When the tiger leaves the mountain, the fox tries to become king. But the mountain is wide and deep, and wolves may appear to catch the fox, and bears as fearsome as tigers may also emerge.

Why is that?

Is it not because when the tiger disappears from the mountain, the rumor rides the wind and spreads to the nearby forests?

As the animals who heard the rumor gather, the mountain cannot help but be noisy.

"Since the position of the Cult Leader is vacant, there must be someone to sit in it. I think Guardian Gung would be suitable."

"Guardian Gung cannot be. Our Yeon family will take it."

"What are you talking about? The Cult Leader must be from our Dokgo family!"

Men and women, young and old, gathered in the not-so-wide main hall, were shouting and clamoring.

Among them, the one making the loudest voice was the Dokgo family.

Although Dokgo Jeong was dead, his younger brother was still there, and his son was also alive.

In a conference room not far from there, three people were gathered and sitting.

Two men and one woman, Dokgo Hyeon, Na Hyeon-gi, and Seo Mun-ryeon were together.

A considerable number of warriors were guarding the area around the conference room where the three were gathered.

Seo Mun-ryeon opened her mouth with a serious expression.

"It seems the Cheon Cult Leader has headed for the Central Plains. We are tracking the direction he disappeared, and it is the Central Plains. The problem is the Sichuan martial world and the Hongmen of Xinjiang, who had many complaints about our cult, as well as the Kunlun Sect of Qinghai and the Ice Palace, but the bigger problem is the Martial Alliance. It seems the Martial Alliance has grasped the situation of our cult to some extent. They are preparing to attack our cult."

"It will take a long time for the Martial Alliance to get here, so we must reorganize in the meantime."

"Will this be solved by us just talking here?"

At Dokgo Hyeon's words, Na Hyeon-gi threw cold water.

At his words, the two sighed. They also knew well that there was no use in talking and worrying here.

Na Hyeon-gi brushed his knees.

"Since the Cult Leader is vacant, someone will become one. What does it matter to me who it is?"

"Didn't you also want to become the Cult Leader?"

"The Cult Leader is too much for my level."

Na Hyeon-gi shook his head.

Dokgo Hyeon asked again.

"Jin Sa-wol is lying in the separate courtyard now. I wonder if he also wants to become the Cult Leader."

"Ask him directly. I don't think he's interested."

"He probably isn't. But if he is..."

At Seo Mun-ryeon's words, Dokgo Hyeon shook his head.

First of all, Jin Sa-wol was a benefactor. No matter how ambitious he was, he had to protect what he had to protect.

"Brother Jin is a benefactor. In a way, he is a benefactor of our cult. It is my job to protect him."

"But other people might not think so. Don't you think the Yeon family or the Yuk family will not stand by?"

At Seo Mun-ryeon's words, Dokgo Hyeon and Na Hyeon-gi's expressions hardened.

Dokgo Hyeon said, "The Cheon family estate is being protected by our Dokgo family, so you don't have to worry too much."

At Dokgo Hyeon's words, Na Hyeon-gi smiled. But it didn't seem to be an affirmation.

Dokgo Hyeon asked Seo Mun-ryeon.

"What happened to Ma Chung?"

"We subdued him while he was sleeping in his room and imprisoned him. He was the closest to the previous Cult Leader, and since there are many who have a grudge against Ma Chung, we have also strengthened the security around the prison. Since most of the officials of the Hall of Light have also been imprisoned, it seems this great event is half successful."

"It's not something to celebrate."

Dokgo Hyeon shook his head.

Seo Mun-ryeon's gaze turned to Na Hyeon-gi.

"By the way, how did the Na family head get Ma Chung's mask? I've been curious about that for a while. He's not someone who can be easily subdued."

Na Hyeon-gi, who received Seo Mun-ryeon's gaze, smiled.

