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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Blade Leaf Valley
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"What kind of person is the Blade Leaf Demon?"
I asked Pa-sun, who seemed brimming with confidence. Of course, the source of his confidence was a level of martial arts that would only work on street thugs; if he met a true martial artist, he would have to hide like a rat.
"Yes, I'll tell you what I've investigated. The Blade Leaf Demon is known in the Cult as a powerful warrior who has reached the state of Transcendent Demon. I've heard he wields a greatsword as large as a man with a tyrannical aura, yet he's a master who can execute techniques so delicate they can cleanly bisect a falling leaf."
*So that's how it is...*
No matter how strong the Golden Fang Poison Claw's poison arts are, he's only at the peak level. How could he possibly face a master of the Transcendent Demon state, which is equivalent to the Divine level?
*Circumstantially, it doesn't seem like the Blade Leaf Demon is cooperating with the Golden Fang Poison Claw. However, there are plenty of bastards who wear the face of a saint while committing all sorts of atrocities behind the scenes, so I can't be certain of anything.*
"Brace yourself. The training we'll undergo after arriving there will be different from what we've done so far."
"Yes!"
At my words that the training would be different, Pa-sun showed a subtle excitement. It was a feeling born from his ignorance that this training was not simply for getting stronger, but for survival.
I led the grinning Pa-sun into Blade Leaf Valley, slowly scanning our surroundings.
"How strange."
As we neared the village, I got an unsettling feeling. Before going to see the administrator, I quickly circled the village. On the surface, it looked like an ordinary village, but...
"What do you mean, strange?"
"It's too clean. Flawless. And yet, the residents look strangely dazed..."
"Isn't it because their work is hard?"
"That's not all. This is our first time here, yet the residents' attitude is overly indifferent... No, never mind."
Explaining further would be difficult for Pa-sun to understand.
I let out a small sigh and approached the warrior guarding the village entrance.
I briefly explained why we were late and then headed to the central pavilion to meet the administrator.
The feeling of strangeness intensified as I entered. Not only did the residents seem soulless, but all the crops seemed to be hidden from view.
*What on earth are they growing here that they have to hide it?*
Harboring this question, I crossed the village and arrived at the main gate of the central pavilion where the administrator was.
"We are farmers dispatched from the Divine Cult. We've come to report to the administrator."
"Alright, what are your names?"
"I am Jang-pal, and this is Jang-bong."
The warrior guarding the central pavilion glanced at the roster and spoke.
"Go inside to the dispatch office. The administrator currently managing Blade Leaf Valley is there, so report to him."
"Yes, understood."
*Reporting at the dispatch office... There's no mention of the Blade Leaf Demon, who is known to be the master of Blade Leaf Valley.*
My questions gradually turned into suspicion. To hide my inner thoughts, I maintained a neutral expression as I went to the dispatch office to report. On the way, I discussed our future plans with Pa-sun.
"Pa-sun. From now on, we need to move cautiously, keeping all possibilities in mind. We don't know what kind of person the administrator is yet, so be careful with your actions and call me Jang-pal. Oh, and as long as we're here, you're Jang-bong."
"Yes, I understand."
"First, we'll create a fictional master to dig for information."
"Huh? A fictional master?"
"Yes. It might be hard to understand, but there are two reasons for this."
"T-two reasons?"
"The first is to observe their reactions and make them suspicious of us."
"W-what are you saying! We should be trying to avoid suspicion, not actively courting it by making things up!"
"We need to arouse their suspicion to understand their true intentions. It's risky, but this is no time to be cautious."
"Th-then what's the second reason?"
"To identify any potential allies."
"Allies?"
"Yes. For now, just follow my lead without asking questions. You'll understand everything later."
"Ah, yes... I understand."
"We're here. Don't make any mistakes."
"Yes!"
Pa-sun and I stopped talking and entered the dispatch office.
"Jang-pal, here to support the farming from Heavenly Mountain. This is Jang-bong."
The administrator, who was said to be from the main headquarters, wore black martial arts robes with a blue cloth tied around his waist. He had a short beard and sharp features.
"So, you're here from the Divine Cult for support? You're late. Your names are... Jang-bong and Jang-pal? Hah... did you try to make your names rhyme or something?"
"Ah, haha, it just so happened to turn out that way."
