Chapter 333
Chapter 333
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 333
>Chapter Title: Dawn (2)
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The day after Il-mok returned to the main headquarters.
“Great Sovereign…”
The Silver Wing Pavilion Lord gazed down at the sickbed, his eyes brimming with moisture unlike his usual composure.
Even with his keen senses, he could detect no breath from the Heavenly Demon at all.
Perhaps because he had always stayed glued to the Heavenly Demon’s side, he had sensed this coming on some subconscious level.
The Silver Wing Pavilion Lord did not break into loud wails.
Absurdly, that was the first thought that crossed his mind.
Perhaps his lord’s lifespan had already ended long ago.
He had simply held on until the very end to see his disciple’s face one last time before departing.
‘As expected of my lord…’
Had he defied the heaven-ordained lifespan with that profound inner energy of his?
After dwelling on such stray thoughts for a moment, the Silver Wing Pavilion Lord wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand and turned to exit the Heavenly Demon Hall.
Though the lord he had served his entire life had departed, he could not afford to simply grieve.
Now was the time to prepare for the future of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, which his lord had devoted his life to building.
* * *
The Heavenly Demon’s ascension ceremony was held on a grand scale.
The atmosphere of the rite, led by the head of the An family—a lineage of shamans as per tradition—was somehow subtle.
Surprisingly, it did not carry a deeply mournful air. More precisely, everyone was making an effort not to let it become one.
“Tut, tut. Go back and pull yourself together before you return.”
When someone nearby wiped away tears, those around urged them to step away from the ceremony site for a bit.
There were reasons for it, of course.
This event was not a funeral, but an ascension ceremony.
The Heavenly Demon was the god of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and it was absurd to say a god had died.
In other words, this was a religious rite marking the Heavenly Demon’s departure from the mortal world to the heavens after completing his worldly duties.
Even so, there were more than a few with dazed expressions or unable to hold back their tears.
It was unavoidable.
Hyeok-ryeon Il-hwi had ruled the Divine Cult as Heavenly Demon for over fifty years. To the younger cultists, it was as if the god they had worshiped their entire lives had vanished.
The ceremony continued amid that delicate atmosphere for several days until the final rite arrived.
It was the cremation, where the sacred flames consumed the Heavenly Demon’s mortal remains.
The Heavenly Demon’s corpse, dressed in pristine black burial robes, lay atop a pyre, and as the sacred flames took hold, it began to burn bit by bit.
Il-mok stared blankly at the smoke rising to the heavens from the Heavenly Demon’s burning body, when a sudden thought struck him.
‘Ascension, huh…’
Feather-transformation and immortal ascent, attaining Buddhahood, ascension.
Expressions used across various religions to signify transcendence of human limits and rebirth into something new.
But in truth, they were mostly euphemisms for when a follower of that faith died.
Merely a roundabout way of saying they had left the mortal world for a new realm, instead of bluntly stating they had died.
That was what Il-mok had always thought.
Even this ascension ceremony felt like a form of mental victory. It seemed disingenuous to refuse to treat the dead as dead.
But not now.
Even on the verge of departure, the energy dwelling in the Heavenly Demon’s body had encompassed the world, defying his aged and sickly flesh.
And now, following the body turning to smoke in the flames, that immense energy lingered in the Heavenly Demon’s form was dispersing into the heavens as well.
For some reason, Il-mok felt as though he glimpsed the Heavenly Demon’s faint smile amid the smoke.
‘…Rest in peace there, Master.’
* * *
Late that evening after the ascension ceremony ended, in the Hyeok-ryeon family head’s quarters.
An unexpected guest arrived.
“Family Head, the head of the Dugu Clan has come to visit.”
“Show him in.”
At Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s order, the Dugu Clan head soon entered, guided by the chief steward.
His hair was completely white, but the old man’s striking appearance—over six feet tall with a massive build—featured a liquor bottle in his right hand.
“Heavens. Bringing that on a day like this.”
“Isn’t that exactly why we should drink?”
The boisterous Dugu Clan head, Dugu Ryong, plopped down on the floor, poured liquor into Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s teacup, filled his own brought-along cup, downed it in one gulp, and then spoke.
“Besides, you banned alcohol because of the young ones, right? It’s got nothing to do with us who’ve reached Transcending Demon.”
Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang let out a faint chuckle at Dugu Ryong’s words but did not refuse, downing the liquor in his teacup.
They exchanged drinks in silence several times without a word.
“So, what brings you here on a day like this?”
“You know full well why. Now that the Heavenly Demon has ascended, it’s time for his followers to select the next god to serve.”
“That’s why I’m asking. If you’re interested in the cult leader position, just enter the struggle for it. No need to come to me, is there?”
At Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s question, Dugu Ryong downed another cup and grinned.
It was a smile brimming with competitive spirit.
“In this family head’s eyes, you’re the only one worthy to be my rival. So I came to ask: are you entering the struggle?”
To the Dugu Clan head’s blunt question, Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang replied.
“You’re as arrogant as ever.”
“Heh heh heh. Not arrogance—confidence. So, are you joining?”
As he asked again, the corner of Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s mouth lifted.
It was an ambiguous smile, like a sneer or a hollow laugh.
“Sorry, but coveting a seat that already has an owner is mere old man’s greed.”
At Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s response, Dugu Ryong furrowed his brow.
“Since when did you turn such a coward?”
“Coward, you say. I’d love to indulge your competitive spirit, but be on your way. Wouldn’t want you getting hurt and missing the struggle, would we?”
