Chapter 448 – Yet Hope is Not Abandoned (2)

"I'm sorry. I failed."

Eum Yu-kyung's first words upon returning to their dwelling were an apology.

Geom Yul-cheon, Shin Mu-wol, Myeong-cheon and others had gathered in the secretly prepared dwelling.

"As expected, she denied the Sacred Object's authority."

Geom Yul-cheon spoke calmly as if he'd anticipated it.

"That's right. Master no longer acknowledges the Sacred Object."

"It doesn't matter. I already expected it."

"But…"

"It's fine. Don't waste more energy on what won't work."

At Geom Yul-cheon's firm words, Eum Yu-kyung sighed quietly.

It was a Sacred Object obtained with great difficulty through painstaking effort. Eum Yu-kyung had hoped the Sacred Object's authority could change the Divine Cult leadership's minds. But Geom Yul-cheon was different.

The Sacred Object holding authority was only true when backed by sufficient force and legitimacy. Eum Yu-kyung was no longer the Divine Cult's Holy Maiden, nor a legitimate successor. Naturally the Sacred Object's authority wouldn't work.

Geom Yul-cheon already knew authority without force backing it meant nothing. In the Divine Cult, survival of the fittest land, nothing preceded the logic of power.

"I'm sorry. Because of my stubbornness, now they'll be more vigilant."

"It doesn't matter. I anticipated it to some degree."

"Oh! This."

Suddenly Eum Yu-kyung took out a book from her bosom.

It was the Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique that Dan Un-hyang dropped at Dongting Lake.

"Master had this. I've never heard of such martial arts existing in the Divine Cult."

Geom Yul-cheon received the Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique and began reading quietly.

As he read through the book, his expression gradually stiffened. Shin Mu-wol and Myeong-cheon tilted their heads at this.

The Geom Yul-cheon they knew wasn't someone who displayed emotional changes so easily.

Shin Mu-wol whispered to Myeong-cheon.

"What kind of book is it?"

"Let's wait a moment. Big Brother will explain once he finishes reading."

Myeong-cheon watched Geom Yul-cheon with sharp eyes.

Thud!

After considerable time finally passed, Geom Yul-cheon closed the Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique.

"Huu!"

Only then did a deep sigh he'd been suppressing escape his mouth. Momentarily, an intense light like a meteor burst from Geom Yul-cheon's eyes.

"Big Brother!"

"What's wrong?"

At Geom Yul-cheon's unusual reaction, Shin Mu-wol and Myeong-cheon competed asking the reason. But instead of answering, Geom Yul-cheon looked at Eum Yu-kyung.

"Did you happen to read this book?"

"I had no time to read while avoiding pursuers. Why do you ask?"

"Thank heavens."

"Why?"

"This book contains the seed of heart demons."

"What do you mean?"

"At a glance it's no different from an ordinary martial arts manual. It even contains profound principles. However, in each passage formulas that can induce heart demons are cleverly hidden."

Geom Yul-cheon's gaze at the Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique was cold.

While reading it, he felt his mind stirring. The formulas hidden in the Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique were vicious yet cunning enough to shake his mind that had surpassed clear-mirror-mind to reach immovable-mind realm.

"Anyone reading this book even once will inevitably fall to heart demons. There's only a difference in time, someday the heart demon will sprout. Especially when learning this martial art, the heart demon will grow uncontrollably until finally making one run berserk toward destruction."

"How can this be? Then are you alright? You also read this book."

"I'm fine."

"Because of Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique?"

Geom Yul-cheon nodded wordlessly.

The Sacred Object concealed the Divine Cult's protective martial arts. The most essential among them was precisely the mind technique Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique. Being martial arts lost after the founding patriarch, now people couldn't properly remember such martial arts even existed.

Over hundreds of years, the martial world developed. Many martial arts more powerful than old ones emerged, so not many paid attention to ancient martial arts.

