Sichuan's Mad Dragon (Novel) - Chapter 153 - Blood Flower Crone
Chapter 153 – Blood Flower Crone
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Edited by Celestial Knight
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Chapter 153 – Blood Flower Crone
“Wasted your trip? What do you mean by that?”
When Won-gong asked in surprise, Heuk-wol answered in her usual tone.
“I mean the Crimson Spider Sect won’t venture outside Guizhou regardless of whether the Orthodox-Evil War breaks out or not, Monk.”
Ju-seong interjected.
“Please explain in more detail.”
Even if the Crimson Spider Sect was currently insular, it hadn’t always been that way.
The Blood Flower Crone’s terrifying prowess and ruthless methods, combined with her fearsome martial arts, had once been a calamity for the evil and dark path practitioners of old Guizhou.
Especially her knack for reading situations, turning profits, and riding the current of the times… it was worthy of a kingdom’s prime minister.
Yet to say they wouldn’t venture outside Guizhou… what could this mean? Heuk-wol answered the two’s questions: “Right now, Grandmother is in no position to focus on anything else. Grandmother’s dear friend is critically ill from old age, and her friend’s children are also wasting away.”
Ju-seong cocked his head and asked.
“Are you saying the Sect Master has a peer she considers a friend as an equal? Isn’t she someone with hardly a rival in the world?”
Heuk-wol’s answer was a wise response to a foolish question.
“Must one only befriend those of the same level? If being together is enjoyable and beneficial for both, isn’t that a true kindred spirit?”
There was a strange sense of enlightenment, but thinking about it, Heuk-wol was also originally from Emei Sect, so it was natural.
“Then… what if I try treating that friend? No, wait. You said the friend is about to pass away from old age… How about at least examining the children?”
“Young hero, suddenly?”
“Did I not mention? I’m also skilled in medicine. My martial brother is none other than Sichuan’s foremost physician, Seo-baek.”
Though Guizhou was insular, news of Seo-baek reached them occasionally. It was partly because they were in an adjacent province, but also thanks to his truly divine medical skills.
They said he was overwhelmingly superior to any physician of martial artist background, even without a shred of internal energy.
That was like a one-eyed man winning a sword fight against someone with two perfectly good eyes.
Heuk-wol knew Ju-seong was perhaps somewhat impudent, but not someone who spoke lies. She marveled genuinely.
“My, I didn’t know that. The teacher who produced both Sichuan’s foremost physician and jianghu’s foremost rising star must be beyond imagination.”
“Heh, indeed a magnificent person. Yes indeed.”
Ju-seong nodded, keeping his master’s alias a secret to the end.
But Heuk-wol soon sighed and shook her head.
“But it would be difficult. Or rather, from the start… hmm. Never mind this talk. In any case, haven’t you achieved your goal? Either way, Grandmother won’t be moving.”
“Hmm…”
They had indeed accomplished what the Martial Alliance had sent them for. The Blood Flower Crone’s closest confidant had confirmed that the Crimson Spider Sect wouldn’t interfere in this incident.
But there was still one more outstanding problem.
“Could you at least arrange a meeting with the Sect Master? Having always admired her great reputation, I’d like to pay my respects as a junior.”
Heuk-wol’s expression shifted subtly.
“I’m not sure… I’ll try speaking to her. It may take some time, so please stay at the lodgings we’ll prepare for you. Yeo-un, guide them.”
Mok Yeo-woon, who hadn’t said a word the entire time, suddenly answered.
“Yes, Sister.”
Heuk-wol receded into the distance, leaving only Won-gong, Ju-seong, and Mok Yeo-woon. Ju-seong grinned and asked.
“Last time you called Lady Heuk-wol ‘ajumma.’ Did you learn how to address women without earning their ire?”
Ju-seong consistently called Heuk-wol “Lady” despite her scars and past her prime years for a reason.
Who, man or woman, wouldn’t like being called beautiful or handsome? Mok Yeo-woon seemed to have grasped this principle too, but that wasn’t it.
“That’s not it. I’ve also become Grandmother’s foster son.”
“Ah, I see.”
