Chapter 402: The Time When the Sky Turns Red (2)
“There is an organization behind the scenes of the Murim known as the Heaven-Defying Society.”
I observed Baek Sang-ah slowly open her mouth from behind.
Dao Zun, who stood next to me, asked in a low voice.
“Will it be all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Obviously, I mean if it’s all right to reveal their existence like this.”
“It’s fine. In truth, it was bound to be revealed sooner or later.”
The Heaven-Defying Society had done an exceptional job concealing its existence over the years.
There were moments when internal betrayal could have exposed their identity, yet it never happened.
‘Trust alone wouldn’t have been enough.’
Surely, there must have been direct restrictions placed on their bodies.
But unlike them, we had no such restraints.
We could act as boldly as we wanted.
Dao Zun voiced her concern.
“There may be their agents among us right now. Perhaps even…”
“Yes, perhaps even among those we refer to as the leadership.”
At least, none of them were Awakened Bodies.
However, even without accepting that power, some might ideologically sympathize with them.
In reality, excluding Dao Zun Jin Ryeong and a few from the Black Lotus Union, everyone was a suspect.
One of the purposes of this declaration was to begin preemptively identifying such individuals.
Baek Sang-ah continued.
“They are one of the many secret organizations that have long existed within the Murim. However… their threat operates on an entirely different scale.”
“What do you mean by ‘a different scale’?”
The one who had been boldly asking questions up until now inquired again.
Baek Sang-ah nodded and said,
“It was they who caused the Demonic and Orthodox Murim to join hands and divide the Central Plains into North and South.”
“Th-That’s true?!”
Watching the exaggerated reaction, I looked fondly at that ‘someone.’
‘Gu Chil is doing well.’
The man others referred to as a hero was none other than Gu Chil, who had previously infiltrated the orthodox martial artists.
Gu Chil acted like a debater, steering the conversation in the direction we wanted.
“Huh?!”
“Are you saying such people actually exist in this world?!”
“Unbelievable!”
Even if it wasn’t Gu Chil, others planted in advance played along appropriately, guiding the flow of conversation.
So the public could naturally accept the existence of the Heaven-Defying Society.
“Do you know where those Heaven-Defying bastards are swarming? It’s the Murim Alliance based in Henan. The place now called the Southern Murim Alliance.”
Murmur murmur!
Turbulence began to ripple rapidly.
The Murim Alliance, which had protected the orthodox Murim for over hundreds of years.
That they were the root of decay corrupting the current Murim?
Of course, disbelief came before comprehension.
However.
“Why do Shaolin and Wudang, the twin pillars of the Murim, stand together? Why is the Bukcheon Geom Clan, who had remained silent until now, joining us!”
Shaolin and Wudang. And the Bukcheon Geom Clan, one of the Southern and Northern Twin Clans.
The participation of these top-tier forces in the world lent her words the weight of truth rather than an empty plea.
“And I shall promise one more thing.”
She declared with a voice full of confidence.
“That the Namcheon Baek Clan and the Namgung Clan, currently under closed gates, will one day stand with us as well!”
“……!”
The Namcheon Baek Clan, and the Namgung Clan.
The leading noble clans dominating the southern strongholds of the Murim Alliance.
If all those named by her stood alongside the Northern Murim Alliance, then in the truest sense, it could rightfully be called the Murim Alliance.
“Ooooooh!”
Cheers began to erupt from among the members.
No Alliance Leader would utter empty promises in such an official gathering.
That meant there was solid reason backing her confidence!
“Long live the Alliance Leader!”
“Long live the Northern Murim Alliance!”
The members all began chanting Baek Sang-ah’s name in unison.
Any suspicion about her identity and the anxiety it had brought would be completely dispelled today.
Amid the cheers of the members, Dao Zun asked me with a puzzled look.
“The Namcheon Baek Clan is… fine, but how did you persuade the Namgung Clan?”
