CHAPTER: Chapter 65
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The greatest Divine Doctor of the Demonic Cult.
The very embodiment of arrogance, said to bow his head to no 1 but the Heavenly Demon himself.
He, who had never involved himself in the affairs of the Jianghu except to treat his granddaughter, had now appeared at the inauguration ceremony of a mere minor gang.
“Ugh...! V-Venerable Elder!”
“The... The Venerable of our Cult...!”
Absolute authority.
As if on a single command, everyone in the banquet hall pressed their foreheads to the ground.
“Hahaha!”
But the Life and Death Venerable paid no mind to the hundreds of people prostrated before him.
His gaze was fixed solely on Uncheon, who sat at the center of the high platform.
“I am a little late!”
“...?!”
The sight of an absolute figure of the Demonic Cult warmly greeting a young Gang Leader who looked barely 20 years old.
Yayul Hyeon, kneeling in a corner, felt his mind go blank.
Sa Haeryong and Seong Mudo, prostrate on the floor, trembled like aspen leaves, doubting their own eyes and ears.
Smoothly.
Amidst that overwhelming presence, only Uncheon rose from his seat with leisurely grace.
“I have been waiting for you, Elder.”
Seol-yeong bowed her head to Uncheon and expressed her gratitude.
“...As you can see, the procedure was a success. Thanks to you, Yeong-ah has overcome her Severed Meridians. Now, it is my turn to repay the debt.”
The Life and Death Venerable’s cold eyes swept over the crowd on the floor.
“Hmm... you’ve gathered quite a few people to this backwater. Does this mean you intend to build your power here?”
“That’s right. Will you lend me your strength?”
“Hmph... you audacious brat. I was planning to do so anyway!”
The Life and Death Venerable raised his Internal Energy.
His voice became a clap of thunder, shaking the very skies of Qinghai Province.
“Fellow Practitioners of the Jianghu, listen well! From this day forward, I shall reside in the Black Dragon Gang as the guardian and advisor of its Gang Leader!”
The greatest physician of the Demonic Cult, a master of life and death.
A declaration that he would break decades of seclusion to make his nest in the Black Dragon Gang.
The meaning was clear.
The Black Dragon Gang was no longer a mere gang; it had become a colossal power with 1 of the 5 Venerables behind it.
“Furthermore...!”
The Life and Death Venerable’s final roar drove the point home like a nail.
“I declare that I will once again practice the medical arts, which I had long ago sworn off, here in the Black Dragon Gang!”
A complete reversal of the board.
The Life and Death Venerable’s thunderous declaration struck the Training Ground.
“...!”
For a moment, most of the martial artists failed to grasp the full meaning of his words.
They could only gasp for breath, crushed by the martial might and overwhelming reputation he exuded.
Only a few with quick minds began to move frantically.
1 of them was Geum Bu-dong of the Sun and Moon Merchant Guild.
Crrrack!
In the VIP section of the banquet hall, a bizarre cracking sound echoed from the hand of Geum Bu-dong, the Branch Manager of the Sun and Moon Merchant Guild’s Qinghai branch.
He had clenched his fist without realizing it, shattering the beads of his expensive jade abacus.
‘Th-This, this is...!’
Unlike the martial artists, Geum Bu-dong’s instincts as a merchant were screaming alarms.
‘The Life and Death Venerable is practicing medicine again! This is an emergency!’
The ripple effect of that short sentence.
The eccentrics of the world, the hidden masters of both the Righteous Path and Demonic paths, those who held wealth and power in both hands.
But they, too, would 1 day die.
Human life was ultimately finite, and no 1 could escape the clutches of illness and old age.
So, where would they go to survive?
‘The most powerful people in the world will flock to this backwater, their carts piled high with gold, all to save their own lives!’
Goosebumps erupted all over Geum Bu-dong’s body.
The Black Dragon Gang was no longer a simple armed group on the frontier.
It would become a center of medical arts, where all sorts of people would gather to receive treatment from the greatest physician in the Demonic Cult.
