Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Man Ho Becomes the Right Protector
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Man Ho had become the Right Protector.
Sticking close to Hyeok Mulin's side, he observed his daily routine.
The cultists who witnessed this buzzed with excitement, and before long, rumors spread like wildfire throughout the cult.
It was only a temporary position for a fortnight, but to the demon cultivators unaware of that fact, it was an event that sent shockwaves through their world.
"I heard the Heavenly Demon Army took the Man Clan Patriarch away..."
"Now he's taken the Right Protector's seat."
"In the end, the Man Clan has submitted to the Cult Leader."
"Looks like they're jumping on the bandwagon."
"They're finally reading the room and tucking tail. There aren't many clans among the Seven Great Demon Clans that haven't sided with the Cult Leader by now."
From Man Ho's perspective, many of these unsubstantiated rumors were quite grating.
Some even pricked at his pride as a martial artist.
But Man Ho paid no heed to such gossip.
He simply focused on observing Hyeok Mulin's every move from his side.
"Bring the meal."
"Right here."
In the process, a subtle shift occurred in how they addressed each other.
Man Ho still used formal speech, but Hyeok Mulin spoke to him in a more casual tone.
After all, they were no longer just Cult Leader and clan patriarch—they were Heavenly Demon and Right Protector.
Several days passed like this, and one night...
Hyeok Mulin stepped out of the Heavenly Demon Palace.
He boarded a carriage and beckoned to Man Ho.
"Get in."
"Where are we headed?"
Hyeok Mulin merely offered a light smile in response.
Man Ho's face soured as he climbed into the carriage.
The carriage sped off swiftly and soon came to a stop not far away.
Stepping out, Man Ho looked up at the signboard hanging over the shop in front of him.
"This place..."
Yin Flower Tower.
As Man Ho paused upon recognizing the sign—the tavern that had become the Yagul Clan's flagship establishment—Hyeok Mulin, who had followed him out, spoke up.
"Let's go in."
"Understood."
As Hyeok Mulin entered, the proprietress of Yin Flower Tower greeted him warmly, as if she'd been waiting.
She then led them to a private room on the upper floor that had been prepared in advance.
Seeing Hyeok Mulin and the proprietress, who seemed quite familiar with each other, Man Ho tilted his head in puzzlement.
'Does the Cult Leader enjoy drinking and revelry?'
That's unexpected. I hadn't heard anything about that.
The expression on the proprietress's face as she welcomed the Cult Leader held no trace of fear or feigned smile.
It was genuine joy at his visit.
Though a flicker of doubt crossed his mind, Man Ho followed Hyeok Mulin without voicing it.
Soon, they reached their destination, and Hyeok Mulin opened the door to the private room.
Creak.
"Cult Leader, you've arrived."
"We've been waiting."
Two men were already seated inside.
Yagul Hyeon, patriarch of the Yagul Clan, and Hyeok Gongun, patriarch of the Hyeok Clan.
Spotting them, Man Ho halted in his tracks.
And likewise, seeing Man Ho behind Hyeok Mulin, they froze for a moment.
They had heard the rumors recently and knew the situation, but seeing Man Ho actually at the Cult Leader's side felt strangely awkward.
Moreover, Man Ho wasn't one to frequently meet with other clans' patriarchs, making the setting feel all the more unfamiliar.
As the three men stood rooted to the spot like statues, Hyeok Mulin leisurely took the seat of honor and spoke.
"What are you doing standing there? Sit down."
"...Understood."
At Hyeok Mulin's words, Man Ho trudged over and took an empty seat.
With the Cult Leader and three patriarchs now gathered and seated, Hyeok Mulin poured drinks and said,
"Come on, raise your glasses."
The patriarchs exchanged awkward glances only briefly before lifting their cups.
A clear clink echoed as they drank, and conversation resumed.
"Patriarch Yagul, you look even more radiant than before."
"How could I not? I've heard the Yagul Clan's new premium liquor venture has been raking in massive profits lately. A good portion of the fine liquors served here at Yin Flower Tower are his, after all."
"Your business acumen is truly remarkable, as always."
"You're too kind."
The purpose of their gathering was originally to discuss collaborative ventures.
But as their bond deepened over time, it had evolved into sharing even their deepest thoughts.
The patriarchs of the Seven Great Demon Clans were indeed martial artists of profound realms, but they were no flawless immortals.
Naturally, they too harbored inner struggles.
'But they couldn't easily reveal them.'
Bound by the world's expectations, they always had to project strength.
Now, they could open up to like-minded peers and even seek advice from Cult Leader Hyeok Mulin.
Before, their only outlet for unspoken woes was shouting into a bamboo grove.
But since Hyeok Mulin arranged these meetings, that was no longer necessary.
Moreover, Yagul Hyeon and Hyeok Gongun had supported him from the early days, their trust built over years allowing them to confide freely.
Though Man Ho's presence made them stiff at first today, Hyeok Mulin's usual demeanor soon had Hyeok Gongun and Yagul Hyeon opening up.
"My training hasn't been going well lately. I think it's time to change swords. At some point, swinging it started feeling off. It's been with me since adulthood, through thick and thin, so it pains me, but no helping it."
"Why not have it reforged instead of getting a new one? Even small changes can alter the sword's feel in countless ways."
"Reforged... you say?"
Hyeok Gongun echoed, caught off guard by the unexpected suggestion.
