Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 210
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 210. Seeds of the Divine (5)
Moyong Bi’s eyebrows twitched.
“You’re certain?”
“Yes.”
“How can you be so confident?”
After pondering for a moment, Neung Hyeong scratched his head and spoke.
“This might take a while to explain.”
“Since when did you ever care about such things, you bastard?”
“Good grief.”
Neung Hyeong, sitting cross-legged on the platform with his arms firmly crossed, opened his mouth with a serious expression.
“Before I explain this as simply as possible, there’s one thing you need to understand.”
“What?”
“Let’s use Buddhism as an example. Original Buddhism was different from today’s Buddhism and had no sects.”
Moyong Bi immediately understood what Neung Hyeong was trying to say.
“Right, many sects emerged that were different from the original religion, and this damn evil cult you’re so certain about is one of them, is that it?”
“…This bastard really leaves me speechless.”
“Keep it simple but don’t leave out the key points. I’ll understand on my own.”
Neung Hyeong nodded and spoke.
“The religion that was the predecessor of Baihuojiao—I won’t mention its name since you’d forget it anyway in our terms. In any case, that religion has good gods and evil gods.”
“And then?”
“Naturally, the believers worship the good gods and perceive the evil gods as beings to avoid and fear. They consider the good gods as the absolute object of faith and the creator of all things in the world.”
Moyong Bi nodded and continued the thought.
“But as time passes, human hearts toward gods are bound to change. Just like religious doctrines change.”
“It’s comfortable talking with a smart guy. You’re right. Those bastards at Xiao Leiyin Temple in West Tibet worship evil Buddhas and claim one can reach enlightenment through lust and debauchery, right? It’s similar to that.”
“I understand.”
Neung Hyeong sighed.
“These bastards are probably similar to those guys.”
“Earlier you were certain, so why are you distancing yourself now?”
“…”
“I see. You’ve never actually seen these people either.”
Neung Hyeong couldn’t help but admire Moyong Bi’s perceptiveness.
‘This bastard, how does he read my thoughts so well?’
Since he wouldn’t admit that he was simpler than he thought, he had no choice but to praise his opponent as remarkable.
“Right. All I’ve done is read about them in documents. Well, I’ve also heard from the elders.”
“So what’s the name of that religion?”
Neung Hyeong’s eyes deepened.
“We don’t know the exact name either. For convenience, we’ve called it the Black Death Cult, but we don’t even know what they call themselves.”
“Black death…”
“Originally, in the source of Baihuojiao, even evil gods are close to personalities that flowed from the one true god. Whether they’re fictional gods created because they judged that the confrontational structure of good and evil would help expand their religious influence, I don’t know, but anyway, the teaching of that religion is that evil must be destroyed.”
Moyong Bi tilted his head.
“So anyway, those bastards believe in evil gods, is that it?”
“That’s what we believe.”
“Are they insane?”
“They probably don’t think so.”
“What’s the name of their god?”
Neung Hyeong smacked his lips.
“On our side, we call it Ahriman.”
“Ahriman?”
“Just think of it as an evil god. You don’t need to remember it.”
Moyong Bi, who had been quietly mulling over that name, asked once more.
“So, because you’ve seen it in documents and heard from elders that such a religion existed, you think this is their doing?”
“Even though I was a figurehead Alliance Leader, I wasn’t ignorant of the lifestyle and beliefs of the Main Palace disciples.”
What appeared on Neung Hyeong’s face was vivid displeasure.
“The disciples of Sacred Blood Palace could risk their lives for one purpose. Yes, that was fanaticism. As I keep saying, we don’t consider ourselves demons. We merely adopted demonic methods as means.”
“So, this incredibly complex situation wasn’t caused by Sacred Blood Palace?”
“…”
“Why can’t you answer?”
After hesitating for a moment, Neung Hyeong let out a deep sigh.
“I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t think so, but I don’t know what happened in the past twenty years.”
He would want to say absolutely not. But with his intelligence and experience that didn’t match his personality, he also understood that human hearts could always change.
“They say human nature doesn’t change. But I think differently. Nothing wavers and tilts as easily as the human heart. It’s because we change and adapt so well that we stand at the pinnacle of nature, isn’t it?”
“Ridiculous.”
“Frankly speaking, if individuals are like that, what about groups? You must know how terrifying collective madness can be.”
Moyong Bi affirmed with silence.
People can become remarkably intelligent, but at the same time, they can become so stupid it makes you wonder if it’s acceptable.
Surprisingly, this symptom appeared more intensely in intelligent scholars or people who had seen and learned much.
‘Those who only receive knowledge without ever thinking.’
When information increases, instead of developing the ability to interpret beyond given limited information, one only accepts what is provided.
Naturally, they become easily swayed by others’ words, and eventually, having lost themselves, they find themselves drifting in a vast ocean where not even an island can be found.
That’s human nature.
Because of such people, the Moyong Family also fell.
Even with Ho Yeon Family’s brilliant scheme, if everyone had judged rationally and coldly, the Moyong Family might not have fallen.
‘Foolish and stupid. That’s how weak they are.’
Because they’re weak, they can’t bear that their judgment was wrong and are easily swept away by emotions.
And later, unable to endure such selves, they condemn innocent others and make them emit the same stench as themselves.
