I Prayed for a Murim Reincarnation, But I Was Born as the Youngest Imperial Prince - Chapter 83
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 83
Eunhak Sect’s Seonyeong and Jeolyeong.
Both were pseudonyms, but regardless, the two were no longer nameless Jianghu novices.
When they won the martial duel at the Namgung Clan, their reputation as rising stars had already grown within Anhui Province, but after capturing the Great Archdevil Sima Muyue, that fame spread throughout the entire Wulin.
Of course, they weren’t so famous that even a passing child could memorize their names like the Top Ten Masters, but the Wulin was a place that needed to be sensitive to the movements of the strong.
Especially regarding a powerhouse who tended to stick his nose into all sorts of matters like Seonwu.
Thus, those sensitive to such information began to memorize the names Seonyeong and Jeolyeong.
This included the Hall Master of the Guest Reception Hall, who was in charge of information for the Huangbo Clan.
Though his title meant he was in charge of entertaining guests, in reality, his role was to gather information on the many people who had the potential to visit as guests.
The few Transcendental Experts of Jiangxi Province were naturally subjects to be wary of, and Peak Realm masters within Jiangxi Province were also tracked by him.
And the three who were newly crossing into Jiangxi Province could not be ignored either.
“I heard that the senior and junior disciples of the Eunhak Sect, along with the Jiryong Prince of the Zhuge Clan, have begun roaming the land together.”
“Mmm, they are not welcome guests.”
The appearance of new individuals could bring turmoil and change at any time.
It wouldn’t matter if they just passed by without incident, but there was no telling what kind of commotion they might stir up.
The existing masters of Jiangxi Province maintained their own balance.
Huangbo Seonggwon, the Guest Reception Hall Master, was a conservative man who desired nothing more than for nothing to happen.
“Well, we cannot ignore them, but aren’t they just two Peak Realms and one High-Ascending Realm? Compared to the Main House, that is a feeble force.”
“If you look at it purely as combat strength, that is true, but aren’t they the young heroes who captured Sima Muyue?”
Huangbo Seonggwon shook his head at his nephew’s words.
If it were a simple fight, his family—which possessed the Family Head and the Great Elder who were Transcendental Experts, backed by several Peak Realm masters—was naturally stronger than those three.
He wouldn’t pay this much attention if two ordinary Peak Realm masters were simply passing through Jiangxi Province.
However, his age had already surpassed sixty years of age.
Living that long had made him realize that special individuals who brought storms with them occasionally appeared in the world.
Whether they were heroes, cunning villains, or Great Archdevils.
“Even Sima Muyue was only a Transcendence Realm at best, wasn’t he?”
Huangbo Seonggwon shook his head left and right.
‘No matter how much we are one of the most prominent families after the Five Great Clans, to be this arrogant.’
The problem was that because Sima Muyue had no track record for thirty years, the young ones did not well know the danger.
He was a man no less dangerous than the current Eight Hidden Demons.
Did they think the rumor that the Zhuge Clan almost faced annihilation came out of nowhere?
If Sima Muyue had spent thirty years focusing on their own family as a target, could they still speak so lightheartedly?
By now, both of their heads might have fallen off.
“For now, we don’t even know if they will come to the Main House…. But once news comes in, report it immediately.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Huangbo Seonggwon wasn’t the only one who displeased the three coming to Jiangxi.
“What shall we do? Will you postpone the plan?”
“Hmph, everything is nearly prepared, so why should we postpone it because of those three? I have already waited long enough.”
“A splendid determination. In that case, our side will proceed with the preparations as well. Rather, we might be able to utilize those three even better.”
“Hooh, in what way?”
“…This is what I suggest we do.”
“Indeed, that is quite good.”
* * *
The first thing Seonwu did upon entering Jiangxi Province was to head toward Nanchang, the provincial capital of Jiangxi Province.
Not only did they have to pass Nanchang to go further to the Huangbo Clan, but as the place where the largest population gathered, there was much to see and eat.
“Oh, so this is Tengwang Pavilion. It’s a whole nine stories tall.”
Seonwu rented out the entire top floor of Tengwang Pavilion to look down and sightsee.
‘But didn’t they say that the Tengwang Pavilion of the Ming Dynasty was only three stories tall?’
He wasn’t confident if his memory was accurate, but it felt like that.
‘Well, since martial arts exist, human labor capacity is on a completely different level compared to my past life.’
This was a world where a person could easily lift weights that would require a crane, so the construction cost itself was different.
In addition, the architectural technology developed through the study of formations and mechanism knowledge was also superior to the Ming Dynasty no matter how one looked at it.
While it wasn’t to the extent of building a hundred-story skyscraper like modern times, a nine-story pavilion was well within reason.
“Looking at it like this, it seems this place might actually be better to live in.”
“If you only look at the technology, that’s true.”
The breeze was cool, and the river looking down was truly elegant.
Although the rental price was expensive, there was no problem since they had received a generous amount of silver coins from the Zhuge Clan.