Right after Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s question ended, the two elders locked eyes without a word.
Fierce energies clashed around them, creating a chilling atmosphere that could freeze the area solid for a moment.
“Tch. You’ve killed my buzz. Time to head out.”
Clicking his tongue lightly, Dugu Ryong rose and departed the Hyeok-ryeon estate.
“Hmph. A seat that already has an owner.”
Snorting derisively, Dugu Ryong glanced up at the full moon in the night sky as he walked toward the Dugu Clan.
“I’m curious, though. Who’s this person the Hyeok-ryeon family head acknowledges.”
But the thought was fleeting. Soon, a confident smile spread across Dugu Ryong’s lips.
“Hahaha. He must’ve been talking about me.”
He even interpreted their final clash of auras as a test of himself.
“Heh heh heh.”
In high spirits once more, Dugu Ryong poured the remaining liquor from the bottle straight into his mouth and headed back to the Dugu Clan, humming a tune.
Transcending Demon or not, the Dugu Clan was still the Dugu Clan.
* * *
The next morning at dawn.
Rumors spread through the main headquarters that Dugu Ryong, head of the Dugu Clan, had stepped up for the examination.
It was the screening to enter the cult leader struggle, overseen by the Left and Right Guardian Kings.
But it was screening in name only. Anyone at the Profound Realm or higher would pass with ease.
The issue was that those who passed would duel to the death among themselves, with the final victor becoming cult leader.
Since Dugu Ryong was a sure pass, entering the struggle meant facing him in a life-or-death battle.
And about an hour later, as rumors spread that Great Young Master Wi Jin-hak had also entered the screening.
“Whew.”
In his quarters at Wind Rock Hall, Il-mok let out a sigh with a troubled expression.
‘Should I step up? Do I really have to?’
He had no desire for the Heavenly Demon or cult leader position.
The problem was that the question from Seo Jang still lingered in his mind.
Even if the wrong person became cult leader or Heavenly Demon, Il-mok could not refuse their orders.
But climbing into that position just because he didn’t want to hand it to someone else didn’t appeal to him either—especially without any certainty it would come to that.
After much deliberation, Il-mok stood up, feeling stifled.
“I’ll go for a short walk.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I’ll accompany you, Deputy Leader Jin.”
As Jin Ha-yeon and Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a both stepped forward, Il-mok shook his head.
“I just need to clear my head alone. This is the main headquarters—no danger here, right?”
Brushing off even the two women, Il-mok wandered aimlessly through the headquarters.
He mulled over stray thoughts, shook his head to dismiss them, repeating this several times.
As he walked without destination, a familiar man came into view.
“Greetings to the Scripture Hall Chief.”
It was Baek Un-hak, head of the Baek family and leader of the Scripture Hall.
Remembering the morning’s rumors, Il-mok asked him.
“Are you heading to the screening to participate?”
At Il-mok’s question, Baek Un-hak burst into hearty laughter.
“Hahaha. I’ve got no interest in the cult leader or Heavenly Demon seat. Maybe back in the day, but now I enjoy this Scripture Hall Chief position.”
“Is that so?”
“It is. I want to focus on spreading plays and songs, but becoming cult leader means dealing with other matters, doesn’t it?”
He seemed like a candidate with some sense, at least.
Nodding in understanding, Il-mok soon thought of another question.
“If the Dugu Clan head becomes cult leader, what will you do? If I may be so bold, I’ve heard you and the Dugu Clan head don’t get along well…”
At Il-mok’s question, Baek Un-hak burst into laughter again.
“Hahaha. What a silly question. If that old coot becomes cult leader, I’ll drag him down immediately.”
“!?”
Staring at Baek Un-hak in disbelief for a brief moment, wondering what madness this was.
Il-mok belatedly realized a crucial fact.
‘Oh, right. The cult leader can be replaced anytime?’
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, absolute authority came not from being cult leader, but from becoming Heavenly Demon.
Only after achieving mastery in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art and being recognized as Heavenly Demon could one wield godlike power.
Per the doctrine that ‘the strongest claims the cult leader seat,’ the cult leader had to accept any challenge at any time—until recognized as Heavenly Demon.
‘I forgot all about it, having only seen Master’s example.’
Realizing this at last, a smile formed on Il-mok’s lips.
‘Heh heh heh. Right. There’s that way.’
He now had a clear direction for how to proceed.
* * *
That night.
Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang visited Wind Rock Hall.
“What brings you here?”
Il-mok asked, fully aware of Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s intentions.
And the words from Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s mouth were exactly as Il-mok expected.
“I hear three have already entered the screening, but you truly intend not to step up?”
“That’s right.”
At Il-mok’s calm reply, Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang furrowed his brow.
“And if the one who claims the cult leader seat runs amok, what then?”
As he asked, Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang thought to himself.
If Il-mok refused to step up to the end, perhaps he himself would have to enter the struggle.
But Il-mok’s response was unexpected.
“Then I’ll step up.”
“…If there’s a problem with the one who becomes cult leader, you’ll enter then?”
“Yes. In our Divine Cult, anyone has the right to challenge the cult leader—short of the Heavenly Demon—don’t they?”
After pondering Il-mok’s answer briefly, Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang nodded in understanding.
“If that’s your will, I’ll wait.”
At Hyeok-ryeon Cheon-gang’s words, Il-mok furrowed his brow.
‘Why’s he talking like I’m definitely going to have to step up?’
It felt like a curse hurled right to his face.