Chapter 8: Shut Your Mouth, You Lewd Ghost
The grand hall at the heart of the Cult Leader's Palace in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The demonic figures gathered here in eerie forms were all elders of the palace.
A middle-aged man of relatively ordinary appearance appeared among them.
Yet all the elders bowed their heads to him.
"Demonic Path Under Heaven! We pay our respects to the Vice Cult Leader!"
Blue Blood Demon Yong Jinseok.
He lightly returned the bow.
"I see the esteemed elders."
He was the second son of Grand Cult Leader Yong Mugeuk.
Having taken on the role of the eldest after his older brother's untimely death, he had risen to the position of Vice Cult Leader.
But due to his frail build and weak constitution, his martial achievements were lackluster, and he had been overshadowed by his nephew Yong Baekheon, failing to become the Young Cult Leader.
Fortunately, Yong Jinseok possessed another talent: political acumen in rallying his own faction.
"Vice Cult Leader, a word if you please."
An elderly man with neatly combed shining silver hair and a handsome face chiseled like a sculpture approached slyly.
His name was Gu Manbong.
Also known as the Jade-Faced Lech, he was the Great Elder leading the palace's elders.
"Are we proceeding with yesterday's discussion as planned?"
"Of course."
Yong Jinseok nodded at Gu Manbong's question but added cautiously, "As I mentioned, it requires the Great Elder's support. You know well that disciplining the Young Cult Leader is difficult with my authority alone, and if Father opposes it, I cannot overrule him."
"Mm, true enough."
"But with the Great Elder's backing, even Father will acknowledge it. After all, aren't you the brains of our cult?"
"Brains? Oh, come now, no need for such flattery. Heh heh!"
Gu Manbong chuckled heartily at the praise elevating him.
"Very well. For the future of our cult, I'll lend a hand. That wastrel is no match for Young Master Changheon. Indeed!"
"Thank you, Great Elder."
A cold smile flickered across Yong Jinseok's face as he turned away.
Ruthless thoughts churned in his mind.
'Yong Baekheon, today marks the end of your time as Young Cult Leader.'
Resentment toward his nephew and sticky ambition dominated his thoughts.
His ambitious plan was to elevate his own son to the Young Cult Leader position.
'If I unite the elders' will, even Father won't oppose the discipline. Then I can give Changheon his chance.'
Yong Jinseok's eldest son, Yong Changheon.
Not a genius on par with Yong Baekheon, but with the palace's support, he was deemed capable of reaching the Heavenly Demon Realm.
'At first, there was no crack in the succession. Father doted on Baekheon so much...'
But as Yong Baekheon indulged in debauchery and caused scandals, the tide began to shift.
This incident had created a definitive rift.
The cult's sacred relic, The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon, had gone missing.
And Blade King Cheoksan, one of the Three Great Protectors, along with his entire Third Protector Squad, had vanished.
'Is this a trifling matter?'
For an ordinary cultist, it would warrant dismemberment.
His plan today was to rally the elders with Gu Manbong and lay the groundwork for replacing the Young Cult Leader.
And if, by some chance.
It wasn't the Young Cult Leader arriving now, but that imposter?
'I'll charge him with insulting the Cult Leader's Palace and topple Baekheon.'
Yong Jinseok hadn't for a moment believed Yong Baekheon had perished in the explosion.
The approaching chief steward whispered quietly.
"The Young Cult Leader has arrived."
"Send him in immediately."
The moment had come.
The Vice Cult Leader turned to the lined-up elders and spoke again.
"This Law Enforcement Meeting is held with the Grand Cult Leader's permission, under my auspices! I ask you all to pool your wisdom!"
"Yes, Vice Cult Leader!"
At that instant, the attendants' cries rang out.
"Young Cult Leader Yong Baekheon arrives!"
Kiiiek!
The hall's main doors swung open.
A boy of slight build entered with leisurely steps.
He bowed his head slightly in dignified greeting.
"Young Cult Leader Yong Baekheon pays respects to the Divine Cult's elders."
Step, step.
Ignoring the elders' menacing auras with an impassive face, the boy walked forward, then lifted his head to gaze at one spot.
The Grand Cult Leader's seat at the highest point.
But now, a long black curtain draped it.
"......"
Essentially a black wall, yet the boy stared at it intently, as if peering through to what lay beyond.
Then he turned to Yong Jinseok and spoke softly.
"Let us begin."
Ever the picture of arrogance.
But for how long?
The Vice Cult Leader glared piercingly at his nephew before speaking.
"Chief steward, announce the start of the Law Enforcement Meeting."
"Yes, Vice Cult Leader. We now commence the Law Enforcement Meeting regarding Young Cult Leader Yong Baekheon!"
* * *
My mouth felt parched, as if burning.
It wasn't my imagination.
'My mouth really is drying out.'
It was due to the murderous auras emanating from the elders lined up on either side.
"Tch, look at that insolent gaze. The Young Cult Leader hasn't changed a bit."
"Tsk tsk. We knew it'd come to this after his reckless antics. Blade King Cheoksan, whom the Grand Cult Leader cherished—wasn't he a Great Protector?"
"Indeed. He won't get away easily this time. Heh heh heh..."
Each barbed remark from the aura-shrouded elders sent chills down my spine, my teeth chattering.
I'd bitten my tongue so much the tip was already a ragged mess.
