Myst, Might, Mayhem

Chapter 293 – Convergence (3)

-Anyhow, you’re really shrewd.

Mok Gyeong-un shrugged his shoulders at Cheong-ryeong’s words.

Although she expressed it as shrewd, if he hadn’t laid out the premise like this, there was no knowing what Ma Ra-hyeon, burning with a desire for revenge, might have done.

Rather than creating an unnecessary variable, it was better to promise a carrot like this.

At least in order to obtain the carrot, he wouldn’t be able to think of anything else.

-Still, I provided an opportunity, so you should say I’m kind.

-Kind? What if there’s no more opportunity after this?

Mok Gyeong-un smiled silently at Cheong-ryeong’s words.

It was just as she said.

Once he obtained all the desired information from the Holy Fire Priestess, he would hand her over to the Heaven and Earth Society Leader for a meeting.

The leader of the Heaven and Earth Society was one of the Six Heavens.

Even if he was bedridden, if the Holy Fire Priestess fell into the hands of the leader, a supreme master at the level of a great sage, the opportunity like now might become distant for Ma Ra-hyeon.

Of course, for Mok Gyeong-un, that was not something to be particularly concerned about.

-Ssk!

Mok Gyeong-un turned his head and looked at the Holy Fire Priestess.

After finding out who Ma Ra-hyeon was, she had an inexplicably anxious look.

‘We need to get out of Kaifeng first.’

There was quite a bit he wanted to ask the Holy Fire Priestess.

However, this place was not far from the imperial capital Kaifeng, so there was a risk of pursuit.

In a situation where So Yerin and Dam Baek-ha the Sixth Blood Saint were not present, if the Southern Pacification Commissioner Gu Seong-baek, one of the Six Heavens, appeared, it would be difficult to handle at the moment.

So, Mok Gyeong-un said to everyone.

“Let’s get out of Henan first. Everyone, get on the cart.”

“Understood.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“Ooh. Can we ride that giant bizarre bird?”

“…It’s not something to be so happy about.”

Everyone was about to get on the cart, which had become more spacious with the removal of the food waste containers and the reduction in numbers, when Holy Fire Priestess approached Mok Gyeong-un and spoke in a small voice.

“Disciple of Elder Ya-seon.”

“That’s a long form of address. Just call me Mok Gyeong-un.”

“Mok Gyeong-un?”

“Yes.”

“I understand. Brother Mok. Are we going to ride this bizarre bird to move?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t we just get a horse?”

“Even if it’s okay, how can we get a horse in this deep mountain valley? And we’re not far from Kaifeng, so if we don’t hurry, we might be caught by the pursuit team. Is that alright?”

“Ah…”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s words, the Holy Fire Priestess looked at the Demonic Beast Heum-won with a pale face.

Although it was fast, relying on the talons of that giant monster to fly in the sky was not a very pleasant memory.

However, since there was no other choice, she had no option but to accept it.

“Well, shall we go then? If it’s difficult to just ride the cart, you can stay inside the food waste container again.”

“…I understand. But before that, Brother Mok. I have something to say.”

“Something to say?”

“That’s right. Elder Ya-seon must have made arrangements, but before that, we need to find the sacred orb.”

“Sacred orb… Come to think of it, what is that sacred orb?”

He was curious about what it was anyway.

Both the organization of the mark and the Embroidered Uniform Guard had tried to find that so-called sacred orb under orders from above.

If it weren’t an important item, they wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to target it.

Holy Fire Priestess glanced at those sitting on Mok Gyeong-un’s cart, then leaned close to his ear and whispered.

“It’s the Holy Fire.”

“…Holy Fire?”

“Didn’t you hear from Elder Ya-seon?”

“No, I only received instructions to abduct the Holy Fire Priestess from the underground prison of the Imperial Palace.”

“Ah. Elder Ya-seon taught well according to the doctrine.”

‘Doctrine?’

Listening to her words, it seemed that only a portion of the followers of the Fire Faith Order knew about that Holy Fire.

Holy Fire Priestess spoke to Mok Gyeong-un in a secretive voice.

“Originally, it’s too early, but since Brother Mok will succeed Elder Ya-seon, I’ll tell you. Without the Holy Fire, this old one cannot receive revelation.”

“Revelation, could it be?”

“The foresight you know is precisely the revelation.”

‘Ho.’

Interest glinted in Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes at her words.

He had guessed that the sacred orb might be related to foresight abilities, but it seemed to be true.

So, Mok Gyeong-un asked in a small voice.

“Can you not receive revelation without the sacred orb?”

