Chapter 95. What insolent bastards!

“No, why are you doing this?”

Jincheon jumped up in bewilderment.

He had merely repaid a past debt, but he had not at all predicted that they would prostrate themselves before him like this.

“Seventh Young Master, please accept this old man as your subordinate.”

“Although we are old things, if you accept us, we will devote our loyalty.”

Despite Jincheon’s attempts to dissuade them, they showed no signs of getting up, as if they had already made up their minds.

“Please don’t be like this and get up.”

From Jincheon’s perspective, it was difficult to accept the Mad Demon Revered One and the Undying Fighting Demon as subordinates.

Perhaps because of the memories of sharing joys and sorrows in the Demonic Prison, to Jincheon, the Mad Demon Revered One and the Undying Fighting Demon were beings accepted as a kind of comrades.

He was reluctant to establish a master-servant relationship with those who had relied on each other in that hellish place called the Demonic Prison.

Of course, that was just Jincheon’s own thought…….

“If you’re doing this because I saved you elders…….”

“If you think it is simply because of that, this old man would be very disappointed.”

“……?”

“How precious is the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill that the Seventh Young Master gave us? Is it not a treasure that one might not even get to see once in a lifetime?”

“Well, that’s true, but…….”

“Furthermore, did not the Seventh Young Master use that martial art? Does this not mean that the Seventh Young Master is a true successor recognized by that person?”

“That’s true, but it doesn’t necessarily have that meaning. I have little interest in the succession structure. I simply want to achieve the revival of our cult and crush the Righteous Heavenly Alliance to establish the Demonic Dao’s rule over the world.”

“That is why this old man wishes to serve the Seventh Young Master as my lord.”

“……?”

“Did you not promise? That you would help this old man take revenge on the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.”

“Ah.”

“You said you would let us leave our names in the history of our cult by establishing the Demonic Dao’s rule over the world. Surely you haven’t forgotten already?”

“How could I have forgotten?”

“Then please accept this old man. I will become the Seventh Young Master’s limbs and devote my body and soul to establishing the Demonic Dao’s rule over the world!”

“No, how can a greenhorn like me command elders as subordinates?”

“Are you ignoring this old man now because I am old?”

“Pardon……?”

“I’m asking if you’re doing this because you think we’ll be useless.”

“How could that be.”

Jincheon said as if it was preposterous.

And rightly so, the Mad Demon Revered One was a master who ranked among the top five in the cult before his disappearance.

The Undying Fighting Demon was also an incredibly skilled master, having served as an elder.

To think that such people would be useless just because they had become old was something a passing dog would laugh at.

“Then please accept us. This old man will not move a single step from here until the Seventh Young Master accepts us.”

“……”

With the Mad Demon Revered One and the Undying Fighting Demon coming out like this, Jincheon was at a loss for what to do.

He had simply repaid a debt he incurred before traveling back in time, and had treated them well out of consideration for the affection they had shared in that hellish place called the Demonic Prison.

But to think that a response of wanting to become his subordinate would come out…….

“My Lord.”

Danmok Cheong whispered in Jincheon’s ear.

“The two elders must have made their decision after much consideration, so it doesn’t seem polite to refuse.”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, what my Lord needs is the presence of reliable subordinates. Although I and the Seventh Divine Demon Squad are here, we are far from enough. If you accept the two elders, they will be a great strength.”

Hearing Danmok Cheong’s words, Jincheon fell into thought for a moment.

‘Right. What I need is a faction. My position in the cult is indeed precarious.’

Individual martial strength was important, but that was a story that only held true when one had reached a state of invincibility like the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

As the saying goes, one hand cannot handle ten, so if a power struggle over the succession structure were to break out in the cult, Jincheon would be helpless.

Of course, it would be best if such a thing did not happen…….

“Alright. I will follow the two elders’ opinions.”

Jincheon made a decision.

“This old man, from now on, as my Lord’s old servant, I will devote my loyalty.”

“Just command me anything. Although I am old, if it is my Lord’s command, I will not hesitate to give my life.”

