Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 240
>Chapter Title: Spy Hunt (4)
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After giving Dan Bin a brief explanation, Il-mok turned his head to look ahead.
Baek-yeon, who had identified herself as a spy from the Hao Gate, and So-hyang, who had helped her confess, were still waiting on the floor with their heads bowed.
Their faces were pressed to the ground, so they couldn't be seen, but the way their entire bodies trembled revealed just how tense they were.
“Raise your heads.”
As the two women, their faces stiff with tension, lifted their heads, Il-mok spoke in a solemn tone.
“You have recognized your own sins and confessed them to atone. For that, I shall forgive your transgressions.”
Moisture gathered in Baek-yeon's eyes, and So-hyang reached out as if to calm her, grasping her hand tightly.
Il-mok watched them for a moment before adding,
“However, even if you confess your sins yourself, not all can be wiped away entirely. For minimal atonement, I shall entrust you with one task.”
“W-what is the task?”
Baek-yeon asked in a tense voice, her hand clenched so tightly in So-hyang's that it turned white.
“Soon, we will gather the new believers who have joined our Maitreya Divine Cult and conduct training at the ‘Faith Training Center.’ Receive your education there, and if you spot anyone among the trainees suspected of being a Hao Gate spy, report it secretly to the instructors there.”
At Il-mok's instruction, Baek-yeon asked with trembling eyes.
“…Do you plan to kill them all?”
In response, Il-mok smiled gently and replied.
“You will see.”
To Baek-yeon, that smile felt even more chilling.
* * *
A few days later.
A letter arrived for Gu Yang-mun.
He tilted his head at the oddly peculiar contents but assumed Young Master Il-mok must have some plan and let it pass.
‘Good timing, actually. I can head back sooner.’
Filled with thoughts of returning to Nanzhou to be with Jin Ha-yeon, he set aside his doubts about the letter and took action instead.
And that night.
While the inn boy and villagers who had joined the gathering after days apart fervently sang hymns and listened to the missionary's doctrinal teachings.
Gu Yang-mun, who had been employing stealth techniques, pulled out a mask depicting the wrathful Four Heavenly Kings, now a symbol of the Maitreya Divine Cult.
As the gathering drew to a close, he boldly approached the site.
“Ooooh! Incarnation of Maitreya!”
The missionary spotted him first and prostrated in welcome, and the gathered attendees erupted in tongues or bowed, greeting Gu Yang-mun.
After waiting for them to calm, Gu Yang-mun spoke.
“I have come because I heard a new believer has joined our Maitreya Divine Cult here.”
No sooner had he finished than the villagers' eyes turned to the inn boy.
The inn boy's eyes flashed with momentary tension, but he shrewdly masked it and bowed his head.
“I shall invite you to the Faith Training Center, newly established by our Maitreya Divine Cult. It is a facility created to teach new believers like yourself who have just embraced our faith.”
As the villagers showed varied reactions to Gu Yang-mun's explanation, the inn boy cautiously spoke up.
“It is a great honor, but I barely make enough to survive, so I fear I have no spare time to attend.”
“Hahaha. Worry not. It costs nothing. In fact, upon completion, you will be compensated for your efforts, paid for the duration of your stay.”
The villagers' diverse reactions unified.
“Go on. They’re even giving money.”
“What better opportunity could there be?”
In the atmosphere urging him to go, the inn boy turned to look at the innkeeper.
“If I’m away, what of the inn…?”
“Hahaha. You ran it alone before, so what trouble could a short absence cause?”
With even the innkeeper supporting his trip to the Faith Training Center, there was no longer any pretext for refusal.
“Th-then I shall go and see.”
Having successfully drawn the inn boy to the Faith Training Center, Gu Yang-mun addressed the other villagers.
“Additionally, to aid the new believer’s smooth adaptation, we will select one nearby existing believer to accompany him. Compensation will naturally be provided to the existing believer as well.”
This was one of the two points from Il-mok's letter that had puzzled Gu Yang-mun.
Why bring along an existing believer instead of just the suspicious one?
The other question was why go to the trouble of spending money and preparing a manor to gather people.
‘Just kill them.’
Either way, Gu Yang-mun was a warrior of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
* * *
Gu Yang-mun and Ju Seo-yeon, along with other Heavenly Demon Divine Cult warriors, began traveling across Gansu Province, inviting outsiders to the Faith Training Center.
And a few days later, on one such day.
Over fifty people gathered at a large, empty manor in a remote part of Gansu Province that had been renovated.
Half were new believers, half existing ones.
Unable to forcibly house all outsiders, they had selected only those who showed interest in the Maitreya Divine Cult or had newly converted.
“You will share rooms of six, grouped by region of origin, so follow me this way.”
Several Heavenly Demon Divine Cult warriors acted as managers and instructors, leading them.
“Unpack your belongings and rest for about an hour. Then training will begin.”
After the guidance and an hour later.
With all fifty gathered in one place, they proceeded with various trainings.
Though suspected spies had been gathered, there was nothing special about the education.
