Of course, I didn't rob the Sichuan Dang Clan first this time either. Time was on my side. Because I could decide when to rob them. So I first went far away and robbed the Kongdong Sect and Kunlun Sect. Then I robbed the Jeongchang Sect and the Emei Sect in that order. Strangely, there was no movement from the Sichuan Dang Clan at all.
'These guys, they're determined to settle things at the Sichuan Dang Clan.'
Since they now knew from past incidents that I could perfectly transform into another person and that my light-foot technique was incredibly superior, they seemed to be concentrating all their capabilities at the Sichuan Dang Clan rather than going out to support other sects.
I took my time and carefully scouted the Sichuan Dang Clan. The Dang Clan's treasury was located directly below the clan leader's office. Around it, temporary lodgings had been built where elite martial artists from each sect were staying. Even those lodgings were carefully arranged so that they could quickly surround the office in an instant.
That wasn't all. The passages leading to the treasury were filled with various mechanical traps and, as expected of the Dang Clan, coated entirely with poison.
"Wow... I didn't think they'd go to such lengths. Then I'll have to put some effort into stealing too."
First, I began robbing the escort agencies near the Sichuan Dang Clan. These were merchant groups closely associated with the Dang Clan. But even with that happening, the Sichuan Dang Clan locked their gates and didn't budge. They must have heard the news.
So, late at night, I began posting countless notices on the walls of the Sichuan Dang Clan and all over the city, with messages like "The Sichuan Dang Clan has abandoned Sichuan because they're afraid of a thief." Then, complaints about the Sichuan Dang Clan began pouring out from all over Sichuan. It was even worse because the escort agencies had just been robbed. But even then, the martial artists at the Dang Clan didn't move an inch.
'These bastards are really tough...'
So this time, I secretly sent someone to the Sichuan Dang Clan with a stack of women's clothing along with a Divine Thief card. This was also a means of provocation, a gift sent by Zhuge Liang in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms to provoke Sima Yi, who was focusing only on defense.
Other martial artists, not understanding the meaning, just stayed put, but the Zhuge Clan was enraged. They explained the meaning of my action to the other martial artists. The meaning of Zhuge Liang sending women's clothing to Sima Yi was the insult that 'hiding and not fighting makes you no different than a woman.'
For the descendants of Zhuge Liang to receive the same treatment, it was a tremendous blow to the Zhuge Clan's pride. Moreover, with the eyes of the entire martial arts world focused on the Sichuan Dang Clan, this incident would be passed down for generations. So the Zhuge Clan, unable to bear it, tried to grab their swords and rush out of the Dang Clan, but the surrounding martial artists began to stop them.
"Let go of me! I cannot stay here after receiving such an insult! How can I face my ancestors!"
"Please, endure it! Do you not see that this is exactly what the Divine Thief wants? You, who were the calmest of us in the Zhuge Clan, why are you acting like this!"
If it were really Zhuge Liang, he might have laughed it off, but his descendants were not the same. Especially since it involved their most respected ancestor, it was even worse.
Then, the Sichuan Dang Clan also couldn't bear it and came out, saying.
"We cannot endure this either! Do you know what they're saying outside?! Rumors are spreading that the Sichuan Dang Clan has sealed its gates because they're afraid of a mere thief! We will go out right now and catch that damn thief!"
Then, the Shaolin Temple hurriedly tried to stop the Dang Clan.
"Why are even you, the Dang Clan, acting like this! Please calm down!"
But the situation did not go as they intended. Having had enough of pent-up frustrations, complaints erupted from everywhere.
"That's right! What are we so afraid of, acting like this!"
"Everyone, calm down! Are you trying to ruin the plan?!"
"We cannot continue to stay here and endure such insults. How ridiculous will the world think we are!"
With that, the various sects began exchanging heated arguments. It was complete chaos, like a marketplace. Even Cheongmyeong, watching this, sighed deeply and shook his head.
Just then, I appeared on the wall of the Sichuan Dang Clan, laughing.
