231 - Genius Martial Arts Trainer

**Chapter Title: Red Tiger Sect (2)** "Are you sure these monks are really from Shaolin?" Mu-Gung's naive reaction drew a disapproving look from Gu-Yang-Pae. "They're monks, so they're naive about these things. But you're the one being carried on the back of a Shaolin monk. Doesn't leave much room for you to comment," Mu-Jin retorted, defending Mu-Gung, though he recognized the validity in Gu-Yang-Pae's criticism. Gu-Yang-Pae merely snorted dismissively in response to Mu-Jin's comment. "I told you yesterday you should have let him go alone. Had he left alone earlier, he wouldn’t be getting a free ride now," Gu-Yang-Pae said, turning to shout at Mu-Gung, who seemed enchanted by Soo-Rin-Ya's allure. "From now on, just focus on this person's back as we travel! He will block your view of that tempting woman," Gu-Yang-Pae suggested a practical solution, and Mu-Jin, still reeling from the mental onslaught but impressed nonetheless, chimed in. "Oh? That's actually a good idea." Mu-Jin also found himself affected by the psychological attack and hadn't thought of such a practical(?) solution. 'This shows he's quite different from Do-Wol-Cheon.' Unlike Do-Wol-Cheon, who would obediently follow Mu-Jin's words, Gu-Yang-Pae wasn't afraid to talk back and come up with solutions on the fly. ‘Well, he wasn’t in the first part to begin with.’ Gu-Yang-Pae was an almost legendary figure. Not only in martial prowess but also in devising strategies and tactics all by himself. "So let us move out now!" It was peculiar that someone like him was now shouting orders from Mu-Jin’s back. --- Thanks to Gu-Yang-Pae's solution, the party managed to reach near Mengdon Village by dusk. "Hoo. If we're unlucky, I might lose some muscle today," Mu-Jin expressed his concern with a sigh, while Gu-Yang-Pae sighed in relief. Although it had been a close call, they had arrived at their destination within the promised time. "Thank you for your help. Now that we've reached our destination, we'll part ways from here," Gu-Yang-Pae announced. The Red Tiger Sect was the martial power of the demonic cult. Once gathered at the rendezvous point, they had to operate for a specific mission, with secrecy being paramount. Thus, Gu-Yang-Pae bid his farewell and strode confidently towards Mengdon Village. "...Why are you following me?" For some reason, Mu-Jin followed him, which meant that naturally, Mu-Gung and Soo-Rin-Ya also followed. "Because I'm hungry. We’ve traveled non-stop till here; shouldn’t we at least get a meal before we separate? Be generous." Mu-Jin spoke boldly and entered Mengdon Village with Gu-Yang-Pae. In truth, it wasn't just about the food. Having arrived at the nick of time, they needed to be ready for the imminent event. With a nonchalant air, Mu-Jin followed Gu-Yang-Pae into an inn. "!!!" The people inside were surprised to see Gu-Yang-Pae arriving at this late hour but, being part of the martial strength of the demonic cult, they quickly composed themselves and continued their meal as if nothing happened. Gu-Yang-Pae approached a middle-aged man who was seated in a corner. "May I join you?" "Meeting a fellow townsman in such a remote place. Please, have a seat." They exchanged greetings like strangers, but beneath those words, they communicated secretly. - Sorry for the delay, sect leader. - As long as you arrived by the promised date, we’ll overlook it this time. The 'mission' will commence around the hours of the Ox (1-3 am), so take a rest until then. The sect leader discreetly gestured towards Mu-Jin's group with his eyes as he inquired about them. - But who are those people you've brought along? Gu-Yang-Pae hesitated momentarily before deciding on the most appropriate response. Claiming ignorance would seem unnatural, but revealing them as Shaolin could invite unnecessary misunderstandings. - They are individuals we encountered while dealing with bandits, apart from the Southerner with the leopard. - Then why have you brought them here? - ...During the eradication of the bandits, I sustained internal injuries and had to rely on their support. The sect leader nearly lost his composure for a moment at the unexpected news. - You, injured by mere bandits? - The bandits were easily dealt with, but an insignificant misunderstanding led to a duel that resulted in my injury. - And, they accompanied you to this place as a form of