That atmosphere applied to the Divine Cult too. Through countless generations, old martial arts were improved much more efficiently. Therefore many tended to underestimate old martial arts. But among martial arts created long ago, those still maintaining original form had solid foundations.

Walking the orthodox path that steadily builds foundations though slow, not the fast attribute, they received little external influence.

The Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique Geom Yul-cheon newly learned was so. Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique was a mind technique embracing everything. The Thunder Lightning Flow Geom Yul-cheon originally learned was supremely domineering martial arts. Containing lightning's power, it could never mix with other martial arts. Yet Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique embraced even Thunder Lightning Flow. And doubled Thunder Lightning Flow's power.

What shouldn't be possible became possible through Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique.

Though Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique contained the word demon, it was rather closer to Taoist martial arts. Especially regarding embrace, no martial art could follow.

Because Geom Yul-cheon learned Heavenly Demon Cultivation Technique, he could discover heart demon seeds hidden in the Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique; otherwise he'd have been influenced unknowingly.

"What's the probability the Demon Mother read Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique?"

At Geom Yul-cheon's question, Eum Yu-kyung recalled meeting Dan Un-hyang.

'At Dongting Lake, Master definitely wasn't normal.'

The anxiously wavering gaze unlike usual, uncomposed reason, the faintly felt evil energy, everything proved Dan Un-hyang read Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique.

"She definitely seems to have read Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique."

Dan Un-hyang spoke unreservedly about her suspicions regarding Dan Un-hyang. Hearing the whole story, Geom Yul-cheon acknowledged.

"She definitely read Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique."

"Where exactly did she obtain such wicked martial arts?"

"We must find out from now on."

Geom Yul-cheon's voice sank heavily.

He'd tracked Heavenly Evil Cult for a long time. So he could instinctively know. That Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique flowed from Heavenly Death Cult.

"To naturally melt formulas that cunningly induce heart demons in martial arts this cleverly requires more than an ordinary master."

Newly creating martial arts that never existed in the world was never easy. Moreover, cleverly inserting formulas that could invoke heart demons in martial arts was impossible unless martial prowess reached divine realm.

Geom Yul-cheon knew only one being with such possibility.

"The Heavenly Evil Cult Leader. Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique was definitely created by Heavenly Evil Cult's Leader. If we find this book's source, we can find Heavenly Evil Cult's Leader."

Geom Yul-cheon's gaze turned toward Myeong-cheon.

Myeong-cheon spoke searching his memory.

"The Demon Mother suffered great injury from the Fist Demon in Sichuan and hid in Yunnan Province's branch. In Sichuan there were no signs of heart demons, so she definitely obtained the book after. Possibly at the branch."

"Branch…"

"Yes! Since coming here she's been with the Cult Leader constantly, so the possibility she obtained it through other channels is nil. Considering that, the possibility someone at the branch gave her Heavenly Evil Heart Demon Technique is high."

"Who from the branch do you think?"

"The Demon Mother doesn't trust many people. Extremely limited. Among them, the one she trusts most would be…"

"Blood Elder."

"Right."

At Myeong-cheon's confident answer, Geom Yul-cheon's expression hardened.

Blood Elder was a mysterious figure in many ways.

No one knew precisely when he joined the Divine Cult. Because he'd never once been prominently featured. Only recently with the Divine Cult's missionary organization Middle Heaven gaining prominence did he begin being mentioned; before that, even those knowing his name were rare.

Even Myeong-cheon barely learned the name while investigating Dan Un-hyang. That much of him was hidden behind thick veils.

"Where is Blood Elder now?"

"He's confirmed to have entered the Demon Cult's main base with the Demon Mother. But his exact location is still unknown."

"Track his whereabouts with top priority. He's truly the key figure in this situation."

"Understood."

Myeong-cheon answered with a firm expression.

Geom Yul-cheon looked around at his companions.

"Everyone knows, but leaving things as is, mutual destruction of Central Plains martial world and Divine Cult will be inevitable. Blood will overflow across the land and countless people will die."