His reaction was similar to mine when I first received our cover identities. The administrator would likely assume that Pa-sun and I were from the same village or perhaps even brothers.
"The names and descriptions match... Your identities seem to be in order. But why are you two so late? Why did you come separately instead of with the main group?"
A natural question. I had been waiting for this opportunity and made a bold move to test the administrator.
"We were all traveling together at first, but I sprained my leg on the way and fell behind. Then we were attacked by some street thugs..."
"Attacked?"
"Yes! But we managed to escape."
"The two of you, with one of you having a sprained leg?"
"Well... this is a secret, so you must keep it to yourself, Administrator. The truth is, an unknown master from the Divine Cult helped us."
"What? A master from the Divine Cult? Where! Around where did this happen?"
The administrator acted surprised at the news of meeting a Cult master on the way here and began asking various questions.
"Well... I don't know the exact name of the place, but I remember it was about a day's walk from here."
"A day ago? What was his name? Do you know it?"
"Well... since he saved our lives, we asked for his name so we wouldn't forget our gratitude, but he disappeared without telling us."
"Is that so? Did you see his face? Do you remember his appearance?"
"Well... all I know is that he was wearing black robes and had his face covered with a scarf. He only said that he was helping us because we were people of the Cult."
"...I see. Alright. If you happen to meet him again, report to me immediately."
"Understood."
I described the appearance of the fictional master I had concocted, and the administrator reacted sensitively, seeming concerned.
"Then, you may leave."
"Yes."
The moment I bowed to the somewhat anxious-looking administrator and turned to leave.
"No, wait. Jang-pal and Jang-bong."
His voice called out.
At the administrator's call, Pa-sun and I stopped and turned around.
"Yes, having names that rhyme is an important thing."
The administrator let out a chuckle along with his nonsensical words and waved his arms from side to side, causing his sleeves to sway naturally.
*Hmm...? Come to think of it, what is this scent I've been noticing?*
Just as I was feeling puzzled by the suddenly familiar scent.
"So, who's the older brother and who's the younger one?"
As expected, the man mistook us for brothers. There was no need to arouse suspicion by strongly denying it, so I decided to play along.
"Ahaha, I'm the younger one."
"I see, Jang-pal is the younger brother? Then Jang-bong must be the older one."
"Yes... that's right."
Each time he flapped his sleeves while making small talk about such an unimportant topic, a subtle fragrance spread. Suddenly realizing the identity of the scent, I gave him an awkward smile and replied.
Perhaps finding my attitude bland, the administrator waved his hand again and said.
"Alright, work hard now that you're in Blade Leaf Valley. You may go."
"Thank you."
I gave the administrator a short bow and left the dispatch office.
A gaze followed Pa-sun and me as we bowed and left. I couldn't tell if he was wary of us because he was a member of the Cult who had joined hands with the Golden Fang Poison Claw, or if he was interested in us because he was connected to the Blade Leaf Demon.
However, I could tell that he was desperate to find the mysterious master.
After leaving the central pavilion and putting some distance between us, I quietly called to Pa-sun.
"From now until we get to our lodgings, tell everyone you meet that we came from Heavenly Mountain and were nearly killed by thugs near Blade Leaf Valley, but a mysterious master from the Divine Cult appeared and saved us. Also, add that the master's martial arts seemed incredibly profound."
"Huh?"
"The darkest place is under the candlestick. We're looking for potential allies, so just do as I say."
"Yes."
On the way to our lodgings, Pa-sun approached people, greeted them, and spread the story of being saved by a Divine Cult master all over the village, just as I had instructed.
Having cast the bait as widely as possible, we entered our lodgings.
Fortunately, Pa-sun and I were assigned to a two-person room, so we didn't have to be separated. However, upon seeing the small room and the shoddy bedding, Pa-sun glanced at me nervously and spoke.
"Oh... still, this isn't too bad, is it?"
"..."
It seemed Pa-sun had misunderstood my stiff expression. I was currently extending my senses, scanning every corner. I was checking to see if anyone was eavesdropping.
*It seems no one is here yet.*
Sensing nothing, I judged it was safe and asked Pa-sun what I had been curious about.
"By any chance, is Blade Leaf Valley currently cultivating Soul-Bewitching Powder to offer to the Divine Cult?"
"Huh?"
Pa-sun was extremely flustered by my sudden mention of Soul-Bewitching Powder.