Peculiarly, the Blood Flower Crone didn’t bestow her surname on her foster children. They either continued using their existing names or made up new ones like Heuk-wol.
Her real name was barely known to jianghu to begin with.
While Ju-seong was unpacking and chatting with Mok Yeo-woon about various matters, Yi Pyo-eum, who had guided them earlier, came and delivered a message.
“Grandmother says she’ll see you at the hour of the monkey tomorrow.”
Ju-seong felt an inexplicably ominous premonition. Heuk-wol had said it would take time, yet the appointment was made for the very next day.
Apparently, the Blood Flower Crone had no intention of granting whatever request Ju-seong might make. That’s why she’d set the schedule so quickly without any deliberation.
To reject him quickly and send him on his way.
“Monk, I think this has gone sideways. What should we do?”
Won-gong had already settled into a cross-legged meditation position on the bed, immersed in contemplation. He answered quietly.
“No more answers come from thinking further here. The environment is unfamiliar, and we have no information. We’ll have to find a breakthrough when we meet her tomorrow. If nothing works out, we’ll just have to return as we are.”
Something Ju-seong had felt while traveling jianghu: whether Taoist or Buddhist monk, those famous for their spiritual powers spoke cleanly and clearly without unnecessary koans.
Ju-seong stroked his chin briefly, then asked again.
“Then what about Guangxi Province?”
His estimation was that the Green Forest King was currently holed up in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, enduring the demonic forces’ assault.
Won-gong tapped his finger lightly on his knee for a moment, then opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“I don’t know either.”
“Good night.”
“Good night to you as well, benefactor.”
Having exchanged pleasantries, they fell asleep under an unfamiliar ceiling. Since martial artists’ ceilings changed frequently, both of them slept deeply without dreams.
* * *
The next day, warm afternoon sunlight slid down the gentle slopes of the canyon walls. The tiered rice paddies and bamboo-shoot-like buildings glowed yellow in the sunlight.
Ju-seong and Won-gong were guided to the largest building in the center of the Crimson Spider Sect’s domain.
‘This, too, is completely different from the Five Poison Valley.’
The Five Poison Valley Master’s residence was hidden beyond recognition. But the Crimson Spider Sect Master’s residence proudly flaunted its majesty, as if daring anyone to come try.
The building sat atop a stone platform about seven zhang high.
The platform, built with large bricks, had arched passages through it, with the Maling River Canyon’s main channel flowing through.
Climbing one hundred and twenty steps brought them to a door one zhang in size.
Yi Pyo-eum spoke softly.
“She said if you can open this door using only the power of internal energy, without physical strength, she will see you.”
After all, this was jianghu. It meant she wouldn’t even bother speaking with someone whose martial arts fell below standard.
Ju-seong looked up casually at the door, made of some crimson stone… solid rock in a single piece… wondering what material it was.
Eight lines were carved in intaglio radiating from the center of the door, likely representing a spider’s eight legs.
The ‘ju’ in Crimson Spider Sect meant spider, after all.
Ju-seong stood before it, let out a soft shout, and pushed both palms at five-tenths power.
The door had to be opened using only the power of internal energy, that is, only through fajin, without using physical strength. He couldn’t push the door with his palms; he had to simply rest his hands on the door and release only internal energy. An unpleasant vibration rang out, and the door shuddered but didn’t open. Ju-seong calmed his senses and tried again at seven-tenths power.
-Thummmm…
Again, an unpleasant sound, and the door shuddered more but still wouldn’t open.
‘Even at ten-tenths power, it wouldn’t be easy? There must be few who can push this using only internal energy.’
The advantage of using physical strength was the ability to continuously apply force to push.
Consider opening a door by punching it. You’d have to strike it with considerable force.
On the other hand, if you pushed gently, you could open the door with very little force.
But what about internal energy? Martial artists usually expelled internal energy in bursts. Same with palm techniques and sword energy.
Ju-seong let out a soft exclamation as if he’d realized something.
“Ah…!”
Meanwhile, Won-gong stepped forward, rolling up his sleeves. He blazed golden Buddhist light from both arms as he spoke.