“It was the Sword Sovereign who contacted us first. He said he was willing to stab the Southern Murim Alliance in the back and join us at any time.”
“…….”
The Sword Sovereign Namgung San.
He, too, was a victim whose clan had nearly fallen to the Heaven-Defying Society.
Naturally, once it became clear that the current Southern Murim Alliance was connected to the Heaven-Defying Society, it was obvious they would be sharpening their blades.
“There’s misfortune looming in the south.”
Dao Zun gave a curt assessment.
If the Namcheon Baek Clan and the Namgung Clan turned against them, the Southern Murim Alliance would find itself facing enemies from both front and back.
“We can’t be certain yet.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It seems… the world is beginning to move in an unusual way.”
It was merely a hunch.
But I felt that the usual territorial disputes within the Murim would soon come to an end.
***
Cheon Yura had not been feeling well recently.
It was due to a sense of unease that had lingered without cause for some time.
“This is enough. Clear the table.”
“You’re not eating more…?”
Sa Biyeon looked at her and the lavish table alternately with a regretful expression.
Despite her slender build, Cheon Yura normally wasn’t one to be picky with food.
Unless it was recently, she hardly ever pushed away the table after only a few bites like this.
“I simply… have no appetite.”
“……C-Could it be?!”
Sa Biyeon’s face brightened as if she had suddenly realized something.
Cheon Yura cast her a baffled look.
“Biyeon, it’s not what you think, so don’t make that face.”
At those words, her expression turned sullen again.
It had been several months since Jin Yeomyung had left Ten Thousand Mountains.
If she had been pregnant, symptoms would have shown long ago, and someone of Cheon Yura’s level would certainly have noticed any internal changes.
“My instincts keep whispering of danger.”
“If you mean danger…”
Right now, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was in a state of great peace.
After the recent massacre in the Cheon Clan, the clan had welcomed a new Clan Head and was keeping a low profile.
All the families that had tried to curry favor with the Cheon Clan were now turning to Cheon Yura, competing to pledge loyalty.
Even the other Six Great Demonic Clans were not being greedy, so for her, it was a perfect flow of events.
If there was one thing that remained unsettling…
“Indeed, there have been more reports recently of unidentified assaults on our Cult Members.”
“…….”
“The casualties have already exceeded a hundred, yet they still haven’t identified the true culprit…”
Mass killings like these weren’t unusual in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
All sorts of spiritual beasts and powerful creatures roamed throughout the Ten Thousand Mountains.
And there were frequent incidents where demonic practitioners, unable to control their demonic qi, would wreak havoc on nearby settlements.
But this time, things were different.
They simply couldn’t find the culprit.
It wasn’t indiscriminate killing by a demonic practitioner.
The victims’ wounds all appeared to be as if torn apart, resembling attacks by wild beasts.
Of course, some extreme demonic arts could produce injuries that looked like wild animal attacks, but the Cult’s investigation units weren’t so incompetent as to miss such differences.
“More than anything, there’s been a report that someone from the Wind Demon Squad was killed just yesterday.”
“……What?”
Cheon Yura’s expression contorted.
The Wind Demon Squad was part of the Four Demon Squads responsible for the Cult’s external security.
Though it was ranked lower, it was still one of the Thirty-Four Demon Squads that represented the Cult.
Cheon Yura, showing fury, snapped at Sa Biyeon.
“I’ll give one month. Tell that fool of an Internal Affairs officer to find out the cause, no matter what…”
But her words were interrupted.
“Cult Leader?”
Sa Biyeon was flustered as Cheon Yura suddenly stood up and looked off into the distance.
Kugugugung!
A fierce presence that only those who had surpassed the peak of extremity could sense.
A familiar aura she had once felt before.
“This is…”
Her expression hardened rapidly.
Somewhere in the Ten Thousand Mountains.
Atop a snowy mountain peak devoid of human presence.
“I’ve finally found you.”
