Chapter 393 – Seeing Hell (3)

"Hmm!" ​

Dan Un-hyang frowned at the sunlight she was seeing after such a long time. Her face was extremely pale and gaunt. ​

Dan Un-hyang looked around. Then the panorama of a mansion surrounded by dense forest came into view. ​

The place she was at was a secret branch of the Demon Cult in Yunnan Province. It had already been several months since she came here injured. ​

Her appearance with severe injuries naturally put the branch on high alert. All the skilled physicians were mobilized to treat her. Treating external wounds didn't take very long. ​

Treating internal injuries took longer than that, but it wasn't extremely difficult either. ​

The problem was the mental trauma she had suffered. ​

The encounter with Dam Ho had inflicted a great wound on her psyche. It was the kind of wound so deep and sharp that it couldn't be completely healed. ​

When she thought of him, she would have fits even in her sleep and break out in cold sweats all over her body. The lingering echoes of fear that Dam Ho had planted in Dan Un-hyang's heart were embedded so deeply that they tormented her. ​

For the first while, she couldn't sleep properly and was plagued by hallucinations. Thanks to recuperating for several months, she had now finally become able to live a somewhat normal life. ​

"Have you come out?" ​

"We greet the Demon Mother." ​

The martial artists of the branch came to greet Dan Un-hyang one after another. ​

The position and symbolic meaning that Dan Un-hyang held within the Demon Cult was by no means small. ​

As soon as she arrived at the branch injured, masters were dispatched from headquarters to guard the branch watertight. ​

Then the branch leader came running to Dan Un-hyang. ​

"Demon Mother. Have you fully recovered now?" ​

"Thanks to everyone, I was able to recover completely. Thank you." ​

"Not at all. More importantly, a guest has come from Middle Heaven." ​

"From Middle Heaven?" ​

Dan Un-hyang's eyes sparkled for a moment. ​

"He introduced himself as Blood Elder." ​

"Guide me to where he is right away." ​

"Understood. Please follow me." ​

The branch leader led Dan Un-hyang ahead. Following him, they arrived at the innermost depths of the branch. ​

As soon as she arrived at the depths, Dan Un-hyang's face brightened completely. ​

"Blood Elder." ​

"Demon Mother." ​

The old man in the depths politely bowed his head in response. ​

Wrinkles covering his entire face that made his age impossible to guess, and age spots blooming here and there. His eyes buried in wrinkles were full of discharge, and the two hands revealed between his shabby robes covering his entire body were also full of wrinkles reminiscent of old tree bark. ​

The old man's name was Blood Elder. He was the person Dan Un-hyang trusted most. ​

Even within the Demon Cult, no one knew Blood Elder's age – he had lived for such a long time. When he began belonging to the Demon Cult was also uncertain. ​

Dan Un-hyang also didn't know exactly how old Blood Elder was. What Dan Un-hyang remembered was that Blood Elder looked exactly the same now as when she was very young. ​

Blood Elder wasn't his real name either. At some point everyone just started calling him Blood Elder, and from then on Blood Elder became his name. ​

Blood Elder raised his head to look at Dan Un-hyang. ​

"How is your body?" ​

"Much better." ​

"That's fortunate. I was very worried." ​

"Thank you, Blood Elder." ​

Dan Un-hyang bowed her head to Blood Elder to express her gratitude. ​

Except for Cult Leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol, Blood Elder was almost the only person she bowed her head to. ​

Blood Elder looked at Dan Un-hyang intently. Dan Un-hyang's gaunt face was clearly reflected in his eyes from which discharge dripped. ​

"I heard that Elder Cheon of Sword Stream and the young master of Wall Rock Stream died. Is it true?" ​

"That's right. They were killed by the Fist Demon's hand. He…" ​

"Were you frightened?" ​

"……" ​

Dan Un-hyang couldn't answer easily and bit her lips hard. Blood Elder stared intently at Dan Un-hyang's face. ​

Before his gaze that seemed to see through all inner thoughts, no lies could be told. ​

