Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Are You Safe?
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Lingering spirits often succumbed to grudges right before death, degenerating into vengeful spirits.
Those vengeful spirits would then wander the nine heavens until their resentments were resolved, allowing them to achieve transcendence.
Baeksan's lingering spirit was a textbook case.
「Let me go! I said let go!!」
Clank, clank!
The wretch, consumed by his grudge, could only bellow incoherently while bound tight in iron chains.
It seemed the humiliation of being toyed with by me up until his dying breath had festered into pure hatred.
Of course, I wasn't the type to flinch at something like that.
"Your favorite piping-hot newbie's here. Make sure you educate him properly this time."
「Understood!」
「Understood!!」
「Heh heh heh, our pretty little thing! How about we settle in for some deep, bodily conversation(?) together?」
「Fresh meat! Nutritious, healthy, delicious fresh meat! Not letting you slip away this time! You're mine! Mine! Keeeyot!」
「Aaaah! Let me gooo!」
Thwack! Thud thud thud!
Clank, clank!
As I always say, no matter how peerless a master they were in life, death reduced them all to mere lingering spirits.
Baeksan was no different. Earth Ghost or whatever he called himself, in lingering spirit society, he was just another powerless rookie.
The beatdown commenced.
He still had some pride and was somehow holding out, but I wondered how long that stance would last.
That said, Number Fifteen seemed the most thrilled of the bunch.
Keeeyot? What even was that?
Swish, swish—
I gave the Fallen Blade Baeksan had dropped a casual swing.
It settled perfectly into my grip.
Sure, the downside was yin energy seeping into my meridians, but for someone like me who wielded specter arts, that was a benefit, not a flaw.
Seemed like I'd scored a fine trophy.
I had no use for the sword myself, but melting it down for daggers would make for some solid gear.
I slid the Fallen Blade back into its sheath across my back, wrapped Baeksan's shattered skull in a rough cloth, and returned to where the original followers had been.
This head would serve as crucial proof—alongside the White Bone Net Sect—to boost my reputation.
After that, I tracked down the other two followers who'd scattered.
Kunlun Three Herons.
That was how they introduced themselves when I asked their names.
They were originally outsiders living around the Kunlun Mountains who had submitted to Tian Shan and naturally become followers of the Nightmare Demon Myth Sect.
Now that I thought about it, their skin was a shade darker than Central Plains folk, with more pronounced features.
By age order, I decided to call them First Heron, Second Heron, and Third Heron for simplicity.
Their gazes brimmed with excitement, fear, worry, and hope.
"We pay respects to the Young Cult Leader."
"Young Cult Leader!"
"We pay respects to the Young Cult Leader!!"
The three flung themselves flat on the ground, unleashing a torrent of raw emotion.
Their bodies quivered faintly as tears streamed from reddened eyes.
Still masked in my lion helm, I stood there, words failing me.
It had only been a couple months for me, subjectively.
But these people—they'd endured over six years of brutal pursuit by the Assembly and its dogs.
How could I even begin to grasp their pent-up anguish?
"I'm sorry for leaving you all this time."
"How can you say that? We lesser ones count it the supreme honor of our lives just to gaze upon your countenance!"
"Thank you for holding strong."
With genuine sincerity, I posed the question I'd burned to ask any followers I met—the one even the White Bone Net Sect couldn't answer.
"The Cult Leader—"
My heart clenched.
"Is the Cult Leader safe?"
From Number Fifteen and Gu Min-chae's reactions, his safe escape from Tian Shan was certain. I had to know.
Master's visage already flickered before my eyes.
Yet the three exchanged uneasy glances, reluctant to reply.
...An indefinable dread flitted through my mind.
"His Holiness..."
One finally swallowed hard and spoke.
"Wasn't he with you, Young Cult Leader?"
"...What?"
"That's what we've believed all along."
"Explain plainly."
My head reeled.
"Well..."
The Kunlun Three Herons began their careful account.
One word summed it up.
—Missing.
"After the Iron Heaven Seal Bloodbath, five sects including the North Sea Sect dared to profane the Cult Leader's chambers."
"I know that much."
"The trouble came right after."
"Trouble?"
"Yes. The Cult Leader wasn't there."
"!!!"
My eyes widened.
"No one saw Master rise?"
"Correct. The Cult Leader vanished—along with his constant maids, stewards, and the Demon Guard."
The Demon Guard were his shadow limbs, supreme masters each. With them, Master was secure.
