Chapter 220
Chapter 220
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 220
Chapter Title: The Valley of Malevolent Spirits
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“The Valley of Malevolent Spirits?”
“Yes.”
“It seems there was quite an uproar at the Snow Mountain Manor.”
“Haha, that’s to be expected.”
At Yang Seon’s words, Dam Un-cheon smiled as he looked out the window.
“It seems Hyang-i…”
“Let him be.”
“Pardon? But they are…”
A flustered Yang Seon tried to speak again, but Dam Un-cheon remained silent, his lips sealed.
The Valley of Malevolent Spirits, a forbidden place within the Demonic Cult where ghosts were said to live.
However, no one knew the truth about that place.
Dam Un-cheon and Yang Seon. In the current Demonic Cult, only the two of them knew the valley’s secret.
In fact, the two had stumbled upon the truth purely by accident.
Before Dam Un-cheon became the Cult Leader, he had been exploring every corner of the cult’s territory with Yang Seon when they discovered a formation. Driven by curiosity, they broke through it and met the people living inside.
“My Lord, this is an issue that could shake the very foundations of the Cult.”
“That would only happen if Un-bi managed to win them over.”
“I know. The chances are extremely slim. But if, by some miracle, the Third Young Master persuades them and brings them out into the world…”
“Yang Seon.”
“Yes.”
“It was a problem that had to be solved eventually. And now, this is the only path left for Un-bi. Even if he dies there, that will be his fate.”
“My Lord…”
How could he not understand the meaning behind Yang Seon’s worried words?
The Valley of Malevolent Spirits, or as those who knew the truth called it, the Valley of the Sacred Flame.
It was the place where the Priestess of the Moon, who had once ruled the Sun and Moon Divine Cult alongside the Cult Leader, had tended to the Sacred Flame—a holy ground with an altar.
The Demonic Cult of that era was said to be quite different from its current form. In the first place, they did not even use the character for ‘demonic’ in their name.
Based on the principles of yin and yang, they believed that good and evil existed in people, and they were fire-worshippers who performed rites beneath a sacred flame. Thus, they appointed as Cult Leader the one chosen by the unquenchable Sacred Flame, a tradition passed down through generations.
But one day, a new successor failed to be chosen by the Sacred Flame.
Unable to become the Cult Leader, he destroyed the altar and slaughtered all the followers of the Priestess of the Moon.
The fire was extinguished, and the line of legitimacy was broken.
The Sun and Moon Divine Cult faded into history, leaving only its name behind, and all records of the Valley of the Sacred Flame were erased.
The Cult Leader of that time, who had spearheaded the event, even changed its name to the Valley of Malevolent Spirits and declared it a forbidden zone so that no one would know the truth.
He sealed it off with a massive barrier formation to prevent anyone from entering or leaving.
From that day on, they abandoned their ancient principles and became the Demonic Cult.
The six priests who had followed that Cult Leader and participated in the Priestess’s death each founded their own clans, which became the Six Families of today.
However, even the Six Families did not know the truth about the Valley of Malevolent Spirits. Every last record that remained in their families had also been erased.
Yet, even after learning all these facts, even after thinking he should reveal their existence to the world, Dam Un-cheon could not change history.
If their existence became known, the Demonic Cult would be swept up in a storm larger than any it had ever experienced.
Who would follow a leadership descended from traitors who had forsaken the will of the first Cult Leader?
It would mean negating all the history and legitimacy that had been maintained until now. The Cult would surely be torn apart by a conflict between those who followed the past and those who followed the present.
But the barrier formation had already been dispelled by him, and he couldn't bring himself to kill everyone inside.
Ultimately, what was needed was time.
Time until everyone was ready to accept the truth.
So, Dam Un-cheon made a pact with them.
He told them to kill him.
If they could do that, he would have Yang Seon reveal the whole truth.
From that moment on, Dam Un-cheon was plagued by countless assassination attempts. Hwa-yeong and Chung-san, along with others who inherited the Priestess's will, tried to kill him day after day.
In the process, there were several clashes with the Demonic Cult, and Hwa-yeong earned the name ‘Demonic Witch of the Heavenly Mountains’.
The attempts on Dam Un-cheon’s life continued even after that.
