Heavenly Demon Divine Saint - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 31
I lodged at inns by night and traversed the mountains by day with such relentless frequency that the journey became tedious. After several days of this grueling pace, I finally arrived at my quarters as the sun dipped below the horizon.
“Ah, it’s been a while.”
Even during my absence, Yeon Hong had maintained the residence with meticulous care, everything arranged just as it always was.
‘Where could she have gone?’
Sensing no particular presence, I unpacked my belongings, washed, and changed into fresh clothes.
When I emerged into the courtyard again, a familiar face greeted me.
“Sa Ma-ryang!”
“Young Master!”
Sa Ma-ryang’s eyes widened in surprise as he shuffled forward.
“You’ve returned at last. That must have been quite a journey—did everything go well?”
“It went well.”
Sa Ma-ryang’s gaze swept across my entire frame with evident astonishment.
“It seems much has transpired. Not only have you gained muscle, but your complexion has improved considerably. If you permit, I should begin with a pulse diagnosis….”
“There’s no need. My body has fully recovered. More importantly, are you sleeping at all? Your face still bears the marks of exhaustion.”
Sa Ma-ryang laughed sheepishly.
“Adapting to the Military Council hasn’t been entirely straightforward. I’ve had to carve out time for sleep from my schedule. Ha, but such is the natural course of things.”
“Come inside. There’s much to discuss.”
* * *
Sa Ma-ryang asked eagerly.
“Young Master, what became of the matter at Unam Peak?”
“To summarize: it concluded well. Yi Ma-je has agreed to lend his support.”
Sa Ma-ryang, who had harbored considerable worry, brightened visibly.
“How fortunate indeed. Might I hear the details?”
“Of course. I should begin with the journey to Unam Peak itself. There, during the journey….”
I began explaining everything that had transpired.
Meeting Kang Hyun, annihilating Ja Gwi Moon, and the events that unfolded while persuading Yi Ma-je.
Looking back, it all felt like mere moments, making it quite difficult to articulate every detail.
Yet even after my account concluded, Sa Ma-ryang remained silent.
“What is it?”
“Allow me a moment to gather my thoughts before I respond.”
“…?”
Just as I wondered if his contemplation would stretch on indefinitely, Sa Ma-ryang finally spoke.
“You’ve achieved remarkable results. Not only did you persuade Yi Ma-je, but you also extracted his commitment to observe the Council of Elders—truly exceptional. I cannot imagine a better outcome. However, there is one matter I wish to inquire about….”
“Why do you keep drawing this out?”
“What precisely was Ja Gwi Moon’s purpose as a sect?”
“Ah, I neglected to mention that. They seemed to engage in all manner of disreputable activities. The most significant were loan sharking and human trafficking.”
Sa Ma-ryang’s eyes twitched slightly.
“…Human trafficking?”
“Yes. They committed deeds so vile that merely speaking of them is distasteful, which is why I annihilated the sect entirely.”
“Then there are no survivors?”
“Except for that bastard Heuk Si, there aren’t any. All the sect disciples who were stationed there during his tenure are dead. We gathered them all together at the end and cremated them.”
Sa Ma-ryang made no effort to conceal his displeasure.
“I find it difficult to believe. That such individuals capable of such atrocities existed within the Cult… Did you personally verify these circumstances?”
“I confirmed it myself. That snake-faced Moon Ju bastard spouted some nonsense about finding a suitable buyer. It was so revolting that I immediately administered proper instruction.”
“…Instruction?”
Cheon So-hyun nodded at the questioning gaze, as if to clarify what he meant.
“Very valuable teachings indeed. In any case, they were all deserving of death. But why do you ask?”
“I see… Young Master, I believe it would be prudent for us to delve into human trafficking going forward.”
“What? Suddenly?”
“As you know, the decision to seal off the Cult was made to preserve and strengthen its forces. Since we’ve strictly prohibited matters harmful to the disciples, all those connected to human trafficking will face capital punishment.”
“But?”
“Yet the fact that human trafficking occurred at all suggests there must be something worth the risk. With vast sums of money flowing and various interests entangled, pursuing the trail should reveal other paths.”
“So tracking those individuals would be beneficial. Finding them to blackmail, or demanding cooperation in exchange for information?”
“Yes, precisely. Since this is a matter requiring thorough eradication, I shall investigate through the Council.”
Sa Ma-ryang’s expression grew more serious, as if moving to the main point.
“And there is information I must convey to you.”
“What is it?”
“News that you oppose the Great Sect is spreading rapidly through the Cult. Anyone with even moderate intelligence networks would be aware of it by now.”
Cheon So-hyun asked calmly with arms crossed. It wasn’t particularly surprising—this was information that would surface eventually anyway.
“So people are starting to emerge who want to interfere?”
“Well… to be honest, I don’t think they’ll take any particular action at this point.”
“What? They won’t take action?”
“Yes. Those who sent people to the Military Council to verify the truth or attempted contact had similar objectives. They found it strange that the Council accepted your opinion.”
“….”
“But after confirming it was merely your personal stance, they’ve shown no further reaction.”
Cheon So-hyun let out a hollow laugh.
“They think I’m clinging to something impossible. They see it as the death throes of someone who came back from the dead, don’t they?”
