Chapter 229

Chapter 229

Hundreds of people went missing at Sadoryeon’s opening ceremony.

At this unprecedented incident, the martial world was in an uproar. Among the missing were many celebrities whose names everyone would recognize.

Including Cheongseong Sect’s sect leader Songbyeok Jinin, many core disciples from Gupailbang, and direct disciples from Odaesega went missing. In Baengri Sega’s case especially, two of the family head’s only three children went missing.

The celebrities of the Orthodox Path martial world who heard this news unanimously criticized Sadoryeon. Since hundreds went missing at an event hosted by Sadoryeon, it’s only natural.

—Sadoryeon must take responsibility!

—Find the missing people!

Public opinion that arose like wildfire denounced Sadoryeon. There were those who suspected whether this situation itself, where hundreds went missing, wasn’t Sadoryeon’s objective, and public opinion formed that Sadoryeon must resolve this series of incidents.

In front of such public opinion denouncing Sadoryeon, the Sadoryeon Lord calmly declared.

—There was a Demonic Cult’s spy hidden in our alliance.

That this incident is the Demonic Cult’s doing.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

At Seonwoo Gang’s appearance quietly watching my mood, I shook my head and looked outside the window. The weather outside that’s only bright, unlike my gloomy heart.

“A wind will blow.”

“Pardon?”

“I said a wind that will cover Gangho will blow.”

Glancing at Seonwoo Gang, who had a puzzled expression as if he didn’t know what I was talking about, I quietly sank into contemplation. Though I’ve been recovering my body injured by internal injuries for the past few days without taking action, that doesn’t mean I stopped thinking.

‘This incident is the doing of Cheonbangja Seogwang.’

Cheonbangja Seogwang. Commonly called Seo Noya.

That old woman known to have magic arts knowledge comparable to Hwansin is the very person who received the commission and created this opening ceremony’s formation.

Usually, such large formations are made with the help of numerous magic arts practitioners like divination practitioners or illusionary arts practitioners, but the fact that she installed it alone shows her capabilities.

‘Only Seogwang knows the formation’s principles and purpose.’

The important thing is that Seogwang activated the formation, made numerous people disappear, then committed suicide herself.

Without confirming anything the moment she activated the formation, she pierced her temple with a silver needle right there and drilled through her brain, so no one could stop Seogwang’s death. Why she committed such an act, where all the many missing people went—nothing can be known in this situation.

‘They’re not…… dead, right?’

If you think about it logically.

According to the revealed circumstances, Seogwang is undoubtedly a Demonic Cult spy. Though Seogwang herself might not be a Demonic Cult follower since Demonic Cult followers have time limits staying in Central Plains, she at least has close ties with the Demonic Cult.

And what a Demonic Cult spy wants to do in Central Plains is only one thing. Find the Divine Maiden’s bloodline.

Finding and killing them isn’t the Demonic Cult followers’ objective. If the Divine Maiden’s bloodline is severed, the real trouble would be for the Demonic Cult, not Central Plains. Because they need the Divine Maiden’s bloodline to leave Xinjiang.

Then those caught up in the formation aren’t dead, at least. That many people got caught up because they couldn’t accurately distinguish who among them is the Divine Maiden’s bloodline.

Then where are the missing people?

‘The most likely place is still Xinjiang’s…… Demonic Cult’s main base.’

Hwansin, who examined the formation, asserted. That while sending people the distance from Anhui to Xinjiang in one go, such precise movement isn’t possible. The margin of error would be at least several hundred li.

Then are they confined somewhere around here? Sichuan? Qinghai? Or Gansu or Shaanxi?

‘……The range is too wide.’

Even searching only Shaanxi, which has a relatively narrower search range compared to other places, would take at least over half a year. And that’s assuming Murim Alliance and Sadoryeon search with their full power.

Either way, there’s no method to do something right now. If I move without certainty, I might end up meeting my disciples even later.

“Huuu.”

Blink blink.

“……Hm?”

While sighing, at the light blinking below my eyes, I lowered my gaze and something came into view. The appearance of a window flickering while filled with translucent red.

[Emergency Request: Survival]

‘This is…….’

The window I saw just before breaking the formation.

Holding doubt, as I focused my gaze on the window, the window that had been blinking below my eyes expanded as if it had been waiting and unfolded before my eyes. And the status window showing me its contents.

『Emergency Request: Survival

An old saying goes: Cultivate yourself, manage your family, and bring peace to the world.

To govern the world, you must first cultivate yourself and arrange your household.

If you’ve saved your own life by seeking survival, next is the time to save your scattered disciples.

Your disciples’ location is Xinjiang, where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s main base is located.

Fortunately, your disciples’ lives are still safe, but it’s unknown how long that safety obtained through heavenly fortune will continue.

