Chapter 142. Only Qingcheng Has It Made.

“Are you saying you will feign your death?”

“That way, the Heavenly Killing Sect will think their assassination was a success.”

“Su-such a plan….”

“From now on, thoroughly control the area around the manor, and hang a funeral banner in front of the gate.”

Jin Cheon said with a grin.

“I will report to the Cult Leader myself via a letter, so the higher-ups will move accordingly. Squad Leader Dan and the household members just need to act your parts well.”

“I-I understand.”

Danmok Cheong was quite flustered by the unprecedented situation of having to act out his lord’s death, but he did not say he couldn’t do it.

The Bat Squad, due to the nature of its missions, was accustomed to having various cover identities.

Danmok Cheong himself had trained in some disguise arts and acting during his training, so it wouldn’t be too difficult to portray the image of a subordinate who had lost his lord.

“Do you think there are only one or two spies in the Divine Land? It must be teeming with all sorts of rats. We have to deceive them first.”

“To think we have to deceive the entire Cult just for a few rats, it seems too troublesome.”

“This is about catching the Heavenly Killing Sect. To crush the number one assassin sect under the heavens, we must endure that much trouble.”

“Haha….”

“Let’s start right away.”

“As you command.”

Following the order, Danmok Cheong began by controlling the manor’s household members, setting the stage for Jin Cheon’s death.

Jin Cheon sent a letter to the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, explaining the situation from beginning to end and requesting her cooperation.

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God readily granted Jin Cheon’s request, and soon, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult began to stir.

A rumor that the Seventh Young Master Jin Cheon had been assassinated spread, and not long after, the Cult Leader’s Hall officially confirmed the fact, causing the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to erupt like an active volcano.

The Seventh Young Master Jin Cheon was the rising hero of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and also a new star.

For such a young hero to be assassinated, it was only natural for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to boil with rage.

“Now the Heavenly Killing Sect will think you succeeded in your commission.”

“Don’t tell me you faked your own death?”

Shadowless instantly understood the meaning behind Jin Cheon’s words.

“Thanks to that, I’m playing the part of a dead man.”

“This will make things easier.”

A faint smile appeared on Shadowless’ face.

“Then I will act as if I returned after a difficult escape, having succeeded in the assassination.”

“Good.”

“The Heavenly Killing Sect will probably try to eliminate me upon my return. They will fear that I might open my mouth.”

“Then we just have to kill the ones who come to kill you, capture one of the elders, and find out the location of the headquarters.”

“That is correct. But… what will happen to the children I was taking care of?”

Shadowless carefully asked Jin Cheon.

“I will spare them.”

Jin Cheon replied.

“Thank you.”

“You should be thankful. It is I who am showing mercy.”

Jin Cheon didn’t think of this as a deal.

If he had used the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand, Shadowless would not have been necessary.

It was just that he disliked the unpleasant feeling he got when using the Soul-Demolishing Brain-Reading Hand, and he didn’t particularly want to annihilate the people around the assassins.

‘I am a martial artist, not a swordsman. Even less so a slaughterer.’

Jin Cheon recalled the memory of being unable to control his madness during the attack on the Mount Mao Sect and sought to avoid unnecessary slaughter.

If he were to do so, he would lose his humanity and become corrupt like the first Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong…….

***

Meanwhile, the leader of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was suffering a headache due to the Emei Sect’s sudden action.

According to the letter sent by Abbess Hyeonchok, the Emei Sect would not send disciples for the retaliatory attack against the Demonic Cult this time.

Not only that, but like the Shaolin, they declared they were closing their gates and would not interfere in the affairs of the Murim for a while.

The Sword Saint instinctively felt that the Emei Sect closing its gates, following the Shaolin, had some hidden intention that he was unaware of.

However, no matter how much he thought about it, the Sword Saint had no way of knowing why the Shaolin and the Emei Sect chose to close their gates.

“I truly do not know what their intentions are.”

The Sword Saint was so frustrated that he called in his old friend, the Great Divine Physician of Immortals, to discuss the matter.