And was that all?
Treating an illness rarely took 1 or 2 months; it could easily take 1 or 2 years.
During that time, they would need high-class inns and taverns to stay and pass the time, and countless such establishments would spring up along the shores of Qinghai Lake.
‘Ah... Young Master! Did you foresee all of this, my Lord!’
Only then did Geum Bu-dong understand why Yuha had bought up the barren lands around the Black Dragon Gang as if sweeping them clean.
And why he had so readily given Uncheon 30 percent of the guild’s massive rental income.
It wasn’t a short-sighted decision based on friendship, but rather a farsighted vision.
With a trembling hand, Geum Bu-dong pulled his subordinate close and gave an urgent order.
“Send word to the main guild at once! We are increasing our investment in the Black Dragon Gang, no conditions! Also, procure medicinal herbs and elixirs with our full support!”
“Understood, Branch Manager!”
While the Sun and Moon Merchant Guild moved busily behind the scenes, Uncheon walked toward the local powers prostrated on the ground.
“Elder... 1 moment.”
Seong Mudo, the Sect Leader of the 7 Stars Sect, and Sa Haeryong, the Leader of the Iron Shark Gang, convulsed as if struck by lightning when Uncheon, who had been conversing with the Life and Death Venerable as an equal, stood before them.
‘The... The Venerable... came in person? And he spoke of repaying a debt?!’
‘Crazy! What was I about to do? That brat isn’t some greenhorn, he’s a hidden young lord of the Demonic Cult!’
Uncheon spoke softly in front of the Iron Shark Gang Leader.
“Sa Haeryong, Leader of the Iron Shark Gang. I know what schemes brought you and your forces to this banquet.”
“...!”
“You saw what happened to Maeng Ung of the Blood Axe Fortress just now. Will you come under the banner of the Black Dragon Gang?”
“...I... I will! V-Voluntarily!”
Sa Haeryong pleaded, striking his forehead against the ground.
A cold smile spread across Uncheon’s lips.
“Good. But loyalty requires proof.”
Rustle.
Uncheon pulled a piece of paper from his robes and threw it down before them.
It was the Kill List sent from the Inspectorate.
“This is a list of spies from the Sura Blood Sect and the Gold Coin Pavilion among your subordinates.”
“...H-How did you know that!”
“Did you think I would summon you here without any countermeasures? If you wish to prove your loyalty, return to your gang, root out every last 1 of these rats, and deliver them to my feet. I will cross-reference them with this list later.”
A venomous glint, born of a will to survive, appeared in Sa Haeryong’s eyes.
“...I... I will do as you command!”
The completion of the stratagem to kill with a borrowed knife.
Knowing the Iron Shark Gang Leader’s character, he wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice his underlings to save his own skin.
Even if he failed to root out all the spies, it didn’t matter.
The goal was to throw the Blood Axe Fortress and the Iron Shark Gang into disarray.
The Blood Axe Fortress had lost its leader in vain and been absorbed by the Black Dragon Gang, while the Iron Shark Gang was now forced to police its own ranks on Uncheon’s command.
It hadn’t even taken half a day to subdue the 2 powers.
After escorting the Life and Death Venerable and Seol-yeong to the VIP seats, Uncheon ascended the platform once more.
Now that the guest seats were all filled, it was time to begin the main ceremony.
“I thank all the distinguished guests for attending this inauguration. Now that our guests have arrived, we will begin the ceremony in earnest.”
With Uncheon’s declaration, Jin So-wol unfurled the massive flag of the Black Dragon Gang.
It was the moment the Black Dragon officially spread its great wings in the sky of the Demonic Cult.
A place protected by 1 of the 5 Venerables, personally attended by the Director of the Demonic Academy, supported by the 12 Guardian Families and the 10 Sects of the Demonic Cult, and before which the greatest merchant guild in the Central Plains bowed its head.
It was a display of power unbelievable for a newly formed faction.
The hundreds of martial artists and Ronin filling the banquet hall erupted in a spontaneous roar.
