Chapter 332
Chapter 332
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 332
>Chapter Title: Dawn (1)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the past, it had been called the Potala Palace, but now it was an ancient temple that had become the Western Branch altar of the Maitreya Divine Cult.
After all the women who were to be sent back to their hometowns had been returned, and the women who had chosen this place over their hometowns had all come back.
Those who had left to eliminate the remnants of the Potala Palace had also returned there.
Jung-hyeon went to the hall where Il-mok was staying and reported her return, and Il-mok welcomed her warmly.
“I-I'm back, Young Master.”
“You've worked hard all this time. And congratulations, Jung Sojeo.”
Since Il-mok had already entered the Harmony Realm, he could easily recognize her growth.
“You've succeeded in transcending Extreme Demon.”
Jung-hyeon bowed her head slightly as if embarrassed and replied.
“I-It’s all thanks to your t-teachings, Young Master.”
It was not mere humility. She truly believed it was due to Il-mok's guidance.
She would never have even thought of the idea of using qi to alter an arrow's trajectory.
After that day, while patrolling the Western Territory in search of Potala Palace remnants, Jung-hyeon repeated her training whenever she had time.
She would shoot an arrow into the air, then push the Ghost Spirit Divine Bow to its limits to change the arrow's path.
At first, even the slightest alteration in trajectory caused her brain to burn with agony, leading to her passing out.
But now, she was gradually adapting.
She could only manage a momentary single change at best, but she had reached the point where she could execute it without fainting.
“Without your advice, Young Master, I-I never would have thought of such a training method.”
“Hahaha. I merely hastened the realization a bit. You would have figured it out eventually. And even if I told you the method, overcoming the wall was due to your own talent and effort, wasn't it, Jung Sojeo?”
Amid Il-mok's successive praises, Jung-hyeon inexplicably recalled old memories.
“T-This isn't all. Because of you, Young Master, when I joined the theater club at the Demonic Path Academy, and when I cross-dressed for missionary work in Gansu Province. E-Every time, I hated it so much I wanted to d-die, but those experiences allowed me to g-grow.”
At Jung-hyeon's heartfelt thanks, Il-mok smiled awkwardly.
“…You hated the theater club and cross-dressing that much? Ahem. W-Why didn't you say something?”
“…H-How could I c-contradict you, Young Master, in front of others?”
“Ah….”
Only then realizing his thoughtlessness, Il-mok smiled awkwardly and bowed his head to her.
“I'm sorry for all this time.”
“N-No, Young Master! I k-know it was all to help me g-grow.”
Il-mok felt a twinge of conscience, however slight.
‘It wasn't really with the intention of making her grow….’
Meanwhile.
Watching the two share such a warm conversation, Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a clenched her fist until her nails dug into her skin.
‘If only I had grown during this journey too….’
She, who stood on the verge of Extreme Demon, thought.
To monopolize Il-mok's attention, she needed to become stronger.
* * *
Around that time.
The Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord, who had returned to the main headquarters with injuries, was having an audience with the Heavenly Demon.
“I apologize, Lord of Ten Thousand Demons. This subordinate was disloyal and failed the mission. Please execute me.”
The Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord, with bandages around his side, slammed his head against the floor in a desperate kowtow.
Thud.
But just before his forehead touched the ground, some energy gently enveloped him.
It was the demonic qi of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
“I know your loyalty, so think nothing of it. You didn't sabotage it on purpose, did you?”
“Supreme One….”
The Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord looked up at the Heavenly Demon with a moved expression.
“So tell me quickly. What happened that left you in such a state?”
At the Heavenly Demon's question, the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord calmly continued his report.
He said that while transporting a letter in place of the Dongchang scum that Seo Wan-pyeong had captured, he had gradually dug into their trail.
As a result, he had finally made contact with the old man whom the Dongchang scum called 'Taigong'.
“But that Taigong's skill surpassed this lowly one's irreverent abilities, so I failed to subdue him.”
Having been overwhelmed in battle with that Taigong, the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord had no choice but to flee.
He had wanted to go down together, but duty compelled him to report what had transpired.
“Hmm. A superior who's called Taigong—an old eunuch—sounds like the Prefect Eunuch.”
The Prefect Eunuch was the de facto head of the Eastern Depot.
“This subordinate suspected as much.”
