Light Novel: Volu 3 Episode 3
Manhwa: Chapter 33
Mount Ei could be reached by walking south of Chengdu for three days and three nights.
The magnificent scenery, which has a height of more than a thousand ters, was worthy to be a part of Sichuan Province.
When the people of Sichuan think of Mount Ei, five things co to mind.
The first was the sea of clouds.
Those who saw the sea of clouds covering the entire mountain range, leaving only the high mountain peaks, were overwheld by its imnse majesty.
The second was sunrise.
Specifically the sunrise from the Chengdu Plain on the eastern side of Mount Ei. No matter how many tis the people looked at the scenery, they would never get tired of the landscape which was dyed with a golden hue.
The third was the light of the Buddha.
A seven-light rainbow appears from sumr to early autumn near the Geumjeongbong Peak, and when this rainbow illuminates a person, a phenonon like the halo of Buddha occurs. People accepted this as the blessing of the Buddha.
The fourth was the holy lantern.
In sumr, tens of millions of fireflies fly all at once and shine brightly. Its appearance is so sacred that it was accepted in Buddhism as a bodhisattva illuminating the world for the sake of the world.
The fifth and last was the Ei sect.
Ei, located at the foot of Geumjeongbong Peak of Ei Mountain, has been called as the pride of the people of Sichuan.
Although they have declined, in comparison to when they belonged to the old Daemun faction, their prestige was still great.
The Ei sect was a large Buddhist temple before being a sect. For that reason, many people co to Ei to offer Buddhist offerings. But lately, people have stopped going.
This is because, as the confrontation with the Qingcheng sect intensified, the Ei sect did not receive incense from the visitors.
Instead, only the martial artists mbers of the sect related to the Ei sect visited Mount Ei.
Nurous gates were installed on the mountain road leading up to Ei, and Ei warriors stood guard.
In order to enter the Ei sect, a person had to go through several layers of gates.
Sangyeon, a third generation disciple of Ei, looked at the n and won standing in front of her with a keen eye.
A bewitching woman in revealing attire and a man with a large body were looking into her eyes with a casual expression.
“So, you’re saying that the Black Cloud Corps ca to see the sect leader?”
“That’s right. We’ve co to et the sect leader of the Ei sect under the command of our captain.”
The bewitching woman who answered with a smile was Heo Ranju. She was accompanied by Oh Yuk-pyo.
“It’s not up to to decide. I’ll report it to the higher ups first, so please wait here.”
“Ho-ho! We can wait.”
Sang-yeon looked at Heo Ranju with distasteful eyes, who had revealing clothes that did not match the sacred Buddhist temple.
‘Namu Amida Butsu! He said that his nickna is hyeoljiju (血 蜘妹), so he really looks like Sagal.’
Had she been in a situation where she could make her own decisions, she would never have accepted a woman like Heo Ranju into the Ei. But now, they were at war, and the Ei sect needed anything that could increase their power.
She couldn’t make a mistake just because of her personal feelings.
Her reputation for subduing the enemies that attacked the rice carrier was passed on to the Ei sect. So Sang-yeon knew that Heo Ranju was a great warrior.
Sang-yeon brought out a carrier pigeon and waited for an answer.
It didn’t take long for a reply to co back.
There was a ssage in the carrier pigeon that returned asking her to send them in. Sang-yeon handed a bronze plate to Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pyo and said,
“If you climb the mountain road like this, you will co across a total of five gates. You can enter the main mountain by showing this bronze plate every ti you pass through the gates.”
“Ho-ho! Thank you for your consideration. I’ll see you when I co down.”
After winking at Sang-yeon, Heo Ranju passed through the gate with Oh Yuk-pyo.
Sang-yeon’s disapproving gaze was felt on the back of her head, but she didn’t care much. She wasn’t even a great disciple, and her self-esteem didn’t allow her to be afraid of a third-generation disciple.
“Mount Ei is said to be the absolute best in the world. Indeed, it’s truly sothing to be proud of.”
Oh Yuk-pyo looked around and admired the scenery of Mount Ei.
The superb view of Mount Ei was so great that it shook the hearts of Oh Yuk-pyo who was usually indifferent to these external sights.
“But it’s all aningless if they lose the war against the Qingcheng sect. I’m sure they themselves would know best how miserable their end would be if they were chased out of Mount Ei.”
“But why are they fighting the Qingcheng sect? Were they not on good terms?”
“I don’t know! Seven years ago, their relationship just got worse and they started fighting.”
