Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion Chapter 23

A thick scent of blood emanated from the dark alley.

It was enough to create the illusion that a bloody scene of slaughter, splattered with fresh blood, was unfolding inside the alley.

Yeom Bi knew all too well that this was a phenomenon that occurred when his junior brother revealed his clear killing intent.

Despite this, Yeom Bi didn't bat an eye.

It would be absurd for him to flinch just because his impudent junior brother emitted some killing intent.

"What are you plotting now?"

"Plotting? Such hurtful words."

The killing intent quietly subsided.

"I just wanted to let you know, Senior Brother, that he's mine."

"This time it's 'he'?"

"If anyone heard you, they would surely misunderstand."

"I don't have time for your word games."

Yeom Bi made a fed-up expression as if it wasn't worth talking anymore.

"I have no intention of playing along with your schemes, so don't bother me."

"I made it clear that if things go wrong, I will kill that fellow."

"Do as you please. It's none of my business whether you kill or save someone."

"Hmm."

"Cut it out. If you cause trouble again, it won't end with just secluded training. No matter how crazy you are, you wouldn't want to be thrown into the Demonic Ghost Cave, would you?"

"…."

The inside of the alley grew quiet.

Demonic Ghost Cave.

One of the six forbidden places of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

It was a hell realized in the mortal world, teeming with fearsome demonic ghosts.

Therefore, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would inflict the punishment of throwing those who committed unforgivable, serious crimes into the Demonic Ghost Cave.

Throughout history, the only person who was thrown into the Demonic Ghost Cave and walked out on their own two feet was the Heavenly Demon.

Thus, being thrown into the Demonic Ghost Cave was, for all intents and purposes, a death sentence, though they wouldn't kill you outright.

"I'm advising you as your senior brother. Whether you accept it or not is up to you. Whether you even think of me as your senior brother is…"

Yeom Bi stopped talking and his face crumpled.

He had gone to the trouble of nagging, but it seemed his ill-mannered junior brother had already slipped away.

"Such a self-centered brat."

Yeom Bi muttered and shook his head from side to side.

* * *

"Really?!"

Baek A-rin's eyes widened like a startled rabbit's.

The story she heard from Jin Yeong-in was, from her perspective, utterly shocking.

The Fourth Young Master had apparently enjoyed the food she made, and even asked if he could taste it again tomorrow.

For a mere maid under the Outer Chief Steward, not even a martial artist, this was an immense honor.

"He was praising it highly, you know?"

"I can't believe it. The Fourth Young Master must only eat rare delicacies like the finest foods from land and sea…."

As Baek A-rin showed signs of disbelief, Danmok Cheong chimed in.

"It's true. The Fourth Young Master tasted your cooking and praised it highly."

"Gasp!"

"Thanks to you, Young Master Jin was able to build a rapport with the Fourth Young Master, so your contribution is great."

"I-I don't know where to put myself."

Baek A-rin was at a loss.

It was clear that she had never dreamed that the food she made would so perfectly suit the palate of the heavenly Fourth Young Master.

"Brother Dan, you're too much. It's too early to say I've built a rapport. We've only trained together for a short while."

"Young Master Jin, you are too modest."

Danmok Cheong shook his head.

"The opportunity to train with the Fourth Young Master is not common. Besides, didn't you teach the Fourth Young Master the body-fortifying methods of the Central Plains? That's something mere common disciples wouldn't even dare to dream of."

"Haha…."

"In any case, my congratulations."

"Pardon?"

"Just by becoming acquainted with the Fourth Young Master, Young Master Jin's standing within the cult will rise significantly. Isn't that something worth celebrating?"

"It's just a simple acquaintance, I doubt my standing will rise that much…."

"You don't know what you're talking about."

Danmok Cheong shook his head.

"This cult operates on the strict law of survival of the fittest, the law of the jungle, but for that very reason, connections are also extremely important."

"Hmm?"

"Being on friendly terms with someone of high rank means you can also bask in their glory."

"Isn't that just borrowing the fox's authority by walking with the tiger?"

"Strictly speaking, yes."

"Blood ties, regional ties, school ties… I've experienced them so much during my time in the Righteous Faction that it makes my teeth grind. But to think such a trend exists in our cult as well…."

Jin Yeong-in said with a frown.

"Young Master Jin."

Danmok Cheong gave a bitter smile.

"People are the same everywhere, here or there. Why wouldn't our cult have such things?"

"...!"

"It's just a matter of whether you flaunt it openly and take it for granted, or pretend you don't on the outside while pulling strings behind the scenes. That's the only difference."

"Ah."

Hearing Danmok Cheong's words, Jin Yeong-in had a great realization and nodded his head.

The biggest reason Jin Yeong-in hated the Righteous Faction was their ingrained hypocrisy.

In his experience, the Righteous Faction folks usually pretended to be righteous and just masters on the outside.

The people of the Righteous Faction were skilled at disguising themselves as good to win people's favor and justify their actions.

But in reality, that was not the case.

They too were human, so they were not free from greed, envy, jealousy, hatred, and anger.

That's why the Righteous Faction folks always did shady things behind the scenes.

For example, while outwardly crying for a great cause, they captured a promising prodigy, locked him in the Demonic Prison, and subjected him to all sorts of biological experiments…….

Conversely, the people of the Demonic Path justify their actions through power.

They don't care about public opinion.

They have no hesitation in pursuing what they desire.

That is why they are called demonic practitioners and are pointed at by the people of the world…….

"Was I unpleasant, by any chance?"

"Not at all."

Jin Yeong-in responded to Danmok Cheong's concerned question with a smile.

"Isn't an openly bad guy better than a black-hearted hypocrite?"

"Pardon?"

