Chapter 53

Mount Emei was a three-day and three-night walk south from Chengdu.

Its tremendous height, exceeding a thousand Zhang, and its beautiful scenery were said to be the finest in Sichuan Province.

When people in Sichuan thought of Mount Emei, five things came to mind.

The first was the Woon-hae, the sea of clouds.

Anyone who had personally witnessed the sea of clouds blanketing the entire mountain range, leaving only the high peaks visible, was overwhelmed by its immense majesty.

The second was the sunrise.

The sight of the sun rising from the Heavenly Basin Plains to the east of Mount Emei, dyeing the entire world in a golden light, was something one could never tire of seeing.

The third was the Buddha’s light.

Near Sheshen Cliff on Golden Summit Peak, from summer to early autumn, a seven-colored rainbow would appear. When this rainbow shone upon a person, it created a phenomenon like a Buddha’s halo.

People accepted this as the Buddha’s protection.

The fourth was the holy lanterns.

In the summer, tens of millions of fireflies would fly up in unison from the valley below Sheshen Cliff, emitting light. The sight was so sacred that in Buddhist circles, it was believed to be the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra illuminating the world.

The last, the fifth, was the Emei Sect.

The Emei Sect, situated below Golden Summit Peak on Mount Emei, was called one of the prides of the people of Sichuan.

Although it had declined from the days when it was one of the Nine Great Sects, its influence was still formidable.

Before being a martial Sect, the Emei Sect was a great Buddhist temple. For that reason, many people visited the Emei Sect throughout the four seasons to offer prayers. But recently, the flow of people had come to a halt.

This was because as the conflict with the Qingcheng Sect intensified, the Emei Sect stopped accepting pilgrims.

Instead, only Martial Artists from sects associated with the Emei Sect visited Mount Emei.

Numerous Checkpoints were set up on the mountain path leading up to the Emei Sect, and Martial Artists of the Emei Sect stood guard.

To enter the Emei Sect, one had to pass through several such layers of Checkpoints.

Sang-yeon, a third-generation Disciple of the Emei Sect, scanned the man and woman standing before her with a sharp gaze.

The voluptuous woman in revealing attire and the man with a mountain-like build met her gaze with nonchalant expressions.

“So, you’re saying you’ve come from the Black Cloud Corps to see our Sect Master?”

“That’s right. We have come under our Unit Leader’s orders to see your Sect’s Sect Master.”

The voluptuous woman who answered with a smile was Heo Ranju. By her side was Oh Yuk-pae.

“This is not for me to decide. I will report to my superiors first, so please wait here.”

“Hoho! We can wait as long as you need.”

Sang-yeon looked at Heo Ranju, who let out a laugh unbefitting of the sacred Buddhist grounds, with a disapproving gaze.

‘Amitabha! Her Alias is Blood Spider, and she truly looks like a scorpion.’

If it were a situation she could decide on her own, she would never have let a woman like Heo Ranju into the Emei Sect. But this was a time of war, and the Emei Sect needed every last bit of fighting power it could get.

She could not let personal feelings ruin a matter of great importance.

The woman’s reputation for having subdued the Water Bandits who raided the rice transport ships in a single blow had already reached the Emei Sect. So, Sang-yeon knew that Heo Ranju was a great Expert.

Sang-yeon sent a carrier pigeon and waited for a reply from her superiors.

It did not take long for the reply to arrive.

The returned carrier pigeon carried a message telling her to send the two up.

Sang-yeon handed Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pae a bronze plaque and said,

“If you follow this mountain path, you will come across a total of five Checkpoints. If you show this bronze plaque each time you pass a Checkpoint, you will be able to enter the main grounds.”

“Hoho! Thank you for your consideration. I suppose we’ll see you again on our way down. Well then…”

Heo Ranju winked at Sang-yeon before passing through the Checkpoint with Oh Yuk-pae.

She could feel Sang-yeon’s displeased gaze on the back of her head, but she paid it no mind.

Her pride would not allow her to be intimidated by a mere third-generation Disciple, not even a first-generation one.

“They say Mount Emei is the finest under heaven, and it’s certainly something to boast about.”

Oh Yuk-pae remarked in admiration as he looked around at the scenery of Mount Emei.

The magnificent view of Mount Emei was stunning enough to move the heart of even Oh Yuk-pae, who was usually indifferent to such external sights.

“It’s all useless if they lose the war with the Qingcheng Sect. They probably know better than anyone how miserable the end of a Sect driven out of Mount Emei will be.”

“But why are they at war with the Qingcheng Sect? Weren’t they on bad terms to begin with?”

“I don’t know! I heard their relationship soured seven years ago and they started fighting…”

“Hmph! I don’t know why they’re at each other’s throats, but for us, it’s a golden opportunity to make a lot of money.”

“Has there ever been a job our Unit Leader pushed for that didn’t make money? We just have to trust and follow the Unit Leader.”