“The sacred orb is a sacred object passed down through generations in our cult. Only with it can we receive the revelation of the sacred fire and open the path.”

“If it grants revelation, it must be essential.”

“That’s right. Also, only with the Holy Fire can we gather the believers again, and the incarnation that has appeared in the present world… No. This much, you don’t need to know yet.”

‘Incarnation?’

Mok Gyeong-un’s eyes narrowed.

Was the incarnation she mentioned referring to what was written in the language of the Persian Kingdom that the Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon possessed?

[Beware, for the incarnation of Ahriman shall appear in the present world.]

He didn’t know what that incarnation was, but it seemed to be a very important revelation for both the Shadow Clan Master Hwan Ya-seon and the followers of the Fire Faith Order.

Of course, Mok Gyeong-un had no interest in this.

His only concern was to find out who killed his grandfather and the mastermind behind it.

However, it seemed he had to find the so-called sacred orb.

There must be more than just wanting to see her for the leader of the Heaven and Earth Society to send someone to the underground prison of the Imperial Palace to abduct Holy Fire Priestess.

It must be related to that foresight ability.

‘It will be necessary.’

A Holy Fire Priestess without foresight ability would be no more than half a person.

The leader wouldn’t acknowledge her either.

So, Mok Gyeong-un asked.

“That sacred orb, no, where is the Holy Fire?”

“I entrusted it to my granddaughter.”

She had a granddaughter?

Well, if she wasn’t living alone at such an old age, she was old enough to have grandchildren.

“I see, then where is your granddaughter?”

“I asked a favor from the head of that family, who has long been connected with this old one. It’s a martial arts family in the martial arts world, so you, a martial artist, should know if you hear it.”

“A martial arts family in the martial arts world? Where is it?”

“The Tang Family of Sichuan.”

‘!?’

***

The Tang Family of Sichuan.

It is a martial arts family consisting only of the Tang clan bloodline and one of the Seven Great Families of the martial arts world.

The Tang Family of Sichuan, renowned for their hidden weapons, Golden Silkworm Hands, and poison, boasts the greatest power and influence among the Seven Great Families, along with the Mo-Yong Family and the Namgoong Family.

-Flap flap!

Mong Mu-yak, who was holding onto the shaking cart caught by Heum-won’s talons, spoke to Mok Gyeong-un in a worried voice.

“My lord… The Tang Family of Sichuan belongs to the Righteous Alliance. Will it be alright?”

For him, who had only heard the destination after ascending into the sky, he couldn’t help but be concerned.

The mission in the Imperial Palace was also dangerous, but at least it was no different from a neutral zone, so they could focus solely on the abduction.

However, if it was the Tang Family of Sichuan, the situation changed.

The Tang Family of Sichuan belonged to the Righteous Alliance, so they were completely at odds with the Heaven and Earth Society.

That meant they would be entering enemy territory.

Moreover,

“Not only the Tang Family, but Sichuan Province is completely the territory of the Righteous Alliance. With the Qingsheng Sect, Dianchang Sect, and Emei Sect present, if we make a slight mistake, the Heaven’s Net Earth’s Web may unfold.”

Heaven’s Net Earth’s Web.

It refers to a large-scale encirclement and pursuit formation deployed by over a thousand martial artists.

This formation, which is difficult to escape from due to its vast encirclement net, exerts pressure to the extent of not allowing any room for energy circulation or recovery of physical strength once caught.

If the Heaven’s Net Earth’s Web alone was like this, it would be even worse if the Tang Family of Sichuan, skilled in poison arts and hidden weapons, were involved.

“It doesn’t seem very good.”

“…It’s dangerous. Even if there’s no enlightened grandmaster at the level of a great sage like the Six Heavens in the Imperial Palace, the Tang Family of Sichuan has Tang In-hae, known to be comparable to them in terms of killing techniques, and he is one of the Eight Stars.”

Tang In-hae of the Thousand Poison Hands.

He was a master who, along with Guyang Sa-oh of the Eight Poison Snake Staff, had reached the realm of the Poison Man, said to be the highest level of poison arts, among the known poison masters in the Central Plains and beyond.

It was no exaggeration to say that poison arts, which followed a different path from ordinary martial arts, were specialized solely in destruction and death.

Therefore, going to the Tang Family of Sichuan was particularly daunting.

Seop Chun also seemed to agree, as he chimed in.

“This is where Mu-yak is right. In a sense, the Tang Family of Sichuan may be even more dangerous than the Imperial Palace. My lord, how about reconsidering?”

“Reconsider. Even so, what choice do we have? If we don’t have that so-called sacred orb, it may not be in the state the society leader desires.”

