Work Text:
Chung Myung told them that Demonic Cult had yet to truly invade Central Plain. Im Sobyeong echoed the same sentiment. But Yun Jong cannot accept that.
If Demonic Cult had yet to truly invade Central Plain, then how should one describe the sight before him?
Chengdu had been burned to ash, with not a single place intact. There were makeshift tents made by those who came, to treat and particularly, to shelter the injured.
Out of 250 that came, 78 had been injured, 14 had not woken from their critical state, 7 had died.
7 had died.
Looking at this number, this battle should have been considered a victory, but Yun Jong was unable to share this sentiment; because those seven lives were forever buried in this place, they could no longer be here with them.
Two of them were from Mount Hua.
Yun Jong pursued his lips.
Baek Cheon grasped his shoulder, pulling him from his thoughts. The Deputy Sect Leader paused, then opened his mouth, “They know.”
Yes, Yun Jong echoed in his mind, they know.
Everyone knew that they might die in this battle but the concept of dying and actual death was so far from each other. It did not sink until one of them fell to the ground and took their last breath. It felt like a slap right on their face.
He wasn't the only one. Jo Gol was still seated in front of the deceased body, staring at his brother-in-arm, unmoving. The redness of his eyes was visible. He didn't even bother to treat himself.
I am fine, he said, but how can a man who charges into the sea of enemy be fine?
Baek Cheon's condition wasn't any better. Yun Jong knew that Baek Cheon wanted no more than to mourn beside Jo Gol, but he couldn't do that. He had shackled himself with chains named responsibility, his back must never wavered, he must stand tall. That was his duty the moment he became Deputy Sect Leader.
Yun Jong choked back a sob.
"They have... They have fought with honor to stop Demonic Cult."
The words 'honor' and 'demonic cult' never bode well in Yun Jong's tongue, because it reminded him of Mount Hua's past, and now he along others were living through the same history their ancestor once did.
He understood now that honor was not glorious as spoken so dazzlingly by later generations. It was carved out of their deceased comrades’ flesh and stitched together into a badge.
Baek Cheon didn't linger any longer and headed toward the tent where Chung Myung had recuperated. This time, they didn't solely rely on Tang family but arranged medic teams. Complete recovery will need more time but necessary first-aid must be done.
Chung Myung had also mentioned that the Demonic Cult will no longer come to Sichuan with certainty, though patrols were still dispatched as it was safer to be cautious than not.
***
Inside Chung Myung's tent, a scream was heard.
“Akh! How can you be the same as your sist—”
Tang Pae stabbed on an acupuncture point and Chung Myung's body immediately limped. The infamous Plum Blossom Sword Demon could only look at Tang family’s next successor in horror as he lose control over his body.
But Tang Pae looked simply and expressionlessly at Chung Myung. He seized the wound on Chung Myung’s body and spoke, “I always thought Soso was exaggerating when she said you like to court with death… I thought the situation in Yangtze river was only a one-time thing, but turns out…”
If Tang Soso was here instead of tending other disciples, she would've spat fires and listed out all the injuries Chung Myung had received before. But since she wasn't here, Im Sobyeong took the role and opened his fan. “For once, these justice people finally realized the truth!”
Chung Myung shot a glare at Im Sobyeong and Im Sobyeong whistled away, pretending he had seen nothing.
Namgung Dowi, who had been silent all this time, suddenly voiced his thought, “Perhaps we should have chained him back in Shanxi. After all, he is our Chief Commander, he shouldn't be running amok like this. What will happen if he suddenly passed out? The chain command will become chaotic.”
Im Sobyeong closes his fans and slapped it on his hand, “Namgung brat finally said something sensible for once! Yes, we should have chained him back!”
Heavenly Comrade Alliance's strategist even feel like shedding tears. Finally, there are people who understand him! All of a sudden, he thought that Namgung Dowi looked more pleasant to the eyes than before.
Chung Myung was double taken. Since he rescued this brat from Plum Blossom Island, Namgung Dowi had been looking at him with worshipful eyes, calling him Dojang this, Dojang that. Where did that annoying but lovable boy go?!
It hasn't even been a few years!
“Amitabha, Buddha also taught that a person has to learn how to restrain oneself, so this can be a good chance for Dojang to learn a bit of it.”
No, even this monk? But he is not practicing Buddhism but Taoism!
Seeing things heading in a different direction, Baek Cheon, who had just arrived, cleared his throat, attracting the attention of five men inside the tent. “How is his condition?”
Tang Pae’s hands moved to tend the cut and wound. “It is not that bad,” he answered, “he had become a lot tougher than before, but the cut on the collar was quite strange.”
“The cut was infused with pure Qi yet it could still remain for a long time—even until now as we speak. I have never seen such a case before.”
“As we all know, Qi should disperse once it has been released out from the martial artist's body, or is destroyed or absorbed by the receiver; but this Qi persistently remains in Dojang's body in its original form.”
In fact, even Chung Myung was surprised when he found out about this. He was occupied by the thought of hacking the pseudo bishop into pieces, to minimize the shockwave from spreading toward others; but before that, the pseudo bishop indeed managed to land a cut on his body. That cut didn't appear to be anything abnormal, it looked like a simple attack. However, this familiar Qi…
Hearing this, Baek Cheon frowned. “Will it cause Qi deviation?”