“Heheh! Of course. I may not trust anyone else, but I trust the Unit Leader.”

Heo Ranju nodded at Oh Yuk-pae’s words.

It was the same for Heo Ranju.

She suspected everyone in the world, but the one exception was the Unit Leader.

Thinking of the Unit Leader, a certain person suddenly came to mind.

‘Pyo Wol!’

She didn’t know why he, of all people, came to mind at this very moment.

Perhaps it was because he was too handsome. Pyo Wol’s image was still vividly etched in her mind.

“What are you thinking so hard about? Are you thinking of that handsome fellow?”

“Shut up!”

“Heheh! I’d like to see him once, too.”

“Don’t you dare covet what I’ve claimed first. He’s not something the likes of you can desire.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. There isn’t a single bastard of a man that this Oh Yuk-pae couldn’t win over once I set my mind to it. If that doesn’t work, I can just overpower him.”

Oh Yuk-pae’s smirk made Heo Ranju feel even worse.

“Why do I have to travel with a bastard like you? I really don’t know what our Unit Leader Orabeoni is thinking.”

“Heheh! That’s all because the Unit Leader has a good eye. Who else but me could control a wench like you?”

“Who’s controlling whom? You crazy bastard!”

The two turned their heads away from each other.

As they bickered back and forth, they soon arrived at Golden Summit Peak, where the Emei Sect was located.

“Whew!”

Oh Yuk-pae whistled upon seeing the Emei Sect.

Though Oh Yuk-pae was always confident and feared nothing in the world, his face was now filled with tension.

It was the same for Heo Ranju.

It couldn’t be helped.

A Hall Complex boasting an incredible majesty was spread out before their eyes. If it were just that the halls were large and numerous, there would have been no reason for the two to be tense.

An immense energy, befitting the great weight of the name Emei Sect, could be felt from the Hall Complex.

No matter how much momentum the Black Cloud Corps had been gaining recently, it could not compare to the gravity and presence of the Emei Sect, which had claimed to be the hegemon of Sichuan for hundreds of years.

The spirit naturally emitted by a prestigious Sect of the Orthodox Faction was enough to make even the two of them, who had lived rough lives as Wanderers, feel intimidated.

A middle-aged woman approached the two.

An unusual energy could be felt from the woman, who approached with her back held ramrod straight.

“I am called Cheol-sim. Are you the ones from the Black Cloud Corps?”

She was Cheol-sim, the second Disciple of Elder Nun Guhwa.

The past seven years had made her even more solid. Her Martial Arts had also improved by leaps and bounds, solidifying her position as the third-in-command after Jeong Hwa.

Heo Ranju answered politely.

“Yes, we are.”

“My Master is waiting. Please follow me.”

Cheol-sim led the two towards the largest Great Hall in the Emei Sect.

Outside the Great Hall, dozens of Martial Artists stood guard.

They glared at Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pae with sharp eyes, as if to tear them to shreds. They were wary of the outsiders they were seeing for the first time.

‘Truly worthy of being called a prestigious Sect. To think that even the Martial Artists on guard have reached such a level.’

Heo Ranju felt a cold sweat run down her spine.

Looking at them, she could understand the underlying strength of a prestigious Sect.

The quantity and quality of the Martial Arts systematically passed down from a young age were something that Wanderer groups like the Black Cloud Corps could never hope to match. The gap was so vast that it could never be closed, no matter how much time passed.

‘Who cares? We just need to make money.’

The two groups were created for entirely different purposes from the start.

Making pointless comparisons would only make one feel inferior. She had to focus on the purpose for which she had come here in the first place.

The doors of the Great Hall opened, and the two entered with Cheol-sim.

Inside the Great Hall, a large grandmaster’s chair was placed, and to its left and right, the Disciples of the Emei Sect were arrayed.

Most of the Disciples were women, all of whom held high status within the Emei Sect.

Among them, three individuals stood out the most.

The old nun sitting in the grandmaster’s chair, the one-eyed middle-aged woman sitting near her, and the beautiful woman in her twenties sitting on the opposite side.

They were each special in their own way.

The old nun in the grandmaster’s chair was none other than the Sect Master of the Emei Sect, Elder Nun Guhwa. Her appearance, with the look of a carrion crow, and her gaze were so overflowing with pressure that even Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pae were forced to swallow dryly.

The one-eyed woman with an eyepatch was the first Disciple, Jeong Hwa. A fierce energy, no less than Elder Nun Guhwa’s, emanated from her.

With her single eye, she was glaring at the two as if she were about to eat them alive.

The woman as beautiful as a celestial fairy was Elder Nun Guhwa’s youngest Disciple, Yong Seol Lan. The seven years had made Yong Seol Lan grow even more beautiful.

Even though she was a woman herself, Heo Ranju almost found herself captivated by Yong Seol Lan.

