The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 327
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 81
It was when the sun was slowly tilting toward the western mountains.
Heavy footsteps continued toward Hwajongdang, the annex of the Martial Arts Alliance’s Maeng-ju Palace.
At Alliance Leader Yeon Un-jang’s urgent summons, elders from the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families hurriedly gathered.
“Ah, Cheon-geon Jin-in!”
“Wonsi Anjin.”
Elder Peng Ga-seop of the Hebei Peng Family, who had just entered the entrance of Hwajongdang, spotted Cheon-geon Jin-in of the Wudang Sect and approached him with a question.
“What’s the reason for suddenly convening the Alliance Council? Weren’t the matters regarding the political talks mostly finished?”
“This poor Taoist has heard nothing either. We’ll find out when we go in.”
“With incidents breaking out every other day lately, I’m already getting nervous.”
At Peng Ga-seop’s complaint, Cheon-geon Jin-in patted his shoulder and opened the door to Hwajongdang.
“Everyone is here.”
As it turned out, they were the last to arrive.
The two exchanged eye greetings with those already seated and found their places to sit.
“Now that all the elders have gathered, we’ll begin the meeting immediately.”
Chief Strategist Jegal Mun-gi didn’t even give them time to catch their breath.
“What is the agenda?”
“A letter has arrived from the Demonic Sect.”
At these unexpected words, the meeting hall instantly stirred.
“Is it truly the Demonic Sect?”
“Chief Strategist, you haven’t made a mistake, have you?”
Finding it hard to believe, several elders called out questions.
Jegal Mun-gi answered calmly.
“As you know, after the political talks ended successfully, our Alliance proposed talks to the Demonic Sect as well.”
Since this was already known, the elders nodded their heads.
However, most of them believed there was absolutely no possibility of it being realized.
But a reply had come?
They were beginning to doubt whether there was something wrong with their hearing.
The reason for convening the Alliance Council at such a late hour was instantly understood.
“But in what manner did the reply come?”
There were no official means of communication between the Demonic Sect and the Martial Arts Alliance.
When someone voiced this curiosity, Jegal Mun-gi said.
“It was delivered through the Beggar’s Sect.”
Naturally, all eyes turned to Cheo-sim-gae, the elder of the Beggar’s Sect.
“I’m also hearing this for the first time.”
Cheo-sim-gae firmly shook his head, saying he too knew nothing about it.
“Let’s take a look first. This is the letter sent by the Demonic Sect.”
Jegal Mun-gi distributed copies he had transcribed in advance to each of the elders.
“The writing is truly arrogant, very much like the Demonic Sect.”
“Tsk, where would that wicked nature go?”
When Elder Peng Ga-seop made a displeased sound, Baek Ri-jong-do, elder of the Baekri Family, clicked his tongue and spoke sarcastically.
“Still, looking at just the text, there seems to be room to attempt dialogue. Wonsi Anjin.”
Cheon-geon Jin-in of the Wudang Sect carefully offered his opinion.
“As Cheon-geon Jin-in says, it doesn’t feel completely closed off. Amitabha.”
Hae-jeong Satanim of the Amipa, who had been quietly present, also showed a positive reaction.
However, opposing opinions soon emerged.
“Letters can be written as flowery as one wants, can’t they? The reality might be completely different!”
Neung Ja-pil, elder of the Mount Hua Sect, pointed out in a sharp tone.
“Isn’t trusting the Demonic Sect’s reply itself contradictory?”
“Perhaps it’s a scheme to make Jungwon let its guard down!”
Elders from the Gongdong Sect and Kunlun Sect raised their voices in succession, expressing dissatisfaction.
The two sects, located in Gansu Province and Qinghai Province respectively, had always fought against the Demonic Sect on the front lines due to geographical conditions, shedding much blood.
Naturally, they had greater hostility and suspicion toward the Demonic Sect compared to other sects.
A few more words were exchanged after that, but opinions were evenly divided between support and opposition.
It was worlds apart from when they had proceeded with talks with Sa Do-ryeon.
This showed that the weight of the Cheonma Sect’s name was by no means light.
To the people of Jungwon, the Demonic Sect had always been an object of fear.
Tap tap tap!
Alliance Leader Yeon Un-jang, who had been silently observing the meeting, drummed the table with his palm to get everyone’s attention.
“Fellow elders.”
At Yeon Un-jang’s firm yet low voice, the commotion in the meeting hall gradually subsided.
“It’s true that the Demonic Sect’s intentions are honestly difficult to gauge. However!”
Yeon Un-jang looked around the hall for emphasis.
“This letter is the first and official reply that the Demonic Sect has ever sent to our Alliance.”
He waved the transcribed copy in his hand as if to show it off.
“If by any chance this is the Demonic Sect’s scheme, we can wisely see through it and courageously fight against it, can’t we?”
Yeon Un-jang demonstrated persuasiveness with bold words befitting the Alliance Leader.
“I’m not saying we should trust the Demonic Sect. Our Alliance proposed talks first, and they responded to it, so isn’t dialogue at least worth attempting? That’s what I mean.”
Yeon Un-jang held up one finger and continued.
“Our purpose for talks is ultimately to defeat Hyeol-cheon-hoe. I hope you don’t forget that all of this began because we couldn’t just watch the descendants of the Blood Sect ruin Jungwon again.”
When Hyeol-cheon-hoe was mentioned, complex expressions crossed the elders’ faces.
It was only recently that the Martial Arts Alliance had been turned upside down because of Hyeol-cheon-hoe.
Their meticulousness in infiltrating deep into the Alliance was astounding.
Sensing the changed atmosphere, Jegal Mun-gi stepped forward.
“The Demonic Sect has asked us to decide and notify them of the location and time. From this, it seems there won’t be any tricks or traps.”
Everyone seemed to have similar thoughts on that point and appeared convinced.
“Just as our Alliance doesn’t trust the Demonic Sect, the Demonic Sect also doesn’t trust our Alliance. That probably won’t change as long as this Gangho continues.”
“That’s why the Demonic Sect also requested Cheon-sin-mun as a mediator. Amitabha.”
Gong Myeong of Shaolin Monastery, who had been solemnly maintaining his position, mentioned Cheon-sin-mun, which had been temporarily set aside.
“Cheon-sin-mun…”
Someone muttered quietly.
“Wasn’t it all Cheon-sin-mun that caught Hyeol-cheon-hoe’s spies and safely led the political talks?”
“A frontier sect from the borderlands has somehow become the eye of the storm.”
“They say when two or more martial artists gather, the conversation is mostly about Cheon-sin-mun.”
Two years ago, the mysterious sect Cheon-sin-mun appeared in the process of clearing the false accusations against Tian Shou Du Hua Dang Ying Ling, who had been a public enemy of the martial arts world.
As Gangho fell into chaos, their presence shone even brighter.
It was natural that they became a topic among martial artists.
“What we need to discuss today is the location of the talks.”
Jegal Mun-gi went straight to the main point without wasting time.
“Since our Alliance cannot go to Cheonsan, the Demonic Sect must come, so please give your opinions on where would be good to set the location.”
“Hehe, deciding on a location…”
As the most important agenda item came up, a serious atmosphere flowed through the meeting hall.
“Wouldn’t it be problematic to draw the Demonic Sect deep into Jungwon? Let’s hold it in the outskirts like Gansu Province or Qinghai Province.”
Gong Jin-ja was the first to speak.
He was a Taoist of the Kunlun Sect who had faced the threat of the Demonic Sect for many years. Therefore, he showed strong resistance to demons setting foot on Jungwon soil.
“It’s not just orthodox-demonic talks, but orthodox-Sa Do-ryeon-demonic talks.”
Dang Jong-seok, elder of the Sichuan Dang Family, expressed his opposition.
“Sa Do-ryeon would find it difficult to accept.”
“It would be quite far.”
“There are many things to consider.”
“But we can’t ask them to come to the Martial Arts Alliance Headquarters either…”
As the elders’ concerns deepened, Cheo-sim-gae of Gaebang chose an unexpected location.
“How about Luoyang?”
“…Luoyang?”
As the elders tilted their heads, Cheo-sim-gae presented his reasoning.
“Luoyang is where the Demonic Sect’s secret branch was discovered. It’s also where Hyeolcheon-hoe’s tail was exposed. If the righteous factions are gathering to discuss Hyeolcheon-hoe, it wouldn’t be bad to directly confirm the truth in Luoyang.”
“Hmm.”
“Hmph…”
“Luoyang… that won’t be easy.”
Luoyang could be considered the interior of Jungwon. Therefore, it was difficult to immediately agree with Cheo-sim-gae’s opinion.
Then Cheo-sim-gae reminded the elders of one fact.
“Moreover, if it’s Luoyang, Songshan is right nearby.”
His words were with Bul-jon Elder of Shaolin Temple in mind. Even the mighty Demonic Sect wouldn’t dare act recklessly against Shaolin Temple.
The elders’ eyes turned to Shaolin’s Gong Myeong.
“Gak-yeon Sabek probably won’t come out personally. He’s been cultivating in a hermitage for over ten years without coming down. Amitabha.”
Gong Myeong replied with a palm salute, containing his apologies.
“No. Just having Bul-jon Elder at Shaolin will be enough burden for the Demonic Sect. As Elder Cheo-sim-gae said, how about having Shaolin support from behind while Wudang’s Seon-jon takes the front of the talks?”
Jegal Mun-gi’s eyes sparkled as he requested of Cheon-geon Jin-in.
Following Bul-jon, now Seon-jon too.
It would be perfect if Elder Geol-jon could also help, but he was known for his eccentric behavior, so there was no guarantee.
Since Dark Elder Dang Cheol-woo had said he would no longer involve himself in Martial Arts Alliance affairs, Seon-jon Elder was the only one Jegal Mun-gi could rely on.
“It’s truly a good picture.”
“With Shaolin and Wudang, nothing could be safer.”
“I’ll ask our sect about it.”
When Cheon-geon Jin-in finally gave a half-acceptance, the elders’ faces brightened.
Several more agenda items were discussed after that.
And that night, countless messenger birds flew up from the Martial Arts Alliance.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————