Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Distant Green Forest
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“Lift your heads.”
Maeng Ak’s voice echoed low.
*Sssk.*
Hyeon-woo and Pung-un moved at his command.
Though they lifted their heads, they couldn't bring themselves to meet his gaze.
They felt an irresistible wall emanating from Maeng Ak.
But Maeng Ak met their eyes without any hesitation.
Strangely, it was fine for him to meet their gaze.
Only after meeting their eyes did Maeng Ak continue speaking.
“I have given you an important command, but time is short. I apologize that I cannot explain at length, nor offer you a cup of wine.”
“M-My Lord Heavenly Demon has given the command…! That alone is an honor, so please do not worry!”
Pung-un was actually frightened by Maeng Ak’s unexpectedly warm treatment.
Though his words carried warmth, a heavy demonic energy emanated from him.
Hyeon-woo, however, took it differently.
He was the first person Maeng Ak had met after his reincarnation.
Others might not know, but he knew Maeng Ak’s true nature was not demonic energy, but warmth.
After all, wasn’t it because of his consideration that he was here in the first place?
Suddenly, Dang Hyeon-woo recalled his first meeting with Maeng Ak.
He had asked his master to destroy one of the Nine Sects, One Union or the Five Great Clans.
And all he did in return was draw a map of the Demonic Cult's power structure...
Honestly, it was a complaint he could only make to a stranger, a roundabout way of refusing.
But his master, who was just a cadet back then, had laughed heartily and accepted it as if it were nothing.
Of course, just because he had agreed, Hyeon-woo hadn't believed he would actually do it.
Even when he showed him a technique worthy of being called a divine art, he had only thought, *Just learning the martial art is a good deal.*
But recently, he had come to realize.
His master was sincere, then and now.
That must be why he hadn't forgotten, even after becoming the Heavenly Demon, and had summoned him now.
*Just for my sake...*
His master was no longer a mere cadet, an orphan with no background.
He was the Heavenly Demon, a name that alone inspired terror.
He could have easily forgotten a promise made long ago.
But he didn't.
He never broke his word, demonstrating it through his actions.
Watching him, I too have changed.
I no longer doubt him.
He is a man who does what he sets out to do.
If he decides to destroy the Sichuan Tang Clan, it will surely fall.
Even if it is another word for hell, a place I wouldn't dare to dream of challenging.
Even if it is the Sichuan Tang Clan.
“Your servant, Dang Hyeon-woo! I will not forget the gravity of my master’s command!”
*Ah.*
Lost in old memories, and we're not even alone...
*Calling the Heavenly Demon ‘Master’. I'm not the Great Guardian...*
He squeezed his eyes shut.
It wouldn't be strange no matter what rebuke fell upon him.
No, even if his head were to fall.
But his master, just as he expected, was still his master even after becoming the Heavenly Demon.
With a light gesture, he stopped the Great Guardian, who was about to issue a stern reprimand.
And then, his words moved everyone present.
“You! Even if you received teachings from the Master…”
*Sssk.*
“It's fine. Don't you also call me Master, Great Guardian?”
“Th-that is…”
“If we get caught up in formalities and insult the sincere heart of a cult member, how are we any different from those hypocritical bastards of the Orthodox Faction?”
“…My thoughts were shallow.”
The impact wasn't anything grand.
It was simply in his every word.
Is it not said that a man will offer his life to one who acknowledges his abilities?
But here was the Heavenly Demon, the strongest in the cult, personally showing consideration for his subordinates.
Not just for the person involved, but for any subordinate, it was impossible not to be moved.
The first greeting had been awkward, but the result wasn't bad.
He had gained a loyalty that money and elixirs could not buy.
Whether he knew this or not, Maeng Ak gave a generous smile and continued.
“Whether I am the Heavenly Demon or your master, I cannot treat your lives carelessly. The mission is important, but your lives are more so. That is why I am having you infiltrate as guest retainers. Do not create a situation where you dig too deep into the Tang Clan and endanger yourselves.”
“I obey!”
Pung-un, moved once more, answered immediately.
But Dang Hyeon-woo was different.
Maeng Ak’s words felt as if they were directed specifically at him.
*Whenever I stand before my master, I feel as if he can see right through me.*
It was strange.
The transparent one was Maeng Ak, and the one trying to hide past pains was Dang Hyeon-woo.
Yet, Dang Hyeon-woo could not see into Maeng Ak, while Maeng Ak could read Dang Hyeon-woo's heart.
It was the same right now.
Dang Hyeon-woo intended to use the mission to infiltrate the Sichuan Tang Clan as a pretext to uncover the truth of his own past.
Of course, he planned to do so without harming the Demonic Cult, but could a novice like him really control how things played out?
Yet Maeng Ak had advised him as if he knew everything.
Though a little late, Dang Hyeon-woo also responded to Maeng Ak's words.
“…I obey!”
Only then did Maeng Ak, as if satisfied, give a command to the Great Guardian.
“Great Guardian, give the two of them what has been prepared.”
“I receive your command.”
*Creeak. Thud.*
The Great Guardian stepped out from the main gate, and Maeng Ak went back inside the Cult Leader's hall alone.
Then, the main gate closed again on its own.
It was an incredible display of telekinesis, moving the two massive doors made of heavy iron.
Yet, no trace of effort could be sensed from the Great Guardian.
At this, Pung-un couldn't help but inwardly compare him to his own master, Musal.
*The Great Guardian… he seems far more stable than when he clashed with the Honored Killer. The Honored Killer has grown sharper too... what would happen if they fought now?*
As if reading Pung-un's mind, the Great Guardian pulled a thick book from his robes and tossed it to him.
It was thrown with such speed that the book struck Pung-un in the chest, and he let out a grunt.
No matter how careless he had been, he was still a peerless master and a squad leader of the Windless Killing Curtain.
His pride slightly bruised, Pung-un narrowed his eyes, about to glare up at the Great Guardian…
“Have a problem?”
“N-no, sir!”
But at the Great Guardian's single phrase, he lowered his gaze before their eyes could even meet.
The Great Guardian looked at Pung-un and let out a smirk.
*He did that on purpose...*
Pung-un didn't miss the smirk.
Of course, there was nothing he could do about it.
The truth was, the Great Guardian still didn't have very warm feelings toward the Windless Killing Curtain.
Or, to be precise, his feelings toward Musal.
*Every last one of these assassins from the Windless Killing Curtain has an insolent look in their eyes.*
If they hadn't been useful for the Divine Cult's expansion, he would have surely bloodied his hands back when he found the old elder and the dilapidated hall.
In any case, the Great Guardian began his explanation as Maeng Ak had commanded.
It wasn't very long.
The book he had thrown to Pung-un contained personal information on the key figures of the Sichuan Tang Clan, as well as the new identities for Pung-un and Hyeon-woo.
The Great Guardian pointed to the book and said.
“Memorize every single detail. It's a long way to Sichuan, so even if you have a head of stone, you should be able to memorize that much. You will infiltrate the Sichuan Tang Clan as guest retainers and observe their reactions to the changing currents of the Central Plains. And…”
*Screee-!*
In the middle of speaking, he suddenly whistled.
Not long after, an eagle flew down and landed on the Great Guardian's shoulder.
He stroked the eagle and continued speaking.
“Summon this fellow to pass on information. Pung-un will be the main contact, but in case of contingencies, Dang Hyeon-woo must also learn how to make contact before you arrive in Sichuan.”
“We obey!”
After that, he told them about the travel expenses needed to get to Sichuan and the locations of the Demonic Cult's branches they could stop at along the way.
That was it.
Pung-un and Dang Hyeon-woo immediately began preparing for their journey to Sichuan.
When they met again a short time later, having finished their preparations, they looked exactly like wandering warriors.
“Well then… shall we get going?”
“Yes, Brother Pung-un!”
And so, the two set off, their figures gradually shrinking in the distance.
Maeng Ak, who was watching them from the top of the Cult Leader's hall, spoke to Musal and the Great Guardian, who had appeared behind him at some point.
“The time is drawing near. We will also move out as soon as the selection test is over.”
“We obey!”
The Great Guardian and Musal had expected this to some extent.
The moment the Divine Cult's internal affairs were settled would be the time for the conquest of the martial world.
But they had not anticipated Maeng Ak's next words.
“Our first destination is the Green Forest.”
“……!”
After the Orthodox-Green Forest War, the Green Forest had greatly declined and was now a minor power that couldn't even join the Unorthodox Alliance.
Of course, before that, the masters of the Green Forest were strong enough to be called heroes among heroes.
They were especially formidable when united under the man known as the Fist King of the Green Forest, strong enough to give even the Martial Alliance a hard time.
Before them, the only single power to have ever waged an all-out war against the Martial Alliance in all of history was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
*He's not one to misread the times... so why?*
Musal and the Great Guardian couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Of course, this didn't mean they dared to oppose the Heavenly Demon's command.
It was, quite literally, just a question.
Maeng Ak was not one to miss such things.
Maeng Ak observed the look in their eyes and spoke.
“You both look puzzled.”
“……”
At that, Musal and the Great Guardian remained silent.
It was an action taken because they could not bring themselves to lie to the Heavenly Demon.
Maeng Ak was aware of this and did not rebuke them.
He merely lamented the narrow perspective of his subordinates.
“The Great Elders of the Divine Cult ought to have a broader perspective.”
“…My apologies.”
“It is merely my own lament, do not take it to heart. It is normal for you to think that way.”
“If so, may I ask why you have chosen the Green Forest?”
Musal, unable to hold back any longer, asked.
Having been indebted to the Green Forest before joining the Demonic Cult, he was even more concerned.
*If necessary, he is someone who could erase the very existence of the Green Forest. As a matter of human decency, I must save them, even if it costs me my life!*
Musal recalled the faces of the bandits who had helped him and bit his lower lip.
Was it because of that sentiment?
Fortunately, Maeng Ak's words did not spell harm for the Green Forest.
“There are many reasons. To put it simply, it's because the Green Forest is weak right now. The Green Forest was once strong, but it has weakened. This means those bastards in the Orthodox Faction, busy keeping an eye on the Unorthodox Alliance, won't be paying attention to the Green Forest. What do you think will happen if our cult quietly absorbs the Green Forest, away from their eyes?”
“In that case…”
The Great Guardian and Musal quietly pondered.
*'The Green Forest is a power that holds a deeper grudge against the Orthodox martial world than anyone else right now. They lack masters, but their forces are widely distributed, so they would be useful as a communication network... Ah, and through them, we could easily infiltrate the Unorthodox Alliance. But will they truly follow our cult's will?'*
Thinking about it, there were many advantages.
But to gain them, they would need to earn their trust.
Otherwise, they would have to suppress them with force, but that alone would not be enough to control so many bandits.
In the end, the expressions of Musal and the Great Guardian did not brighten.
They conveyed their thoughts to Maeng Ak just as they were.
“…So, if we can absorb them, it seems there is much to gain, but the absorption itself will not be easy.”
As they said this, they both thought to themselves that it would be impossible unless the Fist King of the Green Forest himself came back to life.
Of course, Maeng Ak, as always, stuck to his plan.
“Not be easy, you say… On the day we absorb the Green Forest, I will be curious to see the looks on your faces. I have said all I need to. You may go now.”
“…We obey!”
Though they managed a reply, Musal and the Great Guardian were honestly half in doubt.
While Maeng Ak had shown overwhelming growth and unbelievable martial prowess so far, gathering and leading countless scattered bandits was another matter entirely.
Of course, it was only because it was Maeng Ak that they were even half-convinced.
If anyone else had claimed they would absorb the current Green Forest, they would have been treated like a madman.
And so, the two headed to the training grounds to prepare for the selection test, tilting their heads in confusion.
Just as he had watched the backs of Hyeon-woo and Pung-un, Maeng Ak quietly watched the two men's departing figures, then muttered a single sentence.
“I am the Green Forest. What is there to be difficult?”