Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 180
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C180. When One Jumps, the Other Follows
At the end of August, the Justice Alliance distributed a message to the Murim community.
The content stated: “The headquarters in Nanjing will hold an autumn martial arts competition. Many are expected to participate.”
The message seemed routine, but the atmosphere on the continent was tense.
Why suddenly organize a martial arts competition in the autumn?
Moreover, it was strange to send a message for something as common as a martial arts competition.
Even though Murim was in an uproar, the Justice Alliance provided no further explanation.
The sects affiliated with the Justice Alliance also behaved strangely.
They canceled all their activities and sent their best warriors to Nanjing.
While the Murim community was uneasy about the Justice Alliance’s message, Huashang Village was also in turmoil.
The dock they had been using was destroyed overnight.
The large pier was reduced to rubble, not even a piece of wood the size of an arm remained.
For the residents, it was as if a malevolent spirit had intervened.
Fortunately, the docked boats were not damaged.
The villagers quickly rebuilt the pier, but once again, it was destroyed before a day had passed.
Finally, the authorities in Kaifeng investigated, but they couldn’t uncover who or why it had happened.
The villagers decided to build a new pier and guard it during the night.
Finally, the third pier was completed.
That night, a dozen men from Huashang Village watched the pier with keen eyes.
At midnight, something happened.
A strong wind appeared out of nowhere and instantly destroyed the pier.
The simple villagers thought that the heavens were angry or that it was a trick of ghosts.
They abandoned the cursed pier and moved their boats to the dock upstream.
The next day, the inn purchased by Yeon Jeokha began to receive guests.
Yeon Jeokha, who had woken up late and come down to the dining hall, nodded in satisfaction.
“Good. Very good.”
Three new faces were present.
They were the guests from the previous day.
He didn’t know what Shim Tong had done, but seeing the results, he was pleased.
At that moment, Sang Do approached and cautiously asked:
“Sir, shall I prepare the usual for breakfast?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Jeokha smiled as he watched Sang Do walk away.
This was the good part of owning an inn.
In the mountain, he had to eat whatever the cooks prepared.
He inadvertently overheard a conversation between some merchants at the next table.
They were talking about a message sent by the Justice Alliance.
Without realizing it, he turned towards them.
A middle-aged merchant with a beard and an aquiline nose was speaking.
“It seems the Justice Alliance is finally going to start a fight. They’ve held back long enough.”
“Who knows? Maybe it’s just a competition.”
“Do you really believe that? They haven’t organized a competition in years, and suddenly, an autumn competition. It doesn’t make sense.”
“Yes, it seems strange to me too, but the Murim do strange things all the time.”
“This time it’s different. The people heading to Nanjing look like they’re going to war, not a competition.”
“Well, something big is going to happen.”
“Better for us. Let them fight, we just make money.”
When people move en masse, shops make money. The demand for food, supplies, and medicine increases dramatically.
For the merchants, it wasn’t a disadvantage at all.
The aquiline-nosed merchant, nodding in agreement, suddenly said:
“Ah, by the way, do you know why they dismantled the dock downstream? That place seemed better.”
“There were many problems with that dock.”
“What problems?”
“The pier was destroyed several times. They even said it was the work of ghosts.”
“Really? Such strange things.”
“Strange like the Yoomyung Cult. Have you heard about their monsters?”
The conversation shifted to the monsters of the Yoomyung Cult, and Yeon Jeokha lost interest.
At that moment, Sang Do brought stir-fried beef, blanched vegetables, and a plate of lamb.
Yeon Jeokha enjoyed his meal in silence, occasionally glancing out the window.
Suddenly, he stopped eating.
‘Wait, surely Brother Cheon and Sister Yeon are also heading to Nanjing.’
If they were going from Zhengzhou to Nanjing, they wouldn’t pass through Kaifeng.
That thought left him a bit disappointed.
He wanted to show off his inn if they passed through Kaifeng.
—————–
Jeongju, also known as Zhengzhou
Tianxia Tianlou, also known as Cheonhajeillu
At lunchtime, Tianxia Tianlou closed its doors.
The usual vagabonds who loitered around were turned away by the guards.
Im Sochan, the third son of the Jungwon Chamber of Commerce Chief, Im Haesu, was also among them.
When the guards prevented him from entering, Im Sochan shouted.
“Hey! You’re making a mistake! Do you know who I am? I’m Im Sochan! Im Sochan!”
In Zhengzhou, it was difficult to do business if one faced the Jungwon Chamber of Commerce.
Tianxia Tianlou, usually courteous, stood firm, which made Im Sochan furious.
But the guards didn’t even blink.
“Sir Im, today Tianxia Tianlou has been reserved by the Yoomyung Cult. Please come back tomorrow.”
The mention of the Yoomyung Cult made Im Sochan shrink back.
If the Yoomyung Cult had reserved all of Tianxia Tianlou, it must be someone important.
