Surviving as the Villainess’s Servant in a Martial Arts Novel Chapter 127

Chapter 127

 

The Inspection Unit was once again discussing the matter among themselves.

The unit could not immediately answer Ayoung’s request on behalf of the Sacred Flame Sect. They had never imagined things would grow this complicated.

In the end, Daoist Woonhak asked for their understanding, saying, “Please give us just a little time.”

He then led the Inspection Unit out of the cave, and they began discussing the matter in a secluded, deserted part of the mountain.

‘They really do love having discussions.’

Of course, I followed them as well. Since I had been traveling with them all this time, they didn’t think anything of it.

“What do you think we should do?”

The first to speak was Paeng Mirang.

“What kind of question is that? Of course we should help!”

“Master Paeng, this isn’t something we should decide so hastily…”

“It’s obvious that the circumstances are clear, so what’s there to hesitate about? If anything, I don’t understand why you couldn’t answer right away. Aren’t we also pursuing the Pleasure Sect?”

“Rangrang is right.”

Surprisingly, Tang Hi supported Paeng Mirang’s words.

“I never would have imagined something like the Pleasure Pills, but this is exactly the kind of clear evidence that connects them to the Demonic Cult. Controlling people with drugs and turning them into invalids is a common method of the Demonic Cult.”

‘We’ve never done anything like that.’

“Th-that is true, but…”

Monk Xu Jae quietly objected.

“It could be dangerous. If things go wrong, we might end up in an all-out war with the Pleasure Sect. They’re different from an ordinary mid-sized martial sect, so wouldn’t it be difficult for us to deal with them on our own……?”

“Oh, come on! Why are you freaking out when you aren’t even going to fight them yourself?!”

“S-sorry…!”

When Paeng Mirang shouted, Monk Xu Jae hurriedly lowered his head and apologized. Zhuge Ye stopped him.

“Oh my, Brother Paeng! Why are you taking it out on the poor monk? I understand what the monk is worried about. But if Lady Ayoung’s words are true, wouldn’t there be little need for us to clash with them head-on?”

“Well, certainly…”

I nodded.

Before coming here, Ayoung had said something like this.

“We don’t intend to ask you for too much. There’s only one thing we’d like to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“To obtain a Pleasure Pill. Our greatest objective right now is to create a cure. What they have done is certainly atrocious, but rescuing the people who have been caught up in it is more urgent.”

“Do you have a way to obtain the drug?”

“That…”

Ayoung hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“If you can promise that you’ll help us, I’ll tell you.”

“She said it herself. What they want isn’t the destruction of the Pleasure Sect, but obtaining a Pleasure Pill so they can create a cure.”

“……”

“We don’t know what kind of friction might arise in the process of obtaining it, but she knows that we’re few in number. Would she really recklessly send us straight into enemy territory? She’ll probably ask us to sneak in or something like that. Wouldn’t that be less dangerous at least?”

“Yeah.”

Paeng Mirang spoke, surprisingly calmly.

“Honestly, I want to smash those bastards to pieces right this instant, but we’re definitely lacking in numbers on our own. It’d be better to obtain solid evidence, ask the Alliance for assistance, and come back with others.”

At Paeng Mirang’s words, the others nodded as well. They had some hesitation, but it seemed everyone’s hearts had already been leaning in one direction.

Daoist Woonhak spoke as though summarizing the discussion.

“I understand what everyone is saying. In truth, I feel the same way. Helping them while obtaining evidence would be our best option.”

“……”

“If we help the Sacred Flame Sect obtain the Pleasure Pill, we should ask them to give us one as well. That medicine will be the most definitive piece of evidence we can obtain.”

“Sounds good.”

“Then let’s go back and tell them we’ll help. Just in case, I’ll organize everything that has happened so far and report it to the Alliance…”

At that moment.

Creeee-.

“……!”

The cry of a bird came from nearby.

We raised our heads. A hawk was circling directly above us.

The Inspection Unit’s expressions changed when they saw the hawk. Watching their reactions, I somehow had a feeling I knew what that hawk was.

‘It must be a messenger hawk.’

Then, was it a message from the Martial Alliance?

Just as I expected, Liyeon raised his arm. The hawk circled through the sky a few more times before landing on Liyeon’s arm. A small note was tied to its leg.

Daoist Woonhak untied the note and opened it. His complexion immediately changed.

‘What is it?’

“Daoist, what does it say?”

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who was curious, because the others all crowded around Daoist Woonhak.

