Chapter 217
Chapter 217
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 217
Chapter Title: The Mountain and the Mountain Range
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*Drip, drop...*
Water condensed on the ceiling, dripping down.
A single torch on the wall barely illuminated the damp, musty space.
*Splash, splash.*
Footsteps layered over the sound of water.
At the strange sound, both heavy and light, the insects skittering in the shadows startled and vanished from sight.
Soon, the footsteps halted before a set of iron bars, faintly visible beneath the torchlight.
The owner of the footsteps, gazing silently inside, smirked at the figure seated in the darkness beyond the torch's reach.
"...Have you been well?"
At the calm question, the one leaning against the wall nodded and rose.
"You've come."
The risen figure approached the iron bars where the light fell, knelt, and sat.
"You've grown gaunt."
"Still, I've been eating three meals a day."
Neung Un-bi inside the cell and Dam Un-cheon outside stared at each other in silence for a while.
"Sit comfortably."
"Yes."
As Dam Un-cheon plopped down near the bars and said this, Neung Un-bi smiled and adjusted his posture to a more relaxed one.
"Care for a drink?"
"Please, drink first. Isn't that proper etiquette?"
"You rascal."
When Neung Un-bi shook his head at the wine bottle held in the hand that slipped through the bars, Dam Un-cheon chuckled and brought the bottle to his lips.
"Here."
They passed it back and forth.
The two men emptied the bottle in silence.
Soon, Dam Un-cheon rose to his feet.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes."
"May I ask one thing?"
"Speak."
"Why did you save me?"
"I? Saved you?"
"..."
"I simply disliked others carelessly entering my domain."
"Is that so?"
"It is."
At Dam Un-cheon's words, Neung Un-bi calmly nodded.
But who would believe it?
Not the Orthodox Faction, not the Demonic Cult, no one in the world would think so.
Yet, they had no choice but to believe. Because the one who said it was the Heavenly Demon Emperor.
And his words became a lifeline for Neung Un-bi. If he had said he intended to save him, or if he hadn't imprisoned him immediately upon his return, there would have been an immediate backlash.
However, Neung Un-bi had already heard all about the situation outside from Hyang-i, who freely came and went from the prison.
The Orthodox Faction was pressuring the Cult daily to hand him over, and despite the incalculable losses the Cult suffered because of him, his opponents couldn't even utter a word to the Cult Leader.
It was because of public opinion.
Blood is thicker than water. No matter how much you dislike one of your own, you're bound to defend them when outsiders criticize them.
In the midst of it all, his actions had been spun quite plausibly, as if someone had pulled some strings.
A man who escaped the pursuit of the Orthodox Faction without the Cult's help.
A man who, in the prime of his youth, faced the previous generation's titan, Sword Emperor Namgung Mu-wi, in a fair fight and won.
Those two facts had boosted the pride of the Demonic Cult's members and awakened their self-esteem.
Thanks to that, new rumors were now spreading at every drinking party.
That it was all a conspiracy by the Orthodox Faction.
That the Orthodox Faction, fearing Neung Un-bi's exceptional talent during his inspection of the Central Plains, had plotted to nip him in the bud.
With such rumors already circulating not just in the main headquarters but throughout the Demonic Cult's territory, the opposition couldn't dare to speak out. Saying the wrong thing could lead to a severe backlash.
All of this was the result of Dam Un-cheon's words. The two decisions he made had created the current atmosphere.
Suddenly, Zhuge Min's words came to mind.
Wisdom, virtue, and strength—the three qualities a leader of a group must possess.
It was a moment when he once again realized why Dam Un-cheon could grasp and wield this enormous Demonic Cult in his hands.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Ah, I just remembered the words of a fellow I'd rather not associate with."
"...?"
At Neung Un-bi's words, Dam Un-cheon tilted his head, then chuckled.
"You enigmatic rascal."
"Are you any different, Cult Leader?"
"In any case, you'll be released soon. I can't keep you locked up any longer... Cries for your release are flooding in from all over every day, tsk."
