Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 263
>Chapter Title: Kill Each Other (5)
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Was it because Il-mok spat up blood? Those who had retreated to one side of the training ground to watch his practice rushed over with startled faces.
“Oppa!”
“Young Master!”
“Are you alright!?”
In response to their cries, Il-mok waved his hand dismissively.
“Don’t worry. It’s just a minor internal injury from pushing my training too hard. A bit of Qi Circulation and Breath Adjustment back at my quarters should set me right.”
With that, Il-mok dropped the sword—now little more than a hilt—onto the ground with a clunk and headed toward his residence.
His companions watched his retreating figure with a variety of expressions.
“Oppa…”
Some wore purely worried looks, like Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a.
Others gazed at him with reverence, like Dan-bin.
‘He was clearly around my level before we left for Sichuan…’
Yet now, no matter what she tried, Dan-bin could never hope to defeat Il-mok.
It was truly astonishing.
While she had been trapped in the Blood Cult’s formation, lost in nightmares, Young Master Il-mok had not only broken free of it on his own but had also attained profound enlightenment amid the successive bloody battles.
And that wasn’t all.
‘On top of that, he recovered even the remains of Blood Dew Heavenly Demon… The Eighth Young Master is truly the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s harbinger of revival.’
Dan-bin thought of the letter and bone-filled box she had dispatched toward the main headquarters that very day.
No doubt, when that letter and box arrived at the main headquarters, even the Heavenly Demon would be greatly pleased.
As she basked in pride over the Il-mok she now served,
Jin Ha-yeon—who would normally share that pride in Il-mok just as much—wore a faintly bitter expression.
And so, for the next few days, life in Nanju flowed peacefully.
Some immersed themselves in worries, others rejoiced at easing the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s long-standing grudge, and Il-mok devoted himself to training as the days slipped by.
“…Who did you say came to visit?”
Then, out of the blue, guests arrived seeking Il-mok.
* * *
At the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s main headquarters, nestled in the Heavenly Myriad Mountains of Shin-gang.
Deep within that headquarters stood a massive hall. In the Heavenly Demon Hall, the leaders guiding the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had gathered as one.
The Left and Right Guardian Envoys, heads of the Cult’s various institutions, and even the patriarchs of the Five Great Demon Families.
Masters who could easily lead entire factions in the Central Plains all prostrated themselves uniformly before the Heavenly Demon, paying their respects.
“Raise your heads.”
At the Heavenly Demon’s voice, which filled the entire hall, those who had bowed lifted their gazes.
Unlike usual, the Heavenly Demon exuded an immense presence. In his hand, he held a certain box and a letter.
“These are things sent by my youngest, who departed on the special mission I assigned.”
“!!”
At the Heavenly Demon’s explanation, waves of turmoil surged in the eyes of those assembled in the hall.
‘Please no.’
‘What has he done now!!’
Anxiety and anger swirled within them.
Whenever word spread that the youngest young master had stirred something up, new tasks inevitably arose a few days later—that had been the pattern they’d endured.
But they could hardly reveal such irreverent emotions before the great Heavenly Demon, so they hurriedly bowed their heads again.
Whether he knew their thoughts or not, the Heavenly Demon shot a glance toward the Silver Shadow Pavilion Master, who waited at one side of the Heavenly Demon Hall.
The Silver Shadow Pavilion Master, holding letters prepared from who-knows-when, circled the hall, distributing one to each person.
“These are transcriptions of the letter sent by the youngest. All of you, read them.”
Those who had worn puzzled expressions unfolded the letters at the Heavenly Demon’s command and read.
Soon, fresh waves crashed in their pupils.
But this time, the light in their eyes was different.
Shock. Or感動.
“Th-then, what’s in that box…”
At someone’s murmur, unable to contain their surging emotions, the Heavenly Demon nodded.
“Indeed. They are the remains of Blood Dew Heavenly Demon, the Ninth Heavenly Demon.”
“Aaah…”
Some shed tears of感动, faces enraptured. Others threw themselves into prostration once more, reciting passages from the scriptures.
After giving them a moment to express their emotions, however faintly, the Heavenly Demon lightly stomped his foot.
Boom!
Yet contrary to that casual motion, a heavy thud echoed alongside an overwhelming aura that spread in all directions.
Only then did those intoxicated by doctrine—speaking in tongues and weeping—regain their senses and look to the Heavenly Demon.
“The reason I summoned you all here today is to command preparations for a festival.”
“A festival… to celebrate the return of Blood Dew Heavenly Demon?”
“Indeed.”
Prepare a festival.
Even amid their already heavy workloads, new tasks had arisen—yet this time, not a single one showed discomfort.
“In a fortnight, we shall hold the festival. Until then, halt all duties and devote yourselves solely to its preparation.”
“We shall obey the Supreme One’s command!”
“Moreover, as this festival marks the day our Divine Cult resolves a grudge over a century old, I declare it a holiday for all cultists in Shin-gang to rest and share in joy.”
No sooner had the Heavenly Demon’s proclamation ended than the demonic cultists bowed toward him in unison.
“Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Heaven and earth for ten thousand years!!”
“Heavenly Demon descends! Myriad demons rejoice!”
After the storm of joy from the fanatics had raged and subsided,
Boom.
The Heavenly Demon stomped once more, scattering the horrific demonic qi of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in all directions as he added in a weighty tone,
“Finally, this festival is solely to honor the hard labors of our enduring cultists. Speak not a word of Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s remains or the youngest.”
“!?”
At the Heavenly Demon’s warning, which connected to nothing prior, those gathered gazed at him with uncharacteristically puzzled faces for fanatics.