Everyone focused on his words.

He was the man they'd believed and followed until now.

Knowing without him they couldn't have come this far, their eyes looking at Geom Yul-cheon were full of trust.

Geom Yul-cheon's words continued.

"Though we left long ago, the Divine Cult is undoubtedly all our homeland. Our homeland is being manipulated by someone, suffering wounds and bleeding. If things continue, the Divine Cult will ultimately be destroyed. We must prevent such worst situations at all costs. Though difficult for everyone, let's endure a bit more. The blood we shed now will ultimately become fertilizer for the Divine Cult."

"Haha! Isn't that obvious?"

"Just give orders. If it's Big Brother's command, I'll follow even if told to jump into fire."

"As I've trusted you until now, I'll continue to. We'll just watch your back and follow."

It wasn't trust built from just a day or two's relationship, or a few words.

Geom Yul-cheon never put others forward in any hardship or adversity. Always standing at the front, he blocked all storms with his body. Thus opening paths with his whole body, he made younger ones follow the path he created.

Because they believed Geom Yul-cheon's convictions, they had no hesitation. Geom Yul-cheon too could courageously walk this rough, difficult path because they were there.

'Walking this path, someday I'll meet him at the summit.'

The one figure he considered both friend and rival, the rare martial artist Mount Hua produced to the world, the Fist Demon.

Geom Yul-cheon sensed he'd someday meet him from opposite sides. If he didn't fall before then.

***

Mount Tianzhong had become death's land that people avoided approaching since some time. The mountain always full of immortal energy was tinged with ghost energy since some time, and people entering the mountain barely escaped with haggard faces.

They all said they'd wandered Mount Tianzhong for days before emerging. Even people who'd lived near Mount Tianzhong their whole lives were no exception. Once entering Mount Tianzhong, their sense of direction became strange, making them lose their way.

People unknowingly entering Mount Tianzhong suffered for many days even after barely escaping. With such circumstances, people's footsteps to Mount Tianzhong completely ceased.

Mountains where people's footsteps cease inevitably become more overgrown. Mount Tianzhong was so too. Former paths people walked became so overgrown with vegetation that original forms couldn't be found.

Kuwoong!

In the mountain where silence prevailed, heavy sounds began echoing from some time.

Kuwoong! Kuwoong!

Sounds faint at first gradually grew over time. At sounds like the mountain crying, beasts fled first. Then the moment mountain birds took flight.

Jjeeeong!

Suddenly a sharp sound as if heaven and earth cracked echoed throughout Mount Tianzhong area, then fierce wind burst in all directions.

Thick-trunked trees were uprooted by fierce wind, and large rocks left original positions rolling in wretched states.

At the source where fierce wind raged, a huge crack appeared. Like ink was sprayed on previously transparent space.

Tseuuu!

From the deep, black space whose end couldn't be known, fierce wind escaped terribly. Wind that seemed it would never end gradually subsided after a moment. And when wind finally completely stopped, as the black space rippled, someone revealed their form.

A man with long hair covering his face, thick beard covering below nose and chin, entire body wrapped in torn bloody robes. Thick dust had settled on the man's black hair and black bloody robes.

The man momentarily raised his head looking at the sky.

The achingly blue sky and Mount Tianzhong's main peak full of greenery entered his eyes.

The man swept up hair covering his face. Then his original face hidden underneath was revealed.

Deep pupils both cold and deep under thick eyebrows. Though below his nose was full of beard, he was definitely Dam Ho.

Then from behind Dam Ho, still young voices emerged.

"Outside."

"Finally came out."

"Khuk!"

Those escaping the black crack emitting grateful voices were precisely Bang Jin-bo and the Namgung brothers.

They looked up at the blue sky trembling with emotion.

Even sunlight bright enough to hurt eyes felt sweet. But their emotion was buried by one being that emerged afterward.

"Euhuheng!"

