Chapter 783: The Demonic Cult is the Demonic Cult!

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Damn those orthodox sects bastards! They're worse than trash!"

The man's eyes burned with resentment and killing intent. A strange energy, like that of someone driven mad by a demonic art, radiated from his body.

Jin Hagun stood before him. Behind him, the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists surrounded the area.

Though he was officially the Young Alliance Chairman, Jin Hagun still led the Demon Slaying Brigade on righteous missions. He refused to avoid danger just because of his new title and planned to continue until the day before he became Chairman.

"Calm down. There's nowhere to run anyway," he said, trying to soothe the man.

The man had attacked orthodox sects and committed a massacre. Their investigation revealed he had no prior grudge against them.

"You will all be destroyed soon," the man snarled. Then he let out a startling cry, and a dark energy bloomed in the man's eyes. "The Everlasting Divine Cult! The Invincible Heavenly Demon!"

Jin Hagun threw himself backward and shouted, "Everyone, get back!"

KWAAAAANG!

A powerful explosion swept through the area. The man had used the Self Destruction Art.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Debris and dust rained down.

Jin Hagun checked on his subordinates. "Is anyone hurt?"

"No one is injured!"

Fortunately, their commander's quick warning had saved everyone.

For the past few days, a series of massacres by demonic practitioners had plagued the Hubei region. They attacked orthodox sects and ambushed ordinary merchants who knew no martial arts. Women and children were among the victims, pushing the orthodox sects' fury toward demonic practitioners to its peak.

However, Jin Hagun knew this was the work of the masterminds behind the scenes.

They're plotting something again.

He was furious. He raged at the bastards who killed people without hesitation for their own goals.

If they commit massacres and then kill themselves like that, how can the grievances of the dead ever be resolved?

When he became Chairman, he would dedicate his life to minimizing such unjust deaths. He would make evil-doers live in pain and regret before they died miserably.

Just then, the Demon Slaying Brigade's messenger pigeon handler ran up to report. "The Chairman has sent word for you to return immediately."

Jin Hagun turned to the surrounding Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists. "Let's go back!"

He leaped away with his movement arts, and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists flew after him in unison.

When Jin Hagun returned, the Murim Alliance was on high alert, represented by the White Tiger Emblem.

The Murim Alliance had four alert levels. They ranged from the lowest, the Black Tortoise Emblem, to the Vermillion Bird Emblem, the White Tiger Emblem, and finally the Azure Dragon Emblem.

The White Tiger Emblem was the level just below the Azure Dragon Emblem, which was activated only during wartime. That meant an alert had been issued for a situation just short of war.

This was the first time such a thing had happened since Jin Hagun became the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade. Although several incidents had occurred recently, he hadn't thought the situation warranted a White Tiger Emblem.

Did another incident occur?

With a tense heart, Jin Hagun entered the Chairman's Hall. Inside were the Murim Alliance Chairman, Jin Paecheon, and the Head Strategist, Jaegal Hyeon.

"I, the Commander of the Demon Slaying Brigade, has returned as ordered." Jin Hagun greeted Jin Paecheon formally, then exchanged greetings with Jaegal Hyeon.

"What happened with the matter you went out for?" Jin Paecheon asked.

Jin Hagun replied with a look of shame. "We failed to capture him alive. The bastard claimed to be from the Divine Cult right before he used the Self Destruction Art, but I've determined this incident isn't related the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

Jin Paecheon nodded. He thought so as well. The Geom Woojin he knew wasn't a man who would orchestrate things in such a manner. "That's not important. The problem is that the members of the orthodox sects think it was."

Jin Hagun sighed. At times like this, he felt an endless powerlessness. A few bastards had stirred things up, and now the orthodox sects' public opinion was in turmoil.

He asked cautiously, "But why did you issue the White Tiger Emblem?"

Jaegal Hyeon answered instead. "The Young Cult Leader has left the cult, leading four Demon Supremes and the Demonic Army."

Jin Hagun, who'd been away dealing with the recent incidents, hadn't known this.

"After entering Hunan, the Young Cult Leader has been continuously advancing north."

The words 'advancing north' told Jin Hagun how Jaegal Hyeon viewed this incident. Hunan was Heavenly Demon Divine Cult territory, but a continued push north would lead into Hubei, where the Murim Alliance Headquarters was located.

Moreover, there was a decisive reason they were taking this so seriously.

"When we asked for the reason they left the cult, the Divine Cult gave no response."