However, everyone who read the contents of the note turned as pale as Daoist Woonhak. While they stood frozen, I quietly moved closer from behind and looked at its contents.

Written on the note was…

 

[It has been determined that the Pleasure Sect has no connection to the Demonic Cult. Inspection Unit Fifth Squad is to return immediately.]

 

***

 

“This makes no sense!”

Miss Tang shouted angrily.

The others were just as furious. That was how utterly absurd the order they had received was.

Woonhak rubbed his face with a complicated expression.

‘What is going on?’

He had clearly thought everything was going well.

They had found the Pleasure Sect’s headquarters. Although they had been one step too late and the headquarters had burned down, they had encountered the Sacred Flame Sect. They had even heard about the Pleasure Sect’s atrocities directly from the Sacred Flame Sect.

He had thought that if they helped the Sacred Flame Sect and brought back solid evidence, everything would be resolved properly. That they would be able to help those suffering because of the Demonic Cult.

And yet, the Alliance had suddenly sent them a message.

A single command: ‘Return.’

‘This makes no sense.’

Woonhak, who had never once questioned a decision made by the Alliance, found himself doubting it for the first time.

How had it suddenly been revealed that the Pleasure Sect had nothing to do with the Demonic Cult? How could they possibly know that? Was this really a message sent by the Alliance? Had it been sent to the wrong people?

If Woonhak was like this, how must the other squad members feel?

The members were furious, saying that this was an unreasonable decision. When he saw Master Paeng about to tear the note apart, Woonhak finally came to his senses and stopped them.

“Could it be that the Alliance Leader made this decision because he doesn’t know our current situation? If we properly explain the situation and send it to him, I’m sure he’ll rescind the order to return. Perhaps he might even send additional forces.”

Of course, all of that was merely Woonhak’s wishful thinking.

Still, desperately hoping that his wish would become reality, he hurriedly wrote a reply and attached it to the messenger hawk before sending it away.

However, the response that came back was unchanged.

 

[Return immediately.]

 

Woonhak simply could not accept it.

“There’s no choice but to go there ourselves, ourselves, and explain. Everything that we experienced…”

“…Yeah.”

In the end, Woonhak decided to go with Liyeon to the Martial Alliance branch in Hangzhou.

Even on the way there, he did not give up hope. There had to be some kind of mistake. Perhaps if they met with someone from the Alliance and explained what they had experienced, they might understand.

“Follow the order.”

No.

The Alliance official spoke firmly.

“The Inspection Units under the Martial Alliance must strictly follow the Alliance Leader’s orders. If the Alliance Leader has made his decision, you need only carry it out.”

Woonhak hurriedly objected.

“But nothing has ever been more certain than this. The Pleasure Sect is manufacturing and distributing a drug, and in the process, they have committed countless atrocities, such as using innocent people as test subjects.”

“……”

“We personally went to their headquarters and confirmed the people who had been turned into invalids because of the Pleasure Sect. If we leave things as they are, even more victims will…”

“What does that matter?”

“What?”

The official continued coldly.

“If the Pleasure Sect has committed atrocities, then someone else can deal with that. There is no reason for the Inspection Unit to involve itself. The Inspection Unit is an organization that pursues the Demonic Cult, not one that punishes every evil in the world, is it not?”

“B-but…”

Woonhak’s face went pale as he stammered.

“This, too……This too is clearly connected to the Demonic Cult. Controlling people with drugs is something the Demonic Cult has been doing for a long time, is it not?”

“But the Alliance has already determined that they are not the Demonic Cult.”

“That makes no sense! If people this evil aren’t the Demonic Cult, then who is…?”

“Daoist.”

The official sighed.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

“……”

“Follow the Alliance’s orders. That is all I can tell you.”

In the end, the meeting was over. Woonhak could only leave the branch in a daze. Liyeon’s expression was no better.

Woonhak felt empty inside. He had joined the Inspection Unit to punish evil and uphold righteousness. To save the weak who were suffering. And yet, he couldn’t even step forward when it came to saving those very people.

All because they weren’t the Demonic Cult… If they weren’t the Demonic Cult, did that mean they weren’t evil? Was the Demonic Cult the only source of evil in this world?

But what could he do here?

As Woonhak lowered his head and muttered,

“Then we have to suspend the mission and return…”

“No.”

“What?”

Woonhak raised his head.

“We are not returning.”

Liyeon spoke calmly.

“Inspection Unit Fifth Squad will not suspend the mission. We will continue. I will take full responsibility for everything.”