With a less aggressive voice, he asked:
“Who from the Yoomyung Cult reserved the place? I just want to know who it is.”
The guard, looking around, whispered.
“The Great Demon Generals.”
“……”
Hearing that, Im Sochan ran out.
Even the Demon Warriors would make Zhengzhou tremble, let alone the Great Demon Generals.
On the seventh floor of Tianxia Tianlou.
The owner, Zhang Pook, anxiously looked out the window.
Five men and two women were seated, all with an imposing presence.
They were Ungjaegwi from Guangming Manor, Cheok Jingyeong from Eunha Manor, Kang Sangpi from Chongwolsan Manor, Bang Cheongak from Sinwol Temple, Gong Chwi-san from Ilwondo Temple, Lee Maehwa from Musansocho, and the Lunar Fairy from the Fairy Temple.
‘Even one of them would make Zhengzhou tremble…’
Zhang Pook was personally attending, fearing his employees might make a mistake.
The Great Demon Generals drank in silence for a while.
Their faces reflected the tension in the Murim.
Bang Cheongak, unable to bear the pressure, spoke first.
“Sinwol Temple is far away, and I don’t know much about what’s happening in the Murim. I’ve heard all sorts of rumors. Can someone explain clearly?”
Lee Maehwa, who seemed to know the situation best, replied.
“I can explain. Besides, there’s something related to that I want to discuss.”
Lee Maehwa explained the recent rumors about the Demon Warriors and their transformations after death.
“Do you expect us to believe that?”
Bang Cheongak smiled skeptically.
The Yoomyung Cult had weak internal cohesion.
The Great Demon Generals were loners who didn’t get along with others.
The promotion structure within the cult only worsened the situation.
Upon ascending to Demon Warrior or Great Demon General, the suspicion arose that one might gain superhuman abilities by killing others.
With the disappearance of the cult leader, these suspicions intensified.
That’s why the Great Demon Generals were meeting outside their temples.
Ungjaegwi supported Lee Maehwa.
“Hard to believe, but what Maehwa says is true. My subordinates said the same.”
Cheok Jingyeong also chimed in.
“It’s all true. My subordinates and Maehwa’s died that way.”
Bang Cheongak looked at Cheok Jingyeong in disbelief.
“Who dared to kill the Demon Warriors?”
“Some Great Demon Generals planted Demon Warriors in five places of the Nokrim. But the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord didn’t approve. He sent his Grand Inspector to clean those places. Many Demon Warriors died in the process.”
“Why bother with the Nokrim? Didn’t they have enough with their temples?”
Bang Cheongak thought the Great Demon Generals were trying to expand their influence in secret.
“No, we were trying to blame the Nokrim for the cult’s actions. And buy more warriors through the Nokrim. But we failed.”
“Wow!”
Bang Cheongak looked at Cheok Jingyeong and Lee Maehwa alternately.
He couldn’t completely criticize them since the idea wasn’t entirely bad.
“So, are all those strange rumors true?”
“Yes. My Demon Warriors are disturbed by this. They want to know why it happens, if it’s a side effect of their powers… Does anyone know anything?”
Lee Maehwa looked at the Great Demon Generals.
All of them shook their heads.
Cheok Jingyeong spoke indifferently.
“We can ask the cult leader. But there’s a bigger problem.”
“It’s been over twenty years since the leader disappeared. Don’t change the subject. The Demon Warriors issue is our concern. There’s no guarantee that we won’t become monsters.”
Lee Maehwa retorted, making Cheok Jingyeong frown.
It was frustrating to keep mentioning the leader.
“Maehwa, I understand your concerns. But without the leader, we can’t resolve this. It’s like the blind feeling an elephant without knowing what it is.”
“…”
Lee Maehwa bit her lip.
She felt frustrated, but she had no arguments to refute Cheok Jingyeong.
Ungjaegwi intervened to mediate.
“Both of you are right. The Demon Warriors issue affects us all. But we know nothing, so arguing here is pointless. The Justice Alliance is moving. What are we going to do?”
The Lunar Fairy, with a cold smile, interjected.
“Hmpf! All of this is Yeon Jeokha’s fault. He attacked us, and now the Justice Alliance has become emboldened. When one jumps, the other follows, and that’s what’s happening.”
The Lunar Fairy showed open hostility towards Yeon Jeokha.
She had taken the place of Waryong Manor as revenge against the Moon-Splitting Swordsman Yeon Muryong. But now, Yeon Muryong’s son was against the Yoomyung Cult, which deeply bothered her.
Cheok Jingyeong intervened to prevent the discussion from going off track.
“I also have a grudge against him. But for now, it’s better not to provoke him. With the Justice Alliance mobilizing, we can’t make enemies in the Nokrim.”
Cheok Jingyeong was right, and the Lunar Fairy didn’t respond.
It was time to focus on the threat of the Justice Alliance.
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