Chapter 88. Could it be You?

Most of the up-and-coming juniors belonging to the Heavenly Net Society were graduates of the Heavenly Martial Academy and were from famous and large sects like the Nine Sects One Gang or the Five Great Families.

As such, they were not on good terms with Jin Yeong-in, and thanks to that, Dang Cheon-wi also had an awkward relationship with them.

They were the ones who did not look kindly on Dang Cheon-wi, a direct blood relative of the Sichuan Tang Clan, being close with Jin Yeong-in, who had a humble background and no particular connections.

Also, they genuinely believed the rumor that Jin Yeong-in had secretly practiced demonic arts and ended up in that state when he was suffering from qi deviation.

As a result, Dang Cheon-wi had also had several arguments with them, so it was impossible for them to be on good terms.

“I am very grateful for Young Master Yu’s offer, but I am fine.”

“Young Master Dang, it is said that all within the four seas are comrades. Wouldn’t it be good for a family gathered under the roof of the Righteous Heaven to get along well?”

“That is a hundred times correct. But it is a little awkward to try to get along well with people who are on awkward terms.”

“Hmm.”

“Since we will be seeing each other often, I will try to get to know them slowly.”

“If Young Master Dang says so, I will not insist any further.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Dang Cheon-wi did not want to get close with the members of the Heavenly Net Society.

That wasn’t just because of Jin Yeong-in.

It was because of their behavior during their time at the Heavenly Martial Academy… for example, the arrogant attitude unique to those from famous and large sects.

The elitist consciousness of looking down on those who did not practice martial arts, the sense of privilege that they should be treated well because they were from famous and large sects, and the authoritarian words and actions that stemmed from such values.

All of that had made Dang Cheon-wi uncomfortable.

“Well then, I will greet you later.”

“Yes, Young Master Yu.”

“By the way, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but when things get underway, Young Master Dang will also have to follow my orders. It may be inconvenient, but please follow my orders when the negotiations with the Demonic Cult take place.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

Dang Cheon-wi readily nodded.

Since Yu Geon-myeong was the person authorized by the Righteous Heavenly Alliance to lead this negotiation, it was only natural to follow his orders.

“Well then, you must have had a long journey, so please rest comfortably today. The prisoner exchange is scheduled to take place in three days, so I will call for you when we formulate the operational plan.”

“Understood.”

The next afternoon.

Dang Cheon-wi received a call from Yu Geon-myeong and headed for the tavern where the negotiations would take place.

On the top floor of the tavern, Yu Geon-myeong, the Heavenly Net Society he led, and the masters of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance were gathered.

Even…….

‘The Demon Extermination Squad!’

Dang Cheon-wi’s eyes lit up when he saw that the Demon Extermination Squad was there.

Since it was a negotiation with the Demonic Cult, it was absurd to proceed with only the up-and-coming juniors.

On the surface, the up-and-coming juniors of the Heavenly Net Society would lead the negotiations, but it was clear that a constellation of masters were positioned behind them.

Yu Geon-myeong, as the person in charge of this negotiation, gathered the masters and led the meeting.

And the first thing that Yu Geon-myeong said was…….

“The Righteous Heavenly Alliance does not negotiate with the Demonic Cult.”

For a moment, Dang Cheon-wi doubted his own ears, wondering what he was talking about.

He had clearly heard it was a prisoner exchange…….

“I plan to annihilate the members of the Demonic Cult right after the prisoner exchange takes place. What does everyone think?”

No one objected to Yu Geon-myeong’s statement.

“That’s right!”

“Of course!”

“As expected, Young Master Yu’s work is flawless!”

The up-and-coming juniors belonging to the Heavenly Net Society raised their voices.

The Demon Extermination Squad rarely spoke, so they just listened quietly, and the senior masters belonging to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance silently nodded, showing their approval of Yu Geon-myeong’s decision.

‘Isn’t this wrong?’

Dang Cheon-wi frowned at the thought that flashed through his mind.

A deal must be made on the premise of trust.

If one were to betray that trust and backstab them, the aftermath would not be easy to handle.

The Demonic Cult could do that.

Why?

Because they were the Demonic Cult.

The public perception of them was that they were demons who had given up on being human.

There was no reputation to lose, no matter what they did.

But the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, which claimed to be the Righteous Path, should not do that.

It was needless to say that even if the opponent was the Demonic Cult, doing such a thing would tarnish the reputation of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.

Besides, you never know about people, so this might not be the last deal with the Demonic Cult, right?

Even though he knew that, Dang Cheon-wi did not dare to open his mouth.

This was because not a single person raised an objection to Yu Geon-myeong’s opinion, and the atmosphere was one where this despicable plan was taken for granted.

***

After the meeting ended.

“Young Master Yu, may I see you separately for a moment?”

Dang Cheon-wi gathered his courage and went to see Yu Geon-myeong.

He felt that at least one person, anyone, had to say that this was not right…….

“Of course, I must make time for Young Master Dang.”

Yu Geon-myeong readily made time with a gentle smile.

“What brings you to see me?”

“It’s about……”

Dang Cheon-wi began to speak with difficulty.

“This plan to annihilate the members of the Demonic Cult after the prisoner exchange, I hope you will reconsider it.”

“What do you mean by that, Young Master Dang.”

Yu Geon-myeong’s expression instantly turned cold.

Dang Cheon-wi was slightly taken aback by Yu Geon-myeong’s reaction.

The Yu Geon-myeong from the Heavenly Martial Academy days was always gentle, reasonable, and a talented individual with the qualities of a great hero who could embrace anyone.

He had never once shown such a fierce side, so he had not expected such a sharp reaction.

“No matter how much the opponent is the Demonic Cult, I do not think it is right to betray trust in a prisoner exchange.”

“Is that so?”

“Are we not those who walk the Righteous Path? I think the Demonic Cult could certainly do that. But shouldn’t we not?”

“I fully understand what you are saying, Young Master Dang.”

Yu Geon-myeong erased his cold expression and spoke again with a gentle smile.

“However, the opponent is the Demonic Cult. They are those who do not distinguish between means and methods to achieve their goals. It is a very difficult thing to insist on the Righteous Path when dealing with such people.”

“No matter how much that is so, if we deal with them in the same way… don’t we also become the same as them?”

At that very moment.

Wince!

Dang Cheon-wi unknowingly trembled.

The dangerous aura emanating from Yu Geon-myeong was so fierce that it felt as if his heart was freezing.

“Watch your words, Young Master Dang. To say that our Righteous Heavenly Alliance is the same as the Demonic Cult, are you really saying that?”

“That’s not it……”

“Shut that mouth of yours.”

Yu Geon-myeong firmly cut off Dang Cheon-wi’s words.

“The opponents are not humans but demons. To ask us to keep trust with such beings is an absurd thing to say.”

“……”

“Do you know how many comrades died at their hands during the last Righteous-Demonic War? Do you really think you could say such words after seeing that terrible and tragic scene with your own two eyes?”

It goes without saying, but Dang Cheon-wi had not experienced the last Righteous-Demonic War, so he did not know the situation at that time.

He could only guess roughly from the stories passed down from mouth to mouth…….

‘Isn’t that the same for Young Master Yu?’

Dang Cheon-wi was a little annoyed that Yu Geon-myeong spoke as if he had experienced that time, but he did not bother to bring it up.

“If you ever utter such words again, I will not stand idly by, even if you are a direct blood relative of the Sichuan Tang Clan. And Young Master Dang, you have a history of being close with a spy for the Demonic Cult. Surely you haven’t forgotten.”

“I remember…… it.”

“Young Master Dang, you are still a person of interest. It will take a very long time to clear that stigma. Perhaps you may never be able to clear it in your lifetime.”

“……”

“I believe you know very well how to conduct yourself. Surely you do not intend to cause trouble for your clan.”

Dang Cheon-wi could not say anything to Yu Geon-myeong’s words.

In fact, Dang Cheon-wi’s opinion could be taken as denigrating the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and defending the Demonic Cult, so it was no exaggeration to say that it was already on a razor’s edge.

