Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: A Cruel Spectacle
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We were finally here.
Jucheon, the home of the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
I couldn't bring myself to slit Yong Cheon's throat.
I could have just killed him and assumed his identity, but how could I commit such a cruel and merciless act when his crime wasn't severe enough to warrant death?
His only faults were his arrogance, his swagger, and that one time he tried to skip out on his bill at the tavern.
Still, perhaps because he was with us, no one bothered us on the way to Jucheon.
The guards didn't even bother to inspect us.
It was only natural, as warriors with the characters for 'Heavenly Pillar' emblazoned on their clothes followed us like an honor guard.
“Brother, that's the main gate over there.”
“…I see.”
Neung Un-bi nodded at Yong Cheon’s pointing finger.
It was at the end of the main road leading north out of Jucheon.
“Isn't it magnificent?”
“…Yes, it’s quite impressive.”
He feigned surprise, but in truth, he felt nothing.
In the past, he might have gasped at the sight of such high walls.
But he had lived in the Demonic Cult for over a year now. Compared to the walls of the main fortress, these were little more than garden ridges. Even the walls of the Snow Mountain Manor, or for that matter, Sakwol Pavilion, were much higher.
“See that? Most of the inns, taverns, and lodging houses along this road are owned by our Heavenly Pillar Gate.”
This time, Yong Cheon's face was filled with pride as he gestured toward the street.
*It’s not even his… Anyone watching would think he owned the place.*
His endless boasting was making it increasingly difficult to maintain a neutral expression.
Nevertheless, Neung Un-bi gazed at the shops lining both sides of the road and did his best to feign admiration.
“Wow…”
Seriously, what was there to brag about?
Just a dozen or so shops…
If you’re going to boast, you should at least own an entire province like the Demonic Cult.
While clicking his tongue inwardly, Neung Un-bi's real concern was the stares of the people.
It was natural, given that they were an escort agency being protected by warriors from the Heavenly Pillar Gate's Outer General Affairs Department, including Yong Cheon.
As they passed, the eyes of those who had cocked their heads at the name on the banner in front of the procession went wide.
“Oh! Isn't that the Okcheong Escort Agency, the one that performed that righteous deed in Hyang-eup?”
“It is! It’s them.”
“To think such righteous people still exist in this day and age.”
“This is why they say the world is still worth living in.”
As the murmurs of admiration spread, more people began to gather around the escort agency's procession.
*Damn it, this is why I didn’t want to come…*
He had planned to travel discreetly, but now the name Okcheong Escort Agency was being broadcast to the world.
Skilled assassins from the Demonic Cult would surely find our tracks and pursue us.
Even though we were disguised as an escort agency, a group of thirty-two was not a common sight.
*Come to think of it, I should split up the group next time.*
“The Heavenly Pillar Gate isn't an orthodox sect for nothing.”
“Indeed, look how they treat these righteous men with such respect.”
“Hah, I heard those fellows were a nameless escort agency. Looks like their fortunes are about to change.”
“Damn, if I’d known this would happen, I would’ve taken down a few of those ruffians myself last time.”
“You? Heh, you would’ve ended up on an ancestral altar.”
“What was that?”
Voices carried from among the onlookers.
The praise for the Okcheong Escort Agency was gradually shifting to the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
“How is it? It doesn’t feel bad to be the center of attention, does it?”
“No, sir. I’m overwhelmed.”
“Enjoy it to your heart's content until we reach the main gate.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“Consideration? What are you talking about? What kind of older brother wouldn't do this much for his younger brother?”
“…”
*Are you some kind of outcast? Why do you love being called ‘brother’ so much?*
The man seemed oblivious as he continued, never minding that the crowd of onlookers was blocking their path.
He was intentionally letting them be, as a supposed consideration for the Okcheong Escort Agency.
*Go on, get some attention. When else would people like you ever get treated like this?*
But for Neung Un-bi, walking through the throng of spectators that filled the road made him feel like a circus bear.
He had done the righteous deed, but the Heavenly Pillar Gate was reaping all the praise.
It seemed there was a rather resourceful fellow serving under the Gate Master.
The treatment would probably be generous. With the rumor having spread so far and wide, they would have to protect their own image. As the people said, a sufficient reward would likely be given.
But it wasn't good to linger for long.
