Chapter 419

Chapter 419 – Receiving Guests with Utmost Sincerity (1)

If someone were to pick the busiest person in the Demon Cult, everyone would first point to Sang Han-cheon. Sang Han-cheon occupied the position of being below one and above ten thousand in the Demon Cult.

In terms of hierarchy, the Black and White Lions under the Cult Leader were superior to him, but Sang Han-cheon held the actual authority. Therefore, most Demon Cult members thought Sang Han-cheon was the second person in the Demon Cult.

As if to prove this fact, countless people came to the Military Department every day. Most of them were merchants or local influential people who wanted to somehow create ties with Sang Han-cheon.

To them, martial world justice was nothing but empty words as insubstantial as floating clouds. What mattered to them was the hegemon who controlled the region. When the Martial Alliance existed, they worked hard to curry favor with the Martial Alliance, and now that the owner had changed, they had switched horses to the Demon Cult.

Of course, most of these people were handled at lower levels before even reaching Sang Han-cheon. Thanks to this, Sang Han-cheon could concentrate only on operating the Demon Cult without wasting energy on useless matters.

But there were always exceptions in the world. While most merchants were handled below, there were also beings that Sang Han-cheon had to meet face-to-face.

"Military Advisor."

Won Seol-hwa was greeting Sang Han-cheon with a brilliant smile.

"It's been a long time."

"I'm sorry. I should have visited more often."

"No. How could I not know how busy you are? Thanks to Divine Flower Merchant Group, our cult has been able to establish such deep roots in Yueyang. Thank you."

"Not at all. It's something I should naturally do as a disciple of our cult."

"What about your father?"

"He's busy touring the business sites in Hunan Province. He said he'll come to the main group once things are sorted out."

"That would be good. Anyway, having you father and daughter and Divine Flower Merchant Group makes us feel secure. Thanks to you, we can breathe easy."

A smile appeared on Sang Han-cheon's lips.

The most important thing in leading a massive organization like the Demon Cult was financial stability. When the Demon Cult gained power, countless merchant groups approached them openly and secretly.

They gave appropriate benefits and received large sums of money in return, helping with finances. But they were only in contractual relationships, not true loyal subjects of the Demon Cult.

Divine Flower Merchant Group was truly a reliable loyal subject of the Demon Cult and a great pillar supporting their finances. Because of them, Sang Han-cheon could operate the Demon Cult as he wished without worrying about financial pressure.

"But what brings you here? It doesn't seem like you came just to pay respects."

"Actually, I need Military Advisor's help."

"If it's Divine Flower Merchant Group's matter, I should naturally help. What kind of help do you want?"

"Recently the trade routes in Henan Province have been blocked. Because of this, our merchant group's profits have decreased significantly. So we need a breakthrough."

"As expected."

Sang Han-cheon nodded.

Originally, Divine Flower Merchant Group had conducted major trades with Central Plains prestigious sects like Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect. But when the shocking fact that Divine Flower Merchant Group was actually the Demon Cult's outer court was revealed, all trades with them were blocked.

It was natural for the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families. They couldn't even imagine how many secrets had been leaked by allowing Divine Flower Merchant Group inside them until now.

Therefore, they cut off trades with Divine Flower Merchant Group and issued execution orders. Because of this, Divine Flower Merchant Group's influence greatly shrank and profits also decreased significantly.

"Don't worry."

"Yes? Is there some solution?"

"We'll settle the Martial Alliance and Shaolin Temple soon. Once we just bring down Henan Province, sweeping away other places will be as easy as flipping a palm."

As easy as flipping a palm – meaning it would be extremely easy.

Won Seol-hwa's eyes lit up.

"But to bring down both at once will cause many casualties."

"That's why we intend to move the Cult Protection Division."

"Ah!"

Won Seol-hwa unconsciously exclaimed.

As the young leader of Divine Flower Merchant Group, Won Seol-hwa naturally knew well what status and power the Cult Protection Division held in the Demon Cult.

The Cult Protection Division was like the Demon Cult's ultimate reserve strength.

In the Demon Cult where survival of the fittest was a virtue, the probability of surviving to the end and entering the Cult Protection Division was slimmer than an elephant passing through a needle's eye. But those who survived such slim odds and entered the Cult Protection Division were given the right to be free from all disputes within the Demon Cult.

Only the Cult Leader could move the Cult Protection Division. No one else could recklessly move the Cult Protection Division.

Cult Leader Cheok Gwan-hyeol also faithfully kept such principles. But several years ago, an incident occurred that completely shattered taboos and principles. Former Cult Protection Division Director Northern Dark Demon Emperor Hwa Mu-ui was discovered secretly supporting Eum Yu-kyung and others and was killed.

Right after the series of events, Cheok Gwan-hyeol installed Phantom Demon Emperor Wi Gang-hwi, one of his closest associates, as the director of the Cult Protection Division.

Giving authority to move the Cult Protection Division was tantamount to the Cult Leader entrusting all authority to Sang Han-cheon.

Having survived to the end and entered the Cult Protection Division, the elders' martial arts levels truly pierced the heavens. By becoming able to move such a Cult Protection Division, the realm in which Sang Han-cheon could display his skills expanded almost infinitely.

'No matter how great the Martial Alliance and Shaolin may be, they will crumble without a trace like sandcastles before waves. Once we bring down just those two places, no sect in the world will dare oppose our cult.'

When that time came, they would be able to shed the stigma of being called the Demon Cult and be reborn as the Divine Cult.

"Soon all of Central Plains will fall into our cult's hands. When that happens, Divine Flower Merchant Group will also be free from anyone's restraint. So please be patient a little longer."

"I understand."

Won Seol-hwa had no choice but to agree.

The unparalleled famous sword called the Cult Protection Division had been given to the genius Sang Han-cheon. Even without seeing it with her eyes, she could tell what kind of synergy the two would create.

Won Seol-hwa got up from her seat and muttered:

"Then until our cult prepares to march, I should focus on Silver Treasure Escort Agency."

"What do you mean? Silver Treasure Escort Agency?"

Sang Han-cheon immediately showed interest. Won Seol-hwa smiled coldly and said:

"I met Eun So-cheong of Silver Treasure Escort Agency recently. But…"

"But?"

"It's not certain yet, but among her companions I saw several who didn't seem to fit with an escort agency."

"Ho! Tell me in detail."

"Actually…"

Won Seol-hwa explained in detail about her encounter with Eun So-cheong's group. Throughout her story, Sang Han-cheon's eyes gleamed sharply.

"Hmm! So that's what you're saying?"

"Yes! So I've assigned people to watch them. If any strange movements are seen, reports will come up immediately."

After hearing all of Won Seol-hwa's story, Sang Han-cheon suddenly began rummaging through various bundles of papers scattered on his desk.

They were intelligence reports sent from all over the world. Sang Han-cheon pulled out several bundles from among them. Though he had already read them once, he carefully checked them again.

At Sang Han-cheon's sudden behavior of reading intelligence reports, Won Seol-hwa held her breath. She instinctively felt she shouldn't disturb him.

Sang Han-cheon delved into several intelligence reports again. Among them was information that particularly caught his eye.

[Our cult casualties: over 200.

Snow Mountain Blade Guest Lee Seol-hwi escaped.

About 30 young martial artists under his command killed.]

It was fresh information that had come in just half a day ago. Because of this, Sang Han-cheon had mobilized all the clerks in the Military Department to analyze the information.

Snow Mountain Blade Guest Lee Seol-hwi was a martial artist from a generation ago. Since he was known to have died during the first Righteous-Demon War, his unexpected appearance brought great confusion to Sang Han-cheon.

'Why on earth did Snow Mountain Blade Guest come to Hubei Province? Leading only about thirty people. That's nowhere near enough to deal any blow to our cult.'

It was completely incomprehensible behavior. That made it even more confusing.

'But what if there are many more like Lee Seol-hwi? What if they're each leading their forces and secretly heading toward Yueyang?'

Assumptions he had never thought of before began forming one after another. And Sang Han-cheon didn't ignore such assumptions.

Lee Seol-hwi was an exceptional being who had been outside the Demon Cult's surveillance network. He existed but no one paid attention to him. Countless people thought Lee Seol-hwi was dead, and Sang Han-cheon was the same.

'I was thinking too complacently. I should have thought of Jeok Gyeong-cheon earlier.'

Jeok Gyeong-cheon was a master from the previous generation who had been active during the first Righteous-Demon War, and was now active as the spiritual pillar of Alliance Leader Nam Cheon-san.

The place where Jeok Gyeong-cheon first revealed his presence was right here in Yueyang. When the Demon Cult seized the Martial Alliance, he displayed fierce prowess in resistance.

