Chapter 224
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 224
Chapter Title: The Fifteenth Cult Leader
Blood splatters and flesh is torn.
The moment the red flag was raised, war erupted throughout the Demonic Cult.
Attacks and retreats, victories and defeats.
In this repeating cycle, masters of the same territories changed several times a day, and the power dynamics within the Demonic Cult shifted with every passing moment.
In a single day, the land had transformed into a hellscape filled with screams, yet no one stopped fighting.
For that was their destiny.
While a fierce struggle raged over the so-called “prime territories”…
a group of figures gathered at the foothills of the northernmost edge of the Demonic Cult's domain, a place no one paid any mind to.
“Are you sure this is alright?”
“It is.”
“But…”
At Hwayeong's reply, Neung Un-bi looked at the figures waiting for his command.
Every one of them wore black masks and night-prowling attire.
They were the assassins of the Sacred Fire Valley.
Some were raised within the valley's ultimate formation to prevent outsiders from intruding, while others, like Hyang-i, were trained to take the Cult Leader's life.
Fwoosh.
Neung Un-bi sighed, gazing at the Sacred Fire enshrined in a small palanquin.
This was all because of that fire.
When word spread that the Sacred Fire had bloomed, everyone from the Sacred Fire Valley gathered.
The moment he showed them the burn mark on his palm, they all bowed their heads and pledged their loyalty without exception.
Something about being chosen by the Sacred Fire…
Persuasion? Explanation?
None of that was necessary.
Just in case, he had asked Chungsan what he would do if ordered to die.
In response, Chungsan had drawn his sword without a moment's hesitation and tried to slit his own throat.
He thought he was the only crazy one, trying to seize the world with nothing to his name… but the Sacred Fire Valley was full of madmen.
In any case, the moment the Sacred Fire bloomed anew, the Sacred Fire Valley chose him as their lord.
It was the birth of the fifteenth Cult Leader of the Sun Moon Divine Cult.
Furthermore, this made him more than ten generations senior to the current Cult Leader, Dam Un-cheon.
Considering the Demonic Cult's history spanned nearly a thousand years, alongside Shaolin, with each generation lasting from thirty to as long as sixty years…
he had become equal in status to a Cult Leader from centuries ago.
As his position shifted from being part of the Demonic Cult to leading the Sun Moon Divine Cult, the organization changed as well.
The people of the Sacred Fire Valley restructured the organization with remarkable efficiency, as if they had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Neung Un-bi became the fifteenth Cult Leader of the Sun Moon Divine Cult, and Hyang-i, who had held the position of Fire Keeper, was appointed as the Divine Maiden.
Beneath her were six priests, known as the Six Revered Ones.
Hwayeong became the Revered One of Precepts, who established the doctrine, and Chungsan became the Revered One of Retribution, who punished sinners.
Haa, what the hell is it about a damn fire that's making everyone act like this?
Sighing again, Neung Un-bi called out to Hwayeong.
“Elder.”
“Unacceptable. How can you address your servant with such respect? Please call me Hwa-bi.”
Hwayeong said, bowing her head as if overwhelmed.
She used to get angry, calling me a naked monk or whatever…
A person's life is truly unpredictable.
“Hwa-bi.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Our opponent is the Yin Wolf Gate.”
“I have heard.”
“They are a group with no interest in who sits on the throne of the Demonic Cult. That's why my brothers didn't try to win them over.”
“I am aware.”
“But they are not weak. They have held dominion over the north for generations.”
“I am aware of that as well.”
“And you mean to attack them with a mere twenty men?”
Neung Un-bi frowned, looking at the assassins bowing before him.
Among them was one who hadn't yet recovered from the injuries he'd inflicted.
“It is not an attack.”
“…Pardon?”
“It is to find one person.”
“Who in the world?”
As Neung Un-bi asked, Hwayeong raised her head and gazed at the distant, faintly lit Yin Wolf Gate.
“The one who will become the Revered One of Insight.”
“Insight… You mean a strategist?”
“Yes. From now on, you must fight against great powers. How could our venerable lord fight every single battle himself?”
“…”
“The first thing you need is not an army, but a strategist.”
She was right.