While he was earning the name ‘Heavenly Demon Emperor’ in the Central Plains, when he returned to the Demonic Cult to participate in the Dragon Ascension Festival, and even after he became the Cult Leader, his very existence was denied. How could one measure the resentment of those who had been trapped for generations?
But the world was still not ready to accept the truth.
He had suppressed them with force, but the roots of the Six Families were too deep to be cleanly dug out.
After becoming the Cult Leader, he worked day and night to reform the Demonic Cult, but only a few elders and the Snow Mountain Manor had joined his cause.
Moreover, there was no telling how even they would react after learning the full truth.
Thinking that it might be impossible to achieve in his own lifetime, Dam Un-cheon eventually decided to prepare for the future.
That was when Neung Un-bi caught his eye.
He had no ties to the Demonic Cult, and his talent was overflowing.
He prepared everything for him.
All to return to the original Demonic Cult, no, the Sun and Moon Divine Cult…
Then, disaster struck. The boy suddenly fell into Qi Deviation.
After a great deal of effort, he managed to save him, but the Neung Un-bi from that point on was no longer the disciple he knew. He surprised him day after day with unpredictable, impulsive actions.
And yet… he saw hope in that willful boy.
Unlike himself, who stood alone, wasn’t he slowly winning the hearts of the people around him?
He even made Yang Seon worry—a man as rigid as bamboo who opened his heart to no one but him. He had also won over the indecisive Seventh Elder, Han Ui-gyeom.
Was that all?
The Orthodox and Unorthodox factions, who loathed the Demonic Cult, vied to help him.
And somehow, Hyang-i had grown to care for the boy.
Even though the request he had made of her was long finished, she remained by the boy’s side. And now, of her own will, she was leading him to the Valley of Malevolent Spirits.
She had realized it instinctively.
That the boy might be the one to reveal the Valley of Malevolent Spirits, no, the Valley of the Sacred Flame, to the world.
He began to think that perhaps heaven’s will was not with him, but with that boy.
After all, no matter how much he had helped, both seen and unseen… wasn’t he the one who had escaped that Zhuge bastard’s scheme?
“If Un-bi survives the Valley of Malevolent Spirits… heh heh, this Dragon Ascension Festival is going to be quite interesting.”
As Dam Un-cheon, who had been lost in thought while gazing out the window, let a faint smile grace his lips, Yang Seon frowned.
The foundations of the Demonic Cult aside, Neung Un-bi could die. What was so amusing about that?
“Yang Seon.”
“Yes.”
“Would you brew me a cup of tea?”
“…Brew it yourself.”
Yang Seon snorted and turned his head away with a huff.
***
[Is… is that really true?]
[Yes.]
On the way to the Valley of Malevolent Spirits.
After Hyang-i’s long explanation, Neung Un-bi’s eyes went wide.
The Sacred Flame? The Priestess of the Moon?
Something like that existed?
If that was true, then the ones currently ruling the Demonic Cult were all bastards who had usurped the throne through treason.
But… did any of that matter in the current Demonic Cult?
Especially when he, who wasn’t even born in the Demonic Cult, was participating in the Dragon Ascension Festival?
[Hmm, so… that’s why you tried to kill the Cult Leader?]
[That’s right. We have to reclaim our legitimacy, no matter what.]
[But if that gets out, a bloodbath will sweep through the Demonic Cult.]
[I don’t care. To us, who have carried on the Priestess’s will, they are nothing but traitors. It wouldn’t matter if the Demonic Cult itself disappeared.]
This girl, this girl…
Did she have any idea how many people would die?
Kids these days are so fearless.
But Neung Un-bi thought he understood why Hyang-i hadn't introduced herself as part of the Demonic Cult at first.
From the beginning, she had been carrying on the name of the Sun and Moon Divine Cult.
[But… Hyang-i.]
[What?]
[Why are you trying to take me to the Valley of Malevolent, no, the Valley of the Sacred Flame, knowing all that?]
[That’s because…]
Hyang-i’s expression turned somber.
[It has to end now.]
[What?]
[The Sacred Flame was extinguished a long time ago.]
That single sentence carried so much weight that Neung Un-bi didn’t ask any more questions.
An extinguished Sacred Flame.
They no longer had a way to claim legitimacy, nor a way to return to being the Sun and Moon Divine Cult.
The Sun and Moon Divine Cult was just a relic of the past, left behind in history.