He was clicking his tongue and feigning annoyance, but it was all likely part of Dam Un-cheon's plan.
"...Thank you."
"Thank me for what? The opposition will be even more intense once you're out. You've blown up the Central Plains, so there will be no one to help you."
"I know."
Seeing Neung Un-bi nod, Dam Un-cheon spoke in a casual tone.
"You said before that you wanted to stop being my disciple, didn't you?"
"...?"
"If you still feel the same way, I'll accept it."
At those calm words, Neung Un-bi smiled and shook his head.
"No. Now I must obtain the Demonic Cult. I must..."
Unlike before, he clearly stated his intentions, but Dam Un-cheon merely nodded.
"Aren't you going to ask?"
"What?"
"Why my heart has changed, or why I saved that man, Yun An-ro."
He was prepared to answer if asked.
But Dam Un-cheon smiled and shook his head.
"Must I ask?"
"Pardon?"
"As I said, when I sent you to the Central Plains, I declared I would not interfere no matter what you did."
"..."
"Surely you don't think I would break my own word?"
Neung Un-bi silently watched Dam Un-cheon's back as he turned away.
*And yet, you sent Hyang-i to help me.*
*And yet, you sent the Shadow Guards to give me a lifeline.*
So he was curious.
What did he want from him?
Why had he sent a letter to the former Alliance Leader, Yi Ok-sang, that seemed to designate him as the successor?
"Cult Leader."
"Speak."
"May I ask again?"
"..."
"Why did you save me?"
It was the same question.
But within it was the sincere question of why he asked nothing.
"Un-bi."
"Yes."
"Since you now wish to obtain the Demonic Cult, I will tell you."
"I looked at the Heavenly Mountains and dreamed. I wanted to become like them. A great, high mountain, one so tall that everyone must tilt their heads all the way back just to see its peak."
"..."
"My original ambition was to reach that summit, and I earned the name Heavenly Demon."
Without turning back, Dam Un-cheon continued in a low voice.
"But it is a mountain that stands alone. Everyone looks up in awe and reverence, but that is all."
"..."
"One cannot advance through the world alone. Though I am the Heavenly Demon, though I have become a great mountain, I have never been able to move beyond the Demonic Cult. I am no different from the Heavenly Mountains, standing tall and alone, silently looking down upon the world."
His voice was somehow tinged with self-mockery.
The great one who had earned a name equal to the heavens.
The one who should have no envy for anyone in the world.
"I believed you had the makings of a worthy successor. When I first saw you in the Central Plains, when you became my disciple, when you fell to Qi Deviation... and even now."
"..."
"So I waited. For you to break out of your shell on your own. Because if you cannot, you can never become a mountain."
"...In the end, I couldn't break out on my own. I'm still receiving your help even now."
"True. But you are different from me."
"How am I different?"
"You have the makings of not a mountain, but a mountain range."
"Pardon?"
"I heard from Hyang-i."
"..."
"Mount Hua, Zhongnan, Shaolin, and even the former Alliance Leader Yi Hak-seong all helped you, did they not?"
"That was..."
*It would have been difficult without the Cult Leader's letter.*
"Is that all? I heard the King of the Green Forest and Changrang also went to great lengths for you."
"..."
"Those are things you achieved on your own, without my help. You are already extending your roots not just in the Demonic Cult, but across the world."
At Dam Un-cheon's words, Neung Un-bi furrowed his brow.
That was only possible because he had the name Cheok Wol-rin.
It was also only possible because he had a focal point in Yun An-ro.
"Become a great mountain range, and unite them all splendidly."
"..."
"The world. Dream the dream of unification that neither I nor my predecessors could achieve."
"..."
"And everyone has secrets. I am no different. That is why I did not ask you."
"Cult Leader."
"I will look forward to it. To see how much you will grow and approach me."
With those final words, Dam Un-cheon smiled and walked into the darkness.
In the end, Neung Un-bi did not get his answer.
Why he had saved him.
Why he had saved Yun An-ro.
And he could not say.
What it was that he wanted to achieve.
But.
"Supremacy... over the world."
He heard those words, and they resonated with what he himself had wanted to say.
After all, he could not achieve his goals without dreaming of supremacy.
*Clench.*
Returning to the darkness, Neung Un-bi leaned his back against the wall and clenched his fist.
*First, the Demonic Cult.*
*Since you told me to approach you, I will do my best to get there.*
***
A great number of people had gathered before the prison.
Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the warriors of the Sakwol Unit.
Beside them, a multitude of warriors had assembled, including Wang Deok, the lord of Snow Mountain Manor, and its matriarch, Seon Hwa-yeon. Among them were also warriors from the branches who had escaped the Central Plains.
Furthermore, even warriors from the Yuk Clan and the Elder Council were spotted here and there.
Neung Un-bi's imprisonment had ended after about a month.
There were no objections. Cries for Neung Un-bi's release had poured in from all across the Demonic Cult's territory.
*Creeaak.*
The tightly shut gate slowly opened.
Two disconnected worlds were joined, and along that path, Neung Un-bi slowly walked out.
Emerging from darkness into the light, he squinted as if blinded, but most of those watching him were smiling brightly.
"My lord!"
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung were the first to run to him.
"You've grown thin."
The two of them looked him over with worried expressions.
Behind them, Lord Wang Deok of Snow Mountain Manor approached with Seon Hwa-yeon.
"My lord."
"Ah, Manor Lord, and Matriarch."
Following them were Branch Chief Takbal Ryeo of the Giryeon Branch and Branch Chief Jeong Hyo-sang of the Samun Gorge Branch.
"It's been a long time, Branch Chiefs."
"Yes."
Neung Un-bi looked at each of the people waiting for him, meeting their eyes one by one.
"You have suffered. I apologize for being of no help to you, my lord, having only just returned after leaving the Cult."
"Not at all. I am sorry for causing you unnecessary worry."
"Let's go to Snow Mountain Manor first. There is much to discuss."
Neung Un-bi shook his head at Wang Deok's words.
"There's a place I must visit first."
"A place to visit?"
"Yes."
"Where...?"
"Actually, while I was away from the Cult, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The Heavenly Mountain Snow Wine at the Night Visitor tavern. I plan to drink and calmly sort out my thoughts. We can talk after that."
"Ah!"
As Neung Un-bi spoke with a wink, Wang Deok understood his meaning and nodded.
"If it's alright with you, may I visit Snow Mountain Manor tomorrow? Today, I'd like to spend time with those who suffered with me in the Central Plains..."
"Of course. How could I go against my lord's wishes?"
"My apologies."
"Apologies? Not at all. We will return and await you."
Wang Deok politely stepped back.
After exchanging farewells, Neung Un-bi headed straight for the Night Visitor tavern on the outskirts of the main headquarters, followed by Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the Sakwol Unit.
[Hey!]
"...?"
[...You're not taking me?]
A voice came from somewhere.
It was Hyang-i.
Neung Un-bi chuckled and nodded, and in the next moment, a petite maid was walking by his side.
*Right, you should come too.*
*We've been through life and death together.*
"Hwa-yeon."
"Yes."
"Tomorrow, we must summon all the leaders."
"Pardon?"
Watching Neung Un-bi's group walk away, So Seol-ok-su tilted her head at Wang Deok's words.
"Did you not see the look in his eyes?"
"His eyes?"
"It seems our lord has finally made his decision. He won't be hesitating any longer."
"...?"
"We will likely learn his intentions tomorrow."
As Wang Deok smiled faintly, So Seol-ok-su nodded and smiled along.
"It will begin in earnest, then."
"A great tempest might just be on the horizon."
"We must prepare thoroughly. I heard the First Young Master has come out of seclusion..."
"He would have. After the humiliation he suffered at the Cult Leader's birthday banquet. But is the First Young Master the only one who has been waiting for this day? It won't be easy."
"Hmm..."
So Seol-ok-su frowned, her expression hardening.
It was finally beginning.
The bloody struggle between the successors for the throne.