Chapter 128
After the Inspection Unit received the message from the Martial Alliance, they were busy for quite some time.
Not a single person in the Inspection Unit could accept the fact that ‘the Pleasure Sect is not the Demonic Cult.’
‘I’d be the same.’
I had seen with my own two eyes the atrocities the Pleasure Sect had committed against people. If they suddenly declared among themselves that the Pleasure Sect wasn’t the Demonic Cult, how many people would actually believe them?
Thanks to that, they had quite a difficult time.
Daoist Woonhak sent messages back and forth, and when the answers still didn’t make sense to him, he went directly to the Martial Alliance’s Hangzhou branch with Liyeon to settle the matter face-to-face. Meanwhile, the rest of the Inspection Unit and I followed the Sacred Flame Sect to Fenghua. We stayed at an inn there while waiting for the two of them to return.
I sat at a table, sipping my drink. Monk Xu Jae beside me spoke worriedly.
“I hope things work out well…”
‘Will they really work out?’
Honestly, I was skeptical about it.
If we hadn’t told them about the situation, then maybe there would have been a chance. But if we had explained everything and still received the exact same answer, I had to assume there was almost no chance of the decision being overturned.
They would probably be returning… leaving me alone here.
I had already decided to help the Sacred Flame Sect. Partly because of the atrocities committed by the Pleasure Sect, but also because this was an opportunity to get involved with the Sacred Flame Sect.
They had said that if I joined the Sacred Flame Sect, I could become a full-fledged member after a year of cultivation. The only way to join immediately without undergoing that year of cultivation was to accomplish some great deed.
‘Isn’t this exactly my chance to accomplish a great deed?’
If I voluntarily obtained the Pleasure Pill and helped them make a cure, perhaps the Sect Leader himself might commend me for my contribution!
‘That would be when I could find out whether he really is one of the Twelve Demon Kings or not.’
Of course, I couldn’t say I wasn’t concerned about the Mukho Cheolryeong the Inspection Unit possessed. However, judging by the fact that the Alliance Leader had ordered them to withdraw like this, he seemed certain that the owner of the Mukho Cheolryeong wasn’t here. That meant the Sacred Flame Sect was less likely to attract the Alliance Leader’s attention.
So we could settle the Sacred Flame Sect matter first, then investigate the Mukho Cheolryeong afterward. The Martial Alliance also seemed to still be searching around for its owner…
“It’ll work out. Daoist Woonhak seems the most serious among us, after all, so if he talks to them properly, don’t you think they’ll understand?”
“Hmph, what’s so serious about that gu-”
“Then do you want to go and talk to them, Rangrang? If you go, you’ll just argue with them until they drag you back. Wouldn’t that be great? Right?”
“You little…!”
The Inspection Unit was bickering as usual. But judging by how strangely lacking in energy they seemed, they were apparently anxious as well.
Just as I secretly clicked my tongue…
Creeeak.
The door opened, and someone entered. As we had already done dozens of times, we turned toward the door. But unlike before, the Inspection Unit’s faces brightened.
Zhuge Ye shouted,
“You’re back!”
It was Liyeon and Daoist Woonhak.
They must have run all the way here without stopping, because they were covered in dust from head to toe. Even Liyeon’s white clothes, which were always kept impeccably white, were stained with dirt. That alone said everything.
They walked straight toward us and sat in the empty chairs. Daoist Woonhak wiped his roughened face with his hand.
Watching him, I had a feeling.
‘Looks like things didn’t go well.’
Sure enough, the two of them couldn’t immediately bring themselves to speak. Sensing that something was wrong, Tang Hi carefully asked,
“Um… what happened?”
“That…”
Woonhak sighed before speaking.
“…We were refused.”
“……”
“No matter how much we explained and tried to persuade them, they told us to follow the Alliance’s orders. They said it wasn’t something for us, as the Inspection Unit, to deal with.”
“Seriously…”
Sighs escaped from here and there. I clicked my tongue as well. It was unfortunate, but I had expected it.
“So.”
At that moment, Daoist Woonhak’s eyes flashed.
“We’ve decided to continue the matter as individuals, not as the Inspection Unit.”
“…What?”
I stared at him with my mouth hanging open.
Wh-what does that mean?
“As of today, we’ll send a letter stating that Inspection Unit Fifth Squad is returning.”
“What?”
“However, it may take quite a long time for us to reach the Martial Alliance headquarters. We each still have our own business to attend to. It would be best for everyone to think of their own reasons for why they’re delayed…”
“No, wait, just a second. So…”
I hurriedly asked,
“But… is that really okay?”
