated demonic arts, slowed their training progress to avoid notice, and that is why the demons are only appearing now?” Heo Ja-saeng asked.

“Yes. Those who cultivate demonic arts are marked as martial offenders regardless of their status, so they would have kept it secret.” Sima Joon-seong’s words suggested the matter might be more serious.

“It’s been quiet for a while…so what are you concluding?” Hyeok Se-gi asked.

“We should investigate people who went missing in the past five to ten years, or those who used the pretext of secluding themselves in closed-door training.” Sima Joon-seong recommended.

“Hmm…”

“As the proverb goes, ‘be prepared and you’ll not be harmed.’ It doesn’t hurt to prepare.”

“All right, your suggestion makes sense. What do the elders think?” Hyeok Se-gi asked.

“I also agree with Sima Commander,” Heo Ja-saeng said, and the other elders followed suit.

“We should start by investigating the sects that belong to the Xie Dao Meng. Also, inform the Martial Alliance (Mu-rim Meng) of this matter and ask them to investigate as well.”

Despite being at odds and snarling like rivals, they would cooperate when a common enemy appeared.

“Dispatch Ha-o Gate and the undercover unit to carry out a thorough investigation.”

“‘Left’ — what do you mean left?” Ui Je-woong (Uijeung) was furious when he heard from Ui Do-gi that Geom-ryeong and Jeok Hwa-myeong had left Nokmyeong Mountain at dawn.

“There was no justification to stop them.” Ui Do-gi explained.

“No justification?”

“Geom-ryeong Gongja (Prince Geom-ryeong)….” Ui Do-gi recounted the conversation from the night before to Ui Je-woong.

“You told them that?” Ui Je-woong said.

Everyone there had seen the person who had mastered the Jiang-shi technique, so Geom-ryeong thought he didn’t have to go to the Martial Alliance in person. He told them what needed to be done and left with Jeok Hwa-myeong that night.

“That’s right, uncle! Even if he went to the Martial Alliance they would listen to their side over his, so he hid their problem and left for the mountains….” Ui Do-gi finished.

Ui Je-woong nodded after hearing him. Rather than stirring internal strife, it might be smarter to gather strength that way.

“I understand. But we don’t know what those two will do.” He thought those who bore enmity toward Geom-ryeong would not sit idle.

Those who had finished preparations early left in haste to go to the Martial Alliance.

“But Geom-ryeong is missing.” As expected, Hyun Tae-ji asked about Geom-ryeong’s whereabouts.

“He left with Jeok Hwa-myeong.”

“What do you mean ‘left’?” Hyun Tae-ji exploded.

“He literally left. Everyone here saw the demons appear, so he thought there was no reason to go to the Martial Alliance. His relations with certain people were strained, so he left.” Ui Do-gi explained.

“That’s absurd! That fellow…!” Hyun Tae-ji became furious.

“So that’s why he left. He didn’t want to kill them with his own hands — he suspected Elder Hyun and the merchant leader Gon of trying to kill him.” Ui Do-gi said.

Hyun Tae-ji’s face flushed.

“You’re saying we tried to kill him? That’s outrageous, Elder Ui!” he blurted.

“Is it not true? Didn’t we use the ‘immortal poison’?” Ui Je-woong retorted.

Hyun Tae-ji’s retort died on his lips.

“Don’t deny it. The previous night we drank food and wine laced with the immortal poison and were poisoned. If not for Geom-ryeong, we’d have all become Jiang-shi created by his work.” Ui Je-woong continued.

“What are you saying? Immortal poison?” Hyun Tae-ji’s voice rose, and the warriors of the Hyun Dragon Group all heard.

“No?” he asked angrily.

“Yes.” Ui Je-woong, tired of arguing, said bluntly, “When we reach the Martial Alliance I will formally raise this issue. Know that. And since we still have some time before we arrive, you might try to kill us by then.”

Ui Je-woong’s words made Hyun Tae-ji’s face go even more red. He glared at him, then turned and went up to Gon Man-wook.

“Didn’t we say no one knows?” he hissed.

“Well….” Gon Man-wook stammered.

“You made me a fool by getting me involved. You’re responsible for this. Otherwise, don’t expect to be fed in Guangdong Province again.” Hyun Tae-ji threatened. Gon Man-wook bit his lip and glared back.

