Chapter 43: Poison Demon’s Test
<No Collision with the Hundred Paths While Traveling>
It was not merely that the countless conditions that followed had failed—the very first condition had already been broken.
Yet perhaps they did not wish to abandon hope. One of the squad leaders cautiously stepped forward.
“Um…… still, it happened while we were defending ourselves after being attacked first. Wouldn’t you be able to understand that?”
At the squad leader’s desperate question, Iron Demon responded.
“When you think about it, does the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult seem like someone with that kind of generosity?”
At Iron Demon’s question, the squad leader who had stepped forward shook his head.
“Right. No. Even I don’t think he’s that kind of person.”
As the squad leader retreated, another stepped forward.
“Please follow the words of the sages, Chief Elder.”
“The words of the sages?”
“Yes. The dead do not speak.”
Silencing witnesses through murder.
At the squad leader’s words, Iron Demon’s eyes briefly gleamed, then quickly dulled as he shook his head.
“We can bury those bastards, sure—but what about those people? You know there’s no such thing as a secret in this world, right?”
With those words, Iron Demon turned his gaze, and within it were the caravan members, their faces pale with fear.
After confirming them, the squad leader spoke as if he had made up his mind.
“If we bury even those……”
“You crazy bastard. Then the condition is broken anyway. Did you forget what the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult said—that there must be no loss of life?”
“Ah!”
“Ahhh? Calling someone like that a squad leader, seriously…….”
At Iron Demon’s rebuke, the squad leader withdrew with a deflated expression. In his place, yet another squad leader stepped forward.
“This Third Squad Leader, Lee Tae. Leave it to me. I’ll handle it.”
“You?”
“Yes. Please leave it to me.”
Lee Tae radiated such firm confidence, and with no other option available, Iron Demon nodded.
Lee Tae then led the surviving Young Sect Master of the Qilian Sword Sect and another warrior of the Qilian Sword Sect into the forest.
And then……
Within a quarter hour, Lee Tae returned, his arms draped companionably over the shoulders of the Young Sect Master and the other warrior.
“Chief Elder. These two have something to say to you.”
“What is it?”
At Iron Demon’s question, Lee Tae gave the Young Sect Master’s back a light shove.
“I’m a bandit!”
“What?”
“A bandit! A bandit who kills recklessly and plunders! A bandit guilty of crimes that outrage heaven and humanity!”
“Earlier you were saying Qilian Sword Sect—”
“I! Don’t know what the Qilian Sword Sect is!”
Iron Demon silently stared at the Young Sect Master as he vehemently protested, then turned his gaze to the other Qilian Sword Sect warrior still standing beside Lee Tae.
Sensing the meaning of that look, Lee Tae tapped the man’s shoulder, and he hurriedly stepped forward.
“He’s definitely a bandit. That guy—no, that gentleman—is my boss, and I’m the field commander.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure!”
Only then did Iron Demon nod and turn around. The matter with the involved parties had been resolved, but witnesses still remained.
Sensing Iron Demon’s concern, Lee Tae spoke up.
“No matter what they say, he’s claiming he’s a bandit. What can be done?”
“And that story……?”
“They’ll have to come with us. Until we receive confirmation from the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”
“What if these bastards start saying something else then?”
“They won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
At Iron Demon’s question, Lee Tae’s lips moved—but no sound came out.
It was Mental Voice Transmission.
Upon receiving Lee Tae’s transmitted words, the corners of Iron Demon’s mouth twisted upward.
“You’ll take full responsibility.”
“Yes, Chief Elder.”
Iron Demon patted Lee Tae’s shoulder as he bowed without another word, then turned away. The procession began to reorganize.
Along with the four caravan guards who had died in the ambush, the three Qilian Sword Sect warriors were buried in the ground, and the caravan departed as it was.
Even though it was late, they could not rest atop ground where people had been buried.
Thus, on the narrow mountain path after the caravan departed, not a single trace remained to suggest anything had been buried there.