'What if there isn't just one or two like Jeok Gyeong-cheon? What if those who had been in hiding since the first war have come back into the world?'

Sang Han-cheon let his thoughts flow with the stream of consciousness. The process of fragmentary information gathering to complete one picture brought him great exhilaration.

'They all participated in the suicide squad.'

At that time, the suicide squad inflicted great damage on the Demon Cult. Looking at it closely, the Demon Cult's downfall in Central Plains was due to unexpected damage from the suicide squad.

History tended to repeat itself, and operations that succeeded once tended to be reused in later generations.

Sang Han-cheon picked up another paper. It was information sent by a spy who had infiltrated the Martial Alliance.

Though they say they were selected for secret training, it seems suspicious.

[Will investigate further.]

'So that's where the young martial artists who disappeared from the Martial Alliance went – they were recruited by old martial artists who broke their seclusion and came into the martial world.'

The young martial artists who disappeared from the Martial Alliance, and the young martial artists led by Snow Mountain Blade Guest Lee Seol-hwi discovered in Guzhang, Hunan Province.

The two connected in Sang Han-cheon's mind.

'There's only one operation that those who participated in the suicide squad could use again. The suicide squad!'

The number of those who disappeared from Shaolin Temple was far greater than the martial artists Lee Seol-hwi had led. That meant even more people had entered Hunan Province. And thoroughly dispersed at that.

Suddenly a smile appeared on his lips.

Despite collecting so much information, there had been gaps in information that couldn't be pieced together. But Won Seol-hwa's explanation filled the empty spaces, and finally the big picture revealed its true form.

What their intentions were, what they were aiming for, was clearly drawn.

Finally having drawn the picture he wanted, Sang Han-cheon opened his mouth.

"Seol-hwa."

"Yes!"

"There's something you need to do for me."

"Me?"

"Yes!"

The smile on Sang Han-cheon's lips deepened.

***

Five people were gathered in the room.

They were all previous generation martial artists who had led suicide squads and joined. Though they had gathered in one place after a long time, their faces showed no signs of excitement or joy at the reunion. Rather, their atmosphere was noticeably depressed.

At the center was Jang Jin-myeong, called the Heavenly Human Great Enemy Sword, with Tianshan Snow Flower So Bo-won and Heavenly Wolf Guest Gu Ui-jin positioned to his left and right. There were also several other martial artists present.

Only silence pervaded the room.

The one who broke the silence was precisely Jang Jin-myeong.

"Still no contact from Lee Seol-hwi?"

"……"

No one answered his question either.

The answer was already out. Jang Jin-myeong wasn't asking because he didn't know, but because he was frustrated.

Snow Mountain Blade Guest Lee Seol-hwi was supposed to join them here leading thirty young martial artists. If things had gone as planned, he should have arrived a day ago, but there was still no news.

Lee Seol-hwi had shared joys and sorrows with them for a long time. Therefore, they knew each other too well.

The Lee Seol-hwi they knew was never someone who would be late or break promises. If he couldn't arrive on time, it was only when there was definitely a good reason.

"There aren't many possibilities now. Either he was discovered by the Demon Cult, or he met with an accident of similar magnitude."

"The former seems much more likely."

At So Bo-won's words, the complexions of Jang Jin-myeong and everyone else became grave.

"That would be right. Seol-hwi is never someone who takes promises lightly."

"Then what should we do? At this rate we'll lack strength."

"We still have to go through with it."

"But…"

"There's no path back for us. We've already come too far."

At Jang Jin-myeong's resolute words, everyone's expressions stiffened.

So Bo-won carefully raised a counterargument.

"But then too many children will be sacrificed."

Her face showed a pitying expression. At this, Jang Jin-myeong's voice turned cold.

"What, have you grown attached to them?"

"They're the children who will lead the martial world in the future."

"The strong ones will survive."

"But to be so irresponsible…"

"Have you forgotten? From when we came back into the world, we had no choice."

"……"

"We might be recorded as unprecedented sinners in martial world history. But even so, we can't stop the great undertaking now. Don't forget, everyone. What heart we started this work with."

Throughout Jang Jin-myeong's words, the room was quiet. They bowed their heads, avoiding Jang Jin-myeong's intense gaze. To such people, Jang Jin-myeong drove home his point.

"When we're among ourselves, please don't pretend to be righteous people. We've all seen each other's depths anyway." ​