Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: The Cult Leader Moves
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Inside the Main Hall of the Demonic Cult's fortress.
A meeting of the high command was convened in response to Neung Un-bi’s sudden message.
Of course, it was utter chaos.
Starting with the elders, the heads of each clan were busy shouting insults about Neung Un-bi.
Though they avoided explicit terms like “dog” or “son of a bitch,” their words were practically curses.
What kind of place was the Central Plains branch of the Demonic Cult?
A place where secrecy was paramount.
Yet, not only had Neung Un-bi crippled the branch manager at his first inspection site, but he had also openly clashed with the Orthodox Faction. It was only natural that all hell would break loose.
And wasn't the Heavenly Pillar Gate a dominant power in northern Gansu with close ties to the Orthodox Murim Alliance?
“Cult Leader! You must recall the Third Young Master at once!”
“That’s right. A war with the Orthodox Murim Alliance?!”
“He’s right. The Third Young Master has overstepped his authority!”
“…”
Though the shouts rained down, Dam Un-cheon simply rested his chin on his hand and listened in silence.
“What, then! Are you saying we should just stand by while the Orthodox Faction pulls their dirty tricks and sullies the name of the Demonic Cult!”
As the atmosphere grew hostile, So Seol-ok-su, attending as the acting head of her clan, shot to her feet and protested.
“Acting Head of the Snow Mountain Manor, watch your words! This is not such a simple matter! It could escalate into a war between the Orthodox and Demonic Factions!”
“A war? Let them try! Who do they think is afraid of the likes of the Orthodox Faction? If a war breaks out, I will personally stand on the front lines with the Snow Mountain Manor!”
“So Seol-ok-su!”
“What! Why! Are you saying we should tremble in fear of the Orthodox Faction?”
“Haa…”
He had nearly let a curse slip out.
But even as the situation spiraled from bad to worse, Dam Un-cheon remained silent.
A conflict with the Heavenly Pillar Gate?
He already knew about it. Hyang-i, whom he had sent to Neung Un-bi’s side, had reported it long ago.
The Third Young Master couldn't stand by after seeing them kidnap and sell off displaced people, so he raided the prison, freed the people, and was now preparing for a showdown with the Heavenly Pillar Gate?
What a funny kid. He seemed to think he was some kind of champion of justice.
Then again, he had always been like this.
Wasn't it right after he recovered from his Qi Deviation? He had gone all the way to the vicinity of Qinghai to play the part of a Taoist master.
He helped flood victims and beat a Demonic Cult warrior, who had fallen to his demonic nature during training and was tormenting villagers, half to death.
The plaque of appreciation he received from the authorities for that incident was probably still in his residence.
A disciple of the Demonic Cult…
But inwardly, he was pleased.
The Demonic Cult was not as evil a group as others claimed.
They simply enjoyed fighting, preferred to solve problems with strength rather than words, and were raised to be true to their emotions rather than their reason.
It was this belligerent nature that had led to their wicked reputation among the people.
Neung Un-bi simply did not hold back.
It didn't matter whether it was against injustice or for the sake of justice.
He had pushed his beliefs to the very end.
When he wanted to be a Taoist, hadn't he thrown a talisman right in his master’s disapproving face?
It was the same this time.
He didn't hold back. Unlike those bastards from the Orthodox Faction who weighed their options and schemed behind people’s backs, he believed his own judgment was right and saw it through to the end.
He was more of a true demonic practitioner than any of the leaders gathered in this hall, shouting about what was right and wrong.
As the shouts continued to fly back and forth, Dam Un-cheon glanced at the table.
On it lay a scroll transcribing the message Neung Un-bi had sent.
The story was quite elaborate.
The Qilian branch manager had colluded with the Heavenly Pillar Gate.
Setting aside the various evil deeds committed, he may have offered a great deal of money out of loyalty to the demonic path, but as the Cult Leader’s disciple and representative inspector, he could not forgive the dishonor brought upon them.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Pillar Gate was trying to pin all related matters on the demonic path, so as one who would become the master of the Demonic Cult, he could not avoid a fight.