reparation for injuring you? - Correct. - It's a peculiar connection. The fact that someone capable of injuring Gu-Yang-Pae, who was stronger than himself as sect leader, was perplexing. Observing Mu-Jin's group casually, the leader assessed them further. "Hey! Do you perhaps speak any Southern dialect?" Mu-Jin suddenly addressed the sect leader upon making eye contact, much like a fellow countryman unexpectedly encountered abroad. Caught off guard, the leader watched as Mu-Jin continued without delay. "Could you help us order food? I'm afraid we lack proficiency in the Southern language." But they didn’t know the Southern language while traveling with someone in Southern attire? A curious situation set the leader deep in thought. As Mu-Jin persisted, Gu-Yang-Pae sighed deeply and stepped in to order the food instead. "Ha ha ha. You’re quite kind." Feigning the appearance of a traveler meeting someone new, Mu-Jin chatted amiably. As conversations continued between Mu-Jin and Mu-Gung, and through gestures with Soo-Rin-Ya, Mu-Gung appeared visibly flustered by the explicit attention from Soo-Rin-Ya, choking on his tea as a result. "Cough, cough." Finally, as the food began being served by the innkeeper... BANG!!! Suddenly, the wall of the inn exploded outward. In the chaos of the unexpected attack, some guests panicked while others quickly drew their hidden weapons. 'Finally, it's happening.' Mu-Jin, anticipating this moment, calmly stood up with a composed expression. At that moment, a group of assailants emerged from the dust cloud, speaking an unintelligible Southern dialect. "Kill them all!" A middle-aged man, seemingly the leader, shouted in the Southern language, prompting his warriors to charge. "Who are you, and why are you attacking us?" Gu-Yang-Pae quickly stepped forward and interrogated them in Southern dialect. "Did you think we wouldn't know you're targeting our Solar Palace?" At the man's accusation, Gu-Yang-Pae’s expression turned hesitant and confused. "What are they saying?" The leader of the Red Tiger Sect asked Gu-Yang-Pae, realizing the limits of his own understanding of the Southern language, which he had only grasped at a basic level in preparation for the mission. "They claimed that we are targeting their Solar Palace," Gu-Yang-Pae translated. "How did they...?" "Was our mission related to the Solar Palace?" Gu-Yang-Pae asked, bewilderment evident on his face. The leader could only nod, equally perplexed. 'How could the information have leaked... who could be responsible?' Before suspecting the Red Tiger Sect's own members, the leader’s thoughts immediately went to Mu-Jin and his companions, as they had arrived alongside Gu-Yang-Pae and were outsiders. 'Except, Gu-Yang-Pae didn’t know the mission either. How could they have gotten that information?' The leader himself only learned the target from a sealed message yesterday, making him the sole individual within the sect aware of the mission details. 'Could it be... have we been led into a trap by someone within our own ranks?' As the realization of the worst-case scenario struck him, his face darkened with unease. "Hey, could you translate this for me?" Unexpectedly, Mu-Jin stepped forward and asked Gu-Yang-Pae to translate for him. Mu-Jin already knew they would attack this place. That’s how the plot unfolded in the first part of the novel, *Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon’s Return*. In the novel, Gu-Yang-Pae, having attained enlightenment after a duel with a blood monk, effortlessly swept these invaders aside, leading to a confrontation with the Solar Palace. 'But with his internal injuries not fully healed yet, diving headlong into danger is too risky.' Due to unforeseen variables, things had spiraled out of planned control. Mu-Jin originally intended to avoid meddling in Gu-Yang-Pae’s affairs since the prodigiously talented youngster was destined to become the Heavenly Demon without Mu-Jin’s intervention. Nevertheless, his involvement was necessary just to fill the role of the missing blood monk. However, having turned Gu-Yang-Pae into a human wreck himself, Mu-Jin once again found his hand forced into the unfolding events. Presently, Mu-Jin sought merely to buy time until Gu-Yang-Pae could recover, having prepared by bringing with him the most suitable candidate. "We mean no harm; it’s all a misunderstanding," Mu-Jin conveyed through