In personal combat, overwhelming martial strength is most important, but in a war of factions, one needs the wisdom to read the flow of battle and create strategies.
The reason Jegal Cheon-u had been able to manipulate the Orthodox Faction was because he had a brilliant mind capable of reading the currents of the world.
But… for the Sacred Fire Valley to speak of someone worthy of being one of the Six Revered Ones.
“Is he that exceptional?”
“My lord. Although we have lived in seclusion in the Sacred Fire Valley, we have always kept an eye on the Demonic Cult.”
“Hmm…”
“Hoping for the day the Sacred Fire Valley would re-emerge and the will of the Sun Moon Divine Cult would be known, we have long since marked those worthy of becoming the Six Revered Ones.”
“So, one of them is there, in the Yin Wolf Gate?”
“He is a man of outstanding ability. He could even be compared to the head of the Hyesim Pavilion.”
“Th-That much?”
He couldn't help but be surprised.
After all, Neung Un-bi knew well of Yeo Ju-rin, the head of the Hyesim Pavilion.
Wasn't it said that even the Demonic Cult's current strategist, Fourth Elder Yeo Ju-hwan, constantly sought his counsel?
“If we were to attack the Yin Wolf Gate all at once, he would immediately vanish without a trace.”
“What? A man that brilliant would stand by and watch the Yin Wolf Gate fall?”
“Because he is not a member of the Yin Wolf Gate.”
“…?”
“He is merely staying there temporarily. In return, he has been helping the Yin Wolf Gate. Therefore, we will first send in twenty assassins to find him.”
“Hmm.”
At Hwayeong's words, Neung Un-bi's brow furrowed deeply.
If what she said was true, this was a man he absolutely had to acquire. For them, a strategist was as necessary as a foundational force.
But it wasn't as easy as he'd hoped.
Even though he had resolved not to hesitate anymore.
Neung Un-bi let out a deep sigh as he looked at the assassins.
“What if they die?”
“Pardon?”
“If twenty people die just to gain one brilliant strategist… what meaning is there in that?”
At his words, not only Hwayeong but everyone around them smiled.
“Your grace is as vast as the sea, my lord. To cherish your subordinates so, we can only be moved to tears.”
“…”
Vast as the sea, moved to tears.
She had changed too much.
And he hadn't said it to receive praise.
Of course, he knew that participating in the Dragon Ascension Ceremony and hoping for no sacrifices was an unreasonable desire.
However, he wanted to at least make an effort.
He wanted to find a way to solve problems without sacrificing anyone.
“However, my lord.”
“Speak.”
“Do you have so little faith in the assassins of the Sacred Fire Valley?”
“Of course not. I have already experienced their skills firsthand.”
Neung Un-bi shook his head firmly.
He had already seen Hyang-i and faced them directly.
They were individuals whose skills were in no way inferior to those of Cheok Wol-rin, the assassin who once shook the Orthodox Faction.
“My lord, let us proceed as the Revered One of Precepts says. Do we not need a strategist immediately?”
“…”
Hearing Wang Cheon's composed voice after listening for a while, Neung Un-bi raised an eyebrow.
That guy was amazing in a different way.
Right after securing the loyalty of the Sacred Fire Valley, he had called in Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the Sakwol Unit who were waiting outside.
He had been at a loss as to how to explain the situation to them, especially to Wang Cheon.
The Snow Mountain Manor was descended from traitors; would its scion be able to understand so easily?
But… what do you know?
Wang Cheon accepted it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. In fact, he was overjoyed that Neung Un-bi had inherited the legitimacy of the founding Cult Leader.
In the process, he was granted the title of Revered One of Rites and grinned from ear to ear.
No matter how obsessed he usually was with fame and fortune…
It was a relief, at least, that the guy who had always coveted the position “second to one” had accepted being one of six.
Then again, it made sense.
How could a punk like him possibly compare to an expert like Hwayeong?
He should be grateful just to be treated as an equal.
Ju Seung, who was promoted to sole Guard Captain as a result, was the same in immediately accepting the situation.
“The Revered One of Rites is correct. I believe it would not be a bad idea to confirm the capabilities of the Sacred Fire Valley on this occasion.”
“…”
“Please trust us, Cult Leader! We will surely bring back the Revered One of Insight and return alive to ease your worries.”
