Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Black Demon's Arrival
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“You’ve arrived.”
As Hyeok Mulin entered Pure Heaven Pavilion, Sima Jin greeted him as usual.
But his voice was half-cracked.
The fatigue is palpable even from here.
It had been quite a while since they’d last met face-to-face.
Hyeok Mulin always prioritized training, handling administrative duties in Pure Heaven Pavilion only after that.
Moreover, Sima Jin, beyond his role as Deputy Military Strategist, had been delegated most tasks by Hyeok Mulin’s authority.
On top of that, he’d been compiling and documenting reports on the Manri Merchant Group and Mangum Auction House, which Hyeok Mulin had personally taken over. Lately, his days had been busier than ever.
“Hoo…”
Sima Jin rubbed his own shoulders as if his body felt heavy and his eyes were dim, pressing the corners of his eyes firmly.
Exhaustion was plastered all over his face.
Hyeok Mulin stared at him briefly before stepping forward.
Tap tap.
He lightly knocked on the desk.
“Take a short break.”
“Yes, understood.”
Sima Jin glanced at the remaining documents and nodded, rising from his seat.
There was far too much piled up to finish right away anyway.
He wobbled slightly as he made his way to the central chair set aside for guests and rest.
“Sit comfortably.”
At Hyeok Mulin’s permission, Sima Jin leaned back a bit more relaxedly—something he’d never do in front of Hyeok Mulin under normal circumstances. But right now, he was far too exhausted to care.
Hyeok Mulin sat across from him and spoke.
“Seems like the workload has been heavy lately.”
“Yes. There have been times before when tasks piled up similarly once or twice, but nothing as relentlessly busy as this.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“It should settle down soon, once most of it’s sorted.”
The Manri Merchant Group had been under their control long enough to be mostly organized, and the recently acquired Mangum Auction House had seen its backlog shrink rapidly thanks to thorough reports from Cho Sahyeon.
In the end, both required time only for initial setup; afterward, simple reports sufficed.
So these extra tasks would wrap up in as little as half a month, or a full month at most.
“And it’s not all bad. Reviewing the merchant group and auction house reports has been a fresh stimulus for me.”
Sima Jin was Hyeok Mulin’s closest confidant in name and truth.
Thus, processing and verifying reports on the Manri Merchant Group and Mangum Auction House that Hyeok Mulin had personally taken over was essential.
And he didn’t just skim them superficially.
With a sharp eye, he organized the documents, spotting hidden issues and suggesting countermeasures before passing them along.
“Hah, is that so.”
Hyeok Mulin’s lips curved in satisfaction at his nature.
He wasn’t the type to pout over extra work and half-ass it.
Even as a genius acknowledged by the world, he relentlessly sought what he could learn or gain from new challenges.
That’s why he kept growing.
Hyeok Mulin simply watched his boundless progress with contentment.
Thud.
Then Hyeok Mulin placed something on the table and slid it forward.
“Hm?”
Sima Jin’s gaze dropped down.
There sat a palm-sized wooden box wrapped in fine silk.
“Open it.”
At the words, Sima Jin picked it up with a puzzled expression.
Moments later, as he opened the box, his pupils dilated sharply.
“No, this is…!”
Inside the small wooden box nestled a round elixir.
It was slightly translucent, emitting a vivid blue hue like a clear sea captured within.
Upon seeing its lustrous appearance, Sima Jin immediately recognized it.
“Isn’t this a Vitality Pill?!”
The Vitality Pill he identified offered minimal internal energy enhancement but excelled extraordinarily in fatigue recovery, memory improvement, and mental acuity—far beyond others.
Legends said consuming it allowed one to forgo sleep for half a month without fatigue, earning it the nickname Insomnia Pill in the Central Plains.
Not something easily found nearby, and utterly unavailable for purchase in Shin-gang, it was no wonder Sima Jin was stunned.
“How on earth did you obtain this?”
“Didn’t the Manri Merchant Group return? They brought it back from Cheonghae Castle as tribute.”
It had been presented to Heavenly Demon Palace by the Blood Demon Unit’s captain, who knew of Hyeok Mulin’s involvement.
Understanding the source, Sima Jin nodded but closed the box and pushed it back.
“Then it rightfully belongs to you, Lord Cult Leader. It’s not for me.”
“Once it’s in my grasp, how it’s used is my decision. It’s final—take it.”
Hyeok Mulin had intended to give the Vitality Pill to Sima Jin from the moment he received it.
The pill focused on vitality over internal energy, so its energy boost was negligible—not particularly appealing to him.
Especially now, with his Pure Soul Divine Demon Art at the fourth ring accelerating his internal energy growth, it’d be like adding a handful of sand to a desert.
Thus, bestowing it on Sima Jin, who could maximize its benefits, was only natural.
“Lord Cult Leader…”
Moved by the refusal, Sima Jin nodded and took the pill.
He popped it straight into his mouth.
Crunch!
One bite, and it melted like a bursting water droplet, smoothly dissolving on his tongue.
No water needed to swallow.
A formless energy naturally flowed down his throat, coursing through his body.
“……!”
His mind cleared instantly. Sima Jin opened his eyes again.
His vision sharpened, knotted shoulders relaxed on their own, tangled thoughts evaporated, refreshing his mind palpably.
Complex calculations and jumbled info sorted themselves neatly in a flash.
“Looks like it works well enough.”
Seeing Sima Jin’s complexion brighten, Hyeok Mulin smirked.
“Not only has the accumulated fatigue vanished in an instant, but I feel incredibly refreshed. How can I ever repay this grace…”
“Then you can work without sleep for a while now.”
“...Pardon?”
Dry sweat beaded on Sima Jin’s brow.
“Haha, you’ve got a sense of humor, Lord Cult Leader.”
“……”
“R-right? It’s a joke…?”
Hyeok Mulin merely gazed out the window silently.
“...I’ll work day and night without rest.”
“Moderation. Take it in moderation.”
Satisfied, Hyeok Mulin encouraged him before shifting to business.
“How’s the recent situation at Mangum Auction House?”
“Thanks to the Secret Affairs Hall Leader and the Hall Master’s efforts, it seems to have passed the recovery phase and entered full resurgence. Rumors of the auction house reviving across Sichuan have spread, drawing seven times more new customers than last week.”
“Proceeding as planned.”
“Yes. As one of the world’s Three Great Auction Houses based in Sichuan, the locals take great pride in it. With its honor and trust restored, it’s natural for regional customers to return.”
Just having a famous noodle shop, inn, or clan in one’s hometown was brag-worthy—let alone one of the Three Great Auction Houses.
Mangum Auction House possessed both history and local pride.
So Hyeok Mulin had believed overcoming the immediate crisis would guarantee a rebound—and it had.
“The other auction houses’ interference has also waned; most seem to have withdrawn now.”
“I see.”
“And there’s a direct report from the Secret Affairs Hall Leader.”
He unrolled a letter on the table and continued.
“As you hinted before, the Sacheon Tang Clan has shown interest in Mangum Auction House.”
Hyeok Mulin skimmed the letter.
“No direct contact yet, I assume.”
“No. But Tang Clan warriors are watching the auction house closely from a distance.”
Nothing’s happening immediately, then.
“Instruct the Secret Affairs Hall Leader to keep monitoring the Tang Clan.”
“Yes, understood.”
As Sima Jin nodded, Hyeok Mulin posed the next question.
“What’s the mood among the Seven Great Demon Clans lately?”
“First, the Yagul Clan and Hyeok Clan are seeing tangible results from linking their newly opened music houses with martial artists. Funds and force harmonize well, yielding strong synergy.”
Among the Seven Great Demon Clans, three currently held positive feelings toward Hyeok Mulin.
The Hyeok Clan, blood-related aside, fully supported him after he rooted out their internal spies.
Second, the Yagul Clan: his candid talk with their patriarch, bridging to the Hyeok Clan, and befriending the young master had fostered goodwill, evolving into a solid relationship.
And third.
“The Sima Clan shows no notable activity. Given their individual dispositions, I don’t foresee anything requiring your concern, Lord Cult Leader.”
Sima Jin reported on his own clan matter-of-factly.
As the Cult Leader’s top confidant, he judged and relayed all intel objectively—no exceptions, even for family.
