Episode 129: The Demonic Sect
Mok Wana no longer ignored Tang Mujin as she once did. She listened intently when he spoke and occasionally asked him questions.
Despite her cooperative demeanor, there was little progress in researching the poison of the Jimsae bird.
There were several reasons for this: a shortage of Jimsae byproducts for research, and a lack of reference materials.
But the most disappointing aspect was Mok Wana’s underwhelming skill in handling herbs and poisons.
“You can’t just use raw aconite like that!”
“I’ve used up all the dried ones. Besides, this one’s dried enough.”
“Aconite isn’t usable just because it’s dry. Do you have licorice or black beans?”
“I have licorice, and I can get black beans. Why?”
“Aconite needs to be boiled and dried with detoxifying herbs at least three times before it’s safe to use. Start by bringing me the licorice.”
Mok Wana was peculiar in many ways.
She wasn’t a complete novice with herbs and poisons, yet her clumsiness was evident with just a little observation.
For instance, when combining various herbs to enhance or reduce their properties, the basic principle is to start with similar herbs and compare their effects. But Mok Wana often mixed herbs with completely different properties just because they looked alike, and frequently confused the basic properties of herbs.
She didn’t even bother to record the results of her experiments. The brush and ink in the cave were covered in a thick layer of dust.
’…Was her master not interested in teaching her?’
Or perhaps her master’s skills were far inferior to those of the other sect members.
Despite his suspicions about her master, Tang Mujin didn’t doubt Mok Wana’s potential. She seemed to have a knack for identifying the properties of herbs with just a taste.
She had also built up a decent amount of internal energy and was naturally resilient, able to expel most toxins from her body with ease.
Mok Wana seemed aware of this, as she had a habit of tasting herbs when unsure of their properties.
“Instead of just tasting everything, why not ask me first?”
“It’s just a habit.”
Tang Mujin couldn’t help but think of the legendary Shennong, who tasted hundreds of herbs to understand their properties.
A thought crossed his mind: perhaps Mok Wana’s clumsy learning was due to not receiving her master’s medical texts.
Feigning nonchalance, Tang Mujin asked her, “Did your master leave any medical texts?”
“No, there weren’t any.”
“Really? Most doctors have a few medical books.”
“I wouldn’t know. But it doesn’t matter. I don’t need them.”
There wasn’t a hint of regret in her voice, which put Tang Mujin at ease.
A few days passed as Tang Mujin assisted Mok Wana with her work, and the Jimsae byproducts—feathers and bone powder—were nearly depleted. There hadn’t been much to begin with, so conserving them was futile.
Since Mok Wana showed no concern, Tang Mujin spoke up.
“We need more Jimsae byproducts. Where can we get them?”
The air near the sect leader’s hall was thick with Jimsae poison.
But using airborne poison for research was a last resort, as it meant exposing oneself to the poison directly. It’s not an unusable method, but it’s the last option.
Thus, tangible items like bone powder or feathers were needed. Blood or poison glands would be even better.
Mok Wana hesitated before answering, “I’ll request more. We just need to wait a bit.”
“How long will it take?”
“About… ten days? Two weeks at most.”
Tang Mujin was taken aback.
“Two weeks? That’s too long.”
Mok Wana waved her hand dismissively.
“No, it might not take that long. It could be much sooner. We’ve been working hard these past few days. Can’t we take it easy for a bit? I’m tired too.”
Regardless of their diligence, their efforts had only resulted in a pile of trial and error.
Mok Wana, being from the sect, didn’t mind the delay, but Tang Mujin was eager to finish and leave.
“Taking it easy isn’t an option. If we had a lead, a slow pace would be fine, but we have nothing. What if others come asking what we’ve discovered?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Mok Wana spoke confidently.
“People don’t expect much. Everyone knows my master is gone.”
“True, but we’re the ones handling this now.”
“Honestly, the problem is more likely to resolve itself when the Jimsae leave. They won’t stay above the sect leader’s hall forever, right?”
Tang Mujin’s eyebrows furrowed.
From what he’d observed over the past few days, Mok Wana’s approach to research was lukewarm. It wasn’t just a lack of skill; it seemed like she didn’t want to achieve results.
Tang Mujin stood up and said, “I don’t like that approach. I’ll go myself.”
“What? How?”
“I’ll get as close as I can and see if there are any fallen feathers.”
“Do you really have to? It’s troublesome and dangerous. Just wait a few days.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”
As Tang Mujin was about to leave the cave, he sensed someone outside the door.
A moment later, there was a knock. Thud, thud.
“Are you in there?”
It was the voice of Sam Anbul. Tang Mujin still found him intimidating, but Mok Wana seemed more than just uneasy; she hid in a corner of the cave.
Tang Mujin opened the door and asked, “What brings you here?”
“I brought you here, so it’s only right I check in on you. Do you need anything?”
“Ah, we need Jimsae poison. Feathers or anything with poison.”
“Got it. I’ll see what I can find. By the way, you’ve been cooped up in the cave for days, haven’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Sam Anbul looked at Tang Mujin, then noticed Mok Wana hiding in the corner.
His already stern face twisted further. Most would have been terrified, but Tang Mujin knew it was just a playful expression.
Sam Anbul nudged Tang Mujin with his large elbow.
“You two haven’t been up to anything in the cave, have you?”
“Of course not. I have someone else in mind.”
“Hmm… just joking. Anyway, care to join me for a walk?”
“Is something the matter?”
“I felt bad for bringing you to the mountains and leaving you in a cave. Let’s take a look around.”
