Chapter 140 : Smoke

Chapter 140: Smoke

“Profound Demon, take a few men and go meet the Clan Head of the Zhuge Clan. The rest of us will search for what needs to be found.”

Leaving those words behind, Yul Han stepped forward, only to have several Zhuge Clan martial artists with stiffened expressions block his path.

And yet.

They had clearly stood in his way, but Yul Han’s figure was already walking past them.

As those men startled and tried to move, Pageuk’s hand came down upon their shoulders.

As though he were casually slinging an arm around close friends.

In that state, Pageuk grinned.

“This is something my master intends to do. Interfere, and I’ll tear off your heads and drain your blood. All of you. And those comrades of yours over there too.”

The Zhuge Clan martial artists could not stop Pageuk as he tossed out those words and followed after Yul Han, who had already gone some distance ahead.

For while he spoke, Pageuk had been rolling Force Energy in his palm as though it were a toy.

It did not merely cling to his hand like a flame taking hold. A spherical mass of Force Energy the size of a child’s head rolled across his palm like a bead.

That meant the Force Energy had separated from his body and yet remained intact. Naturally, it could be thrown. And there was a name for such a thing.

‘Force Bullet!’

There was no martial artist in the Martial World who did not know what that meant.

‘Manifestation Realm!’

That was the reason the Zhuge Clan martial artists had frozen stiff.

Of course, it did not last long.

Following behind Yul Han, Profound Demon sheathed his sword, and the people of Room 32 surged forward as well. It was only then that a Zhuge Clan martial artist regained his senses and blew a whistle.

Piiik.

He could not blow it for long.

The moment he met Profound Demon’s twisted glare head-on as the latter turned around with a scowl, the Zhuge Clan martial artist choked.

“Keck, keck.”

As the man coughed and wheezed, unable to continue blowing the whistle, Profound Demon chuckled gleefully and hurried after Yul Han once more.

Watching the scene with an incredulous expression, Profound Demon shook his head, then turned to one of the Zhuge Clan martial artists who was staring at him in fear.

“Lead me to your Clan Head.”

Did he suspect impure intentions? The Zhuge Clan martial artist shook his head.

“I—I cannot do that!”

As Profound Demon stepped forward with a cold expression toward the defiant man, Great Master Jeongbeop hurriedly moved to block his path.

“Please guide us first. I shall guarantee the Clan Head’s safety.”

“W-Who are you?”

“I am Jeongbeop, in charge of Room 32 of the Martial Alliance Inspection Department. Take us to your Clan Head.”

While the Zhuge Clan martial artist hesitated at Great Master Jeongbeop’s words, martial artists appeared from all directions.

They were members of the Zhuge Clan responding to the short whistle blast.

The same was true for Yul Han’s group, who had already entered deeper inside.

They were blocked off by martial artists who had gathered from every direction.

One side intended to push inward and search the premises, while the other stood in their way. A clash was inevitable.

It was only because there were members of the Hundred Paths Alliance among those attempting the search that an immediate confrontation did not erupt.

“Stand aside.”

At Pageuk’s cold voice, the Zhuge Clan martial artists blocking Yul Han’s group simultaneously drew their weapons.

The vast majority wielded short blades that could easily be taken for daggers, while a few held swords or sabers.

For Soundless Flying Blade was the Zhuge Clan’s exclusive martial art.

Originally said to have come from Shaolin, Soundless Flying Blade was, perhaps because of its origin, an exceptionally formidable technique.

Seeing the opponents draw their weapons, Pageuk and Profound Demon moved forward in anger, but Yul Han raised a hand to stop them.

At his silent glance, Monk Ilyeon stepped forward reluctantly.

“We are members of Room 32 of the Hundred Paths Alliance. We have come to investigate something, so please cooperate.”

“No matter that you are the Hundred Paths Alliance, an investigation of an affiliated sect should be accompanied by proper procedures and respect. What is the meaning of this!”

The one who stepped forward with a stern shout was one of the Zhuge Clan’s elders—Flying Swallow Lord Zhuge O.