"This sparked full-scale civil war in the sacred cult. The Sword Demon Supremacy Sect rebelled against the True Demon Harmony Sect, the Holy Demon Heart Sect took in Night Demon Moon Sect survivors and joined the fray, strife erupting even among the seventy-two subordinate sects."
Tian Shan cleaved into warring factions in my mind's eye.
I'd heard bits before.
But hearing it firsthand was utterly grim.
"Then why descend from Tian Shan? If Supremacy, Heart, and Moon allied against the rebels, Myth should've joined naturally."
"That's just it—"
First Heron hesitated, squeezed his eyes shut, then continued deliberately.
"Supremacy, Heart, and Moon decreed that a sect without its leader isn't a sect at all."
"Cooked and cast out."
It all clicked.
The cult's infighting was mere clash between Assembly-aligned sects and holdouts.
No room for Nightmare Demon Myth Sect input.
Effectively banished.
......
......
......
Even the lingering spirits held their tongues now, gauging my mood.
"Forgive us!!"
The Kunlun Three Herons smashed their foreheads to the dirt.
Blood streamed from the gashes.
"Lift your heads."
"But—"
"I won't repeat myself. Up."
Authority laced my voice unbidden.
The Kunlun Three Herons raised their heads slowly, eyes quaking.
One sentiment filled them.
Guilt.
Regret for failing their Sect Leader.
"How is that your sin? Chaos demanded he comfort his flock—that's a leader's duty. The fault is mine and Master's. Forgive us."
I bowed deeply, heart in it.
I couldn't meet their eyes.
"Young Cult Leader!"
"Please, no!!"
"Your return alone is the First Heavenly Demon's grace—we're overcome!!"
Lordless, Nightmare Demon Myth Sect was ousted from Tian Shan, scattering to borderlands and Central Plains corners.
Dodging Assembly hunters, combing the world for vanished Master.
Followers dubbed it the "Nightmare Demon's Exile."
Echoing the Fire Worship Cult's epic trek—from Persia through India to Tian Shan, fleeing elite persecution.
Now six years gone.
Secret follower networks frayed.
Cult pursuits crushed cells, slew faithful.
No word on Master eroded even devout faith; factions whispered of new leaders.
Into that turmoil, my Guryong County traces surfaced.
"Some dismissed it as cult bait for stragglers. Others hoped you'd finished recovering—the one who fled Tian Shan with the Cult Leader—and returned. Amid the buzz—"
"You three crossed paths with Gu Min-chae en route to confirm in Guryong."
"Yes."
I shut my eyes tight.
My reckless summons had nearly doomed them.
I was mortified.
What to say?
Words stuck.
"...As you see, I'm not with Master."
"We see."
"Nor fully healed from old wounds."
The lion helm still shrouded my face. Revealing my reincarnation wasn't time yet.
For me. For them.
Did they sense it?
The Herons' pupils wavered.
Fearing I'd bolt again.
Or stall Myth Sect revival.
"Then—"
"But I've come to you."
"Y-Young Cult Leader!"
"This is guidance and ordeal from the First Heavenly Demon—for me to lead you. My abandonment's sin looms vast. To atone, I'll rebuild Myth Sect by my hand. As ancient Fire Worship rose in Tian Shan, myth now ignites in Sichuan."
"!!"
"In Master's stead, I'll gather you. Prepare his throne's return. And... Sichuan's divine flame shall sweep Central Plains to Tian Shan, torching foes, bending myriad demons to kneel and revere us."
"Ah—"
"Will you trust this fool once more and follow—so I may succeed?"
"You mean you'll lead?"
"Please guide us."
"Like six years past with the Cult Leader—be our new Sect Leader."
The Kunlun Three Herons dropped to one knee, heads bowed.
I looked skyward.
Tonight's full moon gleamed pristine.
Calm ripples spread in my chest.
* * *
Priority one: rally scattered Nightmare Demon Myth Sect.
Many cells lost contact—some might hold Master clues.
"Who commands your network now?"
"The Vampire Demon Lord, sir."
Nightmare Demon Myth Sect boasted five devoted guardians.
Sword God Heavenly Demon's "swords"—the Five Great Sword Generals.
Vampire Demon Lord was one, also head of Bloodsuck Sect among the seventy-two subordinates.
"A protector endures—First Heavenly Demon's grace. Convey this to him."
Beneath the lion helm, my gaze deepened.
"The new Sect Leader awaits in Tang territory."