CHAPTER 413: GREAT DESERT, HIDDEN DRAGON BASIN (2)

Dam Hyun blankly watched what Do Meng and Do Yeon-myeong were doing.

Dam Hyun was very interested in all kinds of magical arts and demonic techniques.

He knew there were many diverse magical arts and astonishing tricks world, but even to Dam Hyun, these were unfamiliar and mysterious.

They had filled a large bowl with water.

Though the material was unknown, the surface of the water reflected the night sky like a mirror.

Today, the weather was especially clear.

The stars in the sky were so vivid they seemed to pour down.

When Dam Hyun asked, Do Meng put his finger to his lips.

“Speak quietly.”

“But Senior Uncle’s voice is louder.”

“…Ugh.”

Do Meng frowned as if annoyed.

But soon, seeing Dam Hyun glance sideways with curiosity, he smiled.

“Seems like there’s much you don’t know.”

“…If you don’t want to talk, then drink.”

“It’s a method of communicating over long distances using a comet as a medium.”

“How can you do that with a comet?”

“It’s with the help of Senior Brother Jeong-shin in the Azure Forest.”

“Master?”

“Yes, Senior Brother Jeong-shin is exceptional. As you know he can borrow power from a couple of different individuals.”

“Among them is the Lord of the Southern Dipper.”

Lord of the Southern Dipper is the deity who governs the Six Stars of the Southern Dipper.

While the Lord of the Northern Dipper manages the dead, the Lord of the Southern Dipper is said to oversee the living.

In any case, he is undoubtedly a god who governs the stars in the sky.

“The comet crosses the celestial sphere. Like how the moon seen here and the moon seen in the Western Regions are the same.”

Do Meng pointed his hand toward the sky.

“Beneath the vast celestial dome of countless stars, how narrow and small this earth is.”

“…Why are you suddenly acting all cool?”

Do Meng reluctantly lowered his raised finger.

“You seem like a guy without any romance. Anyway, that Senior Brother Jeong-shin who’s in the Azure Forest, helps us whenever the comet appears.”

Then Do Yeon-myeong tapped Do Meng’s shoulder.

“It’s coming.”

Dam Hyun also looked up at the sky.

Something sparkling was visible in the northern sky.

A comet glided across the night sky.

It is said to burn its own body and scatter light like that.

A very beautiful sight.

It was also reflected on the bowl that held the night sky.

The water surface trembled by itself at that moment.

* Ah, is that you, Do Meng?

Dam Hyun looked at the bowl in surprise.

Several human faces appeared there.

There were Do Cheon, Wi Se-ryeong, and beyond them, a familiar face.

“Yi-gang!”

Unconsciously, Dam Hyun shouted loudly.

Yi-gang lightly waved his hand from beyond the water surface.

Next to him was also Ha-jun.

Dam Hyun chuckled.

“You’re alive.”

* Senior Brother Do, you’re alive too. Did you arrive safely?

“A few died, but mostly yes. That Noh Shik guy survived too.”

* That’s a relief.

“Your father was crying.”

* Huh?

“That’s what I heard.”

Yi-gang was silent for a moment before replying.

* Please tell father that Ha-jun and I are safe. He must have been very worried.

“I will.”

Dam Hyun and Yi-gang had that conversation.

Feeling a sting at the back of his head, Dam Hyun turned his head.

There, Do Meng and Do Yeon-myeong were staring at Dam Hyun with their mouths open.

“What?”

“You speak quite like a human now since I last saw you.”

“……Nonsense.”

Dam Hyun dismissed the comment with one word.

“Enough, step aside. The elders have important matters to discuss.”

Do Meng greeted Yi-gang briefly and called Do Cheon.

Then, with a very serious expression, he spoke.

“Brother Do Cheon, this seems to be our last chance. The Northern Sea has been destroyed. The Western Regions too, right?”

At the exact same time, the group in the Great Desert also heard Do Meng’s words.

“…The Northern Sea has been destroyed?”

It wasn’t a question to Do Meng. It was just his shock at the fact.

The Northern Sea refers to the frozen land in the far north.

