Chapter 266
Chapter 266
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: The Four Flowers of the Demonic Path (1)
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Inside a lavish carriage adorned with gold.
Within it, girls lounged half-reclined on red silk bedding, chatting away.
"Sister, don't you think Master has been too harsh lately?"
The one who spoke first was a delicate girl of marriageable age with her long hair tied back in a single ponytail. She was the second of the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path, Orchid.
Plum, the eldest, blinked her long eyelashes, her hair cascading down past her waist as she asked back.
"What do you mean?"
"Lately, it's all just training, training, training. We haven't left the training grounds for a whole month, and Master's been too busy to even show his face."
Orchid puffed out her cheeks in a pout. Beside her, the adorable third sister, Chrysanthemum, shook her twin pigtails vigorously.
"I know training is important, but it's suffocating. Being cooped up like this isn't sustainable for more than a day or two."
"Didn't Master just pass down the Heavenly Demon Divine Art? You can't let your attention wander until you reach three-tenths mastery."
"Three-tenths... That's impossible."
Chrysanthemum made a fake crying face and opened her mouth wide. Beside her, the tall girl who resembled bamboo, Bamboo, shook her head.
"Unless you're a genius like Big Sister, how many years would it take to reach three-tenths? Master himself said it took him at least ten years."
"Living in the training grounds for ten years? That's too cruel."
"Big Sister has it easy. She's a genius who already achieved three-tenths."
With her sisters directing sparkling, envious gazes amid their complaints, Plum let out a sigh and added maturely.
"Orchid. Haven't you heard the talk about how the martial world is getting restless lately?"
"I heard, but that's Murim Alliance and Iron Thread Alliance stuff. It has nothing to do with our Divine Realm or the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains."
"Not just that. The Blood Cult's movements are highly unusual too. Remember the news about the outer unit's Ten Thousand Demons Brigade clashing with the Asura Blood Cult?"
"I heard about that."
Unlike the sullen Orchid, Chrysanthemum's spirits remained high.
"It was a landslide victory for our cult. Do we really need to worry about the Blood Cult? Whenever our cult clashes with them, we always win."
Emboldened by Chrysanthemum's proud response, Orchid joined in.
"They say the Asura Blood Cult's heyday is long over. And their Blood Demon is apparently quite young."
"Right, right. The Blood Cult is no match for our cult."
They were certainly right.
Ever since the founding Heavenly Demon established the Demonic Path, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Asura Blood Cult had split into two branches, engaging in countless bloody battles over hundreds of years.
But the outcome of most battles was always victory for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult began with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and inherited martial prowess.
In contrast, the Asura Blood Cult relied on sinister great laws and sorcery, creating an insurmountable gap.
'Not wrong.'
But not entirely right either.
Unable to voice her inner thoughts fully, Plum rebuked her sisters instead of giving a lame excuse.
"Enough with the whining. This is a rare outing for us."
"What outing? We're just going to encourage the rank-and-file of the Ten Thousand Demons Brigade."
"Do we really have to do even that?"
Plum sternly scolded her sulking sisters.
"How many times have I told you? Even if they're just rank-and-file, the Ten Thousand Demons Brigade are members of the cult. They are the roots and foundation of our cult. Encouraging them is our duty."
"......"
Her three sisters, silenced like they'd swallowed honey, exchanged glances.
"Yeees~."
"Yes, Mom."
"Got it, Big Sis."
They replied listlessly.
As Plum's long eyelashes trembled in exasperation at their immaturity, ready to lecture again—
Tap tap.
The small side door from the coachman's seat opened, and an extremely polite voice came through.
"We will soon pass through Knife Mountain Hell."
"I see."
"Upon arrival at the Ten Thousand Demons Hall, Fourth Elder says he will come out to greet you."
Turning to her sisters, who had erased their slouched expressions, straightened their backs, and donned haughty faces—
"Understood."
Plum replied curtly.
"We greet the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path!"
Upon arriving at the Ten Thousand Demons Brigade, over a hundred elites lined up at the main gate to welcome them.
