Chapter 35 - Act 5. Iron Sun Thunder Sect (5)

The Daemudo outpost in Aegul County was quite different from the one in South Mountain Village. Befitting a county seat of this size, it was an imposing three-story building with a tiled roof and elaborately painted eaves. A stone tablet bearing Daemudo’s emblem stood at the main gate, and beyond it, numerous people moved about in silence.

As soon as Yise knocked, an outer affiliate hurried out.

“We’ve been expecting you. Please come inside. We would appreciate it if you kept quiet.”

Polite, but not servile. The man had even asked them to be quiet before introducing himself. It was a far cry from Hong Sadeuk’s warm welcome in South Mountain Village. His next words explained why.

“A Foundation Establishment Cultivator dispatched from the main mountain is staying here on a mission. Please refrain from making any disturbance.”

As one might expect of a large outpost, another Cultivator was already here—and not merely at Qi Refining, but Foundation Establishment. As part of Daemudo’s core fighting force, such a Cultivator would naturally take priority.

“A Foundation Establishment senior is here?”

“Yes. As it happens, two missions have arisen in this area.”

Yise thought for a moment before asking the outer affiliate, “Would we be permitted to pay our respects?”

It would be better to observe the courtesies now, if only in case they happened to cross paths later. His teammates silently awaited the answer, apparently in agreement.

“I’ll ask, and escort you there if permission is granted. We are currently reinvestigating the Deathwind Black Tiger mission. Since the Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s investigation takes priority, it may take some time. We ask for your understanding.”

“Of course.”

The outer affiliate bowed and left.

A short while later, word came that the senior Cultivator had agreed to receive them. Following the outer affiliate to a guest room on the second floor of the main building, they found a man with strong, clean-cut features drinking tea.

“Come in. You wanted to pay your respects? What courteous juniors.”

“Greetings, Senior. I am Yise, a novice disciple.”

Led by Yise, the four novices introduced themselves in turn.

“I’m Gwak Chan. Sit down and make yourselves comfortable. Would you like some tea?”

“No, thank you. We wouldn’t presume to sit in your presence, Senior.”

“What? Hahaha! They certainly drill discipline into novices these days. Admirable as that is, I’m not someone you need to stand on ceremony with.”

Gwak Chan proved far more easygoing than they had expected. He looked about thirty, with a neat appearance and deep laugh lines at the corners of his eyes. As the four straightened their posture before the Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he waved a hand.

“You’ll make me uncomfortable if you’re so stiff. Sit down and relax.”

Refusing repeatedly would itself be rude. The four seated themselves properly. Gwak Chan poured them tea, then asked casually, “What sort of mission brings four novices here?”

“We’re following up on the death of a fellow disciple. We intend to recover his body and identify his killer.”

“Ah... recovering a body. That must be hard on you.”

Gwak Chan toyed with his teacup for a moment, then adopted a deliberately light tone.

“I’m following the trail of a demonic-path sect that’s appeared in the area.”

All four froze at the words “demonic-path sect.” These were groups that strayed from the principles of Cultivation to practice demonic arts and evil sorcery. Yise had encountered a lone Cultivator who dabbled in demonic arts, like Kim Siwon, but an entire sect was another matter altogether.

“You mean the Iron Sun Thunder Sect?”

“That’s right.”

A group that had crossed over from the Jeong Empire to disrupt order in the Three Kingdoms of the Peninsula and challenge Daemudo’s authority. In practical terms, they posed the greatest threat to Daemudo’s Cultivators.

Gwak Chan chuckled at their reaction.

“Oh, was that supposed to be a secret? Well, it’s happening nearby, so you ought to know.”

“We won’t speak of it.”

“Good. Be careful on your mission, though. When mission areas overlap, the two incidents sometimes turn out to be connected. You can’t be too cautious. If you find anything strange, tell me immediately.”

“We’ll keep that in mind.”

“And don’t hesitate to ask if you need help.”

They could not tell whether the Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s advice was simple kindness or whether he had actually sensed something. Still, just knowing they had a dependable senior nearby put them considerably more at ease.

* * *

The outer affiliate informed them that further findings would take about two days to arrive, since Cultivator Gwak Chan’s business came first. They did feel relegated to second place, but the outpost treated them well: excellent meals, comfortable beds, and even luxurious hot springs unlike anything Yise had experienced in his life.

Yise left the other three to put their affairs in order for the mission and told them he would be going out for a while. As soon as he left the outpost, he took out the sheet of pine paper he always kept inside his robes. It was a map marking the graves to which Master Wisaeng had relocated his family’s remains. They were not far from here, and he meant to visit while he had time.

After walking for about two watches from the city, he reached a cemetery on a sunny mountainside. The graves were better tended than he had expected. The burial mounds were neatly packed, and aside from a little moss over the names engraved on the headstones, nothing was damaged. It was a burial site of a dignity far beyond what common folk who had scraped a living from the soil could expect.

Filled with gratitude, Yise slowly knelt. He did not intend to stay long. Without speaking, he brushed his palm over the earth of the mounds and laid the chrysanthemums he had brought before the headstones.

‘I’m doing well. I won’t be able to visit often, but I’ll try.’

His forehead slowly touched the ground. Once, then twice. He continued bowing for a long time, praying for their peace in death.

He had only just risen after some time when a voice spoke.

“You’ve grown into quite a fine young man.”

He turned reflexively. Wisaeng stood three paces behind him.

‘... I didn’t sense him.’

Was it because standing before the graves had made him emotional? Or because the other man was an ordinary person from whom he could sense no spiritual energy, no Demonic Energy—not even impure energy?

Resolving never again to let himself become so distracted that his Dokkaebi Senses dulled, Yise gazed at the scholar before him.

“Master Wisaeng. It’s been a long time.”

Wisaeng still looked like a scholar whose age was impossible to judge. A faint scent of ink lingered about him, as though he had only recently set down his brush.

“Daemudo’s robes suit you. You became a Cultivator after all. You look strong and healthy, too.”

Wisaeng slowly looked him up and down.

“You seemed rather sharp-edged when I last saw you, but you look much more at ease now.”

“I owe you a great deal, Master. And you’ve taken such good care of their graves.”

“What I did was nothing.”

Wisaeng looked at the headstones with a faint smile.

“Your family will be happy, too, to see how well you’ve grown.”

A breeze blew past. For a moment, only the rustle of grass filled the space between them.

“By the way, is Mongryeon well?”

“You know my master?”

“Of course. Quite a famous figure around here.”

“I see. I haven’t seen her since joining Daemudo, but I’m sure she’s well. She’s strong.”

A name he missed dearly. Only a few months had passed, yet merely speaking it warmed his heart. The two exchanged a little conversation before the graves. Wisaeng was as unassuming as he often was, while Yise, seeing his benefactor again after so long, gave his news with all the courtesy he could muster.

“If you ever need help, submit a request to Daemudo and ask for me by name. Your requests will always come first, Master.”

Novice disciples could not accept private commissions, but clients could specifically request them.

Scratching his head a little shyly, Yise added, “I’m always waiting for a chance to repay you.”

“That’s reassuring.”

Wisaeng laughed softly. His smile was just as it had been when Yise first met him, with only the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

* * *

By the time Yise returned to the outpost, Cultivator Gwak Chan had left on his mission. The next morning, the outer affiliate brought them updated information.

“We’ve confirmed further traces of the Deathwind Black Tiger around Mount Aegul, northeast of Aegul County. The late Cultivator Yeom Bo’s last search area, where he is presumed to have died, is also nearby. However, several ordinary people we sent have gone missing... I’m afraid we cannot investigate further.”

“Understood. We’ll investigate ourselves.”

“My apologies. Here are the map and investigation report. We’ll also provide you with plenty of message talismans addressed to this outpost. Please contact us immediately if you need help.”

“Thank you.”

The four quickly skimmed the report and set off at once. Once they entered the forest, Pi Garam took the lead. Tracking and concealment were a covert operative’s specialties, and his eyes began sweeping the traces on the ground: broken branches, footprints in the soil, bodily fluids on blades of grass, droppings.

He rarely stood out, but once he began tracking, he moved with almost uncanny agility. Yise had studied covert operatives’ techniques too, but Pi Garam’s expertise was on an entirely different level.

After leading them swiftly and silently deep into the mountains, Pi Garam spoke to Yise, apparently certain of something.

“There are two sets of tracks that look like Deathwind Black Tigers. I think there are two of them.”

“Two?”

“Yes. One seems to be a juvenile, and the other an adult.”

Yise frowned. That did not fit what he knew.

“Deathwind Black Tigers are solitary Demons. If two occupied the same area, they would fight to the death.”

“Could they be a mother and cub?”

Yise shook his head at Seol Ryeong’s suggestion.

“They abandon their young at birth and move elsewhere. These Demons have no family affection.”

It was a definite anomaly. Yise wrote down what they had found and sent a message talisman to the Daemudo outpost.

“A juvenile is Risk Level Eight, but an adult can reach Level Six. Still, that’s not beyond our current strength. Let’s continue.”

Having made a clear assessment, he resumed the search.

He had witnessed the power of a Level Six Wailing Dragon Demon during his days at Gwisu Temple. On a recent mission, too, he had found a Level Six demonic beast beside a target believed to be Level Eight. Although that fight had been somewhat difficult, he could certainly handle one. Besides, with his companions here, they had four supernatural treasures between them, including the Twin-Banner Spirit-Domain Sealing Standard.

An adult Deathwind Black Tiger formed a type of Demon core called bone mire. Fermenting it with the heart and liver into salted meat would produce an exceptionally potent dish of immortal cuisine. It was too valuable a resource to pass up. Of course, they still needed to be wary of whatever had caused two of the creatures to live together.

About a meal’s worth of time after Yise made his decision and resumed the search, Demonic Energy seeped from the edge of a rocky mountain where stone rose like a cliff.

“A Demon.”

At Yise’s curt warning, Hong Wonseo and Pi Garam instinctively stepped back, while Seol Ryeong drew a talisman. What appeared was not a Deathwind Black Tiger.

It was an enormous, eagle-like bird of prey.

A Dreadflesh Raptor. A Level Seven demonic beast.

The demonic beast had arrived uninvited—a creature known as the king of raptors, a title absurdly grand for a Qi Refining Demon. Said to prey even on tigers, it rolled its eyes about before abruptly spreading its wings. It was an unmistakable threat display. Of course, Yise had no intention of letting chicken meat that had delivered itself to him escape.

“Just support me. I’ll handle it.”

With those brief words, Yise kicked off the ground. At the same instant, the Dreadflesh Raptor spread its wings and plummeted straight toward him, talons extended. He closed the distance in a flash with Dokkaebi Steps, honing the edge of his hand axe with spiritual energy.

The two collided violently.

Spiritual energy streamed from his shield-bearing left hand, wrapping around the Dreadflesh Raptor like a spiderweb. As the bird flipped upside down in an instant, the hand axe in his right hand swung down toward its beak.

Its most vulnerable point was its white nape.

As the axe blade mercilessly bit into that precise weakness, the Dreadflesh Raptor realized something had gone wrong.

Just as it screamed and scattered Demonic Energy in an attempt to take flight, Yise planted the Twin-Banner Spirit-Domain Sealing Standard he had carried on his back. The beast’s wings lost their strength as it tried to rise, and it fell. Seizing the opening, Yise cleaved through its neck. Only the raptor’s head remained on his axe, dripping blood.

A single quarter-hour. That was all it had taken to hunt a Level Seven demonic beast.

Yise hoisted its head to show his companions, and all three grimaced at once.