Chapter 9: Let's Have a Go
Jade-Faced Lech Gu Manbong.
A man who lived up to his name.
'Handsome from his youth, he toyed with women across the jianghu, leaving illegitimate children everywhere. When the fallout became too much to handle, he fled into the Hundred Thousand Mountains and took up the demonic path, or so the story goes.'
His martial prowess wasn't anything special, but he was a master of all sorts of seductive arts and yin techniques.
Armed with his silver tongue and worldly cunning, he'd clawed his way up to the position of Great Elder.
'And there's that saying: habits formed at three stick till eighty.'
Even in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Gu Manbong openly chased skirts.
But among them was one woman he should never have touched.
'Yohui, the concubine of Heaven-Striking Bow Demon, one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Great Protectors.'
Smitten by Yohui's beauty, Gu Manbong showered her with flowers and gifts whenever the Heaven-Striking Bow Demon was away.
He'd won her favor like that, and starting last year, they'd even begun secret trysts.
[So the Great Elder of the Cult Leader's Palace is messing around with a Great Protector's woman?]
'Yeah. Guy's got guts spilling out his belly.'
[Krahahaha!]
This was straight-up suicide.
Elders were honorary positions based more on contributions to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult than raw power.
That's why even a lightweight like Gu Manbong held a seat.
'In contrast, Protectors were appointed from the cult's mightiest warriors—real combat powerhouses.'
To the Heaven-Striking Bow Demon, a guy like Gu Manbong was less than a warm-up.
'If that old fart finds out his concubine's been touched? Probably get an arrow in the ass and his junk shredded to bits.'
And right now, that fuse was in my hand.
This jade ring was a love token Gu Manbong had given Yohui—complete with their tiny engraved names.
[Perfect evidence, eh? How did you get it?]
'Stolen, obviously.'
As the Young Cult Leader's body double, I could roam the Hundred Thousand Mountains freely.
And I collected goodies like this whenever the chance arose.
Weapons for days like today.
"Urgh……."
The lovestruck old man's eyes were darting wildly.
The other elders hadn't spotted it yet.
"Insulting the Great Elder! That's another charge against the Young Cult Leader!"
"He has no grasp of the situation!"
"If he were my grandson, I'd tan his hide right now!"
Blah blah blah.
I lowered my hand and flashed Gu Manbong a grin.
'What's with the agonizing? The answer's already set.'
Hand this to the Heaven-Striking Bow Demon, and the old coot was done for.
Finally, Gu Manbong dropped his head and glanced at Vice Cult Leader Yong Jinseok.
The old man's lips mumbled silently.
"Sorry, Vice Cult Leader. Gotta save my own skin."
"……?"
Jade-Faced Lech's posture flipped in an instant.
The man who'd been scolding me with hands behind his back whirled around and barked at the Cult Leader's Palace elders.
"But there's something we've all overlooked! The most crucial point! Do you gathered elders know what it is?"
Sudden one-eighty.
The elders were baffled.
"What'd we miss?"
"What's this out of nowhere, Great Elder?"
"What else has the Young Cult Leader screwed up?"
Gu Manbong shook his head vigorously.
"No! That Yong Baekheon, the Young Cult Leader, is merely eighteen! Diligently training day and night to step into the mighty Heavenly Demon Realm! We've ignored that! He sees this incident as part of that very path!"
"……Huh?"
"What're you on about……?"
Absurdity from the Great Elder's mouth left the elders gaping at each other.
Bongmareung also cackled.
[What a load of nonsense.]
'He's working hard. To survive.'
I watched leisurely as Gu Manbong ranted, veins bulging in his neck.
The man was a silver-tongued devil, alright.
"Out in the distant West, they say: hate the sin, not the sinner! The Young Cult Leader may have caused a mess, but he's still the pillar propping up our cult. Shouldn't we forgive what we can?"
His earlier attacks on me? Just laying groundwork for this defense.
