"The Esoteric Cult?"

Cheon Yu-myeong's eyes widened as he looked at Seo Mun-ryeon and Ma Chung.

Ma Chung bowed his head.

"Yes. The words 'Esoteric Cult' were written in Cheon Mun-jung's room."

"Pfft! Hahahaha!"

Cheon Yu-myeong laughed loudly as if it were absurd.

'His brother died, and he's laughing?'

'He's laughing?' 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Ma Chung kept his head bowed with a hardened expression, and Seo Mun-ryeon also bowed her head, hiding her flustered expression.

Ma Chung knew that the Cult Leader's personality was unpredictable, but today he was even more incomprehensible.

'What did the culprit find out?'

Ma Chung asked himself and waited for the Cult Leader's fiery command. But Cheon Yu-myeong's voice was very calm.

"It's the trick of an assassin. The Esoteric Cult does not exist. Strengthen the security around the fortress and the main headquarters, and capture and imprison all suspicious individuals. Seal off the Cheon family estate and block all entry and exit."

"As you command."

Ma Chung answered and then hurriedly left the main hall. As he left, Seo Mun-ryeon spoke to Cheon Yu-myeong, who was sitting on the grand master's chair.

"The guards of the Cheon family estate did not see the intruder during the night. On top of that, the elite guard unit also said they didn't see him. He is a man who broke through hundreds of guards, killed Lord Cheon, and leisurely escaped. He is a ghost-like man. He absolutely cannot be taken lightly. We must spread a net that covers heaven and earth to catch him."

"Who is he?"

"With this level of skill, could it not be the Ten Sword Demonic Ghost or the Four Death Ghost, who can be called the best in the world?"

"The Four Death Ghost died at the hands of the Dokgo Cult Leader twenty years ago. So how could it be the Four Death Ghost?"

"His disciple, or perhaps... Jin Sa-wol, who killed the Hao Faction Master?"

Although she mentioned Jin Sa-wol, Seo Mun-ryeon closed her mouth on her own.

No matter how outstanding the killing ghost's martial arts were, it was impossible to enter the Cheon family estate, kill the Cheon family master without anyone noticing, and escape.

Hearing the name Jin Sa-wol, Cheon Yu-myeong stroked his beard.

"You may leave."

Cheon Yu-myeong watched Seo Mun-ryeon leave with an annoyed expression.

As she left the main hall, Cheon Yu-myeong covered his face with his hand and laughed under his breath.

"Hoo hoo! To greet me, how commendable."

The moment Cheon Yu-myeong heard the words 'Esoteric Cult', he took it as a sign that he had returned.

That evening, the two wives who had slept with Cheon Mun-jung died, and several maids also had to die in the end.

The martial world was a place where even if you were alive yesterday, you could be a corpse today.

Cheon Yu-myeong, who had stood up from his seat, headed for the rear garden.

***

The light flowing from the stone lantern brought a bright warmth to the damp, humid underground.

On the not-so-high ceiling, people were hanging like fruits.

Upon closer inspection, they were all corpses, and their number seemed to exceed a hundred.

Passing the corpses that looked like fruits, this time, wax-like corpses lined up in a row on the floor were visible.

The corpses, which had turned into skeletons as if all the moisture in their bodies had been drained, gave off a pungent smell.

Passing the corpses, a wide, circular stone statue, about one zhang in size, was placed on a high platform.

And on the stone statue, five people wearing black clothes were lying.

Seeing their chests move, they seemed to be alive.

As a single candle placed on the stone statue began to emit light, Cheon Yu-myeong's face was revealed.

"Thousands of cult members have gathered around the cult. Shouldn't we do something?"

A woman's voice was heard from behind Cheon Yu-myeong. Since it was a place full of darkness, no human shadow could be found.

Cheon Yu-myeong, as if he knew well that there was a person there, was not surprised.

"Thousands? Not tens of thousands, but thousands... It seems they are looking down on me too much."

Cheon Yu-myeong spoke with an indifferent face as if it were nothing and stroked the foreheads of the people lying down.

