Chapter 148
Two middle-aged Heavenly Killer Sect Demonic Monarchs stood on a ridge that overlooked the valley where Baek Mu-Gun and the assassins were fighting. Watching the ongoing battle, their expressions hardened.
He is definitely the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor, Life-Stealing Demonic Monarch Bi Jong-Hae, the middle-aged man with a hooked nose and thin lips, said confidently. To his right stood Crazy Killing Demonic Monarch Dong Ryun, who had fierce eyes and hair parted in the middle.
Jong-Hae wasnt sure at first despite having witnessed Mu-Gun kill three of his Higher Demons. However, he became certain that Mu-Gun was the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor when Mu-Gun executed the Hundred Golden Lightning Wheel Wave.
I think so too. I already had suspicions since that bastard had ruined a lot of our plans, but it all makes sense now. The Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor is certainly capable of such feats. Crazy Killing Demonic Monarch Dong Ryun said.
What should we do?
We have to kill him before he gets stronger.
I doubt we can handle him.
Even if he is the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor, he is still only a young man in his early twenties. If we work with the Higher Demons and the Three Great Slayer Kings, we will definitely be able to kill him.
Have you forgotten that the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor has the Thunder God's Descent? If he uses it, even five of us Absolute-Realm masters cannot guarantee victory, Life-Stealing Demonic Monarch Bi Jong-Hae refuted.
He is only in his early twenties, and I also heard that it has only been a year since he recovered from qi deviation, so can he even use it?
He is already at the Absolute Realm even though it has only been a year, and considering the martial prowess hes showing us right now, he is probably already close to breaching into the Supreme Realm as well. It would not be strange if he can use the Thunder God's Descent.
As far as I know, there is a limit to how long he can maintain the Thunder God's Descent, Dong Ryun said.
I believe it only lasts eight minutes.
If thats the longest he can use it, then does that not mean it could be much shorter?
The Thunder God's Descent would allow him to exert the same level of power as a Supreme-Realm master. Even if it can only be maintained for a short period, once it has been activated, we would no longer be able to stop him, Jong-Hae argued.
So you want to just head back after coming all the way here? Without any results?
It is better than suffering losses.
Will the Divine Demon accept that reason?
Even the esteemed Divine Demon will understand our situation if we tell him that Baek Mu-Gun is the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor.
You're really intent on heading back now? Dong Ryun voiced his dissatisfaction.
I am also eager to get rid of him. However, he has already killed three Demonic Monarchs. If we suffer the same fate here, the Heavenly Killer Sects great cause will be hindered, Jong-Hae explained.
What do you plan to do with the Three Greatest Assassin Organizations? They are sustaining heavy losses because they mobilized their forces for the sake of the Heavenly Killer Sect. I wonder if they will trust the Heavenly Killer Sect again if we walk away without doing anything. It is highly unlikely that we will be able to use them again.
No, Baek Mu-Gun is the reason behind their casualties. They will need the Heavenly Killer Sects power to take revenge, which is why they will still follow our sects orders after this. Furthermore, we can grant the rank of Demonic Monarch to the Three Great Slayer Kings to make them more loyal to the Heavenly Killer Sect.
You want to promote them to Demonic Monarch? That rank is given only to those who are born with demonic blood.
Lineage is certainly important, but their faith in the Heavenly Killer Sect should have more value than that. If the Three Great Slayer Kings show unwavering loyalty to the Heavenly Killer Sect, accepting them as new demonic blood should not pose any problems. This is something only the esteemed Divine Demon can decide on, though.
We have to try our best to save the Three Great Slayer Kings and the special-rank assassins, then. They have to retreat right now.
I agree.
Signal the retreat! Crazy Killing Demonic Monarch Dong Ryun ordered the Higher Demons who were standing by behind them.
The Higher Demons immediately blew a horn.
Everyone, retreat!
The Three Great Slayer Kings, who had been moving stealthily behind the group of assassins attacking Mu-Gun, ordered their subordinates to escape when they heard the sound of the retreat horn. Following their order, the assassins stopped attacking Mu-Gun and hurriedly retreated. The Three Great Slayer Kings also quickly escaped from the valley.
Mu-Gun glanced at the assassins as they retreated, then turned his head to the ridge where the Life-Stealing Demonic Monarch and the Crazy Killing Demonic Monarch were. Although they were thousands of feet away from him, Mu-Gun made eye contact with the two Demonic Monarchs.
