Chapter 98 Meeting
The final day of the Six Families Meeting.
The family heads were seated at the conference hall. Today marked the conclusion of the gathering, with the main session dedicated to deciding the Divine Cult's policies. Only the heads were present, without their retainers.
"What did Ma Ui say?"
"He told me to take good care of my health."
"That's it?"
"What more do you need?"
Cheol Mu Geuk narrowed his eyes at me.
"It's not that I don't trust you—it's Ma Ui I don't trust. That old man's a madman too. If he's taking an interest in you, there must be some reason."
"You think I'd go mad like him?"
"Tch, insolent brat."
Cheol Mu Geuk pulled a sour face, looking thoroughly annoyed. But I couldn't tell him what had really happened with Ma Ui.
'How are you even alive?'
According to Ma Ui's diagnosis after taking my pulse, this body should have died long ago.
Even with blocked meridians, he said there should at least be a faint flow of true energy.
True energy that anyone—martial artist or not—possessed simply by virtue of being human.
Innate True Qi.
He couldn't detect even a shred in this body.
Then he scrutinized my face, checked my breathing by hand, even had me open my mouth so he could peer inside.
His conclusion? Even Ma Ui had no idea.
He'd never seen anything like it. He took a vial of my blood for "research."
I had a rough idea what was going on.
'The origin of this body, or the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.'
Sado Hwan's body wasn't that of an ordinary person. It hadn't been born naturally but forged through treasures, artifacts, and great laws—an artificial flesh. That might explain the lack of Innate True Qi.
Another possibility: our Heavenly Demon Divine Art had devoured even the Innate True Qi. The art's energy devoured anything in its path.
[There were no signs of that before. I definitely sensed your Innate True Qi.]
If Pa Cheon was right, there was a new hypothesis: the Soul Swap Great Law.
Perhaps when the souls swapped via the Soul Swap Great Law, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art fully awakened. Or maybe the law itself consumed Innate True Qi. Soul-swapping without side effects didn't make sense anyway.
'It's unsettling, but no issues so far.'
Better to focus on the present than dwell on unknowns. Whatever the conclusion, Ma Ui would handle the investigation and prescribe accordingly.
— You've all arrived early. Sorry I'm late.
Chu Tae Su entered, floating slightly in the air as always.
— Since Ma Ui has diagnosed Jin Yeong Ryeong and rendered her unable to attend today's meeting, we'll proceed with the remaining five heads. A supermajority would be even better.
He seemed to think it was a joke, but no one laughed.
Instead, Kwak Ri Yeon spoke up.
"I assume the deputy leader has prepared a summary of the agenda, as always. Right?"
Chu Tae Su nodded at Kwak Ri Yeon's words.
— Precisely. I've prepared it in advance to ease your burdens.
Agenda Items
① Investigation of Fire Bird Appearance in Jeok Yong Gye
② [Redacted]
③ [Redacted]
④ [Redacted]
⑤ Heavenly Demon's Marriage
Snap!
Chu Tae Su snapped his fingers. Paper materialized from thin air, fluttering before settling gracefully on each head's desk like landing butterflies.
"Thank you."
— There are five items to address. Please review.
I scanned the paper.
As I read the first item aloud—
"Deputy leader. What is the meaning of this?"
Hyeok Mun demanded, his hand trembling as he pointed at Chu Tae Su.
— What do you mean?
"Why is Jeok Yong Gye's business on the conference agenda?"
A "Gye" was like a fiefdom—a territory granted by the Heavenly Demon to prestigious Divine Cult families or their homelands.
Jeok Yong Gye was Red Dragon Revolution Family land. Investigating it meant encroaching on their domain.
— Ah, I placed it first as the simplest matter... Does it displease you?
"It's not about the order. Jeok Yong Gye matters are for Red Dragon Revolution Family to handle. This is interference in internal affairs."
— Interference? Such harsh words. It was unavoidable on our end.
"Our end?"
Chu Tae Su continued.
— It's been over half a year since the massive fire-spewing bird appeared in Jeok Yong Gye. And it's still unresolved. Surely you haven't forgotten Il Wol Gye and Gu Eum Kwak Ga border it directly?
"We said we'd catch it! Fine, so you're conspiring with Kwak Ga?"
— And did you?
Chu Tae Su's eyes gleamed demonically.
— You didn't. Or perhaps you couldn't?
Grind!
Hyeok Mun gnashed his teeth.
I wondered if even Ma Ui could fix those. The guy's teeth might not survive.
— At this rate, it'll burn the entire 4th Demon Realm before it's caught. Isn't this meeting essential? As you know, the 4th is the Cult's primary granary.
"We'll catch it. I'll handle it personally."
— I've already spoken with Kwak Ga head. Handle it within a week of the meeting's end. If not...
"If not?"
— Someone from another Six Family—or an outsider—will have to set foot in Jeok Yong Gye.
"That won't happen."
Hyeok Mun growled through clenched teeth.