“Long live the Black Dragon Gang Leader! We congratulate the Black Dragon Gang on its ascension!”
Even after the official inauguration ceremony concluded, the banquet continued for some time.
In contrast to the boisterous outer banquet hall, the distinguished guests shared fellowship in the inner hall of the Black Dragon Gang.
It was a gathering of true titans, a place where the unqualified could not even dare to approach.
“Kehaha! Little brother, your skill in establishing discipline is quite extraordinary!”
Gong Yapa, the disciple of the Flame Flower Venerable, laughed heartily as he chugged Fiery Liquor straight from the bottle, his house-sized Black Iron Hammer resting beside him.
Next to him, Gal Muh-eun, the Director of the Demonic Academy, quietly set down his teacup and slowly began to speak.
“This may be your stage, but it has exceeded my imagination. To think you could transform a den of provincial thugs into a force of this magnitude in just a few months.”
Uncheon responded to Gal Muh-eun’s praise with a formal Clasped Hand Salute.
Uncheon was officially a warrior under Gal Muh-eun’s command.
This was not just praise, but also an acknowledgment of the position of Black Dragon Gang Leader, which he had earned himself.
“It is all thanks to you, Director, for opening the doors to the Inner Archives and for your consideration.”
“No need for modesty. You earned it all yourself.”
Gal Muh-eun’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“It wouldn’t be right for me to come to your inauguration empty-handed, would it? Therefore, I would like to make you a proposal.”
“Please, speak.”
“An alliance between the Demonic Academy and the Black Dragon Gang.”
The air in the inner hall instantly grew taut.
“The cadets of the Demonic Academy are talented, but they lack real-world experience from being cooped up in a greenhouse. On the other hand, the Black Dragon Gang is full of rough Ronin, overflowing with wildness but lacking a foundation in the Martial Arts.”
The Demonic Academy, the official educational institution of the Demonic Cult, forming an alliance with a mere upstart gang?
It was an unprecedented and radical move.
“I will periodically dispatch the finest cadets from the Demonic Academy to the Black Dragon Gang to cultivate their practical instincts. In return, the Black Dragon Gang will receive a supply of Instructor-level talent who have graduated from the Academy. If needed, I can dispatch an Instructor immediately. Would this suffice as an inauguration gift?”
It was not a simple alliance.
It was a mutually beneficial relationship.
‘Just like the Director of the Demonic Academy. There’s a practical benefit for both him and me.’
However, the scale of the benefit was far greater for the Black Dragon Gang.
It was truly worthy of being called a gift.
“I will gladly accept the Director’s profound intentions.”
Uncheon nodded without hesitation.
Gal Muh-eun’s gaze upon Uncheon was as warm as if he were looking at his own disciple.
‘...I may not have taught him much directly, but this boy’s path aligns with my own aspirations more than anyone else’s. Perhaps he can change this Cult, which is stagnating as a handful of people cling to their vested interests.’
The drinking party continued late into the night.
Those Uncheon had become acquainted with through the Devil-Subduing Cave, the Demonic Academy, and the Inner Archives came to clash cups with him 1 after another.
“Hey, Uncheon! How about I get specially dispatched to the Black Dragon Gang? What do you think?”
“It would be a great help if Instructor Ma Chung would join us.”
“Hmph, and after all that begging you did to the Head Instructor...”
“Who said I was begging! And aren't you, Senior Instructor Yajin, just as eager to be dispatched to the Black Dragon Gang?”
“I still have secret techniques left to pass on to that Uncheon fellow. But you... do you have anything left to teach?”
“Grrr...!”
Senior Instructor Yajin and Instructor Ma Chung continued to bicker, but it seemed both had volunteered for the dispatch to the Black Dragon Gang.
With this, the Black Dragon Gang now had the backing of not only the world's greatest physician, the Life and Death Venerable, and the financial powerhouse of the Sun and Moon Merchant Guild, but also the authority of the Demonic Academy, a central pillar of the Demonic Cult.