"Hahahahaha, thank you for making a ruckus while I stole the Dang Clan's treasures. I'm done here, so I'll be off now! Puahahahaha~!!!"
From the day I made my plan, I had started digging a tunnel, beginning from the mountain next to the Sichuan Dang Clan all the way to the location of the treasury. I had also been carrying out other plans simultaneously. It wasn't very difficult. I just used [Telekinesis] to gather the dirt, put it in my inventory, and used [Matter Manipulation] to harden the tunnel walls. That way, I didn't need to move the dirt, there was almost no sound, and not even a vibration.
Having dug the tunnel, I took advantage of their confusion to steal the Dang Clan's treasures and escape.
At my words, some went to check the treasury, while the rest of the martial artists began chasing me like mad. Those who checked the treasury would surely be dumbfounded by the gaping hole leading underground.
"I've now robbed the entire martial arts world! You'd all better start saving up again! Puahahahaha~!!!"
"You son of a bitch!!! Stop right there!!!"
I could have just snuck away, but that wouldn't have been fun. So I was kindly informing them of my deeds as I fled. But these guys, having been thoroughly prepared, had beggars stationed everywhere. They came out with clubs, beginning to herd me toward a specific direction.
'Look at these guys. Doing something cute.'
I thought about just running away, but I was curious what they had prepared, so I followed their herding. Checking the surrounding terrain, they seemed to be pushing me toward a narrow ravine. As if to prove it, the martial artists chasing behind me, though silent, had very bright expressions, feeling that I was being guided well.
"The fact that you've suddenly gone quiet tells me there's something ahead?"
At that, most of them managed their expressions, but not everyone was such a good actor; some were a bit flustered.
"How interesting. I wonder what it is?"
I followed their herding into the ravine. It was a dead end blocked by a cliff. As I approached the end, the ground suddenly gave way beneath me. As I fell, I looked down and saw that these bastards had planted sharpened spikes down there.
"Wah~!! Wah~!!"
"We finally caught him!!"
Seeing me fall, both the martial artists chasing me and those waiting in ambush cheered. Ignoring them, I properly adjusted my posture and landed lightly on one foot on top of the spikes.
"Oh~ You prepared even this?"
I said, looking up at the martial artists watching from above. Cheongmyeong, seeing me on the spikes, admired it.
"Truly, when it comes to light-foot technique alone, you've reached the level of a god. But this is the end! There's no place left to run. I'll repay you in full for the slaps I received from my senior sisters."
Hearing Cheongmyeong say this, it seemed that when I, disguised as Cheongmyeong, had slapped the female disciples' bottoms and ran away, the real Cheongmyeong had taken the slaps in his stead.
"Hahaha, so that's what happened. Well, it happens. Getting slapped by a woman is a good experience. Think of it positively."
At that, Cheongmyeong's vein bulged on his forehead, and with an extremely angry face, he began hurling abuse at me.
"What, you bastard!!! #$%@^&*%$#@@ (heavy cursing)!!!"
"Whoa~ I'm going to live a long life, hearing all this cursing. Anyway, if you think this is enough to catch me, you're sorely mistaken."
Immediately, I jumped from the spikes and began springing upward, using the air itself as a foothold.
"Gasp!!! 'Sky Walking'!!! Throw the net, quickly!!!"
Then, the martial artists prepared above began throwing nets at me. I dodged them left and right in mid-air, then attached myself to the cliff wall and ran up it as if on flat ground, escaping the ravine.
"Th-That can't be!!!"
"Stop admiring and chase him!!!"
From then on, the game of tag began again. Having exhausted all their preparations, they didn't even try to herd me anymore.
"Hahahaha, today is fun! Don't you have anything else prepared?"
"You goddamn thief!!! Stop right there!!!"
This chase also went on for several days. I ran happily, munching on jerky. The martial artists chasing me had now dwindled to less than a tenth, and even they, exhausted, were panting and slowing down. So I had no choice but to match their pace.