"The Iron Armored Corpses are complete. It would be good to test them."

"The one who killed Cheon Mun-jung wrote the words 'Esoteric Cult'. What does that mean? Does it mean they know us?"

"He knows who I am. That's why he greeted me."

"What an arrogant bastard."

"What if it's your son?"

At Cheon Yu-myeong's words, the darkness fell silent.

As a strong wind rose, the corpses hanging from the ceiling shook like bells. A black smoke passed through them like a brushstroke.

"It's not a bad idea to clean house on this occasion."

Cheon Yu-myeong muttered and spread several needles on the stone statue.

Moving a dead corpse was a dark art. It was said that such dark arts existed hundreds of years ago.

He had tried to reawaken it, but it was not easy. The dead do not speak.

He judged that it was better to use living people like corpses.

He had tried to create beings with muscles and skin harder than rock and with more than one cycle of internal energy, but that was also not easy.

Cheon Yu-myeong stimulated the Baihui acupoint of the young man lying right in front of him. Then the young man opened his eyes.

Cheon Yu-myeong smiled.

***

As evening came, warriors with outstanding lightness skills appeared around a thatched house near Dubong Mountain, about ten li from the main headquarters of the Demonic Cult.

After those wearing blue robes appeared, those wearing white and black robes appeared one by one.

As the sun set, a lamp was lit in the thatched house, and a middle-aged man in a blue robe entered.

Inside the house, several candles were lit, and two people were sitting with a table placed in the middle.

The middle-aged man in the blue robe sat down in the remaining chair.

"I'm late."

"You're on time."

At the So family head's words, the man in black sitting in the middle, Dokgo Jeong, answered.

The Yeon family head, wearing white, drew a smiling eye and stroked his beard.

"The Cheon family master is dead, so the inside of the cult is noisy. It seems now is the right time. Let's go in three days."

"Isn't three days too fast? Our So family has not yet fully gathered."

"What about the Dokgo family?"

"We are fine."

Dokgo Jeong answered with an expression that said there was no problem. The warriors of his family were already in the Wind Blood Pavilion.

That was not all. Mun-gang was there, and the Demon Spirit Hall would also help.

"Five days will be enough."

As the So family head said, spreading his hand, the Yeon family head frowned.

"Let's go in three days. Five days seems too late."

"What is the reason for such a hurry?"

"It seems the Cult Leader has completed the Heavenly Armored Corpses to some extent. If the Heavenly Armored Corpses are completed, we will have to face the Cult Leader and the Heavenly Armored Corpses at the same time. Of course, we will win, but we will have to make a great sacrifice. So we must kill him before that."

The So family head nodded with a face that said he had no choice.

"Alright. I will order a forced march."

"Good."

The Yeon family head had a satisfied expression.

This time, Dokgo Jeong opened his mouth.

"We will kill Cheon Yu-myeong and wipe out the Cheon family's seed. Cheon Yu-myeong is not a person fit to be the Cult Leader."

"A person who is the Cult Leader is playing with corpses..."

"I agree."

At the So family head's words, the Yeon family head showed a hardened expression.

The Yeon family head recalled the Cult Leader, who had shown a cold reaction when his younger brother, Yeon Jeok-sim, had died.

He had been so loyal, but there was no sign of sadness. Rather, he had shown a cold reaction, and as a result, the Yeon family had turned away from Cheon Yu-myeong.

"What do you plan to do with the Na family head?"

When the So family head asked, Dokgo Jeong stroked his beard.

"Of course, he must go with us. Isn't the Na family's grudge great? Of course, the Na family head cannot become the Cult Leader."

"Isn't the Na family originally a family that does menial work? There's no need to pay much attention. If the great event succeeds, we can just give him a suitable position."

At the Yeon family head's words, the So family head smiled as if he understood.

In any case, the Na family's role in this great event was not that big.

***

At a time past midnight, a young man who had come out after meeting the Wind Blood Pavilion Master, Dokgo Hyeon, entered the forest with black smoke.

A short while later, the place where he reappeared was a valley with a clear stream.

He looked around there and then crossed the mountain.

