Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Opportunity
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After his training, Neung Un-bi slept deeply.
Truly, deeply, for a solid ten *shichen*.
When he opened his eyes in the morning, he felt incredibly refreshed.
A sense of accomplishment, combined with the budding expectation that only good things lay ahead, filled him with hope.
Perhaps because of that, his appetite was ravenous.
“Another bowl!”
He pushed forward his bowl, emptied in the blink of an eye, and Wang Cheon, with an affectionate hand, heaped it full of rice.
A man’s strength comes from his food. Damn right it does!
“*Burp*!”
Having once again cleared his bowl in an instant, Neung Un-bi let out a loud burp and stood up from the table.
Now that he’d eaten well, it was time for a light warm-up to aid digestion.
Rising as soon as the meal was over, Neung Un-bi stepped out into the yard.
As he began the basic arts that every member of the Demonic Cult learned, Wang Cheon watched with a warm smile while clearing the table.
How could he not be proud?
“Hoo…”
After a round of demonic arts training, Neung Un-bi intended to seriously begin practicing the martial arts of his past.
It had been so long; he needed to drill them into his body before the memories faded.
What a disaster it would be if he misremembered an oral formula.
But before that…
“Hey, Wang Cheon.”
“Yes?”
“You must have been pleased to see your mother yesterday after so long.”
“After so long? I see her every two or three days.”
“Ahem, my good man! How can you visit your elderly mother only once every two or three days?”
“Elderly?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not sure who it was that said her skin was firm and supple thanks to her youth-retaining arts.”
“…Ah, right. I heard she was scheduled to fall ill soon.”
“She has no such plans. When I saw her yesterday, she was more energetic than ever. Practically flying around. Looked like she could take down a bull with her bare hands.”
“I-Is that so?”
“Absolutely.”
Well, that was true.
If So Seol-ok-su put her mind to it, a whole herd of bulls would be massacred just by her presence. They’d probably freeze solid.
“Then, what about your youngest sister who got married?”
“Oh, she’s probably doing fine. She married into a rich family.”
“Ahem! How can you be so heartless as a brother! Go and visit her! What if her in-laws lose interest and she gets cast out?”
“Cast out? Have you forgotten who the master of her in-laws’ family is?”
“So Seol…”
“Yes. The very woman who could take down a bull with her bare hands. If they dared to cast out my sister, their family would face annihilation.”
“…Right, that’s true.”
Knowing So Seol-ok-su’s personality, she was more than capable of it.
But why was this guy so dense?
I’m trying to tell you—no, I’m practically pushing you out the door—to get lost, you fool!
Swallowing the words that had risen to his throat, Neung Un-bi heaved a deep sigh.
*Haa*, what should I do?
I need to get rid of Wang Cheon for any reason I can think of.
Seeing him frowning in serious contemplation, Wang Cheon narrowed his eyes and asked.
“What is it? Are you planning to do some other training behind my back?”
“Huh? N-No. What training?”
As Neung Un-bi waved his hands and shook his head in denial, Wang Cheon let out a smirk.
“Stop training for today and hurry up and get ready.”
“Huh? Ready?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“We have somewhere to be.”
“Somewhere to be… *Gasp*! Don’t tell me… Master is looking for me again?”
“Of course not. How could someone as busy as him with the cult’s affairs possibly seek out the Third Young Master three times in a row? Especially when you’ve been so quiet and haven’t caused any trouble these past few days.”
“Ah, right. So where are we going?”
“My mother has summoned you.”
“Your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“…”
As Neung Un-bi tilted his head in confusion, Wang Cheon stared at him with an expression of pure exasperation.
“So are you just going to stand there?”
“…”
“You’re truly hopeless. You need a gift for the birthday banquet, don’t you?”
“Ah…! For Master?”
“Yes! The other disciples will all bring their own dazzling presents. Surely you weren’t planning on showing up empty-handed?”
“Well…”
“Come on, let’s hurry. My mother has agreed to help.”
“Why is So Seol-ok-su helping with that?”
“Because I asked her to.”
“…”
Why would he make such a request on his own?
And if she was going to help, why couldn’t she just pick something herself instead of summoning a busy person back and forth?
He had a mountain of martial arts to re-learn.
“I managed to persuade her only after earnestly getting on my knees and begging. Do you understand?”
“Ah, um… I’m fine…”
“No more talking, just follow me! This is a matter of my dignity as well. There is absolutely no way the young master I serve will attend the Cult Leader’s birthday empty-handed.”
“No, you really don’t have to…”
*Since when did you have any dignity?*
As Neung Un-bi’s face soured, Wang Cheon dangled a tempting offer.
“Oh! I also took the liberty of preparing a new residence and a private, secluded training ground just for you, Third Young Master.”
“What?!”
“To be frank, it’s a disgrace for someone of your high standing to be living in a rundown shack like this. People blame me for it.”
*You’re always getting blamed for something…*
“It’s nothing extravagant, just a residence near my family’s home. My mother said she would get the Cult Leader’s personal approval. The area will likely be controlled by our family, but an order will be issued by the Cult Leader, just like now. No one will be able to threaten your life.”
“…!?”
At that moment, Neung Un-bi’s eyes widened.
Wait a minute, this is better than I thought.
Near So Seol-ok-su’s house meant it was naturally on the outskirts of the fortress.
What’s more, the Cult Leader would extend his protection. No, even without it, it didn’t matter.
Who in this Demonic Cult didn’t know of So Seol-ok-su’s vicious temper?
She wasn’t called the Ice Jade Witch by the people of the Central Plains for nothing.
Though she was older now and had retired from the front lines to enjoy her leisure, she was once a truly terrifying figure…
Who would dare send their rats to a place personally prepared by a woman who’d pick a fight with the Cult Leader himself if she was crossed?
In other words, for him, the pros far outweighed the cons.
This meant he could prepare to leave in a completely controlled space, without anyone’s interference.
And since he’d mentioned a secluded training ground, getting rid of Wang Cheon would be easy.
Ah, for an opportunity to present itself so quickly.
He wouldn’t need long.
He had already reached the realm of intent, so if he could quickly polish not only the cult’s martial arts but also his own former skills…
He could slip away without a sound, deceiving everyone’s eyes and ears.
And the day of the operation?
The day before the Cult Leader’s birthday banquet, of course! Everyone would be distracted with preparations.
“Wang Cheon!”
“Yes?”
“Let’s go.”
“Huh? But, your clothes…”
“So Seol-ok-su is waiting, who cares about clothes? I’ll go on ahead, so hurry and follow me!”
“But, still…”
Wang Cheon was flustered by the sudden change in attitude, but Neung Un-bi had already launched himself into the air and was a good distance away.
Dressed in his worn-out training uniform.
“*Haa*, honestly. How can he be so lacking in decorum?”
Shaking his head with his usual sigh, Wang Cheon was nonetheless pleased.
Neung Un-bi, as expected, couldn’t hide his true feelings from him.
Hadn’t he felt the young master’s sidelong glances all throughout the meal and training?
He must have had something he wanted to hide even from him.
But it was no secret now that Wang Cheon had seen it with his own two eyes and had confessed it to his mother, So Seol-ok-su, last night.
Yes, what did clothes matter?
What was important was not his appearance, but his innate talent that had allowed him to reach the realm of intent before he had even come of age.
“Don’t worry, Young Master. I’ll make sure only I, no, my mother and I… no, just the people in our family will know. That’s why I prepared this new residence, after all.”
Wang Cheon packed a few simple belongings and started walking in the direction Neung Un-bi had gone.
A warm smile spread across his face.
* * *
The main fortress of the Demonic Cult was situated on the sun-drenched southern face of the Heavenly Mountains.
It was a place that had watched over the Heavenly Mountains for hundreds of years, looking down upon the Central Plains.
But there was another place that had been established in the Heavenly Mountains long before the cult’s fortress.
“Snow Mountain Manor.”
Neung Un-bi grinned as he looked up at the plaque hanging proudly above the firmly shut gates.
On the northern side of the Heavenly Mountains. A place that had stood strong, perpetually covered in snow due to the lack of sunlight in the shadow of the great mountain range.
