“What do you mean by that?”
At Ise’s question, Cheongun ran a hand through his hair and looked somewhat embarrassed.
What he was about to talk about was practically one of the Northern Continent’s darkest stains.
“They kill wandering cultivators in Tiandaogyeong like this every so often, whenever people have almost forgotten about the previous incident.
Then they disguise it as some kind of bloody conflict between wandering cultivators.”
Cheongun looked down at the corpse once more and spat out the words through clenched teeth.
“The Heavenly Ice Palace warns them from time to time, but they just say it was an individual transgression by one of their sect members and promise to be more careful.
Nothing ever changes.”
Ise wore a meaningful expression.
Ryu Seonghan seemed to have reached the same conclusion, as their eyes met.
“It looks like they’re silencing them after killing them, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.
They seem to intervene just enough that they can cut off the tail if things go wrong, and if anyone slips through, they deal with them like this.”
So this was why the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s involvement had seemed surprisingly limited despite carrying out something as dangerous as opposing the Heavenly Ice Palace.
They merely planted spies around the Heavenly Ice Palace’s vicinity, apparently figuring that if anyone managed to slip through and crawl all the way to the palace, they could simply take care of them.
And that had been an almost perfectly effective strategy.
Whether it had continued for several decades or several centuries, no one knew.
But their trail had never been discovered until now.
Ise asked Ryu Seonghan,
“Do you think they saw us make contact with Xin Yeoran?”
“I’m not sure.
They don’t seem to have seen us that day.
Or perhaps they saw us but didn’t pay much attention.
If they had, they would have acted sooner.”
“Did Xin Yeoran wander around the area?”
“…I repeatedly told her to stay put, but we didn’t have the manpower to watch her every moment.
She definitely seemed anxious, though.”
“Then she may have been looking for another person who could help her.
And in the process, word reached the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley.”
“Yes.
That’s how it seems.”
Cheongun, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, cut in.
“You two.
What have you been getting yourselves involved in to end up tangled with them?”
“First, let’s correct one thing.
We weren’t the ones stirring up trouble.
He’s a victim too.”
“A victim?
Don’t tell me…”
Ise inhaled and exhaled, while Ryu Seonghan struggled to suppress his inner demon, and then explained everything that had happened up to that point.
The clash between the Ryu Clan and the Yun Clan.
What had happened with the fallen Xin Clan.
The similarities between the two incidents and the involvement of the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley.
Rarely did Cheongun show his emotions.
This time, it was anger.
“I have nothing to say.
As expected, demonic cultivators are people who shouldn’t be associated with.”
“Couldn’t agree more.”
“And isn’t this clearly an act of rebellion?”
They had trampled a Foundation Establishment city without the Heavenly Ice Palace’s knowledge and even murdered the witness at the very foot of its main mountain.
This was no ordinary incident.
It was unmistakably betrayal and rebellion.
“Whew.
Anyway, you’ve both gotten yourselves deeply entangled.
This isn’t good.”
“I clearly told you not to get involved.
You brought this upon yourself.”
“I don’t care.
A sword cultivator of the Tyrant Sword Sect can’t cower before mere demonic cultivators.
I’m only worried that getting involved too deeply might somehow bring trouble to the sect.”
“It won’t cause any trouble.
We’re not planning to do anything to the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley right now anyway.”
What could two or three people possibly do against a demonic sect with Nascent Soul-level strength?
Ryu Seonghan’s desire for revenge was still directed toward the Yun Clan, while Ise had only taken care of Xin Yeoran because he had thought it might be nice to give them one last unpleasant surprise before leaving.
He certainly hadn’t expected her to cause trouble and cut short her own life after failing to endure those few years.
She had been foolish.
Revenge should never depend on luck.
One should prepare thoroughly, wait, calculate everything carefully, and only then act.
Ise was about to offer a prayer for Xin Yeoran’s vengeful spirit, but stopped.
“…”
There was no vengeful spirit.
It seemed even her soul had already fallen into the hands of the demonic cultivators of the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley.
