The Introverted Heavenly Demon - Chapter 38

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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 038
A Benefactor
The moment my words fell silent, a group of men rushed like wind from the cave entrance, surrounding those inside and forming an immediate encirclement.
In an already cramped cave, with five formidable figures firmly positioned, there was no gap through which to escape.
Moreover, were these five ordinary men?
Standing in the center with a terrifying gaze fixed upon Yu Gwan Ji was none other than Ha Seung Ji, the Sect Master of the Kunlun Sect himself, and the remaining four were undoubtedly formidable individuals as well.
Judging by their attire and age, two appeared to be elders of higher rank than the Sect Master, while the other two seemed to be senior disciples of considerable standing.
Though they might seem insignificant compared to those, Young Ho Bin and Namgung Eon had also arrived in turn and now stood guarding the cave entrance.
No matter how skilled Yu Gwan Ji was as the Protective Dharma King of the Demonic Cult, escape from this place was impossible.
“Tch… Minor Sect Leader. What in the world is this…?”
Yu Gwan Ji’s face, which had maintained composure and serenity in every situation until now, was completely contorted.
Why, has that hollow gaze finally accepted defeat?
Though the matter was not yet concluded, merely witnessing Yu Gwan Ji’s frustrated expression felt as though the accumulated frustration within me was finally dissipating.
However, what comes next is what truly matters.
“It is true that I am the Minor Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, but I cannot fathom who you are or why you have been calling me Minor Sect Leader and such from the beginning.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
“Among our disciples, there exists no person like you. My fellow disciples, tell him—is this man one of our disciples?”
“No, he is not.”
“How could he possibly be?”
“I have never heard of such a mad disciple existing.”
“Indeed.”
Having spoken thus far, I turned my gaze toward the Kunlun Sect members, ignoring Yu Gwan Ji whose face had become a grotesque display of red and purple.
“Baek Yeon, Minor Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect, respectfully greets the Sect Master and elders of the Kunlun Sect. Given the circumstances, I beg your forgiveness for the lack of proper courtesy. As I informed you beforehand, the one who slew your disciples Cheon Seung and Cheon Ho, as well as a senior disciple whose name I do not know, is this man before you.”
When Yu Gwan Ji had brought our party to the Kunlun Mountain Sacred Site and departed to orchestrate his scheme, I had contemplated various means to overcome the current predicament.
I needed to separate myself from the madman Yu Gwan Ji, and I was simultaneously being pursued by the Kunlun Sect. To resolve both problems, extraordinary measures were necessary.
After much deliberation, I dispatched Young Ho Bin and Namgung Eon as envoys to the Kunlun Sect to convey a proposal.
I would lure the one who had slain their disciples into the cave, and they should position their masters to apprehend him once he entered.
‘When I think about it, Yu Gwan Ji alone was responsible for killing the Kunlun Sect disciples. Though I cannot fathom why the Kunlun Sect pursues me, surely seeking vengeance against Yu Gwan Ji must be of greater importance to them, would it not?’
This was my reasoning.
Even Baek So Cheong and the others, who had been taken aback upon first hearing my proposal, soon agreed that no better method existed.
“Minor Sect Leader. Do you truly believe you can orchestrate such an affair unscathed? This is an act of apostasy!”
“Matters concerning the Sun and Moon Divine Sect are for me, as Minor Sect Leader, to handle in consultation with the Sect Leader, and you have no right to meddle in affairs that concern you not.”
“Will you continue to deny knowing me until the very end?”
This plan could be attempted precisely because Yu Gwan Ji’s identity was entirely unknown throughout Kangho.
Well, some knowledge of him did exist.
As a madman whose epithet contained the character for “insanity.”
“Your condition appears grave indeed. Unable to control your madness, you have fallen into delusions of being a disciple of our sect. Tsk!”
“Argh! You bastard!”
For Yu Gwan Ji, this was a provocation worthy of inducing genuine madness, yet what could he do in this situation?