The Mad Demon Revered One and the Undying Fighting Demon bowed to Jincheon.

***

“Since the elders have sworn their loyalty, although I am a lacking lord, I would like to issue a command.”

“Please give your command.”

“Mad Demon Revered One Yu Cheon-sang and Undying Fighting Demon Cheon Bul-gun, listen. From now on, focus solely on your treatment and regain your original martial prowess. I too will do my best to help in your recovery.”

“As you command!”

At Jincheon’s words, the Mad Demon Revered One and the Undying Fighting Demon bowed their heads.

With that, Jincheon had gained two old masters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult as his subordinates.

As both of them were figures with outstanding martial prowess, they would be more than sufficient to serve as Jincheon’s left and right guardians.

“Congratulations, my Lord. You have gained good subordinates.”

“Yes, they are good subordinates.”

Jincheon smiled.

As they were individuals with whom he had a special bond in the past, it was a matter worth celebrating for Jincheon as well.

Although it was a bit awkward…….

“Anyway, let’s return to the cult now.”

“As you command.”

Jincheon’s party immediately packed their belongings and headed for the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

Flap, flap!

While heading to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, Danmok Cheong continuously exchanged carrier pigeons, showing the meticulousness of receiving information in almost real-time.

As there was a chance of being attacked by the Righteous Heavenly Alliance or government troops, he did not neglect to keep a watch on the surroundings.

“My Lord, it is said that the Rakshasa Troupe and the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad will soon join us.”

“Why……?”

Jincheon tilted his head.

Rakshasa Troupe.

A military group composed of a whopping five hundred members, it was the top-tier military group in the cult, second only to the Asura Blood Sword Unit.

And on top of that, the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad as well?

“I heard they were recently active in Qinghai Province, and it seems they heard the news.”

“Are they coming to escort the elders?”

“That is highly likely. And…….”

Just then.

“Hmm? Is it really true that the Rakshasa Troupe is coming?”

The Mad Demon Revered One asked Danmok Cheong.

“Yes, elder. The entire Rakshasa Troupe is scheduled to join.”

“What insolent bastards!”

The Mad Demon Revered One huffed and puffed as if he was displeased.

“When this old man was captured by the Righteous Heavenly Alliance bastards, they didn’t show their faces even once, and now they’re coming to pick me up?”

“E-Elder.”

“These damn bastards! I won’t let them be when they come!”

The reason the Mad Demon Revered One was so huffing and puffing with anger was that he was the leader who had led the Rakshasa Troupe during the First Righteous-Demonic Great War.

As the Mad Demon Revered One was considered a legendary figure among the successive leaders of the Rakshasa Troupe, it was natural for him to be angry.

During the time he was imprisoned in the Demonic Prison, the Rakshasa Troupe had not shown their faces even once, so it was understandable that he felt resentful.

Of course, for the Rakshasa Troupe, it couldn’t be helped as they didn’t know the Mad Demon Revered One’s whereabouts…….

Such resentment from the Mad Demon Revered One exploded as if it had been waiting for the moment the Rakshasa Troupe arrived.

“Where in the world were you bastards and what were you doing while this old man was suffering so much!”

“E-Elder. Please calm down… Ack!”

“What an incomparably insolent bastard!”

The leader of the Rakshasa Troupe, Man Yu-gang, was sweating profusely and didn’t know what to do in the face of the Mad Demon Revered One’s fury.

Although Man Yu-gang reigned as an object of fear in the cult with the alias Hell Rakshasa, in front of the Mad Demon Revered One, he was nothing but a weakling who couldn’t even make a squeak.

“How much did this old man cherish you! I even passed down the position of Rakshasa Troupe Leader to you, and you repay me like this?”

“Absolutely not! We just couldn’t find the elder’s whereabouts…….”

“Shut up, you bastard!”

While the Mad Demon Revered One was fuming and shaking down Man Yu-gang, the Rakshasa Troupe experienced unprecedented hardship.

Shiver shiver……!

The martial artists belonging to the Rakshasa Troupe were the elite of the elite in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but they had to keep their heads bowed to the ground for a full four hours.

“To think I’d live to see the martial artists of the Rakshasa Troupe with their heads bowed.”

“Shh. Look away. What are you going to do later if you accidentally make eye contact?”

The members of the Seventh Divine Demon Squad and the Ghost Soldier Corps watched the Rakshasa with curiosity, but they soon averted their gazes for fear of retaliation.

The five hundred or so martial artists belonging to the Rakshasa Troupe were all masters who had reached the peak or transcendent peak, so if they were marked for no reason, there was a high probability of bloodshed later on.

“You’ve really worked hard, junior brother. It must have been a difficult mission.”

Cheol Yu-ra, who came with a squad of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad she led, praised Jincheon for his hard work.

“Oh, not at all. As the Seventh Young Master of the cult, I only did what I had to do.”

“No. There are guys who don’t do what they are supposed to do.”

“Haha…….”

Jincheon realized that the person Cheol Yu-ra was talking about was the Blood Qilin and let out a hollow laugh.

“Still, I heard he has been carrying out missions outside recently.”

“Who knows how long that will last.”

“……”

Jincheon was at a loss for words at the strong distrust contained in Cheol Yu-ra’s words.

Well, reflecting on the Blood Qilin’s usual behavior, it was impossible to predict when, where, and how he would cause trouble…….

“By the way. An order came down from the higher-ups.”

“What kind of order is it?”

It seemed that the arrival of the Rakshasa Troupe and a squad of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad was not simply for the protection of the Mad Demon Revered One and the Undying Fighting Demon.

“It’s an order to launch a surprise attack on the Righteous Heavenly Alliance martial artists around the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect.”

“……!”

The surprise was brief.

Grin, a smile appeared on Jincheon’s lips.

***

The reason the leadership of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was trying to stop the attack on the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect was not to protect the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect.

If the Righteous Heavenly Alliance succeeded in venting their anger using the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect, the fact that they had been repeatedly beaten by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would be somewhat diluted.

It seemed the higher-ups had no intention of watching the Righteous Heavenly Alliance succeed in restoring their honor.

Indeed, if the Righteous Heavenly Alliance succeeded in venting their anger, it could be a loss for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Why?

Because the perception that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult does not protect those who have joined hands with them would be ingrained.

‘Good.’

It was a sudden order, but Jincheon was very satisfied.

He had just suppressed his desire to interfere with the Righteous Heavenly Alliance’s dirty deeds and turned back, but to think that such a pleasing order would come down, serendipitously?

“What are the exact contents of the order.”

“Annihilation.”

Cheol Yu-ra answered Jincheon’s question.

“We just need to inflict great damage on the Righteous Heavenly Alliance in a short period and then retreat.”

“What should we do with the people of the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect?”

“Rescue them if we can, but there’s no need for our cult to suffer sacrifices.”

“Understood.”

It was a reasonable order.

From the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s perspective, they couldn’t care less what happened to the likes of the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect.

They had never joined hands with the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect in the first place, so why would they sacrifice themselves to save them?

For the Seven Absolutes Sword Sect, it was a case of a shrimp’s back being broken in a whale fight, a frustrating and resentful situation, but it couldn’t be helped.

Was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult the only one that operated on the logic of the law of the jungle, survival of the fittest?

That was an immutable law that did not distinguish between the righteous, the evil, and the demonic.

If you are weak, you are bound to be trampled on and used.

There was a reason why martial artists would desperately train in martial arts and strive to become stronger.

Was there not a saying in Murim that being weak is a sin?

‘It’s pitiful, but there’s no other way. At least with our cult’s intervention, a few of them might save their lives.’

Jincheon thought so and his eyes gleamed.

Zzzt, zzzt!

Just thinking about crushing the Righteous Heavenly Alliance made his body feel fired up already.

“When do we depart?”

Cheol Yu-ra answered Jincheon’s question.

“Now.”

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