It was because the squad leaders of the Chief Elder’s division had erased everything thoroughly.
The caravan’s first night sleeping outdoors took place only at dawn. As the exhausted caravan manager finally lay down on the bare ground, Iron Demon came to see him.
The man sprang up in alarm, and Iron Demon asked,
“How many were injured in the bandit attack earlier?”
“Four…….”
Seeing Iron Demon’s expression crumple sharply at his words, the caravan manager hurriedly corrected himself.
“……None, sir. Thanks to how swiftly you moved, we captured two bandits, and there were no losses.”
“Good. When we return, how many are missing isn’t important. What matters is that until we cross the Heavenly Mountains, no one—no one—has died, and ah…… no one will die either. Understood?”
‘No one’—with that word emphasized so distinctly by Iron Demon, the caravan manager could do nothing but nod fiercely.
After threatening the caravan manager and returning, Iron Demon was approached by the First Squad Leader.
“Um…… will this be all right?”
“All right in what way?”
“One of the conditions was not to frighten them.”
“Frighten them? Who? Me? Did you see it? Did that bastard say I scared him?”
At the sight of Iron Demon instantly flaring his eyes, the First Squad Leader staggered backward and shook his head.
“N-no, sir. This subordinate misspoke.”
“Watch your mouth! If you spout nonsense again, I’ll tear your mouth open!”
Though the words were directed at the First Squad Leader, Iron Demon’s gaze was locked squarely on the caravan manager.
Under that terrifying stare, the caravan manager nodded so violently it seemed his neck might snap.
Only after confirming that did Iron Demon turn his head, and a twisted smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.
At Iron Demon’s light nod while smiling, the First Squad Leader withdrew with a meaningful grin of his own.
It reeked unmistakably of a staged performance.
Since they had departed from Lanzhou, located at the narrow “waist” of Gansu, the Golden Flower Manor’s Western Trade Caravan entered the Cheonghae Region the very next day.
Even though they had entered Cheonghae, known as demon territory, looks of relief spread across the faces of the Golden Flower Manor members. That was because the Bright Cult’s flag was fluttering ahead of them.
They no longer needed to be wary of the Hundred Paths martial artists glaring murderously from every stretch of the main road.
Moreover, in demon territory, the Bright Cult’s flag was no different from a guaranteed pass.
“I never thought entering Cheonghae would put my mind so much at ease.”
As awkwardness showed plainly on their faces, the Golden Flower Manor members found the feeling hard to adjust to, much like that muttered remark from one of the laborers.
In any case, thanks to that, the Golden Flower Manor’s Western Trade Caravan crossed Cheonghae without incident and reached the Tarim Basin.
The most dangerous land in Cheonghae was the Tarim Basin. It was infested with bandits, and the Temple of the Mad Gale—said to be the most vicious in all of Cheonghae—lurked there.
Despite the danger, merchants still passed through the Tarim Basin.
The terrain was flat, reducing geographical risk, and villages were scattered along the route, making it easier to procure food and water.
The Golden Flower Manor’s Western Trade Caravan, guided by Iron Demon, was no exception.
After traveling for some time, they stopped at a small inn that did business with passersby.
It provided water, alcohol, and food to merchants and travelers, but also served to pass information to nearby bandits and the Temple of the Mad Gale.
A double-edged sword, one might say.
If they passed it by, there would be no place to obtain water for quite a distance—but if they stopped, information would leak, inviting danger.
The first to enter that inn was Iron Demon, who had been walking at the front.
“Oh? What are you doing here?”
At Iron Demon’s question, the Poison Demon—who had been examining a patient—briefly lifted his head and replied,
“Can’t you tell? I’m treating patients.”
“Then why are you treating patients here?”
Among the Five Demons, Iron Demon was the strongest and the Poison Demon the weakest, but the gap was not all that large.
Moreover, they were all from the same generation. Perhaps because of that, despite the difference in strength, relations among the Five Demons were better than expected.
