Chapter 457

Chapter 457 – Troubled Times Create Heroes (1)

Sang Han-cheon looked at Mount Song with deep eyes.

One of five great mountains under heaven, the Buddhist holy ground, and the Central Plains martial world's pillar, the famous mountain adorned with countless descriptions majestically looked down on him.

White clouds flowing around Mount Song's waist created a mysterious atmosphere, but no particular emotion appeared on Sang Han-cheon's face.

Right now his mind held only thoughts of how to subdue Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance occupying Mount Song as quickly as possible.

Where he stood was flatland below Mount Song. On the flatland countless barracks lined up, and tremendous numbers of martial artists had set up camp.

While coming here they'd sealed Wudang Sect and annihilated the Zhuge Family. Besides that, numerous sects had been trampled by the Divine Cult. Being a series of victories, the Divine Cult's morale had reached its peak.

"Once we swallow the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple, no more forces will threaten our cult."

The Martial Alliance was a force concentrating all power under heaven, and Shaolin Temple was the Central Plains martial world's spiritual pillar. Collapse these two and no more forces existed in the martial world to oppose the Divine Cult.

Sang Han-cheon clenched his fist.

Collapse just these two forces and his name would remain forever in the Divine Cult's history recounted among people. For the Divine Cult's military strategist, no more glorious work existed.

"Not far now."

When Sang Han-cheon muttered that.

"Military Strategist."

Suddenly a cautious voice came from behind. Looking back, the warrior guarding him watched with an apologetic expression.

"What is it?"

"A visitor has come from headquarters."

"Visitor?"

"They say the Demon Mother has arrived."

Instantly deep furrows appeared in Sang Han-cheon's brow.

"The Demon Mother?"

She wasn't someone who should be here. Someone who should be by the Cult Leader's side coming to a battlefield full of blood stench was puzzling.

"She wants to see the Military Strategist, what should I do?"

"Bring her in."

"Yes!"

With the answer the warrior withdrew. Shortly after he reappeared, Dan Un-hyang was with him.

Sang Han-cheon spoke first.

"What brings the Demon Mother here?"

"I'm sorry, Military Strategist. Coming suddenly without contact. But I had something I absolutely must say, so I rushed all this distance."

"What is that?"

"We must erect an altar at Shaolin Temple."

"Pardon?"

"I mean we must erect a grand altar where Shaolin Temple stood, proclaiming our cult's majesty to all under heaven."

At Dan Un-hyang's unexpected words, Sang Han-cheon frowned slightly. Dan Un-hyang saw such expression on Sang Han-cheon but continued regardless.

"Mount Song is the five peaks' center, Shaolin the martial world's pillar. Erecting our cult's altar in such a place would have tremendously great symbolic meaning."

"But that would greatly risk incurring universal wrath. Rather, many might have deeper resentment and oppose our cult even more viciously."

"It's a gate we must pass eventually anyway. Even if we don't erect an altar at Shaolin Temple, under heaven already has resentment toward us. Then breaking through directly would be better."

Though Sang Han-cheon raised objections, Dan Un-hyang didn't listen but only persisted. At this, a troubled light appeared on Sang Han-cheon's face.

Counting only ranking within the Divine Cult, only one person ranked above Sang Han-cheon: the Cult Leader. No matter how Dan Un-hyang claimed to be Demon Mother, she couldn't order Sang Han-cheon around. But that was merely the external aspect.

Dan Un-hyang was the woman receiving the Cult Leader's full favor. Moreover the head of the missionary organization called Middle Heaven, even Sang Han-cheon couldn't completely ignore her.

Since Middle Heaven's contributions to the Divine Cult's external expansion until now were great, Sang Han-cheon had no choice but to worry.

Dan Un-hyang's expression looking at Sang Han-cheon was resolute. No room for negotiation could be found in her face.

Sang Han-cheon asked cautiously.

