Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 284
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Chapter 284: The Mountain, the Wind, and the Poison
The Swordmaster of Chaos, Cheok Jingyeong, alternately looked at Bang Cheongak and Gong Chwisan. It didn’t seem like a bluff. Their faces reflected a firm belief in the success of their plan.
The Great Demon Generals are masters of both martial arts and sorcery, which implies that their judgment is also absolute.
Finally, Cheok Jingyeong spoke.
“Let’s hear this plan then.”
Gong Chwisan looked at Bang Cheongak, seeking confirmation. Bang Cheongak nodded, indicating that he could proceed.
“In this world, there is something that is poison but not really poison; something alive that isn’t truly alive. It affects everyone, regardless of their level of skill. It is, so to speak, a living curse.”
“And what is that?”
“The gu, the Gu Poison.”
At the mention of the Gu Poison, Cheok Jingyeong frowned. He had heard rumors about its existence but doubted its effectiveness.
“Are you saying you’ll control the leader with Gu Poison?”
“It’s not just any Gu Poison. It’s a special Gu Poison created through dark magic, and it’s called Yin-Yang Gu.”
“What is dark magic?”
Cheok Jingyeong, being a warrior, was unfamiliar with this kind of sorcery. Although he had heard the term, he didn’t grasp its weight.
“Dark magic is such an evil sorcery that even among sorcerers, it is forbidden. The Yin-Yang Gu is the most extreme Gu Poison a human can create.”
“But isn’t it still just a Gu Poison?”
Cheok Jingyeong replied with some disdain.
The Gu Poison is a tiny insect, barely visible. How could something so small subdue the leader?
Gong Chwisan smiled.
“Hehe. Dark magic contains a spirit. That’s why sorcerers practice it in secret. If you understand what the Yin-Yang Gu is, you won’t worry.”
“How is it different from regular Gu Poison?”
“In a sealed urn with special runes, venomous insects and a human are locked up for a thousand days. The insects first devour the human and then each other.”
“Wow! That sounds horrific.”
“That’s how dark magic is created. Only the insect that survives after a thousand days carries the human spirit. That insect is called the King of Gu Poison, or Human Gu. No being, not even an Immortal, can survive the Human Gu.”
“And that’s the Yin-Yang Gu?”
“The Yin-Yang Gu is even more special. Those who create Human Gu sometimes find a pair, a male and a female, that do not devour each other. If this happens after a thousand days, they are called Yin-Yang Gu.”
“Oh!”
For the first time, Cheok Jingyeong showed interest. The idea of a Gu Poison with a spirit and the Yin-Yang Gu sounded plausible.
“These two insects, one male and one female, are linked. If one dies, the other dies too. They feel pain together. If we place one of these in the leader, her life will be in our hands.”
“Do you really have these insects?”
Bang Cheongak and Gong Chwisan each took out a silver box. Bang Cheongak pointed to his box.
“Mine is the Yin Gu, and Gong Chwisan’s is the Yang Gu. Acquiring them cost us one hundred thousand taels of silver. Truly, these insects are priceless, appearing only once in a hundred years.”
“How are they used?”
“You place the Yin-Yang Gu in tea or food. Once inside the body, they move to the brain and live there as parasites.”
Pung Yeoncho added.
“We’ve decided that whoever gets the chance will use the Gu.”
“It will be difficult to distract the leader.”
Bang Cheongak’s determination shone through.
“That’s why we need your help. If the three of us distract the leader, someone will have the right opportunity.”
“I understand. Let’s try it.”
Cheok Jingyeong agreed to participate. Even if the Gu Poison didn’t work, they wouldn’t lose anything. Unlike regular poison, the Gu shows no obvious symptoms. It survives as a parasite or dies in the digestive process.
Bang Cheongak and Gong Chwisan put away their boxes. Shortly after, Gong Chwisan spoke.
“We shouldn’t inform the other Great Demon Generals. We don’t know who is loyal to the leader. It’s best if we go to Five Peaks Mountain. What do you think?”
Bang Cheongak nodded.
“That’s the best option. If we say we’re going to greet the leader, she won’t suspect a thing.”
“Let’s do it.”
Cheok Jingyeong agreed. It was more convenient than the White Horse Temple.
The next morning, the three set out for Five Peaks Mountain with their closest followers.
Zhengzhou.
Chilriha Village.
The exploration team of the Justice Alliance had not yet left Chilriha Village, despite being hastily formed. The Incomparable Among Ten, Namgung Yeon, had insisted on waiting for an auspicious day to depart. No one dared to rush her, as she was known for reading celestial auguries.