Gu-Yang-Pae, though his words were met with disdain from the middle-aged leader of the Solar Palace. "Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, death will reveal the truth!" "I’ll prove why it’s a misunderstanding!" Mu-Jin shouted, turning to glance at Mu-Gung, still bewildered by the situation. Naturally, the attention of the Solar Palace warriors shifted to Mu-Gung. "Me?" Mu-Gung pointed at himself with a bewildered expression, and Mu-Jin nodded. "We are here merely for an exchange of martial arts with the Solar Palace!" Mu-Jin shouted one final time and privately transmitted a message to Mu-Gung. - Now’s the time! Show them the Buddha's Palm just like Mu-Yul did! This was Mu-Jin's strategy: leveraging the art of Hyelyang Qigong to win favor, just like how Mu-Yul’s display had earned respect from the warriors of the Southern Beast Palace. "Aha!" Upon comprehending Mu-Jin’s plan, Mu-Gung hastily prepared. The immense energy pooled in his dantian surged like volcanic lava through his meridians. Fully charged, Mu-Gung released a strike towards the sky. KWA-AAAANG!! A colossal, fiery palm burst forth, blasting through the already half-ruined inn roof. 'Hopefully, that will do it.' Impressed by Mu-Gung's magnificent display of Buddha's Palm, Mu-Jin turned to the Solar Palace warriors, only to meet a shocking sight. "Daring to provoke us, are you!?" Unlike the favorable reaction of the beast warriors, the Solar Palace warriors appeared furious. "#@$@#$!" With reddened faces, the Southern fighters roared enraged, prompting Mu-Jin to exchange incredulous—and somewhat panicked—looks with Gu-Yang-Pae. "...What on earth are they saying?" "It's impossible for there to be two suns under the sky! Daring to showcase the art of the sun in our presence! That's what they said." Gu-Yang-Pae answered with an exasperated expression directed at Mu-Jin. '...This wasn't what I planned.' Mu-Jin felt utterly wronged. His plan had been devised with both Mu-Yul’s precedent and another instance in mind. 'But that guy was an outsider too, wasn’t he?' There was a man in the Solar Palace who had held a significant position precisely for mastering the Hyelyang Qigong despite being an outsider. This man appeared in the novel’s first part, during the extensive conflict between Gu-Yang-Pae’s Red Tiger Sect and the Solar Palace. Based on his and Mu-Yul’s cases, Mu-Jin had calculated that practitioners of similar arts would be welcomed among the Southerners. Frustrated by the failed plan, Mu-Jin racked his brain over how to handle the aftermath when an unexpected voice cut through the chaos. "I should be the one saying you're daring!" Soo-Rin-Ya suddenly shouted. "How dare you step into our Beast Palace’s territory without consent!" Recognizing the Amazonian warrior before them, the middle-aged leader of the Solar Palace furrowed his brow in annoyance. "Still wearing such revealing garbs, I see. Beast Palace warrior." "Hmph. It's amusing to speak of decorum while harboring lewd thoughts," Soo-Rin-Ya retorted sharply. As she confidently displayed her physique and retorted, the middle-aged man took a step back in astonishment. "Lewd thoughts! Are you trying to accuse me of something?" "The instinct to procreate is natural for beasts. Obviously, unless you're a eunuch, such thoughts must have crossed your mind. It's your lack of confidence that's so suspicious!" Soo-Rin-Ya declared, espousing the animal-aligned philosophy of the Beast Palace. Of course, the middle-aged man, who had no interest in engaging in such nonsensical banter, pressed his thumb against his temple in frustration. "Enough of this pointless talk. This matter has nothing to do with the Beast Palace, so step aside." "A warrior of the Beast Palace never abandons a friend, no matter the circumstances." At this declaration, the man's previously irritated expression underwent a drastic change. "You wretched woman! So you're saying the Beast Palace intentionally involved them?" As Gu-Yang-Pae translated their exchange—albeit slightly delayed—Mu-Jin covered his face with his hands. 'Damn it. This is spiraling out of control.' Finishing a silent, exasperated face rub, Mu-Jin shot a pleading look at Soo-Rin-Ya, hoping she would cease speaking. "Hmph. Did you think a warrior of the Beast Palace would be intimidated by the Solar Palace?" Soo-Rin-Ya, however, responded by defiantly taunting her opponent.