Was it because of Ju Seung's words about confirming their abilities?
The twenty assassins shouted in unison.
“Please trust us, Cult Leader.”
“…”
With even the quiet Hyang-i stepping forward, Neung Un-bi finally let out a heavy sigh.
Damn them all…
Weren't they all in on it except for him?
“Alright. This time, we'll do as Hwa-bi says.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
Having given his permission, Neung Un-bi looked at the assassins with intense eyes.
“Mark my words. You must all survive. If it gets dangerous, flee immediately. It's fine if we don't get the strategist. To me, you are all far more precious than some strategist I've never even met.”
“As you command!”
The assassins replied forcefully and vanished in different directions.
Neung Un-bi gazed at the distant Yin Wolf Gate and sighed once more.
“Are you uncomfortable sending them alone?”
“…”
“It is alright. You are no longer Dam Un-cheon's third disciple, but the true master of this land who has inherited the legitimacy of the founding Cult Leader. Accept it boldly. Even if someone dies, it is martyrdom for the sake of the cult. They will accept it with honor.”
Her tone was polite.
He could understand the old folks who had guarded the Sacred Fire Valley for so long, or the guys full of ambition.
But for even Hyang-i, who always set him straight with her frank words, to act this way was irritating.
Since when were they all on the same side…
“Hey! You get yourself straight. Who do you think you are, lecturing me?”
“Pardon?”
“And what's with that tone?”
“…”
“Since when were you the Divine Maiden? Using honorifics doesn't suit you. It's giving me goosebumps, seriously.”
At Neung Un-bi's needlessly irritable words, the smiling Hyang-i grit her teeth.
But she couldn't act as she used to in front of Hwayeong and all the people of the Sacred Fire Valley.
“How could you say such a thing… Although I am the Divine Maiden, I am still one who must serve the Cult Leader. It is only natural to use respectful language.”
That's what Hyang-i said, but.
*[Do you want to die? You think I like acting like this? They call you 'Cult Leader' a few times and your ego's already swollen to the size of your liver, huh? It's me, Hyang-i! Have you forgotten already?]*
“…”
Through telepathy, she was firing back with her true personality.
But he'd said he didn't like the honorifics, not that she should curse him out, right?
To the fifteenth Cult Leader of the Sun Moon Divine Cult… how dare the Divine Maiden.
Neung Un-bi, avoiding the murderous glint in Hyang-i's eyes even as she smiled, spoke to Hwayeong.
“Hwa-bi.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Sending my family into the jaws of death has left my heart feeling empty.”
“That is understandable.”
“Hoo, if only I had a drink, this empty feeling might go away…”
“I will have it prepared at once.”
Worry and alcohol.
It was a completely mismatched combination, but Hwayeong immediately instructed a subordinate to bring some.
A moment later, when a simple table of drinks was prepared just for him, Neung Un-bi suddenly held out an empty cup to Hyang-i.
“Divine Maiden. Would you pour me a drink?”
“…”
At his incomparably wicked smile, the corner of Hyang-i's eye twitched.
Immediately after, a torrent of curses flew through the telepathic link.
But that too was brief.
“Divine Maiden, what are you doing?”
“…”
“The Cult Leader is holding his cup and waiting, is he not?”
As Hwayeong chided her for her hesitation, Hyang-i forced a smile.
Gritting her teeth…
“Cult Leader, please accept this.”
“Oh, yes.”
Of course, throughout the process, all sorts of curses were flying through the telepathic link.
Right, you keep cursing.
It doesn't bother me at all.
“Is it because it's imbued with the Divine Maiden's energy? It feels like all my worries and anxieties are vanishing with a single cup!”
“…”
“Uhahahaha!”
At the sight of Neung Un-bi's hearty laughter, Hyang-i continued sending telepathic messages while also speaking with her eyes.
*I'm going to kill you… I'm going to wring your neck for sure…*
Let her think what she wants.
Neung Un-bi felt as if a decade's worth of indigestion had just cleared up. If nothing else, at this very moment, he thought becoming the Cult Leader was a truly great decision.
“Another cup!”
And so, the first battle of Neung Un-bi, the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult participating in the Dragon Ascension Ceremony, began.