Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 463

463. Dark Clouds Over Gansu

Grand Master Honwon’s words were shocking.

In the worst-case scenario, the number of Blood Demons could increase to four, and even the government offices of Gansu couldn’t be trusted.

But his point was valid.

Old Madam Ryung Se-young spoke with a bitter expression.

“Indeed. There’s no rule that there can only be one Blood Demon, so the Blood Cult would naturally try to awaken another.”

The Blood Cult had already lost the Hellblood Dragon to Ryung Se-young, the Thousand Blade Sword, in the past.

To avoid repeating that failure, they would surely try to awaken another Blood Demon.

Ryung Se-young recited a Buddhist prayer, looking at the collapsing corpses.

Then, she asked Grand Master Honwon.

“But why can’t we trust the government offices? Of course, I already know the government isn’t of much help…”

With a bitter smile, Ryung Se-young continued.

“Wouldn’t they just dismiss it as an epidemic or some incomprehensible, bizarre event? At this rate, not even a trace will be left behind.”

“Madam Ryung is right.”

Grand Master Honwon continued.

“But the problem is that the government offices still haven’t sent anyone to this village, even though they were informed of the village’s misfortune several days ago. No matter how remote Gansu is and how lax the officials are, this is far from normal.”

Unlike the northern border, the discipline of the government and military in Gansu was prone to laxity.

Beyond the northern border were powerful foreign tribes, but beyond the gates here were only endless deserts, wastelands, and vast mountain ranges.

“I see.”

Yoon-hyun sighed softly.

In this situation, Yoon-hyun’s authority as a special inspector-general was of little help.

Even if he wanted to find those in league with the Blood Cult or Demonic Sect, it would be difficult to distinguish them from widespread corruption, lax discipline, and existing illegal activities.

“But it’s fortunate that our Common Faction has regained its strength.”

Grand Master Honwon said, looking at Yoon-hyun.

“Thank you again, Alliance Lord.”

“It was my duty.”

Yoon-hyun asked with a firm expression.

“Then what measures should we take?”

The tragedy in this village was just the beginning.

Grand Master Honwon nodded.

“The situation isn’t good, but the Common Faction has regained its strength and activated the Subduing Demon Order [a call to action for martial artists to combat demonic forces], so we’ll be able to catch their tails soon.”

With a determined look, Grand Master Honwon said.

“First, we plan to launch a counterattack when the Blood Cult tries to attack another village. Then, the Blood Cult will have no choice but to be more cautious. But unless we eliminate the Blood Demons, we can’t eradicate these incidents.”

It wasn’t enough for the Blood Cult to just be cautious.

Ultimately, the Blood Demons had to be eliminated.

“What about the Demonic Sect? They won’t be idle either.”

“Alliance Lord is right.”

Grand Master Honwon said, lost in thought.

“Originally, the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect don’t work together. But if there’s a person called Merchant Il-dae behind them, the Demonic Sect will also be plotting something sinister here in Gansu. They’ll think this place has become a no man’s land.”

The expression ‘no man’s land’ was accurate.

If the Common Faction was neutralized and the government offices couldn’t be trusted.

Grand Master Honwon suddenly looked around and sighed.

“Let’s leave this place first. There’s nothing more to find out in this village.”

As he said, Guest Elder Gaeck Ong had already gotten up and remained silent while examining the wreckage.

Yoon-hyun, Gaeck Ong, Ryung Se-young, and Grand Master Honwon turned around.

Outside the village, the Taoists clasped their hands and bowed their heads, chanting Taoist prayers.

It was to console the souls of the victims.

Old Madam Ryung Se-young also recited Buddhist prayers.

Leaving behind the village where only silence remained, the group left the place.

The group traveled along the main road and returned to Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu.

Inspector-General Jo Gwan and Hang Jang-ik headed to the regional inspector’s office to get a more accurate grasp of the situation in the Gansu government and military, and Grand Master Honwon sent a letter detailing the situation to the Common Faction.

The disciples also returned to the Common Faction to receive orders from the acting sect leader.

Grand Master Honwon stayed behind to discuss future plans with Yoon-hyun.