“One prophet said, on the day the world is filled with evil energies, Maitreya shall descend…”
They received scriptural lectures familiar from gatherings.
“We give thanks to Maitreya. For granting us light.”
They spent time memorizing and singing various hymns together.
After two hours of scripture and hymn training concluded, the believers dispersed to their rooms.
Though paired with people from the same area, the mix of strangers created an awkward atmosphere.
To break the ice, they began casual conversations.
Talks starting with birthplaces, names, ages naturally converged on one topic.
People meeting for the first time naturally seek common ground through conversation.
“How did you all come to believe in the Maitreya Divine Cult?”
Most here were strangers, but all shared the bond of being Maitreya Divine Cult believers.
No matter the starting topic, conversations inevitably ended in praise for the Maitreya Divine Cult.
If only new believers were gathered, it might differ, but half were existing ones.
Il-mok had instructed mixing in half existing believers for this very reason.
To ensure talks of the Maitreya Divine Cult arose naturally outside training hours.
A scheme to fill their days—save sleep—with cult talks, scriptures, and hymns.
Il-mok had once heard how modern cults infiltrate new recruits during retreats by blending in fake newbies for brainwashing.
The training continued for days like this.
Rise early for light exercise together, dawn prayers, morning and afternoon sessions, then free time in the evening.
Called faith training, it often included mystery games, lessons in letters or instruments beyond doctrine and hymns.
Meals were provided regularly, making it truly enriching.
Except they were barred from leaving the manor.
And whether during meals or free time, all conversations inevitably ended in praise for the Maitreya Divine Cult's greatness and gratitude.
Thanks to these enriching times, existing believers harbored no complaints.
Most new believers showed none outwardly either.
Amid this outwardly peaceful atmosphere, Baek-yeon and So-hyang secretly contacted the Faith Training Center's managers.
Over the past days, they had observed their cohorts and listed the suspicious ones.
The next day.
Several they had reported, plus a few they hadn't—including the inn boy Gu Yang-mun had watched—were summoned by the managers.
“Those called now have shown lacking attitudes in recent training, so you will receive additional sessions.”
Watching this, Baek-yeon and So-hyang swallowed dryly.
Their reports would cost these men their lives.
But then.
About seven days later.
All the summoned returned alive.
“Light! Light! Maitreya Divine~ Cult!!”
“Maitreya descends!! Salvation for all!!!!”
And with far more fervent faith than before.
The managers' additional training was nothing special. Just literal ‘additional’ education.
No letters, instruments, or free time—only doctrine and hymns all day, save sleep.
Even during meals, managers lectured on doctrine and hymns upfront.
“Atone. Maitreya is merciful. Even sinners can be forgiven. Brothers.”
“If you confess truthfully what demon clings to your mind, brothers, you too can be saved.”
Between sermons and hymns, they urged confessions through metaphors.
Some, unable to endure, admitted being Hao Gate spies.
“How are you transmitting information to the Hao Gate?”
The managers, in turn, extracted Hao Gate intel through them.
For those who held out to the end.
“Hmm. Despite prior additional training, your attitude remains poor. You’ll need more.”
Just endless additional sessions until release.
* * *
A rundown brothel in a quiet village.
In this different brothel, a middle-aged man drinking spoke into the air.
“How goes it?”
At his question, a black-clad man emerged from the shadows and replied.
“Many sent to Gansu Province have lost contact.”
“Hmm. Nanju aside, surveillance in other counties is thorough. All dead?”
“Likely so. All dragged away were attempting to infiltrate as Maitreya Divine Cult believers, taken to a place called the ‘Faith Training Center.’”
The black-clad man's explanation drew a sneer from the middle-aged man.
“Pfft. Faith Training Center. What a laughable name.”
As the man's laughter met the black-clad man's stoic face, his enthusiasm waned, and he said,
“Regrettable losing the rats, but not without gain. To catch our rats, they’re slaughtering innocent commoners too.”
“Then continue sending them piecemeal as before?”
“Hahaha. For now, yes. Once enough victims pile up, rumors of them massacring innocents will stir things nicely.”
“As you command, Gate Lord.”
Thereafter, the Hao Gate sent more spies to Gansu in waves.
About a month later, as they nearly forgot those first taken to the Faith Training Center.
“…Gate Lord. A letter arrived from one reported taken there.”
Surprisingly, contrary to expectations, a survivor appeared.
“One returned alive?”
The puzzled Hao Gate Lord extended his hand, and the black-clad man carefully handed over the letter.
The Gate Lord unfolded it.
- Light light Maitreya Divine Cult. Light light Maitreya Divine Cult. Light light Maitreya Divine Cult. Light light Maitreya Divine Cult. Atone. Atone. Atone. Atone. …Light light Maitreya Divine Cult. Light light Maitreya Divine Cult. Light light Maitreya Divine Cult. Light light Maitreya Divine Cult. …I am a sinner. I am a sinner. I am a sinner. I am a sinner…. Maitreya descends. Salvation for all. Maitreya descends. Salvation for all. Maitreya descends. Salvation for all….
Chills ran down his spine at the bizarre contents.