Book 12: Chapter 20: Watertight

Luoyang outskirts, suburban area.

Although the brightly dawned morning sunlight was dazzling as if to avoid that sunlight, there was a group of figures walking along a forest beast path instead of the main road.

“Hey, isn't the road getting increasingly rough?”

The woman grabbed the shoulder of the person walking ahead.

“Are you sure about this road?”

Although they wore shabby clothes that only porters would wear, the chillingly sharp gaze characteristic of a martial artist that she possessed could not be hidden.

However even while receiving the pressure of such a martial artist, the middle-aged man leading the way smiled in a carefree and friendly manner.

“In such a situation of great chaos, there is no expert group as reliable as our merchant group, so you may rest assured.”

“If things go wrong—” the middle-aged man waved his hand as if it was not even worth listening to.

“Aigoo. Things going wrong?”

“There is absolutely no way that will happen.”

He thumped his chest with a confident attitude.

“We, the 'Path of Life Merchant Group,' are the first escape-specialized merchant group of this giant city Luoyang, and a group of escape experts counted among the best in the State of Zhongyuan!”

“That is…”

Even if there was exaggeration, it was not wrong.

The Path of Life Merchant Group had escaped the chivalrous heroes whom the Third Young Master's side had tried to capture even by mobilizing Greedy Wolf.

And also allowed the mercenary groups and assassination groups, who assassinated the merchants who targeted the Third and Fourth Young Ladies of the Sword Family, to escape safely and besides that, having accumulated various brilliant achievements in a short period of time.

Weren't they the most promising group in this industry recently?

“Fufu.”

He winked one eye.

“The precious guests of the Emei Sect will be able to safely escape the Luoyang region and return to Sichuan, so do not worry at all.”

They.

The identity of the group of martial artists was indeed the Emei Sect.

They were escaping Luoyang with the help of the Path of Life Merchant Group.

“Aren't you being too optimistic?”

The Emei nun warned once again.

“I already told you earlier that we are in a situation where the Luoyang Sword Family's pursuit party could catch up to us at any time—” he shouted back instead.

“Haha. Didn't I tell you to fold away such worries?”

“You of the Emei Sect will never see the Luoyang Sword Family's pursuit party!”

“…….”

The Emei nun was left speechless at that groundless confidence.

“It is more important to walk diligently at a time like this!”

The middle-aged man of the Path of Life Merchant Group clapped his hands to draw attention and shouted.

“Now, now, everyone has caught their breath for a moment, right? If you want to leave the Luoyang region within today, let's move!”

At those words, some members of the Emei Sect who did not have internal energy sighed, stood up from their seats, and began to trudge behind him.

“…….”

The nun's expression crumpled at their appearance, which was just like defeated soldiers but she did not bother to open her mouth to scold them.

‘In truth, if we are not defeated soldiers, then what are we?’

Passing them in the opposite direction and heading to the rear of the group, the nun spoke to their leader.

“Abbess Chongmu.”

The old woman, who was silently walking in a similarly shabby outfit, lifted her bamboo hat.

A face filled with so much murderous intent that it was hard to believe she was a nun serving Buddha.

Emei Sect's White-Haired Poisonous Old Demon.

“What is it?”

The nun barely managed to throw a question under that chilling gaze.

“…Is it truly the right decision for us to leave Luoyang like this?”

They.

The high-ranking members of the Emei Sect had been released by the Second Young Master's side.

It was an action done with the intention of wanting Abbess Chongmu's help in the battle against the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.

An action done because they knew her vicious nature, never forgetting a grudge.

But Abbess Chongmu made a decision completely different from the intention of the Second Young Master's side.

Rather she decided to take advantage of the gap in that great chaos to escape Luoyang.

“Do you, in your position, dare to doubt my decision?”

Momentum as if she would tear a person to death with only murderous intent.

Because she had to wear shabby clothes, she wore them.

Because she had to walk the beast path, she was walking, but at this very moment, the one who was most enraged in this procession was definitely this old woman.

“I-It is not like that.”

The nun hurriedly shook her head.

“Escaping Luoyang was a wonderful decision. But even if not to the Sword Family's Eldest Young Master, at least, the Tea Fan Maidens.”

Grind.

At the mention of the Tea Fan Maidens, murderous intent flowed along with the sound of grinding teeth from the surrounding nuns.