“Hm! We don’t exactly know why they’re fighting each other, but nonetheless, for us, this is a great opportunity to earn a lot of money.”
“It was a match promoted by our captain and there was nothing that didn’t cost money. We can only believe in captain.”
“Hoho, of course. I don’t believe in anyone else except for our captain.”
Heo Ranju nodded at the words of Oh Yuk-pyo. It was the sa with Heo Ranju. Everyone in the world was suspicious, with the exception of their captain.
As she thought of their captain, a person suddenly ca to mind.
‘Pyo-wol!’
She didn’t know why he was coming to her mind at this mont.Maybe it was because he was so handso. The image of Pyo-wol was still vividly etched in her mind.
“What are you thinking about? Are you thinking of that handso guy?”
“Shut up!”
“Huh! I want to see him too.”
“Don’t set your eyes on the person I picked up first. He’s not soone who you could covet.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. There is no male bastard who didn’t get over because these five groups made up their mind.”
The laughter of Oh Yuk-pyo made Heo Ranju’s mood even worse.
Why does she have to go with a bastard like him? She really don’t know what Captain is thinking.
“Huh! It’s all because Captain-sama’s eyes are high. If it’s not , who will control the four years?”
“Who controls who? Crazy bastard!”
The two turned their heads away from each other.
After fighting like that, I arrived at Geumjeongbong Peak where Ei was located.
“Huyu!”
Oh Yuk-pyo, who saw the Ei sect, whistled.Oh Yuk-pyo was a confident man who’s not afraid of anything in the world, but now his face was full of tension.
It was the sa with Heo Ranju.
They had no choice but to feel that way.
Establishnts which boast the sect’s imnse power, were spread out in front of them. If the buildings were only large, there was no reason for the two of them to be nervous.
But a great montum as enormous as the weight of the na the Ei sect was felt in the premises.
Despite the fact that the Black Cloud Corps has been gaining montum recently, it cannot be compared to the weight and presence of the Ei, who have been establishing its roots in Sichuan for hundreds of years.
The aura that naturally radiated from being part of a noble family of a prestigious sect made even two people who have lived a rough life as a rogue withdrawn.
A middle-aged woman approached them.
The woman approaching with her back straight, had an unusual montum.
“My na is Cheol-shim. Are you two from the Black Cloud Corps?”
She was Cheol-shim, who was the current student of the Abbess of Nine Calamities.
Seven years made her stronger. Her martial arts also progressed by leaps and bounds, securing the position of the third person following Jeonghwa.
Heo Ranju replied politely.
“That’s right.”
“Master is waiting. Follow .”
Cheol Shim took the two of them to the Daejeon in Ei.
Dozens of martial artists stood guard outside the Daejeon.
They stared at Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pyo with sharp eyes as if they were about to mutilate them. It’s the first ti they have seen an outsider, so they were wary.
‘They really live up to their na of being a prestigious sect. Even the soldiers standing on the border have reached such a level.’
Heo Ranju felt a cold sweat running down her back.
She could tell by looking at them what the power of the soldiers was.
The quantity and quality of martial arts that have been systematically passed down from a young age were not sothing that a rogue group such as the Black Cloud Corps could match.
The gap was so great between the two that no matter how much ti passed, it could never be closed.
‘Anyway, we just need to make money.’
The two groups were originally created for different purposes. So if she tries to compare the two groups, she would only feel inferior.
She’d rather focus on the purpose of coming here in the first place.
The door of Daejeon opened and the two went inside together with Cheol-sim.
Inside Daejeon, there was a large chair, and to its left and right were the disciples of the Ei Most of the disciples were won, and had a high rank within the Ei.
Among them, there were three people who stood out.
The old woman sitting in the middle, the one-eyed middle-aged woman sitting next to her, and the beautiful woman in her twenties sitting opposite her.
They were special in different ways.
The old woman sitting was Guhwasata, the oldest mber of the Ei family.
With her crow-like appearance and eyes, there was an overflowing sense of intimidation that made even Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-yo swallow dry saliva.
The one-eyed woman who wore an eyepatch, was the great disciple, Jeonghwa. A ferocious montum was radiating from her that was no less than the Guhwasata.
She was staring at them with one eye, as if she was about to eat them.
The woman as beautiful as the Seonha was Yong Seol-ran, the youngest disciple of the Guhwasata.
Seven years of ti made Yong Seol-ran even more beautiful. Even though they were both won, Heo Ranju fell in love with the appearance of Yong Seol-ran.
