Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 213
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C213. Who Killed Whom?
Sugu Village is a small settlement with barely thirty households and no restaurants.
Inevitably, the Demon Extermination Unit had to move off the path and prepare their own food.
While the Demon Extermination Unit seemed to be taking a brief rest, the merchants, always alert, quickly moved ahead.
Soon, fires were lit in various places, and pots were placed over them.
In winter, a hot soup is the best for traveling.
The merchants cooked and sold various types of noodles: Pyeoneotang from Suncheon (similar to Sujebi), Dosaengmyeon from Shanxi, Dandanmyeon from Sichuan, Huimyeon from Henan, and Pyeonachuan from Hangzhou.
The Leader of the Demon Extermination Unit, the Great Swordmaster of the Uicheon Sect, Lee Euijung, did not oppose the merchants’ business.
In fact, he thought that thanks to them, they enjoyed an unexpected luxury.
He actually bought Huimyeon and ate it together with the Sect Leaders of the Cheongseong Sect and the Quanzhen Sect.
Although he had a body that did not fear the cold, he felt much more comfortable after consuming the hot broth.
Wonyang Jinin, the Sect Leader of the Cheongseong Sect, murmured as he drank the broth.
“This will only last until the real war begins, right? It’s a bit regrettable.”
Mu Jong, the Sect Leader of the Quanzhen Sect, responded with a laugh.
“Haha. But at least it seems the merchants will follow us to Zhengzhou. That’s something to be grateful for. Just thinking about eating frozen rations in this cold weather… Ugh!”
Shaking his head from side to side, he diligently returned to his work.
Shortly after, Peng Manho, the Head of the Peng Family, arrived with a steaming Pyeoneotang in hand.
He sat down next to Lee Euijung and commented.
“It’s nice to be able to eat hot food, but I’m not sure if we should be doing this.”
He was referring to the fact that they were too exposed when they should be moving discreetly.
Mu Jong responded with a laugh.
“Anyway, the enemies already know that the Justice Alliance is on the move. We just need to make sure they don’t discover our route.”
“I’m worried the merchants might reveal that.”
“That’s why the strategist has ordered that the merchants not separate from the caravan until we reach Zhengzhou. They are also part of our group temporarily, so don’t worry too much.”
“Ah, if that’s the order, I feel relieved. Although I don’t think anything will happen yet, since we’re in Jiangsu.”
Peng Manho smiled, relaxed.
Traveling from Luoyang to Seju takes five days on horseback without rest.
On foot, the distance is enormous, requiring more than twenty days.
It’s not a situation where everyone’s movements can be known as if looking at the palm of one’s hand.
In fact, Lee Euijung allowed the merchants to join them for that reason.
They were still far from Luoyang, so he considered it safe.
That was something to reconsider once they entered Henan.
The Demon Extermination Unit finished their meal and resumed their journey.
After leaving Sugu Village, the path wound around a low cliff on the left.
If they were near Jeongju, everyone would have been tense.
But, in far-off Jiangsu, no one thought of the possibility of an ambush.
The vanguard soldiers of the Demon Extermination Unit entered first, followed by the main body shortly after.
Nam Jickrye Province.
Suk City.
Cheonmoon Mountain.
Hour of the Monkey (5 p.m.).
Three hundred and fifty murim-in marched orderly along the mountain road.
They were the experts of the Evil Annihilation Unit, also known as the Destruction Unit, led by the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect, Mu Geuk, one of the Ten Masters of the World.
Mu Geuk, a principled man, had forbidden the merchants from following them. Although discipline was maintained, the morale of the members was low.
Tangma Sword Pyun Un, the Sect Leader of the Gongdong Sect, spoke to the serious Mu Geuk.
“Great Swordmaster, aren’t we on Cheonmoon Mountain? The Cheonmoonsa Temple, where Confucius studied, must be nearby.”
“Is that so?”
Mu Geuk responded indifferently.