Yoon-hyun, Gaeck Ong, Ryung Se-young, and Geum Hwa-young sat facing Grand Master Honwon in a teahouse in Lanzhou.

“In fact, the goals of the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect overlap to a considerable extent. They both want chaos in the world and seek to spill more blood.”

Grand Master Honwon said, holding a teacup.

“But they never cooperate. Rather, their methods are quite different. If the Blood Cult aims for indiscriminate slaughter, the Demonic Sect seeks to create its own world.”

That was something Yoon-hyun already knew.

“A rebellion?”

“That’s right.”

Grand Master Honwon nodded.

“Originally, Gansu would have become their playground. The Blood Cult would attack villages, and the Demonic Sect would expand its power and instigate rebellions. But if they know the Common Faction is still strong, they’ll move differently.”

Grand Master Honwon looked straight at Yoon-hyun and said.

“They’re likely to target the Alliance Lord.”

“Young Master Yoon?”

Geum Hwa-young said, startled.

“No, why would those guys target Young Master Yoon…”

“Indeed.”

Old Madam Ryung Se-young sighed.

“That cunning Hellblood Dragon will soon find out about Young Master Yoon’s existence. He’ll realize that the Common Faction regained its strength thanks to Young Master Yoon. Even if he doesn’t…”

Looking at Yoon-hyun, Ryung Se-young said.

“Currently, the most threatening existence to the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect is you, the Alliance Lord of the Azure Dragon Alliance and the special inspector-general of the court.”

It was a chilling thought that the Demonic Sect and the Blood Cult were targeting Yoon-hyun.

But Yoon-hyun’s expression was calm.

“I was already prepared for that.”

Yoon-hyun said, looking at Grand Master Honwon.

“Please do your best to prevent the rise of the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect here in Gansu. I will return to Hangzhou and devise countermeasures for this matter. I’ll return as soon as possible.”

“Thank you. Alliance Lord’s words are a great strength to us.”

Grand Master Honwon looked moved.

He couldn’t help but be moved that the Alliance Lord of the Azure Dragon Alliance would step forward himself.

Although the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect had been quiet for some time, no one had ever listened to the Common Faction’s words.

“Ah, and about the ‘experience the Common Faction has accumulated’ that you mentioned earlier.”

Grand Master Honwon quickly understood what he was referring to.

It was the story he had told Yoon-hyun earlier, saying, ‘If the power of the Azure Dragon Alliance and the experience the Common Faction has accumulated are combined, they can surely fulfill the mission of subduing demons.’

Smiling gently, Yoon-hyun said.

“Could you tell me more about it?”

***

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage carrying Yoon-hyun’s group sped along the main road.

Having left Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu, Yoon-hyun’s group headed straight for Hangzhou.

But the group in the carriage consisted only of Gaeck Ong, Inspector-General Jo Gwan, and Hang Jang-ik.

Old Madam Ryung Se-young and Geum Hwa-young had decided to help the Common Faction for the time being.

If those two joined forces, the Common Faction would be able to stand against the Blood Cult, which was stirring in Gansu.

However, they wouldn’t be able to prevent the harm to the innocent villagers.

Yoon-hyun’s expression, as he looked out of the carriage, was quite stern.

“It’s not your responsibility.”

Suddenly, Gaeck Ong’s voice was heard.

Gaeck Ong was looking at Yoon-hyun with a nonchalant gaze.

Yoon-hyun smiled.

“What do you mean?”

“Anything.”

Gaeck Ong said, as if throwing the words away.

“Whatever you’re worried about, it’s not your responsibility. No one can blame you.”

Frowning his bushy eyebrows, Gaeck Ong continued.

“If anyone tries to argue with you, they’ll have to talk to me first.”

Yoon-hyun let out a faint smile.

“Thank you, Elder.”

“Hmm.”

Gaeck Ong didn’t say anything else.

He looked up and stared out of the carriage.

Clatter, clatter.

Silence fell inside the carriage.

“Lord Yoon.”

Inspector-General Jo Gwan asked.

“Will you submit a separate report on the situation in Gansu?”

“Of course, I have to.”

Yoon-hyun nodded.

“But now, the first thing to do is to come up with concrete measures. First, I’m going to inform Eunuch Park of the simple situation.”