“Should we not at least make those ungrateful wretches pay the price for their betrayal?”

The other surrounding nuns said nothing, but wore expressions that seemed to agree with her opinion.

“We have already been branded as discarded pieces by the Sect Leader Abbess.”

The plan to assassinate the Tea Fan Maidens was exposed, and the Emei Sect had already surrendered through the Eldest Young Master.

They had coughed up all the land they held in Chongqing, and the Sect Leader Abbess pinned all the blame on her, Abbess Chongmu.

“If we return to Sichuan like this, it is nothing but walking into the execution ground with our own feet—” the nun who had raised her voice switched to sound transmission, conscious of the middle-aged man of the Path of Life Merchant Group at the front.

“Foolish, foolish. How is your field of vision still so narrow?”

“Do you mean there is another deep meaning to returning to Sichuan…?”

[We are not going to the execution ground.] a hideous smile hung on Abbess Chongmu's mouth.

[We are returning to take over the Emei Sect that abandoned us like this.] the eyes of the surrounding nuns who heard the sound transmission together widened as if they would tear.

“……!”

“T-That is…?!”

[To take over the Emei Sect with only our current strength. Could that really be possible?] her gaze turned toward the surroundings.

[Even though there are not a few high-ranking members on our side. Still…] several nodded.

It could not be easy to overturn a sect.

[In a situation where you should know two if taught one, I teach you one and you only know that.] looking at them, Abbess Chongmu clicked her tongue softly and threw a question.

[Right now, what do you think the internal situation of our Emei Sect would be like?] those words made the backs of the nuns' heads sting.

“……!”

[Yes.] Abbess Chongmu chuckled.

[The Sect Leader Abbess threw away everything our Emei Sect held, claiming she was saving the sect.] although that action guaranteed the Emei Sect's survival, it was a decision that could not help but cause immense dissatisfaction internally.

[Right now. Our Emei Sect must be experiencing great chaos, no less than the Luoyang Sword Family. We will exploit that chaos and dissatisfaction.] wasn't it she who raised the collapsing Emei Sect with her bare hands to this point?

[I-I see. But…] having quickly finished her calculations, the nun expressed concern.

[Even if the uprising succeeds. Turning the Sichuan Tang Family and the Dali Duan Family into enemies, can our Emei Sect survive alone in Sichuan?] it felt like catching a glimpse of that overwhelming potential.

[We are not alone.] the role assigned to the New Emei Sect of Abbess Chongmu, which would receive strong support from Evil Tyrant Heaven.

[Pardon…?] Abbess Chongmu pulled out her hidden card.

[Evil Tyrant Heaven decided to sponsor me.] but here, why did Evil Tyrant Heaven suddenly pop up?

[S-Evil Tyrant Heaven?!] if Evil Tyrant Heaven sponsored them, it would surely be as reassuring as gaining the support of a million-strong army.

[It is almost certain that this matter will end in the Eldest Young Master's victory. In that case, Evil Tyrant Heaven will inevitably be dragged around by the Emperor and the Eldest Young Master in the business of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.] once she said that far, the nun could also understand Evil Tyrant Heaven's aim.

[If the lower reaches won't do, then the upper reaches! If we ruin the business in Sichuan, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the business in the lower reaches will also fall through!] that was.

[B-But, Abbess Chongmu.] the nun, who was constantly admiring, asked as if she suddenly thought of it.

[…When on earth did you receive such an offer from Evil Tyrant Heaven?] elder Son of the Jiangnam faction.

[Do you remember the elder who released us?] the nun traced back her memory.

[Ah…! That one from the Second Young Master's Jiangnam faction…!] the Second Young Master's side.

[Was he the agent Evil Tyrant Heaven hid inside the Sword Family?] repeating preparation after preparation, repeating precaution after precaution, and responding to countless cases that hadn't even happened with surplus power and influence.

[That's right.] elder Son, without others knowing, had made a trade offer to this grudge-filled Abbess Chongmu.

[B-But wasn't the time that elder released us way before the victory or defeat with the Eldest Young Master was decided?] the nun who threw the question realized the reason herself as soon as her words ended.

[…Evil Tyrant Heaven had made the offer in advance just in case.] if the Second Young Master's side was likely to win, Abbess Chongmu could vent her grudge and hatred to her heart's content, and if the Second Young Master's side was likely to lose, she would return to Sichuan to plan for the future.