‘How vicious.’
Could such boundless evil really come from fellow human beings?
What crime had Xin Yeoran committed to deserve having even her soul stolen and being trapped in eternal suffering?
The Dao-Exorcising Spirit-Expelling Art, Shaman Chapter, stated that interfering with another person’s reincarnation and tampering with souls was classified among the greatest evils of all, a grave karmic sin that absolutely must never be accumulated.
It seemed those bastards weren’t even afraid of the Heavenly Tribulation that awaited them.
Ise withdrew his gaze and asked Cheongun,
“If the two sects were to go to war, what do you think the outcome would be?”
“The Tyrant Sword Sect and the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley?
We’d crush them thoroughly.
The Sect Master and elders have already been itching for it.
As long as we have a clear justification and can obtain the Heavenly Ice Palace’s approval, that is.”
“Isn’t rebellion enough justification?”
“We don’t have evidence.”
“What if you testify as a witness?”
“…”
Cheongun fell silent, seemingly lost in thought as he slowly stroked his chin.
Then he slowly shook his head.
“No.
They’d think we’re deliberately blowing the matter out of proportion to suppress the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley.
The amount of tribute they offer is enormous, too.
If we were to strike down a subordinate force that has shown loyalty without proper evidence and justification, what force would be willing to swear allegiance afterward?”
“Those filthy demonic cultivators showing loyalty?
That’s something not even a dog would laugh at.”
Ise muttered sarcastically.
Perhaps Cheongun took the words as criticism directed at himself, because he lowered his head slightly.
Ise added that he hadn’t been talking about him.
‘I need to vent a little.’
After seeing the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s atrocities with his own eyes, he felt sick inside.
He had been thinking about it for a while, but now that things had come to this, he had no choice.
He needed to destroy one demonic cultivator city and rid himself of this inner demon.
Ise looked toward Ryu Seonghan.
“Reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible.
I’ll support you if necessary.”
“Thank you, Senior.
But immortal cuisine is enough.
I’ll accomplish the rest through my own strength.”
After giving him a few words of encouragement to cultivate diligently, Ise turned to Cheongun and asked.
“Can you return to the sect and investigate the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s recent activities?
If you can’t, then there’s nothing we can do about it.
But if you conduct a proper investigation, you might find some evidence.”
“I can, but what are you going to do?”
Ise hesitated for a moment before answering.
From now on, he was going to disguise himself and bring down a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator city to gather demonic qi.
But if he said he was going to cultivate, it felt somewhat embarrassing to ask Cheongun to investigate while he cultivated alone.
“I’ll be honest.
From now on, I’m going to disguise myself and bring down a Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator city.
Keep this a secret according to our contract.”
“Don’t worry about that.
It sounds pretty interesting, but why go through the trouble?”
“To make money.”
The fact that Ise was gathering demonic qi was something even Ryu Seonghan didn’t know.
Ise came up with a suitable excuse.
Cheongun’s expression changed strangely.
“I understand.”
“Understand what?”
“You’re a chivalrous man.”
“…?”
“You’re angry at the Essence-Draining Ghost-Demon Valley’s conduct, so you’re trying to do whatever you can.
You’re too embarrassed to admit it honestly, so you’re using the excuse of needing resources to punish the demonic cultivators and save the ordinary people suffering under them.
There is chivalry in the path you walk.
As expected.”
“…Oh?
Yeah, I suppose.”
Cheongun seemed to be making some enormous misunderstanding, but Ise didn’t bother correcting him.
As long as he kept his mouth shut, that was enough.
“And on top of that, the humility to avoid putting yourself forward while acting chivalrously.
As expected, I really do have a good eye for people.”
“Yeah.
Right.
Exactly.”
At Ise’s half-hearted reply, Cheongun narrowed his eyes and stared at him.
“Can I accompany you?
Once your business is finished, I’ll return to the sect and carry out the task you requested.”
Why?”
“Just because.
I want to see your strength.”