"I asked if Soul-Bewitching Powder is prevalent in the Divine Cult."
"Ah, no, sir. I know it's very strictly controlled. B-but why do you ask...?"
"For example, if someone cultivates, distributes, or uses Soul-Bewitching Powder, how does the Divine Cult deal with them?"
"Since the Cult Leader himself has issued a prohibition, they would face severe punishment. It would likely be difficult to escape execution."
"Then how are investigations conducted? Could someone secretly slip it into another's food to frame them?"
Pa-sun's expression began to stiffen.
*D-don't tell me the young master wants to use Soul-Bewitching Powder? Why does he keep bringing it up? Has he reverted to his old scoundrel days? If so... what will happen to me?*
Pa-sun asked in a worried voice.
"By any chance... do you want to use Soul-Bewitching Powder?"
"What?"
I was dumbfounded by Pa-sun's question. I smacked him on the head for his impudence.
After asking the question, Pa-sun was sent flying by the blow to his head, but he quickly returned and sat down. The only thing different was the new lump on his head. I decided I needed to clear up the misunderstanding before it deepened and began to explain.
"I detected a peculiar scent from that administrator. It was very faint, but it was definitely Soul-Bewitching Powder. Moreover, the strange condition of the farmers we met here seems related."
"...!"
A very faint and subtle scent that an ordinary person would not have noticed.
But from my time as the Divine Doctor, I had experience treating addicts of Soul-Bewitching Powder, so I knew it well. As a result, I could recognize it even if only a slight trace of the scent remained.
"I-is that true? That's impossible! I heard that the Blade Leaf Demon of Blade Leaf Valley despises poisons and medicines. But Soul-Bewitching Powder?"
Hearing Pa-sun's words, I narrowed my eyes and said.
"Yes, if the Blade Leaf Demon is of sound mind, that is."
From what I've seen so far, if the Blade Leaf Demon hasn't been acting like a good person all this time, then he must have fallen victim to the Golden Fang Poison Claw.
In that case, is the administrator we saw a subordinate of the Blade Leaf Demon, following the Golden Fang Poison Claw's orders because he's addicted to Soul-Bewitching Powder? Or is he the one who spread the powder throughout this village?
*It's too early to jump to conclusions. I need solid evidence. This might be quite a complicated process.*
I thought of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
*Golden Fang Poison Claw! Just what kind of scheme are you plotting?*
Just as my fists were clenching in anger.
"But Young Master, do you think someone will really come looking for us just because we spread some rumors?"
"Let's wait and see. To those who are desperate, we might seem like a ray of light..."
Just then. I felt a presence outside the door and stopped speaking mid-sentence.
There was a knock, and the door opened.
"It's time to go to work now."
"Ah, yes. We'll be right out."
And so, Pa-sun and I organized our belongings and followed the farmer who had come to guide us out to the fields.
We were on our way to the fields, following the farmer who had come to fetch us.
With the heightened senses I gained after learning the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon, I scanned our surroundings in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. As expected, there was a watcher following Pa-sun and me.
It must be because of the information I deliberately spread. But who is the one watching...
I deliberately moved around conspicuously to pinpoint the watcher's location.
I had anticipated being watched from the moment I mentioned the unknown master of the Divine Cult. Fortunately, they underestimated Pa-sun and me, so while they watched, they weren't overly guarded.
While farming, going to the latrine, or returning to our lodgings. I pinpointed the watcher's location throughout my waking hours.
Furthermore, when the day's work was done, I took Pa-sun straight to the back mountain. It was partly to spar with him, but also to deliberately engage in conspicuous behavior.
It wasn't just training. I brought some bamboo leaf liquor and, with Pa-sun, pretended to lament our hard day while drinking it. After we finished, I collected the faint remaining scent and created a tracking incense, imbued with a tracking art.
It was a technique that maximized the ability to distinguish scents, something I had learned while researching the Myriad Fragrance Grand Restoration Formation.
I spread the bamboo-scented tracking incense, imbued with the tracking art, far and wide.
The colorless scent drifted on the gentle breeze.
While Pa-sun and I drank the bamboo leaf liquor, laughing and talking, the tracking scent rode the wind and safely settled on the watchers.
*The range of the bamboo scent tracking art I just created is about ten li. It should be sufficient for tracking within Blade Leaf Valley.*
And thus, the investigation into Blade Leaf Valley began in earnest.