Chapter 216
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: To Mount Ahelabdra
The Sword Demon, Cheon Jeong-mun, prepared to depart for the Nanman region.
He selected personnel from the Killing Palace.
The Palace Lord of the Killing Palace, Cho Seon-neung.
The promising rising star, Gu Yang-baek.
And numerous other assassins.
"This... this many people is more than enough for an investigation. No, this is a force that could wage a war. An investigative mission to Nanman..."
The Killing Palace's Lord, Cho Seon-neung, replied to the Sword Demon's lament.
"Kekeke, I agree. But it must mean this mission is that much more important and dangerous."
"That... is also true."
Before leaving, the Sword Demon, Cheon Jeong-mun, recalled his meeting with Ma-yeon, the head of the Sword Demon Family.
***
-The day after Mu-heun was inaugurated as the Cult Leader.
The Sword Demon Family's head, Ma-yeon, couldn't hide his utter devastation.
Just three days.
That was the time it took from Baek Mu-heun emerging from his secluded training to the end of the Cult Leader candidacy tournament. What's more, after the tournament ended, the Brilliant Heavenly Demon Unit and the Law Enforcement Court prepared the inauguration ceremony as if they had been waiting all along.
On the very next day after the tournament concluded and the Cult Leader was decided!
Ma-yeon felt as if his world had ended. He had believed the day the Sword Demon Family would stand at the center of the Divine Cult was just around the corner. How could the heavens and earth be overturned in a single day?
He had believed it was just a budding sprout making a bit of noise. How could a sprout that had just begun to grow become a colossal tree, devouring all the plants around it?
As the head of the Sword Demon Family, he himself was the First Elder of the Divine Cult.
The First Elder meant the leader of the Council of Elders, one of the three major powers in the main cult. His own realm was the pinnacle of the Extreme Demon stage, and the realm of Cheon Jeong-mun, known as the Sword Demon, had reached the middle of the Transcendent Demon stage.
Never before in the history of the Sword Demon Family had masters of this caliber existed at the same time. Furthermore, the Sword Demon wasn't just born with martial talent; he was someone who constantly strived.
His entire life. Yes, a man who dedicated his entire life to the sword.
The Formless Sword that the Sword Demon had reached in the end. It was something that even he, the head of the Sword Demon Family, dared not face.
And yet.
And yet!
That Sword Demon was defeated? What's more, one day the Blood Demon, the next the Mad Demon, and the day after, the Sword Demon. He accomplished such an absurd feat as if it were nothing and proceeded with the inauguration ceremony?
'What kind of damn situation is this!'
"I can't believe it. I will see the Sword Demon myself and confirm it."
Ma-yeon went to the Medical Hall.
"Take me to the Sword Demon."
"W-well... he needs to rest right now... Keuk!"
Ma-yeon instantly unleashed a killing intent that felt like being sliced apart by a sword, and the physician from the Medical Hall fainted on the spot.
"There's no need. I'll find him myself."
Just then, a telepathic message reached Ma-yeon.
[ There is no need for that. ]
*Flinch.*
Ma-yeon knew who the message was from.
[ You came to see me, did you not? Leave the physician be and come this way. ]
[ Yes, I understand. ]
The Sword Demon he was looking for, Cheon Jeong-mun. Ma-yeon went straight into the room where the Sword Demon was.
"Lord Sword Demon! What in the world happened? Do you really mean to say you were defeated by that greenhorn?"
At that, his expression turned icy, and with a deep, sunken gaze, he spoke.
"Family Head, watch your words."
"B-but...!"
Just then, the Sword Demon unleashed his Formless Sword along with a powerful killing intent.
*Fwoosh!*
"W-what... Lord Sword Demon?"
"You are too agitated, Family Head. Do not take my words lightly. I said, right now, watch your words. Calm yourself."
"Ah... yes."
Ma-yeon calmed his excitement and spoke again.
"I apologize. I misspoke. You must be in turmoil as well, Lord Sword Demon, and I failed to consider that."
"Hah... No, it's not that, Family Head."
"Pardon?"
"You are misreading the current situation, Family Head. I didn't mean you should be careful with your words towards me."
"What do you mean..."
"Why have you become so dull? Face reality."
"..."
"It took only three days. Three days for the Blood Demon, the Mad Demon, and myself to be utterly defeated by the current Cult Leader."
"Ah..."
"The Blood Demon and the Mad Demon are by no means weak. Their realms are at the beginning of the Transcendent Demon stage, and considering they've mastered the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon, they could even reach the middle of that stage. In other words, they are so strong that even if you were to fight them now, Family Head, you could never win."
"..."
"I don't just mean they are relatively strong. I mean that each one of them is a powerhouse on par with an Elder's family, one of the Five Pavilions, or one of the Three Palaces."
"...Which means."
"That's right. The fact that the three of us were defeated in three days means the Cult Leader is just that powerful."
A chill ran down Ma-yeon's spine.
He had just called such a Cult Leader a 'greenhorn.' Such a slip of the tongue towards the Cult Leader. It was an offense for which the entire Sword Demon Family could be annihilated without a word of complaint.
The Sword Demon saw Ma-yeon's expression and nodded.
"The Cult Leader... is someone who could, single-handedly, erase the powerful factions of the Heavenly Mountains, including the Sword Demon Family, without a trace in a single day."
"...! Does that even make sense?"
"Whether it makes sense or not is irrelevant. I have experienced that power firsthand."
"Such..."
Ma-yeon staggered on the spot. Watching him, the Sword Demon shook his head and said.
"Family Head. This is not the time for that. Get a grip."
"...Yes, Lord Sword Demon."
"The Cult Leader is absolute. I know that well from my own experience. You must change your mindset this instant. You must have absolute loyalty to the Cult Leader. That... yes, that is the only way the Sword Demon Family can survive. Discard any other thoughts. Any delusion that you can manage things through means other than power will only invite death."
"Yes... I understand."
"Good. By now, the Mad Demon and the Blood Demon will be sternly warning their own supporters. We must do the same. Go now and tell the factions that supported me not to harbor any other thoughts. It shouldn't be difficult. It is simply bowing one's head to the strong, as is the rule of our cult."
"I will keep that in mind."
"Good. Hurry. If you don't want to see our comrades lose their heads for defying the Cult Leader."
"...Yes. Lord Sword Demon. Please take care of yourself."
"Do not worry about me."
***
The Sword Demon once again realized how wise his choice had been. If he hadn't moved so quickly back then, the Divine Cult would probably be drenched in blood by now.
Also, the Sword Demon looked at the sword hanging from his waist, which replaced his beloved weapon, the Ink Sword. The Ink Sword had been shattered to pieces during his duel with Mu-heun.
In its place, he had received the Sword of Brilliance.
The sword of the former Cult Leader, Cheon Mu-jin.
On the day Baek Mu-heun became the Cult Leader and appointed him as the Palace Lord of the Heavenly Palace, he had given it to him, saying it was the will of the former Cult Leader.
'Master...'
The Sword Demon gripped the Sword of Brilliance and murmured.
"In accordance with the law of the strong, I will offer my utmost loyalty."
The Sword Demon had changed his mind and decided to follow the great tide of the era.
***
Mu-heun headed for Qinghai with Pa-sun, Un-pyo, and Seol Ha-ryeong.
At this time, they were accompanied by the Nanman warrior, Soulchaser.
The poison eagle she commanded flew in the sky alongside Cheon-hyang.
An owl and an eagle, soaring through the heavens.
Unbeknownst to their masters, they were having a conversation.
With Cheon-hyang's teachings.
[ Hey, can't you fly straight? You damn bird, you've gotten lazy. ]
[ S-sorry, Lord Cheon-hyang... I'm one of the faster eagles... ]
[ What? You little shit. Then do I look like a slow owl? ]
[ No, that's not what I meant... ]
[ What does species have to do with anything? Huh? Does comparing yourself to them change anything? If you meet a spiritual beast like me in the sky, comparing yourself to other mediocre eagles is useless. You just die. ]
[ T-that's probably true. But I'm also flying as fast as I can... ]
[ You little shit. You're no ordinary eagle, are you? You've probably eaten things like the inner core of a thousand-year-old centipede or some spiritual herbs, right? Huh? ]
[ W-well, that's true. An ordinary eagle would be too weak for the Nanman warriors to handle. ]
[ You punk. Then it's your problem. ]
[ Huh? Me? ]
[ Yeah, all that good energy you ate. You're not digesting it properly. ]
[ Digest good energy? I thought you just get better after eating it? ]
[ Hah~ This idiot just doesn't get it. Hey, haven't you seen martial artists circulate their energy after eating spiritual medicine? ]
[ I have not. ]
[ Ah... you're a Nanman country bumpkin. ]
[ Yes... ]
[ This won't do. You need to take this opportunity to learn how to handle your energy. There's going to be special training from now on, so be prepared. ]
[ S-special training? ]
[ Yeah, you punk. What? You don't like it? ]
[ No, it's just... I don't particularly want to get stronger or anything... As long as I can eat well and live well... ]
[ You damn birdbrain! That's why you almost got beaten to death by me. And your master almost died at the hands of my master, too. ]
[ What does that mean. ]
[ If you get stronger, your master will have an easier time surviving missions, right? ]
[ Right? ]
[ Then what if your master dies because you're weak? ]
[ ... ]
[ Then there's no more eating well and living well. You'll just run into an owl like me and die. ]
[ Ah... ]
[ So from now on, it's special training. Got it? ]
[ Yes! ]
However, their conversation sounded different to Mu-heun's party.
Chirp, chirp, chiiirp!
Scree! Scree!
Chirp! Chirp!
Scree?
Chirp-chirp-chirp!
Screeeee!
Seol Ha-ryeong voiced her question to Mu-heun.
"Cult Leader. Do you have any idea what on earth they're talking about?"
After Mu-heun became the Cult Leader, everyone who knew him pleaded to speak to him informally instead of formally, and Mu-heun accepted.
However, Mu-heun had ordered those who had previously carried out missions with him to treat him as they always had.
Thus, Seol Ha-ryeong spoke to Mu-heun comfortably, but since his position was Cult Leader and she knew he was originally the Divine Doctor, she couldn't help but treat him with a certain degree of respect.
Also, while Mu-heun could converse with Cheon-hyang, he couldn't eavesdrop on conversations between animals. Still, he had a rough idea of what the two were talking about, so he gave a vague answer.
"It seems they intend to train on the way."
"Ah... then we can't just stand by, can we."
"Indeed. Then."
Mu-heun stopped their journey and called his companions.
"Pa-sun, Un-pyo, Seol Ha-ryeong. And Soulchaser."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"I know your skills have improved by leaps and bounds. But in the coming war, that won't be enough. I will help you, so do not forget to circulate your energy on the way, and the four of you should spar with one another to overcome your weaknesses."
"Yes! We obey the Cult Leader's command!"
Since they weren't traveling at a particularly slow pace,
there were only a couple of moments for them to spar and circulate their energy.
However, with Mu-heun, who had reached the realm of Life and Death, assisting their energy circulation, Pa-sun and Un-pyo were able to ascend from the pinnacle of the Initial Demon stage to the beginning of the Extreme Demon stage.