“Do you have any idea what they are plotting?”

“None at all.”

The Great Divine Physician also couldn’t even guess why the Shaolin and the Emei Sect had suddenly closed their gates.

“But it’s certain that there’s some reason. As you know, aren’t monks a cunning bunch?”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t worry too much and let’s wait. We will find out naturally as time passes.”

“That may be so, but how am I supposed to fill the sudden void? As the Emei Sect has withdrawn, shouldn’t the other sects fill the gap in our forces?”

The Sword Saint frowned as if his vision had gone dark.

How much had he bickered with the leaders of each sect at the recent meeting?

The process of appeasing, threatening, and persuading the sect leaders who tried to avoid sending their martial artists with all sorts of excuses was truly exhausting.

The thought of having to repeat that process because the Emei Sect pulled out at the last minute was enough to give the Sword Saint a throbbing headache.

“Try putting pressure on the Tang Clan. With the matter of their youngest son, they’ll have no choice but to comply.”

“Haha. Only Qingcheng has it made.”

The Sword Saint let out a hollow laugh and looked at the Great Divine Physician with envy.

The Sichuan Murim, where the Qingcheng Sect was located, was a place ruled by three major powers: Qingcheng, Emei, and the Sichuan Tang Clan.

But in a situation where the Sichuan Tang Clan couldn’t assert themselves for various reasons, the Emei Sect also declared it was closing its gates?

For the Qingcheng Sect, which was already enjoying its greatest prosperity since its founding, this situation was something to be welcomed with open arms.

With this opportunity, it was a given that the Qingcheng Sect would effectively dominate the Sichuan Murim and be reborn as the hegemon of Sichuan Province, wasn’t it?

“It is all due to the care of the Primal Celestial Venerable.”

“I wish the Celestial Venerable would look after my sect a little as well.”

As the Sword Saint and the Great Divine Physician were talking, the Demon Extermination Squad Leader, Ho Jong-ak, came in and reported urgently.

“Alliance Leader, it is said that the Unrivaled New Demon is dead.”

“What did you say?”

“According to the latest intelligence, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God has officially announced the death of her seventh disciple, the Unrivaled New Demon.”

“……!”

The Sword Saint’s eyes widened.

He had been troubled by the Unrivaled New Demon recently, so hearing the news of his death, he couldn’t help but doubt his own ears.

“Is that truly a fact?”

“The Cult Leader, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, personally announced the death of the Unrivaled New Demon and declared that she will not hold a funeral until she finds the culprit and takes revenge.”

“Hah!”

“Congratulations.”

The Sword Saint barely acknowledged Ho Jong-ak’s congratulations and turned to the Great Divine Physician.

Despite hearing the news of the Unrivaled New Demon’s death, the Great Divine Physician showed no sign of agitation and was just quietly savoring his tea.

“You see. Did I not tell you that the Primal Celestial Venerable would not forgive such an evil man?”

The Great Divine Physician smiled gently.

‘The Heavenly Killing Sect finally succeeded in killing the Unrivaled New Demon.’

Seeing the Great Divine Physician’s relaxed expression, the Sword Saint realized that the request made to the Heavenly Killing Sect had been successful.

Otherwise, how could a figure like the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult be assassinated overnight?

“I understand, you may leave now.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

After Ho Jong-ak left.

“I can’t believe it. The Unrivaled New Demon is dead.”

“It’s the Heavenly Killing Sect, isn’t it.”

The Great Divine Physician said in a nonchalant tone.

“They are the ones who assassinated even an Emperor in the past. Killing not the Iron-Blooded Demonic God but one of her disciples is not an impossible task.”

“Hah.”

“I’m glad things worked out well. We have eliminated a future source of trouble, have we not?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The Sword Saint nodded his head.

With the Unrivaled New Demon dead, it was as if a nagging tooth had been pulled for the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.

“For today, I think I can finally sleep peacefully.”

“Indeed. Forget about the Emei Sect’s matter, and let’s have a glass of grain tea together today.”

