The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 121

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 121

“By now, the Martial Arts Alliance should be deciding whether to approve or reject it. Since Shaolin sided with us, most will likely vote in favor of the reinvestigation.”

After staying one day at Shaolin, we were discussing our next course of action.

“First, Ryeong-i and I must go to the Martial Arts Alliance no matter what. Even if the reinvestigation is approved, we need to secure bail for you to have some freedom of movement.”

Though it was unfair, Grandmother’s status remained that of a suspect until the reinvestigation was completely finished.

“Will the Alliance agree to those conditions?”

“We’ll have to make them agree.”

“Tang Papa, what should we do?”

After hearing Grandmother’s tragic story, Seo-ryeon was eager to help in any way possible. It seemed her innate sense of justice had been triggered, just like in the original story.

“Before that, I’d like to know more details about the incident from 17 years ago. Could you tell us about it?”

From the headquarters to Sichuan, then to Shaolin.

We had been moving around frantically, so there hadn’t been time for a proper explanation.

At Eok I-geon’s request, Grandmother fell into contemplation for a moment before slowly beginning to speak.

Anhui Province, Chaohu.

Like a mirror that had fallen from the sky, a massive lake sparkled on the earth.

Gushan and Mushan, rising majestically in the middle of the lake, created the illusion of seeing immortals.

The white mist that rose from the lake surface and disappeared was like an ink painting drawn by two immortals dissolving ink.

Dang Yeong-ryeong sat in an inn with Hwangbo Un, the deputy leader of the Dark Four, drinking while gazing at the picturesque scenery.

“The Namgung Family is truly the Namgung Family – their reputation is well-deserved.”

Having finished the inspection, Hwangbo Un lifted his wine cup with a refreshed expression.

“It’s been a really long time since we found absolutely nothing when investigating, hasn’t it? I think other sects should learn from this.”

Hwangbo Un downed his drink refreshingly and set down his cup, but his inner thoughts were actually complex and subtle, contrary to his outward appearance.

His family, the Hwangbo Family, had an ambiguous position.

They weren’t weak enough to be looked down upon in the martial arts world, but they paled in comparison to the Five Great Families.

Moreover, they were caught between the Namgung Family below and the Peng Family of Hebei above, unable to properly assert themselves.

Eventually, to expand their influence, they aligned themselves with the Namgung Family, who were like the leaders of the Five Great Families.

As a result, they were at best loyal younger brothers, at worst subordinates – it was all the same.

The kind who had to do whatever they were told.

From Hwangbo Un’s perspective, this was quite uncomfortable.

Whenever he saw his father and his older brother, the clan leader, bowing and scraping to the Namgung Family, something boiled up in his chest.

So when he came to conduct a regular inspection of the Namgung Family, he had secretly felt somewhat arrogant due to his inferiority complex.

However, what remained after the inspection was envy and acknowledgment.

‘If it’s a Namgung Family like this…’

“They truly deserve to sit in the first seat among the Five Great Families.”

Lost in thought, Hwangbo Un unconsciously muttered those words, then quickly glanced at Dang Yeong-ryeong’s reaction.

Her family, the Sichuan Dang Family, also held one of the seats among the Five Great Families.

“It’s fine.”

Dang Yeong-ryeong genuinely didn’t mind.

She had high pride in her family, and she never compared herself to anyone else or any other place.

Hwangbo Un sometimes wanted to emulate that aspect of Dang Yeong-ryeong.

“It’s true that the Namgung Family is remarkable, and you’re right that they’re righteous. But…”

Dang Yeong-ryeong stopped mid-sentence and closed her mouth.

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Why was that?

Strangely, she didn’t feel drawn to the Namgung Family.

After experiencing it today, she felt even more so.

First of all, they didn’t have a human scent. As if wearing one perfect mask, everything felt too smooth and flawlessly organized.

‘Hmm, I don’t know.’

“…Are the members resting well?”

Dang Yeong-ryeong shook off her unnecessary thoughts and changed the subject.

“Since it’s a rare break, everyone went out to have fun.”

“And the deputy leader didn’t go with them?”

“Hey, why are you saying that? Since no one’s around, I’m keeping you company like this, aren’t I?”

“Ah, is that what it was?”

“You didn’t know?”

“No.”

“Pfft!”

“Hahaha!”

After the joke, both burst into laughter and toasted.

“Still, since we have to leave early tomorrow morning, I firmly told them all to return by midnight.”

“Well done.”

Dang Yeong-ryeong nodded while emptying her wine cup.

“Oh, about Bang Si-u. His family home is nearby, so he wanted to stop by briefly, and I told him to go ahead. I apologize for approving it without getting permission from you first.”

“It’s fine. It didn’t interfere with work, and as deputy leader, you should have that much authority.”

“Thank you.”

“He probably went because he missed his youngest sibling. He brags about that sibling so much.”

Listening to his stories made even Dang Yeong-ryeong want to have a younger sibling.

‘But… no.’

Dang Yeong-ryeong shook her head to dismiss the thought.

“If he’s late coming back because he got caught up in his sibling’s antics, I’ll give him a real scolding!”

