Moon-Shadow Sword Emperor - Chapter 203
Episode 203:
A feast took place.
Although it was said to be a feast, it was actually an event closer to an execution ceremony.
An event where the beasts who killed the tribe’s warriors are brutally tortured and killed in front of the tribesmen.
“I am done.”
“…You, too, are having a hard time because your role is yours.”
Most members of the delegation expressed their intention not to participate in the feast.
It was a natural reaction.
It was an event that was bound to be seen as quite barbaric in the eyes of the Central Plains people.
Although they didn’t say it out loud, everyone seemed to be feeling quite a bit uncomfortable.
The leaders of the Sacheon branch, mindful of my prestige, stepped forward and said they would guard my side.
There’s one more person there.
“Why do you want to bring me with you?”
“It’s not like there’s anything special to do anyway.”
“…….”
“Even though we are participating as a courtesy, we still need to meet the minimum number of people. All you have to do is take up enough space and sit down. “You don’t have to do anything special.”
Changin Dojang, one of Jeomchang’s disciples, could not resist the pressure and followed me.
As I headed toward the vacant lot used as a banquet hall, a large warrior greeted me with a happy expression.
It was the warrior I had fought with the day before.
“Please come this way.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine. Thank you for putting the matter in my hands.”
Even though defeat can be split, he didn’t show me the slightest hostility.
On the contrary, he was extremely courteous and polite.
Chi-ik!
A delicious smell pierced my nose.
A sizzling piece of unidentifiable meat.
The women of the tribe were busy walking around preparing food.
On one side, jars filled with red-colored fruit wine were placed in a row.
“Take this.”
There were no separate seats provided.
I sat down on the floor with the animal skin handed to me by the tribe’s warrior and looked around, offering seats to my companions.
“Kaaak!”
“You damn barbarians! “Better kill me!”
The shouts of the men kneeling on the makeshift platform pierced my ears.
They were demon cultists captured by the envoys.
The men’s appearance was truly miserable.
In particular, the man on the far left had a lot of bubbles on his face, as if he had been injected with poison.
It had an appearance that an unfamiliar person might mistake for a monster.
“Ugh.”
“Kwaaah!”
Terrible torture was taking place.
The tribesmen were enthusiastic about the sight and spoke encouraging words.
“Wow.”
Changin Dojang covered his mouth with his hand and turned his head.
Seeing him gag, he seemed quite upset.
After taking the food handed to me by the tribal woman, I looked back at him from the corner of my eye and asked.
“How is it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m asking you what emotions you felt when you saw that.”
“Can’t you see?”
“Among the demon cultists, the demons belonging to the inner circle are more than them, not less.”
“……?”
A furrow was carved between Changin Dojang’s eyebrows.
His face looked like he didn’t know why he was suddenly saying such a thing.
I shifted my gaze to the screaming demon cultists and spoke calmly.
“I think the director is guessing as well.”
“What?”
“The reason why Jang Mun-in allowed Dojang to join the delegation.”
The situation was different from the past when Cheonwoo Dojang joined the group.
Changin Dojang would have known if he wasn’t an idiot.
What did Jang Moon-in expect when he decided to send himself to Namman?
“Actually, I’m not really interested in whether or not the Dojang changes his mind or abandons his authoritarian personality. “What meaning do character and humility have in difficult times?”
“…….”
“I feel sorry for Jang Moon-in, who entrusted the dojang to me with high expectations, but I have no intention of teaching the dojang anything. “I don’t think that the character of the dojang will change in a short period of time just because I, the latter of the same age group, disciplines him.”
“…….”
“But since I was asked to do so, I couldn’t not do anything, and I thought it was a good opportunity, so I recommended participating in the banquet. “To show you why you should not rest on your laurels.”
“Does that mean I’m so caught up in the present that I’m neglecting my own discipline?”
“I have no intention of denying the efforts the Dojang has made so far. It is an undeniable fact that Dojang is a powerhouse that ranks at the top among late-stage indices. He also proved his capabilities by winning a place at the top of the Yongbong branch. But in the future, such a false reputation means nothing.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you think I suddenly brought up a story about demons?”
“……?”
“If the mission successfully completes its mission, all Yunnan sects and families will be free from restrictions.”
Changin Dojang’s face hardened.
It seemed like he finally realized what I was talking about.
“Once the non-aggression pact is concluded, the Jumchang Sect will no longer have any reason to be wary of the Beast Palace. That means that in the future, the disciples of the Jeomchang sect should stand on the front line.”
Sooner or later, the demonic forces would move again.
I knew because I had memories of my past life.
The power currently gathered in the communal faction will never be able to stop the forces of the Demonic Cult.
To that extent, the power possessed by the Demonic Cult was overwhelming.
‘It is inevitable that the Jeomchang faction will participate in the Jeongma War.’
The sense of crisis may not be felt right now.
However, if Qinghai, followed by Gansu and Shaanxi, fell into the hands of Demonic Cult, everyone would realize it.
Unless the sects and families of the entire central plain unite and unite, the advance of religion can never be stopped.
“For now, we are watching, but the position may reverse in the near future. “Just think that those kneeling on that platform are disciples of the fortune-telling sect and that those torturing them are devils.”