Please grant your permission.
…or so it said.
“Heh, heheheh.”
“?”
At the sudden sound of stifled laughter, the noisy meeting hall fell silent in an instant.
“Why have you stopped? Continue.”
“…”
Dam Un-cheon realized his slip and waved his hand dismissively, but who could possibly continue?
Their lord, the supreme leader of the Demonic Cult, had shown a reaction for the first time.
As if they had never been arguing, everyone retreated to their seats and watched Dam Un-cheon’s expression.
Well, so be it.
It was better to be quiet than noisy when trying to sort out one’s thoughts.
A faint smile on his lips, Dam Un-cheon ignored the gazes of everyone waiting for an answer and sank into his own contemplation.
In essence, Neung Un-bi’s message was, ‘Master, please help your disciple.’
That kid.
That arrogant kid who lived as if he owned the world.
The same kid who had been beaten for boldly demanding to be excommunicated, insisting he had no intention of ever becoming the Cult Leader. For the first time in his life.
He had helped him plenty of times before, but those had been his own decisions; Neung Un-bi had never asked.
This was the first time. His disciple was asking him for help for the very first time.
“Heh, hahahahaha!”
“?”
Dam Un-cheon could no longer contain his laughter. He didn't care who was watching as he burst into a laugh that echoed throughout the hall.
“Cult Leader.”
“Hm?”
He must have looked so undignified that the Great Protector, Yang Seon, requested with a stiff face that he compose himself.
Dam Un-cheon paid him no mind whatsoever.
He recalled another message that had arrived before Neung Un-bi’s.
It was the second report from Hyang-i.
The contents were no different from Neung Un-bi’s.
But there was an added remark.
*While Neung Un-bi’s methods cannot be called righteous, he seems to have captured the hearts of the Dancheon Gate.*
*As one who will become the leader of the Demonic Cult, he forgave their sins, and as a martial artist, he appealed to their sense of justice and had them right their wrongs.*
Wasn't that just like him?
That was the very reason he had sent the boy to the Central Plains in the first place.
Whatever the circumstances, whether he realized it himself or not, the boy was following his will.
How could he pretend not to know?
A war between the Orthodox and Demonic Factions?
What the hell, let’s have a go.
Having organized his thoughts, Dam Un-cheon propped his chin on his hand and swept his languid gaze across the meeting hall.
They were still silent, waiting for him to speak.
“Why is everyone so quiet?”
“…”
Though his tone was low, the voice carried a weight that seemed to press down on the assembly, and a heavy silence descended upon the hall.
“Cult Leader.”
“Oh? Head of the Divine Blood Clan, speak.”
“The Third Young Master’s actions are so arrogant they are difficult to watch.”
“Is that so?”
“…Pardon?”
“You’re not just saying that because your assassination attempt failed, even after sending the Black Serpents, are you?”
“!”
At Dam Un-cheon’s words, the widened eyes of Wi Seung, Head of the Divine Blood Clan, darted to the side.
The Cult Leader knew he had sent assassins?
But how did he know the result before he did?
He hadn't received a report of failure yet…
“Oh dear, you haven’t been informed yet? Well, I suppose they’re all dead.”
“…”
Wi Seung’s lips pressed into a firm line at Dam Un-cheon’s mockery.
“Relax, man. I’m not about to blame you for sending assassins. Didn’t I say it before? That I wouldn’t interfere, no matter what happened.”
Dam Un-cheon spoke in a placating tone, but no one present would dare to open their mouth at his words.
“But isn’t it quite remarkable? The Black Serpents are an assassin squad the Divine Blood Clan prides itself on… and Un-bi annihilated them all.”
“…”
On the surface, it was praise for Neung Un-bi, but the underlying meaning was a rebuke of the Black Serpents, and by extension, the Divine Blood Clan.
“Do try a little harder next time, Head of the Divine Blood Clan. It’s no fun when they’re defeated so easily. That boy Un-bi needs to struggle a bit, you see.”
“I… I will keep that in mind.”
“See that you do.”