"Ma Chung has ten concubines and over twenty maids. He thinks that the art of replenishing yin with yang is the secret to longevity. It was a publicly known secret that he was learning the art of replenishing yin with yang while acting as the acting master of the One Sun Hall without appointing a new master. It was not difficult to subdue him the day before the great event. I placed a water pitcher full of sleeping pills in his room. After that, I made a mask by modeling his sleeping face. It can be made in half a day."

Although the words were easy, the actual execution of the plan was by no means easy. Dokgo Hyeon and Seo Mun-ryeon knew that well.

The two felt that Na Hyeon-gi was an opponent who could not be taken lightly.

Na Hyeon-gi, feeling burdened by the two's gazes, slightly turned his head and asked, "I'm curious about the reason you called us."

As Na Hyeon-gi looked, Dokgo Hyeon nodded.

"Let's make a deal. If you help me become the Cult Leader, I will give you what you want."

"The cult is in a state of chaos right now. Is the Cult Leader still so important?"

"Let's just say it's pride."

"More than half of the cult's power has disappeared. We won't be able to gain the same fame as before, and it's obvious that numerous external enemies will attack. And you still want to become the Cult Leader?"

"It is the will of my family."

Dokgo Hyeon's face was full of confidence.

Na Hyeon-gi nodded as if he understood.

"Help me rebuild my house and the Ghost Spirit Valley, and give me the position of an elder and one of the nine pavilions as before."

"I will."

Na Hyeon-gi's proposal was not difficult.

"I will discuss this matter with my father."

"If the Seo Mun family takes over the Hall of Light?"

At the words 'Hall of Light', Seo Mun-ryeon's eyes widened.

"I can bring a positive answer. By the way, is it you, brother, who will step forward as the Cult Leader?"

"My uncle."

Dokgo Hyeon's uncle was Dokgo San-gyeong, one of the Four Guardian Demonic Gods.

He was a warrior who did not interfere in the affairs of the cult and lived only by honing his martial arts.

Na Hyeon-gi's expression hardened.

***

The cold wind seeping through the window tickled Jin Sa-wol's eyes.

Jin Sa-wol, who had opened his eyes, slowly looked around, realizing it was an unfamiliar room.

The wide room, with no particular decorations, was filled with a warm heat.

Not far from the bed, a brazier and a table were visible.

A girl in her late teens, who was sitting at the table, was startled to see Jin Sa-wol, stood up, and ran outside.

"He's awake."

Her voice was heard from afar.

A short while later, Yuk Seol-jeong entered the room.

Yuk Seol-jeong was holding a basin of hot water.

"I'll wash you."

Yuk Seol-jeong put down the basin and then grabbed the blanket covering Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol grabbed her hand.

"Wait a minute."

"Why?"

"Did you really wash my body?"

"Yes. I did. Why? Are you shy? It's okay. I'm used to men's naked bodies."

Yuk Seol-jeong put strength into her hand, but Jin Sa-wol also put strength into his hand. He was naked under the blanket.

It wasn't that he was shy, but Yuk Seol-jeong was a woman he had killed.

"You must hate me."

"That's right, I hate you. To me, Young Master Jin is a bastard like a salted fish. If not that... you..."

Yuk Seol-jeong was cursing with her eyes.

Jin Sa-wol let go of his hand. Yuk Seol-jeong, who had removed the blanket, wiped Jin Sa-wol's body with a wet towel and said, "The Pavilion Master told me to serve you with utmost care, so I'm treating you with a gentle face like this now."

"How long was I asleep?"

"Five days."

"This doesn't seem to be the cult."

"It's the Cheon family estate. Dokgo Hye's room is next door."

"What about her?"

"Her? Hohoho! How ticklish, 'her'... Dokgo Hye is not yet. But I think she'll wake up today or tomorrow."

After Yuk Seol-jeong wiped his upper body, she lowered the towel, and Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"I'll wash the rest myself. I can get up."

"What a shame... I washed you all by myself until yesterday... But it's a relief. There seem to be no side effects. Sometimes, people become impotent after eating a Living Blood Ghost."

"What about Brother Jang?"

"He's preparing the medicine."