Save your disciples within the time limit.

You will receive the Seal of Fate each time you save a disciple.

Remaining time: 66 days』

“……Xinjiang, you say.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

I shook my head toward Seonwoo Gang, who reacted to my murmur and asked, then stared intently at the status window. Xinjiang. Xinjiang, huh.

‘If the disciples are at the Demonic Cult’s main base, there’s no way to save them.’

That’s impossible even if it’s not me but the Sadoryeon Lord or Geomseong who steps forward. Though the Demonic Cult is called one of the three great powers along with Murim Alliance and Sadoryeon, the Demonic Cult is a single power, while the black and white two powers are allied powers.

A similarly sized allied power and a single power. You don’t need to ask which side is stronger. Moreover, facing the Demonic Cult in Xinjiang of all places would be suicide.

‘This…… status window has never given me an impossible request even once.’

If you think about it, that was the case. After first transferring the rights document, passing the test, and experiencing countless things thereafter.

This status window has never once presented me with an ‘impossible’ request. Even if it seems difficult and appears impossible, it means there must always be a breakthrough somewhere for it to be established as a request.

Then what must be done is one thing.

“Gang.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“You go to Nakhwaru right away.”

“Nakhwaru…… the pleasure house? Why there suddenly…….”

“There’s someone I need to request cooperation from.”

From here to Xinjiang is a tremendous distance of truly at least ten thousand li. But the remaining time is 66 days. Unless you’re a considerable expert, you’d use up all the time just going there.

“This isn’t the time to choose the method. Lee Ryang Sangdanju should be there, so request the complete opening of Heuksi from Lee Ryang Sangdanju.”

“……Pardon? Complete opening of Heuksi…….”

“Lee Ryang Sangdanju is Haomun’s successor.”

Looking at Seonwoo Gang, who widened his eyes as if learning this for the first time, I tapped my fingers on the table.

“Heuksi isn’t entirely Haomun’s, but Haomun’s stake in it isn’t small. Say I’ll pay any price, and request the complete opening of Heuksi. Understand?”

“……Anything, you say?”

“Yes. Anything.”

Even saying this, Lee Ryang won’t make a demand I can’t fulfill. In the current situation, finding survivors isn’t just my position alone.

“Understood. Then Sect Leader will…….”

“I need to persuade those inside here first.”

“Those inside here, you mean?”

“Geomhu. Daesageom. Bulgoe. Manwang. Taeak.”

“Even that is far from enough.”

Perhaps we might have to infiltrate the Demonic Cult main base and rescue people. Something doubtful whether it’s even possible with five of the Sipcheon joining.

“After finishing persuasion, I plan to shamelessly return home briefly.”

“……Returning home, you mean surely.”

“Yes.”

To the north of Anhui where Sadoryeon is located, on the road heading to Murim Alliance, there’s Shandong. And traditionally, there was only one family that ruled as Shandong’s hegemon.

“Now isn’t the time to consider stale feelings.”

Baengri Sega.

“I’ll briefly visit my family home.”

Six of the Sipcheon. And me.

At least this much is needed to have a chance.

It feels like I might die at any moment.

“Huk, heok……!”

Jiljiljil.

Baengri San, who had been dragging Seohwa and Wangpal, who had lost consciousness, bound by a rope made by tying clothes together, gasped roughly and collapsed on the spot. A scene where nothing but sand is visible no matter where you look around.

‘Where on earth should I go…….’

It’s the second day. Of wandering this vast desert without water or food.

At the bleak scene where even mirages aren’t visible, Baengri San involuntarily bit her lip and put strength into the hand gripping the rope. Because if it continues like this, only death remains for everyone.

‘This place is…… probably Xinjiang.’

She’s heard before. That Xinjiang, where the Demonic Cult is located, is filled with sinister energy in the atmosphere, so it’s not easy for humans who aren’t Demonic Cult followers to endure.

Just looking at the companions who were transferred together shows that. Seohwa, whose internal power control isn’t yet free, and Wangpal, whose total amount of internal power itself is small, have already lost consciousness, and Seomun Cheok, who’s barely following from far behind, is also moving his body but can only exert strength at the level of a commoner who barely learned martial arts.

‘For some reason, I’m not affected much…….’

Is this also the influence of that bloodline or whatever?

Teodeok.

As Baengri San, who had been thinking for a moment, paused, she turned her gaze at the footsteps heard from the side. Seomun Cheok, walking as if climbing the ridge with a pale complexion and gasping for breath.

“……Damn it.”

“Are you okay?”

“No, I’m at my limit. It’s not easy to move anymore.”

Seomun Cheok, who sat down as soon as he arrived at the top of the ridge, sat cross-legged and circulated his true energy while exhaling rapid breaths. And the words that followed.