"I was frightened." ​

"I see." ​

"He… was truly frightening. He was like, like…" ​

"I understand. You don't need to say more. That's enough." ​

Like a father comforting a young daughter, Blood Elder embraced Dan Un-hyang. ​

"With this it's certain. The Fist Demon is definitely our cult's mortal enemy, the Demon Immortal." ​

"The Demon Immortal… you mean?" ​

"That's right. One who rejects the world of the Venerable One – he's definitely our cult's one and only great enemy." ​

Dan Un-hyang's pupils wavered. ​

Middle Heaven wasn't simply an organization that spread doctrine, but one that newly established and supervised the Demon Cult's teachings. Though Dan Un-hyang as Demon Mother held the position of leader, the one who actually moved things was Blood Elder. ​

Blood Elder had newly established doctrine favorable to the current cult leader based on his extensive knowledge. The Demon Immortal had appeared in that process. ​

It was Blood Elder's theory that a supreme being without threats was bound to become corrupt. So he introduced the Demon Immortal. ​

An existence that would unite the believers and raise their vigilance. ​

The absolute evil that opposed the Venerable One, the god of the Demon Cult. ​

That was the Demon Immortal. ​

Dan Un-hyang had thought the Demon Immortal was simply a fictional being. An existence that appeared only in newly established doctrine, not something that could actually exist. ​

But before her eyes, Blood Elder was declaring that Dam Ho was the Demon Immortal. ​

Dan Un-hyang shook her head. ​

"That's nonsense. The Demon Immortal can't actually exist." ​

"Nothing is nonsense. Everything humans imagine is bound to become reality." ​

"Blood Elder!" ​

Dan Un-hyang unconsciously raised her voice. But Blood Elder continued speaking without concern. ​

"Rather, this turned out well." ​

"What turned out well?" ​

"Since it's been proven that the Demon Immortal actually exists, won't the believers trust our cult even more firmly?" ​

Blood Elder's voice was very low, almost like whispering. But the resonance contained within was very deep, penetrating people's hearts. ​

Blood Elder's wrinkled lips curled up and his yellow teeth were revealed. He was smiling. ​

The moment she saw his smile, Dan Un-hyang strangely felt her heart becoming at ease. ​

"Mm!" ​

"Crisis is opportunity. Though we suffered much damage because of the Fist Demon, if we use this well, we can gain even greater benefits. If you think about why we're newly establishing all doctrine, it will be easier to understand." ​

Dan Un-hyang unconsciously nodded her head. ​

She was completely agreeing, forgetting the fact that she had been resisting just moments before. ​

"Highlighting the Demon Immortal to induce internal unity? That's what you mean." ​

"Correct." ​

"I understand. I'll do that." ​

"Please also speak well to the Cult Leader." ​

"Of course." ​

"And…" ​

Blood Elder suddenly took out a yellowed book from his bosom and handed it to Dan Un-hyang. ​

"What is this?" ​

"A martial manual discovered recently at the Hundred Demons' Tomb." ​

"From the Hundred Demons' Tomb?" ​

Dan Un-hyang's eyes lit up. ​

The Hundred Demons' Tomb was where the remains of past cult leaders were buried. It was naturally designated as forbidden, making unauthorized intrusion impossible. But when defeated in the first Righteous-Demon Great War and cornered, Iron Crown Blood opened the Hundred Demons' Tomb. Because the tomb contained many insights left by cult leaders before their deaths. ​

Iron Crown Blood and the Demon Cult members were desperate enough to scrape together even the insights of the dead. They opened the Hundred Demons' Tomb with guilty hearts and collected all the insights left by past cult leaders. ​

Those collected insights became the solid foundation of the current Demon Cult. ​

"Were there still some remaining? I thought we had collected them all." ​

"We were lucky." ​

"Heaven hasn't abandoned our cult yet. Such a martial manual at such an important time." ​

"As long as the Venerable One watches over us, our cult will be eternal." ​

"Thank you. I'll use this well." ​

Dan Un-hyang looked at the pages of the martial manual Blood Elder offered. ​

"Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique? Did our cult have such a martial manual?" ​

"It seems to be insights organized by the 18th Cult Leader just before entering eternal rest." ​

"Mm!" ​

"In any case, I think it's worth examining once." ​

"I understand. I'll examine the Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique carefully once before delivering it to the Cult Leader." ​

Dan Un-hyang put the Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique into her bosom. Blood Elder quietly smiled and bowed his head. ​

"Now I should go to headquarters. Prepare yourself." ​

"Me too?" ​

Blood Elder made a surprised expression. ​

Dan Un-hyang had kept Blood Elder and Middle Heaven tightly hidden until now, not exposing them much to the outside. ​

"At times like this especially, I need Blood Elder's help. The Cult Leader also greatly recognizes Middle Heaven's existence, so he'll welcome Blood Elder." ​

"I understand." ​

Dan Un-hyang caressed the book in her bosom. Somehow her heart was becoming full. ​

She took the lead and began walking. ​

Blood Elder followed behind her, muttering quietly. ​

"Fist Demon… Demon Immortal, they suit each other well. Very well indeed." ​

His already wrinkled face creased even deeper as his yellow teeth were revealed. ​

***

"This way." ​

Muk Il-gwang led the group ahead. ​

Anhui Province where Overlord's Stronghold was located was like his front yard. Few people knew the shortcuts and mountain paths unknown to ordinary people as well as he did. ​

Muk Il-gwang guided the group via the shortest route. ​

Sometimes they had to cross rivers, sometimes climb large mountains. Still, not one person fell behind. ​

Muk Il-gwang and Hwang Hye-ryeong were that desperate, and Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo were martial arts masters riding famous steeds. There was no reason to fall behind. ​

Dam Ho just had to follow as Muk Il-gwang guided while mounted on Black Ghost's back. ​

'Lee Gwan.' ​

Dam Ho muttered that name quietly. ​

The one who revived the already fallen Heavenly Evil Cult in this world. ​

He was still hiding tightly without revealing himself. ​

Why he was instigating conflict between the Demon Cult and Martial Alliance, what he truly wanted, what he gained from it – nothing was certain. ​

It felt like fighting fog with no substance. ​

If not for the meeting with Dan Gong-wol, a fellow member of the Four Death Gods, Dam Ho wouldn't have believed in Lee Gwan's existence at all. ​

Dam Ho shook his head. ​

'If he exists, we'll meet eventually.' ​

At this point, complex thoughts weren't necessary. ​

Dam Ho decided to focus only on the situation immediately before him. ​

Then Muk Il-gwang pointed ahead and shouted. ​

"It's the Yangtze River. We need to take a transport ship here." ​

As he said, a vast river stretched across their path. It was the Yangtze River, called the lifeline of the Central Plains. ​

This massive river divided Anhui Province north and south. The Namgung Family existed in the north of Anhui Province, while Overlord's Stronghold existed on Mount Huang in the south. The Yangtze River was the tacit boundary line between orthodox sects and Green Forest. ​

"Whew!" ​

"Mm!" ​

Hwang Hye-ryeong and Bang Jin-bo stopped their horses and sighed. ​

Though they didn't say it, exhaustion was clearly visible on their faces. They had already been riding for three days. They were somehow enduring with strong internal power and stamina, but their minds and bodies were very tired. They desperately needed some rest. ​

"Please rest a little until the transport ship arrives, Miss." ​

"Mm!" ​

Hwang Hye-ryeong barely nodded while catching her breath. ​

Meanwhile Bang Jin-bo also dismounted and caught his breath. Even for Bang Jin-bo who was accustomed to martial world wandering, such a forced march wasn't easy. ​

Bang Jin-bo looked at Dam Ho with a flushed face. ​

'As expected!' ​

Despite such a forced march, there was no change whatsoever on Dam Ho's face. He was looking at the flowing Yangtze River with an indifferent face. ​

Just as Bang Jin-bo was about to speak to Dam Ho, a voice calling Dam Ho came first. ​