Whoosh!

Na Hyeon-gi, who had appeared in a small village with about ten households with the sound of the wind, entered a house at the entrance.

It was the only house with a light on.

As he opened the door and entered, Dam-ji greeted him.

"How did it go?"

"Nothing special. More importantly, what about the Hwahwaru?"

"I'm scheduled to become the master."

"That's good."

As Na Hyeon-gi sat down in a chair, Dam-ji poured him tea and asked, "What about the Jongnam Sect?"

"A kind-hearted senior sister turned a blind eye. Since he's in closed-door training, no one is looking for him."

"That's a relief."

"Is it a relief? The martial arts of the orthodox faction don't seem to suit me. I've trained for years, but I feel like I've only gained the strength of one fist."

"Isn't it said that orthodox martial arts are slow to progress? Don't be impatient."

Na Hyeon-gi, who was learning the Eunchun Divine Art of the Jongnam Sect, touched his dantian.

Although he had trained in the Eunchun Divine Art for nearly five years, its energy was still insufficient and could not surpass the Dark Shadow Heart Art.

Only when the power of the Eunchun Divine Art surpassed the Dark Shadow Heart Art and absorbed all its energy could he become a true orthodox faction member.

He thought so.

Startled by the sound of the door opening, Na Hyeon-gi drew his sword. Dam-ji also stuck to the wall and half-entered the darkness.

In front of the door stood a young man with an indifferent face.

"It's been a long time."

Hearing Jin Sa-wol's words, Na Hyeon-gi sheathed his sword.

"How did you get here?"

"I saw you coming out of the Wind Blood Pavilion."

"You've been following me since then?"

"Yes."

"You're an amazing guy."

Although Na Hyeon-gi was surprised that he had been followed, he was also happy. If the opponent were an assassin, it would be terrifying, but he was relieved because it was Jin Sa-wol.

"In two days, the anti-Cult Leader faction, centered on the Dokgo family, will attack the main headquarters. It's a war. And they will kill the Cult Leader."

"I know."

"Let's go together."

"If you go, you'll die."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Na Hyeon-gi's expression hardened.

But Na Hyeon-gi laughed lightly and said, "The one who will die is the Cult Leader. Many of the Cult Leader's limbs died at the Esoteric Sect's main headquarters. Thanks to that, the anti-Cult Leader faction has risen up. No matter how great the Cult Leader's martial arts are, it's impossible to withstand the combined attack of the elders and the two Guardian Demonic Gods."

"What if you fail?"

"If I was afraid of death, I would have already died five years ago."

"Who planned it?"

"The Dokgo family and the Yeon family."

All he knew about the two families were fragmented pieces. Since he didn't even know the faces of the family heads, it didn't really register with Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol opened his mouth as if he had a concern.

"I have a plan."

"A plan?"

"Will you do it?"

At the word 'plan', Na Hyeon-gi showed interest.

"Let's hear it first."

At his answer, Jin Sa-wol quietly opened his mouth, and the two had a secret talk for a long time.

Dam-ji quietly listened from the side.

***

Early in the morning.

Boom!

With a sound like thunder, the main gate of the Demonic Cult burst open. Behind it, a huge crowd of thousands in red rushed into the main headquarters with a great roar.

The red crowd that had jumped over the main gate and the nearby wall killed any Demonic Cult members they saw.

"Kill all who resist!"

Dokgo Jeong's lion's roar spread in all directions.

Dokgo Jeong moved forward faster than anyone else.

Numerous cult members followed behind him. In the distance to the left, Mun-gang and Dokgo Hyeon were visible.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, and Dokgo Hye's figure was also visible.

Thump!

A group wearing red martial arts uniforms appeared, breaking the main gate of the wide main hall.

After that, the left and right doors of the main hall were broken, and an even larger red crowd appeared.

But they did not enter the main hall.

Their eyes turned to Cheon Yu-myeong, who was sitting on the grand master's chair.

Cheon Yu-myeong drank his tea with a relaxed face and savored the taste.

"It's a good day to see blood."

(End of Chapter)