Mu-Gun wanted to fly to the ridge and kill them. Although he was quite far, he was confident that he could kill them if he put his mind to chasing them down. Unfortunately, he was not alone. So Yeon-Hwa was next to him. The Medicine King Pill had healed her internal injuries caused by the sealed veins, but she still had wounds on her legs. Moreover, she was in no state to use martial arts.
Mu-Gun could not leave her behind and chase after them, so all he could do was stand by and watch as the assassins retreated. After making sure they were all out of harms way, the Life-Stealing Demonic Monarch and the Crazy Killing Demonic Monarch turned around and left the ridge as well. Mu-Gun again had no choice but to watch them leave. Nevertheless, although it was a pity that he missed the opportunity to kill them, Mu-Gun decided to just find satisfaction in being able to save Yeon-Hwa.
How are you feeling? Mu-Gun asked Yeon-Hwa as he faced her.
I feel a lot better. Thank you. That aside, dont you think they retreated far too early? Why would they do that? Yeon-Hwa asked, wondering why the Heavenly Killer Sect and the Three Greatest Assassin Organizations stepped down halfway into the battle instead of putting all their efforts into killing Mu-Gun.
They probably judged that they had no shot at victory, Mu-Gun replied.
How could that be? From what I heard while I was in their captivity, the Three Greatest Assassin Organizations and the Heavenly Killer Sect were part of this trap.
I am much more amazing a man than you are aware of.
What am I missing?
Well, youll find out about it anyway, so I might as well tell you. I inherited the martial legacy of the Thunder God. Those people retreated when they realized that, Mu-Gun revealed.
Youre the Thunder Gods successor? No wonder. That explains your ridiculously strong martial arts as well. However, is that really a good enough reason for them to retreat? Even if the Thunder Gods successor is known throughout history for playing a big role in murim, you are just an Absolute-Realm master right now. They would have likely deployed at least two or three masters of the same caliber, so how could they have no chance of victory?
Yeon-Hwa tilted her head, unable to understand the situation.
Why do you sound as if you are dissatisfied because they retreated?
I am just curious. Well, you dont seem intent on explaining the reason, so you dont have to. Thank you for coming to save me despite the danger.
You should not thank me. Rather, I should apologize. You had to go through all this hardship because of me, and this will keep pestering you from now on. The other factions of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect will not leave you alone, Mu-Gun worryingly said.
This is very unfair. I did not marry you and I no longer have anything to do with you, yet Im the one theyre bothering, Yeon-Hwa said, clearly displeased.
If you find it unfair, you can just marry me now.
What?
Yeon-Hwa stared at Mu-Gun with a flustered look.
As I have already said, this is not the end of all this. However, if you are next to me, I can protect you. To be honest, I want to keep you by my side and protect you.
No. The relationship between us is already over. I cannot marry you now just for the purpose of avoiding the Nine Celestial Demons Sects threat, Yeon-Hwa firmly declined.
Nobody was hurt this time, but there is no guarantee the same thing will happen next time.
Dont worry. I dont intend to recklessly continue my journey across murim. I will return to the Putuo Sword Sect to keep myself from being exposed to the Nine Celestial Demons Sects threat.
Fine. If that is what you truly want, then I will say no more. However, since I dont know how the Nine Celestial Demons Sect will be acting from here on out, at least come with me to Shaoxing.
Alright.
Lets get out of here for now. Get on my back, Mu-Gun offered.
No, I can walk on my own.
How do you plan to do that with the wounds on your legs? Dont be stubborn and get on my back, Mu-Gun insisted.
Fine. Ill be in your care.
Left with no choice, Yeon-Hwa got on Mu-Guns back. Mu-Gun descended Yuhua Peak swiftly and seamlessly despite carrying Yeon-Hwa, so she had a comfortable time on their way down.
Mu-Gun then checked into a nearby inn. He wanted to get Yeon-Hwas leg treated first, but there was no clinic nearby. Hence, they had no choice but to look for an inn to stay the night instead.
Youre in a bad condition, so use this for now. This will have a much better effect compared to other Gold Sore Ointments.
Mu-Gun handed over the Gold Sore Ointment that he received from the Medicine King Family.
Thank you.
Dont mention it. Rest up.
When Mu-Gun left the room, Yeon-Hwa took off her pants and examined the wounds on her thighs. The wound on her right thigh, which was stabbed first, had not been properly treated, so it was inflamed and had pus leaking. Any longer without proper treatment, the wound would have begun to rot. Yeon-Hwa took a dagger out of her chest pocket, disinfected it with fire, and used it to cauterize the inflamed and pus-filled wound on her thigh.
