Chapter 67

Cheong-ra examined the space they were in once again. For being located in the mountains, it was larger than expected. Wasn't it a place where dozens of people could comfortably stay and still have room to spare? Even the warehouses were well-stocked with supplies. It would be good if this was the Blood Cult's headquarters, but judging from Dang Ran-yeong's reaction, it didn't seem to be. Still unable to understand, Cheong-ra asked again.

"But why isn't the Martial Arts Alliance doing anything?"

"To be precise, it's closer to them knowing but underestimating it."

Still unable to comprehend Dang Ran-yeong's words, Cheong-ra questioned back.

"How can they underestimate it? It's a group with the power to reduce the Hengshan Sect to this state?"

"That's the result of underestimating them."

The result of underestimating them was already the Hengshan Sect's closure. Then it meant that the Blood Cult had been active for longer than expected. As Cheong-ra only knew about the Blood Cult through the stories of his elders and didn't have more detailed information, Dang Ran-yeong added a bit more explanation.

"Fifty years ago, the reason the righteous faction alliance easily eradicated the Blood Cult was ultimately the result of the Demon Cult withdrawing their support. Even after that, they disrupted the Blood Cult's attempts to regroup several times, so they had no choice but to underestimate them."

Although Cheong-ra had a few acquaintances in the Martial Arts Alliance, he had never heard any of them talk about the Blood Cult. It was the same during his travels in the Central Plains, where he hadn't heard any stories. This meant that the Martial Arts Alliance had thoroughly concealed information about the Blood Cult.

"Well, even if that's not the case, they might be deliberately neglecting them..."

Dang Ran-yeong smiled bitterly. Cheong-ra didn't know why the Demon Cult was being mentioned again, but he was about to ask and then closed his mouth. Cheong-ra stared blankly at Dang Ran-yeong. He knew well that beneath that indifferent and calm face now was a cruel slaughterer.

Why was Dang Ran-yeong, who the Martial Arts Alliance had also left alone, so obsessed with pursuing them?

***

Except for the civilian who had attacked Cheong-ra from behind and died by his own hand, no one else had died besides the Blood Cult members. The civilians were all residents of nearby areas, so they were given some money and sent back. Even the nuns who had been imprisoned for two months were in surprisingly good condition.

When the missing people returned, the young novices who had rushed out to the main gate burst into tears on the spot. Although Mu-hwa had tried her best for the past two months, no matter what, it was not enough to fill the void left by the adults. The quiet Hengshan Sect was instantly filled with vitality.

The sect leader and elders, who had barely regained consciousness after taking the antidote made by Dang Ran-yeong, dragged their weak bodies out. The old nun who had come directly to the outer court expressed her deep gratitude.

"The Hengshan Sect has received an indescribably great favor. On behalf of our sect, I express my gratitude to you all."

The Hengshan Sect had been on the verge of disappearing as a sect, so the sect leader Hyeon-jeong deeply expressed her gratitude. While Dang Ran-yeong listened with an indifferent expression, Cheong-ra felt embarrassed, and Nam Gang-ryong replied very politely.

"We have merely done what we ought to do as Buddhists."

"I haven't done much, so please spare me such flattery."

Now that the situation had been resolved, Cheong-ra, who had revealed his true name, also humbly replied. In fact, it was true. Dang Ran-yeong had solved most of the problems, including the antidote and eradicating the Blood Cult. However, Hyeon-jeong shook her head.

"Didn't Devotee Baek Ri protect that child Mu-hwa?"

Could that be considered protecting her... Dang Ran-yeong had used her as bait to lure out the Blood Cult members, and they had just been kidnapped together. Although it wasn't something he had done, Cheong-ra felt strangely apologetic. It was even more so because Dang Ran-yeong had come out like this.

"Let's stop with the trivial expressions of gratitude. Sect Leader Hyeon-jeong, I'd like to have a private conversation with you."

No matter how much of a benefactor he was, how could he be so rude to such a senior... Nam Gang-ryong chanted "Amitabha" and sighed, and Cheong-ra looked at Dang Ran-yeong in astonishment. However, Sect Leader Hyeon-jeong herself didn't get angry at all and nodded with a benevolent laugh.

"Alright, then shall we take a walk outside for a bit?"

Dang Ran-yeong and the sect leader got up and left. Befitting people who lived in the rugged Mount Heng, fighting off bandits, the elders' physiques were so sturdy and solid that they put other people to shame. Unlike those elders, Sect Leader Hyeon-jeong's physique looked relatively small, but her energy was as upright as an old pine tree, and she didn't stagger even once despite her aged and poisoned body.