"Very well. Erecting an altar isn't too difficult. But is erecting an altar the Demon Mother's idea?"

"My idea."

Dan Un-hyang answered resolutely without any hesitation.

Sang Han-cheon's expression didn't relax.

'Different.'

The Dan Un-hyang he knew and the Dan Un-hyang before his eyes now were different. He couldn't exactly pinpoint it, but subtly different. That point was bothering Sang Han-cheon.

"Middle Heaven will also participate in this war."

At Dan Un-hyang's declaration, Sang Han-cheon's eyes sank even deeper.

Middle Heaven was basically an organization for the Divine Cult's missionary work, not somewhere that fought on the front lines. Yet Dan Un-hyang making such declaration showed how great her will was.

Sang Han-cheon realized he couldn't change Dan Un-hyang's mind.

"I understand. But there's a condition."

"What is it?"

"The Demon Mother and Middle Heaven must be in the rear, not the front lines. That's my condition."

"Alright. I'll follow the Military Strategist's order."

Dan Un-hyang obediently followed Sang Han-cheon's words.

Even after she left, Sang Han-cheon couldn't easily find peace of mind due to uncomfortable feelings.

No matter how much he thought about it, Dan Un-hyang's proposal wasn't rational. Sang Han-cheon had doubts about that.

"Chu-myeong!"

"Yes! Military Strategist."

Instantly without any presence, a martial artist in his late thirties appeared before him and prostrated. He was Sang Han-cheon's trusted aide.

"Monitor the Demon Mother. Identify those contacting her and report to me."

"I understand."

Chu-myeong disappeared with his answer.

Left alone, Sang Han-cheon muttered.

"Perhaps…"

The strange currents within the Demon Cult he'd begun sensing sometime, Sang Han-cheon thought Dan Un-hyang might be related to them.

Sang Han-cheon forcibly suppressed uncomfortable feelings and looked at Mount Song.

***

"This way."

Gi San-wol pointed ahead and spoke.

Dam Ho wordlessly drove Black Ghost in the direction Gi San-wol pointed. Behind him Bang Jin-bo and the Namgung brothers followed.

Going in the direction Gi San-wol pointed, a river with exposed bottom appeared. No need to take a boat, just walking across would do.

It had always been like this coming here. Gi San-wol became the group's guide and led. Following where he led, paths miraculously appeared even where absolutely no path seemed possible.

He seemed to communicate with something invisible. Watching him close his eyes, receive the wind, and mutter something gave a mysteriously spiritual feeling.

Sensing Bang Jin-bo's gaze, Gi San-wol suddenly looked at him.

"Walk about one more day and Mount Song will appear."

"Pardon? Yes!"

Somehow caught off guard, Bang Jin-bo answered in confusion. Finding that funny, Gi San-wol smiled faintly.

No one was easier to read than Bang Jin-bo. All emotions showed on his face, so he couldn't hide even if he tried. Gi San-wol liked Bang Jin-bo more for that.

Not long after crossing the river, the sun began setting. Then Bang Jin-bo and the Namgung brothers stepped forward finding places suitable for camping.

"This looks good."

When Bang Jin-bo decided on the campsite, the Namgung brothers naturally gathered branches and lit a campfire. Meanwhile Bang Jin-bo unpacked and began preparing dinner.

Gi San-wol approached Dam Ho's side.

"My lord should rest now too."

He naturally took on servant's role, unloading baggage from Black Ghost's back. His attitude toward Dam Ho was truly extremely respectful.

After leaving Avici Hell, he'd consistently treated Dam Ho with reverent attitude. Though such Gi San-wol might be burdensome, Dam Ho naturally accepted it.

When Dam Ho sat, Gi San-wol approached Bang Jin-bo.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"Not really."

"Then shall I at least keep you company?"

"That's…"

Bang Jin-bo briefly wore a troubled expression. Because he felt burdened. But seeing Gi San-wol's bright face watching him, he lacked courage to refuse. He had no choice but to nod.

"Thank you, Young Master."

At Bang Jin-bo's permission, Gi San-wol smiled brightly.

He squatted beside Bang Jin-bo and watched him cook.

"Oh!"

"Ah!"

Occasionally he'd burst out with random exclamations. Though saying he'd keep company, he only marveled at Bang Jin-bo's cooking skills.

After cooking for a while, Bang Jin-bo suddenly asked as if remembering.

"By the way, how did Great Hero Gi end up trapped in Avici Hell?"

"Just ended up that way."

"Pardon?"

"Haha! You wouldn't believe it, right?"

"Right!"

"You probably already guessed, but I'm a soul sorcerer raised by the Heavenly Evil Cult."

"I knew it!"

Bang Jin-bo nodded as if he'd known.

Avici Hell wasn't a place humans could live. Humans surviving such a place couldn't be normal.

"Aren't you surprised?"

"Should I be?"

"Usually people are."

"I was sufficiently surprised when I first saw you in Avici Hell."

"I see."

This time Gi San-wol nodded.

"I heard my lord and the Heavenly Evil Cult are mortal enemies. But aren't I someone to guard against or dislike?"

"Certainly I dislike the Heavenly Evil Cult, but strangely I don't feel that way toward you."

"Haha! Thank you. Actually I was scared what if you disliked me."

"Really?"

"Truly. If you disliked me, my lord clearly wouldn't have accepted me."

"Mm!"

"One thing I want to say is even though I'm a soul sorcerer, I know almost nothing about the Heavenly Evil Cult. Just when I was establishing myself as a soul sorcerer, Avici Hell opened and I entered representing everyone."

Gi San-wol's eyes turned cold.

Though he said representing everyone, actually he'd been forcibly pushed in.

The 'gap' later named Avici Hell was a mysterious space no soul sorcerer had experienced, an unknown world without any information. Almost no one had courage or recklessness enough to enter such a place on their own.

Gi San-wol was also one such person. He didn't want to enter Avici Hell on his own. But he was forced in by orders and spent long time there.

Therefore he rather held great resentment toward the Heavenly Evil Cult. Because before establishing his identity as a soul sorcerer, he was trapped in Avici Hell cultivating hatred for long.

Though he only showed smiling appearance outwardly, actually his heart was filled with cold hatred and hot vengeance.

Bang Jin-bo asked.

"Is Avici Hell really such a space with nothing?"

"That's… ah, the food's burning."

"What?"

At Gi San-wol's words, Bang Jin-bo was startled and looked at the pot on the campfire. Food was burning at the pot's bottom. Bang Jin-bo hurriedly stirred the pot.

Barely catching his breath and turning his head, Gi San-wol wasn't visible. He'd already gone to Dam Ho's side.

"Huu!"

Bang Jin-bo sighed.

Even he could tell Gi San-wol deliberately avoided answering. But he couldn't ask more of someone who disliked it.

Bang Jin-bo suppressed his curiosity and focused on cooking again.

"My lord!"

Gi San-wol called Dam Ho. But Dam Ho didn't answer.

Dam Ho's eyes shone frighteningly even in darkness. At such appearance, Gi San-wol felt chilling emotion.

Being trapped in an isolated place for long years, his emotions had worn away so he'd thought nothing could give him fear, but Dam Ho shattered such pride.

But even so, Dam Ho's eyes now were different from usual. Felt more frightening.

"Did I make some mistake…"

Gi San-wol stopped mid-sentence and suddenly wrinkled his nose.

Because a familiar smell came.

A smell he could never forget even after decades, like his hometown's embrace to Gi San-wol.

The fragrance of wicked sorcery.

A smell ordinary people could absolutely never sense was coming on the wind.

Instantly Gi San-wol's eyes changed bleakly.

Like someone possessed, he followed Dam Ho walking toward where the wind came from.