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When I asked if he had money, Right Valley Leader said,
“Sect Leader, I inherited so much money that I wouldn’t possibly be able to use it all in this life. No matter how much is needed, I can be a patron to the Sect Leader and the Low-Down Sect.”
This was an unexpected answer. However, it didn’t surprise me too much because I already expected that he would have had a good load of money.
Actually, asking if one has money out of the blue is an odd thing. Everyone is looking at me, hoping that I will reveal my true intentions behind asking for such a request.
I look around the mountain hut (which seems to be where this guy stayed), the surrounding gardens, the flower path, and the small pond.
“But, who created the overall atmosphere of this flower-like garden here?”
“My grandfather and I were the ones who made it. I had nothing to do because I lived in the valley.”
“It really does give a flower-like vibe.”
It wasn’t like they were cursing at me, but it felt like they wanted me to spit it out.
Everyone is looking at me, so I decide to get to the point with a serious tone.
“Anyway, if I face an enemy here, whether I win or lose, this beautiful flower field will be turned into a chaotic wasteland. You get what I mean?”
To which the Valley Leader nods.
“I understand.”
“I am glad that you have a lot of money. For now, lead the people and evacuate with Flower Valley Leader. But their place will not be safe either. Flower Valley Leader and Lady Iron Toad. Why so?”
To which she answers.
“Since we touched the Demon Cult, we will not be safe.”
“I am glad you understand.”
I show them where to head.
“Well, White Face Young Lord and the people are probably at least an outside force of the Demon Cult. In other words, we already touched them. It is probably equivalent to us pulling off a couple petals, but it is still a right excuse for them to get angry. Right Valley Leader isn’t safe, and the same goes for the other Valley Leader. You people will take all that you saved up and get ready to move away from this place and to Mount Hua’s Lotus Peak with others.”
This made the Right Valley Leader look at me wide-eyed.
“Uh? Mount Hua?”
I place my hands behind my back and continue to talk while looking at him.
“For now, take the Rain Flower Scent.”
I look at Master Yukhap.
“As soon as Yukhap eats it, let him have a good time to cultivate. I will continue to talk during that time. Time cannot be wasted now.”
When he nods, his men begin to move to get the thing and he asks me,
“Any reason to move to Mount Hua?”
“Would I tell you to do things without reason? The Demon Cult is a religious group. They are the ones who make and believe their own teachings even though it might seem strange to us. If they believe in odd things, then they would also be in the habit of avoiding odd things. It seems like the old elders of the Cult had often been killed by the strong, and it often happened in Mount Hua and the Southern Edge Mountain. It is a sacred mountain for us, but it is one which the Demon Cult forbids its people to go. As time goes, maybe that will change, but right now they aren’t ready to change.”
I speak to all who are gathered here.
“Go to that place if you want to live.”
Lady Iron Toad recommends something because we are acquaintances.
“Sect Leader, in that case, let us head to Mount Hua together with Master Yukhap and the Low-Down Sect too. You have enemies to face now too, right?”
I call for the three of them with a hand gesturing.
“Come close.”
All three of them move closer and I speak in a low tone.
“Because you are moving your place of residence… I will let the three of you work together to build several residences so many people can come live there.”
The three of them look at each other. I also ask for a house to be built for me to stay.
“Later, build me a place to stay.”
Right Valley Lord, gulps.
“Isn’t that too big of a task, Sect Leader?”
“I know that leaving isn’t easy. But dying because you couldn’t leave your home wouldn’t be right, right? This place is actually the place White Faced Young Lord talked about. He said they grew the medicine out there to avoid being caught by Demon Cult. I stole his internal Qi and sent him there. If he doesn’t get it right, you have to kill him and find the place where the ‘antidote’ is being made and burn it all well.”
“Um, I understand.”
“He promised me that he would be going on a journey once he cleans up the place. It’s only right to kill him if he doesn’t stick to his part of the plan. Conversely, if the three of you don’t get things right, I will have to come and check. Lady knows my temper right?”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
Flower Valley Leader, who was listening to all of this, asks a question.
“But, while we are settling down and building several houses, when will you settle down?”
I smile.
“I don’t know that. If I cannot come back after fighting, you people will have to take care of the Low-Down Sect. How many more years that I will focus on this fight will have to be seen.”
“Yes.”
I pressure Right Valley Leader’s tasks.
“Valley Leader.”
“Yes.”
“Money should be spent at such times. If you die, that much money will turn useless. Spread the money while preparing various things so that people can live around the Lotus Peak. If that amount of money runs out, I will give you the money I have accumulated during my time… just throw in all the money.”
“I understand.”
“I will send those who have no place to go, like the children without parents in Kangho, so keep that in mind. Do you understand why I am telling you to head to Mount Hua?”
The three says,
“I understand.”
I look at their faces and say,
“The four of us….”
Master Yukhap interrupts me.
“Why four? It is five.”
I correct my words.
“The five of us. In fact, we aren’t close to each other. We haven’t gotten close during this time, and we don’t even hold a leader position here, but Yukhap and I will be risking our lives first to buy you time. You should survive till the end and settle down in Mount Hua. Since we are all strong people, we repay the grace by showing grace accordingly along with resentment at an equal level.”
“Right.”
“Then there is nothing more to discuss. Let us get organized from here and leave for the Flower Valley. At least, Right Valley Leader will have to leave after his initial symptoms get resolved. It seems like a lot of time, but, in reality, it still isn’t that much time.”
Right Valley Leader speaks to me with an urgent expression.