“Benefactor Ju-seong, let me try at ten-tenths power.”
“Wait a moment, Monk. Don’t act like your brain is made of muscle.”
Stopping Won-gong, Ju-seong rubbed his palms together and organized his thoughts, then gently placed both palms on the door.
“Whew.”
He relaxed his body and exhaled deeply to release tension.
Using internal energy like a hand. The internal energy had to stick to the door and continue moving, carrying Ju-seong’s intent.
Internal energy carrying intent. Once he grasped it, there was no hesitation. The power needed was merely one-tenth. A sound like one might hear at an ancient temple rang out as the two-panel door slowly opened.
Before Ju-seong’s eyes, a long great hall unfolded.
And at the far end of the hall where two rows of columns stretched, a figure sat cross-legged atop a lump of crimson rock salt.
An elderly woman’s voice echoed through the hall.
“A fine sound.”
A whispering voice bounced and curved along the walls and pillars of the hall, striking Ju-seong’s ears.
“It’s been ages since anyone made the Blood Stone Door ring like a bell. Only those with the potential for Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown can produce that sound.”
Ju-seong recognized her identity immediately.
He promptly offered a fist salute with head bowed deeply. At the same time, he didn’t forget to kick the shin of Won-gong, who was about to rudely only bow with half-closed palms.
[Before a revered figure of jianghu, martial etiquette matters more than Buddhist courtesy.]
This was a different situation from meeting orthodox masters. Evil path masters were truly unpredictable.
Won-gong also came to his senses upon hearing the Transmission and offered a fist salute.
Ju-seong greeted her in an uncharacteristically polite voice.
“I pay my respects to the great senior, the renowned Crimson Spider Sect Master.”
Only the sounds of fingers snapping twice… tak, tak… came back without reply. Then, by some mysterious art, the braziers between the columns lit up.
-Whoosh!
Only Ju-seong, who had deployed Celestial Eye, could perceive the principle.
‘Insane…’
She infused internal energy and flicked her finger. In that instant, she scattered the sparks that burst forth, sending them to eight braziers simultaneously.
Then, with a second finger flick, she shot eight streams of finger wind simultaneously.
By the time that finger wind reached its destination, it had lost force and dispersed into just enough breeze to ignite fire.
As flames rose, the old woman’s form, which had been hidden in darkness, finally emerged.
Of course, Ju-seong’s keen eyes had perceived her appearance long ago.
Crimson Spider Sect Master, the Blood Flower Crone.
A peerless martial artist who had suddenly appeared twenty years ago, established a one-person sect called the Crimson Spider Sect, and seized control of Guizhou.
They said blood flowers bloomed when she swung her chain sickle, hence Blood Flower. She was already in her fifties when she first appeared in jianghu, hence Crone.
‘She’s so small, yet what overwhelming presence…’
Standing, she looked like she wouldn’t exceed five feet; her face was that of an ordinary old woman, but her clothes of finest silk stood in stark contrast.
‘A person who reached the peak through internal energy alone.’
Ju-seong judged her thus. Her body was truly unimpressive. How old she was, he had no idea, but at that level, internal energy had become her true form.
Her vast internal energy and the control of her upper dantian over that energy were what sustained her decrepit body.
And befitting that tremendous internal energy came an unwavering voice.
“Mad Dragon Ju-seong. Champion of the Ascending Dragon Assembly and a rising star from Sichuan Province… Some call you a candidate for the next Ten Greats Under Heaven…”
Before anyone noticed, the old woman had pulled out some papers and was reading them. Even if Guizhou was insular, at least the Sect Master was kept fully informed of outside news.
The Crimson Spider Sect Master folded the documents and spoke.
“Child, what do you want?”
Ju-seong lowered his fist salute and answered.
“Sect Master, in Guangxi Province…”
“No, never mind.”
The Blood Flower Crone waved her hand to cut off Ju-seong’s words and said.
“I’ll grant whatever you want.”
“Thank you, Sect Master.”
But at her following proposal, Ju-seong’s face hardened instantly.
“If you become my son, that is.”