The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 29

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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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The Introverted Heavenly Demon Episode 029
Cheon San Sect
Namgung Eon and the members of the Cheon San Sect exchanged words of tremendous significance, yet I remained unmoved rather than astonished.
From the moment I confirmed that Namgung Eon had been secretly frequenting the Cheon San Sect and conducting meetings with them, I had already anticipated that virtually anything could unfold.
After their group had passed far into the distance, Young Ho Bin approached me.
“What shall we do?”
It seemed abundantly clear that Namgung Eon had betrayed the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
If I returned to the Divine Sect now and reported everything I had witnessed and heard today, my mission would conclude there.
The Sect Leader and the Baek Ho Palace Master would bind Namgung Eon upon his return and would not grant him even a moment to defend himself.
And severing Namgung Eon’s head would fall to me.
If it ended there, I would be fortunate.
The Sect Leader would hold me accountable as well—the one who had confidently brought Namgung Eon to submission a year ago.
I believed he would not immediately strip me of my Minor Sect Leader position given my past accomplishments, but it was undeniably a matter that would deal me a significant blow.
Yet.
“Let us follow them.”
No matter how I considered it, I could not return as things stood.
I wanted to witness with my own eyes exactly how Namgung Eon was betraying the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
Moreover, the words spoken by the Cheon San Sect member weighed heavily on my mind.
That remark about how “if today’s matter succeeds, the Demonic Cult ends as well.”
It was not merely a matter of Namgung Eon’s safety or my own—I needed to uncover what the Cheon San Sect and Namgung Eon were plotting together.
“Yes, my lord.”
Young Ho Bin and I maintained a considerable distance as we followed in their wake.
The single path stretching from the Cheon San Sect Gate led directly to a village called Maehwa Village.
From their conversation, it was evident their destination was Maehwa Village, so there was little difficulty in trailing them undetected.
After entering the village, it became even easier.
Disciples of the Cheon San Sect had been waiting at the Village Entrance and accompanied their group upon arrival.
Though the Cheon San Sect was not a major faction, it wielded considerable influence in this nearby village.
As people followed the Cheon San Sect group, they stood out even from a distance.
Meanwhile, Young Ho Bin and I blended naturally among the crowds and could follow them without suspicion.
“It appears all the villagers have come out.”
Young Ho Bin murmured as he observed the bustling crowd in the Village Square.
Just as he said, people of all ages—from adults to children—had gathered, seemingly awaiting something.
Those nearby were discussing the Demonic Cult among themselves, but with so many voices speaking at once, I could not discern the details.
“Quiet now, everyone! Wei Jin Ping, the Cheon San Sect Leader, shall address you!”
As several people called out thus, the square fell silent in an instant.
A man then walked onto the Elevated Platform positioned at the center of the square.
It was the middle-aged man who had walked out from the Cheon San Sect Gate with Namgung Eon earlier.
So that man was the Sect Leader—the supreme head of the Cheon San Sect.
Wei Jin Ping began speaking without any formal greeting.
“For the past three months, the women and girls of Maehwa Village have been abducted in succession, subjected to unspeakable horrors, and murdered. I am certain you residents have harbored grave concerns about this matter. Our Cheon San Sect has labored day and night to track down and eliminate the perpetrators of this crime that outrages both heaven and earth. And it has come to light that their true identity is none other than the Demonic Cult—disciples of the so-called Sun and Moon Divine Sect. Well, it is hardly surprising, I suppose.”
This is….
He was undoubtedly referring to those disciples I had witnessed on the day I set out to find the Myeong Gyo Temple.
From what I heard, it seemed those disciples I saw back then had been committing such atrocities not just for a day or two.
“I knew it!”
“Those Demonic Cult bastards deserve to rot in hell!”
“What did I tell you? Haven’t I been saying since before that we should entrust our protection to the Cheon San Sect?”
Watching the villagers’ heated reactions burst forth, I felt my emotions grow complicated.
On one hand, I wondered if it had been the right call to step forward, however belatedly, and eliminate those wretches.
On the other hand, I became acutely aware of how deeply despised the Sun and Moon Divine Sect was by ordinary people, and the bitterness of that realization was overwhelming.
