Chapter 390: The Prelude to War (1)
The massacre committed by the Demonic Faction Lord Jin Yeomyung in the territory of the Cheon Clan.
The aftermath of this event was unimaginably massive.
First of all, in just barely a day, thousands of martial artists were killed.
Although most of them were from clans pushed to the margins, unrelated to the Six Great Demonic Clans, the sheer weight of the number—thousands—was by no means light.
Purely by numbers, more blood had been spilled than when the former Cult Leader had ousted the Heavenly Illusion Clan.
“The local mountain keeper, Mister Jeong, said it was a literal sea of blood and mountains of corpses.”
“They say the corpses that weren’t burned were piled up like an actual mountain.”
“Heh heh heh… Who would have thought a single person could cause such a divine catastrophe…”
If this had been the righteous sects, Jin Yeomyung would’ve been condemned as a mass murderer and worse.
But this was the Heavenly Demon Cult, where power reigned supreme.
Rather than blaming Jin Yeomyung, the voices here praised his overwhelming martial might.
Of course, there were still a few who voiced concerns about the Cult Leader’s political standing.
“But if we end up turning the Cheon Clan into our enemy like this, what’ll happen to the Cult Leader?”
“Right? If the Six Great Demonic Clans change their mind, it could spell big trouble…”
However, such voices were in the minority, and the conclusion of the incident was singular.
The new Cult Leader had trampled the Cheon Clan’s authority, which had remained an unchallenged taboo for a thousand years, in overwhelming fashion.
Those connected to the Six Great Demonic Clans regarded this event with caution.
Even those unconnected found themselves keenly observing the power struggle unfolding between the Cult Leader and the Cheon Clan.
However.
This power struggle that had set the Ten Thousand Mountains ablaze cooled just as quickly as it had ignited.
The reason was the arrival of an envoy from the Murim Alliance bearing a declaration of war.
“I am Gwak Ho, known as the Celestial Sword of Judgement, here on behalf of the Murim Alliance. I come to see the Cult Leader of the Great Heavenly Demon Cult.”
A middle-aged man with a powerful impression slightly bowed his head toward Cheon Yura.
Celestial Sword of Judgement, Gwak Ho.
He was, surprisingly, a master of the Transformation Realm who had not even entered the Eight Armies.
‘Looks like he’s not from an orthodox sect or an established clan.’
Normally, to earn a place among the Eight Armies, one must reach the Transformation Realm, but that also required the backing of a prestigious sect or clan name.
Thus, there were cases where those listed among the Ten Talents could not ascend to the Eight Armies even after reaching the Transformation Realm.
Yet what drew the attention of those present was not the name “Celestial Sword of Judgement” but the word he had placed before it.
“…Acting?”
“That’s right. I, Gwak Ho, took the seat of Acting Vice-Leader of the Murim Alliance three months ago.”
Cheon Yura asked with a disinterested expression.
“So? What business does the Murim Alliance have with our cult?”
“Please accept this.”
Gwak Ho confidently pulled a scroll from a box and held it out in front of Cheon Yura.
“That insolent…”
Many of those gathered in the hall frowned at his behavior.
Regardless of his Transformation Realm level, his conduct before the Cult Leader of the Great Heavenly Demon Cult was far from proper.
“Bring it to me.”
One of the Guardian Lions received the scroll from him and offered it to Cheon Yura.
She rolled her eyes over its contents.
“Kh!”
She bared her teeth and began to laugh.
“Kuh kuh… keh heh heh…”
“…?”
“Aha ha ha ha ha!!”
Rumble!
The entire Heavenly Demon Pavilion began to shake from her burst of laughter.
“Gasp!”
Gwak Ho, directly struck by her pressure, was stunned.
A newly appointed Cult Leader without even a proper title yet.
Only in her twenties, and a woman at that—he had underestimated Cheon Yura.
‘What, did she inherit the position through bloodline alone?’
But that thought was shattered to pieces by her single laugh.
‘Wh-what is this pressure??’
For someone like him, who had reached the Transformation Realm, to feel such overwhelming pressure from mere laughter!
After laughing for quite a while, she abruptly stopped, as if the laughter had been a lie.
“How amusing. That the Murim Alliance would dare to declare war on our cult.”
“D-declare war?!”
“Is that true, Cult Leader?!”
Amidst the rising anger of those gathered, Cheon Yura suddenly flung the scroll toward me.
“Jin Yeomyung, you read it.”
“Yes.”
I accepted the scroll from Cheon Yura and began to read its contents aloud.
“…Having repeatedly invaded the territories of the righteous sects, spilling the blood of countless innocents, and offering no apology or remorse, your cult’s heinous and shameless acts… the Alliance can no longer stand idly by and shall mobilize all its strength to uproot the source of these evils.”
I narrowed my eyes as I read the final sentence.
“Signed, Acting Leader of the Murim Alliance, Jegal Cheon.”
“…Jegal Cheon?”
“Sounds like someone from the Jegal Clan… but who the hell is he?”
Even the participants in the hall tilted their heads at the name Jegal Cheon.
Cheon Yura narrowed her eyes slightly and glared at the Celestial Sword of Judgement.
“What happened to the original Alliance Leader, Gwan Hyun?”
The Celestial Sword of Judgement felt an odd pressure under her gaze but replied confidently.
“He was a petty criminal who abused the Alliance’s power for personal gain and acted solely for the benefit of his own sect, Mount Wudang.”
“Hmm…”
“The Elders’ Council and the Council of Seniors of the Murim Alliance judged that former Alliance Leader Gwan Hyun was unfit for the role. They decided to expel him and appoint a new leader.”
At those words, Cheon Yura turned her gaze elsewhere.
“So they say. What do you think, Flying Immortal Hall Master?”
“Th-that is…!”
The Flying Immortal Hall Master, who had received her gaze, lowered his head as cold sweat drenched his back.
To not have grasped the Murim Alliance’s situation until the new leader sent an envoy was, frankly, an offense that deserved decapitation on the spot.
“I beg forgiveness. Please kill me!”
Cheon Yura stared him down.
“That’s not the kind of answer this Cult Leader wants, is it?”
He quickly responded.
“I-I had received reports from spies that internal power struggles in the Murim Alliance had intensified, but failing to confirm the change in leadership is an undeniable blunder. Please, I beg you, spare my life.”
She frowned briefly, then spoke.
“I’ll give you one chance. Go and verify everything we missed.”
“Y-yes, Cult Leader!”
The Flying Immortal Hall Master immediately sprinted out of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.
To be honest, in any other situation, his head would’ve flown right off.
But because Cheon Yura understood the unique circumstances involving Gwan Hyun, he narrowly kept his life.
“I see. A declaration of war…”
Sensing instantly that the Murim Alliance’s situation had changed, she tapped the armrest lightly.
“But according to a recent report, Black Lotus Union helped the righteous sects in Shaanxi to halt the advance of the Evil Overlords of Heaven. Surely, the Murim Alliance didn’t declare war on us without knowing our relationship with Black Lotus Union?”
“Of course not.”
“Then answer this. Recently, the Evil Refining Sect advanced beyond Hubei into Henan. If our cult joins in, how do you plan to stop that?”
As if he had expected that question, the Celestial Sword of Judgement smirked.
“An agreement has already been reached with the Evil Refining Sect.”
“…What?”
“The new Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance has recognized the Evil Refining Sect’s dominion over Hubei, Guangdong, Fujian, and Jiangxi and has temporarily formed an alliance.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
They called it recognizing dominion, but in essence, they had handed over everything south of the Yangtze to the Evil Refining Sect.
“Regardless of the rest, the Jiangxi region should fall under Namcheon’s territory, shouldn’t it?”
And Hubei Province was practically Mount Wudang’s backyard.
“We have no intention of making exceptions for sealed sects. That’s for the Namcheon Hundred Families to resolve themselves after lifting their isolation.”
Surprisingly, there was no flaw in the Celestial Sword of Judgement’s logic.
That was because declaring a sect sealed was akin to announcing total withdrawal from all Murim affairs—it wasn’t a decision one could make lightly.
As for Hubei Province…
‘Since Gwan Hyun is from Mount Wudang, they’ll use that as leverage.’
“And negotiations are currently ongoing with the Evil Overlords of Heaven as well. I’ll say there’s a high likelihood that it’ll end on a positive note.”
“….”
The Murim Alliance, Evil Overlords of Heaven, and Evil Refining Sect—united.
I unknowingly muttered a single word.
“Murim Alliance of Righteous and Demonic Sects…”
A nightmarish alliance I didn’t even want to remember.
The very alliance that had destroyed me in my past life was now being birthed again through the hands of my enemies.
The Celestial Sword of Judgement nodded.
“If all goes well, that’s what it’ll become.”
“I see…”
I stood from my seat and approached him.
He curled his lips in disdain as if mocking my actions.
“Hah, just a pretty boy basking in the Cult Leader’s glow. What can a pampered brat like you possibly…”
Does he see me as some kind of toy or concubine of Yura?
I crushed his aura.
“W-what?!”
“Were you planning to humiliate me with some flashy symbolic move?”
I bound his entire body in place using Sword Intent.
“M-my body…!”
Although the Celestial Sword of Judgement was a master in the Transformation Realm and tried to counter with his own intent, the gap in class was far too great, and his struggle amounted to nothing more than futile resistance.
Realizing the level of my true strength, his eyes widened in horror.
“H-how… how can there be two monsters?!”
Kwaak!
I immediately extended my palm and covered his mouth.
“Don’t raise your voice.”
“……!”
“A declaration of war, is it. For a short time, you prepared decently. I’ll give you that.”
I looked directly into the eyes of the trembling man as I spoke.
“Which means, there’s no reason to let someone like you live, is there?”
He frantically twisted his head and shouted.
“Y-you would kill an envoy?! Are you demons in human skin?! Have you no concept of diplomatic decorum?!”
“Right here. Isn’t it written?”
I unfolded the scroll he had brought with his own hand.
“That we are demons.”
“……!!”
“If I’m a demon, then I should act like one.”
“Y-you detestable—!”
He let his guard down.
If he had prepared for a confrontation from the beginning—
No, even if he hadn’t underestimated me—
He wouldn’t have been taken down so helplessly by Sword Intent.
But well.
He had to pay the price for his negligence.
Kwajik!
I crushed the Celestial Sword of Judgement’s skull and killed him on the spot.
Judging by his words, he didn’t seem to be directly related to the Heaven-Defying Society...
Still, letting someone of that caliber walk free wasn’t an option.
“Well done.”
Even as blood stained the floor before the sacred throne of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, Cheon Yura didn’t so much as blink.
Rather, she let out a small laugh and praised me—truly befitting a Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
“U-ugh!”
The envoys of the Murim Alliance who had come with the Celestial Sword of Judgement were frozen in terror, afraid they might follow the same fate.
Cheon Yura calmly addressed the one among them who seemed to hold the highest rank.
“Deliver this to the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance.”
Looking down at the envoy, who couldn’t even reply out of fear, Cheon Yura declared:
“If you’ve crawled here just to die, then our cult will be delighted to greet you with the warmest of welcomes.”
“Defense is a good strategy, but we can’t just sit back and hold our ground. You know why…”
“Because we can’t leave Black Lotus Union alone.”
“Right. Right now, Black Lotus Union is surrounded on three sides. If the Murim Alliance really unites with the other two demonic factions, Black Lotus Union could be eliminated in the blink of an eye.”
We had So Cheon and Baek Sang-ah on our side, but even they couldn’t handle the overwhelming numbers alone.
Above all, hadn’t they suffered serious injuries in the last battle?
“E-emergency report, Cult Leader!”
Just then, the voice of the Flying Immortal Hall Master, who had dashed out of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion earlier, came from outside.
“What’s the matter?”
His face looked so urgent that I feared bad news had come.
But the information he brought us was something we never anticipated—
it shifted the flow entirely in our favor.
It brought us favorable winds.
“The new leader of the Evil Overlords of Heaven, Blazing Heavenly King Lee Jaseong, has been assassinated.”
“…What?”