Chapter 381: One Who Stands Against Ten Thousand (2)
“Demonic Faction Lord has appeared!”
Ding, ding, ding, ding!
The bell rang out around me, and with it, every surrounding gaze instantly fixed on me.
Hmm...
The guards' perception was better than I thought.
‘I didn’t expect them to recognize me this fast.’
Just in case, I came looking like my humble self from when I was still the heir of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.
“What?”
“Who did you say?”
In an instant, all attention around me concentrated at once.
I considered knocking out the guard before he caused a bigger scene and entering the outer hall.
‘Well, this might be better. Causing a stir right here doesn’t sound too bad either.’
Not long after, the Cheon Clan’s guards began pouring out like a pack of dogs from inside.
‘Every one of them is capable of martial qi projection. The squad leaders are all at least First Rate, and some are even Peak Master Level.’
Their level wasn’t bad at all.
Even compared to the Jin Clan’s guards, they were a cut above.
Especially that one standing at the front—his presence surpassed Peak and was nearing the edge of the Supreme level.
‘Right. For someone leading the guards, that much is expected...’
“For what reason have you appeared alone like a rat, Lord?”
...What the hell did he just say?
The man, who looked like their captain, approached with a vicious expression.
I scrunched my brow and tore up the mental note of compliments I’d given him.
“A rat? I came here following official procedure, and that’s what you call me?”
At my words, the captain glanced back and forth between me and the guard, Son Geon.
“……”
No matter how you looked at it, it did seem like I truly intended to follow protocol.
With nothing left to say, the captain scowled and drew his sword.
“Even if what you say is true, it does not give the Cheon Clan any reason to welcome you.”
“And so?”
“Leave. If you do so quietly, we won’t treat you harshly.”
Oh?
Now that’s different for a captain.
Had it been anyone else, they would’ve charged in without knowing their place, trying to arrest me.
I smiled faintly and asked in return.
“Are you sure? If you let me go now, the higher-ups in the Cheon Clan won’t leave you alone.”
Flinch!
The captain’s shoulder twitched slightly.
“Even so, turning the impossible into possible isn’t within our power. As outer hall guards, we know very well we can’t buy time against you until reinforcements from the inner hall arrive.”
“And what if I just force my way in?”
“In that case... we have no choice but to stop you, even if it costs our lives.”
He knew his place, knew how to negotiate.
He even seemed to have some loyalty.
‘It’s a waste to kill him...’
Still, if he’s bound to the Cheon Clan, there’s no chance he’ll switch sides.
I shook off the sentiment and opened my mouth in earnest.
“Then, how about using them to try and hold me down?”
“…What?”
“Aren’t those the ones you called in for that purpose? Who knows? If one of them manages to capture me here, they might even climb the ranks.”
I shouted as if to let all the eager onlookers hear.
“Taking a seat at the Elder Council is practically guaranteed.”
“……!!”
The ones pounding on the Cheon Clan’s gates now numbered in the hundreds, at least.
And every one of them was radiating an obvious thirst for promotion.
At that moment, Yorang’s voice whispered from within my robes.
-Are you sure about this?
‘Sure about what?’
-Aren’t you underestimating numbers too much? Most of these guys are garbage, sure… but a few of those inside seem to be pretty skilled among humans.
‘That’s the whole point.’
-The point?
‘Just watch for now.’
I used my lightness technique to leap onto a slightly raised boulder nearby.
Then I unleashed a lion’s roar toward the martial artists swarming the Cheon Clan’s entrance.
“My name is Jin Yeomyung. I am the Demonic Faction Lord, husband of the current Demonic Supreme Master, Cheon Yura—and the sworn enemy of the Cheon Clan.”
The enemy of the Cheon Clan.
Murmur, murmur!
As soon as I openly declared that, the atmosphere grew restless.
“You’re probably all here to curry favor with the Cheon Clan, right? Then let’s skip the formalities.”
