Chapter 439: A Dagger Hidden Behind Sweet Words (3)
There were concerns regarding external threats, but even so, the inner workings of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult moved swiftly.
At least hundreds of workers were sweating as they carried stones, masonry, and other construction materials.
“Hey! Can’t you bring the materials faster?!”
The workers, conscripted by force, gritted their teeth at the warriors of the Cheon Clan who lashed and urged them on from every direction.
“Damn it, only if those Demonic Beasts tore off one of their limbs would they shut up.”
“At least they haven’t been appearing much lately.”
“Indeed, it's uncanny, almost ghostly.”
Over the ruins of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, all labor forces under the Cheon Clan had been mobilized to construct a massive building.
Its name was Heavenly World Hall.
Many noticed the implications of the name and harbored displeasure, but no one dared to speak it aloud.
The workers were not only assigned to the Heavenly World Hall.
The remaining workers were dragged to the peak of the Ascending Demon Seal to construct a new altar for the enthronement ceremony.
Time passed like that, and Cheon Jumyeong’s enthronement ceremony as Cult Leader approached just a week away.
As if to celebrate Cheon Jumyeong’s rise to Cult Leader, the Demonic Beasts and Monstrous Creatures that had been attacking the cult members until now vanished as if it had all been a lie.
At the ornately adorned entrance of the altar—
“How curious.”
An old hunchback and a woman with a pale-white expression appeared.
“I thought by now the Faction Lord and the clan heads would be clashing fiercely, but it’s far quieter than expected.”
The hunchbacked old man was none other than Wang Garak, who had risen to the position of Sixth Elder in the Elder Hall through a major restructuring.
“The Six Clans is oddly silent, while the minor factions hoping for the return of the former Cult Leader are the only ones acting out more desperately. Perhaps it’s because the Demonic Beasts have grown quiet.”
The absurd part was that it had only led to more bloodshed within the Divine Cult.
The rebellions of the unaligned factions didn’t last long and were all executed by the Ten Heavenly Lords and the traitors.
“By the way, I heard that the Black Gold Clan has sided with the Faction Lord. Do you know anything, Sister? In the past, news like this would’ve reached us within half a day, but now it’s strangely silent.”
“……”
The woman he called sister, the current Sixth Elder of the Elder Hall, Gwang Rahi Yeo Jin, remained silent and avoided answering.
Her silence left Wang Garak feeling stifled.
“Sister, how long do you plan to keep your mouth shut?”
Even under Wang Garak’s prodding, Yeo Jin didn’t open her mouth.
And it wasn’t just the matter of the Black Gold Clan.
Ever since the Cult Leader changed, Yeo Jin had literally stopped all verbal communication.
Despite her past contributions, which should have paved a golden road ahead of her—
Even the position of Third Elder, which she was originally meant to take, had been stolen by a mere newcomer like the White-Faced Demon General!
“I followed Sister in betraying the cult. So can’t you at least tell me what you’re thinking? What direction you intend to take?”
“……”
Even such an almost pleading request was met with silence from Yeo Jin.
“Haaah…”
Wang Garak felt a tightness in his chest.
He could sense emotions in her gaze, yet she would not express her intent in words—the most important means of communication.
At first, he had understood it as a choice of meaning, but by now, he couldn’t help but feel resentment.
Then it happened.
Rustle!
Suddenly, she gently embraced Wang Garak.
“Sister!?”
Because he was aged and hunched, it felt like an adult embracing a child, but Wang Garak didn’t mind at all.
How long had it been since such an expression of affection?
He closed his eyes and felt her warmth.
After a long silence had passed—
A very soft voice flowed into Wang Garak’s ear.
“Run away.”
“…Sister!?”
“……”
That was the last thing she said.
Wang Garak stared blankly at Yeo Jin’s face as she pulled away.
But it didn’t last long.
Being an old veteran, he immediately understood what she meant by telling him to run.
Wang Garak let out a dry chuckle.
“At my age, what more wealth and glory could I possibly run away for?”