But even with that consideration, they soon all collapsed on the ground, unable to continue. They seemed to have completely exhausted both their inner energy and stamina. So I approached them and cheered them on.
"Hey, come on, everyone. Dig deep."
"Pant, pant, pant... Damn it..."
Then Cheongmyeong suddenly threw off his upper garment and shouted at me. Seeing him suddenly surge like this, he seemed truly enraged.
"If you're a man, fight me one-on-one! You trash of a thief!"
Hearing that, I thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Fine, let's fight. I wanted to see how strong the Mount Hua sword is. This is perfect."
At that, Cheongmyeong was flustered and asked me again.
"What? R-Really? You'll really fight me?"
"Of course. I have the strongest weapon. I was planning to use it this time. Let's fight."
At that, Cheongmyeong's eyes changed, and he said to me.
"You're really going to fight me. Don't regret it."
"Yeah, come at me. Let's see who's stronger."
With that decided, we stood facing each other. The other martial artists kept some distance, sitting on the ground to watch.
"Even if I've exhausted my inner energy and am tired, I'm confident I won't lose to the likes of you! And I won't use a real sword. Because I have questions for you. But it's going to hurt a lot."
Cheongmyeong, without drawing his sword, held it with the sheath still on and spoke to me.
"Thanks."
As soon as I finished speaking, Cheongmyeong quickly approached, raised his sword high, and brought it down toward my head.
"Head!!!"
I quickly took out an object from my inventory and blocked Cheongmyeong's downward strike.
CRACK!!!
The object couldn't withstand the impact, split in two, and fell to the ground.
"Oh no, my strongest weapon!"
As I looked at the object lying on the ground, split in two, and lamented, Cheongmyeong also looked at the object and sneered.
"What could that little seal piece do as a weapon... Huh... 'Emperor's Jade Seal'? Where have I heard that phrase before... Gasp!!!"
Realizing that the object he had split was the imperial seal, Cheongmyeong quickly gathered the seal fragments from the ground and hid them in his robe. To keep the other martial artists from seeing. If this fact became known, the Mount Hua Sect would face extinction.
Seeing Cheongmyeong's face turn pale and flustered, I struck the back of his head with the edge of my hand.
"Head!!!"
Smack!
"Ugh!"
And then I said, laughing.
"Hehe, how about that? I won, right?"
"You! You bastard!! Such a dirty trick!! That doesn't count!!"
As Cheongmyeong tried to claim foul, I shouted to the watching martial artists.
"Hey~!! The Mount Hua Sect's disciple has the impe..."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!! I lost!!! I lost!!!"
Cheongmyeong, extremely flustered, urgently cut me off and immediately conceded.
"You should have done that from the start. Well then, I'll be off now. You'd better dispose of those broken pieces carefully. Puahahahaha~!!!"
Leaving those words, I left the place. The martial artists there did not try to chase me again. They too knew. That in light-foot technique, they were no match for me. So they just watched bitterly. Cheongmyeong, breaking out in a cold sweat, was at a loss, seemingly unconcerned about my departure.
After getting far enough away from them, I teleported back to my manor and rested well.
A few months passed. I was at the market buying things when I noticed the atmosphere was strange. Asking around, people told me that the Demonic Cult had been revived.
'Finally, the Jeongma War.'
Upon hearing the news, even the steward managing my manor came to me and asked worriedly.
"If the Demonic Cult has been revived, shouldn't we also take refuge?"
"Let's wait and see. We don't know where to go. So send someone to the city every day to gather news. And to be able to move quickly at any time, gather all important belongings in one place. If any of the workers here have families, bring them to the manor to stay together. So that when we evacuate, we won't be delayed searching for family."
I had grown attached to them, so I couldn't let them get hurt.
"And from now on, buy extra food supplies. Secure horses and luggage carts as well. If you need more money, let me know."
"Understood. I will give the orders."