A man suddenly leaping from the crack wailing loudly. Disheveled hair covered below his waist, and beard on his face descended to his chest making features indistinguishable.

"Finally returned. Uaaaaa!"

He cried for a while then shouted loudly toward the sky.

Countless emotions beyond description were contained in his cry.

He turned around. The black crack, Avici Hell, was slowly closing. Only then did the man realizing he'd returned to the world kneel before Dam Ho speaking.

"Thank you. Truly thank you. This Gi San-wol will serve my lord with utmost loyalty."

Jin Ja-gang went looking for Wang Ung’s estate.

A little away from the center of town, there was a magnificently situated estate with mountains positioned like a folding screen behind it.

However, while heading to the estate, Baek-won suddenly stuck her head out from Jin Ja-gang’s bundle.

Then she jumped out and began running ahead toward the estate.

She leaped over the estate’s wall in one bound.

Neither Yeong-gwi nor Jin Ja-gang had time to stop her.

Yeong-gwi shook her head.

“She’s really a disobedient creature.”

Jin Ja-gang also wore a bitter smile.

“At least she’s not human.”

If someone acting so selfishly was human, it would be even more irritating.

But Yeong-gwi asked back.

“Shouldn’t you be more worried precisely because she’s not human?”

“What?”

Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi’s eyes met.

“It seems like we’re talking about different things.”

“Yes. It becomes a different story when you consider the madam.”

“……”

Jin Ja-gang was walking silently toward the estate when he suddenly stopped.

Jin Ja-gang looked down at the ground.

He examined the traces left in the dust on the ground. Tracks of cart wheels, hoofprints of horses and mules, human footprints.

Jin Ja-gang made an expression as if he realized something.

Yeong-gwi asked.

“What’s wrong?”

Jin Ja-gang frowned.

“There are tracks going into the estate, but no tracks coming out.”

Only then did Yeong-gwi also exclaim “Ah!” and look around.

There was too little human presence. Only Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi were heading toward that large estate.

Jin Ja-gang’s expression hardened as he stopped in front of the main gate.

The smell of blood wafted over.

Someone had arrived at this estate one step ahead of Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi.

“These were the same people who tried to commit massacre on Mount Emei, but we seem to have been too careless.”

Yeong-gwi tensed up, drew her dagger, and cautiously moved forward.

Rather, she tried to move forward.

From inside, a person in silk clothing came staggering out. His body was covered in blood and his face was completely dazed. Even seeing Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi, he walked blankly before collapsing forward.

Drip, drip.

Blood flowed abundantly from his crushed skull.

Yeong-gwi approached and searched his clothing to find an identification tag. While martial artists don’t usually carry identification tags, merchants always carry them.

Yeong-gwi showed the identification tag to Jin Ja-gang.

“This person is Wang Ung.”

At that moment, Baek-won, who had entered the estate, let out a loud cry.

“Kyaaaaa!”

Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi rushed through the main gate like arrows.

Inside, they could see Baek-won hanging from the upper pillar of the inner gate, bristling all her fur like a hedgehog while standing guard.

Broken carriages and carts, corpses of horses and people were scattered everywhere.

And in the middle of it all, a tall man stood with his back turned. He was a person covered in blood from head to toe.

He slowly turned his head.

He had a cold expression but his right eye socket was completely hollow.

Seeing Jin Ja-gang, he lifted the corners of his mouth in a smile.

“Kaaaaa!”

Baek-won cried out loudly in alarm.

Jin Ja-gang recognized him.

“Ma Heuk!”

They had met at the Guizhou branch of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Jin Ja-gang told Yeong-gwi.

“He’s a subordinate of Yelu Huan, who was the Radiant Enlightened Master but is now the leader of the Demon Cult.”

Ma Heul’s single remaining eye glittered with killing intent.

“Insolent brat. How dare you carelessly speak the sacred name of our leader with your mouth. Do you want to burn to death in holy flames?”

“As for holy flames, I already extinguished them not long ago.”