Dam Un-cheon waved his hand dismissively.
“Now, does anyone else have something to say? Go on, speak your minds as you did before. What was it you were saying?”
“…”
Everyone was forced to be as silent as a clam.
Given the situation, it was clear the Cult Leader knew things that even the Head of the Divine Blood Clan was unaware of. If they spoke out of turn, they might find themselves the target of his ridicule.
“Well now, no one’s talking. But I wonder. Is it really necessary to hold a meeting like this over a message from Un-bi?”
“Pardon?”
“Did I not just say it to the Head of the Divine Blood Clan?”
“…”
“That I would not interfere.”
“!”
Eyes widened across the hall, almost in unison.
“Do you think I was only speaking to him?”
“But…”
“Whatever Un-bi does, I have no intention of getting involved.”
“…”
“However. Looking at it another way, a thought occurs to me.”
As Dam Un-cheon’s voice lowered, the sound of swallowing could be heard throughout the hall.
Soon, the chill in his voice pierced their chests.
“Whose side are you all on, exactly?”
“…”
“It’s one thing not to be on Un-bi’s side. But how can you, as members of the demonic path, side with the Orthodox Faction?”
“C-Cult Leader. What do you mean…?”
“Listen quietly.”
“…”
“Un-bi acted as an inspector according to his own judgment. You can certainly reprimand him for that. But he uncovered the fact that the branch manager was colluding with the Heavenly Pillar Gate. That should be considered a merit.”
“…”
“Furthermore, he seeks to hold them accountable for tarnishing the honor of the demonic path. So why do you all blame only Un-bi?”
“…”
“You, the leaders gathered here, should not be trying to crush the growth of a disciple named Neung Un-bi. As members of the demonic path, you should be expressing outrage that its honor has been sullied. That is what I believe. What do you all think? Go on, speak your minds.”
It was a sharp reprimand. The subtle anger laced in his voice made the martial artists in the hall flinch and tremble.
And no one could predict what would be sacrificed to his displeasure.
Now that he held all the real power, he was the Cult Leader who had decided on a ten-year seclusion and was preparing for the succession of his disciples. But those gathered in that seat knew better than anyone.
If he so wished, not a single person in the hall would be left alive.
And no matter how great their history, their clans would be razed to the ground with a single word from him.
“C-Cult Leader! Please forgive us!”
“…”
The quick-witted Elder Council Head, Sama Hwi-mun, despite his old age, was the first to drop to his knees, bow his head, and beg for forgiveness.
“F-Forgive us! Our thoughts were short-sighted.”
Following his lead, everyone in the hall prostrated themselves and cried out in one voice.
They were afraid.
Even if, to the one at the pinnacle of the demonic path, it was no more than a slight clearing of the throat.
“Good heavens, what is all this? Did I say I was going to kill you? Anyone would think I’d just ordered your clans to be razed.”
A chill ran down their spines.
Wasn't he a man who would do that and more?
How many had been purged beneath the bloody throne he had built?
In that moment, those gathered there had to worry not only for their own lives but for everything they carried on their backs.
“Hmm, but what to do now? I said I wouldn’t interfere, so I can’t send warriors to help Un-bi…”
“…”
“But now that I know they’ve tarnished the name of the demonic path, I feel a bit… unsettled. I think it’s time to give the Orthodox Faction a polite warning.”
“A-A wise decision.”
“Right? I think so too. So, will you all help me out?”
“…Pardon?”
“I’ve been sitting still, and they must think I’m a pushover…”
It was a joke meant to lighten the mood, but no one could laugh.
Wasn't it a clear warning that he would no longer sit still?
“Hmm, this might be for the best. We’ll use this as an opportunity to end our seclusion and formally protest their actions. To hold them accountable for this incident, we’ll need to have our own demands. Isn't that right, Sixth Elder?”
“Your command is my will! I will obey!”
Dam Un-cheon’s voice was calm, but the Sixth Elder, who was in charge of foreign affairs, shouted at the top of his lungs.
The Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
He was about to make his move.
…Because he didn't want to be treated like a doormat.