[It is so.] Abbess Chongmu nodded.

[That is the way the grand sects governing this State of Zhongyuan handle matters.] the nun felt her spine go cold.

[Right now I. We are stepping back here, but I will not forget the grudge.] a sound transmission containing murderous intent to the point where a chill could be felt.

[I will not forget the Eldest Young Master and the Tea Fan Maidens who brought us such disgrace.] opposing the Sichuan Tang Family and the Dali Duan Family would entail enormous sacrifice and cost even with Evil Tyrant Heaven at her back, but she was not afraid at all.

[And someday, I will return to Luoyang and destroy them all—] stop.

Abbess Chongmu's footsteps ground to a halt.

“Abbess Chongmu?”

“…The presence of that guide fellow has vanished.”

At those words, the nun immediately shouted toward the front.

“What is it?! Where did the guide go?!”

“Pardon?”

The nuns at the front wore bewildered expressions.

“If it is the guide, he entered deeper into the forest just now to inspect the terrain ahead—” a thunderous cry erupted from Abbess Chongmu, but it was already too late.

“All units, guard stance—!”

Without even a presence, the nuns collapsed in heaps on the spot.

Needle-shaped secret weapons were embedded in the bodies of those falling.

“Kh?!”

Although it was a final brief moment.

Thanks to Abbess Chongmu's warning, those who had learned martial arts were able to block the secret weapons.

“Who is it?!”

Even while shouting so the nun had already predicted the answer.

A secret weapon flying in without even a presence.

Ambuscade skills that only Abbess Chongmu, who had crossed the wall, could notice.

A powerful neutralizing poison, enough to make one collapse on the spot from a mere graze of the secret weapon.

“It has been a long time, Poisonous Old Demon.”

A sly middle-aged man's voice.

How many people under heaven would dare to call Abbess Chongmu of the Emei Sect, who reached the realm, by the derogatory term Poisonous Old Demon?

“I am disappointed that you have only run this far.”

A brilliant light flashed in the eyes of Abbess Chongmu as she confirmed the gloves with a clear green sheen even in the darkness.

“Luminous Deer Hide…!”

The nun, who heard the name of the gloves, realized the identity of the middle-aged man walking out of the darkness and shouted his name.

“Tang Gwi-ho!”

The Vice Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family.

The leader of the Shadow Group.

“Yes, it's me.”

Seeing him cover his mouth and chuckle, Abbess Chongmu ground her teeth.

“…You bastard! The Path of Life Merchant Group, or whatever. Was it a trap targeting us from the beginning?”

Tang Gwi-ho wore a nasty smile.

It was a smile mocking her blatantly, looking down from above.

“Since the Path of Life Merchant Group performed its 'original role,' we caught you, but to say the entire Path of Life Merchant Group was prepared to lure you into a trap…”

The corner of his mouth twisted.

“Isn't that overestimating yourselves a bit?”

As he said the Path of Life Merchant Group was achieving brilliant achievements at this very moment.

Government officials, Luoyang Sword Family personnel, without exception numerous people wishing to escape Luoyang to avoid him as the victory of the Eldest Young Master gradually became certain.

For they were requesting commissions from the Path of Life Merchant Group with their own feet just like the Emei Sect right now.

“You bastard, Tang Gwi-ho…!”

“Whoops.”

At that ringing roar, Tang Gwi-ho feigned shrinking back.

“If you want to blame someone, why not blame the Eldest Young Master, the master of the Path of Life Merchant Group, instead of me?”

Saying so, Tang Gwi-ho shook his head.

“Geez. How far does that Eldest Young Master look ahead? Nowadays, it seems there are only things that surprise me day after day.”

When Yeon So-hyeon mobilized the Tea Fan Maidens to buy out the Path of Life Merchant Group to smuggle out the Spring of Luoyang's chivalrous heroes, he merely felt that his preparedness was grand.

However when things turned out like this, and the Path of Life Merchant Group became not just a means of saving lives, but a net to swallow the enemies who originally should have successfully escaped, he could not help but be astounded.

“That Swordless One…!”

Abbess Chongmu's flowing white hair rose into the air, exuding murderous intent reminiscent of demonic qi.

“I will kill you without fail someday!”

Tang Gwi-ho merely said a single word while listening to that grudge-filled shout.

“Strike.”