Reign of the Demonic Path
"It seems the events of yesterday have already been reported to the headquarters through the believers residing in the town."
Ah... is that how it is?
I had never heard of the Sun and Moon Sect having believers in Maehwa County.
But thinking about it, it would actually be stranger if there weren't any.
Although the Sun and Moon Sect was branded as a heretical cult or the Demonic Cult by the orthodox Murim, it had already spread far and wide among the common folk in secret.
To the point where the Murim Alliance could not afford to ignore its influence.
The only reason I didn't know we had believers in Maehwa County was because they kept their identities hidden.
The members of our sect are largely divided into two groups.
On one side are those who operate openly in the light—like the Sect Leader, the Young Sect Leader, the high-ranking officials, the headquarters staff, and the members of the Five Palaces scattered across the Jianghu.
On the other side are those who maintain a different public identity and operate strictly in the shadows.
These shadow believers meet in secret to practice their faith, proselytize, receive instructions from the leaders of the Five Gates, and report information back.
"Yesterday, I did suspect that a few of the townspeople might be shadow believers of our Holy Sect."
"Indeed, that makes sense."
Like that lady surnamed Yu, who took the lead and rallied the other women.
In any case, this secretive organizational structure was a desperate measure to survive the persecution of the Murim Alliance, but it was also the secret to how our sect could expand and sustain itself throughout the entire Jianghu.
At any rate, it meant a shadow believer in the town had already relayed yesterday's events to the main headquarters through a separate reporting line, completely independent of me.
Well, if it means I don't have to write a separate report myself, maybe it's a good thing?
After arriving at the Council Hall and waiting for a short while, the Rain Master and the White Tiger Palace Lord entered.
This time, they were joined by another person: none other than Yeom Ryeo-un, the Palace Lord of the Moon Seal Palace.
The expressions on their three faces were starkly different, undoubtedly all because of me.
It was just that each of them reacted differently depending on their respective duties.
"I heard you returned to the headquarters last night. You have worked hard, Young Sect Leader."
First, the Rain Master seemed relieved that I had returned safely from a difficult mission. Though he was secretly delighted and astonished, he was doing his best to hide it.
As expected, he must have already heard about yesterday's events through the shadow network.
"Hard work? If I could not handle a trivial matter like that, would I even deserve to be called the Young Sect Leader? By the way, White Tiger Palace Lord, why the long face? Has something unpleasant occurred?"
I brushed off the Rain Master's praise as if it were nothing and turned my gaze to the White Tiger Palace Lord.
"Not at all. I am merely overjoyed that the Young Sect Leader has returned safely."
Despite his words, the White Tiger Palace Lord was clearly harboring some bitter feelings.
Since he was in charge of internal inspections, he probably thought he would get all the credit for exposing Namgung Eon's betrayal.
Instead, I had gone down to the town with Namgung Eon, uncovered and thwarted the Mt. Tianshan Sect's plot, and even elevated our sect's public reputation. There was no way he could be in a good mood.
But honestly, what do I care if he's in a bad mood?
"If you are glad I have returned, then wipe that frown off your face. Read the room, will you?"
"O-Of course, Young Sect Leader... Hehe."
"Yes, that is more like it. See how much better you look when you smile?"
Finally, I observed the demeanor of the Moon Seal Palace Lord, Yeom Ryeo-un.
This man was in charge of the sect's administrative affairs and financial accounts.
From the moment he entered the Council Hall and greeted me, a pleasant smile had not left his face.
Just as I was wondering why he had suddenly shown up, my question was answered before I even had to ask.
"The Sect Leader has arrived."
At the voice echoing from outside the Council Hall, the Rain Master, the White Tiger Palace Lord, and the Moon Seal Palace Lord instantly sprang to their feet to show their respect.
I hadn't heard anything about the Sect Leader coming. What was going on?
Though curious, I stood up just like the others.
With his usual solemn expression and dignified stride, the Sect Leader entered the Council Hall and took his place at the head of the table.
"Sit."
The Sect Leader spoke only that single word instead of a greeting, but the fact that his tone was slightly higher than usual suggested he wasn't in a bad mood.
Even though his eyes and expression revealed absolutely nothing when he glanced at me.
"Rain Master. Report on yesterday's events."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
The Rain Master stood up and began his explanation.
"As everyone here knows, the Mt. Tianshan Sect corrupted ten of our believers to commit crimes against the residents of Maehwa County, only to be exposed by the Young Sect Leader and the believer Namgung Eon."
As he spoke, the Rain Master cast a sidelong glance at the White Tiger Palace Lord, Woo Gang-hu.
The White Tiger Palace Lord kept his eyes cast downward, looking as if he were the one who had committed a crime.
"Maehwa County is merely a small town with a negligible population and economy... However, because of its proximity to our headquarters, our Holy Sect has secretly put a lot of effort into proselytizing there."
The Rain Master's report continued.
"If Maehwa County had fallen under the influence of the Murim Alliance due to the Mt. Tianshan Sect's scheme, it would have been a severe blow to our Holy Sect. However, thanks to the Young Sect Leader's actions yesterday, the Mt. Tianshan Sect suffered such a devastating blow that their core forces, including the Sect Leader and the elders, fled in the dead of night. The sect has essentially dissolved. This is nothing short of an extraordinary achievement."
At this point, everyone, including the Sect Leader, looked at me.
The Mt. Tianshan Sect fled in the night and basically dissolved?
I was inwardly shocked, but I merely gave a slow nod, maintaining a face that suggested this was only natural.
Considering what they had done, it was a fitting end. More than anything, I had become quite adept at controlling my facial expressions under any circumstances.
It was the result of adapting to my life as the Young Sect Leader over the past year.