Although he is one of the Ten Masters of the World, being of the same generation as the Sword Emperor Namgung Byeok, he is still relatively young.
Pyun Un used a familiar tone with him for that reason.
In fact, most of the Sect Leaders were of a similar age to Mu Geuk.
The Sect Leader of the Jomchang Sect, Golden Sage, also commented.
“I didn’t know Master Pyun Un had an interest in Confucius.”
“Haha, it’s not interest. It just came to mind suddenly.”
“If it weren’t for the Yoomyung Cult, we could have visited the Cheonmoonsa Temple. What a shame.”
Golden Sage offered a courtesy.
The Gongdong Sect is in far-off Gansu, so they rarely meet.
“Oh! Thanks for saying so.”
While the three masters conversed, the Head of the Tang Family, Dark Phantom Tang Seho, approached.
“It seems we should set up camp before it gets dark. How about the Cheonmoonsa Temple?”
Golden Sage smiled at the mention of the temple.
“Haha, we just mentioned the Cheonmoonsa Temple. Did you overhear us?”
“…”
Tang Seho, not very close to the masters, simply stroked his beard.
All eyes turned to Mu Geuk.
Setting up camp depended entirely on him.
“The Cheonmoonsa Temple cannot accommodate all of us. There’s no point in some resting indoors and others outdoors. We will all camp outdoors.”
It was a somewhat rigid decision.
Even so, the other Sect Leaders and Tang Family Head accepted without protest.
They didn’t want to confront him over such a trivial matter.
Although they were of similar age, he was one of the Ten Masters of the World.
Leaving his protection could be dangerous in critical moments.
The decision to camp was immediately communicated to the vanguard team.
They moved quickly to find a clearing large enough for the three hundred and fifty.
Fortunately, the terrain was not difficult, and they were able to set up camp before nightfall.
Temple to the east of Cheonmoon Mountain.
Three elders, armed with swords, were sitting around a campfire in the center of the temple.
They were the Evil Monk Bang Cheongak, the Blood Demon Kang Sangpi, and the Swordsman of Chaos Cheok Jingyeong of the Yoomyung Cult.
Although the Evil Annihilation Unit was nearby, they didn’t seem concerned.
They were in a place off the path of the Evil Annihilation Unit, resting quietly.
As night fell, a man arrived in front of the temple.
He was the Muyeong Ghost, one of the Four Guardian Deities of Eunha Manor.
“Leader, the Evil Annihilation Unit has set up camp on Cheonmoon Mountain.”
Cheok Jingyeong, warming his hands by the fire, asked in surprise.
“Didn’t they go to the Cheonmoonsa Temple?”
“No.”
Bang Cheongak murmured to himself.
“Of course, it’s difficult for the temple to accommodate all of them. Still, it’s sad that they will spend their last night camping outdoors. Amitabha…”
Bang Cheongak, being the abbot of the Shinwolsa Temple in Chengdu, Sichuan, hadn’t abandoned prayer even though the Yoomyung Cult blends Buddhism and Taoism.
Kang Sangpi laughed.
“Why feel pity when this world is a sea of suffering? They should thank us for sending them off quickly.”
“That’s true, but it doesn’t hurt to feel compassion for those we are going to kill.”
As his nickname ‘Akbul’ (Evil) suggests, Bang Cheongak had a unique perspective on life and death.
Cheok Jingyeong, hearing the conversation, warned the Muyeong Ghost.
“Mu Geuk is a rigid and very cautious man. Instruct the followers not to approach Cheonmoon Mountain and maintain strict vigilance.”
“How long should I keep watch?”
“We plan to attack before dawn. Other Demon Warriors will put their men to sleep early, so you’ll be able to rest a bit then.”
“Understood.”
The Muyeong Ghost vanished like a phantom.
The three Great Demon Generals began discussing their attack positions.
Cheonmoon Mountain.
Hour of the Tiger (3-5 a.m.).
In the deepest part of the night, only the occasional cold wind could be heard.