Of course, the money brought out from the Prince Mansion was far greater, but if he spent that carelessly, it might arouse suspicion as to how senior and junior disciples of a ruined sect possessed so much money.
“Thinking about it, though we caught Sima Muyue this time, the Eight Hidden Demons remain as they are.”
“Right?”
“And even if it’s peaceful here, a Ghost Gate is opening somewhere right now, and another round of battle is taking place. Someone will die.”
“Well, should we call it a demonic monster disaster instead of a tiger disaster? It is continuing even now.”
Since what Seonwu said was all too obvious, Jun also agreed immediately.
“Ugh, I knew it in my head long ago from learning about it, but after experiencing what happened this time, it feels much more real.”
“Why? Do you want to catch all of the Eight Hidden Demons?”
“If possible.”
Although the Wulin, called the orthodox and unorthodox factions, was not without its evils, it was at least exposed and managed.
In addition, they didn’t say things like kill every single person.
Compared to that, the demonic practitioners were truly dangerous people.
“Each of them is a Great Archdevil of the Ultimate Demonic Realm, equivalent to the Realm of Creation.”
“I know. Still, if they were gathered and entrenched somewhere in the open, it would be easy to subjugate them.”
“If they did that, they would have been called the Heavenly Demon Cult instead of the Eight Hidden Demons.”
Seonwu smacked his lips.
“Isn’t the Heavenly Demon Cult in the Shiwan Dashan supposed to be the standard for this kind of thing? Sheesh, those guys don’t know anything.”
“That only works in times of chaos. When the Imperial Court’s army is strong like now and His Majesty the Emperor is supremely powerful, if they gathered together relying on the terrain of the Shiwan Dashan, they would have been subjugated immediately.”
In the end, it meant they went into hiding because they lacked the confidence to endure.
That itself was proof that the world was a good place to live, but thinking about eight masters of the Ultimate Demonic Realm roaming in secret and plotting something evil made him feel unpleasant.
“I wish I could ascend to the Realm of Creation quickly too~”
Only then could he proudly catch the Eight Hidden Demons even if he encountered them.
“Geez, I can’t even say that’s a big dream. I’m frustrated because I can’t even ascend to the Peak Realm right now.”
“Huh? Wait. Come to think of it, why haven’t you ascended? Putting aside your overall cultivation realm, what about your inner energy?”
What are you doing keeping the spiritual medicine?
He himself had given fourteen pills to the Zhuge Family Head.
Whichever of those was used, it should have been enough for Jun to ascend to the Peak Realm.
[Hey, for starters, I’m not supposed to know that you gave fourteen spiritual pills.]
[Oops, fortunately Jeolyeong seems to have listened without much thought. But anyway, why hasn’t the Family Head given you any?]
[If he just gives it without a reason, it doesn’t align with the standards of governing the family. He also has to consider equity with the other children.]
[Is that so?]
[He will probably give it then if I accomplish something worthy of raising the family’s prestige while traveling with you.]
[Hmm, should I just give you one?]
[No thanks. I don’t want to plunge my brothers into jealousy and envy. Even if I obtain it, my mind will be more at ease if I get it by being recognized for my contributions within the family.]
[I still have plenty though….]
[I appreciate the thought. But I want to receive it through my father.]
Since he said so, he couldn’t force it.
“Let’s eat! I think it’ll taste better while looking at that scenery.”
They ate rare and delicious dishes while looking down at the flowing river.
‘Mmm, the Imperial Family chefs are naturally good, but they are good here too.’
Since they couldn’t eat well for every meal while roaming the Wulin, Seonwu was deeply satisfied to eat well after a long time.
While spending the day comfortably like that, a letter sent by the secret branch leader of the ‘Feilong Sect’ arrived.
‘Oh, it’s an information report summarizing the overall situation of Jiangxi Province. Let’s see.’
If possible, it would be convenient to show it to Jeolyeong and Jun at the same time, but that wasn’t allowed due to the secret game being played regarding his identity.
Seonwu first read it alone.
“Hmm, let’s see. The greatest power in Jiangxi Province is the Huangbo Clan. However, besides them, there are three more fairly successful mid-sized sects. The Namdo Sect, the Wolyeop Sect, and the Hongrugak. Among these, only the Huangbo Clan belongs to the orthodox factions, while the rest are between orthodox and unorthodox or the unorthodox faction. Hmm, this is enough for the distribution of power, but are there any bastards who need to be dealt with?”
Bad guys must be punished.
For the duty of a chivalrous xia must be to punish evil.
“The Wolyeop Sect next to the Huangbo Clan is suspicious? Hmm? It doesn’t say they are bad, so what does it mean by suspicious?”
Seonwu re-read the additional report.
“Several women have already disappeared?”
If it were an attack by a demonic monster, that demonic monster should be discovered afterward.
And if it were a demonic monster, it wouldn’t specifically capture only women.
Attacking only a specific gender meant there was a reason to do so. And when it came to such martial arts, something came to mind immediately.