It also refers to the massive frontier power called the North Sea Ice Palace.

Like Potala Palace, it is a dominant force that effectively rules the area.

For a long time, the North Sea Ice Palace had moved south and clashed with the Central Plains several times.

Each time that happened, the Central Plains were greatly shaken. That shows how powerful the North Sea Ice Palace was.

But hearing they were destroyed was news to Yi-gang.

If destroyed, why did it happen?

But there was no time to ask.

Because Do Cheon and Do Meng continued their serious conversation.

“Is it because the Western Region is usually vast? It hasn’t been completely destroyed. Of course, the king of the Parsa Kingdom was assassinated, and war and plague are rampant.” 𝘙А₦ȎВĘs̩

* What about Tianzhu?

“Their situation isn’t good either. The Minor Thunder Temple and Great Thunder Temple are hastily rallying the people to prevent conflicts.”

* Truly… the Central Plains are the best off.

The conversation was becoming more intense.

The Central Plains are currently facing an unprecedented invasion by the Demon Cult.

With nearly 40,000 demons gathering to invade, it was no longer a conflict but a war.

Naturally, the imperial court, aware of the gravity, did not remain idle.

The Ming army also gathered to stop the Demon Cult.

Yet, the Central Plains are the best off.

Then what kind of demon realm has the frontier become?

Wi Se-ryeong spoke to the bewildered Yi-gang.

“It is utter chaos outside the Central Plains now. Decades of war have continued, trade along the Silk Road has ceased, and pirates and dwarf bandits1 infest the west.”

“What happened?”

“What do you mean?”

Wi Se-ryeong tilted his head slightly.

“The world has always been cruel. The Central Plains barely maintained peace.”

His natural words brought even more confusion to Yi-gang.

The conversation between Do Cheon and Do Meng continued.

* …I see. It wasn’t the True Demon Palace Master Yo Daesoon, nor the Sun Moon Divine Demon Cheon Mu-do.

“Yes, what about the Four Heavenly Palace Lord?”

* It wasn’t him.

“Then… there is only one.”

* I’d say there’s a ninety percent chance..

“Shall we start the operation?”

* As soon as other disciples join. The battle seems to start tomorrow.

“We’ll be a bit late. I should have joined too.”

Yi-gang’s expression hardened.

The pitch battle will begin tomorrow.

Yi-gang planned to stop the Demon Cult with the Heavenly Demon’s help and end the war.

Though the end of the Great Desert was in sight, it was impossible to join in just one day.

* I will carry out the operation without senior brother.

Yi-gang soon realized what they were discussing.

The Honor Flower Disciples had joined the battlefield of Kunlun Mountain with a purpose.

Victory in the Central Plains Murim was not their top priority.

* The Cardinal is disguised as the Demon Cult’s chief general…

The High Spirit Palace Master, the Twin-Headed Brain.

He was actually a Cardinal of the Evil Cult.

Yi-gang and Ha-jun were shocked by this astonishing fact.

“It can’t be Mang-hon2 or Heuk-am3, so it must be Gwi-ryeong4.”

* It seems he traveled several times between the Kunlun Mountains and Sky Shattering Island.

“Is there a way to quickly cover long distances?”

* It is presumed so.

“We must capture him. Be careful not to kill him by mistake.”

Capture the Cardinal, and be careful not to kill him.

It will be an extremely difficult task.

Even if Demon Brain is the disguised Cardinal, he must be at the enemy’s core.

Breaking through countless masters’ defenses to capture the enemy leader.

* I will do so.

But it was a task that had to be done.

The Cardinals are extremely dangerous.

They are dangerous because even if killed, they cannot truly die.

Yi-gang and the lamas of Potala Palace killed Mang-hon, but his soul definitely escaped.

According to the disciples, he would find a body to reincarnate to and reappear.

Therefore, the disciples will capture and seal Demon Brain, or rather Gwi-ryeong.

So that he cannot reincarnate again.

Do Cheon spoke in a serious voice.

“Please, so that you can protect it.”

* I will protect it.

It’s not ‘to capture Demon Brain’ or ‘to succeed in the mission.’

