Chapter 116. Sometimes, Poverty is Scarier Than the Sword.

The area in front of the Kunlun Sect, or more precisely, the Kunlun Taoist Temple, was in disarray due to the sudden commotion.

“Enemy!”

“There’s an enemy nearby!”

Young Taoists in the Kunlun Sect’s distinctive black and white robes burst out from inside the Kunlun Taoist Temple and stood guard over the surroundings.

Although there were only a few of them, their spirit was quite stern and solemn, giving a glimpse of the past spirit of the Kunlun Sect.

Jja-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu……!

Meanwhile, from inside the Kunlun Taoist Temple, the sharp sound of a bell continued to ring out incessantly.

Thanks to that, Jin Cheon’s party could no longer approach the Kunlun Taoist Temple.

They had rushed straight to the Kunlun Taoist Temple after leaving the Yama Fortress, but what was this commotion?

“They must have a Dharma treasure.”

Seop So-yeon said, as if she had an idea.

“A Dharma treasure?”

“It’s something that gives a warning when people who meet certain conditions approach.”

“Ah?”

“In this case, wouldn’t it be demonic qi?”

“That could be it.”

Jin Cheon nodded his head.

“Let’s leave this place for now.”

At Jin Cheon’s command, the party immediately moved away from the Kunlun Taoist Temple.

Then, the sound of the bell that had been ringing so loudly gradually began to subside.

“This is going to get a bit noisy.”

Jin Cheon, who had returned to the inn, frowned.

“If the Kunlun Taoist Temple detected our presence, wouldn’t the Righteous Heavenly Alliance also make a move?”

“That is unlikely to happen.”

Danmok Cheong advised Jin Cheon.

“The past grudge between the Kunlun Sect and the Righteous Heavenly Alliance runs deep. Do you think they would ask them for help?”

“Is that so?”

“Their relationship is as bad as ours with the Righteous Heavenly Alliance. According to the Bat Squad’s information, they are practically sworn enemies. Of course, there is no interaction between them either.”

“Well, if that’s the case, then it’s a relief.”

For Jin Cheon, who had important things to discuss with the people of the Kunlun Taoist Temple, it was not a bad situation.

The problem was that there was no suitable way to approach them.

As long as there was a Dharma treasure that could detect demonic qi, Jin Cheon’s party could not carelessly approach the Kunlun Taoist Temple.

“Should I send a letter?”

“What’s there to worry about? I can just go and meet them.”

“Hmm?”

“Wouldn’t I be able to arrange a meeting with the descendants of the Kunlun Sect? I have a deep connection with the Kunlun Sect, after all.”

“Really?”

“A long time ago, I helped that damn bastard steal something from the Kunlun Sect. So the Kunlun Sect kids will probably know me well.”

“……You call that something to say.”

Jin Cheon was at a loss for words at Seop So-yeon’s statement.

Seop So-yeon’s relationship with the Kunlun Sect was also a bad one, so what would change if she went to talk to them?

‘That damn bastard’ Seop So-yeon was talking about was, of course, the first Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Seong, and the something she stole from the Kunlun Sect was probably the Soul-Splitting and Life-Returning Great Art…

“Still, I’m a bit better, right? I’m not an enemy.”

“That’s true.”

“Leave it to me. I’ll go.”

“Alright, then.”

Jin Cheon decided to entrust the contact with the Kunlun Taoist Temple to Seop So-yeon.

This Hunan Province was located in the center of the vast Central Plains continent, so for Jin Cheon’s party, it was no different from the heart of the enemy’s territory.

Therefore, they had to be extremely cautious, even in contacting the Kunlun Taoist Temple, as if they were crossing a stone bridge after tapping it several times.

* * *

Before the bell rang.

“It is a regrettable matter, but it seems this incident is because your grandfather’s spirit is angry.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in, the sect leader of the Kunlun Taoist Temple, was in the middle of his usual business, diligently working on an old, high-ranking official.

“M-my grandfather, you say?”

“The soul of the deceased is not at peace, so he is venting his anger on his descendants.”

“How can my grandfather be angry?”

“As this Taoist sees it, the site of your family mountain has a distorted harmony of yin and yang…”

As he had always done, Azure Cliff Jin-in skillfully won over the old high-ranking official with his fluent speech.

Of course, he wasn’t committing fraud.

