Chapter 105
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: The One Who Gazes into the Mind of a God (5)
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Ho Yoseong's words came to mind.
- Even if I didn't tell you, the Cult Leader would have known everything, wouldn't he?
- How could the Cult Leader not know what I know?
That was right.
The reason Ho Yoseong was formidable—or dangerous—was because of his immense personal ability and power.
He was a genius with exceptional insight, and at the same time, the Grand Marshal who held power over all.
And the one who walked on a plane higher than even Ho Yoseong was Lee Cheonsang.
Not only was the Cult Leader's position as the supreme authority of the Divine Cult higher, but his personal abilities were beyond comparison. If Ho Yoseong was the eyes of the Divine Cult, then Lee Cheonsang was the Divine Cult itself.
There was no way Lee Cheonsang, who clearly knew the identity of the true culprit who had murdered seven cultists two years ago, would be unaware of Seo Ryang's departure from the cult.
So why hadn't he reprimanded Seo Ryang?
- He might, or he might not. Even I can't see how the Cult Leader will move or what he's thinking.
Seo Ryang secretly wiped his sweat-drenched palms on his thighs, hidden from Lee Cheonsang's view. His throat felt tight, and his back grew damp.
Yes, he had known. He'd had a vague idea from his conversation with Ho Yoseong. But hearing it directly, face-to-face, was a different feeling entirely.
If he had wanted to punish him for it, he would have summoned him long ago. Surely, he wasn't going to hold it against him now.
…I know that, so why do I feel so anxious?
Lee Cheonsang continued impassively.
“These herbs were not gathered to create an elixir.”
Ah, yes.
“Their focus is on eliminating (滅), seizing (奪), and killing (殺) any and all properties. They are of little use in concocting an elixir, which requires amplifying medicinal power.”
“…”
“But to me, they are as useful as Ji Ganghyeon, whom I took as my disciple.”
Seo Ryang's eyes glinted.
He had said Ji Ganghyeon was necessary for the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon. And now he was saying these herbs, like Ji Ganghyeon, were useful to him.
Thinking of himself as the Divine Cult itself. It could be called the confidence befitting a Cult Leader, but Seo Ryang felt a strange sense of unease.
‘Wait, didn't he call Ji Ganghyeon an ingredient?’
An ingredient.
It wasn't a metaphor. He could feel Lee Cheonsang's genuine intention to use Ji Ganghyeon literally as an ingredient.
“Useful, you say?”
“I will use these herbs to conduct an experiment on him.”
“An experiment…?”
“Yes.”
That unique, indifferent gaze. In those eyes, Seo Ryang read the cruelty of a Demonic God, far removed from human common sense.
“The density of his true energy, the clarity of his consciousness, the limits of his desire. After calculating all of these, I will obliterate his humanity.”
“...!”
“The probability of success is incalculable. It will, of course, not be an easy task, and in all likelihood, he will become a complete wreck.”
Obliterate his humanity? He'll become a complete wreck in all likelihood? What kind of horrifying words were these?
A faint smile touched Lee Cheonsang's lips.
“If it fails, he will be disposed of.”
A chill ran down Seo Ryang's spine.
Disposed of? Lee Cheonsang was talking about performing a human experiment with no guarantee of success.
He didn't want to ask for what reason. It didn't seem like he would be told anyway.
What he was truly curious about was something else.
“From the beginning, was it for that reason… that you said you would take him as your disciple?”
“Because the Lord of the Demonic Sword House wished it.”
“...!”
“If he hadn't requested I take his son as a disciple, I was planning to experiment on my own body. But if it's a grave sinner who deserves punishment, there's no harm in using him as an experimental ingredient.”
“What will you do when the experiment is over?”
“I will know when the time comes. But I don't think a fish that has been cooked can swim in the sea again.”
Seo Ryang's eyes wavered.
He didn't know how terrible the experiment would be. But he would rather be beheaded in a single strike than become someone's experimental ingredient and wail in despair.
Anyone would feel the same.
He didn't know if this was a fitting punishment for the crimes committed, but it was certain to be a horrific end.
‘This is something a human shouldn't do.’
That's right. This was an inhuman act.
However…
“If possible, I hope you fail.”
A cruel killing intent flashed in Seo Ryang's eyes.
“Miserably, at that.”
He murdered seven cultists of the Divine Cult?
That alone was a grave crime deserving of a brutal death. But that wasn't all.
The man had surely cast countless commoners into hell. The vivid killing intent lingering in his eyes was proof of that.
Even if his crimes were fully revealed and he was imprisoned in the Hall of Punishments, at most he would face execution or a life sentence.