What does ‘protect’ mean?

When Yi-gang asked, Do Cheon smiled and answered.

“We must protect this very moment.”

Though it sounded like a youthful phrase, Do Cheon said no more.

The precious bowl holding the water showed nothing more.

“Communication using such a comet is possible only once every few months. We were lucky. We must hurry.”

It was a brief communication.

Do Cheon urged departure.

“Let’s go.”

When crossing the Great Desert, rest must be taken at midday when the sun is strongest.

At midnight like now, the temperature drops sharply, making activity difficult as well.

But knowing the urgency of the situation.

The group began walking through the desert again.

An incident occurred shortly after.

The moon and stars were bright, so walking was not a problem, but it was still night.

The blue light visible far away was especially clear in the darkness.

Yo Yeon-bi pointed to the horizon and murmured.

Since he noticed it, the whole group was already on alert.

Something was approaching.

Do Cheon quietly put his hand into his bosom, and Wi Se-ryeong drew the string on his longbow.

But Yi-gang only frowned without drawing his sword yet.

He did not immediately know what was running toward them.

But somehow, it felt familiar.

Soon Yi-gang’s pupils dilated. He recognized them.

At that moment, Yo Yeon-bi also recognized their identity.

“Fox…?”

They were blue, emitted white light, and were as big as houses, but definitely were the form of foxes.

Three unmistakable Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes were running toward them.

They were ones Yi-gang knew.

“Baek Yi-gang!”

The lead Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox, Heuk-mu, recognized Yi-gang and stopped.

Soon after, the foxes named Jeok-yo and Seo-mi arrived.

How did these children of Gumi5, these great yokai, appear in the Great Desert?

“We’ve found you.”

“Why are you here…”

Even Do Cheon and Wi Se-ryeong seemed unprepared for this situation.

They looked at Yi-gang and the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes with surprised faces.

The Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes did not transform into human form.

They seemed too busy for that.

As the house-sized foxes circled around, Yo Yeon-bi was terrified.

Yi-gang suddenly recognized Jeok-yo, who had the most impatient personality.

Jeok-yo had a large scar on his right eye.

He lost his eye to someone.

“How did you find me?”

“Mother sent us.”

“Gumi… where is she now? I visited Fox Spirit Village recently…”

When passing through the Kunlun Mountains, Yi-gang had visited the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Foxes’ dwelling.

There was nothing left there.

“…She passed away.”

Yi-gang was finally shocked.

Gumi was an immensely powerful great yokai.

Though weakened, even Absolute masters would find it hard to face Gumi.

“It was the Cardinal of the Evil Cult, a man named Heuk-am.”

Jeokyo said that and growled.

The Cardinal can kill the great demon Gumi.

If it’s Heuk-am, then surely… he is called the Sword of the Evil Cult.

Did the deceased Gumi order her children to meet Yi-gang?

“Mother tried to flee with us, but he never stopped pursuing.”

“They gathered humans in Kunlun Mountain to fight each other. We must go there immediately!”

Yi-gang already knew that much.

The Evil Cult took over the Demon Cult and launched an invasion of the Central Plains.

It was analyzed that they aimed to destroy the Central Plains to revive the Evil Cult.

Yi-gang said this, but Jeok-yo’s answer was different.

“That’s not it. They are staking out the entire Kunlun Mountain Range and preparing a ritual.”

And he said clearly.

“If that is not stopped, all the humans there will die. Not a single one will remain…”

Yi-gang looked at Do Cheon and Wi Se-ryeong.

He wondered if the Honor Flower Disciples knew of this.

“…What did you say?”

But they were equally flustered.

“Get on.”

The proud yokdai lowered his body.

“If you don’t want to waste time and offer all the humans as sacrifices.”

1. TL/N: Dwarf Bandits are what is known as Japanese Pirates who raided the coastlines of China and Korea from the 13th century to the 17th century ️

2. TL/N: Lost Soul ️

3. TL/N: Darkness ️

4. TL/N: Ghost ️

5. TL/N: Nine-tails, referring to the Nine-tailed Fox Gumiho ️