“Sect Leader, shall we dig a trap with poison weed? If we can remember the location, it will help in the fight.”
“We are running on a tight schedule, leave it.”
“I understand.”
In the meantime, his subordinates bring a small box.
“Sect Leader, we have brought the Rain Flower Scent.”
I point to Master Yukhap.
“Give it to master.”
“We brought two?”
I scratch my head and say,
“Give it.”
After receiving one, I put it in my pocket and gesture for the Valley Leaders and Lady.
“Move swiftly. There are a lot of people.”
I tell Yukhap who is holding the box.
“Yukhap, take it and cultivate right away. I have no intention of having mine right now.”
Master Yukhap nods.
“I understand.”
People were busy moving around, and from time to time there were people who would come back to greet me and try to talk with Master Yukhap. Whenever that happened, I made everyone stay silent and sent them away.
This is because he had to cultivate. Even in the last moment of farewell, I only waved my hand and mouthed the word,
‘Bye.’
Everyone bowed their heads to me and walked out of the valley.
It was like refugees were marching out with huge things loaded onto their backs.
I looked at the valley cross-legged and sat near Yukhap. While the Ghost Demon from the previous life closed his eyes to cultivate…
I fell into my thoughts, listening to the sound of the birds and water around.
I was half asleep when I got woken up to the sound of Yukhap’s breathing. After finishing the cultivation with easy gestures, he opens his eyes with a smile.
Just looking at his expression, I can say that he had a good performance. In a way, this pill was no different from the one that White Faced Young Lord was using to control men. Drugs.
Master Yukhap turns to me with a smile he can’t hide.
“You should take it too and hurry the cultivation. We can take turns.”
I burst into laughter.
I had no intention of cultivating in front of the previous life’s Ghost Demon. And with my body already containing a pill the size of a great bird within, I didn’t have to rush.
“Later.”
To which his expression hardens.
“Sect Leader, do you still not believe me?”
“Master.”
“Speak.”
“I suddenly thought of this. Do you have disciples? I bet those wormy idiots aren’t your disciples.”
“None.”
“Why?”
Suddenly he goes silent. It isn’t until I see the look on his face that I remember the fact the one that was learning his martial arts had died. In a way, it was because of that disciple that he who was called Master Yukhap had turned out to become a Demon with the passing of time. This man is a man who had never been able to change the direction that his life was supposed to take.
But scars are common to everyone, so I say what I want to.
“I will try to take a disciple later.”
“What about me?”
“I will teach a disciple who has the qualities of the greatest swordsman in this world. Since one has to lead the next era, it would be better to teach martial arts safely in Mount Hua. You teach a disciple at Southern Edge Mountain.”
“Why me?”
I smile as I say,
“Let’s watch them fight each other.”
“….”
“Since ancient times, it is most fun to watch kids fight. You know, but you have to fight against a guy you hate, and I am one who improves with time. It is foolish to train against a competitor who is like a wall. You understand what I mean, right?”
“Right.”
“Since you never know.”
“What?”
“You might be better at teaching disciples than me.”
“Do you have to say it? Of course, I am better.”
I match his pace.
“Come to think of it. Actually, I might be better.”
“You would be with that ruined personality of yours.”
“You are as good as I am.”
I giggle and make fun of him.
“And I already won.”
“What nonsense? You don’t even have a disciple yet.”
I take out the pill box from my pocket and wave it at him.
“I didn’t take it. I will keep it until the day I get a disciple. So that I can immediately take down your disciple.”
Yukhap speaks with a mocking look.
“It will rot with time. Keep it. As soon as it turns into poison with time, you will lose a disciple. And you are too impulsive too.”
As soon as I hear his words, I open the box, put the pill into my mouth, and chew it while looking at the man.
“Master, thanks for the advice, better to have it right now.”
Master Yukhap seems confused and I mumble as I continue to chew it.
“This takes so much like medicine. The bitter taste of life.”
Master Yukhap jumps and says,
“I will keep watch so quickly cultivate. I don’t know, for all we know, we could be the ones who fight well only when we pay attention to the terrain around us.”
With hands behind his back, Master Yukhap begins to walk around the valley. He seems to think I don’t like him around me.
I stare at him for long and then sigh as I suddenly have this thought.
I mean, people really do change in life.
But that change is….
It wasn’t easy for me and for the Ghost Demon in the previous life. I go to the table, put my dagger on it, and stretch my legs on the empty chair. White Face Young Lord gets his first vacation in life and heads to Mount Hua, but for me, this is a short vacation.
With both hands behind my head, I look at the sky above and take a deep breath. While I inhale the scent of flowers, I ask Master Yukhap.
“Yukhap.”
“What is it?”
“Are there flowers on Mount Hua?”
“Uh? Is that a question? Of course, there are many.”
“As I thought.”
“Thought what?”
“You don’t fit well with Mount Hua. Go to Southern Edge. The flowers will be shocked at your god ugly face. It would be right for me to go.”
I could hear him sigh loudly.
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Looking at Master Yukhap, I say,
“I will head to Mount Hua. Because I am more handsome than you.”
And he shouts from somewhere.
“You damned thing stop talking already. Do some cultivation!”
“Did you call me a damned thing?”
“…”
“That is me.”
I mumble looking at the flowers around.
“… Lee Zaha over flowers.”
This seems a bit too much, so I chuckle.
Tsk tsk….
From a distance, the guy clicks his tongue. Suddenly, when I turn my head, the Ghost Demon of the previous life is looking at the flowers with tight lips.
‘The flowers will be shocked you bastard.’
This time, my thoughts didn’t escape my mouth.