In the eyes of Azure Cliff Jin-in, who was well-versed in feng shui and skilled at exorcising ghosts, it was indeed so.

“Perfected Person, what should I do?”

“It seems we will have to show some sincerity. Hohoho.”

“If I can just appease my grandfather’s anger, what would I not be willing to pay?”

“If you truly feel so…”

Just then.

Jja-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu-reu…!!!

As the Demonic Law Command bell suddenly rang, Azure Cliff Jin-in shot up from his seat.

The Demonic Law Command bell was one of the sacred treasures of the old Kunlun Sect, a Dharma treasure that detected nearby demonic qi and gave a warning.

That meant that there were people who practiced demonic arts loitering near the Taoist temple.

“I am truly sorry, but Your Excellency, please return quickly.”

“……?”

“I will explain the details later.”

“Ah, I understand. I will do so.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in couldn’t bring himself to explain the current situation to the old high-ranking official.

And for a good reason; if it became known that people who practiced demonic arts were loitering around the Taoist temple, it was obvious that he would lose all his customers for a while, wouldn’t it?

After the fall of the Kunlun Sect, he couldn’t even make ends meet, and now that he was finally able to live comfortably, he couldn’t afford to have his rice bowl overturned.

“It seems there is someone who practices demonic arts loitering nearby, so everyone must be on high alert. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

At Azure Cliff Jin-in’s command, the Kunlun Taoist Temple sent back its visitors and firmly bolted its gates.

Then, they thoroughly stood guard over the surroundings, preparing for a possible attack.

“Sect Leader senior brother, how about asking the Righteous Heavenly Alliance for help…”

“Do you not know that it is better to die than to receive help from the Right

eous Heavenly Alliance?”

Azure Cliff Jin-in replied firmly to his junior brother, Azure Water Jin-in’s words.

“But the disciples are still young, aren’t they? What sin have those kids committed…”

“Ahem.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in, who had become very displeased, let out a dry cough, but he did not deny Azure Water Jin-in’s words.

It was because he did not want to put the young disciples in danger because of his pride.

“I will keep your words in mind. For now, let’s watch the situation, and if it becomes truly dangerous, let’s do that.”

“But if an attack suddenly begins…”

“What business would a demonic practitioner who practices demonic arts have with our sect?”

“……”

Azure Water Jin-in could not refute Azure Cliff Jin-in’s words.

The Kunlun Sect was no longer a member of the Nine Sects One Gang and a guardian of the Central Plains, but just a small Taoist temple that barely made a living through miscellaneous skills.

From the perspective of a high-level demon head, it was just a weakling that was not even worth attacking.

“For all I know, a demonic practitioner probably just passed by nearby. That’s probably why the Demonic Law Command bell rang.”

“Now that I hear it, your words are correct, senior brother.”

“So don’t worry too much, but for now, let’s maintain a state of alert. It would be a big problem if we needlessly informed the Righteous Heavenly Alliance of this and lost customers for a while, wouldn’t it?”

“……”

Azure Water Jin-in was so dumbfounded that he was at a loss for words.

Was this the time to worry about customers when a major incident like the Demonic Law Command bell ringing had occurred?

“Sect Leader senior brother, I know, but to be worrying about customers when the Demonic Law Command bell has rung is a bit much. The lives of the disciples are at stake…”

“A person can die even without money.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in glared as if to ask what he meant.

“Does a person only die when a sword is at their neck? A person can also die without a comfortable place to lie down, without clothes to wear, and without a spoonful of rice to put in their mouth.”

“Th-that is.”

“Surely you don’t want to go back to the days when we were wandering without a home, do you? Try to remember how many of us shared a single dumpling.”

Azure Water Jin-in couldn’t say a word.

How many humiliations and hardships had they gone through after the fall of the Kunlun Sect?

The days of wandering the Central Plains without a home were a memory so terrible that it was dreadful to even think about now.

“Do you want to go back to that time?”

“N-no. I’d rather die.”

“You see.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in wore a triumphant smile as if he knew it.

“A sword at your neck isn’t everything. Let’s not make the mistake of beating the grass to startle the snake and kick away our own rice bowl. For now, let’s just wait and see.”

“I understand, Sect Leader senior brother.”

Azure Water Jin-in decided to follow Azure Cliff Jin-in’s words without a complaint.

