Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion Chapter 107
The elderly man in a white Taoist robe was silently tilling his field when he received a visit from the Sect Leader of Diancang.
“Hoho. For what reason has the Sect Leader come to find this old man?”
Even as the elderly man spoke, he did not turn his gaze to the Sect Leader.
He just silently held his hoe and tilled the field…
“It is truly tragic to report to you, elder master…”
The Sect Leader of Diancang informed the old man of the incident that had occurred on the Yangtze River.
It was the sad news that a considerable number of Diancang disciples had died while setting out to subjugate the Yama Fortress, and among them was the Diancang Divine Sword, Deung Cheon-pung.
“So, such a thing happened.”
The old man quietly put down his hoe.
“The lad is gone.”
“Elder master…”
“Any man who holds a sword is bound to be killed by someone, somewhere, someday. Is that not the fate of a martial artist?”
The Sect Leader of Diancang couldn't bring himself to speak in response to the old man's calm words.
The old man was connected to the Diancang Divine Sword, Deung Cheon-pung, as a fellow disciple.
Jeok Song-ja.
As the master of the Diancang Divine Sword Deung Cheon-pung, he was a master who had once made a name for himself in the martial world under the name Peng King Jin-in.
As he was known to have reached the Realm of Transformation in martial arts during the Righteous-Demonic War thirty years ago, it would be no exaggeration to say that he was currently the person who had reached the highest realm in the Diancang Sect.
“He was old enough to put down his sword at the age of fifty. To think he would meet his end in such a way.”
“Elder master…”
“What was his end like?”
“It is said that he allowed a blow after a one-on-one fight with the Fifth Young Master of the Demonic Cult.”
“At least it was a death befitting a martial artist. Then, his body.”
“We were unable to retrieve it.”
“How could the Sect Leader fail to retrieve even the body?”
At Jeok Song-ja's rebuke, the Sect Leader of Diancang hung his head low and could not say a word.
It was impossible for him, who was in Azure Mountain, to have been able to retrieve the body, but failing to retrieve the body of a master like Deung Cheon-pung would be an incredibly shameful thing.
“I have instructed the disciples to descend the mountain and find the body. Elder master, you…”
“That is enough.”
Jeok Song-ja waved his hand dismissively.
“No matter how important it is to retrieve the body, how can the dead be more important than the living? I cannot send the disciples into a dangerous place just to find a single body.”
“Then…”
“This old Taoist will find the body myself.”
“……!”
“It is the body of none other than my disciple.”
“How can you, elder master…”
“How can a man who calls himself a master turn a blind eye to his disciple's death? Not only must I find the body, but it is also only right that I take revenge.”
Jeok Song-ja willingly declared that he would avenge his disciple.
No matter how long it had been since he had turned his back on the secular world and lived in seclusion, he could not turn a blind eye to his disciple's death.
Perhaps his disciple, Deung Cheon-pung, was the only thread that connected the secluded Jeok Song-ja to the secular world.
“Sect Leader, do not mind this and attend to your duties. This Taoist will find the body myself.”
After saying so, Jeok Song-ja brushed the dirt off his clothes and leaped towards the cliff.
Tat, tahat!
A movement art that had reached the level of divinity unfolded, and Jeok Song-ja's body grew distant, heading down the mountain.
* * *
In Jin Cheon’s opinion, So U-bin had set up the board better than expected.
The reason he thought so was that So U-bin’s management of his troops was quite excellent.
Instead of facing the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and Imperial Navy coalition head-on, So U-bin split the Yama Fortress' forces into several parts and scattered them everywhere.
As could be seen from the previous battle, since there was no chance of victory in a frontal confrontation anyway, he had decided to go for a strategy where they wouldn't be wiped out all at once, even if they were defeated individually.
That way, they could at least avoid annihilation, and when they gathered again later, a certain number of personnel would be gathered, making it easier to rebuild the Yama Fortress.
