Chapter 268
Chapter 268
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: The Four Flowers of the Demonic Path (3)
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Sudden news of misfortune drew an unprecedented number of demonic experts to the Heavenly Demon Hall.
Atop the jade throne in the Heavenly Demon Hall stood a long-haired man in his prime. Resting his chin on his hand, he murmured softly.
"So... my disciples have been kidnapped?"
"Kill me, please!"
Thud thud! Watching Fourth Protector Elder Meng Seong smash his head on the floor, a faint displeasure creased Gal Jung-hyeok's brow.
But there were others even more furious—the other elders.
"Elder Meng. How could you just stand by and watch all four of them get taken? Do you not know how important the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path are to our cult?"
It was Third Elder Jeok Mi-yo-gun Jin Ha-young, demonic energy flickering around her eyes as she vented her rage.
The sole woman among the four great elders of the Demonic Cult, she immediately furrowed her red brows and flew into a temper upon hearing about her cherished four.
She didn't raise her voice, but the other elders cherished the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path just as much.
Yet the one most incensed was a handsome young man seated below the cult leader.
"You were the ones escorting the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path?"
At his shout, the demonic guard prostrated beside the fourth elder bowed his head.
"Yes, that's correct. Heart Demon of the Guardian Shadow Phantom Unit and I attended them."
"If you couldn't stop them despite having eyes wide open, you're useless. If you have perfectly fine limbs yet took no action, that means you're useless too."
"L-Lord Gwak!"
"I'll gouge out your eyes and sever the meridians in your arms and legs to punish your crimes!"
The demonic guard, leader of the Guardian Shadow Phantom Unit, bit his lip at the young man's words.
"I... accept your command."
Thud thud.
As he drew his sword and moved to gouge out his own eyes...
Whoooong.
A torrent of energy blocked his sword.
The trembling blade hovered a mere paper's thickness from his eyelids, shuddering violently.
"Enough."
It was the supreme lord of the Demonic Cult, Heavenly Demon God Lord Gal Jung-hyeok, who had intervened.
"Master!"
"The culprits' identities are no trifling matter. A bizarre technique that rides the wind. Does nothing strike you about it?"
"Even if they wield some exotic supreme art, that doesn't lessen the crime of failing to protect them."
"Tsk tsk. Your impatience is your flaw."
Resting his chin on his hand again, he asked once more.
"A technique that handles alien energies. Have you never heard of it?"
"...Could it be? The ones who've been stirring up the martial world lately."
"Correct. Minions of the Heavenly Destruction Society have come calling. If even the fourth elder was caught off guard, it must have been those among them who call themselves 'apostles.'"
"Even so."
Gwak Ga-hwi still couldn't suppress his anger.
"This happened within our cult's grounds. No matter who they are."
'Tsk tsk. Foolish boy.'
Gal Jung-hyeok clicked his tongue at his disciple, who still hadn't calmed his rage.
'He harbors feelings for the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path, and now he's blind to reason.'
His talent for martial arts was exceptional, and his boldness was a virtue, but he still lacked control over his emotions.
'Well, unavoidable, I suppose?'
The catastrophe wrought by the Heavenly Destruction Society in the past had been swiftly contained and was scarcely known. It was no surprise that a disciple brimming with pride in the cult struggled to accept it.
"Soy a. How much do you know about the Heavenly Destruction Society?"
"Well... I heard they were bold and wicked enough to plant spies in our cult."
"Indeed. That's why we have no young cult leader. They dared collude with outsiders to target me."
"......"
"Yet from what I've faced, they are no foes to be underestimated. And you know of the ominous recent developments, don't you?"
"You mean the matter with the Asura Blood Cult?"
"Finally catching on. You must learn to see broadly and deeply. If you let rage sweep you away like a wild boar charging into fire, who will follow you?"
Having sternly rebuked him, Gal Jung-hyeok turned back to the fourth elder.
She looked even more flustered at the name Heavenly Destruction Society.
"Fourth Elder. Did you cross hands with them directly?"
"...No, Cult Leader. They subdued the four and fled straight into the sky."
"Into the sky?"
"Not lightness skill—they truly flew like humans taking to the air?"
"They flew off like birds."
The other elders expressed considerable astonishment, realizing the earlier description was no mere rhetoric.
Even legendary Void Steps allowed one to ascend by treading air with profound inner energy, but not soar like a bird.
"It must indeed be the apostles."
After a brief silence, Gal Jung-hyeok spoke.
"Summon the Demon Armies. Activate the Heavenly Demon Command Token."
The Heavenly Demon Command Token!
At the solemn summons to assemble and eradicate, Jeok Mi-yo-gun asked.
"Cult Leader. Are you preparing for war?"
"Even patience has limits. If we sit idle after they've toyed with us right in our front yard, our demonic brethren will mock us."
"Then how will we find the four..."
Gal Jung-hyeok cut her off coldly.
"If they're fortunate, we'll meet them alive. Otherwise, it can't be helped."
Meanwhile, in the grand hall of the Blood God Hall, mad laughter echoed for quite some time.
"Kuhuhu. Got them? Finally got them?"
Several portraits of appearances were offered to Gu Il-so, who cackled from his golden throne.
His laughter deepened at the sight.
"Oho. Such refined beauties. Truly exquisite and lovely."
They were portraits of the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path sent by the leader of the Thousand Kills Blood Demon Unit.
His eyes, filled with ecstasy, as if beholding them in person, roamed the portraits repeatedly.
The unit leaders and elders standing below the throne poured forth sweet words.
"They say the Four Flowers of the Demonic Path are the blossoms of the demonic world, peerless beauties—and indeed they are. A blessing for you, Cult Leader."
"Taking them as wives and siring children would be no different from gaining heirs to both great demonic paths, would it not?"
"Congratulations, Cult Leader."
Unlike those reverently bowing their heads, some wore displeased expressions.
The elders of the Protectorate Institute, led by the first and second elders.
"Cult Leader. Provoking the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult over mere women? Unthinkable."
"Agreed. Given the Four Flowers' status, they might declare war at once."
"This is no time for celebrations."
"Tch."
Unlike the elders currying favor, these two were veterans of the Protectorate Institute.
'Senile, useless cowards.'
Not merely powerful in martial arts, they were even more zealous in upholding the Blood Cult's laws.
They were the ones nitpicking and nagging at every turn.
Obnoxious existences who opposed allying with the Heavenly Destruction Society and building the altar.
"Word is the Divine Cult's Myriad Demon Army is preparing for battle."
"Not only that. The Flame King Demon Army, which went to the desert, is returning. Clear signs of war—we must prepare."
"Cult Leader. This is no time!"
Dismissing the displeasing nags in unison, they all lowered their heads and exited the hall.
"Annoying bastards."
He had become cult leader, attaining a position above all, yet those old fogies who presumed to guide him refused to bow their heads.
'We've tolerated them so far out of necessity, but no longer.'
With that thought, Gu Il-so called to a hulking man standing to the side.
"Elder Dok."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
Goru Demon Army's Dok Jong-baek.
He was the head of the Five Poisons Institute, overseeing the Blood Cult's poisons and sorcery.
"It's time to begin."
"Ha. Ha. Finally opening the altar?"
"Yes. Once I obtain the god's power at last, those old men will be the first sacrifices."
"Excellent command! Excellent!"
Gu Il-so flashed a murderous smile at him bowing his head thud thud.
"I am the sky of the demonic path."
Whoooosh—.
The arid desert winds were unchanged from when they had left.
The sand-laden gusts blew in bizarre waves, now like crashing tides, now like rising dragons, with scarcely any living creatures within.
Crunch crunch.
Every few steps, sand seeped into his shoes, an irritation.
But the worst was the mouth turning gritty in moments from sand entering nose and mouth with every breath.
Barren land.
A realm ruled solely by sandstorms and biting knife-winds.
Chu Un-hwi's verdict upon setting foot in the desert was simple.
"Home sweet home. Nice to see you again."
Duggo Yul, beside him with cloth wrapped over mouth and nose, chuckled softly.
"They say anywhere can feel like home if you grow attached, but nothing beats where you were born and raised, right?"
"You got that right."
By contrast, the most vibrant was Dan Ya.
"I'm back! My desert!"
My desert?
Whatever the case, she appeared the most comfortable here.
Her ever-shifting bandages tirelessly blocked the sandstorm.
"Main body. Doesn't this feel unfair?"
"M-Master. Dan Ya and Turtle Shell Ironclad are one, remember?"
"That's exactly my complaint."
Duggo Yul stepped in.
"My lord. Dragon Gate Inn."
"Huh? Already here?"
Dragon Gate Inn.
An old inn at the end of the official road leading to the Great Wall.
Beyond it lay the Great Wall, then the true desert.
Beyond the Great Wall stretched a land of chaos.
No owner, yet all claiming lordship—a savage expanse.
"Heh. Even seeing that flag fluttering beyond the sandstorm brings a smile. Some things never change."
"Back when you were cursing the desert nonstop, just spotting that rundown inn made you happy."
"Exactly."
Hastening their steps through the sinking sand, the three vanished into the sandstorm.
"Still the same old place."
No sooner had they entered than the eyes of guests inside converged on them.
Pat pat.
Skilledly shaking sand from their clothes and upending their shoes promptly built a small sand mound.
Only then did the onlookers avert their gazes.
By dusting off and straightening attire, they knew these were no desert bandits.
This land belonged to the martial world yet coexisted with barbarians.
Lawlessness reigned, and even the upright could turn bandit.
In such a place, sharp eyes were key to survival.
"Earthen wall in the back."
Speaking indifferently to a ragged beggar calmly drinking alone in one corner, he tilted his head.
"Seen you somewhere before?"
"Feels familiar, huh? Handsome guys like me aren't that common."
"Kuhk. You look too suspicious to be suspicious. You know how to pay?"
Duggo Yul pulled three silver coins from his bosom and lined them up with a flick.
"Three for drinks, bring food."
"A bit short."
"No need for fancy liquor. Fermented mare's milk would about cover it?"
"Cheapskate."
The man, waving his hand dismissively, spoke.
"You seem like martial folk. Fight if you must—I don't care—but don't break the furnishings. Supplies are hard to get here."
As Duggo Yul offered two more silvers, the man grinned.
"Not even promising not to die, huh. Fine. But even if you smash the furniture, please spare the walls. Even a small hole, and by morning the whole inn's a sandpit."
"That depends on you mediating any trouble."
"True regular. Alright. I'll do what I can to keep your stay quiet."
The three headed inside.