Chapter 271
Chapter 271
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 271
Chapter Title: The Successor’s First Move
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Bu Eun-seol could no longer suppress his surging emotions.
“Then, Your Majesty, do you know the answer I seek?”
His voice grew too loud in his excitement. Barely reining in his emotions, Bu Eun-seol spoke again.
“If so, why have you not given me the answer?”
“Hahaha.”
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor's laughter echoed in his ears.
It felt as though something as fine and transparent as a silk thread was blocking his airways.
“This is the first time you've shown me your emotions.”
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand.
That even if he were to kneel and beg, he would never be given the answer. That even this reaction had been fully anticipated.
“There is only one answer I can give you.”
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor stared intently at Bu Eun-seol with eyes steeped in a mysterious radiance.
“If there is an answer you seek, you must find it for yourself.”
Cutting off his laughter, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor spoke each word with clarity.
“An answer given by another could be false, and that could create another, unpredictable destiny.”
As Bu Eun-seol mulled over the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's words, his eyes widened.
*An answer given by another might not be the true one...*
What if the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had falsely named his grandfather's killer?
If Bu Eun-seol believed him and killed that person, wouldn't his fate have been manipulated by another's words?
For that reason, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor wanted Bu Eun-seol to find the answer himself.
“Thank you.”
Bu Eun-seol bowed his head and clasped his hands.
Bu Eun-seol had learned two important truths from the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
That the answers one desires must be found by oneself.
And that a person who stands at the pinnacle of all, like the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, can easily manipulate the fates of others with a single word.
*I must be wary of even this.*
For even the act of teaching him this truth could be an attempt to steer him in a certain direction.
“Thank you for enlightening me.”
“The position of successor carries many burdens, but with it comes considerable power.”
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor smiled calmly.
“Go on and stir things up. With the power you have seized for yourself.”
With those last words, he slowly turned away.
Bu Eun-seol bowed deeply to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's back, his hands clasped.
He thought he had finally begun to understand the man known as the Demonic Heavenly Emperor... but in the end, he had gained nothing.
The unknown. And chaos.
With his current abilities, Bu Eun-seol could not yet grasp the Demonic Heavenly Emperor's true nature.
All he could faintly realize was…
That the being known as the Demonic Heavenly Emperor was like the primordial chaos, where good and evil were wildly intermingled.
***
At last, the inauguration ceremony began.
On the grand dais erected at the Seong-ma-gak, the leaders of the Ten Demonic Sects were seated.
And below, all the high-ranking officials and lords of the Demonic Cult had gathered.
They stood in rigid formation, their expressions tense, barely breathing.
This was because an immense aura was pouring forth from the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, who stood tall on the dais.
He was unreservedly revealing the power he usually kept sealed, all to welcome the next successor who would lead the Demonic Cult.
—This is the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
As the suffocating pressure rained down relentlessly, sweat beaded on their foreheads.
How could mortal power suppress the air in such a vast hall?
*Thump, thump.*
Just then, a figure walked through the ranks, clad in martial robes the color of ink, as if fashioned from the hide of a black dragon.
Light passed through his long, lustrous hair, revealing eyes as clear as crystal.
With every step, the embroidered patterns and jewels on his attire reflected the sunlight.
He looked like a gleaming black dragon made manifest in human form.
It was Bu Eun-seol.
*Step, step.*
The aura flowing from the Demonic Heavenly Emperor pressed down on Bu Eun-seol's body like hundreds of millstones.
Despite this, Bu Eun-seol calmly ascended the stairs.
Finally reaching the top of the dais, Bu Eun-seol faced the Demonic Heavenly Emperor.
And slowly, he knelt on one knee.
At that, Jin-seol and two other martial artists emerged from behind, carefully carrying a jet-black iron case.
*Click.*
As Jin-seol carefully opened the case, the gleaming white blade of a sword was revealed under the brilliant sun.
*What sword is that?*
Everyone in the hall wore a puzzled expression.
The sword bestowed upon the successor is the Red Thunder Sword, a weapon passed down through generations of the Demonic Cult.
So why, out of nowhere, was there a sword with a pure white blade?