He possessed no means to prove he was a disciple of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
Thus, we determined that by attributing all of this to Gwangheosan’s actions and severing all connections cleanly, we could escape this predicament.
Once the Kunlun Sect’s masters eliminated Yu Gwan Ji, we could resolve all remaining issues through negotiation with them.
‘The negotiation with the Kunlun Sect was the problem… but thanks to that madman, things just became easier.’
From the Kunlun Sect’s perspective, not only did the Minor Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Divine Sect help them capture the enemy who killed their disciples, but he also saved the Sect Master’s Daughter.
How grateful they must be.
Whatever I ask for, they would eagerly comply without hesitation.
“Will you put me down?”
“Ah, of course.”
Hearing the young girl in my arms speak, I gently set her down.
Though she wore the coy expression typical of an adolescent girl, her flushed cheeks betrayed her embarrassment at having been held by me.
She glanced at me, but the moment our eyes met, she quickly turned her head away.
“I apologize for the many liberties I was forced to take, young lady.”
“No, thank you for helping me. Minor… Sect Leader.”
“Think nothing of it.”
The young girl had actually regained consciousness from the moment I checked her meridians upon entering the Kunlun Mountain Sacred Site.
Of course, I couldn’t expose her safety in front of Yu Gwan Ji, so she had continued to feign unconsciousness.
Since this girl had heard our entire conversation from when I first called Yu Gwan Ji a madman, she would certainly speak favorably of me to her father, the Kunlun Sect Master.
“Yeon Ryeong, are you hurt anywhere?”
“No, Father. The Minor Sect Leader here protected me.”
Yes, exactly as I had anticipated.
Ha Seung Ji, who had maintained a stern expression until then, visibly relaxed upon confirming his daughter’s safety.
He then drew the long sword at his waist and pointed it at Yu Gwan Ji.
“I had my suspicions, but it was indeed you, Gwangheosan.”
“Gwangheosan… what an extraordinary epithet. Tsk!”
Of course, I spoke as if hearing that name for the first time.
But Gwangheosan’s notorious reputation proved invaluable.
The Kunlun Sect Master seemed convinced that such a man would be capable of committing these atrocities.
Though he didn’t show it openly, he appeared deeply angered that his daughter had been kidnapped by this man, even while suspecting his involvement in the scheme.
Yes, direct that fury to the appropriate target.
To that bastard right there.
“Graaahhh!”
‘What?’
But Gwangheosan—no, Yu Gwan Ji—let out a terrible shriek and suddenly drew the blade at his waist, charging directly at me.
The Kunlun Sect Master and the elders moved to intercept him, but they were already a step too late.
I could have evaded Yu Gwan Ji’s attack before it reached me.
But if I dodged his blade strike from this position, there was a risk it might harm the Sect Master’s Daughter standing beside me.
I had no choice but to grip the handle of the Heavenly Demon Slayer Saber.
—Kill him!!!!
Kugugu.
Drawing upon the internal energy I had been cultivating since entering the Kunlun Mountain Sacred Site, now nearly perfected as it was redistributed through the Hyeon Ma Nae Hyang Sim Gong to the Conception Vessel, I unleashed my full power.
There was no time to hold back. I drew upon the power of Cheon Ma itself, wielding my blade to meet Yu Gwan Ji’s sword head-on.
Whether due to the crimson glow in my eyes or the nature of the Heavenly Demon Slaying Blade, the red sword energy that flowed through it unleashed a force incomparable to before—like a living creature spewing crimson blood.
Clang!!!
Gwangheosan’s blade and mine collided in mid-air, releasing a thunderous boom.
The moment my blade met and blocked Yu Gwan Ji’s strike head-on, the sound that erupted was not the only effect.
“Hrrgh.”
“Aah…!”
An exclamation burst from Ha Seung Ji’s lips as he rushed toward me, and the young girl beside me let out a sharp gasp.
But the most remarkable thing was none other than Yu Gwan Ji’s expression.
“Wha—?”
He seemed utterly unprepared for his attack to be blocked by me.
