Episode 266: Infiltration
Though it wasn’t quite the way the Ilseonja or the Cheongseong sect had anticipated, Dang Mujin diligently roamed around Pyeongnyang County, gathering information.
“See anything unusual?”
“It’s eerily quiet, just like the last time we were here. Maybe it’s because it’s dark?”
If it were daytime, he might have casually approached some beggars for news. But on second thought, that wasn’t a great idea. There was always a chance one of them could be connected to the dark martial arts world.
In the end, the four of them climbed onto the roof of the most upscale tavern in Pyeongnyang County, keeping a reasonable distance from each other. They pressed their ears to the roof, trying to eavesdrop on the conversations inside.
“If you hear anything useful, let us know.”
“Got it.”
They stayed still for quite a while. Naturally, no one was conveniently discussing the inner workings of the Gongdong sect at that moment. The four of them lay on the roof, feeling the cool spring breeze for what seemed like an eternity. It was a tedious and uncomfortable task, and soon enough, Namgung Myung began to grumble.
“Couldn’t someone else have done this? Feels like we’re stuck with this because we’re the youngest in the group.”
“The Cheongseong sect probably thought we’d gather information by talking to the locals. Not many people would think to climb a roof and eavesdrop.”
Dang Mujin replied, and Namgung Myung grumbled again.
“We could just teach them how to gather information effectively. It’s ridiculous to think they can’t do this because they’re afraid of being discovered. Who would recognize a martial artist if they just wore a mask and acted carefully?”
Hyun Gong, still with his ear to the roof, answered seriously.
“Namgung Myung, ordinary people don’t carry masks around like you do.”
“Maybe not, but I could lend them one.”
“Why are you the only one who doesn’t realize that pulling a mask out of nowhere is suspicious?”
Hong Geolgae, listening to the conversation, chimed in with a hint of disdain.
“He’s more used to wearing a mask than showing his face. He’s so mixed up he can’t tell what’s normal anymore. One day, he’ll probably wear a mask in front of his own father and get into trouble.”
Just as Namgung Myung was about to retort, Dang Mujin shushed them.
“Wait, quiet.”
He thought he heard something about the Gongdong sect. Dang Mujin pressed his ear closer to the roof.
The voices became clearer. They seemed to belong to merchants or officials connected to them.
”…You heard the Gongdong sect’s been reshuffled, right?”
“Yeah, but I don’t know the details.”
“First, the original Gongdong sect was pushed out, then some others took over, and then martial artists came and drove them out… You didn’t know?”
“Is that what happened? Hmm. So why does it matter?”
“I heard the Gongdong sect members who returned have left again.”
“With people coming and going so often, it’s hard to keep track. It’s like a guesthouse with constantly changing guests.”
“Listen…”
The explainer seemed confused, so it was unlikely the listener understood much either. But the content of the conversation wasn’t the important part. The fact that even these well-informed people didn’t know much about the Gongdong sect suggested that the locals weren’t interested in its internal affairs. This meant the Gongdong sect had been quiet recently.
Dang Mujin lifted his head and spoke.
“Seems like the new folks at the Gongdong sect aren’t venturing out much.”
Hyun Gong asked, “Then why are they holed up there?”
The four of them pondered simultaneously, but none could guess the reason. The Gongdong sect had been the site of a major incident not long ago. For someone to settle there again was strange, to say the least. It was bound to attract the attention of the righteous martial artists and lead to conflict.
If they were using the Gongdong sect as a base for some scheme, it would make sense, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
Hong Geolgae offered his theory.
“Maybe there’s treasure hidden in Gongdong Mountain? They’re after it.”
Namgung Myung immediately countered.
“No, we searched the Gongdong sect thoroughly last time and found nothing like that.”
“Then maybe there’s gold in the Gongdong sect?”
“If that were the case, the villagers would have noticed. Besides, do you think dark martial artists would quietly dig for gold? They’d probably use the pickaxe on each other and run off with the loot.”
Namgung Myung spoke with a bias against dark martial artists, a sentiment that would have pained Elder Jang. But based on Dang Mujin’s experience, there was some truth to it. Dark martial artists were generally more impulsive and aggressive than their righteous counterparts. While both wielded power, dark martial artists often lacked the discipline and restraint that came with rigorous training.
Dang Mujin stood up and said, “We’ve learned all we can. Let’s head back.”
Their mission was simply to find out if anything unusual was happening in Pyeongnyang County and the Gongdong sect. They had accomplished that.
But Namgung Myung wasn’t satisfied.
They had traveled far, donned masks, and felt the cool night breeze. It seemed a waste to just eavesdrop and leave. It was like starting a sparring match with great enthusiasm, only to stop after the opening moves.
“No, Dang Mujin. Since we’re here, we should at least take a look at the Gongdong sect.”
Namgung Myung suggested, and Hong Geolgae interjected with a dissenting opinion.
“We’ve done our job. It’s safer to leave it at that.”
This time, Namgung Myung shook his head seriously.
“This is for your own good.”
”…How so?”
“Hong Geolgae, you might not realize it, but just doing what you’re told won’t help you grow.”
“Maybe for others, but you should stick to what you’re told.”
“Why?”
“Because you always do what you’re not supposed to.”
Hong Geolgae and Namgung Myung bickered for a moment before looking at Dang Mujin and Hyun Gong, seeking their support.
Dang Mujin saw merit in both arguments and remained neutral. Unexpectedly, Hyun Gong sided with Namgung Myung.
“I think Namgung Myung is right.”
“What?”
“The more we learn here, the more we can change the future. We might save a lot of lives later.”
It was a statement befitting a martial artist from the Wudang sect, who had a sense of urgency. Feeling outnumbered, Hong Geolgae relented.