‘Dangerous.’

Barely regaining her senses, Heo Ranju bit her lip gently.

Just then, Elder Nun Guhwa opened her mouth.

“So, you were sent by the Unit Leader of the Black Cloud Corps?”

“That is correct.”

“For what reason did that man send emissaries?”

Elder Nun Guhwa’s voice was thick with disapproval.

Normally, she would never have allowed such Wanderers into this sacred ground of Buddhism. But now, the Emei Sect was facing its worst crisis due to the conflict with the Qingcheng Sect. This was not a situation where they could be picky.

After taking a moment to compose her breathing, Heo Ranju got to the point.

“Our Unit Leader wishes that you give the Black Cloud Corps the opportunity to help the Emei Sect.”

“Meaning, you will participate in the fight against the Qingcheng Sect?”

“That is correct.”

“A group of Wanderers would not shed blood for free, so you must have a price you desire.”

“That is correct. We cannot afford to take a loss, after all.”

“How much do you want?”

“We believe around five hundred thousand Nyang of Gold would be appropriate.”

The moment Heo Ranju spoke, the atmosphere in the Great Hall changed completely.

“Those crazy things!”

“They’re demanding such an outrageous sum?”

“Master! There is nothing more to hear. If we accept such a demand, our Sect will become the laughingstock of the Jianghu.”

Five hundred thousand Nyang of Gold was a budget that could run the Emei Sect for several years. And a mere group of Wanderers was demanding such an enormous sum.

For the Disciples of the Emei Sect, it was an absolutely unacceptable amount.

Elder Nun Guhwa’s eyes narrowed.

The amount commissioned to the Bloody Shadows Guild to assassinate Gun-sang of the Qingcheng Sect was five hundred thousand Nyang of Gold. However, by destroying the Bloody Shadows Guild, they had recovered the Gold given to them and the wealth hidden in the Secret Depot, so there was almost no loss. But that didn’t mean they could just hand over such a huge sum to the Black Cloud Corps.

“You don’t really think our Sect will accept your proposal, do you? With five hundred thousand Nyang of Gold, I could hire several more groups like yours.”

“But no other Wanderer group will be as strong as the Black Cloud Corps.”

“And what if I still refuse?”

“By now, a Martial Artist from our corps has probably arrived at Mount Qingcheng as well.”

“Playing both sides? How insolent!”

Thwump!

An intense Qi Wave erupted from Elder Nun Guhwa.

“Keuk!”

“Heuhup!”

The complexions of Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pae turned deathly white. Dark red Fresh Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.

They had suffered internal injuries from the Qi Wave that Elder Nun Guhwa had unleashed.

‘So this is what it means to be the Sect Master of the Emei Sect?’

‘Terrifying. For an old hag like that to have such power.’

The two had to circulate their Internal Energy to stabilize their roiling qi and blood.

Elder Nun Guhwa had not become the Sect Master of the Emei Sect for nothing.

It was thanks to her Martial Arts and leadership that the Emei Sect, which was at a disadvantage compared to the Qingcheng Sect, had been able to hold on until now.

Though the Qingcheng Sect called her a bitch who deserved to die, all the Martial Artists of the Emei Sect respected and followed her.

Even as blood trickled from their mouths, Heo Ranju and Oh Yuk-pae struggled to maintain a composed expression.

This was a battle of wills. The moment they showed weakness by yielding to Elder Nun Guhwa’s presence, they would be devoured.

Elder Nun Guhwa opened her mouth.

“Speak honestly. You surely don’t think I will actually give you five hundred thousand Nyang of Gold. Tell me the amount you truly want.”

“We are Wanderers who sell our martial prowess. We follow the client who pays more. If someone offers even one Nyang more, that person becomes our master.”

“You won’t say until the end? I suppose you’re saying the same thing to the Qingcheng Sect.”

“…”

Heo Ranju did not answer. But Elder Nun Guhwa already took it as a given.

“How audacious. It makes me want to see the face of this Unit Leader of yours in person.”

“If you commission us, that will come to pass.”

“Hmph!”

Elder Nun Guhwa’s gaze softened slightly.

If she had her way, she would have liked to cut down the two people in front of her in an instant and teach the Unit Leader of the Black Cloud Corps a lesson.

If it were a time of peace and not war, she would never have accepted the likes of the Black Cloud Corps bargaining with the Emei Sect.

The problem was that the conflict with the Qingcheng Sect had reached its peak.

A large-scale clash would occur before long.

They were in a situation where they would even borrow a cat’s paw to defeat the Qingcheng Sect.

It would likely be the same for the Qingcheng Sect.

Although they had the upper hand over the Emei Sect, there was no guarantee they wouldn’t hire the Black Cloud Corps to ensure a decisive victory.

‘Cunning. Truly cunning.’

The time Elder Nun Guhwa spent tapping her fingers on the grandmaster’s chair grew longer.