“Leave us and go. Baengri San.”

“……What?”

“No matter how I think about it, that’s the best option. It’s hard to find anything while dragging three burdens.”

This is Xinjiang. Moreover, the Daemak of Xinjiang, notorious for being barren.

Finding an oasis or settlement in such a place is very difficult. In the first place, it’s not a place livable enough to have dozens or hundreds of settlements, and the size of Daemak is literally tremendously vast.

“If you wander around with three burdens, ultimately, the movement distance is bound to be limited. If it continues like this, we’ll all die together.”

“But…… you’re not saying I should abandon you all just so I can survive……!”

“……? When did I say such a thing?”

“Huh? You didn’t?”

“No.”

Seomun Cheok, who understood what Baengri San misunderstood, sighed with a tired face and continued speaking.

“I’m talking about thinking of efficiency. Once you find a settlement or something, you can come back to get us, can’t you?”

“……Ah.”

“My stamina is reaching its limit soon anyway. Once I collapse, you’ll have to drag me along too, but do you think you can properly search while dragging three people?”

“That’s true, but…….”

Baengri San, who hesitated for a moment, cautiously raised a doubt.

“……You know finding paths in such a desert isn’t easy. Even if you find a settlement, if you can’t come back…….”

“I have tracking incense. If I scatter that, it’ll work. I can find my way back up to five hundred li at least.”

“……What if you happen to receive a beast’s attack while you’re collapsed?”

“You don’t seem to know. The desert is barren, so there are almost no carnivorous animals large enough to eat humans. Creatures like scorpions and snakes won’t inject poison into people lying still either.”

At Seomun Cheok’s appearance refuting her words point by point while grimacing in pain, Baengri San, who lost her words, thought for a moment then bit her lip. And the answer that followed.

“Alright.”

“I’ll look and come back as quickly as possible. No matter what happens in the meantime, survive. You understand?”

“Yes. Hurry back.”

“……Just endure.”

Hwareureuk!

Along with the words, Baengri San, who received the tracking incense and unfolded lightness skill to disappear, confirmed her appearance, and after a moment.

Seomun Cheok smacked his dry lips then chuckled. Though he said it’s safe, there was something he didn’t tell Baengri San.

‘Carnivorous beasts aren’t dangerous in this Daemak.’

Xinjiang, which crossed Qinghai.

This place where all four directions are full of demonic energy makes it difficult to even walk the land unless you’re a Demonic Cult follower. Right now, even Seomun Cheok, Wangpal, and Seohwa, who have martial prowess counted among the later stages, are in a near-death state just from moving for two days.

‘Even without beasts, this place is sufficiently dangerous.’

If you continue being attacked by demonic energy, your condition doesn’t improve and your internal power becomes unstable. Despite martial artists with a certain level of internal power being able to endure for about a week without water and food, the fact that they reached their limit in two days is proof of that.

But that’s not what’s important. If stamina depletes quickly, you just need to bring plenty of supplies, and if internal power easily becomes unstable, only experts need to enter Daemak.

Nevertheless, the reason Murim Alliance and Sadoryeon hesitate to enter Daemak is only one thing.

“A place where Daeyogoe roam like it’s everyday life.”

Paseuseuseu!

Damn it.

Looking at the sand flowing down while smiling bitterly, Seomun Cheok closed his eyes. No matter how he thought about it, isn’t this the best choice?

‘We three can’t survive anyway.’

If Baengri San drags three people who can’t control their bodies around, she won’t arrive at a settlement in time even taking the shortest route. Moreover, isn’t this Daemak where prominent yokai roam?

Until now, she’s luckily avoided them, but if she meets a yokai and fights, Baengri San will also become endangered. There’s no gain, only loss.

‘……In that case.’

In that case, it’s better to definitely save at least Baengri San. Better to save even one person than have all four die.

Paseuseuseu!

Looking at the yokai with a strange form having ten long limbs each gradually rising above the sand, Seomun Cheok gripped the iron spear beside him with trembling hands.

“Come.”

As Seomun Cheok, who slowly raised his spear blade, held up his spear toward the yokai, the moment—

Segeok—!

The yokai split in half.

“Exhausted?”

“Strange indeed. That greenhorns like you could enter this deep.”

A low voice.

Seomun Cheok, who involuntarily stared at his opponent while raising his spear blade, furrowed his brow. Beyond the sun, the opponent’s appearance whose face couldn’t be seen clearly.

“You are…….”

“Hm. Now that I look, the collapsed ones have familiar faces. Though I don’t know who you are.”

The man who raised his face shrouded in shadow to show his appearance chuckled and took a step forward.

“The name those children know is Jang Il. And I’m also called by another name.”

“Demonic Cult’s Chilryun. Jeokyeol.”