*Swoosh.*
Drawing the sword, she presented it to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor with a respectful and careful motion.
“The successor to this cult holds immense responsibility and formidable authority.”
Grasping the sword, the Demonic Heavenly Emperor looked at Bu Eun-seol and spoke.
“And it is also a very dangerous position.”
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor held out the sword to the kneeling Bu Eun-seol.
“Bu Eun-seol, disciple of Nang-ya-gak. I hereby appoint you as the head of this cult's inspection agency, the Lord of the Martial Soul Order, and simultaneously declare you the next successor to this cult.”
*Thud.*
Bu Eun-seol respectfully accepted the sword with both hands.
*Ice Soul.*
Did the sword whisper it?
Or had Bu Eun-seol known this sword from long ago?
He had merely gripped the hilt, yet the name Ice Soul surfaced in his mind.
“As the successor who will lead this cult, show your capabilities without reserve.”
*Kuuung.*
Simultaneously, the sound of a giant gong installed on the dais rang out.
Bu Eun-seol had finally ascended to the position of the Demonic Cult's successor.
“Say a few words.”
The Demonic Heavenly Emperor said, looking at Bu Eun-seol with a faint smile.
“As the successor.”
Bu Eun-seol bowed respectfully and turned around.
He looked down at the countless people below the dais.
“There will be those who are dissatisfied that I, a former Sip-ma-jeon-in, have become the successor.”
“...”
“But you must know this. I, who had no faction and no foundation, was able to rise to this place solely because I cultivated my strength.”
Bu Eun-seol shouted with a dignified expression.
“And from now on, as long as I am here, everyone who belongs to this cult will receive a fair opportunity.”
His voice, shaking the Seong-ma-gak, set the hearts of all the assembled demonic path practitioners ablaze.
“Hone your skills! Then challenge me and rise!”
*Clang.*
Raising the Ice Soul Sword above his head, he said in a loud voice,
“All the way to where I stand!”
Normally, when his speech ended, all the demonic practitioners below the dais were supposed to bow their heads in unison to show their respects.
It was a sign of submission, acknowledging him as the Demonic Cult's next successor, and it would have marked the end of the inauguration ceremony.
—WAAAAAAAAAAH—!
But instead of paying their respects, a thunderous cheer erupted, loud enough to tear the sky asunder.
—As long as I am the successor, skill will be everything.
—All opportunities will be given fairly.
—If you wish, challenge me for the place where I stand. I will accept at any time.
This was Bu Eun-seol's promise to the martial artists of the Demonic Cult, and to its million followers.
And it was a promise that instantly washed away the sorrows of the Demonic Cult's martial artists and the disciples of countless demonic sects, who had been discriminated against based on their faction and origin rather than their skill.
—Bu Eun-seol! Bu Eun-seol!
—Lord of the Martial Soul Order! Lord of the Martial Soul Order!
Their hearts burning, the demonic practitioners cheered, shouting Bu Eun-seol's name for a long time.
Perhaps displeased by this, as soon as the ceremony ended, the leaders and factions of the Ten Demonic Sects—excluding Nang-ya-gak, Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji, and Mu-ha-su-yu-jeong—promptly departed from the Demonic Cult's headquarters.
***
As the Demonic Heavenly Emperor had said, the position of the Demonic Cult's successor was one of considerable power.
Upon becoming the official successor, Bu Eun-seol's residence was immediately assigned to the Jam-ma-gak, a short distance from the Seong-ma-gak.
The Jam-ma-gak.
It was a place comparable to the Seong-ma-gak where the Demonic Heavenly Emperor resided, with a force of five hundred soldiers stationed under his direct command on its vast grounds.
Traditionally, the successor is assigned a separate Jam-ma-jeon-dan to command.
Furthermore, as the Lord of the Martial Soul Order, Bu Eun-seol had to lead the warriors of the Mu-hon-ryeong.
However, instead of leading the Jam-ma-jeon-dan, Bu Eun-seol expanded his Sa-yeong-dae by recruiting more members, turning it into the Sa-yeong-jeon-dan.