"That is not all. I will let the Moon Seal Palace Lord explain the rest."
The Rain Master sat down, and the Moon Seal Palace Lord stood up.
Seeing the Moon Seal Palace Lord grinning from ear to ear as he prepared to speak, it seemed the reason for his presence was finally about to be revealed.
"Indeed, Sect Leader. Over fifty residents of Maehwa County have expressed their desire to convert to our Holy Sect. A task that the headquarters has repeatedly failed to accomplish over several decades has borne massive fruit in a single night, all thanks to the Young Sect Leader. How could we not rejoice?"
By the end of his speech, the Moon Seal Palace Lord was beaming and even clapped his hands in my direction.
At that, even the Sect Leader let out a small chuckle.
Hearing this, I felt a deep sense of pride as well.
All that hard work proselytizing was worth it.
But the Moon Seal Palace Lord's report didn't end there.
"What is even more astonishing is that the Jongshan Escort Agency, a massive enterprise run by a merchant chief from Maehwa County, has pledged to pay a tribute to our Holy Sect!"
The Moon Seal Palace Lord did not hide his joy as he uttered the word 'tribute.'
The Sect Leader was no different.
"For your information, the Jongshan Escort Agency is a major escort service with influence reaching into the very heart of the Jianghu, spanning Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Henan. The size of the tribute currently being negotiated with our palace is a massive sum, nearly equivalent to ten percent of our annual headquarters operating budget. Considering our sect's tight financial situation due to the Murim Alliance's containment, this is an unimaginably grand achievement!"
No, it wasn't just that. The Sect Leader was openly rejoicing to the point where I wondered if he was even capable of making such an expression.
Far more so than when he heard about the collapse of the Mt. Tianshan Sect or the successful mass conversion.
To give you an idea of how happy he was, he was literally smiling directly at me and nodding.
I guess no matter the time or place, nobody hates money.
As I was thinking this, the Sect Leader spoke.
"Young Sect Leader."
"Yes, Father."
I realized anew that the way the Sect Leader looked at me had changed drastically compared to a year ago.
When I first woke up in this body, every time I met his eyes, I could clearly feel his suspicion and distrust.
"I believe you have gained some enlightenment from this incident, even without me pointing it out."
"Yes, Father."
"Furthermore, your actions yesterday must have been because there was something you wished to convey to our believers."
"That is correct."
But now, the gaze the Sect Leader directed at me, and the voice he used to address me, were filled with belief and trust.
It wasn't exactly fatherly affection, but it was at least enough to make me feel like he was treating me as a reliable successor.
"Speak. What was it that you wished to tell our believers?"
It was a sudden question, but reflecting on recent events, the answer was easy to find.
The self-proclaimed noble, orthodox sects of the Jianghu who killed people for profit.
The noble Young Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult who risked his life to bring them to justice and save the lives of innocent women.
A believer of our Holy Sect, who originally hailed from a prestigious orthodox family, witnessing and testifying to this entire process.
Those who witnessed this were forced to reconsider the true nature of the orthodox sects and the Demonic Cult.
Therefore, the unexpected, massive success of the proselytization was not because of the Young Sect Leader's charisma, nor was it because of his high martial arts.
"It is that proselytizing through propaganda or mere force is utterly meaningless."
"Then? What must be done?"
"Through our actions, our hearts, and the principles we uphold... we must make the common folk empathize with our doctrines, so that they will willingly join us and lend us their strength."
The Rain Master gasped in admiration, and the Moon Seal Palace Lord closed his eyes, seemingly savoring my words.
However, the Sect Leader showed no significant reaction for a moment.
He was likely waiting for the most important words that would follow.
"And regarding the path I must walk... I have also come to realize my duties as the Young Sect Leader of the Holy Sect, duties that set me apart from the ordinary believers."
"...Continue."
In the end, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of the Sect Leader's lips.
It was as if our minds had already connected even before I put it into words.
To protect the Sun and Moon Sect, to protect our believers, and to enforce our doctrines, the role I had to play...
It was exactly what the Sect Leader had always expected of me, his eldest son and the Young Sect Leader.
"I, as the Young Sect Leader of the Holy Sect, have resolved to become an incomparably ruthless demon."
When the Murim Alliance and numerous other sects who preach righteousness point fingers at us, calling us the Demonic Cult.
To stand tall and face them without fear, I must become a tyrant unlike any other in this world.
To the point where no one would dare even dream of obstructing our grand cause.
"Young Sect Leader... You have truly grasped the essence of the Demonic Path."
"Yes, Father."
It was just as the Sect Leader said.
The doctrines of the Sun and Moon Sect might not represent absolute good.
However, the doubts I had harbored about myself and my fate when I first reincarnated into Baek Yeon's body had completely vanished through this incident.
Why the Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Sect, which preached equality for all and the salvation of the common folk, referred to himself as the Heavenly Demon.
I was only now beginning to understand.
"I will become a demon worthy of the name Heavenly Demon, bring our enemies to their knees, and establish the reign of the Demonic Path under heaven."
I once again recited the words I had uttered countless times as a lie just to survive, all while harboring the soul of a gentle, introverted modern man.
But this time, it was not an act for survival.
"Mmh..."
After listening to my words to the very end, the Sect Leader turned to the Rain Master and the Palace Lords.
His voice was more satisfied than ever before.
"The Young Sect Leader has not only recovered the Three Sacred Treasures of our sect recently, but has also achieved great success in our external proselytization. These are achievements that would rank among the greatest in the entire history of the Sun and Moon Sect."
"Indeed, Sect Leader."
"Therefore, I intend to bestow a fitting reward upon him..."
At the same time, it was an incredibly enticing proposition that made my ears perk up.