‘This is dangerous.’
Heo Ranju, who managed to co to her senses, bit her lip.
At that ti, Guhwasata opened his mouth.
“Did the master of the Black Cloud Corps send you?”
“That’s right.”
“Why did he send a ssenger?”
There was a hint of dissatisfaction in the voice of the Guhwasata.
In ordinary tis, a rcenary would not have been brought into their holy place. But now, the Ei sect was facing its worst crisis ever due to the confrontation with the Qingcheng sect.
Heo Ranju, who picked up her breath for a mont, said their business.
“Captain wishes to offer the services of the Black Cloud Corps to help the Ei sect.”
“So, you want to participate in the battle against the Qingcheng sect?”
“That’s right.”
“There’s no way a group of rcenaries would spill blood for free, so you must want sothing in exchange.”
“You are correct. We can’t afford to suffer losses, after all.”
“How much do you want?”
“We believe 500,000 gold is enough.”
The mont Heo Ranju opened his mouth, the atmosphere in the hall changed.
“Such crazy things!”
“How dare you demand such an enormous amount?”
“There’s no need to listen to them any longer, Master! If we accept such a demand, our sect will beco the laughing stock in Jianghu.”
If it was 500,000 nyang of gold, a few years would be enough to run Ei on a budget.
That’s why a group of rcenaries were asking for such a huge amount of money a day. It was an amount that was absolutely unacceptable for the Ei disciples.
Guhwasa’s eyes narrowed.
To assassinate Woo Gunsang of the Qingcheng sect, the amount requested by the Blood Shadow Group was 500,000 nyang of gold. However, there was little loss in recovering the gold that was given to them while destroying the Blood Shadow Group and the riches hidden in the remarks. However, that did not an that she could hand over such a huge amount to the Black Cloud Corps.
“You don’t expect us to accept your demand, do you? We can hire several other groups like yours with that kind of money.”
“However, none of them will be as strong as our Black Cloud Corps.”
“And what if I still refuse?”
“A mber of our Black Cloud Corps should have arrived at Mount Qingcheng by now.”
“You’re trying both ways? The impertinence!”
Tuoung!
A strong wave was emitted from the Abbess of Nine Calamities.
“Keuk!”
“Hurgh!”
The complexions of Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pyo turned white. Dark red blood was running down their lips. They imdiately suffered internal injuries from the aura emitted by the Abbess of Nine Calamities.
‘Is this the prowess of the sect leader of Ei?’
‘It’s scary. To have this kind of montum from such an old woman.’
The two had to use their internal energy to correct their trembling state.
It was not because of nothing that Guhwasata managed to beco the sect leader of Ei. It was because of her martial arts and leadership that Ei, who was inferior to the Qingcheng sect, was still able to survive.
All the warriors of the Ei sect respected and followed her, even if they were ordered to kill a person from the Qingcheng sect.
Even though there was blood on their lips, Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pyo tried their best to keep a calm expression.
This was a fight of montum.
The mont they show weakness, they would be pushed by the montum of the Abbess of Nine Calamities and be eaten up.
The Abbess of Nine Calamities opened her mouth.
“Be honest. There’s no way you think I would seriously give you 500,000 gold. Just tell how much you really want.”
“We are rcenaries who sell our strength, so we follow clients who’s capable of paying more. If you give us more money, even one yang more, you will beco our master.”
“So you’re not going to tell until the end? Your corps mber must be saying the sa thing to the Qingcheng sect.”
Heo Ranju didn’t answer. However, the Guhwasata already accepted her answer as an established fact.
“You’re so bold. It makes want to see the face of your Captain, in person.”
“If you ask us, it will be so.”
“Hck!”
Guhwasata’s eyes softened a little.
She wanted to give a lesson to the master of the Black Cloud Corps by cutting the two people in front of her at once.
If it had been an ordinary ti, rather than warti, the Ei sect would have never negotiated with the Black Cloud Corps.
The problem is that the confrontation with the Qingcheng sect has reached its climax.
A large-scale conflict will soon occur.
It is said that in order to defeat the Qingcheng sect, even a cat’s hand has to be borrowed.
It will be the sa for the Qingcheng sect.
They were superior to the Ei sect, but there was no guarantee that they wouldn’t hire the Black Cloud Corps to win.
‘Cunning. Really cunning.’
Guhwasata tapped the handle of her chair with her finger for a long ti.
Editor’s Notes
Happy reading!
Reviews
All reviews (0)