Tap, tap.
“Come at me. The one who takes my head here will become the next Elder Council’s newest elder.”
If I could really shape that future, it would likely happen with a high probability.
And then—
“Then I won’t hold back.”
Rustle, rustle!
Someone had snuck up behind me and boldly swung their sword toward my neck.
Judging by the sword qi generated, they were at least Peak Master Level.
I didn’t dodge.
I merely tilted my neck slightly.
And then—
Clang!
The sword, containing that sword qi, snapped pathetically the moment it touched my neck!
“…?!”
The rebound from the broken sword must have numbed his grip considerably.
But more than that, the psychological blow from having his blade shattered was written all over his face.
“Oh, by the way.”
Grab!
I snatched the bastard who had dared swing a sword at me by the face.
“Guh! Ghhk!”
He struggled desperately to break free, but no matter how much inner strength he summoned, there was no way he’d escape.
“I highly doubt those who would dare challenge me are unaware of my origins from the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.”
With that, I smashed his head into the rock.
Boom!
Naturally, the result was instant death.
After killing the fool who had come at me with such confidence in the most pitiful way…
I released my killing intent and stared down at the maggots gathering at the Cheon Clan’s gate.
“Honestly, I did think about it for a moment. You’re all still technically cult members, so maybe I should give you a chance.”
But then...
“After thinking it over a bit more, I couldn’t figure out why I should let garbage like you, who dare betray the rightful ruler Yura and cling to her enemies, live.”
“U-ugh!”
The crowd, which seemed to number in the thousands, couldn’t withstand my aura and began to back off.
Sreung!
The blade of the Ten Heavenly Record Immortal Sword bared its fangs at them.
“Come at me, all of you. If you won’t, then I’ll come to you.”
Perhaps...
Since I awoke in this world, today might end up being the day I bathe in the most blood.
I poured all my Heaven-Slaying Qi forward and charged at them.
***
The clan leader of the Cheon Clan.
That exalted position was not something that could be claimed simply through endorsement.
Even as the Cheon Clan was internally preparing for war with the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, they were simultaneously rushing the rites for the clan leader’s enthronement.
Amidst that situation—
“This is urgent, Pavilion Lord—no, Clan Leader!”
A direct report came frantically from the Outer Hall to Cheon Jumyeong.
“What is it?”
“It’s a message from Gate Six of the Outer Hall. The Demonic Faction Lord Jin Yeomyung is causing a disturbance!”
“......!?”
The elders of the Council of the Seven Elders who were nearby sneered slightly.
“So he’s finally made the first move?”
“A spectacular suicide, I’d say.”
No matter how strong he was as someone who had reached the Transcendent Demon Realm, the forces backing him were laughably weak.
What’s more, Jin Yeomyung had recently issued a full ban against the involvement of all the Six Great Demonic Clans, which only added to the elders’ confidence.
“How many men did he bring with him? Surely he didn’t leave the Cult Leader unattended and drag the entire Heavenly Demon Pavilion here?”
“He’s alone.”
“...What?”
The elders’ eyes went round.
“What did you just say?”
“He’s alone. He’s currently massacring both the Outer Hall guards and the various clan representatives who visited the main house, all by himself.”
One elder asked again.
“What about the assassination unit he’s said to command?”
“There is none. The Divine Ghost Unit confirmed this repeatedly.”
“......”
“......”
“...Is he actually insane?”
“Does he place that much faith in his Transcendent level?”
While the elders were laughing in disbelief,
Cheon Jumyeong thought differently.
Outside of Cheon Jumun, there wasn’t a single true master of the Transcendent Demon Realm in the Cheon Clan.
Although the Sword Demon and the Saber Demon had reached the Transcendent, they had only just entered that realm.
Even the elders of the Cheon Clan, who had lived for over half a century, couldn’t truly grasp what it meant to reach the complete Transcendent state.