A method of extorting the opponent’s vital blood essence and true qi to dry them to death, while seeking to promote one’s own inner energy.
It was also called the Energy Absorption Art.
‘Should I call them energy-absorbing fiends instead of vampires.’
The representative examples were King Zhou of Yin and Daji.
Those who learned the Energy Absorption Art derived from there and trained by taking the lives of the opposite sex were called lechers.
Naturally, they were placed on the list of demonic practitioners who must be subjugated upon appearance, and although they were frequently subjugated, they were wicked people like cockroaches that always appeared again.
‘Usually, they are called lechers if male and enchantresses if female, but either way, it doesn’t change that they are demonic practitioners.’
In the end, even though there was never a good end because different true qis collided with each other, they consistently appeared.
‘The saying that humans repeat the same mistakes is indeed a famous quote.’
At any rate, the missing persons this time were all women.
While there was a possibility they were kidnapped from courtesan houses….
‘This is also a crime in its own right.’
Whether it was a demonic practitioner or a kidnapping, it was a sufficient reason for a chivalrous xia to go.
* * *
Seonwu used the excuse that he had heard it through rumors and suggested to the two that they stop by the Wolyeop Sect before heading to the Huangbo Clan.
“If Senior Disciple wishes, this Junior Disciple will merely follow.”
“I have no objection either. We’re sticking together anyway, right?”
“Great. Then we are going. However, let us go covertly.”
Both understood the meaning of Seonwu’s words.
If they went openly, the culprit might get scared and hide.
If some evil deed was taking place, it would be easier for them to conduct a stakeout or whatever if they went secretly.
“Since Senior Disciple takes hardships upon himself to punish the wicked and look after the common people, how could this Junior Disciple not follow in deep admiration.”
“Well, eating and sleeping unsheltered for a few days won’t kill us.”
Both readily agreed.
However, their inner thoughts were slightly different.
Jeolyeong was furious at the incompetent ones.
‘Ugh, originally this kind of matter is something that should be handled by the magistrate in charge of the region or by the local sect.’
If the culprit was strong, it should have been caught at the level of the county magistrate or the prefect.
Why do they receive salaries from the state and enjoy the authority granted by the state?
It was to prevent and resolve things like this.
Yet, to make the lord who received a princely title personally sleep unsheltered and go on a stakeout to catch the culprit.
The bastard called the Wolyeop Sect, which was the premier sect of that area, was equally displeased.
‘Doesn’t the state permit the Wulin forces to possess martial arts and weaponry so that they can cooperate with the local government to respond to such matters!’
Although the Wulin claimed they were loyal to the state, was that actually the case in reality?
They were not the government, nor were they the military.
Nevertheless, they collected substantial protection fees and various other things from the common people to reap great profits, which was because they were recognized for protecting the region by supplementing the martial power that the government alone lacked.
‘Yet, to fail to resolve even this matter and make Your Highness suffer directly.’
The Wolyeop Sect bastards were also utterly incompetent.
Unlike Jeolyeong who was furious like that, Jun speculated on who the culprit was and what the incident was about.
‘The clues are still too lacking to make a premature judgment…. But it doesn’t seem like kidnapping for human trafficking.’
For that, they revealed the kidnappings too easily.
Furthermore, human trafficking was ultimately done for money, so committing deeds in a land where the Wolyeop Sect existed and which was also the front yard of the Huangbo Clan carried a high risk compared to the profit.
‘It would be much safer to kidnap people further on the outskirts, so why deliberately here? Besides, if you want to sell them, you have to go far.’
If it were just one person, perhaps that woman was exceptionally beautiful.
However, doing this to multiple people didn’t make financial sense relative to the cost and risk.
Even if the wicked lacked a conscience, they would still have profit-and-loss calculations.
‘But even if it’s the Energy Absorption Art, it’s a bit strange.’
If the corpses were disposed of secretly, it was understandable that it couldn’t be distinguished from a disappearance.
However, why deliberately here?
Even now, somewhere under heaven, demonic monsters would be coming out of Ghost Gates and demonic practitioners would be doing something.
Among them, it was entirely possible for a practitioner of the energy absorption lineage to kill people.
But the location was bad.
‘There is a reason why even Great Archdevils avoid the front yards of Shaolin or Wudang.’
Of course, Hangwol County where they were heading now wasn’t a terrifying place like the front yard of Mount Song.
Still, it was one of the mid-sized sects counted next to the Huangbo Clan in Jiangxi Province, and it was also extremely close to the Huangbo Clan.
If they simply needed female sacrifices, it would be correct to look for more remote, secluded areas rather than acting in such a dangerous place.
‘Furthermore, as the cultivation realm of the Energy Absorption Art rises, ordinary commoners usually give no effect, and they would need someone who has trained in martial arts to some extent as a sacrifice.’
The fact that those who disappeared were ordinary commoners was also strange somewhere.
‘There is definitely more to this case than meets the eye.’
To uncover it, they had no choice but to brace themselves for sleeping unsheltered.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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