Step, step.
As they lightly descended the carriage steps and turned, their sisters followed, wearing haughty masks.
"Everyone, you've worked hard."
After praising them reassuringly, emotional voices erupted from among the bowing brigade members.
"For the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path to think of lowly ones like us."
"This is the honor of a lifetime."
As she awkwardly listened to their fervent cries, an elderly man with a beaming smile hurried over from one side.
"We greet the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path!"
The one who rushed over and bowed was an elder with a full-moon-round face grinning broadly.
"Fourth Elder. It's been a while."
"Heh heh. Already a full year. You've grown even more splendid in that time."
The elder opened his mouth in a voice mixed with emotion, feigning tears.
"Since you've come in person, the brigade members will be deeply grateful."
"Where are the injured?"
"They are resting in the inner infirmary."
"Let's go."
As she took the lead, the elites of the Ten Thousand Demons Brigade, led by Fourth Elder Maeng Seong, followed.
The Four Flowers of the Demonic Path, the future of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Wherever they went, admiring gazes trailed silently after them.
Even after touring the infirmary and offering appropriate encouragement, the outing continued for quite some time.
Starting from the Ten Thousand Demons Brigade, they circled the outer castle, visiting believers, exchanging blessings, and offering encouragement.
There was no end to the tasks for those who would inherit the Demonic Cult in the next generation.
The outer castle was so vast that even a brief tour took a full two days.
"Where to next?"
When she asked, hiding her fatigue, Fourth Elder Maeng Seong answered.
"The last stop is Hell Outer Village."
"Hell Outer Village? You mean outside the castle?"
Hell Outer Village.
It was the village existing beneath the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's stronghold.
Located outside the Hell Gate of the outer castle, it was home mostly to believers who didn't practice martial arts or retired low-level demonic soldiers.
Not directly managed by the cult, there was no particular reason to visit, so a sudden trip was unexpected.
But upon hearing Fourth Elder's explanation, it made sense.
"Among those who died in the recent battle, some were from Hell Outer Village."
"They got caught up in the fighting."
"Yes. They're holding a memorial service for the deceased along with the year-end blessing rite. Your personal visit would be the honor of their lives."
"I understand. Let's go."
Clack. As the wooden side door closed again, her sisters' straightened backs slumped like summer taffy.
"Big Sis, looks like this is finally the last one?"
"My face muscles hurt from smiling all day."
"...Let's hurry and finish so we can go back, Big Sis."
Plum smiled faintly at her sisters' grimacing faces.
The wind guest had disguised himself as a herbalist in ragged clothes and slipped in.
'Lucky.'
The Four Flowers had come outside the castle, which was fortunate, but their escorts were a concern.
'Especially that one.'
The elder with the full-moon face who kept bursting into hearty laughter—he knew who that was.
Fourth Elder, Smiling Demon Maeng Seong.
The demonic figure infamous for ripping people apart with a smile, as much for his ruthless hands as his profound martial arts.
'The others aren't pushovers either.'
Killing them wouldn't be hard, but the moment a commotion started, cult elites would swarm from all directions.
To secure a Flower as quickly as possible and escape, he needed to handle it quietly.
In that sense, the festival was a golden opportunity.
Roar!
Atop crisscrossed logs lay a few corpses, with weeping, sighing family members below.
Saririri—.
Dong dong dong dong.
Mournful music from various instruments played ceaselessly to the dirge.
'Those are the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path?'
Above all, he could finally confirm their faces, which had been so carefully hidden.
It wasn't difficult at all.
"Ahh, the Flowers have come."
"Heavenly Demon's Reincarnation! Ten Thousand Demons' Fortune!"
All the people of Hell Outer Village cheered and wept in ecstasy at the four girls' appearance.
Having checked their faces, the wind guest was quite surprised.
'The rumors are true—they're stunning beauties.'
The girls received the awe of thousands with dignified faces.
The wind guest's expression grew peculiar upon seeing them.
'Worthy of the name "Flowers of the Demonic Path."