The people of the Valley of Malevolent Spirits were simply wasting their lives, bound to that past.
Neung Un-bi suddenly felt he knew what favor Hyang-i had been about to ask of him.
The favor she would ask if he became the Cult Leader.
It must have been to free them from the shackles of the past.
So that the people of the Valley of Malevolent Spirits would no longer live in bondage.
As Neung Un-bi’s thoughts deepened, Wang Cheon, who was following behind, called out to him with narrowed eyes.
“My Lord.”
“…Hm?”
“You and the maid seem to be having a very interesting telepathic conversation.”
“Huh?”
“You’ve been whispering to each other ever since we left the Cult.”
“Who’s been whispering?”
“You and the maid.”
“…”
“What is it? Can’t we know too? We’re all in the same boat here.”
At Wang Cheon’s words, Ju Seung, who had been pretending not to listen, also perked up his ears.
But he couldn’t tell them yet.
How could he explain what he had heard to these guys, whose pride in the Demonic Cult was overflowing?
That they were all descendants of traitors or had sided with them.
“It’s nothing.”
“…My Lord.”
“I said we weren’t talking about anything! Really!”
“Are you going to keep being so disloyal? I’m disappointed. Who do you think we crossed that deadly line for!”
Just as Wang Cheon was clinging to him persistently, Hyang-i stopped walking.
“This is the Valley of Malevolent Spirits.”
“…?”
At her words, everyone stopped and looked in the direction she was pointing.
A vast basin nestled at the foot of the mountain path they were walking on.
The place, filled with fog, exuded an inexplicable eeriness.
*Whoooosh.*
Even the wind rustling through the leaves was reminiscent of a ghost’s wail, causing the group to tense up and swallow nervously.
“A-are we really going in?”
“Then why else did we come here?”
“I know, but still… the Valley of Malevolent Spirits is a bit…”
“Tsk, what a coward.”
“I can’t help it! If you told me to fight the Cult Leader, I’d risk my life and do it, but that place is really haunted by ghosts.”
“Have you seen them?”
“That’s what the rumors say. No one who’s gone in there has ever come out alive! My Lord, no matter how I think about it, this isn’t right. We should look for another place, even now…”
At Wang Cheon’s words, Neung Un-bi glanced around at the group.
They all had similar expressions. Some were so tense they looked ready to draw their swords, even though nothing had happened yet.
“Hah, and I call these guys my guards… How pathetic. So pathetic.”
“My Lord…”
“Let go, you punk!”
Neung Un-bi tried to shake off Wang Cheon’s hand, which was clutching his sleeve with a tearful face.
But he held on stubbornly, and a struggle ensued.
“My Looord.”
Just then, Hyang-i, who was watching Wang Cheon’s antics, let out a smirk and said.
“You can’t enter anyway.”
“…Hm?”
“Pardon?”
“Only the Third Young Master can enter. No one else is permitted. Even if you go with me, the moment you cross the formation, your heads will be severed.”
“…!”
“If you enter together, the Third Young Master’s life will also be in danger.”
At her calm words, everyone stared blankly, blinking.
*Ssk.*
And just like that, Wang Cheon let go of Neung Un-bi’s sleeve and stepped back.
“In that case! It can’t be helped. As your guards, we cannot allow our lord’s life to be threatened! Of course not!”
“Huh?”
“My Lord, we will wait here.”
“Uh, uh?”
“We would like to go with you, but… since it is a path not permitted to us, we have no choice.”
“Hey!”
“Maid, we’ll be counting on you to take care of our lord.”
“Hey, you punk! You…”
Neung Un-bi reached out, but Wang Cheon pretended not to see and backed away even further.
“Everyone, set up camp here! Stay alert and wait for our lord!”
“Yes!”
“…”
Neung Un-bi’s hand, which had clutched at empty air, dropped limply to his side.
*Damn bastards…*
*You disloyal jerks…*
*You’d abandon your own lord just to save your own skins?!*
“Let’s go.”
“…”
“What are you doing?”
“R-right, I’m going. Of course.”
At Hyang-i’s urging, Neung Un-bi slowly began to walk.
Slowly, very slowly.
“Hey!”
“I’m going, I’m going! I’m walking.”
He said that, but ghosts… even Neung Un-bi was scared of them.