”…Fine.”
The night was still young.
The four of them moved stealthily, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, heading towards Gongdong Mountain. Their movements were so discreet that no one noticed their passage.
Having been there before, they didn’t lose their way. They carefully avoided paths where they might encounter dark martial artists from the Gongdong sect.
Finally, they reached the walls of the Gongdong sect.
“I sense people.”
“And quite a few of them.”
The four of them circled the perimeter, crouching at the spot closest to the presence they felt. Peeking over the wall would have been amateurish. Instead, they used their inner strength to poke small holes in the wall and peered inside. The wall, made of stone and mud, was easy to penetrate.
Despite the late hour, dozens of martial artists were diligently practicing their skills inside the Gongdong sect.
It was the second time they had seen dark martial artists training so earnestly together. The first was at the Hwangolgak.
Moreover, the people inside the Gongdong sect weren’t training reluctantly. They were genuinely putting their heart and soul into their practice, throwing punches and kicking with fervor.
Dang Mujin and his companions were puzzled.
“What is this? This scene looks just like what we saw at Hwangolgak. Are they really Gongdong sect martial artists?”
“No, their techniques are all different.”
“Really? What martial art is that?”
Namgung Myung pondered Hong Geolgae’s question before answering.
“At the very least, it’s not the Gongdong sect’s martial art. The aura and style are different. None of the moves match.”
In front of the group was a platform about the height of a person, and on it stood someone overseeing the martial artists below.
The distance and dim lighting made it hard to see the person’s face, but they seemed to be the leader of the dark martial artists occupying the Gongdong sect.
Then, a low drumbeat sounded.
Thump, thump—
The practitioners stopped their movements in unison.
The person on the platform turned to the side, respectfully clasped their hands, and descended.
A man in elaborate robes appeared.
Once again, his face was obscured, but two things were unmistakable: his small, solid build and his smoothly shaven head.
“A monk?”
Under the moonless, dark sky, the monk slowly demonstrated a martial art form.
“Shaolin, perhaps?”
No, the form was as robust and firm as Shaolin’s, yet it exuded an eerie aura.
The people below the platform watched him intently, gradually mimicking his movements.
At the same time, a subtle fragrance began to waft through the air.
It wasn’t a poison that would harm or kill, but it clouded the mind, leaving one in a daze. Tang Mujin spoke softly.
“Slow your breathing and push out the invading toxin.”
“Got it.”
Despite the sudden spread of the toxin, Tang Mujin wasn’t worried about his friends.
It wasn’t a concentrated poison, nor was it difficult to expel.
The people within the sect were martial artists too, so they must have sensed it.
Yet, no one fled. It was as if they had anticipated the arrival of the floral scent.
Time passed, and soon, a fervor infused the people’s movements.
They slowly slipped into a trance. Some mumbled incoherently, while others began sparring with each other.
A few even seemed to reach a state of enlightenment, lost in ecstasy. It was truly a bizarre scene.
Then, the man on the platform clapped his hands together. The force was palpable, even from a distance.
The people, swaying under the influence of the floral scent, scattered, leaving a large open space in the center.
The man on the platform lowered his stance and extended his right hand toward the clearing.
Boom!
A thunderous noise erupted, and dust rose from the ground.
“What just happened?”
“I didn’t see it either.”
Tang Mujin and his group waited for the dust to settle.
When it finally did, they were met with an astonishing sight.
A massive handprint was imprinted on the ground.
Its size was extraordinary, at least five or ten times larger than a normal human hand.
“What… what is this?”
“I have no idea.”
It was as if a great master had left a mark, yet it wasn’t a footprint, and the distance between the man and the handprint was too great.
The man on the platform spoke.
“It seems many have found enlightenment today. A truly joyous occasion.”
Everyone prostrated themselves, bowing deeply to the man on the platform.
Their gestures were filled with joy. The joy from the floral scent, and the joy of martial artists reaching a new level of understanding.
As the people bowed, the view cleared, and a breeze brightened the torches. Only then did Tang Mujin catch a glimpse of the man on the platform.
His eyes widened.
“The Demon King!”
“The… Demon King?”
Hyeon-gong didn’t know who the Demon King was, but Namgung Myung and Hong Geolgae did.
He was one of the six supreme masters of the Demonic Cult in the past. With Wuho and Sam Anbul gone, he was now one of the four remaining supreme masters.
When they escaped the Demonic Cult, the Demon King and Zuho had pursued them.
If Hwayeon Shinni hadn’t appeared in time, they would have been caught by the Demon King and Zuho.
Tang Mujin and Sam Anbul would have been dragged back to the cult, and the rest would have surely perished.
“Isn’t that the guy we saw in the Demonic Cult?”
Hong Geolgae frowned, and Namgung Myung’s expression turned serious.
“With skills like that, it’s no wonder he’d rather rule over rogue martial artists than serve under the cult leader. He seems quite popular now.”
Hyeon-gong, still confused, asked again.
“Who exactly is this Demon King?”
“He’s a monk from Podalap Palace. I’ll explain later, but for now, stay quiet. Oh, he’s moving!”
The Demon King stepped down from the platform, standing over the handprint he had left. He slowly surveyed the surroundings, then spoke in a deep, solemn voice.
“I shall return next month. I hope even more of you achieve enlightenment by then.”
The people, still in a trance, bowed even lower. Some wept, others were moved to tears.
It was like witnessing the leader of a bizarre cult, deceiving the masses.
Hong Geolgae, sensing the danger, whispered tensely.
“Hey, let’s get out of here.”
This time, no one disagreed.
Tang Mujin and his group quietly rose and made their way down the mountain.