Hyeok Mulin nodded.
They’ll stay smooth for a while too.
The Sima Clan’s key figures harbored positive sentiments toward Hyeok Mulin.
The clan prodigy Sima Jin had been taken under his wing, prompting Patriarch Sima Geuk to reassess him and continue as Great Military Strategist.
The Great Military Strategist held immense influence second only to the Heavenly Demon.
Overseeing Treasury Hall for finances, Secret Affairs Hall for intel, and Protector Hall for discipline—all finalized under him.
He also monitored Central Plains’ righteous sects, especially the Murim Alliance and Four Black Alliances, and tracked outer realm movements.
Thanks to Sima Geuk handling most affairs, Hyeok Mulin enjoyed significant freedom of action.
Should send the Great Military Strategist some tonics.
Sima Geuk needed to hold that post steadfastly for a long time.
At least until Sima Jin gained enough experience.
Plus, the Sima brothers got along so well they yielded succession to each other—no clan issues yet.
And even if trouble arose, with the Sima Clan as allies, Hyeok Mulin wouldn’t let them fall.
“Continue.”
“Yes. The Gu Clan’s patriarch remains in secluded training, the entire clan sealed off from the world.”
The Gu Clan led the Seven Great Demon Clans.
Though the Cheon Clan burned with rivalry, asking any demon in Shin-gang who held the top seat would yield the Gu Clan unanimously.
Currently, however, the patriarch’s long seclusion had the whole clan shut away, cutting external ties.
“Meanwhile, the Cheon and Man Clans have been quite active lately. Something’s brewing beneath the surface, but details remain unclear.”
“Oh?”
Finally making moves.
Yes, they’re not the type to stay idle.
“Keep investigating.”
“Yes, understood. And finally, the remaining Dokgo Clan…”
Sima Jin paused briefly before continuing in a regretful tone.
“They still wander the world searching for the previous Cult Leader and their former patriarch. Even after over thirty years, they haven’t given up.”
The Dokgo Clan alone among the Seven Great Demon Clans still sought traces of the vanished previous Cult Leader.
And understandably so—they lost both their Cult Leader and patriarch at once.
The Dokgo Clan had generations of patriarchs secretly guarding the Heavenly Demon.
Thus, when the previous Heavenly Demon vanished, their patriarch disappeared alongside.
Making them the hardest hit by the Heavenly Demon’s absence.
Even after a new patriarch took over, they roamed the lands seeking the previous Cult Leader and patriarch.
Yes, everyone thought they sought their lost former patriarch.
But.
...The truth was different.
Hyeok Mulin tapped his chair thoughtfully.
Moments later, he wrote a letter and handed it to Sima Jin.
“Deliver this to the Dokgo Clan.”
There—the blade is offered.
Now, how will they react?
Hyeok Mulin’s lips curved faintly in anticipation of their actions.
Beneath a grim night sky, in a silent hall.
Hyeok Mulin, working late in Pure Heaven Pavilion, suddenly halted.
He set down his brush and spoke.
“They’re here.”
“Pardon?”
Sima Jin tilted his head in confusion.
Hyeok Mulin rose slowly without answering.
His transcendent senses picked up myriad details.
The rustle of leaves brushing legs.
Vibrations rippling through the ground.
Gathering presences converging.
All pointing to one conclusion.
Dozens of shadows had surrounded and encircled Pure Heaven Pavilion.
Realizing this, Sima Jin’s eyes widened as he raised his voice.
“These are…!”
Recognizing their identity, he stared at Hyeok Mulin in shock.
“Lord Cult Leader, what on earth did you write in that letter…!”
Hyeok Mulin calmly opened the hall doors and stepped out, ignoring the question.
Dozens of black-clad warriors enveloping the building came into view.
Clad in pitch-black robes, they made no effort to hide their presence.
Then, from their center, a middle-aged man stepped forward.
He approached within a zhang of Hyeok Mulin, met his gaze, and slowly spoke.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
The Dokgo Clan patriarch, Death Messenger Black Demon Dokgo Wi, parted his lips with a razor-sharp glint in his eyes.
“Lord Cult Leader.”