“You think you’re the only one taking a test? I’m taking one too.”
“What are you talking about…… don’t tell me this is the test the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult gave you?”
“That’s right. Thirty patients a day. As long as it’s not a terminal illness, full recovery within ten days.”
“That’s the test the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult gave you?”
“That’s just the most basic part.”
At the Poison Demon’s reply, Iron Demon asked,
“What else is there?”
“There are additional conditions. No supply of medicinal ingredients. No looting. No charging money.”
“Then what are those medicinal ingredients you’re using on the patients?”
“You don’t see the kids, do you? Where do you think they are right now, and what do you think they’re doing?”
At the Poison Demon’s question, Iron Demon asked with a doubtful expression,
“Gathering herbs?”
“They’re scouring the nearby mountains. You know how hard it is to find medicinal herbs around here.”
“But what does that have to do with tactics or strategy?”
At Iron Demon’s question, the Poison Demon answered,
“I asked the same thing. Then the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult told me this—publicity to gather thirty patients a day, time allocation, securing the necessary medicinal herbs, ensuring space for patients to stay. All of that is impossible without tactical and strategic thinking.”
“Th-that so?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“Yeah. I don’t know about that kind of thing, but one thing is certain.”
“What’s certain?”
At Iron Demon’s question, the Poison Demon replied with a deeply furrowed face,
“It’s damn headache-inducing. If even one thing goes wrong, everything unravels. For example, there aren’t just one or two kinds of herbs. You have to preselect the ones that’ll be used the most and focus on gathering those—but if you spend all night looking only for those, the next day’s treatment goes out the window. You’ve got to manage it just right…….”
Iron Demon cut off the Poison Demon’s explanation, which seemed like it would go on forever.
“Alright, alright. I get it. Just do your best.”
At Iron Demon’s curt words, the Poison Demon pouted slightly, then refocused on treating his patient.
Turning his gaze away from the Poison Demon, Iron Demon saw the inn packed full of people.
“No wonder it felt more crowded than usual…….”
Among that crowd, someone who met Iron Demon’s eyes hurried over.
“It’s been a long time, Elder Iron Demon!”
Looking at the man who bowed deeply, Iron Demon said,
“What brings the Lord of the Temple of the Mad Gale here?”
“Well…… I was put in charge of managing the patients…….”
“By who? The Poison Demon?”
“N-no. It was a direct order from the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. I was told to create space for the patients Elder Poison Demon treats and to manage them.”
“Really?”
At the Lord of the Temple of the Mad Gale’s words, Iron Demon looked around and saw quite a few experts from the Temple of the Mad Gale.
Most of those tending to patients on makeshift beds throughout the inn were martial artists from the Temple of the Mad Gale.
At the sight—something some might call a good deed—Iron Demon muttered softly,
“What kind of nonsense is this…….”
He still could not understand the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult’s intentions.
Passing by Iron Demon, the Golden Flower Manor members entered the inn, but upon seeing it filled with patients, they went back outside.
Yet they could not simply pass it by, since there was no place to obtain water or food within several dozen li. Thus, the Golden Flower Manor merchants sought out the innkeeper to discuss options.
Having his inn effectively seized in broad daylight due to the sudden arrival of the Poison Demon, the innkeeper could not afford to miss the Golden Flower Manor’s Western Trade Caravan as customers.
There were many people, many goods to sell, and everything they carried was silk—information that could be sold as well……
The innkeeper’s thoughts were cut short when the Third Squad Leader, Lee Tae, placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered,
“Your eyes are sparkling. Looks like you’ve got a lot on your mind. Well, there’s certainly plenty of information to sell. But I wonder if the ones receiving it would like it. If they come trying to rob a caravan escorted by the Chief Elder’s Division of the Bright Cult…… haha, that would be entertaining.”
With those words, Lee Tae gave his shoulder a couple of loud pats and walked away.
The innkeeper stared after him with frightened eyes.