“Should this matter spread—even slightly—those connected in any way, regardless of rank or past merits, shall be deemed Martial Alliance spies and executed.”
But as holders of key positions in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, they quickly grasped the reason.
‘…Finding Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s remains means the youngest young master visited the Sichuan region.’
‘It’s to protect the youngest young master carrying out his mission in the Central Plains.’
As one by one their faces reflected understanding of his intent, the Heavenly Demon stroked his beard and spoke.
“The sacred rite to honor Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s spirit shall be held here in the Heavenly Demon Hall with only the Cult’s key figures. Patriarch An, see to the rite’s preparations with this in mind.”
“I shall uphold the Supreme One’s will.”
The An family patriarch—who traditionally oversaw the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s religious ceremonies—prostrated himself in respect.
Once each had departed to prepare the festival, the Heavenly Demon Hall returned to its usual quiet, leaving only the Heavenly Demon, the Silver Shadow Pavilion Master, and Eldest Young Master Wi Jin-hak to converse.
“As expected of the youngest, Master. To accomplish so simply what no one has managed in over a century…”
“Hahaha. This old man thinks the same. Even I couldn’t do it, yet the youngest has.”
The Heavenly Demon stroked his beard with evident delight, prompting Wi Jin-hak to drop to his knees and slam his forehead toward the floor.
“Please, execute me, Master! I’ve committed a grave offense!”
He had realized too late. Depending on interpretation, his words implied that his master—the current Heavenly Demon—was incompetent, unable to achieve what even Il-mok had.
But before his head met the floor, an immense aura from the Heavenly Demon halted him.
“Enough. I know you meant no slander against this master of yours.”
Comforting Wi Jin-hak like that, the Heavenly Demon raised his first disciple once more and continued.
“And this old man thinks the same. Not only did he recover Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s remains—a feat in itself—but amid it all, the youngest accomplished two or three things at once.”
“Indeed, Master. The youngest went to the Central Plains for revenge, and with this, he’s succeeded. What greater joy could there be?”
“Hahaha. And on top of that, he’s ruined the scheme the Blood Cult bastards tried pinning on us—so the Central Plains hypocrites will rack their brains hunting the Blood Cult for a while.”
“Wise words indeed, Master. Yet this disciple cannot quell his rage. How dare those Blood Cult vermin scheme in Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s secret abode?”
As their talk reignited his fury, Wi Jin-hak’s eyes blazed fiercely.
Soothe his disciple thus, the Heavenly Demon let out a hearty, open laugh.
Unlike the warning to the cultists moments ago, it was utterly gentle.
“Hahaha. The youngest has incited a fight between those bastards and the Central Plains hypocrites—how is that not revenge?”
“My apologies. This disciple’s cultivation is still lacking; I regret not avenging with my own hands.”
“Hahaha. This old man feels the same. But for greater purpose, one must know when to endure.”
Saying so, the Heavenly Demon turned his head to gaze at the box holding Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s remains.
Grasping that intent, Wi Jin-hak bowed his head sharply.
“This disciple shall keep it ever in mind, etched deeply.”
Revenge against the Blood Cult aside, even the recovery of Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s remains was to be kept secret.
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, where the Heavenly Demon was revered as a god, hiding this was a truly momentous decision.
It showed just how gravely they viewed this matter—and how dearly they cherished Il-mok.
As Wi Jin-hak gauged his master’s inner thoughts, the Heavenly Demon stared at the box of remains, lost in slightly different musings.
‘Just wait a little longer.’
The words carried double meaning.
A plea to wait until the day they publicly announced the remains’ return to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
And an acknowledgment that his own departure to the same realm as Blood Dew Heavenly Demon was not far off.
As the Heavenly Demon contemplated his remaining years—mere handful now—
Wi Jin-hak, gazing at the box alongside, spoke up.
“How I wish the day would come sooner to proclaim Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s return, Master.”
“Hahaha. Blood Dew Heavenly Demon surely awaits with bated breath our Divine Cult’s return to the Central Plains—likely rejoicing from the heavens.”
“!!!”
Wi Jin-hak’s eyes widened as he grasped the meaning in his master’s words.
It meant that on the day the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult moved against the Central Plains, they would reveal the recovery of Blood Dew Heavenly Demon’s remains.
And from his master’s tone, that day was not distant.
Indeed, the Heavenly Demon was envisioning a grand design—one made possible thanks to his youngest disciple.
‘I must pay closer heed to the Central Plains’ currents.’
Thanks to the board the youngest had set, the Martial Alliance’s gaze was likely fixed on the Blood Cult.
Should that gaze shift from Shin-gang back to the Central Plains interior, certain plans could come to fruition.
Plans conceived thanks to Il-mok.
‘One day without work, one day without rice, as the saying goes.’
In the past, the Heavenly Demon had believed simply assigning tasks per doctrine and cultivating demonic arts sufficed for his cultists.
But his youngest disciple had sparked a shift in thinking.
Humans, after all, needed a path to sustenance for faith to grow.
Talent cultivation was no different. Only with abundance could one devote to demonic arts or studies.
In that sense, Shin-gang was woefully inadequate.
They were improving conditions through various reforms now, but limits loomed inevitably.
Even the most faithful cultists couldn’t be run on empty forever—one or two days, perhaps, but years on? Problems would arise.
And the Heavenly Demon had devised a way to feed every cultist in Shin-gang.
He had merely been gauging the timing, wary of spies from the Central Plains.
But if war erupted between the Blood Cult and Martial Alliance in the Central Plains, he could enact it freely.
‘Hahaha. Surely that child will yield even greater results than I foresee.’
And he had already selected the ideal person for the task.
The precious disciple he cherished fiercely and trusted without doubt.