"Elder brother!" ​

It was Muk Il-gwang. ​

He was pointing upstream of the Yangtze River with his hand. ​

"That is?" ​

"A ship?" ​

Bang Jin-bo and Hwang Hye-ryeong stood up simultaneously. ​

A large ship was floating down from upstream of the river. It was a transport ship that normally operated on the Yangtze River. But the ship's condition was strange. ​

There were holes throughout the hull and the railings were broken. The sails that should have been full of wind were torn to shreds, and arms and legs protruded between the railings, swaying limply. ​

Thud! ​

The ship that had floated down struck the dock where Dam Ho and the others were and stopped. ​

Dam Ho and Muk Il-gwang simultaneously leaped up onto the deck. ​

What they saw there was hell. ​

As expected, Tang Qing had predicted the rebellion.

If martial artists of this level had been lying in ambush, the three divisions would have failed even if they tried to kill Tang Qing.

After laughing for quite a while, Tang Qing said.

“Using Coal Mining Office to block Funeral Parlour’s request was good. But providing such pretext naturally raises suspicion. Isn’t that right?”

Jin Ja-gang only looked down at Tang Qing with cold eyes, not opening his mouth.

Tang Qing said.

“Why did you have to be greedy? If you had just waited, it would have naturally become yours.”

Only then did Jin Ja-gang answer coldly.

“What fool in the world would inherit an enemy’s position?”

Tang Qing, whose mood had soured, frowned.

“What’s wrong with inheriting an enemy’s position? I was even prepared to offer my neck for you. Then you’d be good having revenge, and I’d be good setting up someone I like as successor. Wouldn’t it have been mutually beneficial? Since you’ve already conceived our family’s bloodline, you’re practically family.”

“You’re being unreasonable. Inheriting the position of organization leader isn’t simple succession but inheriting beliefs. Are you telling me to inherit the beliefs of the enemy who harmed my teacher’s sect?”

“Hah. At your age you already know the difference between inheriting and seizing?”

Tang Qing put his hands behind his back and sighed long.

“You really are too precious. I guarantee that if I had met you before starting the great undertaking, I would have abandoned it. Without doing such troublesome things, you could have brought our family to the top through normal methods.”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes flashed.

Great undertaking.

Finally the words “great undertaking” came from Tang Qing’s mouth.

Tang Qing looked at the sky that opened up after walls and roof had all flown away and said.

“It was gloomy until just now, but now it’s quite bright. Young people should be in bright places, not crouching in dark places.”

Tang Qing snapped his fingers.

Snap.

When Jin Ja-gang flinched in reaction, force was applied to the spears embedded throughout his body, preventing movement.

Soon a warrior came from behind carrying a steaming tray. The warrior set the tray down between Tang Qing and Jin Ja-gang surrounded by spears.

Hot tea was placed there.

“You’ve been in the cold for a long time, so your body must be stiff. Drink.”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“No thank you.”

Trickle.

Because he spoke while his face was pierced by numerous spears, the spear points stabbing his cheeks and chin went deeper and blood flowed.

“It’s not a suggestion.”

Tang Qing opened his eyes wide.

“It’s an order.”

Simultaneously, all the spears piercing Jin Ja-gang moved at once.

Stab stab stab stab!

They stabbed the back of Jin Ja-gang’s knees and pressed his thighs. They stabbed and pushed his calves, stabbed and pressed his shoulders and back of his neck.

They were forcing Jin Ja-gang to kneel!

Dozens of spears stabbed pressure points and dug into flesh. Though dozens of spears were stabbing, with bodies pressed close and pushing, the force of hundreds was fully transmitted. Jin Ja-gang couldn’t endure and knelt down.

Then the spears pushed Jin Ja-gang’s shoulders, armpits, and forearms.

Each time spears stabbed and pushed Jin Ja-gang deeply, blood flowed in streams. Jin Ja-gang picked up the teacup and drank.

Now their eye levels were different. Tang Qing looked down at Jin Ja-gang from above. Jin Ja-gang looked up at Tang Qing, putting force in his eyes and glaring.

“If you want to rule over others, you must learn dignity. And sometimes you must know how to submit. Only then can you make others submit. How long do you plan to rampage like an unbridled beast?”

Tang Qing’s words became orders and hundreds moved in unison to pressure Jin Ja-gang. They pressed the back of his head and shoulders and stabbed his belly. Jin Ja-gang dropped the teacup and fell forward.

He was forced into a kneeling prostration position. He tried to support himself with his hands on the ground, but even that wasn’t allowed. Empty spears were densely embedded in the ground on both sides of Jin Ja-gang’s head, leaving no space to place his hands.

Jin Ja-gang was forced to bow his head to Tang Qing. Even when he tried to raise his head, the spear points only dug deeper. Jin Ja-gang’s entire body was already soaked with flowing blood.

Tang Qing put his hands behind his back and spoke in a pleased voice.

“How about it? The fellows I brought. They are my limbs that I’ve cultivated with great effort for decades. They were trained to listen to no one else’s orders and obey only my commands.”

The scholars from the office who worked with Tang Qing!

The warriors holding spears were precisely them.

Jin Ja-gang barely turned his face buried in the ground to the side and asked.

“You mobilized direct subordinates rather than regular warriors. Didn’t want others to see?”

“It would be awkward if others knew there was rebellion within the Poison Sect.”

“You’re not supposed to bring armed subordinates with intent to harm to the Poison Sect’s six cliques standing meeting. Wasn’t that the rule?”

“It’s different when dealing with those plotting rebellion.”

“Where was there any rebellion?”

“Are you still going to deny it?”

When Tang Qing gestured, the spears all forcibly lifted Jin Ja-gang’s head.

Swish.

With his chin raised, Jin Ja-gang spoke more easily than before.

“I followed designated procedures and didn’t try to seize by force. I’m here alone. Where is the rebellion?”

Tang Qing frowned.

“No, no. The others were too scared to appear before me. So they sent you alone and planned to watch the situation from behind.”

“I brought a letter of authorization.”

“What meaning does such a letter of authorization have?”

“It’s a signed and sealed letter of authorization. They were prepared to die.”

“You don’t understand. I’m asking what meaning their lives have.”

“If there are no procedures or rules, what meaning does the Poison Sect’s six cliques standing meeting have?”

“It has meaning as the minimum formality that lets vermin act as if they’re something!”

While Tang Qing’s voice grew louder, Jin Ja-gang’s voice became increasingly calm.

“King of Hell. When you no longer keep even that minimum formality, have you ever thought about the aftermath?”

Tang Qing’s face contorted.

Jin Ja-gang asked again as if urging.

“When you achieve the great undertaking and the Tang family rules over the martial world, do you think people will follow you?”

Tang Qing’s face turned red.

“This bastard who failed plotting rebellion is lecturing me as if he’s something?”

Clatter! The spears pressured Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang looked up at Tang Qing without moving despite spear points digging in.

Fierce yet cold eyes.

Tang Qing hadn’t seen such intense eyes recently.

Tang Qing gritted his teeth hard.

“It’s too precious to kill. But I don’t want to tame you either. I don’t want you to force yourself to submit and come in. From the moment I tame you, you’ll lose your own value.”

Tang Qing truly agonized. Tang Qing gestured for Jin Ja-gang’s head to be raised more.

“What should I do with you?”

“The question is wrong.”

A smile appeared at Jin Ja-gang’s lips. His cheek was stabbed and blood flowed again.

“You should ask what I should do with you.”

“What?”

Jin Ja-gang slowly raised his left hand while prostrate.

“You said they only follow your orders?”

“What are you scheming?”

“Perfect. I feel at ease.”

The surprised martial artists looked at Tang Qing.

Tang Qing frowned.

But he couldn’t help being curious about what Jin Ja-gang was trying to do. Tang Qing gestured. The spear points pressing down on Jin Ja-gang loosened slightly.

Instantly Jin Ja-gang raised his left hand completely.

Glint.

A thread stretched long downward from Jin Ja-gang’s left hand.

“…!”

The eyes of Tang Qing and the martial artists focused on Jin Ja-gang’s left hand.

A beautiful silver line was shining.

“Soul Seizing… Thread?”

Could it be in this situation?

Tang Qing’s eyes bulged.

“This bastard!”

Jin Ja-gang pulled his left hand with all his might.

Swooooosh!

The silver thread hidden on the ground sprang up, undulating like waves and soaring into the air.

Blood spurted.

Spear shafts were cut away.

Ankles fell off.

All martial artists within a two-zhang radius centered on Jin Ja-gang were collapsing as if crumbling. They couldn’t stand properly as their ankles were all severed. The formation suppressing Jin Ja-gang collapsed instantly. The damage was more severe because they were pressed close together.

In the blood spreading in all directions, Jin Ja-gang got up.

Jin Ja-gang’s blood-stained eyes were shining.

The martial artists suffered in pain and fell one by one. From behind Jin Ja-gang to the front, from both sides to the center. Martial artists with severed ankles knelt toward Tang Qing.

Tang Qing couldn’t even remember if he had exerted this much effort in recent years. Without realizing it, he leaped into the air.

Swooosh!

The silver line of Soul Seizing Thread passed under Tang Qing’s feet.

But while leaping up, Tang Qing saw.

That Jin Ja-gang was holding something in his right hand as well, not just his left.

Jin Ja-gang’s right hand was already being pulled.

An ominous premonition rose like chills down his spine. Tang Qing stepped on his right foot with his left foot to leap once more, then sat cross-legged in the air, pulling both feet forward.

The ominous premonition wasn’t wrong.

Swish!

Something passed under his feet in the invisible air. But he didn’t dodge perfectly. The tip of his right middle toe was cut off along with his leather shoe.

The Soul Seizing Thread he knew was one strand. But there was another invisible Soul Seizing Thread strand.

Even in this situation, Tang Qing was impressed.

‘Wow…’

So that’s why he came to this place first and waited all along?

Planting Soul Seizing Thread in the ground?

For this one move?

Of course the Soul Seizing Thread would be coated with poison.

Because he’s Poison Dragon.

Tang Qing retreated far back and took position. Blood flowed from his severed middle toe and it began swelling as poison penetrated, but he didn’t mind.

Jin Ja-gang was striking down martial artists nearby with energy bursts.

Bang!

Since several were pressed together, they couldn’t dodge properly while entangled. The bodies of martial artists hit by energy bursts exploded.

Still, they were martial artists Tang Qing had gathered.

Even with severed ankles, they counterattacked by stabbing spears at Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang used the martial artists’ bodies as shields. He endured being stabbed to some extent by protruding spears. But he killed them one by one, methodically and certainly.

Those in the back who were unharmed dragged out the ankle-severed martial artists in front and created space to join the battle.

A chaotic hell of tangled bodies.

So much bloodshed that it was difficult to properly recognize who was who.

Tang Qing’s heart pounded with excitement.

Seeing no reinforcements yet, Jin Ja-gang really came alone.

He came alone to face him.

Even knowing he had positioned troops in ambush anticipating rebellion.

Jin Ja-gang.

This guy is really something.

‘…’

But Tang Qing was originally a suspicious person.

In the midst of excitement, a suspicious thought suddenly occurred.

Could he have thought he could capture him with just this much?

Such a smart and bold guy… really came alone?

With just this level of countermeasure?

No matter how crazy, this doesn’t make sense.

Tang Qing thought repeatedly.

His mind became complicated.

Jin Ja-gang’s talk about procedures and rules was bothering him.

Moreover, the lack of support was strange.

He knew for certain that nearly two hundred rebels had entered Sichuan.

But where were the others doing what, just throwing down letters of authorization?

Could they be targeting the Tang Family Main House while he was away?

But it was the Tang Family Main House that even Stone Vajras couldn’t penetrate.

Not even the full strength of Leper Mound, Coal Mining Office, and Pleasure Heaven, three cliques, but just two hundred people – could the Tang Family Main House suffer damage from a surprise attack?