“If I may be frank… that is precisely it. Since you have no forces when advancing into the Central Plains, you cannot achieve merit, so they’ve accepted that you’re simply trying to delay matters. Of course, this also becomes an opportunity for us.”
“That may be true, but surely they figured out why the Chief Military Commander accepted the objection? Even knowing that, there was truly no reaction from anyone?”
I recalled the words I had conveyed to the Chief Military Commander in the Main Hall.
The logic that waging war was ultimately no different from harming the reserve disciples, and that now was not the right time since the Cult Leader had not yet ascended to the position of Heavenly Demon.
Since the Chief Military Commander had accepted it, there should have been individuals who were moved by the reasoning, yet there was no reaction whatsoever. It was strange.
Sa Ma-ryang answered with a dark expression.
“That is the primary problem. Through our investigation, we’ve discovered that there exists an unbridgeable gap between the Cult’s personnel… that is, between the Military Council and other senior figures.”
“A gap?”
“Yes, the Council’s objective is clear: to preserve the Cult’s forces to the maximum and seize victory. Therefore, we listened to your proposal and even promised to consider objection if the justification was sound.”
“The other senior figures are different?”
Sa Ma-ryang nodded.
“As you mentioned before, the Gwangmyeong Left Envoy and the senior figures under his leadership, who could be called the representatives of the opposition, appear convinced that the Demonic Path could dominate the Realm even if we launched now.”
“…!”
Cheon So-hyun’s face hardened like stone.
“What are you talking about? Explain this to me in detail.”
“I judged it to be an undertaking that the Cult Leader could readily accomplish with his current martial prowess. No one in the Realm would dare stand against the Cult Leader’s hegemonic path.”
It was absurd.
‘These mad demons.’
How could they possibly view the Realm this way?
Had their fanatical faith blinded them to reality?
It was undeniable that the Cult Leader’s martial skill transcended all worldly expectations. The strange oppressive force I felt when facing him remained vivid enough to send chills down my spine even now.
But did that mean he had no equals in the Realm?
‘That’s not it.’
The warriors of the Central Plains had not squandered their time either.
There certainly existed monsters capable of matching the Cult Leader, and even if they couldn’t face him alone, should the Demonic Path threaten to consume the Realm, they would not hesitate to join forces against him.
Sa Ma-ryang spoke in a low, grave tone.
“Moreover, many of the senior members regard the Central Plains people as enemies and burn with murderous intent. To them, the concept of ‘provisional disciples’ would sound like nothing but empty words.”
Cheon So-hyun felt his heart quicken involuntarily.
‘Damn it.’
If they truly believed the Demonic Path’s conquest of the Realm was possible, they might march out tomorrow without hesitation.
What catastrophe would then befall the Realm, and how many sentient beings would fall into suffering?
At the end of this frustrating chain of questions, one conclusion bloomed.
‘I absolutely cannot let those demons loose.’
Cheon So-hyun exhaled slowly and calmed his mind. What came next was crucial.
“So there’s no possibility of finding the senior members and persuading them?”
“That is correct. Based on the information you’ve gathered, we should focus on this Heuk Si and news of the Council of Elders. Do you have any estimate of when Yi Ma-je might return with word?”
Cheon So-hyun pondered briefly before answering.
“It shouldn’t take more than a few days. Yi Ma-je has a pathological aversion to delays. He’s likely moving swiftly even now.”
“Then I too must hurry. I’ll go to the Military Council and investigate.”
“Very well.”
* * *
At the entrance to Baek Myun Valley.
Kang Hyun looked around with a bewildered expression.
“Master, are you certain this is the right place? I have a feeling we’ve taken a wrong turn.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, the atmosphere seems….”
We had set out to deliver a letter to the Third Prince, but the landscape before us was like a different world entirely.
Beneath the brilliantly lit establishments of the Street of Pleasures, gamblers were running their games, while elsewhere men grappled with each other in a heated brawl.
“Damn that old fool! Didn’t you say you’d cut out my tongue if I caught you spouting lies? Did you or didn’t you?”
“Anyway, why do these wet-behind-the-ears brats always have such sharp tongues… Lies? You got any proof?”
“Listen here, I understand you’re upset about losing money, but you can’t just make excuses like this. If you lost, admit it cleanly and step back. Who knows? Maybe luck will turn your way.”
“You just worry about yourself. A pittance like that!”
A young man, his temper frayed raw by successive defeats, flipped the gaming table—and the atmosphere instantly turned sinister.
Shouts and curses flew back and forth; they began spouting obscure nicknames one after another to flaunt their connections, and eventually descended into grappling and violence.
‘What are these people doing?’
Pathetic humans infested every corner of this place. The Main Building, packed shoulder to shoulder with establishments, might as well have been called the Street of Pleasures.
“Didn’t you say you were going to meet someone named Sa Ma-je?”
“I did.”
“Then why are we coming to a place like this… Ah, is there a sect nearby that teaches the Blade Path?”
Yi Ma-je turned to regard Kang Hyun with a puzzled expression.
“The Blade Path?”
“Yes, you said it’s also called the Blade Emperor Sect.”
“Ah, the Blade Emperor Sect… Yes, that’s right, the Blade Emperor Sect.”
How was I to explain this? Unable to settle on an adequate answer, I quickened my pace.
“In any case, we’ve come the right way, so follow me.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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