They might be disguised as an escort agency, but they were the Demonic Cult on the inside.
Although they had suppressed their demonic energy with Anti-Demon Pills and concealed their skills, they could still arouse suspicion if they encountered a master with a keen eye.
He might be fine, but his companions’ acting skills were severely lacking.
So, he would just offer a brief greeting and leave.
From the orthodox-sounding name ‘Okcheong’ to the disguise as an escort agency, it had been quite useful for shaking down bandits and pirates, and he had thought it would allow them to travel anywhere without suspicion. He had even grown rather fond of it, but it was no longer usable.
Now that the name was so well-known, they would leave a trail wherever they went. They would have to switch to new identities as soon as they left Jucheon.
“Shouldn't we hurry? The Gate Master will be waiting.”
“It’s fine.”
“Pardon?”
“Do you think the Gate Master is like one of us underlings? He’s a man who manages an entire province. He has too much work to deal with during the day to receive us anyway.”
“Still…”
“Ahem, brother. Listen to me. I’m saying this for your own good.”
“…”
“You’re still inexperienced, so you may not know, but there is a right time and place for a visit.”
*What right time? What right place?*
“A guest is welcomed when the host is at leisure. You should remember that.”
“…Yes, brother.”
“Let’s take our time and enjoy the sights of the main road. I don’t mean to look down on you, but when will you ever get to experience such luxury again? Am I wrong? This is all a favor I’m bestowing upon you because I care for you.”
*A damnable favor.* At this point, loyalty and favors were synonymous with being a nuisance.
Why did people insist on bestowing unwanted loyalty and favors without permission?
Who didn't know the Gate Master of the Heavenly Pillar Gate would be busy at this hour?
Of course the head of a clan would be busy in broad daylight!
If he wasn't, how could the clan possibly run smoothly?
He was going precisely because he knew the man would be busy. He figured he could offer a quick greeting, collect a reward, and get out of there since the Gate Master wouldn't have time to meet them.
Frustrated by this damnable loyalty and annoyed by this blasted favor that was ruining his plans, Neung Un-bi suppressed his rising irritation.
It was then.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
At the sound of approaching hooves in the distance, not only the gathered spectators but also Neung Un-bi's party turned their heads.
The gate stood wide open.
“Make way! Clear a path on both sides!”
“…”
The man on horseback who arrived in a cloud of dust was a warrior of the Heavenly Pillar Gate, just like Yong Cheon.
However, his uniform seemed a bit more luxurious than Yong Cheon's, and the sword at his hip was even sheathed in flood dragon leather…
“Huh! Isn't that the Third Squad Leader of the High Pillar Brigade?”
“…”
The High Pillar Brigade?
Given that they used the name ‘High Pillar,’ which refers to the tallest among many pillars, it implied they held a rather high position within the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
Just as he thought, one could tell from his attire and sword.
“Who are you?”
“…”
Yong Cheon had recognized him, but it seemed the man known as the Third Squad Leader of the High Pillar Brigade didn't know Yong Cheon.
*He boasted so much, yet his standing is lower than a mere squad leader of a warrior brigade?*
“I am Yong Cheon, Senior Squad Leader of the Northern Division of the Outer General Affairs Department.”
“So you’re at least mid-ranking.”
“…”
“But what is someone from the Northern Division doing in Jucheon?”
“Ah, the Head of the Outer General Affairs Department ordered me to bring the Okcheong Escort Agency, which recently performed a righteous deed in Hyang-eup…”
“Okcheong? What kind of riffraff is that?”
“Well… they are not famous enough for the Third Squad Leader to have heard of them. They are…”
“That’s enough explanation. Step aside, quickly.”
“Pardon?”
“The First Young Master has returned.”
“Ah! Understood.”
Startled, Yong Cheon hastily stepped back and took it upon himself to clear the way.
“Shoo! Shoo! Move aside, quickly! Now! Brother, you should move your carts as well.”
“Huh? Yes…”
At Yong Cheon's instruction, Neung Un-bi signaled to the Sakwol Brigade with his eyes.
As the crowd scrambled to clear a path, the man known as the Third Squad Leader of the High Pillar Brigade scanned his surroundings with a menacing glare.
Clip, clop, clip, clop.
Soon after, a man in his early twenties, seated on a white horse with a flowing white mane, led a group down the center of the road with a dignified expression.
First Yong Cheon, then that Third Squad Leader bastard, and now this First Young Master.
*Is arrogance a family trait?*
The way he looked down on people from his horse was utterly repulsive.
Now he understood why the warrior brigade was called the High Pillar Brigade.
Since it was the First Young Master’s brigade, it was the ‘High Pillar.’
*What a bunch of literal-minded fools…*
Still, wasn't that a bit much? Putting aside the lack of creativity, the name just sounded a bit off.
As he secretly chuckled while watching the procession, Neung Un-bi’s expression suddenly hardened.
“…Huh!”
It wasn't just warriors who entered the road.
Behind them, dozens of people were being dragged along, roped together like a string of dried fish.
An old man? Women… and even children who looked no older than ten?
Not only their bodies but also their bare, unshod feet were covered in wounds. It was a sight so horrific one could hardly bear to look.
Their eyes were vacant, as if they had been walking for an eternity.
They were simply walking, no, being dragged along by the ropes that bound them.
Whizz! Thwack!
“…”
It happened in an instant.
Someone in the crowd threw a stone, and a child struck by it collapsed.
“You damn Demonic Cult bastards! Just die!”
“…”
*The, the Demonic Cult? What is this all about?*
Neung Un-bi stared wide-eyed at the unfolding scene, unable to comprehend the situation.
The child, whose head was now split open, lay bleeding profusely, unable to even get up.
A woman who seemed to be his mother, also tied in the same line, cradled the child in her arms, and a hail of stones rained down upon them.
“To think those damn things dare to act like people!”
“We should kill them all!”
“…”
Their gazes were filled with contempt. The eyes of those picking up stones glinted with a chilling, demonic light.
But no one stopped them.
Even as a child, not yet in bloom, collapsed after being struck in the head with a stone, even as the mother who shielded him became covered in blood…
The warriors not only failed to intervene but even halted the procession, helping the people vent their anger.
“Ugh, those vile things… they say they eat people, don't they?”
“Of course. They say all the missing newborns from over the mountain are their doing. Just like Demonic Cult scum, they enjoy eating them raw, you know?”
Those who didn't throw stones wounded them with their words.
“Are you surprised?”
“…”
As Neung Un-bi unknowingly clenched his fists and trembled, Yong Cheon approached to calm him down.
“Whew, it’s your first time seeing this, so it’s understandable. But that’s because you don’t know what kind of beasts they are.”
“…Is there a reason for this?”
“Indeed. I’ll tell you about it in a bit.”
“…”
At Yong Cheon's words, Neung Un-bi gritted his teeth and nodded.
Soon, the High Pillar Brigade, led by the First Young Master, and the people tied in ropes disappeared into the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
It was as if a sudden downpour had stopped as abruptly as it had begun.
The faces of the passersby became peaceful again, as if nothing had happened, but Neung Un-bi's heart was frozen solid.
“Those people you saw earlier are members of the Demonic Cult, operating in secret throughout the Central Plains.”
“…They were just old men, women, and children.”
“They look that way on the surface. They’re masters of deception.”
“…”
“I’ve only heard stories, but they say that while maintaining such an appearance, they don’t hesitate to commit heinous acts.”
“Heinous acts?”
“Yes. It’s common for them to break into people’s homes, murder the inhabitants, and plunder their belongings. They say they’ve kidnapped and eaten more than ten children while pretending to be benevolent.”
“…”
*Eating them raw?*
It was a baseless rumor. In all his time living in the Demonic Cult, Neung Un-bi had never heard of such a thing. It was nothing but a prejudice created by the people.
“The rumors were so dreadful that the First Young Master of our gate has been leading the High Pillar Brigade on a subjugation campaign for over three months now.”
At Yong Cheon's words, Neung Un-bi's eyes grew cold and desolate.
Subjugation of the Demonic Cult. It was one of the things the orthodox sects had been doing for a long time.
Does that mean the people being dragged away belong to the Qilian Mountains branch?
It was unbelievable. If he hadn't seen the Demonic Cult for himself, he might not have known, but he had, so he did.
The people being dragged away… they were just powerless common folk.
It seemed he wouldn't be able to leave just yet.
Even if it meant delaying his meeting with *him* a little longer.