Cold sweat flowed down her forehead and back due to the great pain. Nevertheless, Yeon-Hwa endured it through clenched teeth. It took her fifteen minutes of ceaseless agony to remove all the inflamed flesh and pus. Completely exhausted, she desperately wanted to call for Mu-Gun, but she held it in and wiped the blood dripping down from her wound with a clean cloth instead.
Yeon-Hwa then took out the Gold Sore Ointment that Mu-Gun gave her and applied it evenly to the wound. As soon as she did, she felt a cooling sensation. Moreover, the throbbing and burning pain from the wound seemed to be disappearing. She immediately felt the Gold Sore Ointments outstanding effectiveness.
After wrapping her wound with a clean cloth, Yeon-Hwa treated the wound on her other leg in the same way. Since it was not inflamed, she did not go through as much pain. Afterward, Yeon-Hwa lay down on the bed and tried her best to circulate her qi. Qi circulation was best done while sitting in a lotus position, but it was difficult for her to be in that position due to her wounds. Still, Yeon-Hwa went out of her way to circulate her qi anyway while lying down because qi circulation helped circulate her energy and blood flow, which facilitated her recovery.
Mu-Gun, who booked the room next to Yeon-Hwa, was also circulating his qi since he had to replenish the internal energy that he had exhausted during his battle at Yuhua Peak. He was actually planning to activate the Thunder God's Descent as a last resort in todays fight. The Thunder God's Descent allowed him to exert unparalleled power, but once it was over, he would be left defenseless. He would not have any problem for as long as he could kill all the enemies before then, but if even just one enemy survived, he would be met with a dangerous situation. For that reason, it was better not to use the Thunder God's Descent unless he had no other choice.
Fortunately, the fight ended before he had to use it.
The Nine Celestial Demons Sect has probably realized by now that I am the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor.
He was already prepared to have his identity discovered when he decided to save Yeon-Hwa, but he could not help but feel frustrated now that it had actually happened. Now that the Nine Celestial Demons Sect was aware that he was the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor, they would likely stop at nothing to kill him.
However, the Nine Celestial Demons Sect would probably not immediately attack the Baek Sword Sect. From what he saw today, they still feared the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sect, so they would likely have difficulties attacking the Baek Sword Sect. After all, aside from having the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sects successor, they also had seven Absolute-Realm masters.
Nevertheless, he could not help but be concerned that his existence would make the nine factions of the Nine Celestial Demons Sect join forces. Considering the Heavenly Descent Thunder God Sect was its sworn enemy, its nine factions would be more than willing to join forces for the sake of eliminating him. He would clearly be facing more danger from now on.
The next day, Mu-Gun and Yeon-Hwa departed from Mount Yuhua and headed to Nanchang. Mu-Gun prepared a carriage for Yeon-Hwa since she was injured. As soon as they arrived in Nanchang two days later, Mu-Gun took Yeon-Hwa to the Sky Flower House. As its name suggested, the Sky Flower House was a brothel.
Why did you bring me to a brothel? Yeon-Hwa asked, seemingly having suspicions.
I have to get some information.
In response to Mu-Guns answer, Yeon-Hwa guessed that the Sky Flower House was a secret branch of an intelligence syndicate. In truth, the Sky Flower House was the Heavenly Secret Halls Nanchang branch. The Heavenly Secret Hall had informants in various sects within murim, so they needed places that could collect and analyze the information they sent. The brothel that Mu-Gun visited was one of them. That modus operandi originated from the Undern Sect, but the Heavenly Secret Hall, which stemmed from the Undern Sect, now used it.
Upon entering the Sky Flower House, Mu-Gun showed the identity plaque he received from Dan Seol-Young and met the person in charge of the Nanchang branch.
I am Jin Hwa-Young, the person in charge of the Heavenly Secret Halls Nanchang branch. It is an honor to meet the Vice Leaders husband.
Hwa-Young seemed to be in her early thirties, and she was very beautiful.
I am Baek Mu-Gun. Nice to meet you.
What information do you require?
Before that, please convey to the Heavenly Secret Halls main branch that I have safely finished all my agenda.
I have already sent word about that, so please dont worry about it any longer.
As expected, you move fast.
We received an order from the main branch to treat it with the highest priority.
Mu-Gun nodded in response, then asked, What is the situation in Nanchang?
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