Not only did he realize that poverty was sometimes scarier than death when he recalled the difficult times, but he also did not doubt that Azure Cliff Jin-in would prioritize his disciples over money when a truly dangerous moment came.

* * *

The Kunlun Taoist Temple, in accordance with the will of its sect leader, Azure Cliff Jin-in, bolted its gates for three days and prepared for a possible attack.

However, even after several days, not only was there no attack, but not even a single ant came near the Kunlun Taoist Temple.

Since the Demonic Law Command bell also did not ring again, the Kunlun Taoist Temple soon opened its closed gates and resumed business.

And a woman of mysterious age came to visit such a Azure Cliff Jin-in…

“……Who on earth are you, young lady?”

Azure Cliff Jin-in’s gaze, looking at the woman of mysterious age, Seop So-yeon, shone fiercely.

Such an expression on Azure Cliff Jin-in’s face was completely different from usual.

No matter how much he had fallen, a glimpse of the demeanor befitting the sect leader of the Kunlun Sect was revealed.

“You have quite a keen eye, don’t you?”

“I can feel your demonic energy. How could I not know?”

“So a disciple of Kunlun is a disciple of Kunlun, huh? Cute. Huhu.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in did not make an issue of Seop So-yeon calling him cute.

Since he had realized that his opponent was not human, he knew all too well how meaningless it was to judge her age by her appearance…

“Who on earth are you?”

“Me? Seop So-yeon.”

“Seop So-yeon?”

Azure Cliff Jin-in frowned for a moment, as if he couldn’t remember well.

“Seop So-yeon, Seop So-yeon. I’ve never heard of… Huh!”

Azure Cliff Jin-in, as if he had finally remembered the name, was greatly astonished.

“S-Seop So-yeon, you say… don’t tell me…”

Azure Cliff Jin-in recalled the legend that a long, long time ago, that is, hundreds of years ago, a fox named Seop So-yeon had attacked the Kunlun Sect with the first Heavenly Demon, Dokgo Seong.

It was a fairly famous story among the legends passed down in the Kunlun Sect, so even Azure Cliff Jin-in, hundreds of years later, knew it well.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“How dare a monster like you enter the grounds of the great Kunlun Sect…”

At the same time, Azure Cliff Jin-in reached out his hand towards a sword that was mounted far away.

Shuuuuu!

The sword was sucked into Azure Cliff Jin-in’s grasp on its own.

Psychokinesis.

No matter how much he had fallen, as the sect leader of the Kunlun Sect, Azure Cliff Jin-in’s martial arts level was higher than what was known to the world.

However, Seop So-yeon was beyond that.

Chwararak!

One white tail snatched the sword in the middle, another covered Azure Cliff Jin-in’s mouth, and the remaining seven tightly bound his body.

Thanks to that, Azure Cliff Jin-in couldn’t even utter a word and had to be tied up tightly.

“Child, if you knew who I was, you shouldn’t have thought of brandishing your sword so rashly.”

“Mph, mmph!”

“Surely you know that even if a thousand brats like you came at me, you couldn’t do a thing to me?”

“Mmph!”

“I didn’t come to kill you, so don’t worry. I just came because I have something to talk about.”

“……?”

“If you’re confident you won’t cause any unnecessary trouble, I’ll let you go. If you cause trouble after I let you go… you know, right?”

Seop So-yeon’s eyes turned a bright yellow.

“I trust you know that if I put my mind to it, it won’t even take a moment to smash this tiny little Taoist temple and kill everyone. I’ll let you go. Behave yourself.”

Seop So-yeon said so and released the restraints.

“Wh-what is the reason you have come back to our sect?”

Azure Cliff Jin-in, who was finally free, asked Seop So-yeon.

“Why do you think? I came because there’s something I want.”

“Something you want? Our sect was destroyed a long time ago. There’s no way we have anything you would want…”

“That’s for me to judge.”

Seop So-yeon said flatly.

“There’s someone who wants to talk to you, so I’d like you to agree to a conversation.”

“Who do you mean wants to talk to this Taoist?”

“The Seventh Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

Azure Cliff Jin-in felt his mind go blank and almost fainted.

As if the appearance of a legendary fox after hundreds of years wasn’t enough, the mention of the Seventh Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, who was a sworn enemy of the Kunlun Sect, made it impossible for him to keep his senses.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep