The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 98

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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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The Introverted Heavenly Demon Episode 098
Impersonating a Disciple
“Pardon?”
At those words, Young Ho Bin was so startled that he began coughing as if something had gone down the wrong way.
Baek So Cheong, the person in question, turned crimson in an instant—not just her face, but both ears flushed like a radish.
I was also quite flustered and spoke to Hye Woon.
“Venerable Monk. This is my elder sister.”
“Ah… oh my, I’ve made a mistake. Haha.”
I hadn’t specifically told Baek So Cheong that Hye Woon was a Shaolin monk.
But she had seen Hye Woon from a distance at the merchant conference, so she would have recognized his identity the moment she laid eyes on him.
With her face still flushed, she clasped her fists in salute toward Hye Woon.
“I’m Baek So Cheong. Venerable Hye Woon, thank you for welcoming me so warmly.”
Only after we had finished all the greetings were we able to move to the Reception Hall under Hye Woon’s guidance.

* * *
“Venerable Monk. Surely this is going too far, isn’t it?”
Not long after our party entered the Reception Hall, two of Hye Woon’s disciples came in, each carrying a large tray.
The trays were laden with steaming dishes ordered from a nearby inn.
In an instant, six different plates of food were arranged on the table.
“How could we possibly entertain such distinguished guests with mere vegetables that we eat?”
“Senior Brother, we shall take our leave then.”
“Well done. Jung Soon, Jung Yang.”
“Yes, please take your time conversing.”
After the two Shaolin monks, Jung Soon and Jung Yang, left the Reception Hall, I continued to eye Hye Woon suspiciously.
“With meat piled this high on the table… you expect us to eat all of this?”
Two plates of mapo tofu, iron plate beef, kung pao chicken, and some unknown seafood stir-fry besides.
Pork, beef, chicken, fish—every conceivable meat from land, sea, and sky was ordered and spread across the table, making Hye Woon’s intentions painfully obvious.
“Why do you say such things, Minor Sect Leader? We can simply pack the leftovers and take them with us.”
Baek So Cheong seemed to think that since everyone here was a monk and couldn’t eat meat, we could simply take the leftovers back with us.
“No, Sister.”
“Baek Young Lady, there’s no need to trouble yourself.”
Hye Woon and I spoke simultaneously, then locked eyes with a knowing gaze.
“The leftover food can be distributed to the villagers living nearby. Isn’t the Buddha’s teaching that those with plenty should share with their neighbors?”
“But still, how can we give leftover food to others….”
“I don’t mind, so please don’t worry.”
“…?”
In any case, while our party ate from the abundantly laden table, Hye Woon struggled to maintain a composed expression.
For a while, we exchanged pleasantries about how we’d been and had brief conversations about martial progress.
Hye Woon explained that following his previous trip to Chengdu to resolve the Myeong Shin Merchant Group matter, he had been dispatched this time as the proprietor of the Cheong Nan Guest House branch in Chengdu, and that he planned to return to Shaolin Temple once the establishment was properly settled.
And when the meal had been largely concluded, Hye Woon finally broached the main subject.
“The Minor Sect Leader must have anticipated this already, but I invited you here to discuss matters related to the Sun and Moon Divine Sect in Chengdu.”
“Matters related to the Main Sect?”
Hye Woon nodded and continued with a grave expression.
“First, I must mention this: in Chengdu, there exists a Black Blade Gang called Pal Cheon Am Bang. While no city in Kangho is free from Black Path factions, this one is particularly notable.”
“I’ve heard of them.”
Pal Cheon Am Bang is a loose confederation of eight Black Path factions centered in Sichuan.
It includes groups like the Shu Road Gang, Sword Gate Gang, Blood Path Gang, and Mount Le Gang—organizations that function as actual martial sects—alongside factions like the Night Brocade Gang, Sea Sand Gang, Wooden Horse Gang, and Medicine Cauldron Gang, which operate more as merchant associations.
Though they appear unrelated when examined separately, they are bound together by their common enmity toward the Orthodox Martial World and the government, as well as their shared practice of preying upon the common people.
“Chengdu is a place where Orthodox Martial Sects like Qingcheng, Emei, and the Sichuan Tang Clan contend for supremacy, which means the Martial Alliance’s influence is relatively weak. This is why the Black Path factions wield such considerable power in Chengdu.”
Though Hye Woon did not explicitly mention it, the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s substantial influence in Chengdu was also a factor in the Martial Alliance’s weakened position.
It also meant that skilled masters of the Black Path, driven out from other regions, had flocked to this place where the Orthodox Martial World’s power was comparatively diminished, thereby expanding the Black Path factions’ strength.
“In any case, the Main Sect tasked me with thoroughly investigating the movements of Pal Cheon Am Bang to determine whether our intervention is necessary. I cannot disclose all the details, but this much I must tell you.”
Hye Woon lowered his voice cautiously, as if wary of eavesdroppers.
“Several Black Path factions are plotting while impersonating the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.”
“Impersonating?”