“It seems the Imperial Palace has been plotting against us in earnest, so have Dark Shadow Pavilion prioritize the investigation into the Eastern Depot from now on.”
“We've already uncovered several places tied to the Eastern Depot, including the Silver Moon Merchant Group, through prior investigations. And we've captured a few of their scum, so this time, we won't let any traces slip.”
“I'll entrust it to Dark Shadow Pavilion. Also, since this is a most important matter, keep it secret even within the Divine Cult.”
The Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord couldn't easily grasp the intent of the final order, but he bowed his head in acknowledgment.
“I shall obey your will.”
For a cultist, it was their duty to follow the Heavenly Demon's command, even if it meant suicide.
“Then, go to the medical quarters first to recover. While you're resting, leave it to Wan-pyeong.”
“I shall. But has Third Young Master's condition improved?”
“Heh heh heh. According to the Demon Physician, he's stabilized. That child is nearing Transcending Demon now, so he won't rampage so easily.”
Recalling the last sight of Seo Wan-pyeong with bloodshot eyes, the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord swallowed a sigh of relief inwardly.
After the Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord paid his respects and left the Heavenly Demon Hall.
“Hoo….”
The Heavenly Demon let out a deep sigh.
Moreover, exhaustion was thickly etched on his face.
It wasn't just because of the Imperial Palace matter.
Was it because his lifespan was nearly spent? Lately, he couldn't shake the feeling of overwhelming fatigue.
In truth, his body had already reached its limit. He had long passed the age of a hundred.
Recently, the Heavenly Demon moved not by physical strength, but by channeling qi through his body.
The Silver Shadow Pavilion Lord, who was always by his side and thus the only one aware of it, looked up at the ceiling with a bitter expression.
‘Supreme One….’
* * *
Time passed swiftly.
Even in the Western Territory where Il-mok had set up base, the name Maitreya Divine Cult was gradually overshadowing Potala Palace, and the name was taking root in Qinghai and the North as well.
Gansu Province had become fully the Maitreya Divine Cult's territory, and recently, they had begun teaching children not only letters but also basic martial arts and scriptures written under the name 'Maitreya Divine Cult'.
Just as they had in Shaanxi.
And in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's home base of Shaanxi, the seeds sown by the Demon Slaughter Pavilion were finally sprouting.
Children who had completed the Elementary Demon Academy—no, now sixteen and nearly young men in build—were returning to their hometowns one by one to begin activities.
Even just completing the Elementary Demon Academy granted basic martial arts and literacy, allowing them to aid village tasks while serving as vigilantes.
Those with excellent grades advanced to the Intermediate Academy for more specialized training in demonic arts.
Amid such positive reports streaming in from Shaanxi and elsewhere.
An urgent dispatch from Gansu Province arrived at the Heavenly Demon Hall.
“…Hoo.”
Having read the letter through, the Heavenly Demon unwittingly let out a deep sigh.
“To commit such a horrific act without going mad.”
It detailed a bloodbath in the Central Plains.
A massacre perpetrated by the Blood Cult.
Most of the mid- and small sects active in Guizhou Province had been wiped out, and even ordinary civilians had been caught in the slaughter.
The estimated casualties numbered at least five thousand—a truly gruesome incident.
“Thanks to this, the hypocrites of the righteous sects have finally felt alarm and are gathering their forces in earnest. It seems the Imperial Palace showing signs of moving was largely because even civilians suffered.”
At the report from the warrior who brought the dispatch, the Heavenly Demon sighed.
“Haa.”
If the righteous sects, who had been caught in internal strife until now, united, it was unwelcome for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, which had been steadily expanding influence in the Central Plains under the Maitreya Divine Cult name.
But that wasn't why the Heavenly Demon sighed.
“For even civilians to be sacrificed—truly a horrific affair.”
The Heavenly Demon felt grief at the Blood Cult's atrocities.
Deep down, he wished to personally step in and punish them.
But now was neither the time for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult nor for him to act.
‘This too is my failing…. I shall bear all the faults, so you must revive the Divine Cult and protect the masses.’
Harboring such thoughts inwardly, the Heavenly Demon issued a command to the messenger.
“Have Gansu Province's Maitreya Divine Cult continue monitoring the Martial Alliance and Blood Cult's movements. And report any special matters to the main headquarters without delay.”
“Understood!!”