Hyeok Mulin nodded.
"Yes. Slightly twisting the blade's angle or shifting the balance. It's all part of finding the sword that suits you now. Feeling discomfort is actually a good sign. Noticing what you couldn't before proves your realm has advanced."
"You're right, Cult Leader. I know just the blacksmith for it—I'll introduce you. He's skilled at repairing and tuning my clan's instruments; he'll surely help."
Hyeok Mulin advised on Hyeok Gongun's concern, and Yagul Hyeon offered practical aid.
Man Ho, listening to their perfectly synced exchange, couldn't hide his astonishment.
'Is this truly how the leaders steering the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult converse?'
Discussing such personal matters beyond official business.
It's like... old friends casually chatting.
Man Ho couldn't comprehend their dialogue, their bond, any of it.
In his mind, the Heavenly Demon and the Seven Great Demon Clans' patriarchs were locked in coercive submission by force or alliances for gain.
As these doubts swirled in him, Hyeok Mulin rose from his seat.
He was stepping out for some air.
Recalling his duty as Right Protector, Man Ho stood to follow, but Hyeok Mulin raised a hand to stop him.
"It's fine. I want to be alone for a bit."
"Understood."
Man Ho wasn't one to question or push back, so he sat down again.
With Hyeok Mulin gone, silence settled over the three in the room.
Then Yagul Hyeon took a sip and addressed Man Ho.
"Never thought you'd be the one standing at the Cult Leader's side. What happened?"
"It's the Cult Leader's will, not mine."
With Hyeok Mulin absent, Man Ho's speech grew casual as he replied.
"The Cult Leader's will?"
"Why him, of all people..."
As the patriarchs pondered, Man Ho turned the question on them.
"I'm the one surprised to see you lot chatting so casually in a tavern like this."
"Can't live life tense all the time. We need spots like this to breathe."
Yagul Hyeon nodded in agreement with Hyeok Gongun's words.
Man Ho stared at them, fell silent for a moment, then spoke again.
"What exactly do you see in the Cult Leader to follow him like this?"
Hyeok Gongun and Yagul Hyeon exchanged glances.
Then, almost in unison, they chuckled lightly before answering.
"Being drawn to the strong isn't strange."
"On top of that decisive resolve and foresight piercing the future, I simply wish to tread the demonic path he walks."
Man Ho tilted his head, puzzled.
Resolve and foresight.
Having been at his side only a few days, he couldn't grasp it from what he'd seen.
Aside from the undeniable fact of his overwhelming strength, nothing they'd described had shown itself directly.
"I don't get it."
"That's fair."
Yagul Hyeon nodded understandingly, then added,
"But someday, when crisis strikes you, the first thought in your head will be the Cult Leader."
"A moment of crisis..."
Man Ho mulled over those final words.
The next day after the drinking gathering ended, Hyeok Mulin headed to the Heavenly Martial Hall as usual.
But today was different.
Before starting his training, he said to Man Ho,
"Join me today."
It was less a suggestion and more a command.
Unable to refuse, Man Ho suddenly found himself training alongside Hyeok Mulin.
'Never thought I'd set foot in the Heavenly Martial Hall.'
Man Ho sighed deeply as he mimicked Hyeok Mulin's movements.
And soon after...
He'd intended to just go through the motions at first, but his passion ignited.
They were doing external training like circling the training room walls or sit-ups—simple exercises that allowed direct competition with Hyeok Mulin precisely because of their straightforwardness.
'Keeping up with this.'
Hyeok Mulin, too, found rare joy in training with someone who kept pace so well.
Several hours later, the two collapsed onto the floor, drenched in sweat.
Huff— huff—
Catching his breath roughly, Man Ho gulped down water, lost in thought.
How many years had it been since he'd trained without holding back?
He couldn't even remember—it was that long ago. And it left his mind and body fresher than ever.
As he sat recovering, Hyeok Mulin, after a brief rest, stood up again.
'Where to now?'
Man Ho rose with a quizzical look and followed.
Not long after, he reached the destination and let out a gasp of admiration.
Hyeok Mulin had arrived at Pure Heaven Pavilion.
Midnight under the moonlight, after a full day of intense training that should have left him exhausted—yet he dove straight into work without a care.
It was awe-inspiring.
Rustle.
Hyeok Mulin flipped through documents, scrutinizing each one meticulously, yet at an astonishing speed.
He finished the important ones in less than half an hour. Then he moved on to lighter paperwork.
These were minor matters that Sima Jin had already filtered, posing no major impact on cult operations.
As Hyeok Mulin breezed through them casually...
"......"
His hand paused on one document.
It was a report that the wolf population in a village in the southernmost part of the New Frontier had sharply declined.
An odd situation, but hardly critical—yet Hyeok Mulin stared at it intently.
Tap tap.
Drumming the desk in thought, he muttered to himself.
"I see. So it was around this time."
As Man Ho eyed him curiously, Hyeok Mulin turned abruptly.
"You."
"Yes."
"Know anything about the Southern Wild Beast Palace?"
Caught off guard by the sudden question, Man Ho scratched his head.
"Not nothing, but why bring it up out of nowhere...?"
"Good. Just as I thought."
Hearing the answer, Hyeok Mulin slowly curved his lips into a satisfied smile.
And in that instant, an inexpressible sense of foreboding spread through Man Ho's chest like ink in water.