It was better for him to suffer horribly in endless despair. That was Seo Ryang's thought.
And watching Seo Ryang, Lee Cheonsang thought.
‘He is getting closer.’
When I brought the third one into the Hall of Judgment, I could only feel death (死) from him.
The boy instinctively understood the concept of death.
Even Lee Cheonsang, who had delved into the demonic (魔) for decades and was now beginning to transcend even that concept, had never imagined someone like this could exist in reality.
But it was different now.
The one who had walked solely within death was now gradually approaching the demonic (魔).
Why he was enraged was not important. What was important was that he had become far more cruel and savage than before.
If he continues to approach the demonic (魔) like this, eventually the reason will no longer matter. He will become cruel, savage, and wicked without reason.
If he fails to reach the Realm of Ultimate Demonic Mastery before then... this one too will end up as just another common demonic practitioner, strong but nothing more.
Seo Ryang sighed.
“In any case, if things were going to turn out this way, it seems I made a fuss for nothing.”
Lee Cheonsang had known the true culprit and even had a plan to deal with him. In the end, he had just gotten involved unnecessarily and put himself through trouble.
“That is not so.”
“Pardon?”
“When dealing with my disciples, I do not allow interference from their blood relatives. However, thanks to your intervention, did the Lord of the Demonic Sword House not realize the situation?”
“...?”
“Even if his son committed a grave sin, he could not help but harbor resentment toward the Cult Leader who ruined his own flesh and blood.”
“...!”
“Because you stepped in, the Lord of the Demonic Sword House will ultimately not harbor any complaints toward me. There is a great difference between knowing beforehand or not, and between admitting it oneself or not.”
“...I see.”
“Therefore, the Lord of the Demonic Sword House should be grateful to you.”
Grateful?
“Because thanks to that, he is able to at least preserve his family's lineage.”
Seo Ryang's eyes widened.
Preserve his family's lineage? What's this now?
Lee Cheonsang, having emptied his cup, spoke.
“Soon, I will issue a command to you. I believe it will be perfect for a starved fellow like you, who went out for a breath of fresh air without reporting, to stretch your legs.”
Seo Ryang couldn't help but clear his throat. He was grateful for being let off the hook, but he wondered if such words were really necessary.
Anyway, a command?
“Simply be aware of that.”
“Ah, yes.”
“You may leave now.”
Seo Ryang bowed his head and left the grand hall.
A sudden curiosity made him turn around.
“Um… Cult Leader.”
“…”
“May I ask one more question?”
“You may.”
Seo Ryang's expression clouded over.
“Then the third son, Ji Yeonghyeon… do you know why he became like that?”
“I do.”
Just as I thought.
“He had an immense amount of internal energy sealed within him. Though his martial arts were trivial.”
“I imagine so.”
“What's more, he was fine during the day but lost his reason at night. Why on earth was he…?”
Lee Cheonsang cut him off.
“You have no need to know that much.”
Feeling awkward, Seo Ryang bowed his head again.
“I will see you later.”
Thud.
And so, the doors to the grand hall closed.
Alone, Lee Cheonsang refilled his cup and took out a brocade pouch from his robes.
“The Jade of the Calamity God… so it still remained in the martial world.”
A faint interest flickered in his eyes.
“I've acquired an interesting item.”
It was one of the items submitted by the transport unit's demonic practitioners along with their report. Everything deemed useful from the site of the ambush had been collected.
The collected items included the Blood Wolf's fur and claws. And the brocade pouch that Jeong Illyong had given to Iron Guard Commander Oh Gyeonghwa in exchange for the Jade of the Calamity God was also in his hand.
“In many ways, I've benefited thanks to the third one.”
Under the right conditions, the Jade of the Calamity God serves to absorb essence.
It doesn't absorb internal energy. It seizes and absorbs a person's life force, their primal essence.
If the Jade of the Calamity God had not fallen into my hands, I would have tried to get my hands on Ji Yeonghyeon as well.
Ji Yeonghyeon, having learned the mutated Essence-Absorbing Demonic Art through Ji Ganghyeon's scheme, would have been unable to lead a normal life from now on.
That was also the reason Ji Yeonghyeon had targeted the Dark King Sword. He had approached it to devour the extreme demonic energy slumbering within the ancient demonic weapon.
Of course, if he had managed to devour the Dark King Sword's demonic energy, his body would have exploded on the spot, killing him.
‘To make his own flesh and blood's internal energy his own... he was too greedy.’
The reason Ji Ganghyeon had Ji Yeonghyeon learn the Essence-Absorbing Demonic Art by proxy was because he knew of its side effects.
Ji Ganghyeon had probably been constantly managing Ji Yeonghyeon.
He would have exquisitely controlled and also utilized Ji Yeonghyeon's desire to lose his reason and devour the internal energy of others.
That was also why Ji Yeonghyeon had caused trouble on the very first day he entered the cult. The person who could suppress Ji Yeonghyeon's desires was not by his side, having entered the Palace of the Demonic God.
“This will be an unforgettable Festival of Papiyas for the Lord of the Demonic Sword House.”
Since he'll have to think about how to deal with not only his eldest son but his third son as well.
* * *
“And that's what happened.”
“…”
“…”
Go Gu and So Yeonsim were speechless.
Seo Ryang smacked his lips. It was a rather bland conclusion, with certain details filtered out, but what could he do? The game board belonged to none other than Lee Cheonsang.
Since Lee Cheonsang had said he would handle it, the two of them wouldn't get to see the man in shackles. It was bound to be disappointing in many ways.
So Yeonsim sighed.
“Perhaps it's for the best.”
“…”
“I don't know how the Cult Leader will deal with the true culprit, but… yes. This might be better.”
She seemed to be trying hard to believe it.
Go Gu shook his head.
“Lord So is right. If the Cult Leader has said he will handle it, the true culprit will suffer an immensely painful fate.”
“What?”
“I do not mean to fathom the will of a god (神), but when the Cult Leader bestows rewards or punishments, he does not usually say what he will do.”
“...!”
“For such a Cult Leader to say he will deal with it personally… I dare to surmise that the true culprit will struggle in a place worse than hell. Unable to die, yet unable to live.”
Not only So Yeonsim, but Seo Ryang too felt a chill run down his spine.
To hear such words from Go Gu, the head of the Hall of Punishments himself. It made it feel all too real.
“Then what about Ji Yeonghyeon?”
“He said nothing about him. I believe he will likely leave it to us to handle.”
“I see.”
So Yeonsim lamented. Her feelings seemed complicated.
“I guess I'm no different from anyone else. The one who committed the crime was the older brother, but I can't bring myself to look favorably on the younger brother, Ji Yeonghyeon, either.”
“I understand.”
“So what will happen to Ji Yeonghyeon?”
Seo Ryang scratched his head.
“Won't the Lord of the Demonic Sword House request his release?”
“He probably will, but.”
Go Gu said.
“Though not as much as his brother, he too is guilty. He attacked a cultist of the Divine Cult.”
“Hey man, that was a sting operation.”
“That is also true. But if we let him go, who knows if he won't do something like that again?”
“Then catch him then. What do you think the Hall of Punishments is for?”
“Do you wish to debate the purpose of the Hall? I'm sorry, but I am the Head of the Hall of Punishments and a demonic practitioner of this cult. I cannot knowingly release someone who will clearly bring harm to our cult if left alone.”
Seo Ryang sighed. If they started debating the logic of it all, there would be no end.
‘Well, he's detained in the Hall of Punishments, so it's not a matter I need to meddle in anyway.’
Then, Go Gu continued.
“However, even if we don't try to hold him, the Lord of the Demonic Sword House will not request his third son back.”
“Huh? Why? His first son is basically being thrown into an endless hell, so wouldn't he be even more eager to take his third son back?”
“The Lord of the Demonic Sword House failed to manage his children. And the Cult Leader is aware of that.
The Lord of the Demonic Sword House cannot choose any course of action that we might judge to be an unreasonable demand.”
Go Gu's eyes gleamed.
“He wouldn't want to see his house fall to ruin because of his sons.”
“…”
“He has already abandoned his eldest son. He made a decision not as a father, but as the Lord of the Demonic Sword House. The second choice will be easier.”
“...I see.”
“Of course, his heart will be whittled away just as much.”
They were utterly heartless words. But they were also the reality of the situation.
After a moment lost in thought, Seo Ryang soon rose from his seat.
“Anyway, you all handle his case as you see fit. I think it's right for me to step out now.”
Go Gu clasped his fist.
“Regardless of the outcome, I am indebted to the Third Young Master. I will not forget this debt.”
“Hmph, forget it.”
Lord So also bowed her head.
“You went through a lot. I'll come visit you sometime soon.”
“I'd be grateful if you brought some good liquor.”
“Of course.”
Seo Ryang gave the two a glance and left the Hall of Punishments.
Ma Dongpil, who was waiting outside, hurried over.
“You're back.”
“Yeah.”
“Did things wrap up well?”
“It's a bit messy, but well…”
Seo Ryang let out a low sigh and then grinned.
“Two days left until the Festival of Papiyas, right?”
“That's right.”
“Good, in that case…”
He clenched his fist.
“Let's enjoy these last two days to the fullest!”