Under the dim moonlight, about three hundred people moved silently.
They were members of the Yoomyung Cult.
They approached the Evil Annihilation Unit from three directions, forming a pattern similar to the Chinese character 品.
Perhaps due to the false sense of security in Nam Jickrye, or maybe due to the exhaustion from the march, the ten guards were sitting around the campfire, nodding off.
Thanks to this, the members of the Yoomyung Cult approached silently within a distance of five jang (about 15 meters).
However, instinct is always present.
One of the Uicheon Sect disciples, who was dozing off, opened his eyes startled.
He looked around with irritated eyes and shouted in fear.
“Who’s there?”
Immediately, the members of the Yoomyung Cult, who had been moving like cats, pounced like a herd of bulls.
“Kill them!”
“Die!”
The members of the Yoomyung Cult began slashing the throats of the huddled and sleeping members of the Evil Annihilation Unit.
The distance of five jang saved many lives.
Several warriors, hearing the shout, quickly got up and grabbed their weapons.
It was as if a hornet’s nest had been stabbed.
The members of the Yoomyung Cult pushed from three sides, ensuring they didn’t get in each other’s way, causing more casualties in the Evil Annihilation Unit.
Perhaps a kkeut (15 minutes) passed?
The hellish chaos calmed down a bit, and the battle began to stabilize.
Due to the high competence of the Evil Annihilation Unit, the Yoomyung Cult could not advance further.
However, for the Evil Annihilation Unit, it was a disastrous night.
In a frontal fight, they wouldn’t have lost more than ten men, but here, more than a hundred died.
The battle depends on rhythm and momentum.
Mu Geuk and the three Great Demon Generals exchanged fierce blows.
When the swords ceased for a moment, the agitated Mu Geuk shouted at Cheok Jingyeong.
“Cheok Jingyeong! You dare to appear before me! Today I will take your head!”
Cheok Jingyeong had fled from him in the past as one of the Three Elders of Nokrim.
Now, he appeared boldly and caused a massacre in the Evil Annihilation Unit, which enraged Mu Geuk.
Bang Cheongak and Kang Sangpi laughed and ridiculed him.
“What are you saying, stinky monk? Who will kill whom now?”
“Haha! You’re like thunder without lightning! Do you think your threats work here? Watch your neck, fool!”
Mu Geuk trembled with rage.
He had been treated as a prodigy in the Mount Hua Sect since he was young, ascended to Sect Leader, and became one of the Ten Masters of the World.
Until now, no demon had dared to speak to him like this.
“Damn demons…”
Mu Geuk, who had lived his whole life in the nobility of the Mount Hua Sect, couldn’t curse.
Although he wished to cut off their heads with one strike, it wasn’t easy.
Cheok Jingyeong and the other two were not inferior to him in skills.
If their techniques were a bit more advanced, he would already be defeated.
“Are all of you Great Demon Generals?”
Cheok Jingyeong laughed.
“Ask King Yama in the other world.”
Meanwhile, Pyun Un of the Gongdong Sect, Golden Sage of the Jomchang Sect, and Tang Seho of the Tang Family were fiercely fighting the Demon Warriors.
It was an evenly matched battle.
Mu Sanggwi, Muyeong Ghost, and Cold-Blooded Demon Taekyunglim of Chowaesan were not inferior to the Sect Leaders of the Seven Great Sects.
Especially Taekyunglim, who was fighting Tang Seho, was a well-known master from Xi’an.
Focused more on poisons and hidden weapons than martial arts skills, Tang Seho had a formidable opponent.
If not for his superior skills with hidden weapons, Tang Seho would have already fallen.
Shooo-.
Tang Seho launched a handful of hidden weapons and retreated, hearing screams around him.
“Agh!”
“Ah!”
He looked and saw someone brutally slaughtering the disciples of the Tang Family.
From the end of his dao, the murderous aura clearly extended, indicating he was another of the Demon Warriors.
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