At Hwangbo Un’s silly joke, Dang Yeong-ryeong laughed and turned her gaze toward the window.

The lake was sparkling with ripples touched by the sunset light.

“I could go.”

As they say, words become seeds.

Bang Si-u, who had said he would visit his family home, was late returning.

“It would be faster for me to move. Deputy leader, please stay here and command the members.”

She had long since neutralized the alcohol with her internal energy. Having finished her preparations, Dang Yeong-ryeong headed straight toward Hamsan County.

Actually, in cases like this, it would normally be fine to wait a bit longer since there might be special circumstances.

Nevertheless, the reason Dang Yeong-ryeong set out was because something Bang Si-u had said a few days ago was bothering her.

“My father found something at the ancestral grave, and he seems very worried about it. If he ever asks for my opinion, I was thinking of suggesting he seek help from your family. Would that be alright?”

To which Dang Yeong-ryeong had naturally said of course.

‘I hope it’s just needless worry…’

Dang Yeong-ryeong used lightness skills to race along the main road, arrived at Hamsan County, and immediately climbed the mountain that bordered the county.

Perhaps because Sword Cry Manor, the longtime resident of Hamsan, was located there, the mountain paths were quite well-maintained.

Bang Si-u’s family home, Sword Cry Manor, was small in scale but a martial family that had been passed down through generations.

As she climbed the mountain without difficulty, she could see a massive manor located halfway up the mountain in the distance.

It was as bright as a city that never sleeps, as if large torches had been lit.

“…?”

With that much light, there should definitely be a feast or something equivalent happening, but the surroundings were eerily quiet.

Her worry turned into an ominous feeling in an instant.

Dang Yeong-ryeong concealed her presence and slowly approached Sword Cry Manor.

The closer she got, the more she could feel a chilling aura on her skin.

‘…This is the smell of blood!’

The fishy scent of blood caught in the wind.

Dang Yeong-ryeong lowered her body and carefully pressed herself against the wall.

She heightened her ki sense to the maximum, surveying her surroundings and sharpening her hearing.

No signs of human presence could be detected from beyond the wall.

Dang Yeong-ryeong silently leaped over the wall.

‘Gasp!’

Inside the wall, the scene at Sword Cry Manor was horrific.

Under the flickering torches scattered throughout the courtyard, brutally murdered corpses lay strewn about carelessly.

‘What on earth is this…!’

Dang Yeong-ryeong’s body stiffened at the unexpectedly terrible sight.

Then the face of Bang Si-u, who never lost his smile and was always faithful to his duties, came to mind.

‘Who is the culprit!’

Just as Dang Yeong-ryeong barely managed to suppress her trembling body with rage.

“Who goes there!”

Suddenly a masked figure burst out from inside a building and swung his sword.

Dang Yeong-ryeong hastily turned her body to dodge, but immediately the opponent’s relentless attacks followed.

Swish— swish swish swish!

The thrusting and slashing sword was fierce and sharp. However, the movements and trajectory of his swordplay seemed ordinary, like watching the Three Calamities Sword Technique that even street thugs could wield.

‘It lacks distinctive features.’

Which meant it was intentionally concealed.

Though monotonous, the martial prowess contained within each sword strike was extraordinary.

He was definitely a master.

Every thrust aimed at vital points, and every slash targeted fatal spots without exception.

Ping— whizz whizz!

In the darkness, Dang Yeong-ryeong dodged the masked man’s sword while launching hidden weapons in a surprise attack.

“Huh!”

The masked man seemed startled by the hidden weapons and frantically deflected them.

Clang! Clang clang!

Even in the midst of this, the masked man didn’t fully reveal his martial arts.

This meant he was an even higher-level master than Dang Yeong-ryeong had expected.

‘Let’s see how much you can hide!’

Dang Yeong-ryeong drew out feather needles and deployed her specialty hidden weapon technique.

Continuous Twelve Flowers!

Twelve feather needles aimed at the masked man’s vital points, seeking to bloom twelve blood flowers.

Clatter clatter clatter clatter!

The feather needles blocked by the masked man’s sword scattered with sparks instead of blood flowers.

‘This was just a decoy!’

Pop!

Dang Yeong-ryeong instantly released Heartbreak Poison and launched a palm strike.

“Gasp!”

The masked man’s eyes widened as he blocked the palm strike. In that brief moment, he had sensed the Heartbreak Poison.

Whoosh!

The masked man urgently swung his sword to create a sword wind.

Though the wind scattered and dissipated the Heartbreak Poison, the sword technique he had been hiding so carefully was finally exposed.

“…Namgung Family?”

It was unmistakable. What the masked man had displayed was one move from the Namgung Family’s representative sword technique, the Boundless Azure Sky Sword Method.

“You, you are…!”

And when Dang Yeong-ryeong’s face was revealed in the torchlight, the masked man’s eyes widened once more.

Those were eyes that recognized her.

“Who are you?”

Just as Dang Yeong-ryeong was about to counterattack, placing feather needles between her fingers.

Suddenly a group of masked figures appeared on the rooftops and walls.

“Cheonsu Dokhwa! You have seen what you should not have seen!”

They all charged at Dang Yeong-ryeong in unison.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————