Of course, this was a story that required the prerequisite that as many people as possible survived the small-scale skirmishes that would unfold in various places.
“I and Sa Senior Brother will try to draw as much attention as possible.”
“You are not unaware of the danger.”
“Are you worrying about me again?”
“Cut the sixth-brother-like talk.”
So U-bin said sternly.
“If you guys do just that, then in the meantime, I can gather the scattered forces and buy time to reorganize.”
“I will lend you the Seventh Divine Demon Squad. They will probably be of great help.”
“……”
So U-bin kept his mouth shut and remained silent.
That meant he was extremely displeased with the current situation.
If it were any other time, So U-bin would have retorted, ‘What help can those trash be?’
But now, the circumstances were different.
So U-bin also had two eyes, so he had clearly witnessed that Danmok Cheong and the Seventh Divine Demon Squad had become incomparably stronger than before.
Of course, they were not as outstanding as the members of the top-tier martial arts organizations, but in a situation like this, it was an undeniable fact that they would be of great help.
“Your subordinates, since you’re lending them, I’ll use them well. To save even one more of the water bandit bastards, every hand is needed.”
So U-bin cherished the Yama Fortress water bandits more than expected.
And that was a very rational judgment.
Although they were water bandits, most of them were seasoned boatmen.
Their martial arts might be weak, but since they had been active on the Yangtze River their whole lives from a young age until now, their experience and knowledge could by no means be taken lightly.
From the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s perspective of wanting to possess a navy called the Yama Fortress, skilled boatmen were more desperately needed than martial artists with high martial arts.
Martial artists could be trained in the Blood Wolf Corps, but creating skilled boatmen was not an easy task with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's capabilities.
It was common for martial artists to think that only martial arts were important, but So U-bin did not seem to have overlooked the fact that the world does not revolve around martial arts alone.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way.”
“Don’t get yourself killed trying to be a hero.”
So U-bin hurled a curse that was not quite a curse at Jin Cheon.
Jin Cheon, who had turned away, heard So U-bin's voice piercing his ears and let out a smirk, then immediately leaped away.
* * *
“It looks like we’ll be running around like crazy for a few days, so go on ahead and wait for me.”
As soon as he reached the shore, Jin Cheon said to Seop So-yeon who was waiting.
“You want me to go first?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“It can’t be helped. This is a war, and it has nothing to do with accumulating merits in the Ledger of Merits and Demerits. If anything, it would be detrimental.”
“That’s true.”
The merits Seop So-yeon accumulated distinguished between good and evil deeds based on actions, and the goal was to eventually reach ascension by accumulating those merits.
Therefore, if she were to get involved in such a conflict and use her power, it was needless to say that it would have a negative impact.
The fight between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult versus the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Imperial Family was a struggle for each other's survival and interests.
This was a fight that had nothing to do with good and evil…
“Alright, then. See you in Hunan Province. I’ll go ahead and do some sightseeing.”
Seop So-yeon leaped away gracefully.
“Are you ready?”
Jin Cheon looked back at the Blood Qilin.
“What do you take me for? I’m a man who’s always ready. Huhuhu.”
“……What on earth does that mean?”
“Who knows?”
The Blood Qilin feigned ignorance as if he knew nothing.
“Should I tell you? What I’m ready for?”
“I’ll pass.”
He didn’t know what he was trying to say, but Jin Cheon didn’t bother to ask.
Not only was he not curious, but he didn’t want to hear it either.
“This is not the time for jokes.”
“I know, I know.”
The Blood Qilin pouted.
“You’re telling me to go around stirring things up and killing everyone from now on. Risking my life.”
Seeing Jin Cheon’s contorted expression, the Blood Qilin hastily added.
“That’s right. At other times, it would have ended as a simple accident, but this time it’s different. If things go wrong, it’s the end for both me and you, senior brother. You must keep that in mind.”
“I know that too. I’d rather throw myself into the Yangtze River and become fish food than be killed or captured by the Righteous Heavenly Alliance bastards.”