People of the Central Plains considered Kunlun to be the final bastion guarding the border against the Demonic Cult.
For the Demonic Cult, the Snow Mountain Manor served a similar role to Kunlun.
Did the Demonic Cult only ever invade the Central Plains?
They too had many enemies. A prime example was the foreign powers from the frozen lands to the north, who constantly coveted the Xinjiang region.
The Snow Mountain Manor, as one of the great noble families, had protected the Demonic Cult from these northern enemies for ages.
In truth… Neung Un-bi had only learned of such an organization after becoming himself.
It wasn't because the Demonic Cult was a secretive group with little known information.
He could have found out anytime if he had tried, but in his previous life, there had been no need. The enemies he had to face were always internal.
But things were different now.
The organizational structure of the Demonic Cult, which he had come to know naturally, was more complex than he’d thought.
Besides the Cult Leader and the Law Enforcement Hall, there were the eight Elder Halls that advised and helped control the cult’s subordinate factions from within the main fortress.
There was the Elder Council, composed of retired masters of the previous generation.
There was the Council of Noble Families, a deliberative body of clans that had existed since the founding of the Demonic Cult alongside the first Cult Leader.
Then there were the various major sects and merchant guilds spread throughout Xinjiang, all wielding significant influence.
Just counting the major powers required more than ten fingers, and there were supposedly far more private organizations.
And only by receiving the loyalty and support of all of them could one become the Cult Leader.
To lead such a grand organization while maintaining dignity and prestige, and to make wise judgments in various disputes that satisfied everyone…
It was truly a task impossible for an ordinary person. He himself would probably have his head explode from information overload.
Therefore, Dam Un-cheon had to be called a truly remarkable man. He was accomplishing all those difficult things and leading the Demonic Cult.
However, there was one thing that was slightly puzzling.
Why had he sealed the gates?
Throughout history, there had been only a few Cult Leaders who held the Demonic Cult in the palm of their hand, and hadn't the Central Plains turned into a sea of blood each time such a leader emerged?
Of course, minor skirmishes were constant at the Demonic Cult’s branch factions that had infiltrated the Central Plains as disguised forces. But that level of conflict was common even between the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions.
“Perhaps the peace of the world is being maintained because of Dam Un-cheon, who refrains from acting despite his power.”
Neung Un-bi smirked as he thought of the Cult Leader.
With just one word, ‘Go!’, the members of the Demonic Cult would charge into the Central Plains like a pack of enraged beasts.
Yet, there was something that even the great Dam Un-cheon could not control: the succession struggle within the cult.
The fierce battle between his five disciples and their supporting factions.
Sometimes it was fought in the shadows, other times openly. Barely a day went by without blood being shed within the cult due to this conflict.
However, perhaps Dam Un-cheon could control it but was choosing not to.
Perhaps he believed that a stronger faction needed to take control of the cult to maintain order.
In any case, the Snow Mountain Manor was the only family that remained neutral in the center of this power struggle.
And now, Neung Un-bi had come to the Snow Mountain Manor of his own accord, at a time when everyone was on edge, wondering who they would support.
It was a first. If this became known, the factions that had been keeping him in check might raise hell.
Having their descendant as a guard was one thing, but visiting the manor in person was an entirely different matter.
But!
It didn’t matter.
Whatever others thought, even if they fought and raised a fuss because of it!
Wasn’t he planning to leave anyway?
The important thing was that he had secured a place where he could train without being disturbed.
His goal was escape. After reaching his desired realm here, he would leave the Demonic Cult.
Alright, now that he was here, he should make his presence known.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Neung Un-bi cleared his throat.
“*Ahem ahem*.”
It would have been nice to have swallowed a raw egg, but he had been in too much of a hurry to prepare one.
First, take a deep breath, and in a loud voice!
“*Huuup*! I—"
“Who is it?”
“…am, *hack*, *cough cough*.”
Damn it. The gate opened abruptly before he could even shout, causing him to choke.
“I, Ne… *ack*, um… *cough*, bi…”
His first visit had turned out to be incredibly pathetic.