“It would be better if you didn’t get involved needlessly.”
“I won’t interfere.
Instead, I’ll take you to a suitable Foundation Establishment city.
They’re notorious for their cruelty.
Even other demonic sects despise them.”
“In that case… fine.”
Ise reluctantly agreed.
After all, someone who was offering to support him both materially and otherwise deserved something in return.
Before leaving Tiandaogyeong, Ise asked,
“There’s one thing I’m wondering about.
If the Foundation Establishment cultivator ruling a city, or that cultivator’s entire force, were wiped out, what would happen to the ordinary people and wandering cultivators left behind?”
“Usually, another Foundation Establishment cultivator is dispatched as the city’s lord.
There are Core Formation clans that manage those cities.
They establish a branch there.
If there’s no one suitable to establish a branch, the ordinary people are relocated elsewhere, but that’s rare.
There are plenty of Foundation Establishment cultivators who want a city of their own.”
“Then there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“You even worry about the ordinary people who’ll remain behind.
As expected, a chivalrous man truly thinks differently.
I’m learning a lot.”
“…Yeah.
Let’s just get going.”
Embarrassed for no particular reason, Ise urged them onward.
***
A flying cloud and a flying sword streaked across the sky.
They were headed toward a remote Foundation Establishment city deep within the territory of the Tyrant Sword Sect.
Cheongun added that if not for the rules of the Northern Continent, it would have been a city he would have crushed long ago because it was such a thorn in his side.
Ise understood why he hated it so much.
When they reached the top of the city wall, he clearly sensed the vile demonic qi enveloping the entire city.
“Don’t interfere.
If traces of swordsmanship are left behind, it could cause unnecessary misunderstandings.”
“I won’t.
I only came because I wanted to watch your strength anyway.”
Cheongun obediently replied while fluttering a Foundation Establishment Wide-View Talisman.
“Ah, if anyone tries to escape, could you take care of them?”
“That’s easy enough.
I’ll watch calmly from above and deal with anyone I spot trying to get away.”
“Thanks.”
Ise took Bisan out and entrusted him to Cheongun.
“If anyone tries to escape while you’re circling overhead, tell Cheongun.”
“Grru!”
Bisan answered by bobbing his beak.
Ise stroked his feathers as though entrusting the task to him.
As befitted a raptor-type spirit beast, Bisan’s cultivation was low, but his species’ natural eyesight was good enough to surpass that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He should be quite useful.
“Oh?
You raise a spirit beast too?
You’re quite versatile.”
“I’ve just been lucky.
Take care of him.”
Ise used Foundation Establishment Concealment and Invisibility Talismans before leaping down from the city wall.
The demonic cultivator city felt completely different from every city he had seen before.
The air was dreary, filled not with the spiritual qi of Heaven and Earth but with artificial, unnatural demonic qi.
Ise couldn’t even imagine how much resentment had to accumulate to create an environment like this.
Humans hung up alive and traded on the streets like butchered livestock.
Ordinary people openly violated in the streets.
Countless bloodstains that no one had even bothered to clean, with resentment rising from them.
Even as nausea surged within him, Ise kept walking straight ahead.
Suppress the anger.
Enough with pretending to be some half-baked immortal saint.
He already knew what cultivators and the cultivation world were like.
Wasn’t he himself a butcher who had killed cultivators he had never even met for the sake of his own goal?
Unless one broke free from the cycle of reincarnation and reached eternal life, everyone would ultimately fall into the abyss all the same.
He was simply moving forward toward his goal.
These people had been unlucky enough to stand in his path and get trampled to death.
That too was simply retribution according to the karma they themselves had accumulated.
The inner city was surrounded by a Foundation Establishment-level barrier formation.
Ise used a Formation-Breaking Talisman to temporarily neutralize it.
Taking advantage of the brief opening, he slipped inside the inner city.
An alarm announcing the abnormality in the barrier immediately rang throughout the city, and several divine senses expanded.
Ise immediately launched himself toward the nearest divine sense.