Chapter 207
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: I Won't Lose Anymore
Mu-heun and his party arrived at the Gyeongimok branch of the Underworld Sect. He already knew the condition of his subordinates. Now that his consciousness was linked with the Heavenly Demonic Corpse, Hyeok, he was receiving information in real time.
However, there were some things he needed to see with his own two eyes to be at ease.
“Branch Master. Has everything been alright?”
“Yes, Lord of the Golden Plaque. As you said, the Tiger-Subduing Monks of Mount Emei have arrived. We found the one named Ha Na-rin among them and guided her to the sickroom.”
“Thank you. I will visit the Emei Sect after checking on my subordinates who are confined to their beds.”
“Of course.”
After briefly introducing the members of the Demonic Cult who had come with him, Mu-heun headed to the sickroom. Seol Ha-ryeong was standing outside, and she cupped her fist in greeting upon seeing Baek Gun-hak, the Family Head of the Heavenly Dance, the Blade Leaf Demon, and Bul-wi.
“Elder, Pavilion Lord, Blade Leaf Demon.”
The group returned Seol Ha-ryeong's greeting with a simple nod and entered the sickroom. And that day, there were several reunions that brought a sting to the nose and reddened the eyes.
The meeting between Seo-bong and Ha Na-rin was a given. It was a reunion of siblings after ten long years; how could it be otherwise?
Mu-heun gently patted Ha Na-rin's shoulder, giving the two of them some time alone. Of course, he also told the other members of the Azure Dragon Unit about Seo-bong.
The meeting of Pa-sun and Bul-wi, the Lord of Mong-o Pavilion.
The reunion of a father and son who had hovered between life and death was quite different from what one might expect. It was a scene that showed just how awkward the two normally were with each other. However, Pa-sun's expression brightened subtly when he realized that Bul-wi had rushed over in a panic.
Geum-ryeong, the leader of the Wol-ryeong Unit, who was standing guard beside them, also had reddened eyes…
Actually, it seemed like Geum-ryeong had a one-sided crush on Pa-sun… I'm not so sure.
The meeting of Un-pyo, Un-gak, and the Blade Leaf Demon. They were master and disciples, but as everyone knew, they were family itself. The Blade Leaf Demon wore a pleased expression that Un-pyo and Un-gak had survived, but a shadow lingered in a corner of his face.
One could feel his thoughts turning to the fallen Pung-yeop Unit. When Un-pyo and Un-gak apologized to him, the Blade Leaf Demon said he was sorry for making them feel guilty.
Their lost brothers-in-arms. The sorrow would be the same. However, they did not place any blame on the survivors.
Cheon Ga-rak, Seo-bong, and Ho-ryang faced Baek Gun-hak and the members of the Azure Dragon Unit. Some members shed tears of joy at their leader's safety, while others, thinking of their lost comrades, couldn't bring themselves to be entirely happy.
The same was true for Cheon Ga-rak, Seo-bong, and Ho-ryang.
They were all someone's precious connection. That was why, in the moment of confirming life and death after such grievous injuries, both those lying in bed and those checking on the wounded felt the same overwhelming emotions.
However, just like them, Mu-heun couldn't simply bask in this overwhelming moment.
He had to move quickly to mourn the dead.
Mu-heun spoke to his subordinates lying in their sickbeds.
“You all will rest and recuperate here for the time being. I will take care of the fallen members of the Azure Dragon and Pung-yeop Units and prepare for the funeral.”
“…My lord, please… please allow us to attend the funeral as well.”
“We beg you. Even if our bodies are not whole, this is something we must do. We were the only ones who survived, leaving them behind. Please allow us to at least mourn the deaths of our comrades.”
Mu-heun knew.
‘They may not show it, but they must be carrying their own guilt.’
However, that was the responsibility of the survivors. To walk on the shadows of the dead, carrying their weight, and to press forward steadfastly. That was the fate spoken of by those who lived in the martial world.
And the six survivors were people who accepted that fate more calmly than anyone. To not be buried by the dark, sorrowful fact of death. That was the mindset of those who wielded swords and killed people.
To forbid such people from attending the funeral?
It was absurd.
“I don't know why you're asking me for such a thing, but who said you couldn't?”
“…Ah!”