“People interpret even the same sentence completely differently when they read it. I can’t think that the disciples of the Main Palace were so special that they remained unchanged for twenty years.”
“If you think that way, you can be considered quite intelligent.”
Neung Hyeong sighed.
“Shall I be more honest? I’m not believing they didn’t do it, but rather hoping they didn’t.”
“Why do you think that way?”
“I was a figurehead, so I couldn’t properly teach my subordinates the ability to think properly.”
“…”
“Diverse thinking harms faith. That was the elders’ belief.”
“You think differently?”
“Yes. Only those who have thought properly can truly believe. Not blindly believing because others believe, but being able to see the essence within.”
“…”
“Even I, as the Alliance Leader, should have done that. But I didn’t.”
Neung Hyeong smiled bitterly.
“As you said, the responsibility ultimately lies with me. If it’s true that the disciples were deceived by the Black Death Cult, which may or may not exist, and are committing such acts… that’s also my fault in the end.”
Moyong Bi hadn’t imagined that Neung Hyeong possessed such meticulous thinking.
“You’ve changed a lot too.”
“People always change.”
“Know that it’s thanks to me.”
“I was more comfortable when I didn’t know.”
“You’re unnecessarily too smart for that.”
Though it was a joking compliment, Neung Hyeong couldn’t be happy about it.
Moyong Bi crossed his arms.
“Fine. It’s not certain, but let’s say this crazy act could be the work of the Black Death Cult branch mentioned in Sacred Blood Palace documents, or it could be the work of your changed disciples.”
“No, that’s different.”
“What?”
“It’s only been twenty years. That’s more than enough time for a person’s heart to change, but it’s too short to completely trust new believers who once followed other sects.”
Moyong Bi’s eyes flashed.
“Five Gates Purification.”
“That’s right, the Five Gates Purification of Sacred Blood Palace is a cleansing of pure souls. It doesn’t require anyone’s sacrifice. If there is a sacrifice, it’s only the filth clinging to my soul.”
“…I see.”
“If this is truly a Five Gates Purification built upon blood and corpses, then these bastards are most likely the Black Sect. I heard those guys had connections with Baihuojiao long ago.”
Moyong Bi nodded.
“Fine, let’s assume they’re the Black Sect for now.”
“….”
“Isn’t it about time you told me?”
Shadows fell across Neung Hyeong’s face.
“Yes, it’s time.”
“The reason I readily agreed to come to the Main Family House and talk about divine seeds and whatnot was to give you enough time to think. Since you’re as stubborn as I am, I knew I wouldn’t be able to hear anything if I tried to force it out of you.”
“….”
“Have you thought enough?”
“Yes.”
“Go ahead.”
Neung Hyeong sighed and spoke.
“The mystical art that tried to wait until your death and use your soul as a seed for the descent of a new god is called Spirit Binding Incantation.”
“I know, you bastard. You told me before.”
“Hmm, you remembered.”
“Continue.”
“You probably remember this too? That I didn’t use the Spirit Binding Incantation because I wanted to.”
Moyong Bi nodded silently.
Neung Hyeong continued with a gloomy expression.
“Since the Spirit Binding Incantation is a command engraved into the soul, the person himself cannot remember it.”
“So that’s why you were surprised.”
“Right, thinking about it, you remembered that too. You persistent bastard.”
“So?”
“It’s exactly as I explained. For the god to descend, it’s necessary to offer an incomparably strong soul from under heaven as sacrifice.”
Moyong Bi frowned.
“I don’t know much about gods, but you’re saying that for such a great being to descend, all that’s needed is one strong soul?”
“…Of course that wouldn’t be everything.”
“Why are you speaking like it’s speculation?”
“Because it’s obvious you’ll get angry.”
“At least I won’t get angry at you. You said it wasn’t a war you started because you wanted to.”
Neung Hyeong finally sighed.
“It’s speculation, but… the elders waging war in the past might have been for the god’s descent.”
“What?”
“….”
“You bastard, speak clearly. What do you mean waging war for some god’s desc…”
Suddenly Moyong Bi’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
“Don’t tell me?”
“I don’t know exactly, but… I also don’t think it’s normal to make a god descend by offering one soul as sacrifice through the Spirit Binding Incantation.”
“…!”
“More souls were needed… that would be more logical.”
Moyong Bi’s gaze grew increasingly cold.
Neung Hyeong felt uncomfortable, but he didn’t bother reading Moyong Bi’s mood.
“I don’t know the principle either. But if the Spirit Binding Incantation can be used even after my death, then souls definitely exist.”
“….”
“In other words, my thought is that the elders built an altar for the god’s descent through the souls of not only the Palace Disciples but also Orthodox Martial World warriors, and chose you, who had the most intense soul under heaven at the time, as the final finishing touch.”
Moyong Bi said nothing.
But Neung Hyeong knew. That Moyong Bi’s rage had now exceeded its limits.
‘Damn.’
That fateful day when they first and last met in the past.
Moyong Bi’s face when he first spotted him was just like this.
The face of a lion who had lost his family and foundation, exhausted before the source of all evil.
“It’s exactly the same content I told you before. You were a sacrifice for the god’s descent. However, I don’t know what kind of god that was either.”
“….”
“But if the god that the Main Palace, no, Baihuojiao serves is a benevolent deity, would there be any reason to offer human blood and souls as sacrifice?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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