Chapter 369
Chapter 369
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 369
>Chapter Title: Turbulence (2)
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Huangbo Ak and the members of the Huangbo Family departed Lanzhou in Gansu Province, heading toward Shandong where their clan was based.
By the time they had crossed Shaanxi Province, bordering Gansu, and entered Henan Province.
A group of people blocked their path.
They were flying the banner of the Martial Alliance.
"Greetings to the Huangbo Family Head."
One middle-aged man stepped forward, cupping his fists in salute to Huangbo Ak.
Huangbo Ak vaguely recognized his face and name. He was the leader of one of the Martial Alliance's armed units, a peak expert at the early stage of transcendent realm.
"Pleased to meet you, Fierce Tiger Division Leader. But what business does the Martial Alliance have in blocking the Huangbo Family's path?"
"We heard that the Huangbo Family Head was returning from the Maitreya Illuminating Cult's temple in Gansu, so we hurried here."
"Since when did the Alliance gain the authority to monitor our Huangbo Family's every move?"
As Huangbo Ak openly showed his displeasure, the Fierce Tiger Division Leader replied with an awkward expression.
"Not at all, Family Head. How could we presume to give orders to the Huangbo Family? We simply came to reveal the truth about those vile Maitreya Illuminating Cult bastards."
"The truth of the Maitreya Illuminating Cult?"
As Huangbo Ak showed a curious expression, the Fierce Tiger Division Leader answered.
"The true identity of those Maitreya Illuminating Cult scum is the Demonic Cult, Family Head."
"What!! Is that really true?"
Huangbo Ak shouted as if hearing such news for the first time in his life.
Reacting to that, the Fierce Tiger Division Leader inwardly cheered as he replied.
"Yes. After surveilling the northern trade route where the Maitreya Illuminating Cult conducts commerce with the Western Regions, we discovered that Dokgo Ryong, the head of the Demonic Cult's Dokgo Family, slaughters all innocent merchant caravans there and only lets the Maitreya Illuminating Cult's pass. Unless they're in league, how could that be possible?"
"Those despicable scum!! To think these trash have been deceiving us all this time!!"
Huangbo Ak's face turned beet red as he bellowed.
"Indeed, Family Head. The Alliance obtained this information with great difficulty, and now we're sending letters to all sects and families to strike the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult masquerading as the Maitreya Illuminating Cult."
"The Huangbo Family will join as well! They shall pay dearly for daring to deceive the great Huangbo Family!"
With that reply, Huangbo Ak turned to his clan members and issued orders.
"You lot, return to the family at once and bring every warrior to join the Alliance!"
Huangbo Yeon, who had been quietly watching his father from behind, found it hard to hide his bewilderment.
- Father, attacking the Maitreya Illuminating Cult? What are you talking about? From the circumstances, their words seem more truthful, don't they?
Huangbo Ak replied to Huangbo Yeon's urgent sound transmission.
- That's why I ordered you to return to the family and bring everyone.
His tone was utterly calm, without a trace of the anger he had shown while speaking to the Fierce Tiger Division Leader.
- If the imperial court's scheme is real, we need to relocate the entire family base as far west as possible, don't we?
Only then did Huangbo Yeon realize why his father had feigned outrage.
It was undoubtedly to deceive the imperial court and Martial Alliance, safely moving the entire family westward.
The prejudice that the Huangbo Family were nothing but brutish muscleheads was widespread throughout the jianghu.
And Huangbo Ak was a man who knew how to gladly turn that perception to his advantage.
- Do not breathe a word of this to anyone. If the information leaks, the East Depot bastards might tail us, so even the family members must be deceived. Tell them we're preparing for war with the Demonic Cult.
Huangbo Yeon replied with a solemn expression to the instructions from the fox who knew how to play bear.
- I shall obey your command, Father.
* * *
Over a month earlier.
In the Cult Leader's Hall, deep within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main headquarters.
Wi Jin-hak was reading a letter that had arrived from Gansu.
"Heh..."
Wi Jin-hak let out an involuntary chuckle.
"The Martial World's Annihilation Plot, huh..."
He had merely thought the imperial court was displeased with them and up to some scheme, but to think they were aiming to play both sides.
"Truly a dilemma. Punish those vile righteous faction bastards, and we'd be playing into the imperial court's hands."
At Wi Jin-hak's mutterings, the Silver Guard Hall Leader, who had also read Il-mok's letter, cautiously spoke up.
"Please don't worry. In the end, nothing has changed."
"...You're right. From the start, we planned to confront both the righteous faction and the imperial court anyway."
The problem was that the plan targeted after ten years of building strength.
Some time had passed, but they still needed nearly eight more years.
‘...All we can do is hope the youngest buys us a bit more time.’
After receiving the letter, for several days, Wi Jin-hak carried a suffocating tightness in his chest.
Then one day, his junior brother Seo Wan-pyeong visited the main headquarters with a letter in hand.
"Hahaha! Congratulations, Junior Brother."
Spotting at once that Seo Wan-pyeong had reached Transcending Demon, Wi Jin-hak laughed heartily and welcomed him.
It felt like the stuffiness in his chest had eased somewhat.
And upon checking the letter Seo Wan-pyeong handed over next, he felt the boulder crushing his chest shatter into pieces, bringing a refreshing sensation.
"Turning the righteous faction into allies instead?"
"Yes, Senior Brother. Using the imperial court's scheme as pretext, he'll try to win over those we've built ties with under the Maitreya Illuminating Cult name."
Seo Wan-pyeong reiterated the letter's contents, and Wi Jin-hak couldn't help but admire Il-mok's profound scheme.