Having come to an agreement, the Sword Saint and the Great Divine Physician immediately moved and headed to a brothel located near the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.

It goes without saying, but no one witnessed the Sword Saint and the Great Divine Physician entering the brothel.

As respected Taoists, they couldn’t openly enter a brothel, so they took a secretly prepared carriage and headed to a private room through a door not open to ordinary people.

***

While faking his death to deceive not only his enemies but also his allies, Jin Cheon prepared for the attack on the Heavenly Killing Sect.

“Wow. A dead person moves around quite well. Hehehe.”

Blood Qilin giggled at Jin Cheon, who was looking at a map.

“You’re bothering me, so if you’re going to interfere, go home and play.”

Jin Cheon retorted bluntly.

“When did I ever interfere?”

Blood Qilin pouted as if to ask what he was talking about.

“You are interfering.”

Yeom Bi also chided Blood Qilin, seemingly agreeing with Jin Cheon’s words.

“Don’t loiter around here, go play somewhere else.”

“Then what are you doing, Senior Brother Yeom?”

“……That is.”

At Blood Qilin’s words, Yeom Bi fell silent as if at a loss for words.

It was understandable, as Yeom Bi was doing just as little as Blood Qilin.

He wasn’t the type to prefer using his head in the first place; he preferred to just charge in, smash everything, and kill, so he was not a helpful person when it came to strategic planning.

“Senior Brother Yeom, you’re not doing anything either, so who are you to tell anyone off?”

“At least I’m not interfering.”

That was not wrong either.

Yeom Bi was just killing time on the side, not bothering Jin Cheon.

‘Here we go again.’

Jin Cheon covered his face as he watched Blood Qilin and Yeom Bi bicker.

As if they were oil and water, they always growled at each other whenever they met…….

Of course, the situation had never escalated to a fistfight, but it was an undeniable fact that the two had very incompatible personalities.

“My Lord, the Cult Leader has sent a decree.”

Just then, Danmok Cheong delivered a letter from the Iron-Blooded Demonic God to Jin Cheon.

“The Heavenly Demon reigns, ten thousand demons submit, long live, long live, for ten thousand years. The Seventh Young Master, Jin Cheon, receives the Cult Leader’s decree.”

Jin Cheon knelt on one knee and respectfully received the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s decree with both hands.

“The time has come.”

After reading the decree, Jin Cheon formed a meaningful smile on his lips.

“What did the Cult Leader say?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you yet.”

“Ah.”

“But what’s certain is that the operation will cause a division within the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.”

“A division in the Righteous Heavenly Alliance… you say?”

“Yes.”

The order the Iron-Blooded Demonic God had given to Jin Cheon was none other than an attack on the Demonic Prison.

The order had come down to attack the Demonic Prison immediately after dealing with the Heavenly Killing Sect and to liberate the prisoners held there.

“A division in the Righteous Heavenly Alliance? What do you mean by that?”

“I’m curious too.”

It seemed Blood Qilin and Yeom Bi were also quite curious about the contents of the decree.

“I cannot tell you.”

However, Jin Cheon did not share the details of the operation even with Blood Qilin and Yeom Bi.

Attacking the Demonic Prison was a matter of great security, so it was not something to be spoken of carelessly.

If, by any chance, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance were to empty the Demonic Prison, wouldn’t it become a headache for Jin Cheon in many ways?

The golden opportunity to divide the Righteous Heavenly Alliance would also be lost.

“I will tell you the details later, so let’s start getting ready.”

Jin Cheon folded the map and stood up from his seat.

The planning of the operation was more or less finished at that moment, so they could move immediately.

“Let’s go.”

At Jin Cheon’s words, Blood Qilin and Yeom Bi tilted their heads.

“Me too?”

“Are you saying we should go together?”

To this, Jin Cheon replied.

“The Cult Leader has ordered you two Senior Brothers to go as well.”

The next morning.

Jin Cheon, Blood Qilin, and Yeom Bi secretly left the Divine Land and headed for Sichuan.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep