Chapter 43
Chapter 43
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Solidifying Alliances
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Baek Gun-hak prepared to receive his guests in the Dancing Flower Garden, the most luxurious garden in the Heavenly Dance Family’s estate. He had arranged a banquet with the most expensive food and wine, and a bottle of costly liquor was placed at each seat as a gift.
He had invited special guests, after all.
“Family Head, the guests have arrived.”
“Yes, I know. I will go to greet them.”
Ninth Elder, Yu So-jeong of the Purple Poison Demon Family.
Tenth Elder, Mu Hwa of the Star Axe Demon Family.
Eleventh Elder, Ma Yun-chu of the Sun and Moon Demon Family.
All the guests arriving today were at least in the Transcendent Demon Realm, warriors whose names were known to all. As they entered one by one, the Heavenly Dance Family Head welcomed them warmly.
“Thank you for coming all this way.”
“It’s been a while, Family Head. Wouldn’t it be nice if you invited us like this more often?”
Ma Yun-chu said with a hearty laugh. As the Eleventh Elder, he was a step above the Twelfth Elder, the Heavenly Dance Family Head, and was known for his easygoing and magnanimous nature.
“The Heavenly Dance Family Head never leaves his estate except for the Cult Leader’s Hall and the Sacred Fire Palace. We’ve been dying of curiosity about how you’ve been.”
Ninth Elder Yu So-jeong also spoke with a faint smile. As the head of the Purple Poison Demon Family, she was faster than anyone at calculating profit and loss.
She was endlessly generous when there was a benefit to be had, but became endlessly cold in the face of a loss, so no one in the cult wanted to be on her bad side.
“……”
Tenth Elder Mu Hwa said nothing. She had always been known for her taciturn nature, never speaking unless absolutely necessary, and it was said she had become even more withdrawn after the death of a cherished disciple.
The Heavenly Dance Family Head welcomed them all and said.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation. I was too busy with ancestral rites to arrange a gathering until now. From now on, I will make time to host you all more often.”
They had known each other since they were successors to their respective families, and now they were all family heads. They had spoken informally in their youth, but now, due to their respective positions, they treated each other with formal respect.
“You must be hungry after your long journey. Please, sit and eat. I have prepared this especially for you.”
“Hoho, then I won’t refuse.”
“We’ll eat well.”
Attendants filled each elder’s cup with wine. Seeing that the cups were full, Baek Gun-hak introduced the feast of delicacies, and the family heads began to eat.
After a few cups of wine had been drunk and the atmosphere had warmed, the Heavenly Dance Family Head broached the subject.
“What would you all think if the Black Mist Pavilion and the Red Demon Pavilion were to fight over the Western Reaches and Sichuan?”
“““!!!”””
The family heads were quite surprised to hear the Heavenly Dance Family Head’s words and thought.
‘So, this is the main topic.’
Just then, Ninth Elder Yu So-jeong raised her wine cup and asked.
“What kind of wine is this?”
“It is Hundred Flower Dew, a wine made from the dew of a hundred flowers.”
Yu So-jeong savored the aroma of the Hundred Flower Dew and said with a gentle smile.
“I heard you personally collect the dew from flowers during the season of lush foliage… Indeed, it is a sweet and smooth wine.”
“Haha, you flatter me.”
To an outsider, their exchange might have sounded like a non-sequitur, but none of the family heads felt uncomfortable. They all knew this was the way Yu So-jeong, the head of the Purple Poison Demon Family, spoke.
“It seems those who are fighting over something didn’t receive the wine offered by the Heavenly Dance Family Head?”
“……!”
The other family heads were startled, realizing the true meaning behind Yu So-jeong’s words, while Baek Gun-hak responded to her with a smile.
The Ninth Elder’s answer meant, ‘What do I care about the conflict between the Black Mist Pavilion and the Red Demon Pavilion?’
However, by asking her, the Heavenly Dance Family Head had introduced the topic with his own intentions mixed in. Therefore, the Ninth Elder was implying that she considered the Heavenly Dance Family’s decision more important than the dispute between the two Pavilion Lords.
Ninth Elder Yu So-jeong.
She was more thorough than anyone when it came to calculating profit and loss.
It was not at all strange that she would side with the Heavenly Dance Family.
The Heavenly Dance Family.
A family that shared its lineage with the Sacred Fire Palace and was closest to the Cult Leader’s Hall.
Also known as the library of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
No matter how much the Demonic Cult followed the ruthless logic of power, how could one ignore the power that comes from knowledge?
The Ninth Elder not only understood the value of the Heavenly Dance Family better than anyone, but she was also already aware of the incident involving the Red Demon Pavilion, the Sichuan Tang Clan, and Blade Leaf Valley, which had recently reached the Cult Leader’s ears.
‘No matter how much the Red Demon Pavilion is one of the five pavilions of the cult, the same goes for the Black Mist Pavilion. If the Heavenly Dance Family joins in…’
‘The Red Demon Pavilion might find itself standing alone against a force that could even include the Cult Leader himself.’
The Ninth Elder’s calculation was clear.
Realizing this, Eleventh Elder Ma Yun-chu expressed that he shared the same opinion.
“Hahaha, the Ninth Elder is right. If the Heavenly Dance Family Head has decided on something, there must be a reason.”
Following his lead, Tenth Elder Mu Hwa also added her words.
“I agree as well. And… I have a deep personal grudge against the Red Demon Pavilion Lord, as I once lost a cherished subordinate to him.”
‘It’s understandable…’
Mu Hwa, the head of the Star Axe Demon Family.
The story of how she lost her disciple to the Red Demon Pavilion Lord was famous.
Mu Hwa’s disciple, Mu So-ryeong, had a dispute with the Red Demon Pavilion Lord’s top disciple. They fought, but the match was inconclusive.
However, as the injured Mu So-ryeong was returning home, the Red Demon Pavilion Lord’s disciple ambushed and killed him.
When Mu Hwa learned of this later and stormed the Red Demon Pavilion for revenge, the Red Demon Pavilion Lord had already fabricated a story that her disciple had started the fight and died by his own mistake. He then reported it to the Law Palace, which restrained Mu Hwa.
Since then, the Star Axe Demon Family and the Red Demon Pavilion had become mortal enemies, biding their time and grinding their teeth.
The Heavenly Dance Family Head confirmed that everyone was sincere and continued.
“I thank you for your support. Allow me to tell you the story of last night. The story of the Black Mist Pavilion and the Red Demon Pavilion.”
The Heavenly Dance Family Head began his explanation from the moment the Black Mist Pavilion Lord, Bul-wi, had visited. He told them how they had captured the Red Demon Pavilion’s secret unit, the Death Spirit Unit, and interrogated them to prove the Red Demon Pavilion’s guilt.
He even mentioned that the Death Spirit Unit’s captain was currently being interrogated and that the Black Mist Pavilion had taken him to uncover all his crimes.
The most excited person to hear the story was none other than Tenth Elder Mu Hwa.
“Is, is that true? The Heavenly Dance Family’s Fourth Young Master planned all of this?”
“……The Black Mist Pavilion will soon gather all the evidence and reveal it. What I ask of you today is whether you can lend us your strength when that time comes.”
“Hahahahahaha! Lend you our strength? I will stand at the forefront. No, I beg you. Please let me stand at the forefront.”
Tenth Elder Mu Hwa couldn’t hide her excitement at the news about the Red Demon Pavilion, and the other two elders nodded in agreement.
“The Purple Poison Demon Family will also lend its strength.”
“The Sun and Moon Demon Family will also lend its strength.”
The Tenth Elder’s motives were related to a personal grudge, while the Ninth and Eleventh Elders had answered after completing their cost-benefit analysis.
The Heavenly Dance Family Head was pleased with their answers and said.
“Thank you. For today, let’s drink and enjoy ourselves, and talk about the Divine Dragon Assembly.”
“Excellent.”
Ninth Elder Yu So-jeong asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.
“I heard it was the Heavenly Dance Family’s Fourth Young Master who achieved great merit at Blade Leaf Valley, wasn’t it? The Red Demon Pavilion and the Sichuan Tang Clan conspired to trap the Blade Leaf Demon, but the Fourth Young Master wisely resolved the entire situation. Will the Fourth Young Master be participating in the Divine Dragon Assembly this time?”
“Haha, yes, he will.”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard he didn’t show a very good performance in the duel with the Azure Dragon Unit… You must have your reasons, right?”
“Haha, I’m not sure. He’s not a son who does as I wish.”
“It seems we’ll be able to see many faces at this Divine Dragon Assembly that are usually hard to see.”
“Indeed. After all, it was none other than the Cult Leader himself who ordered everyone to attend.”
