Chapter 335: Chapter 335

The Shaolin Temple, after the Demonic Cult’s retreat.

“Wounded, over here!”

“Amitabha… May you rest in peace…”

Naturally, the Shaolin Temple had suffered the most damage.

Not only were there numerous casualties among the monks defending the temple, but many of the scholarly monks were also injured in the crossfire.

And Zhu Gang-in, the imperial descendant who had been entrusted to their care, had been kidnapped.

The Shaolin elders were in a state of disarray, holding emergency meetings.

‘The Murim Alliance meeting will be canceled, of course. And everyone will return to their respective sects and clans after tending to the wounded.’

As everyone was busy dealing with the aftermath of the attack, Hugo, lost in thought, was approached by someone.

It was Namgung So-ran, the Southern Palace Clan’s young miss, her clothes and hair slightly disheveled but otherwise unharmed.

She approached him cautiously, took a deep breath, and bowed deeply.

“I apologize for the late greeting. I’m deeply grateful for saving my life. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

Her tone was much calmer and more subdued than her usual cheerful demeanor.

It was understandable. She had witnessed the deaths of countless people, including those she had been socializing with just moments ago. It must have been a traumatic experience for the sheltered young miss.

“Don’t mention it. It was my duty.”

Hugo responded politely, his tone humble.

And as they conversed, others began to gather around them.

They all had one thing in common.

They had all been helped by Hugo, in one way or another.

“Thank you again, benefactor.”

“You were amazing! I thought a celestial being had descended from the heavens!”

“I am indebted to you. Please contact me if you ever need my assistance.”

Unlike the others, Hugo hadn’t been affected by the Demonic Cult’s strange technique, so he had been able to fight at his full potential, providing valuable support to the younger generation of martial artists, most of whom were barely Master Realm level.

He had even reached the peak of the Master Realm during the battle, his performance nothing short of spectacular.

And so, those with ulterior motives began to approach him.

“Are you planning to return to the Zhuge Clan, Young Hero?”

“We’d like to invite you to our clan as a token of our gratitude…”

It was an expected development.

Hugo… or rather, Ha Seung-hoon… was a prodigy, a once-in-a-generation talent who had reached the peak of the Master Realm in his early twenties.

In this era where martial arts prowess was paramount, it was only natural for others to try and curry favor with him.

And he wasn’t even officially affiliated with any faction, just a guest of the Zhuge Clan.

If they could recruit him…

Their eyes gleamed with ambition.

Having him on their side would greatly enhance their influence and power.

And the women were especially eager.

‘If I can just win his heart…’

‘This might be helpful for my brother’s succession struggle. And then…’

He was skilled, his character impeccable, and his appearance quite handsome.

And he had no family ties, making him a perfect candidate for a son-in-law.

A strange tension filled the air as the women subtly competed for his attention.

Namgung So-ran, stepping forward, moved closer to Hugo, as if to shield him from their gazes.

And as the silent rivalry continued, the young martial artists around them began to discuss the recent incident.

“I’m worried. The Demonic Cult’s resurgence… This isn’t the end, is it?”

“I’m afraid not. This is just the beginning. I hope the damage isn’t too severe.”

“They even attacked the Shaolin Temple. They must have been preparing for this for a long time… I’m worried about the future of the Murim world.”

Their conversation naturally shifted to the Demonic Cult, the perpetrators of the attack.

They all expressed concern about the future.

It was a natural reaction, but…

‘…It’s already over.’

Hugo, the only one who knew the truth, smiled awkwardly.

He remained silent as the others discussed countermeasures and strategies.

How could he possibly tell them?

That the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, who had just launched his grand scheme, was already dead?

‘Well, they’ll be more cautious for a while… but it’ll be fine eventually.’

The root cause of the crisis had been eliminated before it could even escalate.

Of course, the leaders of the various factions would be worried about the Demonic Cult’s hidden motives… but it was still better than an actual disaster.

‘But that’s not important right now.’

Hugo’s expression hardened.

He had learned something about the Demonic Cult’s plan while analyzing the information he had acquired from the Heavenly Demon.

‘I need to adjust my plans accordingly. I’d like to contact the Golden Island Sect…’

The Demonic Cult, which had been dormant since the bloody incident at the imperial palace, had finally begun to act, thanks to them.

Of course, they had been active in the shadows, manipulating events and absorbing smaller factions like the Blood Cult…

‘…And I need more information about the Dragon’s Children.’

The sickly young man, Zhu Gang-in, the imperial descendant who had been entrusted to the Shaolin Temple.

The Demonic Cult’s main objective for this attack had been to capture him.

Their attempt to overthrow the righteous factions during the meeting had been a secondary objective.

‘The Dragon’s Children, Zhu Gang-in… and…’

And he knew of someone else with similar symptoms.

…It seemed like he would have to return to the Zhuge Clan.

Hans’s swift and decisive elimination of the Heavenly Demon was a significant event.

It was like defeating the final boss in a game during the tutorial, using cheat codes.

It was a humiliating defeat for the Heavenly Demon… but from Hans’s perspective, it was a perfect outcome, incredibly efficient.

But the amount of information he could extract from the defeated enemy was limited.

‘There are limits to how much I can rummage through the mind of a Mysterious Realm expert.’

Even with the Heavenly Demon Emperor, he had only managed to extract a few fragmented memories after infusing his body with abyssal energy.

And the Heavenly Demon was even stronger.

Of course, Hans had also grown stronger since then, and he now had the Orb of Mind to enhance his mental abilities…

‘That Heaven’s Turn Society Master… he’s always causing trouble.’

But the holy power residing within the Heavenly Demon’s body had interfered with his attempts to access his mind, preventing him from unleashing his full power.

