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Chapter 121. Why Are You Doing This to Me?
Beyond the border.
Kunlun Mountain Range.
Kunlun Sect.
The Kunlun Sect, known as the home of immortals beyond the border, stands majestically in the Kunlun Mountain Range.
In the main palace, Shangqing Palace, four elders with an immortal appearance sit face to face. They are the leader of the Kunlun Sect, Taihe Shangren, and his disciples, known as the Three Immortals: Taeeul Seonin, Taemu Seonin, and Taeryeong Seonin.
After a long while of contemplating the outside scenery, Taihe Shangren places a sacred artifact of the Kunlun Sect on the table. With a regretful expression, his hands hesitate to let go of the Chuma Bagua Board.
Breaking the silence, Taeeul Seonin comments:
"You should give us one more. What’s the point of finding it with so much effort if we don’t go all the way?"
"Ah! Do you really need the Bisha Sword as well?"
"Shangren, the world is on the brink of disaster. Frankly, I’m not sure the Bisha Sword will be enough. This is the first time the Chuma Bagua Board has moved, isn’t it?"
The Chuma Bagua Board is a treasure of the immortal realm that tracks demonic energy like a compass. According to legend, it moves when a demonic energy that will bring about the end of the world appears.
After centuries of stillness, the artifact began to tremble last year and has recently been shaking violently. Thus, the Kunlun Sect summoned the Three Immortals to investigate.
Finally, Taihe Shangren takes a sword about 60 centimeters long from behind his back and places it on the table.
"You must handle this with extreme care. It must not be broken or lost. You know well that this is the most precious of our relics."
Taemu Seonin took the Bisha Sword and assured:
"I’ll take care of it as if it were my own life."
"No, that’s not enough. You must care for it more than your life. I may have three useless disciples, but I only have one Bisha Sword."
Next, Taeryeong Seonin reached for the Chuma Bagua Board.
"Yes, yes. We will protect these relics with our lives."
"No, what I want is not just for you to protect them, but to bring them back to this place. Promise me, bring the relics back."
"……."
The three immortals nodded solemnly.
-------------------
Shandong Province.
Zhaoyao Village.
Around 5 p.m., a large carriage slowly entered the village. It was the carriage carrying Yeon Jeokha and his group, who had departed from Mount Tai.
The driver, Isah, couldn’t help but glance sideways at the sleepy-looking young man sitting next to him. He knew who Yeon Jeokha was and how great his skill was.
Yeon Jeokha, the Grand Inspector of Nokrim. He killed the Boss of Gwangpungchae with a single strike and reduced the monster that appeared afterward to dust. How many would believe what he had witnessed?
‘Tch, even I wouldn’t believe it.’
As they reached the commercial area, Isah slowed the carriage even further. The gentle sound of the horses’ hooves on the pavement created a relaxing atmosphere.
"Sir, why do you keep looking at me?"
Startled by the question, Isah quickly responded:
"Ah, well, I was just thinking about where to take you."
"Well, it seems early for an inn, and we’re not hungry… What should we do?"
From inside the carriage, Namgung Cheon suggested:
"Jeokha, when you don’t have a clear destination, the best place to go is a teahouse."
"Yes, brother. Sir, we’re heading to a teahouse."
"Yes, yes. Please, also keep an eye out for one."
Although he said this, Isah feared he might have offended Yeon Jeokha, but he nodded without reacting.
Finally, Namgung Cheon spotted a small teahouse without a sign and had the carriage stop. Isah took the carriage to a nearby stable after the group disembarked.
Yeon Jeokha, Shim Tong, Namgung Cheon, and Namgung Yeon sat together at a table. Seol Chasu’s group sat at the adjacent table.
Jin Seolha seemed to want to approach Yeon Jeokha, but there was no space. Relaxed by the warmth and aroma of the tea, the group felt more at ease.
Yeon Jeokha, gazing outside with a cup of hot Tieguanyin before him, still felt affected by the battle from half a day ago.