He then promoted each team leader to the rank of a third-class Dae-ju, assigning them appropriate duties and responsibilities.
He also promoted Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong to the rank of second-class Dae-ju, appointed them as his aides, and entrusted them with the management of the Sa-yeong-jeon-dan and the Mu-hon-ryeong.
Myo Cheon-u was insightful and skilled at managing people.
Yu Un-ryong, as the eldest son of a family that had served as government officials for generations, was proficient in various administrative tasks.
With those two, Bu Eun-seol could be completely free from the duties of a successor.
Thanks to them, he was able to spend some pleasant time at the Demonic Cult's headquarters with the people from Nang-ya-gak, Jeol-cheon-myeol-ji, and Mu-ha-su-yu-jeong.
Jam-ma-gak, Bu Eun-seol's office.
“The matter of the Cheong-hae-chil-geom-mun has been taken care of.”
Yu Un-ryong handed a book to Bu Eun-seol, who was sitting at a desk.
“And this is a ledger detailing all the financial power, manpower, and authority you can wield as the successor of the Demonic Cult and the Lord of the Martial Soul Order.”
When Bu Eun-seol appointed Yu Un-ryong as his aide, he had given him two tasks.
The first was to formally incorporate the Cheong-hae-chil-geom-mun into the Demonic Cult.
And to bestow a great reward in the name of the Lord of the Martial Soul Order upon the successors of the Chil-geom-mun, who had distinguished themselves in the annihilation of the Black Lotus.
The second was to create a book that summarized all the powers of the successor at a glance.
*It suits him well.*
Picking up the book, Bu Eun-seol glanced discreetly at Yu Un-ryong, who was dressed in the attire of a scholar-official.
When Yu Un-ryong was appointed as the aide in charge of paperwork, the Privy Council went ahead and issued him the robes of a civil official.
At first, Yu Un-ryong wouldn't even look at the clothes, but as his administrative duties piled up, he began to wear them.
This was because, unlike when wearing martial robes, no one questioned him when he carried documents out of the archives.
“Is something wrong?”
Sensing Bu Eun-seol's blatant stare, Yu Un-ryong furrowed his brow.
Even though he had risen to the position of successor, nothing had changed between them.
Myo Cheon-u and Yu Un-ryong always treated Bu Eun-seol casually, and he, in turn, never forced a strict hierarchical relationship upon them.
He had opted for a leadership style that was relaxed in daily matters but maintained strict discipline when necessary.
“I'm sure it's all organized correctly.”
“No, it's not that.”
Only then did Bu Eun-seol turn his gaze back to the ledger.
It contained detailed records of everything, from the gifts received at the inauguration ceremony to the manpower and financial resources he could command.
“You've organized it well.”
Bu Eun-seol nodded.
Yu Un-ryong had organized the contents even more neatly than he had expected.
*The position makes the man, I suppose.*
Back when he was a Sip-ma-jeon-in, Yu Un-ryong's personality had been very arrogant and rather simple.
But now that he had started administrative work in earnest, not only was his hidden talent as a strategist slowly emerging, but his personality was also becoming more prudent.
*Fwip.*
As Bu Eun-seol quickly scanned the contents of the book, his eyes gleamed.
“So that's how it is.”
“What do you mean?”
“No, it's nothing.”
A curious smile played on Bu Eun-seol's lips as he scanned the lists in the book.
“It seems I can finally repay a debt.”
***
Dan Wol-hon sat in his office, his eyes filled with sorrow.
Only one thought occupied his mind.
*The Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit...*
The Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit, submitted to the Demonic Cult by the Hyeol-yeom-do-ga.
It was one of the greatest treasures in the martial world, capable of granting two sixty-year cycles of internal energy the moment it was consumed.
Not only that, it was a peerless treasure that could cure any kind of severed meridian.
—Could you not grant the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit to me?
At a meeting of the Demonic Cult's high officials, Dan Wol-hon had, for the first time, bowed his head to the Demonic Heavenly Emperor and pleaded his case.
The Three Yin Severed Meridians that Dan So-ok suffered from worsened with age. It was a vicious condition; if not treated quickly, she would die an early death around the age of forty.