Though he had not reached the Transcendent Realm, he had proudly entered the ranks of the Hundred Great Masters at the Super-Peak Realm and was one of the Zhuge Clan’s Five Great Masters.

“So you are the great hero Flying Swallow Lord. I am Ilyeon of Shaolin.”

They were acquainted. Though Monk Ilyeon was not a conventional martial artist, he and Flying Swallow Lord had met by chance at a Shaolin Dharma Assembly and introduced themselves then.

“So it is Monk Ilyeon. You, of all people, should know better—why are you acting like this? Has our Zhuge Clan done something to offend Shaolin?”

At Flying Swallow Lord’s question, Monk Ilyeon could not answer readily.

There were two suspicions currently hanging over the Zhuge Clan, and one of them was directly connected to Shaolin.

The problem was that, from Room 32’s standpoint, both matters were still merely suspicions, and no evidence had been secured.

Therefore, he could not state anything definitively.

As Monk Ilyeon hesitated, Daoist Chamyeong stepped forward in his stead.

“I am Chamyeong of Wudang.”

“In matters of Daoist arts, I have long heard of Daoist Chamyeong’s reputation. But I did not realize that reputation was great enough to treat the Zhuge Clan with such contempt.”

The words carried open defiance. At Flying Swallow Lord’s remark, Daoist Chamyeong continued calmly.

“How could the empty fame of this insignificant old Daoist ever surpass the Zhuge Clan? That was not my intention.”

“Then what is it? What is the meaning of this high-handed conduct!”

“Because we feared the related parties might flee. And because we were concerned that the Zhuge Clan might unjustly bear the blame because of it.”

“That sounds as though someone in the Zhuge Clan is the culprit Room 32 is pursuing.”

“At the very least, there seems to be a connection.”

At Daoist Chamyeong’s answer, Flying Swallow Lord asked,

“What were you pursuing?”

“At first, it was the Ghost Sect Massacre. Now, it is the Enemy Pellet.”

“It is absurd to claim that we are connected to the Ghost Sect Massacre! And what do you mean by Enemy Pellet?”

“Ah! If I call it the Buddha Ghost Demon Fruit, it may be easier to understand.”

At the mention of the Buddha Ghost Demon Fruit, Flying Swallow Lord’s expression stiffened.

If the Buddha Ghost Demon Fruit had been brought up, then Room 32’s current attitude was, to some extent, understandable.

After all, that was the very reason Room 32 had been established in the first place.

Even so.

“Do you have evidence?”

When the most troubling point was raised, Daoist Chamyeong could not answer.

Seeing that, Flying Swallow Lord’s gaze turned cold.

“You dare to invade the Zhuge Clan without evidence?”

—Will you continue to listen to such filthy nonsense? Just give the order. I’ll sweep them all aside and clear the path.

Unable to contain himself, Profound Demon sent a Mental Voice Transmission to Yul Han.

Yul Han replied with a heavy expression.

—Let us say someone came to the Bright Cult, spoke such words, and demanded that we open the way so they could conduct a search. Would you open the way, Profound Demon?

—What kind of absurd nonsense is that! I’d take the head of the bastard who dared speak so—

He trailed off, realizing the meaning behind the question, and his voice lost its edge.

Yul Han’s Mental Voice Transmission continued.

—Exactly. To demand unconditionally of others something I myself would not do, simply because I am stronger—that is injustice. It is a matter of time, yes. But even if we miss the moment and a price must be paid, that price will be paid by the Hundred Paths. Let us wait a little.

Profound Demon stepped back obediently at Yul Han’s words.

It was not because he acknowledged the notion of ‘injustice,’ but because of the statement that any price would be borne by the Hundred Paths anyway.

If, as the Vice Cult Leader had said, a delay caused problems, it would not be the Demonic Path paying the price. That part pleased him.

Perhaps because of that, a relaxed expression even appeared on his face.

Whether aware of Profound Demon’s thoughts or not, the argument between the people of Room 32 and Flying Swallow Lord continued.