The lava spewed by Sama Dan had burned his hair and clothes. Even knowing that the Demon Warriors transformed into monsters, he hadn’t expected something so extreme.
‘Spewing lava?’
How could that black thing still be considered human?
After a while, Seol Chasu stood up and approached Yeon Jeokha, with questions he had been holding back since Mount Tai to Zhaoyao.
"Grand Inspector, may I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
"I’m curious about those Demon Warriors."
"Go ahead."
Yeon Jeokha nodded, willing to explain.
"How strong was Sama Dan?"
"He was weaker than Old Shim."
"Ah…"
Seol Chasu, without a clear reference for Shim Tong’s strength, moved on to the next question.
"But Sama Dan died at the beginning, didn’t he?"
"Yes."
"Then, what was that black monster? It seemed to come out of his body…"
"I don’t know what it was. Do you, Sister Yeon?"
Namgung Yeon shook her head. If it hadn’t been for Seol Chasu’s question, she herself would have asked.
Seol Chasu continued:
"Then how strong was that monster? Comparatively speaking."
"Stronger than Old Shim."
Seol Chasu’s face showed an awkward smile. Although he understood the answer, without a clear reference to Shim Tong’s strength, he couldn’t imagine it.
Jin Seolha intervened:
"Sorry, we’re not very familiar with Senior Shim… Is there another comparison?"
Yeon Jeokha looked at Shim Tong, with no immediate example in mind. Shim Tong suggested:
"Grand Inspector, you spent time with the Sage of Heaven and Earth, didn’t you? They might understand it in those terms."
"Oh."
Yeon Jeokha, recalling that Elder from the Wudang Sect, nodded.
"Sama Dan, before he died, was weaker than the Sage of Heaven and Earth, but afterward, he was stronger."
"……."
Seol Chasu, Yu Geunsik, and Jin Seolha sighed, understanding the magnitude of the problem. Conveying this to the Justice Alliance would be a challenge.
"The Demon Warriors vary in skill. Before and after they die."
Surprised, Seol Chasu quickly asked:
"So, there are Demon Warriors stronger than the Sage of Heaven and Earth?"
"I can’t be certain, but it’s possible. That’s my impression."
"That’s amazing. Could it be due to their supernatural ability?"
Yeon Jeokha drank his tea, worried about the upcoming battle against the Yoomyung Cult.
‘Only the Great Chaeju can face those monsters…’
The problem is that there are many of those monsters in the Yoomyung Cult.
‘How strong will the Great Demon General be?’
Just thinking about the Demon Warriors is already a headache. But with four more lairs to go, Yeon Jeokha felt sorry for the Justice Alliance.
------------------------
The Unmong Inn in Zhaoyao.
Late night.
In bed, Yeon Jeokha shared his thoughts of the day with Shim Tong.
"I felt bad for them."
"Who?"
"The Justice Alliance. They’re preparing to fight against the Yoomyung Cult."
"I heard."
"The Demon Warriors are already difficult. What about the Great Demon General? It’s overwhelming."
"I also think the Justice Alliance won’t be able to handle the Demon Warriors, especially after they die."
"I think so too."
"Then why do you feel sorry?"
"Because they’re going to face a tough battle. Knowing this and not being happy about it… it’s just being human. I’m not heartless like you."
"But…"
"But what?"
Shim Tong, puzzled, sat up.
"Grand Inspector, you’re leading this fight. Why do you talk as if it’s something separate?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
"No, I’m just clearing out five lairs."
"Yes, but those five lairs are in the hands of the Yoomyung Cult. You’re reclaiming them for Nokrim and killing Demon Warriors in the process."
"It sounds terrifying when you put it like that. But no, I’m just cleaning out five lairs, not leading a fight."
"But it seems like a war between Nokrim and the Yoomyung Cult, with you at the head. Don’t the others see it that way?"
Shim Tong couldn’t understand Yeon Jeokha’s denial. The Justice Alliance had allowed the destruction of three clans and had assigned Seol Chasu and his group to them.
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