Old Han gritted his teeth as he glared at the woman before him.
“Running around all over ends today, Grand Heavenly Lord.”
In truth, Second Heavenly Lord Old Han had been pursuing the Grand Heavenly Lord’s traces for many years.
From the moment he joined the Heaven-Defying Society, before even accepting Jin Yeomyung as his disciple.
“Running, is it…”
Still in the form of a woman, Grand Heavenly Lord Han Seon let out a sharp smile.
“So my actions looked like running to you?”
“Of course.”
A deep navy demonic qi formed on Old Han’s sword.
The Heavenly Illusion Divine Art, infused with the flow of water, began to unleash a world-shattering potential when merged with Sword Intent.
Kugugugung!
The shock caused a slight tremor in the nearby snow mountain.
“Today, I’ll stake my life here and sever all ties with you.”
Old Han aimed his sword at the Grand Heavenly Lord.
“For the future of my disciple, and my son.”
Old Han’s momentum was surging without restraint.
As if it didn’t matter if anyone noticed.
The Grand Heavenly Lord, who had been watching him silently, responded calmly.
“To sever ties, you say.”
“…….”
“That’s impossible.”
“What?”
“From the moment you joined the Ten Heavenly Lords, an unbreakable bond was forged between you and me.”
The Grand Heavenly Lord raised a finger and formed a hand seal.
“Don’t you dare!”
Sensing the danger, Old Han swiftly charged at the Grand Heavenly Lord.
However.
Before his sword, which shot forward at nearly the speed of light, could reach—
In the slowed-down realm of consciousness, the Grand Heavenly Lord muttered quietly.
“This is a sacred contract passed down from ancient times. A thing like you can’t sever it by your own will.”
-Divine Sorcery, Karma-Binding Mockery
It coerces and mocks karma itself.
The moment the Grand Heavenly Lord’s sorcery unfolded—
An unbearable pain, like a giant hydraulic press crushing his skull, engulfed Old Han.
“Graaaargh!”
This wasn’t something endurable with willpower.
As Old Han’s inner arts dispersed as if by lie, his sword slipped from his hand without strength.
Clang!
The Grand Heavenly Lord slowly approached Old Han, who squirmed like a worm.
“Were you so careless because, unlike other Awakened Bodies, you weren’t implanted with a parasite?”
“Graaagh! Gaaaah!”
“Indeed, I avoided you. But it wasn’t out of fear.”
The Grand Heavenly Lord looked down with icy eyes.
“If we’d met before the time was right, I would’ve broken you like this.”
“How dare you… the promise…”
“I didn’t keep it, did I? My condition was to bring the head of either the Sword Demon or the Saber Demon.”
And the result?
“An arm isn’t a head, is it?”
“……!”
Old Han’s face contorted.
The Grand Heavenly Lord grabbed Old Han by the hair and lifted him.
“I just happened to need a suitable escort. I had my eye on that Demonic Ghost Execution Squad Commander, but Cheon Juchun kept throwing a fit, saying he didn’t want him.”
The Grand Heavenly Lord pulled something out from his robes.
A crimson orb, brimming with ominous energy like blood.
“This is the Essence of Chaos, one of the Four Atrocities. Originally, it would’ve been granted to you when you joined the Main Assembly.”
But Old Han had rejected it.
Back then, he had already been second only to the Grand Heavenly Lord with his martial arts alone, so the Grand Heavenly Lord didn’t force the essence on him.
However, now things were different.
“With you, you’d become an even greater masterpiece than Gam Unbi.”
This wasn’t speculation, but certainty.
“You’ll need to weaken that wench of a Cult Leader for me.”
A twisted smile formed on the Grand Heavenly Lord’s lips.
“And while you’re at it, wouldn’t it be nice if you killed that damn disciple of yours too.”
The Grand Heavenly Lord brought the Essence of Chaos to Old Han’s lips.
That day.
Old Han vanished from the Ten Thousand Mountains.