Gu Manbong was packaging it perfectly.
"Blade King Cheoksan and the Third Protector Squad's loss is regrettable, sure. But accidents happen! We can use this as a lesson to tighten Protector Squad discipline. For the cult as a whole, isn't it a net positive? Thus, I propose we quietly sweep this under the rug."
[Impressive. Truly impressive.]
Agreed.
Gu Manbong had gone all-in praising Yong Baekheon.
To an outsider, it sounded like the Young Cult Leader had racked up some battlefield glory.
"Er……."
"Hmm……."
"But why……."
A heavy silence blanketed the hall.
Some sensed the reversal hid something, their eyes gleaming.
I'd already pocketed the jade ring again.
'He's switched sides, so time to reciprocate.'
Gu Manbong had given his all.
No more to squeeze out.
Then Yong Jinseok spoke with a smile.
"I see. If that's the Great Elder's will, I'll accept as Vice Cult Leader. Heard you have urgent business anyway—shouldn't you be off?"
"Pardon?"
"You told me earlier. Some emergency means you can't stick around for the full Law Enforcement Meeting."
If you're no use to me, get lost.
Jade-Faced Lech flicked his eyes between me and Yong Jinseok, then forced an awkward laugh.
"Ah, right, I did. Mind's elsewhere. Heh heh. Then I'll take my leave. Wishing you a fine outcome!"
To me, he shot a kitten-like pleading gaze and sent a transmission.
[I will visit you later! Please, I beg you, Young Cult Leader!]
The old man bolted like a rabbit, and Yong Jinseok's glare at his retreating back burned like hellfire.
Enough to kill him five times over if looks could kill.
[Plans foiled—must sting.]
'Yeah. Solo ranting versus Great Elder backing? Worlds apart.'
Yong Jinseok's scheme to punish me had been thwarted—for now.
But kicking out one ally didn't end it.
The elders still eyed me hostilely, and Vice Cult Leader Yong Jinseok's face grew icier.
"I differ from Great Elder Gu Manbong. The Young Cult Leader must answer for this."
"Right!"
"We agree!"
The elders reignited.
Bongmareung showed interest in the gray pouch I held.
[Anything else in there? Got dirt on your uncle?]
'I do, but it's iffy.'
Unlike with Gu Manbong, this was shaky leverage.
Time to play it low and gauge the room.
But then Yong Jinseok dropped the unexpected.
"Everyone, rise! We'll resume the Law Enforcement Meeting at the incident site!"
"……!"
The forest where Yong Baekheon had nearly died, only for me to blow up The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon.
He wanted to reconvene there.
'What? Why change venues all of a sudden?'
* * *
It wasn't far.
But Yong Jinseok moved fast.
Betrayed by trusted Gu Manbong, he needed a new play.
Good thing he had a backup.
"Steward, fetch Changheon quick. Bring my sword too! Wait—it's Azure Pine, freshly sharpened? Perfect. Hurry!"
Yong Jinseok summoned his son, Yong Changheon, and beloved sword Azure Pine.
And finally…….
"Blue Eagle Unit Leader, prepare the formations."
"Yes, Vice Cult Leader."
Setting the stage for perfection.
Yong Jinseok had switched strategies entirely.
'So the punk's got leverage over the elders. Gotta lock the board down and crush him.'
The forest was a bombed-out ruin.
Elders gathered, clucking tongues at bloodstains and scorch marks.
Yong Baekheon, meanwhile, looked utterly unfazed.
"……."
As if none of this concerned him.
A noble gaze that even carried dignity.
'Monster of a kid.'
But not here.
Crush with raw power, and he'd crumble.
Yong Jinseok spoke gravely.
"Resuming the Law Enforcement Meeting. The Young Cult Leader faces three charges: heresy against the cult, violation of cult rules, and loss of dignity."
Yong Baekheon had harmed the cult.
Broken rules as a member.