Wondering if there was an ulterior motive, Tang Mujin studied Sam Anbul’s face. But there was no hidden agenda. He seemed more considerate than expected.
“Sounds good to me. It’s not every day I get to visit the Demonic Sect.”
“Let’s go.”
Leaving Mok Wana in the cave, Tang Mujin followed Sam Anbul outside. The fresh air felt invigorating after days in the cave.
As they headed towards the village, Tang Mujin asked, “Sam Anbul, is there something between you and Mok Wana?”
“Mok Wana? Oh, you mean the apprentice of the healer. Why?”
“I don’t know her well, but she doesn’t seem like the type to be so shy.”
It occurred to Tang Mujin that this might not be a matter of shyness.
While he had grown accustomed to Sam Anbul, most people would be intimidated by him, given his appearance and strength.
“Nothing special. I didn’t even know her name was Mok Wana until now.”
“Hmm.”
“It’s probably nothing serious. Maybe she’s just worried because we’re from different factions.”
The mention of factions piqued Tang Mujin’s interest.
“Factions?”
“Yes.”
“The Demonic Sect isn’t united?”
“Not really. There are factions, but it’s not as serious as you might think. Out of ten people, seven don’t care about factions. The remaining three just bicker among themselves.”
“Are there many factions?”
“No, just two. The Martial Faction and the Doctrine Faction.”
The names were self-explanatory. Tang Mujin nodded in understanding.
“You’re with the Martial Faction, right?”
“No, I’m with the Doctrine Faction.”
Tang Mujin studied Sam Anbul’s face, wondering if it was a joke, but it seemed he was serious.
“So, Mok Wana is with the Martial Faction? That doesn’t seem to fit.”
“Technically, her master was with the Martial Faction. Mok Wana is considered part of it by association.”
Did he have to worry about factions too? Seeing Tang Mujin’s concern, Sam Anbul waved it off.
“You don’t need to worry. The factions in the Demonic Sect aren’t as serious as you think. It’s just a difference in opinion on the sect’s direction, not a blood feud.”
Sam Anbul briefly explained the factions.
The Martial Faction wanted the sect to exert its power externally, even if it caused conflict.
The Doctrine Faction believed in accepting those who sought refuge and staying in the mountains.
Sam Anbul had fled from the Shaolin Temple and sought refuge with the Demonic Cult, which seemed to welcome him with open arms. After all, everyone needs a place to call home.
Despite Sam Anbul’s relaxed explanation, Tang Mujin was uneasy about the talk of factions.
If they were significant enough to be called factions, it meant they had some power. Just as two nations clashing leads to war, it seemed unlikely that two groups could coexist peacefully.
As Tang Mujin and Sam Anbul entered the city, all eyes turned to them.
Ignoring the stares, Tang Mujin asked Sam Anbul, “Are you sure there won’t be any problems?”
“Don’t worry about that. Unless the two factions are evenly matched, there’s no issue. The balance is heavily tilted.”
“In which direction?”
Sam Anbul turned to Tang Mujin with a question of his own. “Before I answer, do you know who the highest authority in the Demonic Cult is?”
It was a simple question, and Tang Mujin answered immediately. “The Cult Leader, of course.”
“Correct. Now, who do you think is the strongest person in the Cult?”
“Isn’t it you, Master Sam Anbul?”
Tang Mujin was quite pleased with his quick response. Perhaps this was what they called tact.
Sam Anbul’s eyes widened in surprise, and then he burst into laughter, clearly not offended. “Ha! That’s a nice thought, but it’s not the right answer.”
“Then who is it?”
“The Great Protector.”
It was common knowledge that the strongest warrior in the Demonic Cult held the position of Great Protector, serving the Cult Leader. While the identity of the Great Protector might change over time, the fact that the strongest held the title did not.
Sam Anbul continued, “The important thing is that both the Cult Leader and the Great Protector belong to the Doctrine Faction. I’m also part of that faction, if you must know. The balance is so skewed that there’s no reason for conflict. Even if there were, the outcome is obvious, so no one bothers. Do you understand now?”
Tang Mujin nodded and added a few words to keep the mood light. “I understand. But I do have a question.”
“What is it?”
“How strong is the Great Protector?”
Sam Anbul scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Well, the last time we sparred, he seemed at least half a step ahead of me.”
“So, it’s a close match, then?”
“Perhaps. But that half-step can make all the difference.”
As they continued walking, they noticed a crowd gathered in a side alley.
Curious, they saw an old man sitting leisurely on a wooden box, telling stories. His voice was calm, and despite his age, he had a friendly demeanor. Judging by the crowd’s reaction, he was likely the most famous storyteller in the village.
Tang Mujin turned back to Sam Anbul. “If the opportunity arises, why not challenge the Great Protector and take his place yourself?”
“An interesting idea, but if I challenge him, it would put the Great Protector in a difficult position. The loser would be in an even tougher spot.”
“Hmm.”
“And you might find yourself in a tough spot too.”
“Why would I be in trouble?”
“If you talk like that in front of the person in question, it could get awkward.”
Sam Anbul gestured toward the crowd.
Behind the old storyteller stood a middle-aged man with a long, graying beard, staring intently at Sam Anbul and Tang Mujin.
It was as if he had heard Tang Mujin’s voice amidst the murmuring crowd.
Sam Anbul raised a hand in greeting, and the man returned the gesture, though his eyes remained fixed on Tang Mujin.
Tang Mujin felt a strange sense of familiarity.
Though there was no physical resemblance, the man’s eyes were eerily similar to those of a madman—eyes that revealed nothing yet seemed undeniably unhinged.
Tang Mujin felt an inexplicable aversion to the man.