Cheon Jumyeong smirked inwardly.
‘It’s actually quite timely.’
No, he must have been waiting for a moment like this to strike.
In that case, it was only right to respond accordingly.
“Fourth Elder.”
“...You called, Clan Leader?”
Fourth Elder looked at Cheon Jumyeong with a puzzled expression.
Then, a rather curious command came from Cheon Jumyeong’s lips.
“Fourth Elder, you will personally lead the Extreme Demon-level experts of the clan and go.”
“Hm? You want me to go personally?”
“To my knowledge, we currently have five Extreme Demon-level experts on standby in the main house. Add in your personal forces, and eliminating Jin Yeomyung should be simple, should it not?”
Six Extreme Demon-level masters, plus a hundred Peak Master Level experts from the upper ranks of the Thirty-Four Demon Squads.
Barring the return of a former Cult Leader from the grave, no one could handle such a force alone.
“You must make sure of it. Fourth Elder, bring me his head yourself. This is a direct order from the Cheon Clan’s next leader.”
“......”
Fourth Elder gave Cheon Jumyeong a strange look.
Indeed, not even the Sword Demon or the Saber Demon could take on that force alone.
“Well, very well. If it is the Clan Leader’s will, then I shall go.”
There would be no greater symbol than claiming the Demonic Faction Lord’s head with his own hands.
Effectively, he’d take over Ilro’s vacant seat.
“If any of the other elders would like to accompany me, they are welcome to. ‘They’ will surely reward the one who captures the Demonic Faction Lord quite generously.”
“Hmph!”
“Hrm!”
The other Council of the Seven Elders exchanged glances and cleared their throats.
“This opportunity is so perfectly prepared that it’s almost suspicious.”
“But as long as he isn’t on par with the former Cult Leader, there’s no way he walks out of the Cheon Clan alive.”
“Of course not. I should contact my men and tell them to prepare for deployment.”
Scrambling to capitalize on an unexpected opportunity, the elders began filing out of the meeting room to summon their subordinates.
In the end, only Cheon Jumyeong and Third Elder, Cheon Rain, remained in the room.
“You won’t be joining them, Third Elder?”
Cheon Rain stroked his beard with a congenial smile.
“Hahaha, I’ve never been particularly obsessed with merit.”
At those words, a blatant sneer curled Cheon Jumyeong’s lips.
“Haha, you jest. A man without ambition would never have made it into the Council of the Seven Elders.”
“......”
Naturally, the Cheon Clan’s top masters were constantly vying to earn a spot in the Council of the Seven Elders.
Even just a few years ago, there were those who reached the Extreme Demon but couldn’t get in because they were overshadowed by others at the Transcendent Level.
It took outstanding political skill, personal strength, and endless ambition to barely make it into that group.
Cheon Jumyeong joked lightly.
“Still, you have no reason to stay seated here... Is there something you wish to say to me?”
“There is one thing I’ve been curious about.”
Without hesitation, Cheon Rain spoke.
“The Demonic Faction Lord I know... was a man of unparalleled depth.”
“......”
“Such a man wouldn’t recklessly charge into the Cheon Clan relying on brute strength alone.”
In truth, he had come relying on brute strength.
But that didn’t mean he hadn’t made any preparations.
“There’s one possibility that came to mind...”
Cheon Rain cautiously watched Cheon Jumyeong as he spoke.
“It almost feels like... you just sent Fourth Elder and the others to their deaths.”
“Oh? That’s how it seemed to you?”
“Of course, anyone with a rational mind would never say something like that. Which is why...”
And yet, it was that exact cautiousness and perceptiveness that had let Cheon Rain survive Jin Yeomyung’s previous life.
Enduring the pressure slowly creeping in from Cheon Jumyeong, he asked:
“You and the Demonic Faction Lord... aren’t plotting together to destroy the Cheon Clan, are you...? Have I... made a mistaken assumption?”