Failed to uphold Young Cult Leader dignity.
Air-tight logic—but neutered by Gu Manbong.
What came next mattered more.
"……As the Great Elder said, we could forgive and give another chance. In that spirit, I propose this."
Yong Jinseok scanned the elders and played his card.
"In the name of the Elder Council, I challenge the Young Cult Leader to a rank dispute match. Opponent: my son, Yong Changheon, former Young Cult Leader candidate."
"A r-rank dispute?"
"Against the Young Cult Leader?"
"Yes."
Shocked elders stiffened, but Yong Jinseok smiled calmly.
A new youth strode out among the demons.
"Yong Changheon, lowliest of the faithful, greets the esteemed elders. If you permit, I'd spar with Brother Baekheon."
Yong Jinseok's eldest son had arrived.
He was not hiding his confident smile.
Meanwhile, thunder crashed in Jang Hosam's head.
[You mad bastard! A rank dispute against the Young Cult Leader? Spitting on Heavenly Demon Divine Cult tradition!]
* * *
I rubbed my temple lightly.
Demonic eyes on me—keep Yong Baekheon's authority intact, just a touch.
But my head was a riot.
[That worm! Draw your blade now! Off with his head first!]
'Mister Bong, you're giving me a headache! Calm down, please.'
No chance.
[Calm? Does this look calm to you? The Young Cult Leader stands equal to the Grand Cult Leader—beyond rank! Vessel of the sublime Heavenly Demon's authority! And this fool dares propose a rank dispute?!]
Bongmareung's outrage wasn't unwarranted.
The Young Cult Leader was the cult's little master, plain and simple.
'Yet they're demanding a rank fight?'
Utterly unthinkable.
Borderline blasphemy against the Cult Leader's Palace.
But the Vice Cult Leader was slyly setting the board.
"Look. Due to the Young Cult Leader's lapse, over a dozen cultists met gruesome ends in this forest."
"Oh dear……."
"Not intentional, of course—we can offer reflection time. But shouldn't the Young Cult Leader show corresponding resolve?"
"So, a rank dispute as punishment?"
"Precisely."
Elders tilted heads.
"Awkward in front of his father, but Young Cult Leader versus Young Master Changheon? Young Cult Leader's odds are higher……?"
"Hardly a chance for reflection."
"Won't it just punish Changheon unfairly?"
But Yong Jinseok smirked.
His gaze at me was infuriatingly smug.
"I know. So I propose no internal energy for the Young Cult Leader."
Spar without qi.
Cripple Yong Baekheon's unbeatable edge.
"That evens the scales nicely. The Young Cult Leader just needs to win here, and it's all swept away."
Yong Changheon stepped up again.
He flashed a sleazy grin my way.
"Brother Baekheon, it's been ages. Let's have a go—not as Young Cult Leader and nobody, but as old sparring partners who trained swordplay together. You won't refuse, right?"
"……."
I clamped my mouth shut.
My mind became a bit complicated.
'With White Dragon Soaring Sword, I can handle it.'
Handle? I could dominate.
Barring deliberate failure, defeat wasn't on the table.
As the Sword Heaven Demon's heir, Yong Changheon was no match.
'Sure, if he uses qi, I'm at a disadvantage. But the Vice Cult Leader set the no-qi rule—thanks for that.'
He'd schemed to boost his son.
Backfired spectacularly.
So I wasn't worried about losing.
The opposite, actually.
'Can I end it gently?'
They think I'm Yong Baekheon.
He's prepped for Twenty-Four Dragon Sword or Asura Heaven-Shattering Sword from our training.
But White Dragon Soaring Sword was a level above.
No qi? I could take his head.
'Go easy, he'll crawl back. Need a decisive finish without actually killing him. Tricky…….'
Right then.
Bongmareung muttered.
[Oh ho, that demonic sword—isn't it Azure Pine? Wonder what it tastes like…….]
"……!"