'Can he channel Gang Qi into his teeth?'
[......]
'Just curious. Should I ask Sa Wol?'
[Don't ask while possessing my body. Please.]
Even the Residual Blood Baek Family had risen through claw arts. If nails could channel Gang Qi, teeth probably could too.
— Those in favor of the first agenda, raise your hand.
Chu Tae Su and Kwak Ri Yeon raised theirs. No reason for me not to, so I did too.
"May I make a proposal to Hyeok Ga head?"
"What proposal?"
Even Hyeok Mun, who always snarled informally, used formal speech with Cheol Mu Geuk. Still grinding his teeth, though.
"Bring that fire bird alive, and I'll reward you handsomely. Or at least its inner core. In exchange, a Heavenly Grade treasure artifact of my own making, plus a Dragon Grade one."
"I'll do my best."
Cheol Mu Geuk raised his hand in approval.
— First agenda passes by majority.
The Six Families Meeting was far more democratic than I'd expected.
[Monster.]
'What now?'
[Read to the end of the paper.]
At Pa Cheon's grim tone, I finished the paper.
The other political Cult matters weren't my concern.
⑤ Heavenly Demon's Marriage
Heavenly Demon's marriage.
'The Heavenly Demon getting married? To whom?'
Yi Se-ryeong's fiancé was Sado Gwang. With him gone, she had no partner.
'The original story didn't have her marrying anyone...'
Sure, she fixated on Mu Jin's shell—Sado Hwan—due to memories, but it wasn't marriage.
'......'
I couldn't focus.
For the rest, I was just a rubber stamp. I approved proposals led by Kwak Ri Yeon or Cheol Mu Geuk, otherwise followed Pa Cheon's lead on votes.
— And now the final item.
"Heavenly Demon's Marriage."
Kwak Ri Yeon stroked his smooth chin.
— Since Sado Gwang, Her Excellency's fiancé, has passed—ah, my apologies, Sado Ga head.
"No matter."
— Thank you for your understanding. Anyway, with Sado Gwang gone, we must fill the vacancy, no?
"Hmm."
Cheol Mu Geuk looked dubious.
"Is there a law saying Her Excellency must marry?"
— Not exactly, but we need to secure an heir, don't we? Have you forgotten the Heavenly Demon Blood War? The Cult's suffering from lacking a proper successor.
"You weren't even there."
— ...Not everything requires eyewitness proof. Regardless, separate from Her Excellency's nobility, her bloodline is outsider stock. One of us from the Demonic Six Families should step up.
"Tch. Still harping on 'outsiders' from back then?"
— Merely stating facts.
Outsider.
True, considering Yi Se-ryeong's origins, the Cult elite might still see her that way.
— We'll select healthy, vigorous youths from the Demonic Six Families' younger generation to pay respects to Her Excellency.
"I oppose. Her Excellency's path is hers to decide, not ours."
Cheol Mu Geuk voted against immediately.
"I agree with Cheol Ga head."
Kwak Ri Yeon opposed too.
"Can't miss this chance. I approve."
Hyeok Mun approved.
The proposer, Chu Tae Su, naturally approved. Leaving only me.
I opposed, of course.
'Right choice.'
Right after Sado Gwang's death, Yi Se-ryeong had summoned me, invoking our promise. If she truly intended marriage, the candidate was obvious.
Minimizing contact with the Heavenly Demon was best for me.
— Regrettably, the final item is rejected.
With all items done, Chu Tae Su clapped.
— That concludes the Six Families Meeting. Much has transpired, but... as you know, all beyond the main policy decisions remains confidential.
"After all that flashy mess, can it stay secret?"
— Haha... We'll do our best?
And so the Six Families Meeting(?) concluded successfully.
Outside the hall, Sa Wol and Tak Horak waited. Tak Horak still looked a bit pale.
"Let's go home."
Smiles bloomed on Sa Wol and Tak Horak's faces at my words.
Divine Cult folks sure loved "home."
The first to depart Jan Hon Do by boat wasn't heading to Il Wol Chu Family headquarters.
Instead, towering stairs to the heavens, leading to...
Chu Tae Su arrived at Cheon Ma Gung.
"What business?"
— To pay respects to Her Excellency. Not personally, but as Il Wol Chu Ga head.
Gu Jin-gyeong looked displeased.
'Sleazy bastard.'
Gu Jin-gyeong's assessment of Chu Tae Su. The ever-smiling schemer reminded him of the deceased Sado Gwang.
He wanted to deny entry outright, but as family head, there was no pretext.
"Leave impurities outside."
— Naturally.
Snap!
Chu Tae Su snapped. His hooded protector, who'd followed from Jan Hon Do, knelt on one knee at the palace steps.
— Now?
"Stop that sorcery too."
Chu Tae Su's floating feet touched ground.
— Satisfied?
"......Enter."
Chu Tae Su vanished into Cheon Ma Gung.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon