Chapter 193
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: To the Moyong Family (1)
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Geum Sihyeon hadn't spent all that time simply seating Luri on his lap and reveling in her softness.
Under the directives of the returned Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's structure was steadily reorganized.
First off.
"I understand that our cult's followers have already established a foothold in Ningxia, so lead them well and ensure that even the ordinary adherents can all relocate."
The complete relocation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's headquarters.
It was a choice that would have been utterly impossible under normal circumstances, and even when Cheon Yuri had pushed for it aggressively in the past, many had refused to follow.
Why? Because Heavenly Mountain was their spiritual home.
Why was that?
Aside from the grand Cult Leader's Hall and buildings erected by human hands—which were secondary anyway.
It was because of the Heavenly Demon Cave.
They believed that when the Heavenly Demon descended from the darkness like a dancer someday, he would set foot precisely there.
That was why they could never abandon their holy site, Heavenly Mountain.
But now?
"Your command!"
With the Heavenly Demon they had so desperately longed for finally returned, how could the holy site take precedence over his will?
.
.
.
However, not everyone decided to head to Ningxia.
"Haha, the Heavenly Demon worries needlessly."
"Please take care of everything. Elder Supreme."
The elders of the Ten Thousand Demons Hall chose to remain on Heavenly Mountain.
Of course, Geum Sihyeon's strong will played a significant role in that decision.
Most of them were survivors of the Great Orthodoxy-Demonic War, demonic practitioners with rivers of blood on their hands. If they set foot in the Central Plains?
The orthodox sects would inevitably feel as though the Demonic Cult's elite forces were concentrating at a single point.
It could come across as a show of force.
Geum Sihyeon wasn't so cold-blooded as to abandon these extremely elderly individuals on Heavenly Mountain for that reason alone.
There was another practical rationale.
"The movements of the Potala Palace are indeed quite suspicious. Shall we strike preemptively?"
"...That lacks justification. Still, if they encroach on our territory even slightly, feel free to handle them at your discretion. Repaying Kunlun's favor in the process wouldn't be a bad long-term move either."
If Mongolia stirred in the north, then in the west, the Potala Palace was gradually showing signs of activity.
With the Ten Thousand Demons Hall—where every member could be considered an asymmetrical force—they could certainly hold off any disturbances.
Even when the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult of today couldn't reclaim its former glory, the orthodox sects hadn't aggressively crushed it precisely because of the Ten Thousand Demons Hall.
"Then, we'll part ways here for now."
"Wishing you utmost fortune in battle."
With the discussion on the Ten Thousand Demons Hall's disposition concluded.
Geum Sihyeon mounted the saddle of his pre-prepared wolf mount.
"Young Cult Leader, I hope to see you stronger next time."
"Yeah. Gramps."
Luri, who had quickly burrowed into Geum Sihyeon's embrace, bid Jang Il-gyeom farewell with a small smile.
"Hoo..."
It had been an exhausting day.
Starting with waking up the sleepy Luri—who hated leaving the blankets—carrying her, washing her, changing her clothes, and handling all the aftermath.
Then soothing the fanatic followers who treated me almost like the Second Coming of Christ and staging another Heavenly Peter show to spur them toward Ningxia.
Finally, coaxing and placating the mad old monsters itching for another bloodbath with the orthodox sects, redirecting their power elsewhere.
It had been quite taxing.
Still, the experience in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult proved immensely helpful to me.
The Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were worlds apart in scale.
Controlling such a massive organization, even temporarily, would undoubtedly aid in the future expansion and management of the Geumhyeon Sect.
"Sleepy."
"Then sleep."
"Waist hurts."
"..."
Instead of replying, I covered Luri's eyes with my hand.
The road ahead was still long.
With my remaining hand, I gently stroked Pikaruri's belly in Luri's signature style, listening to her contented purring as I organized my next steps.
If the rest of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult entourage accompanied me and Luri, I could move faster, but they weren't at a level of absolute trust yet.
I'd already contacted Cheon Yuri.
She was probably racing from Xi'an to Ningxia by now.
Entrusting this child to Cheon Yuri's care was reassuring. In fact, for Luri's safety, Cheon Yuri was the only option.
If Cheon Luri died.
Cheon Yuri would die too.
...Though the reverse didn't hold, which was a bit surprising.
Once we arrived in Ningxia.
If things had gone smoothly—
Moyong Seol, Moyong Taek, and Moyong Wicheon would be waiting.
No matter who or how many had come.
After dropping Luri off in Ningxia, I'd head straight for the Moyong Family.
The standard route would naturally follow the official roads from Shanxi through Hebei to Liaoning.
But on those roads, we'd inevitably draw attention, so I couldn't utilize my supreme ancient Chinese mount, the wolf pup.
That would actually make us slower than riding the wolf.
So instead, we'd skulk cowardly behind mackerel's dorsal fin, the source of all evil spewing fine dust and yellow sand.
Through the Gobi Desert straight to Liaoning in one go.
The biggest hurdles in crossing the desert—water and heat—were well within my ability to handle.
The wolf pup had initially recoiled from the hot sand but, after romping around the deserts near the cult, now dug burrows to make its own caves.
Of course...
What came next was unknown.
I had no idea of the scale of the group called the Stormwind Temple.
Nor how powerful the warriors they had nurtured in Mongolia were.
I wasn't even certain if the Moyong Family was a force worth going to such lengths to protect.
Even so...
"I have to do it."
The Blood Cult's goal was ultimately the destruction of the entire martial world.
In other words, pouring sewage over the daily life I was currently enjoying.
Honestly speaking...
Even if I became the Supreme Under Heaven, what use was it if there was no one left to exclaim, "Whoa! What profound martial art!" in awe?
Every time I'd grumble, "Tch, that mediocrity...!" yet Moyong Wicheon—someone who never backed down and always charged in—wouldn't be there, making academy life half as fun.
So this was
not for others, but for myself.
The first to receive the news was Moyong Seol.
The school trip and mid-semester break had long ended, and classes had resumed amid everyone's groans.
The moment Moyong Seol got the contact, she was in the middle of swinging her sword at the freshmen to instill discipline.
"...That's enough for today. I'll end early."
Moyong Seol, whose title of Ice Flower meant she never ended class early—or even on time—left those words and flew straight to the student council room like a bird.
Waiting there wasn't
Myo Narang, who had contacted her, but Cheon Yuri.
A fleeting question arose about how the Demonic Cult Leader had infiltrated the depths of the Heavenly Martial Academy.
But that wasn't important to Moyong Seol right now.
"Where is Geum Sihyeon?"
Up until now, she and Myo Narang had theorized that he was hiding out to evade the Azure Heaven Society's schemes, probably with Cheon Luri.
But after that,
no sightings, no news at all.
She'd barely heard from Cheon Luri, and as the cult leader's wife, she couldn't exactly go seeking him out first.
Even Myo Narang, who was somewhat acquainted with the leader, could only shake her head helplessly.
What on earth was he scheming?
Had he corrupted Geum Sihyeon into the Demonic Cult?
Her question encapsulated all those meanings.
"Geum Sihyeon contacted us saying the Moyong Family is in danger."
"...?"
The story from her mouth was beyond Moyong Seol's expectations.
.
.
.
In that not-so-short time.
Moyong Seol fully grasped the current situation.
And yet.
There were no signs, no evidence.
It was unclear if Geum Sihyeon himself had truly said it; it might just be secondhand.
...If it had been direct from him, she would have believed it unconditionally.
Feeling a twinge of resentment for a moment.
Moyong Seol concluded that if it was Geum Sihyeon, there must be circumstances preventing direct contact.
She headed straight to the academy director's office.
"...Instructor Moyong Seol. What's this?"
"A leave request. A major family issue has arisen; I need to return to the family urgently. I'm sorry."
She tossed the scribbled paper onto the desk.
Next.
"Sister, what brings y──"
It was heartening that they had grown closer lately, but after giving Moyong Wicheon—who had taken after Moyong Taek and gotten hooked on mahjong late in life—a pitying glance.
"Both of you, come with me."
She pulled out the National History Peerless Society artifact and explained the situation.
The reactions split in two.
"I'll submit my leave of absence right away."
"...Can we trust that mediocrity's words?"
Unlike Moyong Taek, who bolted out with a stern expression the moment Moyong Seol finished explaining.
"Of course, I know you hold that mediocrity in high regard, Sister. But how can we believe a man who irresponsibly abandoned the academy, shirking even his student council president duties?"
Moyong Wicheon's face was slightly flushed.
Whatever Geum Sihyeon thought, Moyong Wicheon inwardly saw him as a worthy rival.
That rival had not only surpassed him but vanished without giving him a chance to catch up.
Naturally, he couldn't help but be angry.
"I won't deny liking Geum Sihyeon. It's the truth. But... why would he, without evidence, warn at this exact moment that the Moyong Family is in danger?"
At Moyong Seol's words, Moyong Wicheon momentarily lost his voice.
Then, he cleared his throat with a loud ahem.
"...You have a point. He's not the type to deceive with rumors. For the family's sake... this once, it wouldn't hurt to trust him."
As he said the last part, Moyong Wicheon turned his head away in frustration, swallowing a "tch."
Despite the serious situation, Moyong Seol couldn't help but stifle a laugh at the sight.
"No, Wicheon."
Moyong Seol's soft voice resonated quietly.
"Not for the family, but for all of us."