"I like that honesty."

Jin Yeong-in's eyes shone as he recalled declaring before his master Heavenly Hero of the Sky's memorial tablet that he would walk the path of the demon.

A connection with the Fourth Young Master?

He certainly hadn't approached him to bask in his glory, but if he could enjoy it, there was no reason to refuse.

As Danmok Cheong said, here in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, connections would also be a great help in establishing his position.

* * *

Baek A-rin was busy from early in the morning.

She was already generous and took a long time to prepare food.

But now that there was one more mouth to feed, she had to move diligently.

Moreover, today's lunchbox was to be eaten by the Fourth Young Master as well, so Baek A-rin was determined to show off her skills.

Therefore, the ingredients going into the lunchbox looked to be at least three times the usual amount.

"Aren't you overdoing it? You don't have to go to that much trouble. Just pack it like you always do."

"No."

Baek A-rin shook her head at Jin Yeong-in's worried words.

"It's not hard at all, so you don't have to worry."

"But…."

Jin Yeong-in's gaze swept across the kitchen.

Who knows when she had woken up, but next to the crouching Baek A-rin, trimmed ingredients were piled up like a mountain.

"It seems excessive…."

"It's unthinkable for me to make it carelessly when the Young Master's success might depend on the food I make."

Baek A-rin said firmly.

"Success?"

"A connection with the Fourth Young Master will surely help your success, Young Master."

In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, even among maids of the same status, their influence varied greatly depending on whom they served.

Therefore, Jin Yeong-in's success was as good as Baek A-rin's success, so she was more sincere than ever.

‘A connection isn't going to magically appear just because of this.’

Jin Yeong-in gave a bitter smile as he watched Baek A-rin diligently trimming the ingredients.

To build a connection with someone, one must approach them with sincerity.

It was Jin Yeong-in's belief that trying to win someone's favor with ulterior motives would always be transparent.

That afternoon.

Jin Yeong-in met Yeom Bi at the Body-Fortifying Prescription, trained with him, and then they ate the lunchbox Baek A-rin had sent.

As Baek A-rin had made it with determination, the contents of the lunchbox were so sumptuous that it was jaw-dropping.

Meanwhile, there was not a single dish that was fried or stir-fried in oil, so it was no exaggeration to say that it was the optimal composition for those who practiced body-fortifying arts.

Perhaps because of this, Yeom Bi indulged in the dishes made by Baek A-rin as if he were possessed by a gluttonous spirit, and only stopped his chopsticks after completely emptying the lunchbox.

"You, did you save a country in your past life or something?"

"What are you suddenly talking about?"

"I'm just saying I'm jealous that you get to eat meals like this three times a day."

"Haha."

Jin Yeong-in gave a bitter smile.

‘I didn't even have the chance to save a country. I was trapped in the Demonic Prison living a life worse than a dog.’

Whether he knew Jin Yeong-in's inner thoughts or not, Yeom Bi continuously praised the dishes made by Baek A-rin, expressing his satiety.

"How much?"

"Pardon?"

"I can't just be treated to meals like this and wipe my mouth clean."

"It's fine."

Jin Yeong-in waved his hands.

"I didn't treat you expecting anything in return."

"Still, you should take what you're owed. The cost of the ingredients must have been considerable."

"It's really fine."

"Really? Then stop by my family's home sometime."

"Your family's home… are you talking about the Demonic Armament Yeom Family?"

"Yeah."

Yeom Bi nodded his head.

"You use a sword, right? After you pass the Blood Wolf Corps, come to my family's home. I'll gift you a sword."

"You don't have to do that…."

"It's an order."

"…As you command."

It was clear that the high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, like Outer Chief Steward Yi Ja-yeong, hated having their kindness refused.

Seeing how they asserted their authority to get their way whenever Jin Yeong-in refused.

"When I give you something, just take it without complaint. Others are desperate to get even a failed product from my family."

"Ah."

The Demonic Armament Yeom Family was a family of blacksmiths who had been crafting divine weapons for generations.

Having created as many as three of the Ten Great Heavenly Treasures, it was no exaggeration to say that they had reached the pinnacle when it came to crafting weaponry.

A sword crafted in such a place, no matter how inferior, would undoubtedly be worthy of being called a famed sword.

"I think it's more than I deserve, but since you are giving an order, I will gratefully accept it."

"Good."

"Out of gratitude, I would like to treat you to dinner. Would you be able to visit my home soon?"

"If I go, can I eat the food made by the maid named Baek A-rin?"

"That's the idea."

"Call me anytime. If it's her cooking, I'll drop everything and run over."

It was clear that Yeom Bi was exceptionally fond of the food made by Baek A-rin.

"Right. There was something I wanted to tell you, but I forgot."

Yeom Bi said, as if it had just occurred to him.

"What is it?"

"Be careful."

"If you're talking about the grudge related to my master…."

Jin Yeong-in knew all too well that the Seventh Team Leader of the Ghost Soldier Corps, Jang In-geol, was just one of the many grudges his master had made while he was alive.

He didn't know for sure, but there were likely high-ranking officials who also held a grudge against Heavenly Hero of the Sky.

"That would be better, actually."

"Pardon?"

"An annoying fellow has latched onto you."

To Jin Yeong-in, Yeom Bi's words sounded like those of a fortune-teller.

For example, when things aren't going well and you visit a supposedly skilled fortune-teller in the neighborhood, don't you usually hear a story about a resentful spirit clinging to your back?

"A grudge can be resolved one way or another, but not that fellow."

"What do you mean by that…."

"What else? It means a guy is now hovering around you."

Yeom Bi looked at Jin Yeong-in with a pitiful expression, as if he felt sorry for him.