Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Windless Killing Curtain (3)
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“I will let you and Ha Song go. But on one condition.”
Even in a situation detrimental to both sides, the offer was far too sudden.
No matter how pressed for time we were, it could be a trap.
I couldn't just take the bait.
It wouldn't be too late to sheathe my sword after hearing the condition.
“And that condition is?”
In response to my sharp attitude, the Silent Kill Demonic Emperor offered a rather unpleasant smile.
“Kekek, you seem quite frightened. To bristle up even when I offer to let you go.”
“If you're just going to spout nonsense…”
*Shing.*
I raised my blade once more.
At that, the assassins surrounding us also readied their stances.
*Shhhhing.*
Thanks to them, the torchlight in the dark, secret chamber reflected off dozens of blades, creating a bizarre spectacle.
Then, the man in the center, who exuded the most peculiar energy, spoke again.
“No need to react. They have no choice but to accept my offer.”
“What makes you so confident?”
“Confident? Pfft, is that something you should be saying, you who are so impatient before your opponent?”
Both the old Elder and I did our best not to show it, but he was truly no ordinary foe.
He had noticed that the old Elder and I were pressed for time.
*Damn it, I've shown my hand.*
Not revealing one's true intentions.
That was the most basic rule to follow when negotiating with an enemy.
The man knew exactly who was in the more desperate position.
This wasn't going to be easy.
It felt like he would propose an outrageous condition at any moment.
But what was this?
Unexpectedly, the Silent Kill Demonic Emperor continued in a conciliatory tone.
“There's no need to be so afraid. It won't be a difficult condition for you.”
“What's the trick?”
I couldn't let my guard down.
“It's not much of a trick. I'll simply tell you why we came all the way here to Xinjiang.”
The reason the Windless Killing Curtain had infiltrated our main cult.
It was one of the things we needed to find out.
But if they were going to tell us themselves, there was no reason not to listen.
“We came seeking the will of the Founding Heavenly Demon to achieve the true revival of the Windless Killing Curtain. But from what you've said, it seems someone who has already found it has arrived.”
“So?”
“I wish to meet him. If he is a man this one can acknowledge as the Heavenly Demon, then the revival of the Windless Killing Curtain can be done alongside the Demonic Cult.”
“……!”
It was shocking.
Although the condition was proposed by the enemy, it felt as if we were the ones who should have offered it.
*This might become a great strength for the main cult.*
There isn't a martial artist who lived through the age of war that doesn't know the terror of the Windless Killing Curtain.
Even if one was the leader of a sect or the head of an Unorthodox Faction controlling a region, once they became a target for the Windless Killing Curtain, it wouldn't be strange for their head to be gone at any moment.
And yet, to be able to absorb such a group into our cult without shedding a single drop of blood.
If that could be achieved, now, when we were about to announce the cult's revival to the entire Central Plains, it was an unparalleled opportunity. However.
*…I must be cautious.*
While the proposal could bring great benefits, it could also lead to immense losses.
The Silent Kill Demonic Emperor's martial prowess was similar to mine or the old Elder's, but the unknown energy he was hiding was unsettling.
*There's no telling how he might turn. The Heavenly Demon could be gravely injured!*
I was conflicted.
I knew all too well that excessive greed could lead to great harm.
But it was also difficult to refuse outright.
Not only was our current situation unfavorable, but they were also starting to look less like enemies and more like a resource.
*Thinking of them as a great asset to the cult is making me hesitate.*
This could be his ploy.
In a battle between masters, a moment's hesitation can decide the outcome.
Honestly, it wasn't an easy decision.
Above all, the peculiar crossed blindfold covering his eyes made it difficult to read his expression.
Just then, the old Elder spoke up in my stead.
“We accept the condition.”
I was taken aback, but the Silent Kill Demonic Emperor had already accepted his words.
“Hmph, good. As expected of the wisdom that comes with age.”
“Enough with the flattery. State the condition in more detail.”
“Such impatience is a flaw. Hmm… Very well. I will give you four days. Bring the Heavenly Demon you speak of to this place within that time. And don't even think about trying any tricks.”
The man had an inexplicable confidence, as if he had planted spies among us.
The old Elder agreed, then turned his back and spoke to me.
“Great Guardian, we don't have much time left. Let's hurry back.”
“…Understood.”
The old Elder's eyes seemed to say, 'I'll explain later.'
And so, after accepting the condition, we left through the stairs we had descended.
When we had put some distance between ourselves and the secret chamber.
The old Elder spoke.
“Great Guardian. When he proposed the condition, did you hesitate, worrying it might bring harm to the Heavenly Demon?”
“Yes, because I am the Great Guardian.”
“Yes, I thought as much.”
The old Elder paused for a moment before continuing.
“…As an Elder, I cannot meddle in the Guardian's affairs, but the Heavenly Demon is not someone you need to worry about so much.”
“……!”
The old Elder's words struck me like a blow to the back of the head.
It was something I hadn't considered.
He was right.
The Heavenly Demon was on a completely different level from the Cult Leader I had served until now.
*Was it because of my habit of judging matters of the Cult Leader's safety in his stead that I dared to make a judgment that the Heavenly Demon should have made?*
What does it matter if the Silent Kill Demonic Emperor has a trick up his sleeve, when his opponent is the Heavenly Demon?
The conflict in my heart was a needless worry.
“I have learned a lesson from you, Elder.”
“Haha, I too have learned from you. The Silent Kill Demonic Emperor was quite powerless before your sword.”
The old Elder was a rather good person, belying his nickname as a reclusive master.
To display such tremendous martial might, not yielding a single step against fifty assassins, and still be so humble.
He was a man with much to learn from.
“You flatter me.”
“Haha, this old man has talked too much.”
And so, we used our lightness arts to head toward the main plaza, where the fourth test was about to end.
* * *
The end of the fourth test was approaching.
Besides So-so, Ha Gyeong, Gwang-uk, Do Gwang, and Chang On, only the children of the Four Heavenly Pillar Gates were able to pass the test.
The last child in line would probably accept defeat soon as well.
“It's about time they arrived.”
After meeting and exchanging a few words with the five disciples who had passed the test, I stood on the viewing platform, waiting.
The end of the fourth test meant it was time for the old Elder and the Great Guardian to return.
*As long as nothing happened, they won't be late.*
When they returned, I planned to announce the end of the fourth test and, as the current Heavenly Demon, declare a new era for the main cult.
*I will also announce the deaths of the Cult Leader and the Great Elder and cut out the parts that have been rotting away, just as I did in the Green Forest.*
I wasn't too worried.
Unlike the Green Forest, whose forces were spread far and wide, I only needed to sort things out here.
Plus, with the name 'Heavenly Demon' and the law of survival of the fittest, it would be even easier.
Taking control of the Demonic Cult was happening faster than I'd thought.
The series of fortuitous encounters and the meeting with the Founding Heavenly Demon were the reasons.
There was no downside.
It was better than having the bastards I needed to take revenge on die of old age.
The only slight regret was the possibility of factions rising up against the sudden change.
If that happened, conflict would continue to arise unless I nipped it in the bud.
*But if I eliminate all of them, the scale of our forces will become regrettably small…*
Of course, that was unavoidable.
It was easier to think of it as a consequence of moving the schedule forward.
Just as I had more or less finished organizing my thoughts, I felt the presence I'd been waiting for.
*They're here.*
It was the Great Guardian and the old Elder.
The two of them told me everything that had happened.
From the torn human-skin mask to the proposal from the one called the Silent Kill Demonic Emperor.
Following that, the Great Guardian brought a man whose muting and numbing acupoints had been struck.
“My Lord, this is a man named Ha Song, who crafted the human-skin masks for the Windless Killing Curtain.”
*Tap, tap.*
I had a few things I wanted to ask, so I thought this was perfect and released the acupoints of the man kneeling before me.
The moment his eyes met mine, he began to tremble like a leaf, as if he'd seen a ghost, and lowered his head.
“Raise your head.”
*Gulp.*
I could hear the man swallowing dryly.
“I have a few questions. If you answer them well, I will let you go, so there is no need to tremble so.”
“…Y-yes.”
“Why did you approach me?”
“We were planning to plant a spy.”
“A spy?”
“Yes, we wanted a spy who was dissatisfied with the current system of the Demonic Cult, belonged to no faction, but possessed power. Also…”
The man continued to list his reasons.
To summarize, the starting point was hearing the rumor about me being the first to pass the fourth test.
In other words, it meant they hadn't been hiding in the Demonic Cult for long.
*At most, they must have watched for a few months. When they couldn't find a suitable candidate, they executed their plan to steal the Founding Heavenly Demon's will.*
But as luck would have it, they got caught by me. No, perhaps it was fate.
Because the Founding Heavenly Demon's will is now with me.
I asked a few more questions after that.
Things like the route they took to infiltrate the Demonic Cult, and where they had been hiding all this time.
“I see. Then, is he the only one who knows of your existence?”
“Yes.”
Among his answers, I obtained some unexpected information.
Before infiltrating the main cult, the Windless Killing Curtain had taken refuge in none other than the Green Forest.
Of course, only one of the currently scattered Green Forest factions knew of their existence.
*Perhaps I can subjugate the Green Forest before clashing with the Orthodox Faction bastards.*
Well, that was a matter for later anyway.
Having gotten all the information I needed, I gave an order to the Great Guardian and the old Elder.
“Give Ha Song a place to stay for four days. See to it that no information leaks out before we absorb the Windless Killing Curtain in four days.”
“As you command!”
“Ah, there is something to be done before that.”
*Chuk.*
I pointed to the main plaza's training ground and continued.
“As soon as the test is over, the two of you are to go up and announce the deaths of the Cult Leader and the Great Elder. And that I executed them myself by my command.”
“……!”
“No need to be surprised. I will handle the voices that arise afterward, so do not worry.”
“As you command!”
The old Elder and the Great Guardian seemed quite surprised, but they accepted the order without a word.
* * *
And so, Ha Song disappeared, led away by the subordinates the Great Guardian had summoned.
Just as the head instructor's voice announced the end of the fourth test, the old Elder and the Great Guardian ascended to the training ground.
The crowd and various dignitaries gathered in the main plaza expressed their confusion at the appearance of the two, who had been absent until now.
“Huh? Isn't that the Great Guardian and the revered Elder?”
“Did the Cult Leader and the Great Elder send them?”
“I heard they couldn't attend due to their busy schedules, but seeing them send those two at the end, they must have been quite concerned.”
The head instructor also stopped his speech and asked the two.
“You two were said to be unable to come due to other important matters. What brings you here…?”
“Head Instructor. Cede your position for a moment.”
“Huh? Yes. Understood.”
He was flustered by their sudden appearance but vacated his spot.
The Great Guardian then stood in the center where the head instructor had been.
And, imbuing his voice with internal energy so that everyone in the main plaza could hear, he began to speak.
“I announce to all members of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult present here! The former Cult Leader and the Great Elder Gwangma are dead!”
It was a shocking announcement that made them doubt their ears.
First, silence, then fury filled the main plaza.
“Who dares!”
The first thought was that the Great Guardian and the old Elder would never deliver such a lie.
The next was that it must be the work of an enemy.
They believed without a doubt that it was a formidable enemy that the entire cult would have to unite to face.
But the Great Guardian did not reveal who that enemy was.
“I understand how you feel, but this was not the work of an enemy, so do not act rashly!”
Then what was it?
What could have possibly happened for the Cult Leader, the center of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and the Great Elder, its foundation, to die on the same day?
They couldn't understand.
However, that was nothing compared to the Great Guardian's next words.
The moment the cult members heard what came next, it felt as if they were in a dream.
“Their deaths were the result of a just punishment.”
“……!”
Those were not words that the Great Guardian, who was supposed to protect the Cult Leader, should say.
Fine, even if that was the case for the Great Guardian, they couldn't understand why the old Elder behind him remained silent.
Weren't the old Elder and the Great Elder once close friends?
A riot was about to break out.
It seemed nothing could quell the chaos of the crowd and dignitaries.
The atmosphere of the main plaza, which had been heated up by the fourth test, turned unbelievably hostile.
Now, it seemed that not even the Great Guardian and the old Elder could control the situation.
But just then.
A man ascended onto the training ground, leading with him an indescribable, formless energy.