Moreover, Five Peaks Mountain was the “mountain of death” where the leader of the Yoomyung Cult resided, so no one objected.
Namgung Yeon was reading in her lodging when a guard arrived.
“Miss, are you here?”
“What is it?”
“The Administrator of the Heavenly Escort is here to see you. What should we do?”
Namgung Yeon closed her book.
The Heavenly Escort was an agency in Zhengzhou, but she had no dealings with them. Why would their Administrator be coming?
An Administrator doesn’t handle personal deliveries. What could it be?
After a moment’s thought, she decided to receive him.
“Let him in.”
“Yes, miss.”
Soon after, a loud voice resonated from outside.
“Is the Incomparable Among Ten here? I am Il Sejin, Administrator of the Heavenly Escort.”
Namgung Yeon stepped out onto the porch and saw a burly man in his forties.
“What do you want?”
“A month ago, we received a letter for you. I’ve come to deliver it.”
“Are Administrators now handling such errands?”
“No, our Leader chose me because of the importance of the matter.”
Il Sejin took out a letter but hesitated to hand it over.
Seeing his hesitation, Namgung Yeon became more interested.
What could be so important?
She looked at the letter.
“Isn’t it sealed with wax?”
That meant someone might have read it. Probably the Chief of the Heavenly Escort, the Loyal Sword, Wi Si-cheong, had done so first and then sent Il Sejin.
“Something so troubling that you hesitated to deliver it? Isn’t the Loyal Sword an honorable man? I’m surprised he reads others’ letters.”
“No! The situation was so strange that he did it out of caution…”
“Caution?”
“Yes, our chief feared for your safety.”
Namgung Yeon observed him silently before turning around.
“Come in.”
“Yes, miss.”
Il Sejin carefully sat across from her, still holding the letter tightly.
“The sender is from Nokrim, correct?”
Officials and members of the Seven Great Sects seal their letters. Only those from the Evil Faction or Nokrim are so careless.
“How did you know?”
“There’s no need to be so considerate. Did you read the letter as well?”
“…Yes.”
“It’s better not to know secrets of the martial world. Don’t speak of its contents.”
Il Sejin, amazed by her knowledge, wondered if the Incomparable Among Ten was really that impressive.
“Do you know who the sender was?”
“A month ago, and if you read it, it must have been the Invisible Hand Baek Gyo. Did he die, and that worried you?”
“…”
Il Sejin was left speechless. She really knew everything.
‘Her fame is not undeserved.’
Impressed, he placed the letter respectfully on the table.
“When Baek Gyo suddenly died, our chief halted the delivery. Then, he investigated the Justice Alliance and decided to send it to you. We regret reading the letter, but we feared for your safety…”
“Baek Gyo was lucky. If not for the Loyal Sword, it might have fallen into the hands of the Great Strategist.”
Il Sejin was no longer surprised. Now, he thought it was natural for the Incomparable Among Ten.
“Was it the Great Strategist who killed Baek Gyo to cover up smuggling?”
“Don’t try to know. Also, keep it a secret that Baek Gyo sent me a letter. You can leave now.”
With a clear dismissal, Il Sejin stood up.
After Il Sejin left, Namgung Yeon opened the letter and read it.
Baek Gyo had written about his situation before he died, anticipating his end.
“What a pity!”
If he had trusted her earlier, he wouldn’t have been poisoned.
At least he had foreseen his death.
Namgung Yeon gently shook a bamboo box filled with divination sticks on the table.
Observing the sticks, the omen remained the same: Qian, Mountain pressing Heaven. Do not move.
Why?
While the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors was plotting something on Five Peaks Mountain, the heavens advised against moving. Contrary to what the warriors of the Justice Alliance expected.
Namgung Yeon shook the box again.
This time, the response was Wind Under Mountain, Gu. Confucius said: “Gu means that decay has reached its peak, and things are beginning to happen.” Others said: “The wind that stays under the mountain decomposes and gives rise to insects.” Neither meaning was good.
Perhaps mountain, wind, and gu meant different things.
Whatever it was, it was still not the time to move.
Sighing, she put the sticks back in the box.
Suddenly, a thought made her blush slightly. She carefully placed the sticks on the table.
The next response was Mountain Under Lake, union between a young man and a young woman.
‘The pure love between a man and a woman…’
Namgung Yeon hurriedly collected the sticks and quickly stood up.
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