Tang Pae finished bandaging Chung Myung, said, “No, it is negatable, perhaps it will disappear in a few days but..,” Tang Pae paused, “I think we should investigate more.”
On this, Tang Pae finally stabbed the same acupuncture points and Chung Myung gasped for air, the control of his limb had returned.
“You brat…” Chung Myung was devastated! He was clearly older than any of these youngsters in this room, yet everyone didn't even treat him with care!
No, actually they do, but still!
Chung Myung's head throbbed. These brats keep going on and on, treating him like some sort of porcelain glass, but he was even tougher than steel!
“That is Heavenly Demon’s Qi,” on Chung Myung answered, everyone's head raised up. Chung Myung continued to explain, “the Demonic Cult's believers mostly practice dark martial arts, thus their body reek the smell of death. Heavenly Demon too was no different, but his Qi doesn't reek of death because he is ‘death’ and ‘life’ itself.”
In a sense, Heavenly Demon's Qi could also be considered as pure Qi, but in a completely different spectrum than his.
This was one of the many reasons why Chung Myung was obsessed with cultivating pure Qi despite facing setbacks in early days. It was the highest form of Qi that a martial artist in Central Plain could cultivate and be potent enough when dealing with demonic believers and offset Heavenly Demon's pure Qi.
However, it was indeed quite strange to see Qi condensed in the body of another. Chung Myung could also feel that it was not purposely attacking or trying to invade into his dantian, which made it more strange.
At a martial artist's peak, they could control Qi like additional limbs, but even that, the Qi must remain fused with the main body.
This exceeded the cycle of nature.
Heavenly Demon was an anomaly that was against nature itself, but in the past, he did not display such capability. Did he return and learn anew, just like how Chung Myung is?
However, those who listened to Chung Myung's explanation had another thought: How did he know?
It wasn't the first time Chung Myung imparted knowledge and information about Demonic Cult and Heavenly Demon. It was as if he had personally experienced them in flesh, but how could it be when Chung Myung had just become a proper adult in age a few years ago?
Namgung Dowi mouth parted, wanting to ask, but Im Sobyeong shot a glare at him to shut up.
“This matter can be discuss later. What we can confirm now is that Demonic Cult truly did not intend to invade Central Plain yet. But why?” Im Sobyeong expressed his spectaculation, and direct his attention to Chung Mying, “Did you gain any information when fighting with that pseudo bishop?”
Although the pseudo bishop was shouting Plum Blossom Sword Saint and other incoherent words, his position was far within the enemy lair and only Chung Myung penetrated through it, so the other couldn't hear their conversation.
Chung Myung was, in fact, hesitant to share this piece of information, because doing so would mean explaining the reason behind the words and therefore exposing his identity. Although there were people who were aware of his existence, he had yet to come braces himself for these brats to know.
He admitted, he felt nervous even at the thought.
Despite a lengthy mental debate within himself, in actuality, it only lasted for a second. There were no changes of expression in Chung Myung’s face, and he answered, “That filthy believer was saying incoherent words, but there was one that was eye-catching, he said that we must go to where the Heavenly Demon is.”
Go to where Heavenly Demon is. It was a strange way to say, as though Heavenly Demon was that of someone whom anyone could easily meet and harmless.
Im Sobyeong frowned. Since the new information didn't enlighten the situation, but furthermore confused them, it was best to leave it aside for now, as there were more important things to handle.
“We’ll need more information to reach a conclusion. Perhaps that bastard's dog will bring something to us.” Im Sohyeong was referring to Jang Ilso as the bastard, and Ho Gamyung as the bastard's dog.
“But at least, we have pushed Demonic Cult and regained Sichuan back”, Im Sobyeong commented, despite this place having turned into barren land, a win is still a win.
“Once those injured have been tended, we will need to return to the base as soon as possible. They can only receive proper treatment back home.” Tang Pae echoed.
Baek Cheon followed, “Most should be treated before evening. I have also sent a message back for reinforcement, those from Evil Tyrant Alliance will arrive tomorrow morning, while the remaining will follow afterward. They will be guarding this place, so we can return in peace.”
“I will gather the remaining available to take turn in doing night patrol,” Namgung Dowi said, “so Dojang, please take a proper rest.”
Seeing this, Chung Myung felt touched. In the past, he would need to issue orders and follow up each on everything; but right now, he needs not to do that anymore.
He felt happy, but he still restrained himself to a certain degree from showing it. “Right, a temporary feast should take place after victory too! To boost the morale of our men!”
“Of course,” Baek Cheon already had that in mind. He looked at the injured man in front of him with a smile, “But Chung Myung, you will not participate in it.”
“Huh?”
Hye Yeon nodded, “Please allow me to offer myself for this job, Deputy Sect Leader.”
Namgung Dowi also chimed in, “He will not be able to step out from the tent tonight, I swear in the name of Namgung family.”
“Hold on?!”
Before the evening came, those who were wounded had been tended, while those who could move, buried the corpses of common people and held a ceremony for them.
The deceased martial artist had also received the same ceremonial, and will be carried back to be buried according to each of their sect.
That evening, a short simple feast took place. Death and life was only divided by a thin line, they had experienced it in this fight and it thoroughly soaked into their bones.
Most had yet to truly accept the reality that their comrades had died, but they knew they had to continue moving forward and carry on the will of those who have passed on today.