“Yes. It began around the time when Cheong Yun Merchant Group, a force of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, started apprehending Black Path members.”
“What could they possibly accomplish by impersonating us?”
I answered in place of Hye Woon to address Baek So Cheong’s question.
“Using barbarians to control barbarians.”
“…?”
“You mean the Sun and Moon Divine Sect secretly operates as a Black Path faction, thereby inciting war between the Orthodox and Black Path worlds?”
“Precisely. And unfortunately, that day appears to be drawing near.”
“What do you mean?”
In the increasingly grave atmosphere, Hye Woon’s words echoed quietly.
“The Martial Alliance is planning a total assault on Pal Cheon Am Bang, with Qingcheng Sect leading the charge.”
“The Martial Alliance!”
The sworn enemy contending with the Sun and Moon Divine Sect for dominion over Kangho and Tianxia.
When Hye Woon mentioned the Martial Alliance, both Baek So Cheong and Young Ho Bin, now visibly tense, drew sharp breaths.
I was no different.
I knew that while the Sun and Moon Divine Sect and the Martial Alliance currently avoided direct confrontation, they were embroiled in various conflicts throughout Kangho.
I had anticipated that a day would come when I would have to face the Martial Alliance directly, but I had not expected to encounter them here in Chengdu.
Hye Woon’s explanation continued.
“As you know, Qingcheng Sect is a major faction among the Ten Great Sects of the Martial World, based in Sichuan. With Shaolin and Wudang currently not affiliated, it stands as one of the Martial Alliance’s greatest allied powers.”
“They intend to launch a total assault on Pal Cheon Am Bang?”
“Yes. Given the timing and their state of preparation, they appear to be in haste. They must have grown anxious after being provoked by the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s recent movements.”
“You mean Cheong Yun Merchant Group apprehending Black Path members and turning them over to the government office.”
“Precisely. They seem determined to act swiftly before the Sun and Moon Divine Sect monopolizes the credit for eliminating the Black Path factions.”
This was information that even we, with our own intelligence network in Chengdu, had completely failed to grasp.
It was only natural—a prominent sect like Qingcheng would hardly carelessly leak classified information such as plans for a total assault to outsiders.
I found myself once again marveling at the influence wielded by Hye Woon, one of the Eight Divine Monks of Shaolin.
“What should we do, Minor Sect Leader?”
Baek So Cheong asked in an anxious voice.
I certainly didn’t have any brilliant solutions at hand.
But I needed to think through this situation as calmly as possible.
If we accept as fact that a war between the Qingcheng Sect and the Black Path forces will occur, then we must somehow prevent the shockwaves from reaching us.
To do that….
“Hye Woon. First, I don’t know how to thank you enough for sharing such valuable information.”
“Please, don’t say such things. Rather, it’s fortunate that we weren’t too late thanks to you moving quickly, Minor Sect Leader.”
“If it’s possible, could you explain in more detail the matter you mentioned earlier?”
“You mean the part about the Black Sword Bandits impersonating the Sun and Moon Divine Sect?”
“Yes.”
The greatest threat to us is that the timing of the Martial Alliance’s attack on Pal Cheon Am Bang coincides perfectly with the timing of Pal Cheon Am Bang’s attempt to provoke war between the Martial Alliance and the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
If the Martial Alliance discovers evidence of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s connection to Pal Cheon Am Bang during their assault…
The Martial Alliance might redirect their attack and wage war against the Sun and Moon Divine Sect instead.
Even if we cannot avoid war itself, if such a thing happens while we are completely unprepared, it could be catastrophic.
“In that case… it would be faster if you met him directly.”
“…?”
“We happen to be holding one of the Black Sword Bandits’ leaders captive.”
“Now, here in this place?”
“Yes. Come with me.”

* * *
The Black Sword Bandit leader being held captive was apparently discovered by chance by one of Hye Woon’s disciples while stealing about half a sack of rice from the Government Military Grain Warehouse.
“Shaolin… or rather, does the Cheong Nan Guest House also apprehend criminals?”
“Since it was a crime of necessity, the usual procedure is to admonish and release them… but as I mentioned, something about him seemed suspicious.”
When he was captured, he was carrying scriptures inscribed with the teachings of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect and claimed to be a disciple of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
However, one disciple who had grown up in Chengdu since childhood recognized him as the notorious Black Sword Bandit leader from that city.
As we listened to the story of how he came to be captured, we followed Hye Woon to the door of the separate building.
“We’re here. Let’s go in.”
When the door opened, a gaunt man in his thirties lay sprawled out comfortably in a narrow storage-like room with a single small window, snoring as he slept.
“Ahem.”
Startled by Hye Woon’s clearing of his throat, the man woke from his sleep and, seeing the people who had suddenly entered with bleary eyes, quickly straightened his posture and sat up.
I waited for him to fully regain his senses, then stepped forward and asked.

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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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