Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: The Sword Lord's Arrival
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Today, Gyuso—one of the two cultists assigned to guard the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Palace—let out a deep yawn.
He hadn't been able to get a proper night's sleep for the past few days.
Whenever he finished his shift and returned to the barracks, the other cultists sharing the same quarters would chatter noisily about the recent turmoil within the cult, disturbing his rest.
'Not that I care much...'
He stayed far removed from the power struggles within the cult.
Born to ordinary merchant parents, his family held no prominence, and he hadn't joined the elite Martial Force Unit at the heart of the cult's power.
Not that it was due to any lack of talent.
He had proven himself quite capable through various tests, but he had voluntarily given up enlistment in the Martial Force Unit in favor of a simple, ordinary life. Instead, he applied to become a guard at the Heavenly Demon Palace entrance.
The timing had worked out perfectly.
Guard positions were rare and the selection process grueling, but a vacancy had opened up just then, allowing Gyuso to secure the post more easily than usual.
He was content with his role.
Who would dare invade the Heavenly Demon Palace, the very heart of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult atop Heavenly Mountain?
His duties amounted to little more than verifying the identities of those entering the palace. It was stable work, free from any threat to his life.
That is, until just a few days ago.
And the new torment plaguing him had nothing to do with physical threats.
"It's so noisy I can't sleep at night."
"Same in your room? Our barracks have been full of guards yapping day and night. Can't get a wink."
Three or four of them shared each barracks, bedding down together.
But lately, his roommates had been talking endlessly every night, making it impossible to sleep amid the racket.
These were senior cultists who had arrived first, so Gyuso couldn't even complain. Dark circles deepened under his eyes.
Even now, standing watch at the main gate, he could almost hear their voices echoing in his ears.
Especially after yesterday's particularly heated discussion.
"They were all abuzz about the Sword Lord and the Seven Great Demon Clans openly clashing."
"Which side are you rooting for?"
"Couldn't say. For folks like us, it hardly matters who seizes power—we won't feel the difference."
In truth, both sides were distant figures to him, their positions unimaginable for an ordinary cultist like Gyuso.
They were like clouds drifting high in the sky.
So when he first heard that the Cult Leader was opposing the Sword Lord, it hadn't felt real.
Not until the ripples spread across the entire Divine Power Region.
'Maybe I only feel at ease because I'm just a lowly guard.'
As long as he stuck to his duties, he had no worries.
The current strife within the cult was a headache for the high-ranking demonic figures, not him.
Choosing which side to back.
A decision that could shape one's future.
If anything, Gyuso felt relief at his own lack of power.
The less power one held, the fewer responsibilities followed.
'...But if it's not the Seven Great Demon Clans against the Sword Lord, but the Cult Leader versus the Sword Lord...'
Deep down, Gyuso found himself rooting for the Cult Leader.
He had never laid eyes on the Sword Lord, but his feelings toward the Cult Leader were far more positive.
Under the Cult Leader's rule, the treatment of the demonic troops had improved dramatically, and many injustices had been swept away.
Along with that, he was launching various initiatives for the benefit of the cultists. Having witnessed these changes firsthand on the front lines, Gyuso hoped Hyeok Mulin would remain in the Cult Leader's seat for a long time.
And that wasn't all.
He hadn't met the Cult Leader often.
But whenever he passed through the entrance, the man would meet the eyes of the guards and give a slight nod.
It was just a brief, wordless gesture.
'But it gave me such great strength.'
In that moment, it felt like he was entrusted with something more important than anything else.
A powerful resolve surged up, the will to lay down his life for the cult and its leader.
In the end, his duty was merely to guard this gate, but recalling it always chased away his fatigue and sharpened his vigilance.
Then.
Thud. Thud.
A faint sound of footsteps approached from afar, and a figure came into view.
Gyuso squinted at the sight.
"An old man...?"
An elderly man was shuffling slowly toward them.
Something about him exuded a strange aura.
Checking the logbook, Gyuso confirmed no one was authorized to enter or exit the Heavenly Demon Palace at this hour.
He fixed his gaze forward warily. As the old man finally reached the entrance, Gyuso spoke up.
"Halt. Stop where you are."
The old man came to a stop.
Gyuso continued.
"State your name, affiliation, and purpose for visiting the palace."
"......"
The old man fell silent, simply staring at the entrance.
As if reuniting with the Heavenly Demon Palace after a long absence, overcome with emotion.
As the silence dragged on, Gyuso grew a bit flustered.
No one had ever responded to questions of affiliation and purpose with mere silence before.
He glanced at his more experienced fellow guard.
"Guh...!"
Something was wrong with him.
His face had drained of color, his pupils trembling as if an earthquake had struck.
As if he had glimpsed someone he wasn't meant to see here.
Gyuso realized the situation was dire, but as a guard, he held his post.