“I see.”

Jo Gwan nodded and cautiously continued.

“I don’t know if I should say this, but it’s necessary to be as careful as possible when mentioning the Blood Cult or the Demonic Sect. There are cases where people are dismissed as absurd or even disciplined for causing unnecessary disputes.”

“I know.”

Yoon-hyun nodded.

He was also a scribe and an official, so he couldn’t be unaware of the court’s tendencies.

“The chaos in the court is also what the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect want, so we must be extremely careful. I’ll inform Eunuch Park and prepare as quietly as possible.”

At Yoon-hyun’s words, Jo Gwan nodded.

Eunuch Park had extraordinary trust in Yoon-hyun, so he would prepare properly.

“Do you know what Merchant Il-dae is trying to do?”

Suddenly, Gaeck Ong asked.

“The way I saw him, he was overbearing, but not evil. But suddenly, he’s joining hands with the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect, I don’t understand.”

Gaeck Ong said, frowning.

“Besides, how can he suddenly give power to the Blood Cult or the Demonic Sect?”

The Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect don’t want martial arts manuals or elixirs.

Their power is based on strange and incomprehensible things like blood or demonic energy.

So Gaeck Ong’s question was natural.

No matter who the opponent was, even Merchant Il-dae.

“He’ll be able to do it.”

Yoon-hyun said calmly.

“If what I saw was the realm he reached.”

Gaeck Ong’s expression hardened.

If Yoon-hyun was right, Merchant Il-dae was no longer someone who could be called human.

“What about you?”

Gaeck Ong asked.

Yoon-hyun shook his head.

“I’m not. Giving power to the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect is not something a person can do.”

Jo Gwan, who was listening, asked with a surprised expression.

“Then are you saying that Merchant Il-dae has reached the realm of a god?”

That was the limit of what he could express.

The gods who lived in Mount Bongrae were said to govern all kinds of divine beasts and demons.

Yoon-hyun said with a bitter expression.

“That’s not it. If he had reached the realm of a god, why would he do such a thing?”

Gods do not disturb the mortal world.

Even if there are those who deceive the world and justify themselves by invoking gods.

“Will you inform Il-eun?”

Gaeck Ong asked again.

Yoon-hyun replied with a calm expression.

“I will inform him, but I don’t think there will be any particular reaction. If he was going to step in, he would have told me last time.”

Gaeck Ong nodded.

He didn’t think Il-eun would step in either.

“Who the hell is Il-eun?”

Gaeck Ong asked, frowning.

He had stopped the rise of the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect, which no one knew about, with Thousand Blade Sword Ryung Se-young.

He had not only been heavily involved in the Divine Monk ending the war between righteous and demonic factions through the Hwasan Agreement [a peace treaty between opposing martial arts factions], but he also seemed to know something about Yoon-hyun as well as Merchant Il-dae.

But Il-eun was hiding in the imperial palace, only saying things that were both understandable and incomprehensible.

If it weren’t for the favor he had shown Yoon-hyun, he would have suspected that Il-eun was the real mastermind.

“I don’t know much about him either…”

Yoon-hyun said with a hollow laugh.

“I think I’ll find out soon.”

Gaeck Ong’s eyes lit up.

“Do you have any idea?”

“No. I just think that if there’s something I need to know, I’ll find out someday.”

At those words, Gaeck Ong frowned.

He wondered if even Yoon-hyun was speaking vaguely and ambiguously like Il-eun.

“Lord Jo.”

Yoon-hyun turned his head and asked Jo Gwan.

“Did you send my letter to the North Sea One Sword Sect?”

Jo Gwan immediately replied.

“Yes. I used the government’s communication network, so I’ll get a reply soon.”

“You’ve worked hard. Thank you.”

Jo Gwan lightly bowed his head as if to say it was nothing.

Clatter, clatter.

Yoon-hyun turned his head out of the carriage.

They hadn’t been out of Gansu for long, but the outside was clearly green.

It was like another world.

But the threat of the Blood Cult and the Demonic Sect is by no means a matter of another world.

With Yoon-hyun’s stern expression, the carriage was speeding along the main road towards Xi’an.