‘Because of your antics, my son cultivated demonic arts.’ Gon Man-wook also knew Gon Hong-gi had taken up demonic techniques. As merchants who had long been scorned by martial folk, they wanted to stop being disregarded, even if it meant learning demonic arts.

Their plan to control the demonic cultivation with closed-door training went awry when Gon Hong-gi’s rage surfaced, exposing everything too early.

“All right, I’ll take responsibility. But your Cheonmyeong Mountain Lodge will pay dearly too.”

Separated from the Hyun Dragon Group, Geom-ryeong and Jeok Hwa-myeong were heading not to Hubei but to Chongqing.

They had some words to deliver there.

The two sat for a while on a wide rock, resting.

“Now that we’ve left, Hyun Tae-ji and Gon Man-wook won’t stay still.” Jeok Hwa-myeong said, worried. Even with exceptions, ten is often stronger than one; that had been proven since ancient times.

No matter how strong Geom-ryeong was, he could not face Cheonmyeong Mountain Lodge alone, Jeok Hwa-myeong thought.

“That may be so, but I’m not overly concerned. If they try to kill me, then I will kill them.” Geom-ryeong said.

“That’s not something to think about so lightly. Cheonmyeong Mountain Lodge, along with Shin Chang-ui’s family, represents Guangdong Province. It would be difficult to counter their power alone.” Jeok Hwa-myeong said genuinely, concerned for Geom-ryeong.

“I apologize for causing you worry. But don’t worry too much. You may not believe it, but I’m not that weak a man.” Geom-ryeong replied.

“This man… I will help as much as I can, but it’s best to avoid unnecessary conflict.” Jeok Hwa-myeong advised.

“I will do so.”

They spoke at length, mostly about the demons.

Geom-ryeong, who’d lived in the Black Darkness Isle, knew of the demons only from what his three masters had told him. Jeok Hwa-myeong’s presence was of great help.

“Do you think they cultivated demonic arts because they wanted to? Or perhaps they cultivated unknowingly, or from revenge and hatred?” Jeok Hwa-myeong asked.

Geom-ryeong nodded.

Who would willingly become a marked criminal by learning demonic arts? No sane person would.

“But, brother, didn’t the demons who crossed the Gobi from Gansu never show themselves in the Central Plains until now?” Geom-ryeong asked.

“Yes, they’ve been silent until now. Frankly, if it hadn’t been for you, the Guangdong incident might have remained unknown. If it was discovered that they were cultivating demons, it would not only harm them but bring great calamity on their clans.” Jeok Hwa-myeong said.

“Exactly. But Elder Hyun knew Hyun Jin-myeong had cultivated demonic arts. Hyun Tae-ji, who tried to kill me, might have known too.” Geom-ryeong said.

Even if Geom-ryeong spoke the truth, Jeok Hwa-myeong didn’t want to believe it. Cheonmyeong Mountain Lodge was a pillar of orthodoxy in western Guangdong.

Many small and medium sects were under the lodge’s protection. If a sect there were found to have raised demons, it would produce massive chaos.

When Geom-ryeong left the Hyun Dragon Group, Jeok Hwa-myeong had secretly felt relieved that a major disturbance could be avoided.

“Will the matter in Chongqing take long?” Jeok Hwa-myeong asked.

“I don’t know. All I need to do is deliver the message… but people are unpredictable. Why do you ask?”

“If it takes long, I plan to pop by the Martial Alliance briefly.” Jeok Hwa-myeong said.

“Then do so. It wouldn’t hurt to know what decisions they make.” Geom-ryeong replied.

“All right. Hurry then.” Jeok Hwa-myeong urged.

“Alright!” Geom-ryeong stood, glanced back once, then walked toward Chongqing with Jeok Hwa-myeong as if nothing were wrong.

A little distance away from where they had rested, a man appeared.

He wore a black long robe with a black cloak over it, and looked to be in his late thirties.

“It was probably a coincidence.” A deep voice came from the man.

When Geom-ryeong had turned back before leaving, their gazes had met.

“That young fellow isn’t even twenty and yet he noticed the Ghost Transformation Shadow Technique. Impossible.” The man was certain.

“But we should still be cautious.” He added.

The middle-aged man looked in the direction Geom-ryeong and Jeok Hwa-myeong had gone, then disappeared from the spot.