Late that night, after the banquet had ended.
In the backyard of the Black Dragon Gang, bathed in the cold moonlight filtering through the clouds.
There, Yayul Hui was silently polishing her beloved weapon.
“Sister.”
Yayul Hyeon emerged from the darkness and spoke with a heavy voice.
Yayul Hui’s eyes were calm as she looked at her younger brother.
The anxiety of a person desperate for approval, which she had shown back at the main family home, was nowhere to be seen.
“Sister, why are you in a place like this? I am here now, so please, wash away this shame and return to the family.”
Yayul Hyeon stepped forward, extending a hand.
But Yayul Hui didn’t even glance at him, replying nonchalantly.
“Hyeon. I am not going back.”
“Sister! This is enough. I saw the power of the Black Dragon Gang with my own 2 eyes today. But, no matter what anyone says, you are of the bloodline of the 12 Guardian Families! Stop playing the role of a Retainer in this backwater place and return to the main family.”
“I said I’m not going.”
“Do not tarnish the family’s name any further. Father said he will not press the matter and will let this go.”
“Tarnish? Press the matter? Let it go?”
Yayul Hui slowly rose to her feet.
“Ha...”
A cold, self-mocking smile touched her lips.
“The family elders always treated me like an outsider who would soon be married off anyway. So I simply acted accordingly. I am no longer a daughter of the Gale Yayul Family. I am Yayul Hui, the Saber Arts Instructor of the Black Dragon Gang.”
Her firm reply made Yayul Hyeon’s eyes tremble.
He was pleased by his sister’s confidence, having cast off the shackles of the family, yet at the same time, he felt a sense of disappointment.
‘Do you truly intend to sever ties with the family!?’
Yayul Hyeon was engulfed in contradictory emotions.
He knew all too well how his sister had been treated at the main family home.
On 1 hand, he wanted to support her more than anyone, but on the other, he found it difficult to accept that she was turning her back on the family.
‘No... it’s not just that. I, too, am a martial artist. I want to... test my sister’s Martial Arts.’
Above all, he had a strict order from his father to bring his sister back safely.
Since he had come on the orders of the Family Head, his father, he could not return empty-handed.
Yayul Hyeon’s gaze hardened.
“...If you insist, then I will have to escort you back by force!”
Paaat—!
Yayul Hyeon surged forward, using the family’s ultimate skill, the Wind Soul Steps.
The long horse-chopping saber on his back cut off her escape route with a sharp whistle through the air.
The family’s swift saber art that tore through the wind.
Shwaaak!
Yayul Hui’s form flowed strangely, like a willow leaf fluttering in the wind.
It was the Wind God Steps she had mastered in the Inner Archives.
It was not a movement that defied the wind, but 1 that had become the wind itself.
“...?!”
Just as Yayul Hyeon, in his astonishment, tried to twist the trajectory of his horse-chopping saber.
Thung—!
The tip of Yayul Hui’s black scabbard gently struck the side of the horse-chopping saber, deflecting its force.
But before Yayul Hyeon could react, the scabbard slid along the blade of the saber and came to rest against his neck.
The heavy weight of the scabbard pressed against his Adam’s apple.
“Keuk...!”
A single exchange.
Yayul Hui’s saber had not even been drawn.
“Th-This is...!”
Yayul Hyeon froze, utterly dumbfounded.
She had left the confines of the family... yet she had become even more perfect.
Even without the family’s secret art, the Wind Soul Steps, his sister had far surpassed him.
Could the vessel known as the Black Dragon Gang have fostered such growth in his sister?
“...I have lost.”
Yayul Hui withdrew her scabbard and declared coolly.
“Tell our father that I will find my own Martial Way outside the confines of the family. It was good to see you after so long.”
As Yayul Hui turned and headed for the inner building, Yayul Hyeon shouted after her.
“Sister! But... I cannot return to the family like this either!”
Written by |
Chusang (秋霜)
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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Editorial Department
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. - Dream Books
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