Only then did Jin Hagun understand the alert and the heavy atmosphere in the Chairman's Hall. The Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had marched out with four Demon Supremes and the Demonic Army, and they wouldn't even reveal why. It was more than enough to warrant a White Tiger Emblem.

This time, Jin Paecheon asked his grandson, "Did you receive any separate contact from him?"

"No, I didn't."

Jin Paecheon's expression hardened slightly. He thought Geom Mugeuk might have sent a separate message to his grandson.

Jin Hagun, however, wasn't bothered that Geom Mugeuk hadn't contacted him. "I think I know now why the recent incidents occurred," he said. "Those bastards made a move to prevent us from helping the Young Cult Leader. If public opinion of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult worsens, our alliance won't be able to help them."

He grew anxious. The fact that the masterminds were trying to sever the ties between him and Geom Mugeuk meant that something might happen to Geom Mugeuk personally.

Of course, Jin Paecheon and Jaegal Hyeon had also considered that possibility. However, they couldn't just blindly believe it. Their opponent was the Demonic Cult, after all.

Was all the goodwill they've shown until now for this one moment?

They always had to consider that possibility, especially when Jin Hagun showed such firm faith in Geom Mugeuk.

"If he didn't contact me, I believe that in itself is a message," Jin Hagun declared.

"What do you mean?"

"If he didn't trust me completely, he would've sent a message. He would've explained everything in tedious detail. The fact that he didn't contact me must mean he thinks I'll understand without him having to say anything. The Young Cult Leader trusts me as a true friend."

He was now past the stage of just blindly believing.

"I won't be upset that the Young Cult Leader didn't send a messenger pigeon. Rather, this time, I'll be the one to send a messenger pigeon to the Young Cult Leader first."

"What will you send?"

Jin Hagun said with a face devoid of any doubt, "I understand your intentions well, my friend."

Jin Paecheon said nothing. He had been worried from the beginning about his grandson who trusted Geom Mugeuk too much. That worry continued even now.

Jin Hagun continued, "I know very well what you're worried about, Grandfather. It's fine to worry about me, and it's fine to issue an alert. However, please don't limit the target of that alert to just the Young Cult Leader. Please also keep in mind that there must been an important reason why he went out so hastily with so many troops."

Jin Paecheon was still worried, yet he also felt a sense of envy. In all his long years, had he ever trusted someone that much?

"So? Are you planning to go help the Young Cult Leader?" he asked, expecting his grandson to ask for permission.

Jin Hagun's answer was unexpected. "No, I won't go."

"Why?"

Jin Hagun recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said on the day they met to celebrate his inauguration as Young Alliance Chairman.

"If anything strange happens, you must contact me. Got it? Don't you dare try to handle it alone!"

That was the kind of man Geom Mugeuk was.

"If he needed my help, he would've sent a message asking for it."

If he had, I would've run to him. I would've helped him, even if it meant staking my position as Young Alliance Chairman, even if it meant staking my life.

If he had only said that, Jin Paecheon would still have been worried. However, Jin Hagun had another reason for not going. It was a matter as important in his life as helping Geom Mugeuk.

"Also, right now, I have more important things to deal with. The masterminds might commit another massacre to drive a wedge between us and the Divine Cult."

Innocent people could be sacrificed to their schemes.

"Preventing that is more important. Even if that is their intention, saving people is the most important thing."

Jin Paecheon nodded, satisfied.

Jin Hagun added resolutely, "Please raise the alert level to the Azure Dragon Emblem. That way, we can more effectively prevent those bastards from committing another massacre. Please also inform the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult that we've issued the Azure Dragon Emblem for these reasons. I don't think we need a war of nerves where we don't contact them just because they didn't contact us. We must act according to our principles. I believe that's the way of the orthodox sects that you taught me, Grandfather."

The worry vanished from Jin Paecheon's face. He had thought his grandson was so smitten with Geom Mugeuk that he could not think straight, but with his grandson's current mindset, there was nothing to worry about.

He issued an order to Jaegal Hyeon. "Raise the alert to the Azure Dragon Emblem, and inform the Divine Cult of that fact."

"Yes, I understand."

Jin Paecheon turned toward his grandson. "Go and do what you must."

"Yes, Chairman."

After a respectful bow, Jin Hagun left. His firm steps were filled with his faith in Geom Mugeuk.

I'll trust you and do my part, my friend.

The escalating tension between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance also reached the Evil Alliance.

"Chairman Jin must be agonizing over this, but he's not afraid of the Young Cult Leader, he's afraid of the Cult Leader," the Evil Alliance Chairman Baek Jagang said. He then asked for Bi Sayin's opinion. "What are your thoughts?"