"State your name, affiliation, and purpose!"
He raised his voice instead.
Otherwise, he felt his lips might refuse to move.
Then the old man's gaze, fixed on the Heavenly Demon Palace, shifted to Gyuso.
The moment their eyes met, Gyuso's body froze solid.
That piercing stare seemed to bore straight through him; he couldn't twitch a finger.
"My name, is it...?"
The old man, still staring at Gyuso, finally spoke.
"Cheon Su-myeong. In the wider world, they call me the Sword Lord."
"......!"
Gyuso's eyes widened in shock greater than anything in his lifetime combined.
The Sword Lord had arrived at the Heavenly Demon Palace gates.
'Has he come to harm the Cult Leader directly?'
His mind raced.
But his response was crystal clear.
Igniting his dantian's demonic energy and his whole body's true qi simultaneously, he strained to regain control of his body.
All for the singular resolve that he would never let this man pass the gates toward the Cult Leader.
Blood vessels burst in his eyes, trickling down his cheeks.
Cheon Su-myeong watched him intently.
'He'd be at ease just staying put.'
Willing to discard his own body for the Cult Leader.
What made that Cult Leader so special?
With slightly complicated thoughts, Cheon Su-myeong spoke.
"No need to strain yourself. I was invited here by the Cult Leader."
"......?"
Gyuso's struggles ceased.
Cheon Su-myeong then presented Hyeok Mulin's official letter, and upon confirming it, Gyuso looked utterly baffled.
At that moment, someone appeared from behind Gyuso.
"He's telling the truth. Let him pass."
"Left Protector...!"
It was Jang Wi, who had come to greet him at the entrance.
With the Left Protector's guarantee, Gyuso and his senior guard finally relaxed and stepped aside.
Cheon Su-myeong glanced at them briefly before stepping calmly into the Heavenly Demon Palace.
He addressed Jang Wi.
"Quite the procedure."
"Necessary protocol. Bear with it."
Having some prior acquaintance with Jang Wi, Cheon Su-myeong skipped formalities.
"I'll escort you to the Cult Leader. Follow me."
Jang Wi led the way, with Cheon Su-myeong following.
The reactions of the cultists who spotted them inside the palace were unanimous.
Shock. Dismay. Astonishment.
They couldn't believe their eyes: Cheon Su-myeong, standing in direct opposition to the current Heavenly Demon, walking freely through the palace.
Yet with the Left Protector ahead of him, they assumed there must be a reason and kept silent, hurrying off to spread the word.
Thus, as Cheon Su-myeong traversed the Heavenly Demon Palace, he drew all eyes while surveying the interior.
"It's been over a decade since I last saw the Heavenly Demon Palace. The atmosphere feels quite different now."
The palace's exterior hadn't changed much.
But the order within and the mood of its people felt profoundly unfamiliar to him.
"With a new Heavenly Demon, it's only natural the palace's vibe shifts."
"Natural, you say..."
Back when he became Cult Leader, not a soul had stood by his side.
Now it was taken for granted that the palace revolved around him.
'Cult Leader. What have you been up to here?'
Every step Hyeok Mulin took brought change.
In a way, more transformations had occurred in the few years since he entered secluded cultivation than in the past thirty.
Crossing the palace, they arrived at a certain hall.
Dark Spirit Hall.
Built entirely of black granite, this hall served as the grand assembly chamber for discussing major cult matters.
Patterns carved into its outer walls blocked all external energies and sounds, ensuring absolute secrecy.
As Cheon Su-myeong moved to enter, Jang Wi blocked the door.
Cheon Su-myeong looked at him, and Jang Wi spoke.
"No weapons allowed inside Dark Spirit Hall. Leave your sword here."
"I've never once parted with my sword from my belt in my life."
"If you won't follow the rules, I can't let you in."
Jang Wi met his gaze with resolute eyes.
But Cheon Su-myeong had no intention of leaving his sword, prolonging the standoff between the two warriors.
The tension mounted dramatically until a voice echoed from within.
"It's fine. Let him in."
At Hyeok Mulin's voice, Jang Wi hesitated briefly before complying.
Without a second thought, he stepped aside at the entrance and said,
"Go on in."
Cheon Su-myeong gave Jang Wi a glance before opening the door and stepping inside.
As the door closed, pitch darkness enveloped him.
But a faint light glimmered at the end of the long corridor, drawing Cheon Su-myeong forward.
Finally passing through, he entered the grand assembly chamber.
A massive round table dominated the space, with a single exceptionally bright candle at its center—the only light illuminating the interior.
And at the head of the table sat a man.
Hyeok Mulin.
The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult met Cheon Su-myeong's gaze head-on.
"Come in."
Tap.
Hyeok Mulin, who had been rhythmically drumming his fingers on the table in anticipation, stopped abruptly and spoke.
"I've been waiting for you."
Sword Lord.