Even with his newfound resistance to the Master’s holy power, there were limits.

It only mitigated the damage, it didn't completely negate it. It wasn’t very helpful for such delicate work.

‘At least I got something.’

After much effort, he had managed to extract a few pieces of information.

One of them was that the Heavenly Demon wasn't just a pawn of Heaven’s Turn Society, but an Earthling settler who had been planted long ago.

‘Decades ago. He used his unique skill to establish himself, then focused on martial arts to prepare for the eventual loss of the system’s support.’

The process, even based on the fragmented information, was incredibly systematic and efficient.

It explained why Heaven’s Turn Society had so many powerful members.

Hans clicked his tongue, shaking his head in disbelief.

‘It’s like… a scholarship program for villains. I wonder how many more there are, in other worlds.’

They had clearly invested in individuals with suitable talents and abilities.

And he had also learned about the importance of the ‘Dragon’s Children’.

He had suspected they were special… but the information he had gleaned from the Heavenly Demon far exceeded his expectations.

They were connected to the Main God of this world.

‘…Well, even a hands-off god wouldn’t just sit idly by while his world is falling apart.’

They were chosen by the Main God of Ganghwange.

Seeds of hope, born to restore the world, its Ki disrupted by the theft of the Dragon Heart.

He couldn't learn the details, as the Heavenly Demon’s memories were incomplete… but Hans didn’t care.

He could ask someone else later.

“I’ll start with their headquarters.”

He had finally found a clue to restoring Ganghwange.

They wouldn’t have kidnapped the Dragon’s Children for no reason. He had to act quickly before they could do anything… drastic.

‘I’ll retrieve Zhu Gang-in as well.’

He wasn’t planning to search for the kidnappers.

They would eventually return to their base. All he had to do was wait.

‘I don’t have the exact coordinates, but… I know the general area. I’ll find them.’

And the Heavenly Demon Cult’s headquarters was the largest and most powerful evil faction in Ganghwange, so they would have plenty of high-quality materials for creating jiangshi.

And skilled craftsmen as well.

“Hmph, two birds with one stone.”

Hans grinned, a sinister smile twisting his lips, and then, having determined the direction and distance to his destination,

…shot through the air, a sharp whistling sound in his wake.

His subspace contained the body of the once strongest warrior in this world.

Yungjung Mountain, the home of the Zhuge Clan.

A massive figure, Harley, the Mad Demon, appeared at the foot of the mountain.

He glanced around and clicked his tongue.

He had rushed here using 「In the Hero’s Footsteps」, but the devastated landscape clearly indicated that a storm had already passed through.

Uprooted trees and boulders, the charred remains of the forest, and countless scars from weapons…

The numerous formations that had protected the mountain, from its base to the Zhuge Clan’s main residence…

Harley’s eyes narrowed.

He quickened his pace, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.

Amidst the lingering scent of smoke and burning wood, he caught a familiar scent.

And the scent of death, a mixture of despair, sorrow, and resentment.

He reached the top of a peak and looked towards the Zhuge Clan’s residence.

‘There are… quite a few survivors. They managed to repel the attack.’

He could sense the auras of familiar individuals moving busily within the buildings.

They had suffered heavy losses, but as expected of a clan specialized in defense, they had somehow managed to drive out the invaders.

‘But I can’t sense Zhuge Hyemi. Is she hiding in another formation? Or…’

…Or had the attackers achieved their objective and retreated?

He remained cautious, observing the situation like a hunter, his senses heightened.

They were on high alert after the sudden attack.

It wouldn’t be wise for him, an outsider with a conspicuous appearance, to barge in.

And then, his sharp sense of smell detected something unusual.

A faint, unfamiliar scent amidst the chaotic mix of emotions and the lingering smell of battle.

He reacted instantly, his body moving like lightning.

He crossed several kilometers in the blink of an eye, his hand reaching into a nearby bush.

Something shattered, and a middle-aged man, dressed in tattered robes, was dragged out, Harley’s hand gripping his collar.

Harley grinned, his lips stretching unnaturally wide, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth.

“Who are you? Why were you hiding there? Are you connected to the ones who attacked this place?”

“Hmm, you’re slow to answer. Perhaps I should start by ripping off an arm.”

The Taoist priest, his face pale, waved his hands frantically as Harley muttered coldly.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding! I’m from the Maoshan Sect… I mean, the Golden Island Sect! I have nothing to do with the Demonic Cult! We’re enemies!”

“Huh? Golden Island Sect?”

“Um… You don’t seem to be from the Golden Island Sect… But aren’t we… kindred spirits? Let’s talk this over…”

Harley paused, confused by the sudden barrage of unfamiliar terms.

The Taoist priest, mistaking his hesitation for a positive reaction, sighed in relief and continued.

“Whew, I am Qingguan, under the command of the Azure Dragon. I was on a mission when I witnessed the attack on the Zhuge Clan and was about to report it to my superiors…”

He emphasized the words ‘Azure Dragon’, as if it was a powerful and reliable backer.

Of course, Harley, who knew nothing about it, wasn’t impressed.

He looked at the middle-aged Taoist priest with a strange glint in his eyes.

‘Kindred spirits… This is… interesting.’

The scent emanating from Qingguan was subtly different from the other Ganghwange natives he had encountered.

It seemed like he was also a demon, hiding his true nature and living among humans.

It was an unexpected encounter…

‘Good. This will save me some time.’

Harley’s lips curled into a smile, his eyes twinkling.

He casually licked his lips, a predatory instinct stirring within him.

“Eek! I… I don’t taste good! I’m a freshwater demon, so I’m a bit… fishy…!”

It took a while to clear up the misunderstanding.

It seemed demon was a bit… timid.