The shock written across his face stemmed from sensing my realm’s incredible growth in less than ten days.
To be honest, I myself had not anticipated reaching this level of cultivation in such a brief span of seven days.
The effort of journeying to the Sacred Site on Kunlun Mountain felt worthwhile.
I even felt a measure of gratitude toward Yu Gwan Ji for instilling the urgency that allowed me to focus so intently on my training.
In any case.
Whoosh!!
By blocking Yu Gwan Ji’s strike, I had bought time for Ha Seung Ji, who had started late, to reach this point.
The moment Yu Gwan Ji entered his range, Ha Seung Ji unleashed his long sword at a speed barely visible to the eye.
The power of that blade was in no way inferior to Yu Gwan Ji’s.
Even with his stance disrupted, Yu Gwan Ji managed to evade that swift attack.
But behind him, the Kunlun Sect elders who were Ha Seung Ji’s fellow disciples came pressing in relentlessly.
So this is how one of our Sun and Moon Divine Sect’s Protective Dharma Kings departs from this world.
While it was regrettable to lose such a force from the Divine Sect, I felt little sympathy for him.
It was his own doing, and having such a madman disappear from this world would benefit everyone in many ways.
But then.
“!!”
Had I underestimated Yu Gwan Ji’s abilities?
Against the relentless assault from the Kunlun Sect’s Sect Master and elders, Yu Gwan Ji remained unruffled, evading their blade strikes with an exquisite footwork technique.
His body twisted, and in the next instant he appeared behind Ha Seung Ji two steps ahead, then with a few more strides he was right before an elder’s face.
The Kunlun Sect elder gritted his teeth and swung his blade, but Yu Gwan Ji dodged with a slight tilt of his head while bouncing away at a terrifying speed.
It was an extraordinarily high level of lightness technique.
Having passed Ha Seung Ji and the two elders, he shot toward the cave’s only entrance like an arrow.
Standing at that entrance were only Young Ho Bin and Namgung Eon.
“Young Ho! Namgung! Fall back!”
I shouted urgently.
Yu Gwan Ji was now seething with rage from his humiliation at my hands, and I feared the two of them might come to harm if they recklessly tried to stop him.
Following my command, they withdrew from the entrance, leaving no one to block Yu Gwan Ji. Before escaping the cave, he turned his head to look at me.
I could not discern what he wished to say, but his gaze was laden with profound meaning.
“Pursue him!”
At the command of the Kunlun Sect’s Sect Master, the elders and other disciples hurried to pursue Yu Gwan Ji.
Yet given his exceptional lightness technique, success seemed unlikely.
No—I suspect his escape was not merely a matter of superior footwork, but rather the fruition of meticulous planning.
Had the Kunlun Sect’s Sect Master and elders maintained their encirclement from the outset, no amount of skill could have allowed Yu Gwan Ji to break through.
But while he pressed his assault against me, the cordon fractured, and Yu Gwan Ji seized that opening to slip away.
He was no ordinary man.
“Minor Sect Leader! Are you hurt?”
“I am unharmed.”
After Baek So Cheong, Young Ho Bin and Namgung Eon rushed over to confirm my safety, exhaling in relief.
Inside the Kunlun Mountain Sacred Grotto, only our party of four remained, along with the Kunlun Sect’s Sect Master and his daughter.
Our stratagem to draw in the Kunlun Sect and eliminate Yu Gwan Ji had succeeded, yet perhaps the true trial was only beginning.
‘The question is what manner of man Ha Seung Ji truly is.’
Depending on his character, he might not believe my claim that Yu Gwan Ji was unconnected to the Sun and Moon Divine Sect.
He could even suspect from the start that I had conspired with Yu Gwan Ji to orchestrate this entire affair.
And I must not forget that they had attempted to abduct me in the first place.
“Hmm….”
Ha Seung Ji gazed at his daughter with a grave expression.
“Hic… hic… *sob*… my daughter….”
And not long after….
“I am grateful to you for saving my daughter….”
Tears began streaming down his face like drops of rain.

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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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