Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Last Elder Meeting
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......
......
......
Silence filled the void left by Hyeok Mulin's bombshell declaration.
As if time itself had frozen, no one moved atop Myriad Flower Peak, where only scattered petals danced in the air.
In the midst of it all, a single fluttering petal drifted down gracefully onto a teacup.
Cheon Jungak stared at it intently before slowly picking up the cup.
He took a sip to wet his throat, then parted his lips languidly.
"I've been through all sorts of trials in life, or so I thought, but this is a first."
Clink.
The cup met the table with a crisp, cold sound that rang out clearly.
Cheon Jungak tugged the corner of his mouth up faintly and addressed Hyeok Mulin.
"Even you, Cult Leader, have developed quite the sense of humor."
"Does this sound like a joke to you?"
Hyeok Mulin and Cheon Jungak's gazes clashed head-on in the air.
As they exchanged sharp glares without yielding an inch,
"Cult Leader, an explanation seems in order."
Yagul Hyeon, who had been watching the situation, stepped in before the tension boiled over.
He calmly stated his position.
"Since the founding of our Divine Cult, the Elder Council has always held regular meetings with you, the Cult Leader, regardless of the intervals. To suddenly abolish this tradition is hard for us to accept."
He had a point.
The Seven Great Demon Clans had been intertwined with the Divine Cult's history from the very beginning.
Their roles and importance within the cult were immeasurable, which was why they had held the right to convene with the Cult Leader all this time.
But.
"You all know it already. This council has long lost its original purpose."
The Elder Council's regular meetings were originally a place for the Heavenly Demon and elders to discuss major and minor events in the Divine Province and Central Plains, listening to and considering each other's opinions.
However, with the rare peace of recent times and the absence of a Cult Leader for the past thirty years, its meaning had warped.
Rather than acting as elders of the Divine Cult, they pursued individual clan interests as patriarchs, turning it into a venue for dividing and vying for power.
"What matters is not the past, but the present. Stagnant water breeds rot, so I judged now to be the perfect time for change."
"......Hmph."
The elders swallowed dryly at Hyeok Mulin's piercing remark.
Yet they couldn't give up so easily.
They knew full well how much benefit these regular meetings brought them.
"A time for change, you say."
Man Ho tapped his finger, revealing his discomfort.
Though he had a somewhat free-spirited nature, he was still a clan patriarch.
With responsibilities on his shoulders, he didn't back down lightly.
"If the Cult Leader has decided to disband the council, we can't force you to change your mind."
Man Ho laid out the situation calmly.
But he added coldly,
"However, wouldn't that mean forfeiting all the gains from these meetings going forward? You'd have to visit Heavenly Demon Palace even for the smallest matters to discuss them. You'd better judge carefully which is truly better."
Hyeok Mulin fixed his gaze on Man Ho.
It was a blatant threat: If we abolish the regular meetings, I'll come straight to you and pressure you one-on-one from now on—do it if you dare.
They still don't get it.
Then let's settle this cleanly.
"Do you truly wish for this council to continue?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Man Ho shot back with a look that said he couldn't believe the ridiculous question.
"Very well, then. I'll give you a chance—not my unilateral decision, but one determined by a vote of those involved."
"......!"
The elders' eyes changed at his words.
Some lit with joy, others with dismay, and some with more complex emotions.
Hyeok Mulin lifted his chin and addressed the council as a whole.
"Those who wish to maintain the Elder Council's regular meetings, raise your hands."
Snap.
Man Ho shot his hand up without hesitation.
Next, Cheon Jungak—who now shared no bond with Hyeok Mulin beyond their severed ties—raised his hand.
The third was Yagul Hyeon, who followed the majority after confirming their moves.
Thus, the Third Elder, Second Elder, and Sixth Elder raised their hands in sequence. But soon, they sensed something amiss.
Only three.
No more hands went up.
Hyeok Gongun turned his head to look at the head seat. Hyeok Mulin's eyes met his in turn.
A brief exchange of glances passed between them.
Is this your choice?
After a moment of silence, Hyeok Gongun twitched the corner of his mouth but ultimately kept his hand down.
That much they had expected.
The Hyeok Clan was the Cult Leader's birth family, after all.
But.
"......?"
Man Ho's gaze shifted sideways.
There sat Sima Geuk, hands tucked into his sleeves.
He remained perfectly still, eyes closed, unmoving in his seat.
"Fourth Elder?"
Man Ho stared him down and called out in a deep voice.
Sima Geuk neither opened his eyes nor raised his hand, merely parting his lips.
"You called?"
"Do you wish for this council to end, Fourth Elder?"
All eyes turned to Sima Geuk at the question.
In the razor-sharp tension, Sima Geuk slowly spoke.
"I am the patriarch of the Sima Clan and the Fourth Elder, yes. But before that, I hold the position of Great Military Strategist overseeing the Divine Cult."
Slide—
Sima Geuk slowly opened his eyes and continued, facing forward.
"Compared to the Divine Cult, all that is insignificant."
"......!"
"......!"
No one had anticipated the declaration; everyone fell silent in shock.
He had prioritized his role in the cult over his position as patriarch.
Having voiced negativity toward the cult's state multiple times since the young Cult Leader's ascension, his stance doubled the surprise.
As the others reeled in confusion, only Hyeok Mulin smirked faintly.
"The vote is split."
Supporting the council's continuation: Second Elder, Third Elder, Sixth Elder.
Opposing: Cult Leader, Fourth Elder, Seventh Elder.
"Those absent from today's meeting—whether they support continuation is unknown, but for now, we'll count them as abstentions."
The First and Fifth Elders, absent today, were marked as abstentions.
Thus, the result was.
"Out of eight, only three support continuing the meetings."
Not even a majority—barely half.
"The decision is made."
Snap—
Hyeok Mulin rose and placed a hand forward, declaring,
"I hereby decree that this council ends today! Great Military Strategist, inform the absentees as well!"
"As you command."
Hyeok Mulin nodded and slowly sat back down.
"Now, since this is still our meeting day, speak freely. I'm curious what agendas you've brought for the good of the Divine Cult."
Under Hyeok Mulin's lead, the meeting resumed, but the elders gained nothing and ended it inconclusively.
They had no true agendas for the cult to begin with, and Sima Geuk's shift in stance left their minds in turmoil.
In the end, the final meeting played out entirely as the Cult Leader intended.
"Heavenly Demon Palace is always open. I welcome and await your visits."
At Hyeok Mulin's closing words, Cheon Jungak stared at him briefly before departing.
Next, Man Ho scratched his head roughly, having gained nothing.
"Returning empty-handed—how will I face the clan!"
Man Ho seemed annoyed at first glance, but beneath it, he appeared to find the situation amusing.
Thud!
He glanced at Hyeok Mulin before kicking off the ground and leaving with a loud whoosh.
"Dropping such a bombshell right after we reunite after so long. Was he always like this?"
After the two elders left, Yagul Hyeon approached Hyeok Mulin.
"People change depending on the situation."
"I see. Then this Yagul Hyeon will keep a close eye on your changes, Cult Leader."
Leaving an ambiguous reply that was neither affirmation nor denial, Yagul Hyeon departed.
"I shall take my leave as well."
Afterward, Sima Geuk reported his return to Heavenly Demon Palace and moved out.
Everyone dispersed according to their purposes, leaving only Hyeok Mulin and Hyeok Gongun behind.
And the first to speak between them was Hyeok Mulin.
"It must have been an uncomfortable seat."
As he said, this was Hyeok Gongun's first attendance as an elder—and temporary patriarch.
Not only did the meeting not proceed normally, but Hyeok Mulin had dismantled it entirely, so he must have been on pins and needles.
"I'm fine. More importantly, your complexion looks much healthier than before."
"Does it? Then I haven't been wasting my time all this while."
"Yes. I'm relieved."
As he said, Hyeok Mulin's face appeared more stable and at ease than before.
Seeing his changed demeanor, Hyeok Gongun felt reassured.
'When I first heard the news, it felt like a bolt from the blue.'
One day, without warning, all support from the Cheon Clan had abruptly stopped.
Puzzled, he sent countless letters, but they insisted it was the Cult Leader's doing.
He'd thought perhaps some marital discord had arisen, but never imagined a complete split—let alone divorce initiated by his nephew Hyeok Mulin.
At first, he thought the information he'd received was wrong.
'Looking back, he always sacrificed for the clan.'
After losing his parents—the hardest hit surely himself—he had no time to grieve, shouldering the patriarch role and fulfilling his duties silently.
When the fallen Hyeok Clan sought salvation, he abandoned his own future for the marriage alliance.
"......"
Hyeok Gongun took in the brilliantly shining sunset in his eyes.
At that moment, not as Hyeok Clan patriarch or Seventh Elder, but as Hyeok Mulin's uncle, he spoke.
"Whatever choice you make, I stand by you, Cult Leader."
Of course, the clan still brimmed with voices blaming Hyeok Mulin.
They had been on the verge of revival through Cheon Clan aid, only for it all to vanish due to his decision.
But having watched his nephew grow from start to finish, Hyeok Gongun couldn't blame him.
He knew from the beginning that the clan had burdened him with too much.
A load that should have been shared by all, placed solely on his back.
"......"
Hyeok Mulin's heart stirred slightly at Hyeok Gongun's words.
After composing himself, he finally spoke.
"Is my younger brother well?"
"You two probably need to talk."
Hyeok Mulin nodded.
That made sense.
Without consultation, he'd stepped down as patriarch and left; then, without a word, declared divorce. It must have left him deeply confused.
"I'll visit next time."
"The clan doors are always open wide, so come anytime. All our family members eagerly await news of the former patriarch."
Former patriarch—not Cult Leader.
What a nostalgic ring.
"I will."
"Yes. Until then, please take care of your health."
Hyeok Mulin closed his eyes at Hyeok Gongun's worried plea.
Indeed, from today—when he'd asserted his presence and abolished the council—much would change.
From now on, the elders' blades might aim straight for his throat.
However.
"It's fine. I've prepared for that."
Hyeok Mulin turned his gaze southward.
Beyond there, to the depths, the very bottom.
To the abyss's bottomless pit.