[If it's truly unbearable, use the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes. It will consume some qi, but you will feel much better.]
Bongmareung offered advice, sounding impatient.
But I chuckled inwardly.
'What are you talking about? I need to conserve qi as much as possible and endure with willpower.'
[For how long?]
'No idea. The situation's gotten a bit tricky.'
I'd scanned for Yong Mugeuk the moment I entered.
But instead of him at the Grand Cult Leader's seat, a black curtain hung, with two demonic figures standing in his stead.
Vice Cult Leader Yong Jinseok and Great Elder Gu Manbong.
Seeing them, I grasped the situation.
'Elders who usually shielded Yong Baekheon are cold now, and Yong Jinseok is allowing it...'
This meant a power struggle for the Young Cult Leader position had begun, with the Vice Cult Leader pulling strings.
Bongmareung couldn't fathom it.
[An old fogey like him gunning for Young Cult Leader now? He lacks the martial prowess for it!]
'He's not doing it himself. He's pushing his eldest son. Yong Changheon has decent talent, from what I've heard.'
[Oh ho.]
Great Elder Gu Manbong beside him had likely been roped in to orchestrate it.
They smelled blood and swarmed like hounds.
I was a lone raccoon surrounded in layers.
And notably, the 'tiger' was absent.
'Crimson Heavenly Demon Yong Mugeuk.'
Why hadn't that old man shown?
Had he abandoned Yong Baekheon?
Or...
'A test?'
Was he telling the cub to handle the hounds himself?
Suddenly, voices from Yong Baekheon's memories surfaced.
—Baekheon, the Yong Demon Clan bloodline must be different.
—Always be ready to prove your worth.
—I will, Grandfather.
A grandfather-grandson exchange.
The Crimson Heavenly Demon would back whoever won the fight—he was that kind of man.
'Right, the Heavenly Demon demands confrontation over peace.'
Thanks to Yong Baekheon's memories, I was certain.
So...
'I might turn this crisis into opportunity?'
[What opportunity?]
'To escape the Hundred Thousand Mountains, obviously.'
Right then.
"Young Cult Leader! Do you dare daydream in this sacred hall?!"
A rebuke struck me from my reverie.
The first to step forward was Jade-Faced Lech Gu Manbong.
"Allow me to speak first!"
Despite his advanced age, the handsome elder hadn't lost his charm.
He stepped forward and raised his voice to the other elders.
"As you all know, the Young Cult Leader has forgotten his duties as heir, indulging solely in debauchery. And this is the result! The vital relic The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon is lost, and Blade King Cheoksan—one of our Three Great Protectors—along with his direct Third Protector Squad, has vanished!"
"Ah..."
Sighs leaked from the elders.
"The Young Cult Leader acted so discreetly that the full truth remains hidden, but from what I've gathered, it was orchestrated by the boy 'Jang Hosam' posing as his double. This is no different from the Young Cult Leader's negligence!"
"Mm, that's right."
"I agree."
Now the elders nodded in unison.
"In conclusion, the Young Cult Leader employed a double without cult permission, failed his duty to safeguard the relic, and neglected his role to govern the followers wisely as heir. He must be punished severely!"
Gu Manbong swept his gaze over the assembly after finishing.
"If any elder disagrees with my view, speak freely."
Come out if you dare oppose.
I smirked inwardly.
'As if.'
This was the Great Elder, leader among the palace elders.
With the Vice Cult Leader backing him, who would dissent?
"East Elder Heo Hong agrees with the Great Elder."
"North Elder Yeo Dohyang concurs—your words ring true."
"South Elder Hyeok Ilyeong, same here."
"West Elder Yu Seon, I agree as well."
The four closest elders opened the floodgates.
The rest was a given.
"No objections, then. As representative of the Cult Leader's Palace elders, I question the Young Cult Leader."
His piercing gaze turned to me.
"What happened that day, and why? Recount the entire incident without lie or omission!"
The elders' stares poured down like they meant to dissect me.
It felt like my skin would tear.
But I kept my mouth shut in silence.
Yong Jinseok, shoulder-to-shoulder with Gu Manbong, twisted his lips.
"Baekheon, invoking silence? Not a wise choice."
"......"
It wasn't silence by choice.
Their demonic auras pinned my jaw shut.
'Whatever. I wasn't planning to answer anyway.'
I had a different move.
First, I subtly circulated qi to loosen my rigid body.
Then I reached into my bosom and opened the gray pouch.
'Let's see.'
A smooth jade ring caught my fingertip.
A lustrous piece unfit for a man's hand.
I held it high for all to see.
"This is my answer, Great Elder."
The ring gleamed on my middle finger.
The meaning was crystal clear to anyone.
'Eat shit and shut your mouth, you lewd old ghost.'
A storm erupted in the hall.
"Th-that mad...!"
"How dare he insult the Great Elder!"
"Even as Young Cult Leader, this insolence is unforgivable!"
Thick demonic energy and fury poured from the lined elders.
"Are you truly insane?"
Vice Cult Leader Yong Jinseok tilted his head with a hollow laugh.
His eyes questioned my sanity in provoking the Great Elder here.
But the key was the man's reaction.
Jade-Faced Lech Gu Manbong's shoulders began to tremble faintly.
"......"
The elder's eyes couldn't tear away from the jade ring I'd produced.
I grinned.
'That's right.'
This ring I'd brought could sever that old man's neck.