While Room 32 and Yul Han’s group were stalled at the entrance to the Zhuge Clan estate, Zhuge Hoon was moving in haste.

The first matter to decide was whether to dispose of all the Enemy Pellets—or to quickly proceed with turning them into White Enemy Pellets.

The criterion for that decision lay in whether the training grounds of the prodigies they had been cultivating with secret manuals stolen from various sects—diverted from the Hundred Paths Alliance without their knowledge—would be discovered.

If they would not be discovered, there was no need to rush the decision.

Thus, Zhuge Hoon had to first consider the possibility of exposure.

In that regard, the Zhuge Clan estate had been built leaning against the foothills of Mount Longzhong.

The location where the prodigies were currently training under the secret cultivation plan was the most concealed among the Zhuge Clan’s closed-door training grounds.

Naturally, it had been prepared within a deep cave in Mount Longzhong, upon which the Zhuge Clan relied.

The entrance had been disguised; unless one knew of it, it would be difficult to find.

If those who had come were ordinary martial artists, Zhuge Hoon would have leaned toward the belief that they would not find it.

However, according to the Zhuge Clan martial artist who had rushed in to report, the ones causing the disturbance were members of Room 32 of the Martial Alliance.

They were individuals skilled in sorcery and Daoist arts. That meant they were more sensitive than anyone to the aura of the Enemy Pellets he possessed.

That heightened the risk of exposure.

In that sense, as Zhuge Hoon wavered, unable to reach a decision, the Clan Head came to him with an urgent expression.

“What are you doing? Why have you not hastened to turn them into White Enemy Pellets?”

The existence of the Enemy Pellets had already been revealed, and their use had already been decided upon. Surprisingly, the Clan Head had devised a method to use the Enemy Pellets secretly prepared by Jegal Giyeon for his own plan—for the sake of the clan.

“B-But….”

“There is no time left to hesitate, nor to use them one by one to sense the danger and reduce the risk. If we do not turn them into White Enemy Pellets and contain their Ghostly Aura, we cannot hide the Enemy Pellets from the eyes of Room 32. Hurry. I have ordered the elders to block them for now, but they will not hold out long.”

At the Clan Head’s urging, Zhuge Hoon finally hardened his resolve. He summoned fifty prodigies known for their firm integrity and strong sense of chivalry, distributed the Enemy Pellets among them, and ordered them to consume them.

Perhaps because they had already sworn to stake their lives on the clan’s glory, they did not even ask what would happen if they ate them. They simply swallowed what was given.

They likely believed it to be some sort of Spirit Pill to replenish their energy.

After all, in recent days, while training in the secret manuals, they had been keenly feeling the severe lack of internal energy.

Moreover, they had never imagined that the Clan Head and the elders would seize their very souls as mere sacrificial offerings.

“Immediately circulate your energy as previously instructed!”

At Zhuge Hoon’s command, the fifty prodigies sat cross-legged and began circulating their energy.

As Zhuge Hoon watched them with a tense expression, the Clan Head was busily burning the secret manuals.

They were the manuals containing the various sects’ secret ultimate techniques—diverted by thirty scholars who had died within the Martial Alliance.

The Clan Head’s hands did not hesitate as he burned those precious texts, obtained at the cost of so much blood.

For many of the Zhuge Clan’s scholars had already memorized all the manuals, and the prodigies currently training had also committed them entirely to memory.

With that foundation, they were confident they could reproduce the manuals exactly whenever they wished.

Thus, the manuals—written in text and illustration—were nothing more than evidence that would disadvantage the Zhuge Clan if discovered.

That was what allowed the Clan Head to cast them into the flames without hesitation.

However, there was one thing even the Clan Head had failed to consider.

That the act of burning something would inevitably be accompanied by smoke.

In his urgency, he had overlooked something so obvious.

As Yul Han watched the Zhuge Clan members and the people of Room 32 still locked in argument, his gaze slowly turned toward the mountainside.

Because smoke was rising in thin wisps.

As he looked at it, Yul Han’s eyes turned cold.

“Break through.”

Yul Han’s order fell.