However, from another quarter, a contrasting voice emerged.
“Do you have evidence that they were disciples of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect?”
“That’s right. You Cheon San Sect members always blame the Demonic Cult whenever something bad happens. Who knows if you have some other hidden agenda?”
“What are you saying? Are you also a Demonic Cult disciple?”
But such voices were in the minority, and as the overall atmosphere turned to condemning the Demonic Cult, they were immediately met with backlash.
Raised voices and curses flew between the villagers, and it seemed a brawl could break out at any moment.
That there were a few people defending the Divine Sect was, for me, more embarrassing than gratifying.
Because I knew for certain that those wretches were indeed Sun and Moon Divine Sect disciples.
“Quiet, all of you!”
The Cheon San Sect Leader barked at the villagers, then continued speaking.
It seemed the main point of what he was about to say was coming now.
“You’re right. We have brought not just evidence, but a witness to confirm that they were indeed members of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, so listen carefully.”
With that, he gestured to someone standing behind him, calling them forward to the center of the Training Platform.
That someone was, of course, Namgung Eon.
“This Namgung Young Master here is a disciple holding an important position in the Sun and Moon Divine Sect. He came to our Cheon San Sect and assisted us in investigating those wretches. Namgung Young Master! Please provide an explanation.”
Namgung Eon nodded and stepped onto the Training Platform with a solemn expression.
So this was the “important role” the Cheon San Sect Leader had said Namgung Eon needed to undertake.
To publicly expose the Divine Sect’s criminal acts before the villagers.
The villagers’ attention immediately focused on Namgung Eon.
“I am Namgung Eon. As the Sect Leader just introduced, I belong to the Myeong Shin Palace of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect. I testify that all those who kidnapped and murdered eight women from Maehwa Village are unquestionably disciples of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect. The Divine Sect was thrown into turmoil by this incident….”
As I listened to Namgung Eon’s steady testimony, I felt my vision darken.
“Master… are you alright?”
Young Ho Bin asked with concern upon noticing my complexion had changed.
It was not because I was witnessing Namgung Eon’s betrayal before my eyes.
‘Can I… condemn Namgung Eon’s actions?’
The Divine Sect’s disciples had killed eight innocent villagers.
Of course, it was a transgression that directly contradicted the Divine Sect’s doctrine of protecting the common people, and had the Sect Leader or executives known of their crimes, they would certainly have beheaded them.
But it was quite likely that they would not have acknowledged that guilt to the villagers as they were doing now.
Namgung Eon had not lied; he was simply telling the villagers the truth they needed to know.
“The reason is that they all died overnight. They were all executed by someone in one place. I don’t know who killed them, but I suspect it was the Cheon San Sect.”
Yet according to the Sect Leader’s command, I must punish Namgung Eon’s betrayal with death.
Though I was no sage of virtue, I found myself unable to imagine committing such acts—even setting aside moral principles entirely.
Nor did I wish to.
While I wrestled with my thoughts, Namgung Eon’s voice continued unabated.
“Why, you ask? Listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
Yet his words were flowing in a direction entirely different from what I had anticipated.
“It is because the Cheon San Sect bribed disciples of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect to abduct and murder the women of this village!”
Everyone present, myself included, fell silent at Namgung Eon’s words.
As though someone had pressed a pause button.
Yet even in that suspended moment, Namgung Eon’s words flowed forth like an unending stream.
“Do you understand? While it was indeed the Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s disciples who carried out these murders, it was the Cheon San Sect standing here who orchestrated them. To command nine disciples to commit such atrocities would require considerable coin. Initially, you likely promised them payment and ordered them to flee far away. But fearing even that expense, you murdered them all instead, did you not?”
“Young Master Namgung, that makes no sense whatsoever….”
“Denying it? I possess the very contract you wrote for them.”
The Cheon San Sect Leader, his face now ashen, attempted to silence Namgung Eon.
But Namgung Eon gave him no chance to speak, withdrawing a bundle of documents from his robes and brandishing them before the crowd with a shout.
The papers were torn in places, stained with blood so vivid it seemed fresh.
“Behold! The Sun and Moon Divine Sect hastily collected these from the bodies before any investigation could occur. But you never anticipated that I would infiltrate your sect and retrieve them.”
I could not make out the contents of the documents Namgung Eon was waving.
Yet seeing the Cheon San Sect Leader and all his followers’ faces contort and crumple with gravity, it was clear these were indeed the contracts they had written.
The villagers, needless to say, had grown restless from moments before.
When a loud-voiced man’s question rang out across the crowd, Namgung Eon answered immediately.
“Why would the Cheon San Sect orchestrate such wickedness?”
“Simple. To frame the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, then extort protection money from you villagers under the guise of safeguarding you from the Demonic Cult.”
In that moment, my mind recalled the Divine Sect robes worn by those who had abducted the village woman at the shrine.
I had found it strange that they would wear such identifiable garments while committing crimes.
I had assumed them to be audacious villains, but if they deliberately intended to frame the Divine Sect, it made perfect sense.
Yet the villagers seemed most struck by the mention of “protection money.”
“Now that you mention it, these wretches have been subtly pressuring us for protection fees for the past year.”
“I’ve heard that martial sects extorting money under the guise of protection is quite common in Kangho.”
“The Sun and Moon Divine Sect would never do such things! These villains are even worse than the Demonic Cult itself, are they not?”
As the villagers grew far more agitated than when the Demonic Cult had been mentioned, on the verge of eruption, Namgung Eon’s voice rang out sharp and clear toward the Cheon San Sect Leader.
“You hypocritical scoundrels! The eight women of this village were murdered by none other than you, Wei Jin Ping!”
Wei Jin Ping, hearing such accusations from a youth barely older than a child standing before him, flushed crimson and appeared ready to launch himself at Namgung Eon at any moment.
Had the Cheon San Sect Elders not restrained him, conscious of the villagers’ watching eyes, he would surely have attacked immediately.
A middle-aged man who appeared to be one of the Cheon San Sect Elders approached Namgung Eon and whispered quietly.
“Young Master Namgung, let us discuss the details among ourselves, slowly….”
“I believe we’ve said enough.”
The one who stopped that middle-aged man was none other than Young Ho Bin.
I had signaled Young Ho Bin moments before, and together we pushed through the crowd of villagers to draw near Namgung Eon, positioning ourselves between him and the Cheon San Sect martial artists.
It seemed Namgung Eon had said all he needed to say, and regardless of the villagers’ presence, I could not predict how the Cheon San Sect might respond—so I believed our assistance was necessary.
“Martial Artist Young Ho!? What brings you here?”
Namgung Eon’s eyes widened in shock at Young Ho Bin’s unexpected appearance, and he let out a piercing cry.
And then….
“Ahhh, Minor Sect Leader!!!”
The moment Namgung Eon caught sight of my face, he shrieked even louder than before—as if he’d glimpsed a ghost—and promptly threw himself flat on the ground in a full prostration.
No, you fool…, I understand the shock, but if you cry out that loudly….
“Minor Sect Leader?”
“The…, ah, no, from the Sun and Moon Divine Sect?”
“The Sect Leader’s…, the Sect Leader’s son…, you mean to say his son?”
“Gasp!”
It was only natural that the villagers would be seized with terror upon the sudden appearance of the notoriously wicked Minor Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult.
Especially since these were the very people who had been cursing the Demonic Cult mere moments before.
Every eye fixed upon the boy—small in stature, yet emanating an aura of cold nobility, his features bearing a savage, forbidding expression.
The entire Village Square fell silent as if drenched in ice water, and some began to shuffle backward, fleeing in panic.
Even the Cheon San Sect martial artists had gone ashen with dread.
‘Ah, um…!’
Of course, among all those present, I was the most shocked of all.
With so many eyes suddenly turning toward me, with all attention fixed upon me, there was no way I could remain composed.
Though my experience as Minor Sect Leader had granted me some mastery in maintaining an air of dignified authority on the surface, internally I was stuttering like a broken machine.
In that profound silence, with no one daring to move….
“Ahhh! Mom! That older brother!”
“Ah….”
From among the crowd—voices I hadn’t even noticed were there—came a familiar sound.
It was the voice of a mother and child I had heard on that dark night, a voice etched into my memory.

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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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