Honestly, I had no intention of participating in the Jeongma War. The story starts with Cheongmyeong and the Heavenly Demon dying together. If I intervened, I didn't know what would happen to the original. It would be a problem if Cheongmyeong lived, and also a problem if the Heavenly Demon won.
And so the Jeongma War began. Several months passed. The entire martial arts world was plunged into chaos. Not only the Orthodox factions in the Central Plains, but also the Evil factions began to suffer massive damage. The Outer Martial Arts World had already been overrun by the Demonic Cult long ago. The Demonic Cult bastards began indiscriminately slaughtering both martial artists and civilians. They were completely different in nature from the Heavenly Demon Cult of Nano Machine.
Fortunately, Sichuan was relatively safe, so there was no need to evacuate. But because of that, many refugees were pouring into Sichuan. So I also used my wealth to feed and shelter refugees.
Then, I received a message from the shadow soldier I had attached to a Mount Hua disciple. It reported that they had finally formed a suicide squad to strike at the Heavenly Demon in the Shiwanda Mountains. So I left a clone at the manor and followed the squad to the Shiwanda Mountains to watch their battle.
'Now I see why it's called the 'Mountain Bloodbath.''
They fought so fiercely that 'bloodbath' was an understatement. Every time the Heavenly Demon swung his hand, countless martial artists died, but they stepped over their fallen comrades and continued to attack the Heavenly Demon. They fought desperately, even throwing away their own lives, to inflict even the slightest damage on the Heavenly Demon.
As time passed, the bodies began to pile up into a large hill. Of course, the Heavenly Demon was not unharmed either. Thanks to their sacrificial attacks, many weapons were embedded in the Heavenly Demon's body, some even piercing through.
But now, the suicide squad was almost annihilated. There were almost no surviving martial artists. Those who remained swung their swords with difficulty, fighting the Heavenly Demon, but one by one, they too perished.
Eventually, only Cheongmyeong and the Heavenly Demon remained. The Heavenly Demon, having exhausted all his inner energy, was just sitting on the hill of corpses. Cheongmyeong, with his left arm severed and a sword still embedded in his chest, stood facing him.
"What a pity, disciple of Mount Hua. If you could have returned alive from here, you would have enjoyed the glory of having killed me for the rest of your life... But it seems both of our lifespans end here."
As the Heavenly Demon, seated, looked at Cheongmyeong and spoke, Cheongmyeong pulled the sword from his chest and glared at the Heavenly Demon.
"Shut up!"
"You should be proud. Although you had the help of many, your sword ultimately reached me. In the name of the Heavenly Demon, I acknowledge that your sword, the sword of Mount Hua, is the best under heaven."
"I said shut up!!!"
Even with Cheongmyeong's anger-filled shout, the Heavenly Demon ignored him and continued.
"What a pity... If I had been given one more day, I would have become a being truly worthy of the name Heavenly Demon... But perhaps this too is my fate. Remember this, disciple of Mount Hua. This is not the end. I will return. And when I do, the true era of the Demonic Way will dawn. A Demonic Way that no one can stop..."
Cheongmyeong raised his sword and, with all his remaining strength, ran at the Heavenly Demon and beheaded him. But Cheongmyeong's injuries were severe; he too did not seem to have long to live.
"Hey~ Long time no see. It was Cheongmyeong, wasn't it?"
After witnessing the entire battle, I approached Cheongmyeong and greeted him.
"Y-You're the thief..."
"Yeah, the Divine Thief. I enjoyed the show."
Then Cheongmyeong, on the verge of death, looked at me with unfocused eyes and made a request.
"Thief, you've had your fun teasing me. Now grant me one last request."
"What is it?"
"I know you stole many martial arts manuals from our Mount Hua. So when I die, I wish you would return those manuals to Mount Hua. Now, only young disciples remain. So I ask you."
"Hmm... Fine. You caught the Heavenly Demon, so I'll grant you that much."
Hearing that, Cheongmyeong, as if letting go of all attachments, smiled and breathed his last right there.
"It was fun, Cheongmyeong. See you in a hundred years."