"Heh heh heh. Amazing. I don't know why we ever thought of facing both the righteous faction and imperial court solely with our own strength."
Why had his master, the previous Heavenly Demon, set the goal for ten years from now? To reclaim the Central Plains with the Demonic Cult's power alone.
But if they succeeded in winning over the righteous faction's major forces, there was no need to wait ten years.
Turning former enemies into allies would multiply the effect several times over.
It reduced the enemy's strength while increasing their own.
As Wi Jin-hak marveled at his youngest brother's scheme, a sudden thought occurred to him.
‘I knew the youngest's brilliance surpassed this dull senior brother of mine, but perhaps his talent even exceeds Master's.’
For a moment, he smiled contentedly at his youngest brother's talent.
- How can you join hands with those filthy righteous faction hypocrites?
- Il-mok, that bastard has betrayed the sacred will of our Divine Cult.
- Burn them all and purify the world!!
Wracked by a sudden headache, Wi Jin-hak grimaced and pressed his forehead with his right hand.
Faintly, black energy swirled in his eyes.
"Senior Brother?"
Startled, Seo Wan-pyeong looked up at him with a face full of concern, and Wi Jin-hak extended his hand that had been on his head, saying.
"I'm fine. Just a minor heart demon."
"...I've heard the heart demons of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art are vicious, but I didn't know even you suffered so much, Senior Brother."
To his worried junior brother's words, Wi Jin-hak overcame the headache and replied.
"Hahaha. Don't worry. From here on, it's only improvement."
Realizing what Wi Jin-hak meant, Seo Wan-pyeong showed an admiring expression.
"You've already reached the Extreme Demon stage in the Heavenly Demon Divine Art?"
"Indeed."
"As expected of Senior Brother."
Wi Jin-hak had ascended to Cult Leader less than a year ago, making this truly astonishing progress.
To his junior brother's admiring gaze, Wi Jin-hak smiled warmly and downplayed it.
"Hahaha. You know as well as anyone, don't you? As with all demonic arts, Extreme Demon is where the real trials begin. I'm still far from Master's level."
With that, Wi Jin-hak shifted the topic back to the main subject.
"So, if persuasion fails, the youngest plans to return to the Divine Stronghold?"
"Yes. He believes clashing head-on with the righteous faction now would only aid the imperial court."
"Hmm. On that point, he agrees with me and the Silver Guard Hall Leader."
Stroking his chin and murmuring, Wi Jin-hak nodded once and spoke.
"Then, Junior Brother Wan-pyeong, return to Gansu and assist the youngest. As the Dark Shadow Hall Leader."
At Wi Jin-hak's command, Seo Wan-pyeong startled and asked back.
"M-Me, as Dark Shadow Hall Leader?"
"It's tragic, but the previous Dark Shadow Hall Leader sacrificed himself for the Cult on his last mission. We can't leave the position vacant. Since you were the deputy, it's only right you succeed him."
After pondering Wi Jin-hak's words briefly, Seo Wan-pyeong bowed to his senior brother and replied.
"Dark Shadow Hall Deputy Leader Seo Wan-pyeong shall serve the Cult as Dark Shadow Hall Leader per the Cult Leader's command. Heavenly Demon Descends! Myriad Demons Rise!"
Wi Jin-hak smiled warmly at his junior brother's slightly changed demeanor after reaching Transcending Demon and replied.
"Good. There must be matters piled up as Dark Shadow Hall Leader, so go ahead."
"Understood."
After Seo Wan-pyeong saluted and departed.
Wi Jin-hak finally grimaced again, pressing his forehead with his right hand.
‘Vicious... truly vicious.’
Thanks to his innate talent and starting the Heavenly Demon Divine Art after surpassing the early Divine Sea stage, Wi Jin-hak's progress had been steep.
The issue was that his rapid advancement had also rapidly amplified the side effects.
- Don't trust those filthy hypocrites.
- Burn all evil.
Amid the ceaseless clamor of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art demanding destruction, Wi Jin-hak mobilized his utmost mental fortitude to suppress it.
‘Shut up!! The Divine Cult's purpose is to eradicate evil! Not indiscriminate slaughter!’
After spending several days meditating and taming the heart demon, new tidings reached the main headquarters.
News from the north.
"We let one of the East Depot's old bastards escape..."
Wi Jin-hak frowned as he looked down at the letter written by Dokgo Ryong.
Dokgo Ryong called himself a sinner for failing to carry out his lord's command, stating he would gladly accept punishment now but begged to delay it slightly.
- After this despicable, vile eunuch bastard flees to the Central Plains, I shall personally tear him apart with my own hands, then gladly accept whatever punishment my lord metes out.
There was no way to know how Dokgo Ryong in the north planned to kill the eunuch who had already fled to the Central Plains.
Pondering what to do for a moment. Another letter arrived at the main headquarters.
It was from Il-mok.
The letter stated that the Beggars' Sect, Huangbo Family, and Wudang had shown favorable responses.
‘Just hold out until the Beggars' Sect chases down the East Depot.’
It was certainly positive news, but Wi Jin-hak couldn't help feeling uneasy.
Because of the news from Dokgo Ryong.
Sure enough. A few days later, another letter flew into the main headquarters.
- The Martial Alliance has caught on to the Maitreya Illuminating Cult's true identity. They're gathering righteous faction warriors and preparing to advance on Gansu.
Upon confirming the letter, Wi Jin-hak immediately issued orders to the Silver Guard Hall Leader.
"Summon all division heads to the Cult Leader's Hall at once. The time to prepare for war has come."