“However, the order given by the society leader did not include that sacred orb. Moreover, unlike the Imperial Palace mission, we are not prepared for the trip to the Tang Family of Sichuan.”

At Seop Chun’s words, the expelled monk Ja Geum-jeong, who had been listening quietly, took a sip from his gourd and spoke.

“Gulp. What are you so afraid of? We’re not going there to fight, but to fetch that old nun’s granddaughter.”

“It’s a difference in position. The Righteous Alliance and our association are enemies. We don’t need justification to fight.”

“If that’s the case, there’s no other way, but if you’re really worried, shall this baldhead accompany that old nun and go?”

“What?”

“Since the news of this baldhead serving Young Master Mok here hasn’t spread yet, it shouldn’t matter if I go, right?”

“…”

Seop Chun stared intently at Ja Geum-jeong.

Is he being serious?

The expelled monk Ja Geum-jeong is known as one of the Three Madmen.

The reason is that regardless of the righteous faction or the evil faction, he committed eccentric acts and received the nickname of a madman.

If he tried to enter the Tang Family of Sichuan, would they let him in nicely?

“…Hey. Do you really think the Tang Family of Sichuan will let you in?”

“Gulp. Well, if I’m unlucky, they might kick me out.”

It seemed he was aware of his own notoriety to some extent.

Seop Chun let out a deep sigh and soon spoke to Mok Gyeong-un.

“My lord, please…”

It was before he could finish his words.

-Gasp!

Mok Gyeong-un suddenly drew the Evil Commandment Sword he had been carrying at his waist.

-Ssrng!

“M-My lord?”

Puzzled by the sudden drawing of the sword, Mok Gyeong-un soon leaped onto the cart’s handle and swung his sword downward.

Then, sharp Sword Intent arose from the sword and slashed through the air.

-Pakang!

As something collided with the Sword Intent, metallic sounds and blue sparks scattered as it shattered.

It was unknown what it was, but it was clear that it had flown from below.

“What is it?”

“A pursuit team?”

Surprised by this, Seop Chun, Mong Mu-yak, and Ma Ra-hyeon stuck their heads out and looked down below the cart.

But it was at that moment.

From below, something flashed here and there and rushed towards them.

It was something blunt and short to be called an arrow.

What it was targeting was none other than,

‘Heum-won?’

At this, Mok Gyeong-un shouted at Heum-won.

“Dodge it!”

At Mok Gyeong-un’s shout, Heum-won glanced down, and rather than dodging, it tried to deflect the incoming objects with a gust of wind like the arrows in the Imperial Palace.

-Paaang!

As Heum-won’s giant wingbeat created a tremendous whirlwind, the rushing objects were soon deflected downward.

It was the moment when they thought most of the objects had been deflected.

-Ssk!

Something pierced through the whirlwind created by the wingbeat and flew towards Heum-won’s torso.

Just as it was about to make contact, Mok Gyeong-un leaped up and slashed it with the Evil Commandment Sword.

-Chaeng-gang!

The slashed object coincidentally fell onto the cart.

Seeing the halved object that had fallen, everyone couldn’t identify what it was due to its peculiar shape.

However, there was someone who recognized it.

It was the expelled monk Ja Geum-jeong.

This was none other than,

“Vajra?”

Vajra.

It is a ritual implement used by monks of the Buddhist sect when cultivating the Buddhist way or subduing demons, symbolizing the mind of enlightenment that shatters human afflictions.

‘Could it be?’

Startled upon seeing this, Ja Geum-jeong tried to look down below the cart.

But before he could do so, two more vajras flew in, and one of them pierced through Heum-won’s right wing.

-Splat!

As the vajra pierced its wing, Heum-won let out a scream.

-Kee-keh-keh-keh-keh-kek!

‘Couldn’t block one.’

He had blocked one of the two flying vajras by throwing the Evil Commandment Sword.

However, the other one flew towards the completely opposite wing, leaving no room for any action.

Mok Gyeong-un made a gesture of reaching out his hand and pulling.

Then, the flying Evil Commandment Sword changed direction and flew back towards Mok Gyeong-un.

-Pak!

It was the moment he grasped the sword.

-Ooooh!

From Heum-won’s right wing, which had been screaming, a solemn energy that had never been felt before flowed out, and a strange sound rang in their ears.

-Om somani somani hum arihanna arihanna hum arihanna banaya hum banaya hum baa-bam baa-

It was a bizarre phenomenon.

How could the sound be heard so clearly?

While he was puzzled by this, the expelled monk Ja Geum-jeong shouted urgently.

“My lord! It’s the demon-subduing mantra of the demon-subduing monks!”

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