“…….”
“Being superior to others within the framework of the latter period has no meaning on the battlefield. If you want to protect yourself and the people around you, you must constantly move forward. “It’s not just limited to martial arts.”
“I know what you’re talking about.”
Changin Dojang nodded slowly.
He must have known it himself.
Considering the level of martial arts, he is ranked at the lowest level among the members of the delegation.
If you expand the frame to the entire central region, you will see that Changin Dojang is not a very great person.
It wasn’t for nothing that I made him dance three times.
“That’s what I meant when I said you shouldn’t be complacent about the present. Of course, this applies equally to me as well as to the dojo.”
I concentrated my energy on the tip of my raised index finger.
The energy that had been shaking like a haze suddenly rose up and took the form of a small sword.
The manifestation of strength.
“Huh.”
Others could not see or feel it because it was covered by the human barrier and air membrane.
Changin Dojang and the disciples belonging to the Sacheon branch who were sitting right next to Hana clearly witnessed it.
Changin Dojang’s eyes widened as if they were torn apart.
Hong Seong-hyun and Hwang Ho-jin also had blank expressions.
“……under.”
Changin Dojang, who was looking at my face and index finger alternately with an expression of complete disbelief, burst into laughter.
I waved my hand to disperse the energy and continued talking.
“Build strength. “Don’t show off the power you have, hide it.”
“…….”
“Develop the insight to gauge the level of others. “If you lack discernment, be more cautious.”
Changin Dojang made an uneasy expression.
I guess he remembered the argument he had with me before the Yongbong branch started.
“I will stop here with my foolish actions under the guise of advice. “These are all proverbs that you have probably heard at least once, even if I don’t have to say them.”
“…….”
Changin Dojang stared at me with eyes that clearly revealed his complicated feelings.
I watched the event while diligently stuffing the cold meat into my mouth.
The food was quite delicious.
The cooking method itself was crude, but the spices used were different from those used in Jungwon, so it felt fresh.
I felt it was a pity that I couldn’t drink alcohol while carrying out my mission in Nanman.
Sigh!
As soon as the warrior on the stage swung his arm, blood broke out.
The moment the curved sword that cut off the demon cultist’s head was raised high, the tribesmen all shouted in unison.
Wow!
The headless body collapsed helplessly on the platform.
After finishing all the food on my plate, I massaged my shoulders and stood up.
I watched an event that was not particularly interesting or interesting until the end.
At this level, it could be said that courtesy was sufficiently shown.
I was planning on going to the chief and receiving compensation for winning Bimu.
* * *
After three days of ample rest.
The delegation resumed their journey to the Beast Palace.
“Are you a representative of the delegation dispatched by the Murim Alliance?”
“That’s right.”
While traveling, they encountered warriors from various tribes, but none of them showed blind hostility like the warriors of the Harel tribe did before.
The request given to the Harel tribe chief in advance had a great effect.
[Send a messenger to a nearby tribe to inform them of the mission and lend them a flag with a pattern symbolizing the Harel tribe?] [
Yes.]
The military power of the members of the mission is itself a powerful deterrent.
This was the reason why he entered Nanman with a huge force even though he had no intention of starting a war.
However, the residents of South Manchuria did not know how great the power the delegation possessed.
Therefore, I asked the chief of the Harel tribe to spread the rumor in advance.
The reason he stayed in the Harel tribe for three days was because he needed time for the rumor to spread.
“As I was on my way to the palace, I inevitably passed through the territory of the Daron tribe. “I have no intention of harming the tribe, so I would like you to get out of the way.”
“good night. However, I will accompany you until you leave the tribal territory. That won’t be a problem, right?”
“of course.”
Rumors had already spread throughout the nearby region that the envoys had subdued a group of demonic cultists who had committed a massacre in the territory of the Harel tribe in less than half a day.
Thanks to this, the schedule was slightly delayed, but the possibility of conflict with the warriors was significantly lowered.
Of course, that didn’t mean the journey was all smooth.
A group of bandits who prey on the vacuum of security and plunder have attacked without heeding a flag symbolizing the Harel tribe.
“Now!”
“Wipe away everything!”
The thieves rush in while shouting.
The number reached three digits.
The warriors of the Daron tribe who volunteered to accompany us looked puzzled.
No matter how chaotic the situation was, it was difficult to find a group of thieves numbering more than a hundred.
It was clear that they had gathered together to rob the delegation.
Teuong!
A heavy noise rang out.
Then, the arrow fired by Bangcheoksam soared diagonally.
The leader of the bandits, who was running at the front and encouraging his subordinates, pulled a curved sword from his belt and swung it.
“Ugh!”
The moment the arrowhead and the sword body made contact, the curved sword was broken in two.
The leader of the bandits, who had been pierced through the heart by an arrow coated with strong energy, let out a faint groan and tore down his body.
“Huh.”
“It is indeed Changmyeong Palace.”
Exclamations of exclamation erupted from everywhere.
I looked away from the warriors of the Daron tribe who had become as hard as stones and said as I pulled out the sword from my waist.
“Let’s organize it quickly.”