Chapter 126 - Act 18. Cheong Un, the Sword of Small Defeats (6)

“What do you mean?”

At Yise’s question, Cheong Un swept his hair back with an awkward expression. What he was about to discuss was something of a disgrace to the Northern Continent.

“Every so often, just when people have begun to forget, those bastards murder independent Cultivators in Tiandogyeong like this. Then they make it look like bloodshed between independent Cultivators.”

Cheong Un looked down at the corpse again and spat out the words through gritted teeth.

“The Heavenly Ice Palace warns them from time to time, but all they do is claim it was an individual disciple acting out of line and promise to be more careful. Nothing ever changes.”

Yise’s expression grew knowing. Ryu Seonghan seemed to be thinking the same thing, and their eyes met.

“Sounds like they’re silencing witnesses, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. They only get involved enough that they can cut all ties if necessary, and if anyone slips through their fingers, they seem to dispose of them this way.”

Yise had wondered why the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s involvement had been so limited when they were doing something as dangerous as defying the Heavenly Ice Palace. So this was what lay behind it.

They seemed to think they need only plant spies near the Heavenly Ice Palace and dispose of anyone who escaped and managed to crawl all the way there.

And that assessment was very nearly correct. Who knew how many decades or centuries this had been going on? Ultimately, no one had caught them yet.

Yise turned to Ryu Seonghan.

“Do you think they saw us approach Sin Yeoran?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t think they saw us that day. Either that, or they didn’t think much of it. Otherwise, they would have acted sooner.”

“Was Sin Yeoran wandering around the area?”

“... I kept insisting that she stay put, but I couldn’t watch her every moment. She did seem impatient, though.”

“Then she might have gone looking for someone else to help her. And word reached the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley.”

“Yes. That seems likely.”

Cheong Un, who had been listening quietly, interjected.

“What have you two been up to, getting mixed up with those bastards?”

“First, let me set the record straight: we didn’t start anything. He’s a victim too.”

“A victim? Don’t tell me...”

While Ryu Seonghan breathed in and out to rein in his inner demon, Yise explained what had happened in his stead: the clash between the Ryu and Yun Clans, what had befallen the exterminated Sin Clan, the similarities between the two incidents, and the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s involvement.

In a rare display of emotion, Cheong Un showed anger.

“I have no words. Those demonic bastards really are beyond dealing with.”

“You couldn’t be more right.”

“And isn’t this outright treason?”

They had crushed Foundation Establishment cities without the Heavenly Ice Palace’s knowledge, then murdered a witness at the very foot of its main mountain. This was no mere incident. It was a clear act of betrayal and rebellion.

“Whew. You really are in deep. Both of you. This isn’t good.”

“I tried to keep you out of it, remember? You brought this on yourself.”

“That doesn’t matter. A sword Cultivator of the Tyrant Sword Sect cannot cower before mere demonic practitioners. I’m only worried that getting more deeply involved might bring harm to my sect.”

“It shouldn’t come to that. We’re not planning to do anything about the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley right now.”

What could two or three people possibly do against a Nascent Soul-level demonic-path sect?

For now, Ryu Seonghan’s desire for revenge was directed at the Yun Clan. As for Yise, he had looked after Sin Yeoran largely in the hope of giving those bastards a good kick in the teeth before he left.

He had never imagined she would be unable to wait those few years and stir up trouble that would get her killed.

What a foolish woman.

Revenge was not something to leave to luck. You had to prepare thoroughly, wait, and act only once you had calculated everything.

Yise was about to soothe Sin Yeoran’s vengeful soul when he stopped.

“...”

There was no vengeful soul. Even her soul seemed to have already fallen into the hands of a demonic practitioner from the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley.

‘Vicious bastards.’

Just how corrupt were their inner worlds? Could such boundless malice really come from fellow human beings?

What crime had Sin Yeoran committed to deserve having even her soul stolen and imprisoned in eternal agony?

The Shaman Volume of the Demon-Exorcizing Spirit Arts classified interfering with another’s cycle of reincarnation and tampering with their soul as great evils—forms of evil karma one must never accumulate.

Those bastards seemed not to fear the heavenly tribulation awaiting them.

Yise looked away and asked Cheong Un,

“If the two sects went to war, how do you think it would turn out?”

“The Tyrant Sword Sect and the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley? I’m confident we could crush them completely. Our leader and elders have been itching to do it already. Provided we have clear justification and can get the Heavenly Ice Palace’s approval, of course.”

“Isn’t treason justification enough?”

“We have no proof.”

“What if you testified?”

“...”

Cheong Un fell silent and stroked his chin thoughtfully. Then he slowly shook his head.

“No. They’ll think we’re fabricating claims and blowing things out of proportion to keep the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley in check. Those bastards pay an enormous amount of tribute, too. And if the palace destroys a loyal subordinate faction without solid proof or justification, what faction would offer it loyalty?”

“Loyalty, from those filthy demonic bastards? Even a dog wouldn’t find that funny.”

Yise muttered the words with a sneer.

Cheong Un bowed his head once, as though he had taken the remark as criticism directed at him. Yise added that he hadn’t meant him.

‘I need to let off some steam.’

Seeing the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s vile handiwork for himself had turned his stomach.

He had been debating it for some time, but now he had no choice. He would have to destroy a demonic practitioner city to rid himself of this inner demon.

Yise looked at Ryu Seonghan.

“Reach Foundation Establishment as soon as you can. I’ll help if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Senior. But the immortal cuisine is enough. I’ll achieve the rest through my own efforts.”