Hearing Yuk Seol-jeong's answer, Jin Sa-wol put strength into his stomach to get up. In that instant, he felt a wriggling, strange sensation and a strong pain.

Still, he sat up.

Yuk Seol-jeong looked at him with a strange expression.

It was a situation where it wouldn't be strange to scream, but Jin Sa-wol's face was indifferent.

Yuk Seol-jeong brought clothes and handed them to Jin Sa-wol.

Jang Cho came in after he had finished dressing.

As he was sitting on the bed, Jang Cho came in with a decoction. Jin Sa-wol, who had received the decoction from Jang Cho, frowned.

"Are you going to put me to sleep again?"

"The Living Blood Ghost is most active when the host is asleep. That's why I put you to sleep. That medicine is poison. You might fall asleep from the poison's energy. It's not enough to kill you, so rest assured. Instead, the Living Blood Ghosts will die."

"The dead Living Blood Ghosts will come out as feces. It's very painful when they come out, so be careful. You'll experience the feeling of shitting blood. Hohoho!"

As Yuk Seol-jeong laughed from the side, Jang Cho shook his head.

Jin Sa-wol sneered and then drank the decoction.

It was incredibly bitter. It was so bitter that Jin Sa-wol, who had no change in expression even in the pain of his flesh being torn, frowned and trembled his shoulders.

"It's not even good for the body, but it's incredibly bitter."

"Poison is originally bitter."

"They say medicine that is good for the body is also bitter."

"It's all like that."

Jang Cho spoke lightly and then grinned.

Jin Sa-wol shook his head and drank his tea.

"You can move slowly, but you can't circulate your qi yet. When you shit blood, you can start circulating your qi then. If you circulate your qi, the worms in your stomach will travel throughout your body. Because they react to qi."

"I will."

"The security has been strengthened. The reason we came here is because it seemed safer here than in the cult."

Jang Cho, as if he had finished what he had to say, stood up.

"I have to go see Miss Dokgo, so I'll get up. If you need anything, tell Sister Yuk here."

Yuk Seol-jeong showed a cute smiling eye, grabbed her pigtails, and shook them. It meant to trust her.

'A guard.'

Jin Sa-wol knew that Yuk Seol-jeong was his guard. Jin Sa-wol asked Jang Cho with a curious face.

"Is there a special reason you saved me like this?"

"Are you talking about the price?"

"Yes."

"Repay the favor. I want to be your benefactor."

"That favor must be very expensive."

"Is the price of your life cheap? Hahaha! I will collect it someday, so know that."

Jang Cho laughed loudly and then went outside. As he left, Yuk Seol-jeong sat next to Jin Sa-wol and said, "Two days ago, a group of masked people entered the Cheon family estate. We don't know which faction they belong to, but the person they were aiming for was Young Master Jin."

"Did you kill them all?"

"I killed them all."

"Shouldn't you have left one alive to ask about the mastermind?"

"I killed them all before I thought of that. I thought of it after I killed them."

Yuk Seol-jeong was a person whose body moved before her head.

Jin Sa-wol slowly stood up and went out to the yard and sat down.

He saw a sky full of sunlight. A cold wind was blowing.

Around noon the next day, Jin Sa-wol was able to meet Dokgo Hye.

She had woken up in the morning, but she couldn't come out of her room because her movements were uncomfortable.

As Jin Sa-wol entered, Dokgo Hye looked at him while lying on the bed.

Although her complexion was pale, her eyes were clear.

Dokgo Hye sent everyone standing around outside.

The room, where everyone had left, was quiet. Dokgo Hye asked Jin Sa-wol.

"Back then... my words... did you not hear them?"

Jin Sa-wol recalled Dokgo Hye's whisper when Cheon Yu-myeong had stabbed him with Dokgo Hye.

Kill me...

It meant to kill Cheon Yu-myeong by stabbing her.

Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"I didn't hear."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Dokgo Hye's face flushed, and she turned her head. She couldn't look at him, recalling the image of him holding her.

(End of Chapter)