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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Feint to the East, Attack in the West
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Three weeks' time.
Pa-sun wasn't the only one who had grown stronger.
I, too, dedicated myself to synchronizing the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon with my current body. I practiced clashing the refined strands of ki from my dantian in a balanced manner, and further refined the internal energy flowing through my fingertips and toes for my attacks.
The destructive power of the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon, when used in the mountains rather than the white space, was immense—truly beyond imagination.
'This is incredible...'
Since it was a divine art I had already mastered once before, my rate of growth was tremendously steep compared to when I first learned it.
In addition to training for three weeks, I also completed my investigation of Blade Leaf Valley. The warehouse where the Bewitching Powder was hidden, the shift change times for the underground prison, the number of warriors remaining in the valley, and Golden Fang Poison Claw's approximate location.
I relayed the current situation in Blade Leaf Valley to the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden via a carrier pigeon.
The current state of Blade Leaf Valley.
I recalled the conversations I had with the villagers when I first arrived. Most of them were too mentally broken for a normal conversation, but there was one old man who was relatively lucid.
The old man, with a worn-out face, had said.
"Where are you young'uns from? Goodness... what brings you to a place like this? It used to be a good place to live, but not anymore. Now, Blade Leaf Valley is no different from a valley of death, where we just wait to die day by day."
"Since when, you ask? Well... the original master of Blade Leaf Valley was Lord Blade Leaf Demon. But one day, he and his subordinates just disappeared. ...It started then."
"At first, we tried looking for Lord Blade Leaf Demon, asking around. But that didn't last long. The warriors dispatched here threatened to behead anyone who asked about him."
"Why didn't we protest? Good heavens, man. What power do farmers like us have? The ones who defied them like that are all long dead. The only ones left are cowards with no strength or courage."
"Some are even grateful for this. It was like this before Lord Blade Leaf Demon came, you see. He gave us a happy life, even if only for a short while. We should be content with just that..."
"But there's one thing that's a pity. An old man like me will die soon enough... but the young people and children here, and outsiders like you who came to help... isn't it unfair?"
"If you can, you should run away from here. Otherwise, soon... you'll get a taste of the 'white powder'. By then, it'll be too late... You'll become a puppet, forced to do whatever they say just to get your daily dose."
The old man, warning me with his haggard face, told me to get out of here as fast as I could.
He said the other villagers weren't always like this.
That Blade Leaf Valley used to be a bright and vibrant place.
He cried out, lamenting how desperately he missed those days he could never return to.
I could wait for reinforcements, but Blade Leaf Valley didn't have much time.
'I can't delay any longer. The Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree is about to bear fruit.'
Even if the Cult sends reinforcements, the villagers' minds will already be broken by then. And even if they had no choice, it would be difficult for them to escape the crime of consuming the Bewitching Powder.
Overcome with frustration, I slammed my fist into a tree and spoke.
"Dammit! As if those villagers knew what Bewitching Powder was. They know nothing and have no power. Why do people who just work day to day to survive have to get caught up in something like this!"
I slammed my fist into the tree again.
The tree, shattered by the impact, fell to its side.
"Hmph."
I've held back for long enough.
Knowing that Golden Fang Poison Claw, who deserved to be torn limb from limb, was nearby made me grind my teeth in my sleep, but I waited for the right time. I saw the faces of the villagers I'd worked and lived with for three weeks grow more haggard by the day, but I waited.
A half-baked attempt would cost everyone their lives.
I recalled the plan I had discussed with Un-pyo, Byeok-gi, and Pa-sun.
* * *
"Lord Blade Leaf Demon is likely still alive. They'll need someone to pin the blame on when they're finished here and ready to leave. For that reason, they've probably kept his granddaughter alive as well. That's the only way they can control him."
This was something I had pieced together over the three weeks of investigation.
On a night when the darkness deepened.
Four men gathered in a hideout to discuss their plans. Not a sound escaped, and an unseen scheme slowly began to envelop Blade Leaf Valley.