“Who do you think treated you? Your conditions will recover before a month has passed. Not only are your lives not in danger, but your physical states will also be brought to their peak. So, why would you miss it?
When I said to rest here for a while, I only meant you should skip the preparations. Don't misunderstand. I will call for you when the funeral is held, so for now, rest.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“We thank you for your consideration, Dragon Demon.”
“Thank you.”
“Rest.”
With those words, Mu-heun turned and left the sickroom. The Blade Leaf Demon and Baek Gun-hak also came out with Mu-heun and spoke.
“Now, we must find that Young Merchant Lord and recover the bodies.”
“That is right.”
Mu-heun exchanged a few words with Yeo-rin, an elder of the Emei Sect, and immediately headed for the Sidalmok Basin. He had been receiving reports from Cheon-hyang on the locations of Jin-mu and Cheon Hwi-san, so finding them was not difficult.
“Dragon Demon.”
Cheon Hwi-san greeted Mu-heun with an apologetic expression. Mu-heun repeatedly said that he was the one who was sorry for getting him entangled in such an unfortunate incident, but it was no use.
And when Cheon Hwi-san guided him to where the bodies were, Mu-heun felt his hands tremble.
“This is the place.”
The place Cheon Hwi-san pointed to was a clearing by a flowing stream. The bodies were laid out neatly there.
About twenty bodies, covered with cloth. There were traces of burnt Sichuan pepper, atractylodes root, and citronella grass, intended to ward off animals and insects.
A preservative had been applied to the bodies to prevent decay.
While the Blade Leaf Demon, Baek Gun-hak, and the key figures of the Heavenly Dance Family collected the bodies, Mu-heun, though mourning the departed, found himself rethinking the man named Cheon Hwi-san.
‘How can I ever repay this debt?’
He would move forward with the Cheonbu Merchant Guild. And he would never let something like this happen again. For that to be so…
He had to become stronger.
So strong that no one would even dare to think of an ambush…
The Demonic Cult of today was the law of the jungle. The strong survive.
In that case, he would stand at its very peak.
With overwhelming power.
After Mu-heun made his resolve once more,
the funeral was held over several days.
***
The merchant caravan smoothly recovered with the help of the Gwangmyeong Heavenly Demon Unit, and Mu-heun gathered his party and returned to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Returning to the Heavenly Mountains after a long time, Mu-heun had already become a hero of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. On every street he walked, people praised the name of the Dragon Demon, Baek Mu-heun.
“It's the Dragon Demon, who resolved the conflict with the Central Plains!”
“The Dragon Demon is our hope!”
“Did you hear that the Dragon Demon killed the Family Head of the Sichuan Tang Clan?”
“Of course! Wasn't all of the Heavenly Mountains buzzing because of it?”
“It's truly amazing! How could he achieve so much at such a young age?”
“Who could say otherwise?!”
“Here he comes! Let's praise him loudly!”
Mu-heun couldn't help but be aware of his changed status. Of course, the moniker of 'the rascal of the Heavenly Dance Family' had already vanished completely after his victory at the Divine Dragon Assembly.
Furthermore, after killing the Red Demon Pavilion Lord and becoming the master of the Dragon Demon Pavilion, no one called him a rascal, nor did anyone refer to him as something like the Fourth Young Master of the Heavenly Dance Family.
However, did such things matter to the ordinary members of the cult who led simple lives? No, it didn't matter at all.
That was why the cult members praised Baek Mu-heun's martial prowess, but never praised Baek Mu-heun himself.
Strong warriors emerged from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult all the time. But what did that have to do with the common members?
These were people who survived by farming, selling goods, and selling food day by day. No matter how strong the high-ranking members were, or what they accomplished… it never directly affected them.
But paradoxically, because of that, the Dragon Demon Baek Mu-heun's status had to be different.
Food, spices, silk, and other goods that couldn't be obtained in the barren lands of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The numerous problems that arose when trade with the Central Plains was cut off. The one who had cleanly resolved all of them was the Dragon Demon, Baek Mu-heun.
Moreover, his act of saving Gucha County on his way provided a new possibility to the cult members who were accustomed to plunder.
‘The Dragon Demon, Baek Mu-heun, is different!’
The sixth disciple of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Leader. The possibility that if the Dragon Demon, Baek Mu-heun, became the Cult Leader, the cult would change. That kind of faith.