But if only he could obtain the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit…
...he could not only cure the severed meridians that had tormented his daughter, but she would also be able to learn martial arts.
—The disposal of the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit will be put on hold.
But as time passed, the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit became a treasure that could be given to no one.
This was because among the high officials of the Demonic Cult, there were countless others besides Dan Wol-hon who had compelling reasons to obtain it.
If it were bestowed upon someone in this situation, it would undoubtedly cause an uncontrollable schism.
“Hmph.”
Even for Dan Wol-hon, who oversaw all the military forces of the Demonic Cult, there was no way to resolve this matter.
Because of this, his heart was being torn to shreds.
*This worthless father of yours can't even take proper care of you, So-ok.*
Dan Wol-hon's wife had been born with a weak constitution. For that reason, he had been against her having a child.
—But I truly want to have a child who resembles you.
But his wife wouldn't yield. In the end, Dan Wol-hon gave in to her stubbornness, and they had a child.
However, his frail wife ended up passing away while giving birth to Dan So-ok.
Dan Wol-hon could not hide his grief. Contrary to his appearance, he was a man capable of the purest love.
He had been so devastated that he'd lost the will to live, but seeing Dan So-ok, who was the spitting image of his wife, he pulled himself together.
And he had poured all the love he would have given his wife into his daughter, cherishing her fiercely.
He had raised her like a precious treasure…
...and now he had to worry about the flower withering before it could fully bloom.
*I must find one. If I keep searching, I'm sure to find a spiritual object no less potent than the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit.*
He told himself this, but such peerless spiritual objects were gifts from the heavens.
Despite using all his influence, he could not find a treasure comparable to the Supreme Spirit Immortal Fruit.
Just as he was shaking his head in anguish,
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“My lord. It is Jeong Mun.”
“Enter.”
As the Lord of the Jip-ma-bu came to his senses and spoke, his trusted subordinate Jeong Mun entered, bowing his head.
“What is it?”
“Well...”
Jeong Mun stammered, his head bowed.
“The successor is looking for you, my lord.”
“The Lord of the Martial Soul Order? Why?”
“...He said you would know once you arrived.”
*Flash!*
In that instant, a chilling killing intent flared in Dan Wol-hon's eyes.
“What did you just say?”
“Well...”
“That I would know once I arrived?”
Even if he was chosen as the next successor, Bu Eun-seol's current station was still just the Lord of the Martial Soul Order.
He had no right to order around Dan Wol-hon, the Lord of the Jip-ma-bu, who ranked within the top five of the ceremonial hierarchy.
“He's grasped the staff of power, and now he wants to swing it around, it seems.”
Dan Wol-hon had witnessed time and again how young men changed when they seized great power at an early age.
He was already on edge because of Dan So-ok's condition.
And now Bu Eun-seol, who had just been acknowledged as the successor, was summoning him, ignoring all courtesy and procedure?
“I will convey your refusal to the Lord of the Martial Soul Order.”
As Jeong Mun bowed, Dan Wol-hon shook his head.
“Hahaha.”
Dan Wol-hon let out a low laugh, his face cold as he spoke.
“I must go. After all, the successor of our great cult is looking for me.”
He then rose from his seat without hesitation and said to Jeong Mun.
“Assemble all the forces of the Man-ma-dang at the Jam-ma-gak.”
The Man-ma-dang was a battle-group-level force within the Jip-ma-bu, composed of its most elite warriors.
“The Man-ma-dang, you say...”
Jeong Mun, about to ask again, saw the look in Dan Wol-hon's eyes and hastily bowed his head.
“Yes, sir.”
And after paying his respects, he quickly scurried away.
Having served by Dan Wol-hon's side for a long time, he had instantly perceived the depth of his master's rage.
“I'll take this opportunity to show him.”
A murderous glint shone in Dan Wol-hon's eyes as he stared into the empty air.
“Exactly what kind of man I am.”
A thick killing intent dripped from his voice.
Why even the Demonic Heavenly Emperor, the greatest figure in the Demonic Path, could not treat him lightly. He intended to show Bu Eun-seol this firsthand.