“I’m glad you know.”
“But I’ve already fed the fish a lot.”
“What does that mean?”
“The flesh of the guys I killed must have fallen into the Yangtze River quite a bit. The fish will be plump this year. Hehehehe.”
Jin Cheon closed his eyes tightly, his head throbbing.
‘If you look closely, this man is truly a demonic practitioner of the ages.’
In Jin Cheon’s opinion, the Blood Qilin was a demonic practitioner no matter what anyone said.
It was fortunate that he was born as a martial artist and lived in such a chaotic era. What would have happened otherwise?
“Stop with the nonsense and let’s go.”
“Where are we going?”
“I’m thinking of smashing the nearest Righteous Heavenly Alliance branch.”
“Really?!”
The Blood Qilin was startled.
The idea of just two people storming a Righteous Heavenly Alliance branch was something even the Blood Qilin had never imagined.
Of course, it wasn't impossible if they wanted to, but any three-year-old child would know that it would be difficult to survive after committing such an act.
To what extent was it that even the Blood Qilin, who was well-versed in this field, was surprised?
“To buy time for So Senior Brother, shouldn’t we do at least that much?”
“Of course, that’s true, but…”
“If you’re not up for it, you can back out now.”
“Huhu.”
The Blood Qilin laughed.
“You think I’d get scared and back out over that?”
“I’m not joking.”
“How can I miss such a golden opportunity just because it’s dangerous? This is something I can use as a drinking story for the rest of my life.”
“……”
“Let’s go!”
The Blood Qilin ran out at a frightening speed.
“……That’s not the right direction.”
Jin Cheon muttered to himself as he watched the Blood Qilin’s back, which was already disappearing into the distance.
* * *
Meanwhile, the northern part of Yunnan Province was in a state of utter chaos.
Not only was there a naval battle on the Yangtze River, but small-scale skirmishes were breaking out everywhere, so it was no exaggeration to say that the entire area had become a battlefield.
Therefore, it was only natural that the atmosphere at the piers where large and small ships came and went was ominous.
Martial artists with swords were roaming around in groups of threes and fives, stirring things up here and there, so it would be stranger if the atmosphere was good.
In particular, the places where the Righteous Heavenly Alliance branches were located were literally teeming with people due to the flocking martial artists.
Not only the Righteous Heavenly Alliance martial artists and government forces, but also wanderers who wanted to gain fame on this occasion gathered, making the front of every Righteous Heavenly Alliance branch a bustling market.
It was in broad daylight that two gods of death visited such a Righteous Heavenly Alliance branch.
“Y-you bastard!”
A martial artist passing by the front of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance branch recognized Jin Cheon and let out a scream-like shout.
“I-it’s the Unrivaled New Demon! The Unrivaled New Demon has appeared!”
As soon as that shout echoed, Righteous Heavenly Alliance martial artists with weapons poured out from all over.
“It’s really the Unrivaled New Demon! The Unrivaled New Demon has really appeared!”
“And the Blood Qilin next to him…!”
The Blood Qilin looked back at Jin Cheon.
“Wow. That’s cool.”
“……?”
“They called you the Unrivaled New Demon! The Unrivaled New Demon!”
“What’s with that heinous title? Are you perhaps talking about me?”
Jin Cheon said, pointing to himself.
“Who else would it be? I’m the Blood Qilin.”
“……”
Jin Cheon was at a loss for words at the title that had been attached to him without his knowledge.
Unrivaled New Demon.
At some point, Jin Cheon began to be called that.
As the prisoner exchange incident from last time and the battle on the Yangtze River this time became known, he was gaining notoriety as a new demonic practitioner representing the demonic path without his knowledge.
Moreover, his unique history of being a disciple of the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior, defecting to the Demonic Cult while studying at the Heavenly Martial Academy, and becoming the seventh disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God also played a significant role in his notoriety.
As a result, he had become a representative figure of the great demon head who was condemned by the world.