After the messenger paid respects and departed.
“Cough….”
The Heavenly Demon coughed weakly, his face deathly pale, and dark red blood stained the black robes he used to staunch it.
It was a day, over a year after Il-mok had left for the Western Territory.
* * *
About a year and a half after Il-mok began propagating the Maitreya Divine Cult's doctrines in the Western Territory.
A single letter arrived at the ancient temple, now a branch altar of the Maitreya Divine Cult.
The contents were simple.
Leave the missionaries in place and return to the main headquarters immediately.
At this abruptly urgent letter lacking context, Il-mok set out for the main headquarters with only his maidservants.
Rushing day and night, minimizing sleep and meals, Il-mok finally arrived at the main headquarters.
“We've been waiting, Eighth Young Master.”
A guard at the entrance began leading him toward the Heavenly Demon Hall.
On the way to the Heavenly Demon Hall, Il-mok felt an inexplicable foreboding.
‘…What is it?’
The atmosphere at the main headquarters was oppressively heavy.
Unlike the usual Heavenly Demon Divine Cult—which, despite using the character for 'demon', was always vibrant in various ways—this was different.
Soon, Il-mok reached the entrance to the Heavenly Demon Hall, where Wi Jin-hak, Seo Wan-pyeong, and Jong-ri Chu awaited him.
“We've already paid our respects, so go in.”
From Wi Jin-hak's representative words, Il-mok knew what lay ahead.
Instinctively.
But reason desperately ignored that instinct.
He couldn't believe it.
‘Master has… passed away?’
That stalwart figure?
The one who exuded godlike majesty, now awaiting death right before them?
Unable to accept it, Il-mok entered the Heavenly Demon Hall with a dazed expression.
A familiar scent wafted there.
The scent from an old man facing death—one the Heavenly Demon had never emanated.
The Heavenly Demon, always seated grandly on the throne, was no longer there.
Instead, only a simple bed lay in its place.
Approaching the bed, Il-mok barely pried open his reluctant lips.
“…Master.”
An elderly man, his body abloom with the flowers of death, lay upon it.
At Il-mok's call, the man who seemed deep in deathlike sleep painfully opened his eyes.
“Heh heh heh. It's my youngest.”
In just a year and a half, his master had aged drastically, and Il-mok gritted his teeth before asking.
“Why didn't you summon this disciple sooner?”
At the unwitting note of resentment, the Heavenly Demon smiled.
The same kindly smile as always, yet somehow weary.
“Heh heh. How could I summon a disciple laboring for the masses and the Divine Cult just because I missed your face?”
So answering, the Heavenly Demon fell silent for a moment, then spoke unexpectedly.
“To you, I can only feel sorry.”
“…….”
“It feels like I've burdened you—still so young—with too much…. As your master, I wanted to keep you by my side longer. But as Heavenly Demon, I couldn't let your talent rot…. Forgive this unworthy master.”
At the Heavenly Demon's words, Il-mok forced a false reply.
“I've never once resented you.”
“Heh heh heh. Truly my youngest.”
The Heavenly Demon chuckled happily, then soon coughed.
Dark red blood stained his lips.
“Master, rest for a moment.”
As Il-mok hurriedly wiped his master's mouth with his clothes, the Heavenly Demon reached out and grasped Il-mok's wrist.
The hand emerging from his robes was gaunt and skeletal.
“Youngest, this old man has prepared one gift and one request for you. Will you accept it?”
It was truly strange.
Despite his withered arm and bloodied face, the palm touching Il-mok's wrist emanated majestic energy.
“…Command me.”
“Thank you…. As I recall, Il-mok, your name was given by your parents.”
“Yes. My parents didn't know many characters, so they named me with one of the few they did.”
“An old saying goes that master and parents are one, so this old man shall imbue meaning into your name.”
“…Meaning?”
Il-mok looked down at the Heavenly Demon with a complex expression.
“Youngest, you possess truly special talent. So, unfold it to its fullest. Become a single great tree(一木) that can shelter all the pitiful masses with your uniqueness. Furthermore, become the root(本) that supports the wavering faithful of the Divine Cult forever.”
The Heavenly Demon's eyes reflected Il-mok's complex expression perfectly.
Unlike his age-spotted face, they were like the eyes from their first meeting—like an endless lake.
“Your name is this old man's final gift and request.”