After receiving embarrassingly grateful words from the elders, there was a break time. Cheong-ra leaned against the wall, barely catching his breath. Seeing Cheong-ra's complexion, Nam Gang-ryong expressed his concern.

"Devotee Baek Ri, are you alright? You don't look very well."

"I'm a bit tired..."

His body ached all over, and above all, he wanted to wash up. Now that he had returned to the Hengshan Sect, he realized that he had been unconscious for about a day. Cheong-ra usually made an effort to groom himself every day and stay clean. Having been imprisoned in that damp and dirty prison cell and then coming out, his body felt even more unclean.

Suppressing his desire to take a bath in hot water and sleep deeply, Cheong-ra straightened his posture that was about to slouch. He asked Nam Gang-ryong in a small voice,

"Monk Gang-ryong, was it really... the Blood Cult that did this to the Hengshan Sect?"

At Cheong-ra's question, Nam Gang-ryong nodded with a bitter smile.

"Yes, Devotee Baek Ri. It may be hard to believe, but it's the work of the Blood Cult. No, to be precise, should I say the New Blood Cult? They call themselves the New Blood Cult, a new version of the Blood Cult."

Cheong-ra didn't think Dang Ran-yeong was lying to him. Still, he had been half in doubt, but after Nam Gang-ryong's confirmation, he could no longer doubt it. He was slightly excited to the point of forgetting the pain in his aching body for a moment.

"Then the Enlightened Mind Tea, the traitors of Moon Lake Sect, the expelled disciples, are they also the work of the Blood Cult? The spirit beast attack incident in Dragon Spring and that woman named Mi-a in Xiangyang too..."

"Yes, that's right. Everything is the doing of the Blood Cult."

"But Monk Gang-ryong, that means..."

Cheong-ra's gaze wavered. This was the reason he had been half in doubt. Saying that all of that was the work of the Blood Cult sounded too... dangerously. The fact that they had the power to secretly plan and carry out all those things, and that the extent of their remaining strength was unknown even after reducing the Hengshan Sect, one of the Five Mountains Sword Sects, to this state, was even more so.

"Isn't it too dangerous?"

Gang-ryong didn't answer and chanted "Amitabha." A dark aura was cast over his usually calm face.

"Why isn't the Martial Arts Alliance doing anything? Is it because they don't know yet that the Hengshan Sect has become like this?"

"Devotee Baek Ri, do you think it's only the Hengshan Sect that has become like this?"

Cheong-ra's eyes widened at Gang-ryong's words. The defrocked monk, who had been closing his eyes and silently fingering his prayer beads, opened his mouth.

"Why the Martial Arts Alliance isn't doing anything... It's a matter of interests."

"Did you say a matter of interests?"

Cheong-ra couldn't understand why the word "interests" was mentioned in the story of these bizarre cultists.

"For example, what if they secretly weaken the power of a sect or family that the Martial Arts Alliance leadership doesn't like, using the power of the Blood Cult?"

After saying that, Gang-ryong looked at Cheong-ra's expression and lightly shook his head.

"Of course, I'm not saying that the Martial Arts Alliance is cooperating with the Blood Cult. It's just that they're deliberately neglecting them for a few such reasons."

Cheong-ra, who was inwardly greatly shocked, unconsciously refuted Gang-ryong's words.

"The Alliance Leader is a close friend of my uncle. He's not someone who would do that..."

The Alliance Leader Mo Yong-hyeon was a master of the righteous faction, renowned enough to be called the Sword Saint. Cheong-ra had met him several times as his uncle's close friend and had always been impressed by his deep character.

"Even the Alliance Leader can't do everything as he pleases."

At Gang-ryong's words, Cheong-ra was about to say something but closed his mouth. He too had heard rumors about the Martial Arts Alliance while wandering the Martial Arts World.

For example, filling important positions in the Martial Arts Alliance only with members of the Nine Great Sects, or taking sides in favor of famous sects when conflicts arose between two forces, or manipulating the competition rules at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament to benefit famous sects.

A deep sigh escaped his lips. Although he had found out the mastermind behind harming Moon Lake Sect, he felt even more frustrated.

"How did Young Master Dang end up chasing the Blood Cult?"

While pondering how to inform Moon Lake Sect about this, Cheong-ra suddenly asked. In his view, Dang Ran-yeong was someone who always lived as he pleased. He didn't think he was chasing the Blood Cult for the sake of justice. He was far from being a person of justice.

"It's because of a grudge."

A grudge... It was the answer Cheong-ra had expected.