Ma Heul’s eye widened further.

The iron weapon that burns with holy flames is Fire Flame Master’s unique weapon.

“So you killed Fire Flame Master?”

Killing intent also began emanating from Jin Ja-gang. Like winter’s freezing wind suddenly blowing in warm weather, goosebumps rose on Ma Heul’s arms.

Ma Heul flinched.

“You bastard. You’ve gotten much stronger than before.”

Jin Ja-gang asked Ma Heul while radiating killing intent.

“Was the Demon Cult behind these people?”

“What? It was your Tang family that stole the salt, so why are you asking our Demon Cult……”

Then a deep voice came from inside.

“Let him in.”

Ma Heul stopped mid-sentence and hesitated, then stepped aside.

“Go in.”

Jin Ja-gang extended his hand forward.

Flash!

A needle flew like lightning toward Ma Heul’s forehead with perfect precision. Ma Heul turned his head and narrowly dodged it. The needle Jin Ja-gang threw pierced through the wall behind and embedded itself so deep it couldn’t be seen.

Ma Heul’s expression twisted and anger flashed in his single eye.

Jin Ja-gang withdrew his hand and spoke calmly.

“Answer me. Since I asked a question, I should hear an answer before leaving, shouldn’t I?”

Ma Heul glared at Jin Ja-gang with killing intent before clamping his mouth shut.

“That person is waiting.”

Yeong-gwi tried to stop Jin Ja-gang from the side.

“It might be a trap!”

Blood vessels bulged frighteningly on Ma Heul’s forehead and scalp.

“A trap? How dare you speak of… Do you want your limbs torn apart?”

Then suddenly, tremendous killing intent covered the entire estate.

A black shadow enveloped Jin Ja-gang and Yeong-gwi’s bodies. The two looked up at the sky.

The entire roof of a building as large as a house was floating in the sky!

Jin Ja-gang, Yeong-gwi, and Baek-won quickly jumped back to avoid it. The building’s roof collapsed, burying the main gate as it crashed down.

“Kwaaaaang!”

Dust rose up and roof tiles came pouring down.

While Yeong-gwi was covering her stinging eyes with her hands, Jin Ja-gang kept his eyes wide open without blinking once as he stared ahead.

A figure lightly descended onto the collapsed main gate and the building roof that had crashed on top of it.

He stood tall and looked down at Jin Ja-gang.

He appeared ordinary, wearing a long robe with his hair tied in a topknot with a cord, but the aura emanating from his entire body was truly formidable.

Though Jin Ja-gang had also changed much from before, he too had likewise changed.

Yelu Huan, leader of the Demon Cult.

He radiated an aura befitting the title of religious leader.

Yelu Huan grinned at Jin Ja-gang from atop the pile of roof debris.

“It’s been a long time, little one.”

Jin Ja-gang looked up at Yelu Huan and asked.

“Why do you go around destroying houses instead of using perfectly good doors? Seeing you traveling on rooftops in broad daylight, you don’t seem to be in your right mind.”

Yelu Huan’s smile deepened.

That was exactly what Yelu Huan had said when he saw Jin Ja-gang cut through the prison door and enter the Guizhou branch long ago: “What a strange fellow. Why damage the lock of an unlocked door? Seeing you cut through locks and enter in the middle of the night without a key, you don’t seem to be a normal person.”

Jin Ja-gang had returned Yelu Huan’s own words to him.

Yelu Huan answered.

“I told you to come in but you didn’t come, so didn’t I come out instead?”

“They say people become more patient as they age and rise to high positions, but you seem to be different, old man?”

“Hahahaha! Kuhahahaha!”

Yelu Huan laughed.

“Since becoming a cult leader, I’ve become even less patient! Because there’s no need to be patient!”

The laughter echoed thunderously throughout the estate.

Rumble rumble rumble. Debris kept falling.

Even after drawing up her internal energy, Yeong-gwi couldn’t defend properly and staggered back, while Baek-won’s blood vessels burst and one eye turned bright red.

Jin Ja-gang was also affected. His internal energy fluctuated wildly as the Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit suddenly tried to emerge. Since they shared the same martial arts roots, the Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit seemed to be reacting.

Inside Jin Ja-gang, the Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit screamed like a madman with ghostly wails.

“Kyaaaaa! Kyaaaa!”

Jin Ja-gang frowned as if his head would split. Calming his boiling internal energy, he said.

“You’ll need to learn patience again. There’s quite a lot to talk about.”

“Puhaaa!”

Ma Heul burst out from the debris, covered in dust, and shouted.

“You insolent brat! How dare you speak so rudely to our leader! Shall I tear your tongue into a thousand pieces?”

Yelu Huan pointed his finger toward Ma Heul.

“Jjik!”

A sound like a mouse squeaking rang out as sharp finger wind flew toward Ma Heul.

Thwang!”

A sound like striking metal rang out as Ma Heul was hit in the chest by the finger wind and went tumbling. He rolled down from the debris pile to the ground.

“Tsk. I told you when not to butt in, didn’t I?”

Ma Heul shook his head to dust himself off and knelt.

“I’m sorry, leader!”

Yeong-gwi’s face changed color seeing this scene.

The finger wind that makes mouse squeaking sounds is the Demon Cult’s Lightning Extreme Finger. It’s a supreme martial art that can pierce thick iron plates like paper. But the sight of him casually using this Lightning Extreme Finger, and the other person getting up unharmed after being hit by it, was truly terrifying.

Yelu Huan sat casually on the debris and commanded Maheul.

“Bring tea.”

“Yes!”

Ma Heul dusted himself off and went inside.

Yelu Huan asked Jin Ja-gang with a smile.

“I hear our followers incurred a debt at the Min River.”

“There’s no particular debt. I killed them all.”

Yelu Huan’s smile twisted.

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“Why are you here, old man? Did you come to cut off loose ends?”

“Cut off loose ends? That’s too trivial a question about me.”

Yelu Huan stamped his foot.

“Kwarrrrrr!”

The debris collapsed and the ground caved in.

Yelu Huan lightly stepped down to the ground.

“I’m in the middle of searching for those who deceived me.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are three who deceived me.”

Yelu Huan raised his fingers and folded them one by one as he spoke.

“Haewol, who tried to use us by drawing us in! The Indestructible Heavenly Sword, who promised to help with missionary work instead of attacking Haewol but then ran away! And……”

Yelu Huan folded his third finger.

“The one who made a mockery of me by stealing away the Five Paths Fatal Poison in advance.”

“Why is that making a mockery of you? If he made a mockery of King of Hell, then that’s what he did.”

Jin Ja-gang paused mid-sentence and sneered.

“Ah, I suppose it could be seen as mockery. If you tried to steal the salt and Five Paths Fatal Pill midway to monopolize them yourself, only to discover that someone else had already stolen them long ago.”

“I hate being played by others. If someone used their three-inch tongue and tiny brain to put me on a chess board and use me like a game piece, they deserve to die.”

“And then swallow up the grand plan the Ghost King had prepared?”

Yelu Huan smiled without answering.

“Then I can at least know that it wasn’t the Demon Cult that poisoned Mount Emei?”

“Would there be any reason to use poison to take over something like Emei Sect?”

Jin Ja-gang nodded.

“Then you came here to find out who spread the poison……”

Jin Ja-gang looked toward Wang Ung’s corpse, buried and invisible under the debris.

“It seems you’ve already obtained what you wanted. Then now the only one in this estate who knows the source of the Five Paths Fatal Poison that entered Mount Emei is……”

Jin Ja-gang raised his head to look at Yelu Huan.

“Only you, old man.”

The corners of Yelu Huan’s mouth turned up.

He couldn’t fail to understand the meaning behind Jin Ja-gang’s provocative tone.