Their beauty was one thing, but what most captured his eye was the medium-height woman at the front.
More girl than woman, with hair like a black waterfall and long eyelashes.
The slightly shorter girl following, the one with braided hair, and the tall one were impressive too, but none compared to her.
'Impressive attainment in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.'
Her internal energy control was so free that even a casual glance nearly escaped his notice.
If he didn't know the other girls' levels, he might have overlooked her entirely—she had mastered it profoundly.
'This is astonishing. Not even her peers, let alone the elders, seem a match.'
Such talent and attainment were unprecedented in his life.
'No, not entirely unprecedented?'
Suddenly, he recalled the freak who had unleashed killing intent on him.
The monster who first shocked him with awe, then fear on their second meeting.
'Well, comparing her to that monster would be unfair to the girl.'
At least, he could understand why Heavenly Demon Divine Lord Gal Junghyeok had broken the tradition of taking only male disciples.
Their talents were too precious to waste.
'Oops. Got lost in thought too long.'
As if sensing his gaze, Maeng Seong, who had been smiling brightly, narrowed his eyes and scanned the surroundings.
The wind guest pulled his collar tight, melted into the crowd, and surveyed the area.
On the way back after wrapping up the day.
The moment they boarded the carriage, Orchid and Chrysanthemum slumped over. Only Bamboo spoke to her pityingly.
"Big Sis, aren't you tired?"
"I'm fine."
"Don't overdo it."
Her stern face softened slightly as Bamboo poked her head between her side and arm.
Thud!
"Eek!"
The carriage halted abruptly, and the side door from the coachman's seat opened with an urgent voice.
"S-Sorry. There's a tree fallen ahead, probably from the wind."
"From the wind?"
The winds in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains were fierce.
Toppling massive trees wasn't uncommon.
"Can you clear it quickly?"
"That... might be difficult."
The coachman added breathlessly.
"The fallen tree seems to be a sacred tree..."
Sacred tree. A divine tree imbued with spiritual power.
Believers visited it for prayers, or sects held rituals there. A sort of shrine.
"Breaking a sacred tree would grieve the believers."
"Yes. If it's alright, may we re-erect it before departing?"
"Permitted."
Stepping down from the carriage, the situation looked tricky.
The tree, roped off with gold cords, was enormous, and the escorts struggled to avoid damaging the sacred tree.
Fourth Elder Maeng Seong hurried over immediately.
"No need to worry. It won't take long."
As he rolled up his sleeves and dashed off, Orchid giggled.
"Every time I see him, Fourth Elder's head looks just like a full moon."
"Hush."
Scolding her sister, Plum, who had stepped out, suddenly turned her gaze toward the Hell Outer Village they'd left behind.
Rowdy singing still echoed from the hills below.
'Enviable.'
Over the years she'd spent hailed as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's future.
Consuming elixirs and mastering profound arts wasn't bad, but outwardly expressing emotions was strictly forbidden.
'How long do I have to live like this?'
Sometimes, she envied them.
Crying hoarsely.
Laughing out loud.
Living as a colorless, odorless object of universal awe might be fine.
But occasionally, the instinct to express human emotions yearned within.
"Ow, my legs are numb."
"My shoulders are stiff. Rub them, Big Sis."
"...I'll do it."
After soothing her whining sisters, Plum walked back to the hill's edge.
'Come to think of it, I remember someone who lives freely.'
Her sisters didn't know, but she'd heard about the founding of the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path.
'Our cult hasn't always been undefeated.'
Over hundreds of years of history, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had indeed dominated the Asura Blood Cult.
But once, unknown to all—
'Our cult was defeated.'
And it wasn't ancient history.
Just a few years ago.
She recalled being summoned to the cult leader's hall, seeing the master she revered endlessly—the Heavenly Demon Divine Lord of the era—and the person beside him.
—Greet him. He is the supreme of the Asura Blood Cult.
Her master, the cult leader, had said as much.
—And simultaneously, this era's Heavenly Demon Divine Lord.