“……”
“And besides, am I not the Lord of the Demonic Dragon Hall? If a Hall Lord, who’s supposed to be responsible for the cult’s future, ran away, it would be the utmost disgrace. I came with Sister to protect them, after all.”
Of course, these were nothing more than excuses.
Wang Garak’s wrinkled, pitiful hand slowly wrapped over the back of Yeo Jin’s hand.
“No matter what you do, I’ll be with you to the end.”
“……”
Yeo Jin’s expression slightly softened.
Nine Yin Blood Claw.
Wang Garak's alias and Signature Technique.
This martial art, which began by absorbing a massive amount of Yin energy and thereby collapsing the balance of Yin and Yang within the body, had side effects that directly affected the practitioner's physique.
That was why Wang Garak had been a hunchback since youth, and with his grotesque appearance, he had suffered all sorts of contempt and disgrace.
Of course, thanks to the powerful might of Nine Yin Blood Claw, he was able to suppress most of the trouble that came his way, but every such incident engraved big and small scars in his heart.
And the first person to treat Wang Garak without prejudice was none other than the woman before him—Yeo Jin.
Sensing his resolve, Yeo Jin smiled with a tear slipping down her cheek.
“You foolish man…”
***
A week passed like that, and Cheon Jumyeong’s enthronement ceremony was held.
“……”
“……”
As many people had gathered as during Cheon Yura’s enthronement, but not a single one dared to even breathe properly, all watching the scene unfold with mouths sealed.
“In the end, the Six Clans didn’t attend from any side?”
The last surviving member of the Cheon Clan’s Seven Elders, the Seventh Elder, sighed as he looked down from beneath the altar.
“An enthronement ceremony that shall never repeat in history.”
Never once in history had all branches of the Six Clans collectively failed to attend an enthronement ceremony.
Though there had been instances where the Cheon Clan and Six Clans stood on opposing sides, never had they split so completely like this.
At the very least, the Black Gold Clan was originally supposed to attend…
“But the new Clan Head, Sa Bihwan, had his head cut off by the former Young Clan Head, Sa Biyeon, and was hung in the streets of Eunrugok.”
At first, it sounded like nonsense, but considering the Black Gold Clan had yet to show a single trace, it appeared to be true.
“If the Jin Clan is destined to go down with that Faction Lord bastard, fine. But for even the Pa Clan and Ma Clan to make such a decision? Not even sending messengers, just outright not attending…”
Faint killing intent seeped from the Seventh Elder’s eyes as he paused.
“Then today, a bloody enthronement ceremony shall be held.”
Swish swish!
Dozens of figures descended behind the Seventh Elder.
Each wore a mask, and all were top-tier masters of Extreme Demon Realm level from the Cheon Clan who had chosen to cooperate with the Seventh Elder for the future of the clan.
“All preparations are complete, Seventh Elder.”
“How did it go?”
One of them knelt and reported.
“Starting with the Divine Ghost Unit Leader, all under Cheon Juchun’s command have been purged.”
The Seventh Elder received the report calmly.
“Casualties?”
“……”
Tension briefly filled the air.
After a moment’s hesitation, the masked man bit his lip lightly and reported.
“The Sword Demon Unit has been annihilated. The Four Atrocities Demon Unit and the Turning Wheel Demon Unit also lost nearly half.”
“…I see.”
The Seventh Elder barely managed to hide his dismay.
Each of those was among the top tiers even within the Thirty-Four Demon Squads.
They were stronger than the annihilated Seomra Blade Unit or the Shinha Sword Unit destroyed by the previous Demonic Faction Lord—truly the pinnacle of the Cheon Clan’s power.
And to lose such forces just to weed out internal traitors!
“It couldn’t…be helped.”
Bastards who dared follow traitors despite being under the name of the Cheon Clan.
Thanks to the disappearance of the ringleader, Cheon Juchun, they were able to sweep away the confused remnants, but the cost had been far too great.
‘The intelligence network needs restructuring, but that can wait. If we fail today, the Cheon Clan is finished anyway…’
Hooo!
After a brief breath, the Seventh Elder opened his mouth to address the assembly.
“Although…we joined hands with outside forces briefly to seize leadership within the cult, we never intended to give up our very inner sanctum.”
“……”
There was no response, but everyone silently agreed.
“The parasites that dared creep into the heart of the Thousand-Year Divine Cult—today, we shall eliminate them all.”
The Seventh Elder still didn’t like Cheon Jumyeong.
But that was purely personal emotion.
It couldn’t take precedence over the greater cause of purging foreign threats.
“Go. Tell the Clan Head—no, the Cult Leader. Tell him we will begin as well.”
“At your command!”
Cheon Jumyeong sat alone in a temporary hall prepared near the altar.
In his hand now was the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword, which only the Cult Leader was permitted to wield, and around his shoulders was the Black Dragon Robe, allowed only for the Cult Leader.
“……”
Many would believe he had lived solely for this moment.
Not at all.
‘No, perhaps they’re right. It wouldn’t be wrong to say I lived on, unable to die, just for [today]…’
And today.
No matter the direction, his fate would be greatly distorted.
It was then.
“How do you feel?”
“Grand Heavenly Lord.”
Cheon Jumyeong quickly composed his expression and stood up from his seat.
Then, without hesitation, he dropped to one knee toward the entering Grand Heavenly Lord.
“Please rise. You're about to become a noble figure; I can't have you kneeling so carelessly.”
“The duty of the Cult Leader of the Great Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is to kneel before no one—not even before the Emperor. But in that duty, only the Grand Heavenly Lord is an exception.”
At those words, the Grand Heavenly Lord let out a pleased laugh.
“Ahaha! Your flattery really sinks into the heart.”
“I meant every word.”
“Sure. Let’s say you did.”
The Grand Heavenly Lord stood beside Cheon Jumyeong with a strange smile.
“To speak with sincerity is the only way one can stab with sincerity.”
Twitch.
Cheon Jumyeong, who had lowered his head, slightly furrowed his brows.
Could it be—was he found out?
Honestly, it wouldn't matter even if he were, but the Grand Heavenly Lord's reaction was quicker than expected.
Why? Did something go wrong?
Cheon Jumyeong, unable to organize his tangled thoughts, began to speak awkwardly.
“What…do you mean?”
“Just what I said.”
The Grand Heavenly Lord looked at the sword in Cheon Jumyeong’s right hand.
“You’re holding the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword.”
“As I should. It would be improper for the Cult Leader’s enthronement ceremony to lack the sacred item that symbolizes his authority.”
“Then, where is the Heavenly Demon’s Seal?”
Cheon Jumyeong offered the excuse he had prepared.
“……I didn’t deem the Heavenly Demon’s Seal necessary, so I left it at my residence in the Cheon Clan’s main house.”
“Is that so?”
Thud.
A dull object rolled along the floor.
“Wasn’t it actually meant to be handed over to that Jin Yeomyung bastard?”
“……”
In that instant—
Cheon Jumyeong realized the source of the ominous feeling that had been tangling his mind.
He slightly lifted his head to confirm what the object was.
And that object… was none other than the Heavenly Demon’s Seal, which he had recently sent off in the hands of Cheon Eunryeong.
The moment he saw it—
Cheon Jumyeong’s pupils widened drastically.
“A Dagger Hidden Behind Sweet Words
The Grand Heavenly Lord looked down at Cheon Jumyeong and smiled coldly.
“A phrase often used for someone like you.”
Thunk!
This time, something even bulkier fell before Cheon Jumyeong.
“She was rather skilled. If I hadn’t recognized her when she previously spirited away that wench from the Black Gold Clan, I might have missed it again.”
Following the Heavenly Demon’s Seal, what rolled up to Cheon Jumyeong’s feet this time—
Was none other than the head of the Ghostly Demon Immortal, Cheon Eunryeong.
“……Ah.”
The moment he saw Cheon Eunryeong’s severed head—
The emotions Cheon Jumyeong had hidden so well—
Collapsed all at once.
“Aaaaargh!!”
Cheon Jumyeong, with no calculation or hesitation, drew the Heavenly Demon Divine Sword and swung it toward the Grand Heavenly Lord’s neck.