The four elders clinked their cups of Hundred Flower Dew and chatted for a long time.
***
-Office of the Black Mist Pavilion Lord-
Moon Spirit Unit Leader, Geum-ryeong, reported to the Black Mist Pavilion Lord, Bul-wi.
“He is an unprecedented genius. He must have just passed the age of twenty, yet he is unhesitating in formulating plans and boldly executing them. Every situation unfolded exactly as he planned.”
There was no inflection in Geum-ryeong’s voice and her expression was blank, but the superlatives she used to describe the Fourth Young Master, Baek Mu-heun, were endlessly rich.
“I thought I saw him clearly, but it seems even that was an underestimation.”
“Pavilion Lord, I have never met anyone like the Fourth Young Master. If such a person also possesses martial prowess, a storm like never before will sweep through the cult.”
“You are right. The skills he showed in the duel with the Azure Dragon Unit must have been to hide his true abilities. My, for the first time, I find myself looking forward to the Divine Dragon Assembly.”
***
The next morning.
Azure Dragon Unit Leader, Cheon Ga-rak, summoned Seo-bong.
Seo-bong stood before the Azure Dragon Unit Leader’s office and swallowed nervously. Having only recently joined the Azure Dragon Unit, he found Cheon Ga-rak intimidating.
‘This is my first time meeting the Unit Leader alone.’
But he mustered his courage and knocked on the door. When he heard a voice telling him to enter, he immediately opened it. Cheon Ga-rak was sitting alone in the office.
As soon as Seo-bong saw Cheon Ga-rak, he immediately saluted with a clasped fist and said.
“Loyalty! Greetings to the Unit Leader.”
The Azure Dragon Unit Leader looked at Seo-bong dispassionately and spoke sternly.
“I heard you do not accept it.”
“Sir? Wh-what…”
“Your defeat in the duel with the Fourth Young Master.”
“Ah, sir? N-no, that’s not it.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then why do you keep requesting a duel with the Fourth Young Master?”
“Th-that is…”
“It’s alright. Don’t be nervous. Speak comfortably.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
His defeat in the duel with Baek Mu-heun. It wasn’t that he couldn’t accept it. A loss was a loss. But his reason for constantly requesting duels was different.
Seo-bong composed himself and spoke.
“I am a warrior. A warrior should rightly hone his martial arts and pursue greater strength.”
“And so?”
Seo-bong, though still tense, spoke clearly.
“After the duel with the Fourth Young Master that day, I felt like I was stuck, unable to progress. It was as if… I had hit a wall.”
“And that’s because of the duel with the Fourth Young Master? But I heard you’ve dueled with him since then, winning some and losing some.”
“Yes. But that only confuses me more.”
“Confuses you?”
“Yes. In my duels with the Fourth Young Master… I have no idea why I win when I win, or why I lose when I lose.”
The Azure Dragon Unit Leader instantly understood what Seo-bong was saying.
It was because the Fourth Young Master was not fighting Seo-bong with his full strength; he was merely testing him.
‘But it’s usually hard to notice. This one has good instincts.’
“So you repeatedly challenged the Fourth Young Master to seek certainty?”
“That is correct.”
The Azure Dragon Unit Leader was proud of Seo-bong for speaking his mind while still maintaining his composure.
‘The fire of fighting spirit still burns in Seo-bong’s eyes. This one is a diamond in the rough.’
“Alright, I understand. It’s not that I don’t comprehend how you feel. Fortunately, I have already spoken to the Fourth Young Master. I will give you one last chance. Go to the Heavenly Dance Family’s Fourth Young Master right now.”
“The Fourth Young Master, now?”
“Yes, he should be preparing for a duel with you. Go and resolve all your questions.”
“Ah… Yes! Thank you!”
And so, Seo-bong headed for Mu-heun’s quarters, while the Azure Dragon Unit Leader was lost in thought for a moment.
‘Fourth Young Master, you seem to have a good eye for people.’
I heard the Heavenly Dance Family Head met with the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Elders. Judging by their reactions, the talks went well…
The Moon Spirit Unit Leader, the Black Mist Pavilion Lord’s closest subordinate, also left in awe of the Fourth Young Master. And I am in awe as well…
The Fourth Young Master has only just passed the age of twenty.
But look at his martial prowess.
An unprecedented rate of growth.
‘Is this a new wave flowing through the cult?’