"I will handle Lord Blade Leaf Demon's rescue. The rest of you, please focus on creating a diversion."
"Do you know where my master is being held?"
Un-pyo asked doubtfully.
"I've already figured out the location of the underground prison, the number of guards, their patrol routes, and their shift change times."
"Wh-when did you..."
"I've been investigating every single day since I arrived in Blade Leaf Valley."
The stealth technique Mu-heun had learned from the Heavenly Demon was difficult to detect unless a master deliberately sharpened their senses.
Furthermore, since he was currently using the Bamboo Incense to survey his surroundings, he was faster than anyone at reading the presence of others.
"Let me be clear, fighting with the number of people we have now would be like throwing an egg at a rock. You must not engage in a full-scale battle until I make my move."
"So, you're saying we'll launch a full-scale attack when we're ready?"
Un-pyo asked, startled by the mention of a full-scale battle.
"Of course."
"...!"
"I'm not saying I'll take them all down by myself. We will fight alongside Lord Blade Leaf Demon after I rescue him."
Hearing my answer, Un-pyo said with a grim expression.
"Even if you rescue my master, it will be difficult for him to fight. Golden Fang Poison Claw has surely injected him with a large dose of poison to prevent him from using his internal energy."
"No, he can fight."
"Do you not know what poison is? Or are you just in denial?"
"Trust me. The Heavenly Dance Family has always been skilled in medicine and formations, but I possess an unprecedented talent even among them. Furthermore, when it comes to the poisons of the Sichuan Tang Clan, I know them better than anyone in the world."
"Y-you do?"
Un-pyo looked at Pa-sun, unconvinced.
"You can trust him. The Young Master is the most brilliant person in the Heavenly Dance Family."
"..."
Un-pyo wasn't fond of those called geniuses, but right now, he had no choice but to believe.
'In truth, it's not the knowledge of the Heavenly Dance Family, but what I know because I was the Divine Doctor of Sichuan in my past life...'
Having reassured Un-pyo, Mu-heun continued.
"I will initiate the operation. You're next, Sir Un-pyo."
"Just say the word. I'll carry it out, even at the cost of my life."
"Tomorrow at dawn, I will create a major disturbance. I'll use oil and demonic energy to cause a large explosion, one that everyone in Blade Leaf Valley will notice. When the sun rises, Gu Cheong will have me and Pa-sun watched. We will deliberately make ourselves more conspicuous."
If there's a big commotion, Gu Cheong will have to suspect someone. The most likely candidates were Pa-sun and me, the newest arrivals, so it was a natural course of action.
"Sir Un-pyo, once the sun sets, please set fire to the warehouse in the northwest. Their manpower will be divided watching us, so it should be easier for you to move."
"Understood."
"Please wear black clothes and a mask. Use only basic martial arts, and if you're pursued, fight back just enough to show some skill before using the terrain to retreat."
"Understood."
"There will be many wooden boxes there. They're all filled with Bewitching Powder, so after you set the fire, be careful not to accidentally inhale any of it."
"Understood."
The change in Blade Leaf Valley began secretly, right here.
* * *
In the hours of dawn, when no one was yet awake.
I combined a formation and a diagram, then mixed them with oil and the energy of the Heavenly Demon.
I will cause a disturbance, erase my tracks, and sow discord between Golden Fang Poison Claw and Gu Cheong. I will give hope to the villagers and despair to our enemies.
This was the beginning of the feint to the east, attack in the west.
"Demonic Explosion Mine."
The moment I finished speaking, a massive explosion erupted with an earth-shattering roar.
Everyone in Blade Leaf Valley was jolted awake and rushed outside.
I quickly erased my tracks and returned to my room.
Warriors and villagers immediately flocked to the presumed source of the sound. There, the ground was deeply cratered, trees were shattered and blown away, and rocks were fragmented, as if dozens of thunderclap bombs had gone off.
Amidst the murmuring villagers, a frantic Gu Cheong rushed over and said.
"Wh-what happened here?"
Gu Cheong was at a loss for words at the sudden, bizarre scene.
But no matter where they searched, they couldn't find anything that could have caused the explosion. The nearby warriors knew nothing either.
"Could it be... an unknown master from the Divine Cult?"
Feeling uneasy, Gu Cheong hurried to the pavilion.
* * *
-The pavilion on the outskirts of Blade Leaf Valley.
Golden Fang Poison Claw questioned Gu Cheong reproachfully.
"What was that commotion just now?"
"I-I don't know, sir. There was a sudden explosion in the dead of night, and I rushed over, but I couldn't find any traces of what caused it."
"You... call that an explanation? Let me make this clear: there must be no interference with our work, not even the slightest. Your life alone won't be enough to atone for it."
Golden Fang Poison Claw, his black bamboo hat pulled down low, shot a murderous glare at Gu Cheong.
"I-I will keep that in mind."
"Are you hiding something from me?"
"O-of course not. How could I dare deceive you, Lord Golden Fang Poison Claw?"
"Good. You wouldn't be lying, would you?"
Golden Fang Poison Claw's eyes were bloodshot, and poison gathered on his long fingernails. He looked ready to dispose of Gu Cheong on the spot.
"N-not a single lie. Y-you know I'll ensure no harm comes to you, Lord Poison Claw, even if it means framing Blade Leaf Demon."
At the mention of Blade Leaf Demon's name, Golden Fang Poison Claw made the poison on his nails vanish without a trace.
"That's right. There's always Blade Leaf Demon. Hehehe. It's true, the Pavilion Lord has no reason to betray me."
"Y-yes, that's right. W-well then."
Feeling cold sweat trickle down his spine, Gu Cheong bowed and took his leave.
'I came here thinking the explosion was related to Golden Fang Poison Claw, but he got angry instead... It seems he doesn't know about the Divine Cult master. Then who could it be?'
* * *
That day, Pa-sun and I farmed as usual. But I could feel it. The surveillance on the two of us had intensified.
After finishing our work, around sunset, Pa-sun and I went to the central pavilion.
The central pavilion was quite large, making it difficult to assign a dedicated cleaning staff, so the farmers of Blade Leaf Valley took turns cleaning it.
Today was the day Pa-sun and I were in charge of cleaning.
Just then, Gu Cheong came out and casually struck up a conversation.
"Well, Jang-bong and Jang-pal. How's the farming? Did the Divine Cult master not teach you how to farm, perhaps?"
"Haha, we're just farming diligently."
"Yes, that's all you need to think about."
"Yes, sir. We will clean diligently as well."
"Ahem. Good. That is your duty, your reason for living. From now on, you two are also forbidden from going to the back mountain after your work is done. Don't waste your energy on pointless things and focus on farming."
"Understood."
"What, you got a problem with that?"
"No, sir."
"Do you still not need that white powder I mentioned?"
"That's right."
"The villagers here are going crazy without it. Tsk, tsk."
Constant cheap provocations, and offering the Bewitching Powder at every opportunity... It's only a matter of time before that offer becomes a demand.
'You're not going to die a peaceful death, Gu Cheong.'
The emotion in Gu Cheong's eyes was anxiety. It made sense; he was likely under pressure from Golden Fang Poison Claw because of last night's incident.
After confirming Gu Cheong had moved a safe distance away, I spoke to Pa-sun.
"Pa-sun."
"Yes."
"Make sure you clean where you can be seen. He needs to think we have no connection to Un-pyo for things to go smoothly."
"Yes."
While cleaning the central pavilion, I spread the Bamboo Incense to find the room of Cho-wol, Blade Leaf Demon's granddaughter.
It didn't matter whether my body was sweeping the yard or wiping the floor. The incense, imbued with tracking arts, was already weaving its way through every corner of the pavilion.
I was looking for a room whose occupant never left, but was still provided with food.
A room designed to imprison someone...
'Yes, that's it.'
By the time I finally located Cho-wol's well-hidden room, the sunset had completely faded, and a night illuminated only by the bright moon began to fall.