Furthermore, since he had now proven that he could defeat the remaining three disciples and become the Cult Leader, the members' expectations had swelled even more.
“Did you hear? The Cult Leader's fourth disciple, the Ice Demon, and fifth disciple, the Flame Demon, have passed away.”
“Is that true? Weren't they both renowned as some of the strongest in our cult? What on earth happened?”
“Well… they say he died at the hands of the Dragon Demon…”
“The, the Dragon Demon!? The Dragon Demon killed both of them?”
“That's what I'm telling you! And he supposedly defeated them both at the same time.”
“Hah…! If that's the case… then even the Sword Demon can't be sure of victory, can he?”
“Right. It's probably hard to guarantee a victory even now. But with the Dragon Demon's growth being so steep, do you think the remaining disciples will just sit still?”
“That's true… a bloodbath could be coming.”
“Be careful. When whales fight, the shrimp's back is broken.”
“Of course, you don't have to tell me.”
Mu-heun had expected this as well. From the day he dealt with the Ice and Flame Demons, he knew that his remaining elder martial brothers would not stay idle after he returned to the main cult.
However, they wouldn't be able to move rashly for the time being.
Those quick with news would have already told his three remaining elder brothers that he had killed the Ice and Flame Demons while fighting them simultaneously.
‘For just a moment, I reached the pinnacle of Demonic Transformation. So, they must be struggling with how to gauge the level of my martial arts. They're surely aware of the countless times the Flame and Ice Demons attacked me, so they won't make a clumsy move now.’
***
Back at the Dragon Demon Pavilion, Mu-heun moved busily.
First, he treated the internal injuries he sustained from the battle with the Ice and Flame Demons. He also expressed his gratitude to his older brothers who had helped with his duties during his absence.
His brothers asked him several times if he was really okay, to the point where they called a physician to examine him. After a round of nagging, his brothers were finally relieved and left only after Doctor Jang of the Heavenly Dance Family confirmed he was fine.
In addition, he went to the Cult Leader's hall to report in detail on the events that had transpired, was praised for his contributions, and held several banquets to celebrate his achievements.
Afterward, he met with the elders who had been friendly from the beginning and succeeded in completely winning over the 3rd and 5th Elders, who had supported the Ice and Flame Demons.
With the disappearance of the Flame Demon Palace and the Ice Demon Palace, everything was consolidated under the Dragon Demon Palace. Mu-heun entrusted the management of the former Flame and Ice Demon Palaces to Cho Geum-hwa, the head of the Hongyeom Demon Family, and Yeon Hak-ja, the head of the Bingbaek Demon Family.
They had thought Mu-heun might kill them upon his return to the cult, but when he instead entrusted them with duties and embraced them, they pledged their loyalty in a different sense.
He also divided the duties of the Dragon Demon Pavilion among the vassals who had lost their masters. The forces he had absorbed after killing his two elder martial siblings were more than enough, allowing him to place them where they were needed.
Of course, he didn't just absorb those who were once his enemies. After fully mastering the power of Myriad Fragrances, Mu-heun could distinguish a person's emotions by their scent. Thus, he interviewed each person one by one and placed only those he could trust.
Of course, he did not subdue all who refused to follow him with force. He made arrangements for them to live out the rest of their lives separately. However, that courtesy was extended only to loyal retainers who felt they could not betray the master they had served.
Mu-heun mercilessly killed anyone who showed hostility toward him, even if their refusal to follow him was born from loyalty.
For the sake of his fallen subordinates, he would no longer turn a blind eye to those who bore him ill will.
Mu-heun stained his hands with blood.
How many died was never revealed.
However, Mu-heun's actions had the result of completely eradicating any half-hearted hostility from other factions.
Mu-heun's faction was now one of the largest in the cult. Therefore, he would no longer hide or conceal himself.
Mu-heun had no intention of letting those who revealed their hostility go. From now on, he intended to mercilessly wipe out anyone who threatened him and his people, no matter who they were.
Furthermore, the Heavenly Demonic energy he had absorbed after defeating the Ice and Flame Demons was boiling in his dantian. Four red pearls were glowing within him.
It was time to prepare to ascend to the summit of the cult.
Mu-heun thought of a time and place.
‘A place that can contain energy and heat, a place where people do not go. And… about three months.’