That was why he had gone to see Yu Geon-myeong separately and had spoken with difficulty, but to think that it would be met with such a sharp reaction…….

“I believe you understand. You may leave.”

“……Understood.”

Dang Cheon-wi, realizing that he had stirred up a hornet’s nest, turned his steps.

***

Three days later.

The Righteous Heavenly Alliance was waiting for the officials of the Demonic Cult to arrive at the Radiant Sun Pavilion, the tavern where the prisoner exchange would take place.

‘An incredible force.’

Dang Cheon-wi clicked his tongue at the sight of the masters of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance deployed at the Radiant Sun Pavilion.

It was only natural, as the number of masters of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance deployed for this prisoner exchange was over two hundred.

Just the Heavenly Net Society led by Yu Geon-myeong alone amounted to about thirty people, and three squads of the Demon Extermination Squad were deployed.

Was that all?

Not only the masters of the Qingcheng and Moshan Sects but also their elders were at the Radiant Sun Pavilion.

At this point, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they had gathered the masters in anticipation of an all-out war with the Demonic Cult, not a prisoner exchange.

In the first place, the plan was to annihilate the officials of the Demonic Cult after the prisoner exchange took place.

“The officials of the Demonic Cult have just passed through the city gate.”

“What is their scale?”

Yu Geon-myeong asked at the messenger’s report.

“They say it is not very large. It is said that they do not exceed about fifty people.”

“Who is the person in charge on the Demonic Cult’s side?”

“It is said that one of the Heavenly Demon’s disciples has come.”

“……!”

“His name is Jin cheon, and since he is called the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult, it seems certain that he is a disciple of the Heavenly Demon.”

At the messenger’s report, the masters on the Righteous Heavenly Alliance’s side became very excited.

It was only natural, as a disciple of the Heavenly Demon was a big catch among big catches.

A Seventh Young Master was a high-ranking official whose rank was higher than that of an ordinary elder, so it was something for the Righteous Heavenly Alliance to welcome with open arms.

If they succeeded in capturing the Seventh Young Master and executed him in the middle of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, wouldn’t it be a great way to repay the humiliation from the Yangtze River?

Hunting a disciple of the Heavenly Demon would be the greatest achievement in the entire thirty years since the Righteous-Demonic War.

Moreover, since that big catch was walking into the land of death on his own two feet, it was only natural for their expectations to grow.

“Everyone, calm down. The great deed will be carried out after the prisoner exchange takes place. No untoward incident should occur before the prisoner exchange takes place.”

Yu Geon-myeong repeatedly warned and calmed down the masters on the Righteous Heavenly Alliance’s side.

If they were to move rashly and the prisoners held by the Demonic Cult’s side were to lose their lives, it would be a really troublesome matter.

About one hour later.

Deolkeok, the door opened, and the martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult rushed into the tavern and lined up on the left and right.

Soon, when a young man with a handsome appearance appeared, Dang Cheon-wi almost sat down without realizing it.

‘N-no way.’

Dang Cheon-wi repeatedly blinked his eyes, checking and rechecking if what he saw was correct.

Seeing the robe embroidered with a nine-headed dragon, the young man had to be the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult.

The problem was that he was someone Dang Cheon-wi knew very well.

Dang Cheon-wi could not believe what was happening before his eyes.

He had never dreamed that Jin Yeong-in, whom he had met again after five years, would be the Seventh Young Master of the Demonic Cult.

But Dang Cheon-wi was not the only one who was surprised…….

***

‘Wait.’

Jin cheon couldn’t help but stop in his tracks when he saw the young man sitting at the table.

He had seen that face somewhere before.

– You’re still breathing, you are.

The face of the Great Divine Physician of Immortals from before he returned to the past flashed through his mind.

At that time, the Great Divine Physician of Immortals had reached the state of returning to youth and had the appearance of a young man who had just come of age, and the face of the up-and-coming junior of the Qingcheng Sect sitting at the table over there was not just similar to his but was a spitting image.

That means…….

‘Great Divine Physician of Immortals, could it be you?’

A chilling smile appeared on Jin cheon’s lips.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep