Chapter 241: Secret Task Force
Noh Wi-cheon, the High Priest of the Daejin Divine Cult.
When he declared he would pay two hundred thousand nyang for the sacred item, the On Gwang Pearl, everyone looked astonished.
Not only the martial artists of the Daejin Divine Cult, including Inspector Jang, but even Seo Yu-gyeom wore a face that said, “This is actually happening?”
Seo Yu-gyeom, once again reminded that Jin Seong-un was indeed a rchant at heart, turned his head to observe Jin Seong-un’s expression.
“……”
Contrary to expectations, it wasn’t a confident look.
Though he smiled with a raised thumb directed at the High Priest, the corner of Jin Seong-un’s lips trembled ever so slightly.
‘…Was he surprised too?’
Even Jin Seong-un hadn’t expected that Noh Wi-cheon would accept the two hundred thousand nyang at face value.
He had planned to press until the other party felt desperate, then offer a generous “discount” down to one hundred thousand nyang, making himself seem benevolent.
It was a sowhat clichéd bargaining tactic, but it had stood the test of ti for a reason.
Regardless, Jin Seong-un didn’t want to reveal his own surprise and shifted the topic.
“Very well. Let’s go with two hundred thousand nyang… By the way, it seems there are quite a few martial artists here. Judging by the energy I can sense alone, your numbers surpass those of most martial squads.”
At that, this ti it was High Priest Noh Wi-cheon who looked surprised. It was astonishing that a martial artist from the Central Plains could sense that energy—what was called Baekyang True Qi or Divine Energy in the Western Regions.
Noh Wi-cheon considered this mont another opportunity.
“But there’s a condition.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“I’d like you to have a martial exchange with our martial artists.”
Jin Seong-un tilted his head slightly.
The aura he had felt earlier was at a level that would be considered elite even by the standards of the Central Plains.
As Jin Seong-un made a curious expression, Noh Wi-cheon continued.
“To speak frankly. We have lived in seclusion to avoid drawing the attention of the Central Plains. From the imperial family, the Murim Alliance, to the orthodox and unorthodox factions alike… naturally, even the Demonic Cult.”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
If even Seo Yu-gyeom, who hailed from Deathshroud, didn’t know of them, they truly must have lived like mice in hiding.
Noh Wi-cheon went on.
“Because of that, our martial artists have had very few opportunities to engage with Central Plains martial arts. The last ti was over a decade ago, during a conflict with a branch of the Demonic Cult.”
“You’re saying you need experience.”
Jin Seong-un nodded in understanding.
In martial arts, experience was more important than anything. But there was still one thing to clarify.
“By any chance, are you preparing for a possible confrontation with the martial world of the Central Plains? For example, the main sect of the Western Regions launching a conquest and flooding into the Central Plains…”
“Haha, of course not.”
Noh Wi-cheon replied imdiately.
He continued with a firm tone.
“At least, the imperial family and the orthodox Murim are not our enemies. We believe in religious diversity.”
The orthodox Murim sects, especially the Buddhist and Taoist ones, wielded great power. However, the Daejin Divine Cult didn’t persecute other religions.
Their enemies were clear.
“The Ming Cult. A heretical sect that stole our doctrine and worships evil and demons. We intend to annihilate them soday.”
“The Ming Cult?”
Jin Seong-un tilted his head, unfamiliar with the topic. That’s when Seo Yu-gyeom, intrigued, interjected.
“In other words, you’re preparing to fight the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“Precisely.”
“Since the Heavenly Demon Cult was originally the Ming Cult.”
High Priest Noh Wi-cheon smiled faintly.
Jin Seong-un, after thinking for a mont, sent a voice transmission to Seo Yu-gyeom.
— Religion truly is complicated.
— Understandably so.
Seo Yu-gyeom had thought the sa when he first encountered their history during his ti in Deathshroud.
Up to that point, he had thought the Demonic Cult was rely a fanatical group worshipping the Heavenly Demon and his power.
But they had their own roots.
“The ancient religion of the Western Regions, the Fire-Worshipping Cult, is where it all began. Technically, they were fine, but those who split off from them… went completely off the rails.”
To Seo Yu-gyeom’s blunt summary, Noh Wi-cheon wagged his index finger with a “Exactly!” look.
He was glad to find a Central Plains martial artist who knew such history.
Noh Wi-cheon took over the explanation from Seo Yu-gyeom.
“Those who took only the darkest and most extre doctrines from the now-vanished Fire-Worshipping Cult are the Apostates. Guest Dragon, I’m sure you know of them.”
“They, along with the Blood Cult, are the ones who shed the most blood in Murim history.”
“Indeed. And then there’s the Manichaeans, who claim to be the true successors of the Fire-Worshipping Cult. They’re the ones who stole our doctrine.”
“You called them the Ming Cult earlier…”
“The na Manichaeism goes by in the Central Plains is the Ming Cult. And that Ming Cult is what beca today’s Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“Ah.”
Jin Seong-un finally nodded in understanding.
So, from the Daejin Divine Cult’s perspective, the Heavenly Demon Cult was a heretical group that had stolen parts of their doctrine and twisted it to fit their own agenda.
“But the Heavenly Demon Cult is powerful, isn’t it?”
It was a fundantal question.
Neither the imperial family nor the orthodox Murim tolerated the Heavenly Demon Cult out of understanding.
It was simply because they were too powerful to deal with.
To that, Noh Wi-cheon smiled faintly and said:
“We are no less powerful.”
“……”
Jin Seong-un briefly looked up and down at the young n standing on either side of Noh Wi-cheon.
Noh Wi-cheon cleared his throat and added,
“Not us, of course. I an the main sect in the Western Regions. A religion wealthy enough to hand out two hundred thousand nyang without flinching. How powerful do you think they are?”
“Well, when you put it that way…”
It began to make sense.
Still, Jin Seong-un didn’t dwell on it further.
To him, the complex religious history between the Western Regions and the Central Plains mattered far less than developing the hot spring district or launching a food delivery business.
If soone tried to block his path, he’d just remove them then and there. Even if that “soone” included massive powers like the Heavenly Demon Cult.
“In that case…”
Jin Seong-un looked over the martial artists of the Daejin Divine Cult and slowly began to draw up his qi.
Since this martial exchange was ant as preparation for a future fight against the Demonic Cult, there was no reason to hesitate.
Jin Seong-un also regarded the Demonic Cult as a potential enemy.
As Jin Seong-un released his qi, the martial artists standing behind Noh Wi-cheon also began to release theirs.
At that mont, Seo Yu-gyeom spoke.
“We don’t have ti to fight everyone. Pick three or four of your n. If they can beat , they can fight Jin Seong-un.”
To his confident declaration, Inspector Jang—who had first blocked their path and later served them food—glared fiercely and responded.
“Then I’ll be your first opponent.”
“Weren’t you the chef?”
Inspector Jang’s brow twitched.
“Though I may be a low-ranking martial artist of the Daejin Divine Cult’s Central Plains Diocese, I am still a man who has earned the title of Susa. Those called Susa in the Daejin Divine Cult are capable of crossing swords with peak-level masters of the Central Plains.”
Inspector Jang was certain of his victory.
No matter how strong the opponent’s presence might be, surely he wouldn’t lose to just a chef from an inn that wasn’t even run by Guest Dragon himself.
.
.
.
Sothing massive rolled across the flat ground with a rumble.
It was Inspector Jang.
“S-Stop! I feel like I’m going to throw up!”
Seo Yu-gyeom didn’t even draw the Heaven-Slaying Dagger—he simply rolled Inspector Jang around left and right.
His martial prowess, as said, was indeed comparable to the peak-level masters of the Central Plains, but Seo Yu-gyeom’s level had already reached Peak Master Level.
And the gap between Peak Master and Master Level was far greater than that between a third-rate and a first-rate martial artist.
Just like rolling a snowman on a heavy snow day, Seo Yu-gyeom tumbled Inspector Jang about before finally tossing him away with a flick and said,
“Next.”
“……”
A brief silence fell over the training hall.
The martial artists of the Daejin Divine Cult looked at each other.
‘You go.’
‘I ate too much this morning…’
Such thoughts were exchanged silently through their eyes.
There was nothing to gain from this fight.
The so-called “Chef Seo” was already terrifyingly strong—and if they won against him, they’d have to face soone even stronger: Guest Dragon.
If the low-ranking Susa hesitated for fear of losing, the upper-level Guardian Knights were reluctant to step forward for fear of their reputation.
The youngest among them was well past his forties. Beating a young martial artist would only make them look petty, and losing would be even worse.
As that awkward air lingered, High Priest Noh Wi-cheon cleared his throat.
“Are the knights of our sect more concerned with saving face than learning?”
The aning was clear: Stop dawdling and step forward.
Once the High Priest’s cold command dropped, the knights—well into their middle age—glanced at one another before a man finally stepped out.
He stood across from Seo Yu-gyeom and silently drew a thin, long sword from his waist.
Unlike his reluctant steps forward, the mont he unsheathed his sword, his sharp gaze deepened significantly.
He spoke in a voice as deep as a cave.
“I am Cheok In-gwang, Guardian Knight of the Daejin Divine Cult’s Central Plains Diocese. Before I found the faith, I once served the Murim Alliance.”
“I am Seo Yu-gyeom of Seong-un Inn.”
Seo Yu-gyeom’s introduction was brief.
Unlike Cheok In-gwang, he didn’t have any prestigious history to boast about.
But perhaps unaware of this, Cheok In-gwang seed sowhat offended by Seo Yu-gyeom’s modest response.
“Do you even understand how vast the world is?”
“Hmm. I once saw the sea in Jiangsu Province—it’s about that big, no?”
Cheok In-gwang chuckled quietly.
Guardian Knight of the Daejin Divine Cult was a title bestowed by the main sect in the Western Regions. In other words, he had already expanded his horizons beyond the Central Plains.
“The world is far bigger than you imagine. I know you’re strong for your age, but you’re not the only genius out there.”
“Even better. I grow stronger the wider the world gets.”
Because he was an assassin.
Assassins thrived not in narrow and confined spaces, but in broad and complex ones.
As Seo Yu-gyeom calmly brushed off the provocation, the smile vanished from Cheok In-gwang’s eyes.
“Let’s end this with one move.”
Cheok In-gwang’s sword was now coated in a pure white aura.
It was the sa energy they had earlier referred to as Baekyang True Qi.
Seo Yu-gyeom found it fascinating once more. When stored inside the body, not even a hint could be sensed. But once released, it beca overwhelmingly vivid.
In short, if they decided to hide their strength, it would be difficult to detect—unless you were a monster like Jin Seong-un.
‘That’s a perfect ability for an assassin.’
Seo Yu-gyeom chuckled inwardly at the thought.
Sssshhk—!
Cheok In-gwang charged with astonishing speed.
Even Seo Yu-gyeom barely managed to track the motion in that split second.
‘Sowhere around Peak Master Level.’
That was the most Seo Yu-gyeom could assess. He couldn’t tell whether Cheok In-gwang was stronger or weaker than him. The Baekyang True Qi was too foreign to serve as a proper reference point.
Despite the overwhelming speed and montum, Seo Yu-gyeom quickly regained his composure.
The distance between them closed.
Close enough that their blades could touch with a single extension.
Cheok In-gwang’s sword, imbued with Baekyang True Qi, ripped through the air.
Seo Yu-gyeom channeled icy energy into his Heaven-Slaying Dagger. That chill carried a killing intent refined to its extre.
The Heaven-Slaying Dagger drew a silver arc upward.
Shhhhh—!
The two blades passed each other.
It was so fast, no one could tell whether the weapons had clashed or simply missed one another. Even Jin Seong-un and the top masters of the Daejin Divine Cult were unsure.
Only Seo Yu-gyeom and Cheok In-gwang knew the outco.
Almost as if by prior agreent, they both stepped back to increase the distance.
Everyone waited for either of them to speak.
Cheok In-gwang placed his left hand over the right, which held his sword, in a posture resembling the clasped hands salute.
Then, from his mouth, a stream of blackish blood slowly trickled down.
Seo Yu-gyeom exhaled a long breath and said,
“Next.”
By this point, the elite martial artists of the Daejin Divine Cult began to wonder—
Was Seong-un Inn really just an inn?
Or was it a secret task force disguised in the skin of an inn?
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