After encouraging him to keep working hard, Yise turned to Cheong Un.

“Could you return to your sect and investigate the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s recent activities? If there’s nothing to find, there’s nothing we can do, but a proper investigation might turn up some evidence.”

“I can, but what are you going to do?”

Yise hesitated before answering. He intended to go conquer a demonic practitioner city and gather Demonic Energy.

But saying he was going to cultivate felt a little awkward when he had just asked Cheong Un to investigate on his behalf.

“I’ll be honest. I’m going to disguise myself and conquer a Foundation Establishment demonic practitioner city. Keep that secret, as our contract requires.”

“Don’t worry about that. It certainly sounds entertaining, but why go to the trouble?”

“To make money.”

Even Ryu Seonghan didn’t know that he gathered Demonic Energy. Yise offered a convenient excuse, and Cheong Un’s expression took an odd turn.

“I understand.”

“Understand what?”

“You’re a man of chivalry.”

“...?”

“You’re outraged by the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s behavior and want to do whatever you can, aren’t you? But you’re too embarrassed to admit it, so you use resources as an excuse to punish demonic practitioners and save the ordinary people suffering under them. Righteousness guides your steps. Just as I thought.”

“... Huh? Well, yes, I suppose.”

He seemed to have gotten entirely the wrong idea, but Yise didn’t bother correcting him. As long as he kept quiet, that was enough.

“And you even have the humility not to boast of your righteous deeds. I really do think I’m a good judge of character.”

“Yes. Right. Exactly.”

Hearing Yise’s evasive tone, Ryu Seonghan eyed him through narrowed eyes.

“Could I perhaps accompany you? Once your business is finished, I’ll return to my sect and see to your request.”

“You? Why?”

“No particular reason. I want to see your skills.”

“You’d be better off staying out of this.”

“I won’t interfere. In return, I’ll take you to a suitable Foundation Establishment city. They’re infamous for their viciousness. Even other demonic-path sects shudder at them.”

“In that case... all right.”

Yise had little choice but to agree. After all, someone willing to support him in every way deserved something in return.

Before leaving Tiandogyeong, Yise asked,

“Oh, there’s one thing bothering me. If the Foundation Establishment Cultivator ruling a city or their faction is wiped out, what happens to the ordinary people and independent Cultivators left behind?”

“Usually, a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator is dispatched as city lord. There’s a Core Formation clan overseeing the city, and it sends people to establish a branch there. If there’s no one available to found a branch, they relocate the ordinary people somewhere suitable, but that rarely happens. There are Foundation Establishment Cultivators everywhere who want cities of their own.”

“Then there shouldn’t be a problem.”

“You even consider the ordinary people who will be left behind. A chivalrous man truly does think differently. I’m learning a great deal.”

“... Right. Let’s just get going.”

Feeling needlessly embarrassed, Yise hurried on.

* * *

A flying cloud and a flying sword cut across the sky. Their destination was a remote Foundation Establishment city within the Tyrant Sword Sect’s territory.

Cheong Un added that it was a thorn in their side they would have destroyed long ago, if not for the Northern Continent’s rules.

Yise understood why he shuddered at the thought of it. Upon reaching the city walls, he could clearly feel the vile Demonic Energy enveloping the entire city.

“Don’t get involved. If you leave traces of your swordsmanship, it could invite unnecessary suspicion.”

“Of course. I only came to watch your skills anyway.”

Cheong Un readily agreed, waving a Foundation Establishment Farseeing Talisman.

“Oh, if anyone tries to escape, could you take care of them?”

“Easily. I’ll watch from above and deal with anyone I spot.”

“Thanks.”

Yise brought out Emer and assigned him to Cheong Un.

“Circle overhead, and if anyone tries to escape, let Cheong Un know.”

“COO-ROO!”

Emer answered with a bob of his beak. Yise stroked his feathers as if entrusting him with the task.

As a raptor spirit beast, Emer had racial traits that gave him eyesight surpassing even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s despite his low realm. He would be quite helpful.

“Oh? You raise a spirit beast too? You really are versatile.”

“I got lucky. Well, I’m counting on you.”

Yise used Foundation Establishment Spirit-Concealing and Invisibility Talismans, then leaped down from the wall.

The demonic practitioner city felt utterly unlike any city he had seen before. The air was bleak and chilling, filled with artificial, unnatural Demonic Energy instead of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

He could not even imagine how much lingering resentment it would take to create such an environment.

People hung alive in the streets, being traded like butchered meat. Ordinary people were openly subjected to abuse. Countless bloodstains lay where no one had bothered to clean them, lingering resentment rising from them.

Though bile rose in his throat and nausea threatened to overwhelm him, Yise kept his eyes ahead and walked on.

He pressed down his anger.

Enough of this pathetic pretense of being a good man. He already knew what Cultivators were like, what sort of place the cultivation world was.

Wasn’t he also a butcher who had murdered a Cultivator he had never met to further his own goals?

Unless he broke the cycle of reincarnation and attained eternal life, he too would fall into the Abyss.

He was simply advancing toward his goal. These bastards just happened to be standing in his path, unlucky enough to be run down and killed.

This, too, was merely retribution for their own deeds under the law of cause and effect.

The inner citadel was surrounded by a Foundation Establishment-level barrier formation. Yise used a Formation-Breaking Talisman to temporarily disable the barrier and slipped inside through the brief opening.

An alarm immediately rang through the citadel, announcing a disturbance in the barrier, and several divine senses spread outward.

Yise launched himself straight toward the nearest one.