“……”
Daoist Woonhak didn’t answer my cautious question. He merely smiled gently.
‘It’s not okay!’
No, you know it’s not okay, and you’re still going to do it? Are you people really allowed to go this far? Wasn’t Daoist Woonhak supposed to be the only sane one in the Inspection Unit?!
Daoist Woonhak stopped smiling and spoke seriously.
“However, since we will be acting as individuals, complaints may be filed against our respective families or sects. Not only will our standing within the Alliance worsen, but our own sects may also punish us separately.”
“……”
“If anyone is troubled by this, you may withdraw. I fully understand. However, for the sake of those who remain, if you could return first and buy us some time…”
“What are you talking about?”
Paeng Mirang suddenly spoke.
“Who here is going to back out?”
“What?”
“If we’ve decided to do this, then we should see it through to the end. Does it make any sense to give up halfway? If you’ve decided to do it, then just do it! Don’t waste time. Let’s go wipe those bastards out.”
“Brother Paeng, we’re not going to wipe them out. We’re only going to help them obtain the medicine…”
“Whatever!”
“Rangrang, you’re finally saying something sensible for once.”
Tang Hi laughed heartily as she joined in.
“We were practically in the same boat from the moment we saw that village burning. And just you wait. Once we take the Pleasure Pill back, how could anyone say they aren’t the Demonic Cult anymore?! Right, Sister Ju?”
“……”
Ju Jae-hwa also nodded.
She had sat there without saying anything all this time, but there was so much determination in her eyes that it seemed she had already made her decision.
Zhuge Ye scratched his head and added,
“My father is pretty strict, but… I guess I’ll get my butt kicked for the first time in a while. Still, would he really treat his only son that harshly? If things really don’t work out, I can always hide behind Mother.”
“Since everyone is so determined… I cannot simply stand by and watch either. I ask for your support until the very end. Amitabha…”
‘The monk can’t fight anyway.’
“You all…”
Daoist Woonhak looked at the members of the Inspection Unit as though deeply moved. He even had tears glistening in his eyes, so it seemed he was quite touched.
I simply stared blankly at them as well.
It seemed like only moments ago they had been discouraged, yet now they were burning with enthusiasm. They were truly like moths.
Flaming moths that didn’t even know whether the place they were throwing themselves into was a fire…
‘Is this really okay?’
Just as I was bewildered, they suddenly turned toward me.
No, why me?
But they merely stared at me with sparkling eyes, silently pressuring me to join this wonderful atmosphere.
Cold sweat trickled down my back. In the end, I said one thing.
“F-fighting…”
***
“Brother Dan, what does ‘fighting’ mean?”
“It’s just something, you punk.”
The Inspection Unit immediately went to find the Sacred Flame Sect.
I was a little worried, but I followed behind them for now. They were all grown adults, after all, so I figured they would take responsibility for the consequences themselves.
As always, the Sacred Flame Sect had set up tents on the outskirts of the village and was helping people in need.
As we approached, one of the Sacred Flame Sect members recognized us. They welcomed us and led us to a tent. Judging by the table and chairs inside, it seemed to be a place for receiving guests.
We sat and waited there, and soon Ayoung appeared.
“You’ve come.”
Ayoung welcomed us warmly. She personally brought tea and set it down in front of us before speaking apologetically.
“Normally, we should treat our guests generously, but we’re in the position of wandering from place to place, so we don’t have much prepared. Please forgive our rudeness.”
“Not at all. We’re simply grateful that you’ve offered us tea.”
“I’m glad to hear that. So…”
Ayoung got to the point.
“Have you made your decision?”
At her words, the Inspection Unit looked at one another.
They looked into each other’s eyes, confirming each other’s resolve. Once every member nodded, Daoist Woonhak finally spoke.
“Yes. We will help you.”
“Ah…! Thank you so much!”
Ayoung looked as though she might leap for joy.
She then went on about how meeting us was a blessing from the Sacred Flame, and how the Sacred Flame’s blessings would accompany us on our journey ahead, saying all sorts of things I couldn’t make heads or tails of.
Daoist Woonhak continued with an awkward smile.
“So, what is it that we need to do?”
“That…”
Ayoung paused to gather her thoughts.
“As I said before, there’s only one thing we want. You simply need to obtain a Pleasure Pill from them and bring it to us.”
“But we don’t know where we should obtain one…”
“We’ve already found a place. There are several establishments secretly operated by the Pleasure Sect in the shadows, and we discovered signs that Pleasure Pills are being traded there.”
“An establishment? Is it perhaps a restaurant? Or a tavern?”
“No, it’s…”
Ayoung said,
“A gambling house.”
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