Bi Sayin answered confidently. "I believe it's obviously a ploy by the masterminds."

"What's your reason for being so certain?"

Bi Sayin brought up a past event. "Do you remember the day we received the report about the treasure map?"

The Evil Alliance Chairman Baek Jagang nodded, recalling that day. The subordinate's report had been truly unbelievable.

"They summoned the souls of the dead. I saw it with my own eyes."

Even hearing the incredible report, he had not felt a chill run down his spine. He knew then just how formidable and insane those bastards were.

"Our current enemies are capable of such things," Bi Sayin continued. "They're beings that ordinary people can never stop. That's why I think this way. I believe the survival instinct of the murim gave birth to the Young Cult Leader."

Baek Jagang was astounded. A rather outlandish statement had come from his disciple's mouth. He asked, "So you're saying the Young Cult Leader is a being created by the murim to save itself from destruction?"

"Yes."

Baek Jagang laughed with an incredulous expression. He was more amused than chilled by the notion. His disciple truly believed it.

"That's not to say I'm deifying Geom Mugeuk. In fact, I feel sorry for him," Bi Sayin added.

"Sorry for him?"

"Because he's done everything so perfectly until now, if he makes even a small mistake, everyone will be disappointed and blame him."

Even the reason Bi Sayin could converse so comfortably with his master now was because Geom Mugeuk told him to look his master straight in the eye, to see him clearly for who he was. It used to be an incredibly difficult task, but now he sometimes felt that talking with his master was the most comfortable thing.

Baek Jagang asked his disciple curiously, "What will you do if the Young Cult Leader makes a mistake?"

A faint smile appeared on Bi Sayin's fearsome face. "Since he's teased me before, I'll be at the very front, accusing him."

Baek Jagang felt a chill run down his spine. It was clear his disciple would protect Geom Mugeuk no matter how big a mistake the guy made, and he did not hide that feeling.

"I want to go and help the Young Cult Leader," Bi Sayin said. He wanted to run to Geom Mugeuk's aid right away, simply as a friend.

Baek Jagang shook his head. "As you know, the current Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is the strongest it has ever been in history. Geom Woojin would never let that power go to waste. If that power diminishes while dealing with these enemies, it would be a welcome development for us."

He hoped for the Demonic Cult's power to wane, and he did not hide that sentiment from his disciple.

"If we let the Demonic Cult continue undiminished, we'll have to stand before an enemy many times more terrifying than the masterminds we face now." Baek Jagang glanced at the entrance of the Chairman's Hall, picturing a scene. "The Demonic Cult Leader I know will surely try to open that door and enter this place. Can you handle that moment?"

"……" Bi Sayin could not answer. It was something he couldn't handle.

"As time passes, can you be certain that the Young Cult Leader you trust so much won't open that door and come in?"

"……" Bi Sayin did not answer. He felt his master was about to forbid him from helping.

However, Baek Jagang readily gave his permission. "Well, what happens later can be resolved later. For now, you should go help your friend. Go on."

He thought Bi Sayin would be delighted by the unexpected permission.

However, Bi Sayin shook his head. "No, I won't go."

He had changed his mind in that short time.

Baek Jagang stared quietly at his disciple. "Why?"

"Even if I don't help him, I'm confident my friend will survive."

"Because he's the one born from the murim's survival instinct?"

"No. It's because he brought his bodyguards and the Ghost Shadow Squad martial artists with him this time."

Bi Sayin did not know everything about Geom Mugeuk, but he knew one thing for certain.

"If the Young Cult Leader wasn't confident he could protect his subordinates, he wouldn't have brought them out. That's the kind of person he is."

"Then why did you say you were going to help him earlier?"

Bi Sayin hesitated for a moment, then answered honestly, "It was more for myself than for my friend. I wanted to show off, to say, 'I came to save you in this situation.' I've been indebted to him for so much that I wanted to repay even a little of it."

His gaze shifted to the entrance of the Chairman's Hall, where Baek Jagang had been looking earlier.

"However, after hearing your words, Chairman, I realized this isn't the time to be showing off. It's a time to strengthen that door."

His fighting spirit ignited. He would save every moment to train harder and invest in the Evil Alliance.

"I'll ensure the Demonic Cult Leader never sits in your seat, Chairman."

Seeing Bi Sayin's determination, Baek Jagang said the words he had long wanted to say.

"Don't forget, Sayin. Just as we can't hide the blood of the unorthodox flowing in our veins, in the end…"

His eyes glinted sharply.

"The Demonic Cult is the Demonic Cult!"