White Lotus Cult—

Gansu, Cult Branch.

“Brother…!”

The Left Heavenly Demonic Path, Go Eung, shouted with a pale face.

Considering his usually calm disposition, he seemed to be more than just surprised…

“You… what on earth is the matter?”

No Yeong-myeong, who had been staying with Go Eung at the Gansu cult branch for a while, asked with wide eyes at his unusual brother’s appearance.

At that.

“It’s a big problem, brother!”

“I’m asking… what is the problem?”

“Well…”

Go Eung, with a look of deep thought, said to No Yeong-myeong.

“That can’t be!”

Only then did No Yeong-myeong understand why his stone-like brother, Go Eung, had been making such a fuss.

“Did the Martial Alliance really make such a strong move…”

“Kwon Hyo, who was conducting espionage activities disguised as a high-ranking official of the Martial Alliance, was caught by Jin So-ah, so we are in a situation where we cannot obtain high-level information. But there is no smoke without fire. The incident of the Martial Alliance extending a hand to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult cannot be a false rumor.”

“Hah…! What a ridiculous thing!!”

No Yeong-myeong, who was repeatedly surprised, let out a sigh as if he was dumbfounded the more he thought about it.

Because the Martial Alliance requesting help from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was a matter that completely broke the rules of the martial world, which had been firmly established over a long history.

“So! What did the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult side say?”

“Currently, the spies of our cult planted in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Martial Alliance are nothing more than low-level members. So, we cannot know the detailed information. But we must see it as a foregone conclusion that the negotiations between the two sides have been smoothly concluded.”

“Then isn’t it a big problem? The sealed demonic beasts have not yet found their full power. Of course, even with this power, we can handle the Martial Alliance or the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but if those two groups join forces, the story will be different…”

“At the center of all these incidents is Jin So-ah. That brat is involved. I heard that he was also active in the negotiations with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult this time.”

The moment he heard Go Eung’s words, bloodshot veins appeared in No Yeong-myeong’s two eyes.

At the same time, he clenched his fists and ground his teeth, and now he was at the point where his blood would boil just by hearing So-ah’s name.

“I should have killed that brat earlier… when he was fifteen. When I met him in Liaoning. I should have risked my life to kill that brat…”

He was full of regret.

At that time, No Yeong-myeong had been blocked by the combined attack of Hong In-geol, Abbess Hongryeon, and Moyong Baek, who had been dispatched to save So-ah, and had not been able to kill So-ah.

Moreover, since he had even suffered the humiliation of losing one eye to So-ah at that time, that day was imprinted as a miserable day that he would never forget in his life.

“Brother… what should we do? If we were to have a full-scale war with the combined forces of the Martial Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult right now, in the worst case, our cult could lose all its power. I hear that the Cult Leader’s madness is getting worse day by day. It would be another matter if he completed the Blood God Transformation, but in his current distant state, can he really handle them?”

The situation was not good in many ways.

Of course, if a full-scale war were to break out, the White Lotus Cult would never back down, and No Yeong-myeong was prepared to stand at the forefront and slaughter the hypocrites of the Orthodox Path.

But considering the demonic beasts, whose restrained power had not yet been fully found, and the state of the Cult Leader, who had recently become a madman and was running wild, it was No Yeong-myeong’s thought that it would be a rather difficult fight.

Just then.

“Brother. There is no way to avoid this fight anyway.”

“Brother…”

“Furthermore, isn’t it a situation where the government is watching our cult due to Jin So-ah’s machinations? Then we must sublimate this difficulty into an opportunity.”

“Into an opportunity?”

“That’s right.”

“Do you have a brilliant plan?”

“In the art of war, it is said that if a fight is unavoidable, that fight must begin with a preemptive strike.”

“Then…?”

“Let’s strike first.”

“Brother!”

“I’m not saying we should have a showdown at the front. It will take a considerable amount of time for them to assemble. Our cult will prevent their assembly and seek a gradual direction to erase the Orthodox Path and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult little by little.”

As he said that, the Left Heavenly Demonic Path, Go Eung, clenched both his fists and furrowed his brow.

No Yeong-myeong, seeing his anger, which was rarely seen, also raised a thick killing intent.

***

“Haha… So-ah. You must have had a hard time meeting a strict master!”

Jin Won-tak heard from So-ah about how he had caught the eye of the God of War, Moyong Cheon, and had become his top disciple, and furthermore, how he had been beaten with a raw tree for more than two shichen a day for a whopping six years, and had devoted himself to extreme martial arts training without resting for a single day.

And he heard in detail about the other things that had happened at the Three-Wheeled Peak estate in the Great Evil Mountains.

At first, he was dumbfounded.

Because he had doubts about Moyong Cheon’s strange training method of beating his young younger sibling, who was like a lump of blood, with a raw tree for two shichen a day.

But as the story continued, Jin Won-tak realized that Moyong Cheon had truly cherished So-ah and had passed everything on to him, and he felt an unspeakable gratitude to the deceased God of War.

“Haha. Brother. Of course, it was hard, but I was happy in those days. The Three-Wheeled Peak estate was a paradise for me, and my grandfather was like my parents…”

A deep longing and nostalgia were in So-ah’s voice as he spoke.

Jin Won-tak deeply empathized with So-ah’s feelings without him having to say it.

“So-ah… although the great hero God of War who took care of you has passed away, you have a brother now, don’t you? Never think that you are lonely. I will never let go of your hand again.”

Jin Won-tak opened his mouth, patting So-ah’s shoulder.

It was because he wanted to soothe So-ah’s empty heart even a little.

But he soon became embarrassed.

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“I’m not lonely at all.”

“Uh… huh?”

“Why would I be lonely? I’m an adult who has passed the age of twenty. I’ve learned martial arts to the point where I can survive in any dragon’s den or tiger’s lair. I have a family called the Moyong family. And my business is flourishing these days, isn’t it? Hahaha. I’m not lonely. And although my grandfather has passed away, he is forever in my heart.”

Jin Won-tak felt that it was a great relief, but on the one hand, he was also bitter.

His one and only younger sibling, whom he had barely found by a heavenly fortune.

Although he wanted to cherish and protect him for the rest of his life…

Since the current So-ah had a perfect fence called the Moyong family and a benevolent family, he had the thought that there might be no room for him to intervene in So-ah’s life.

But.

‘Yes. Slowly… I’ll get closer very slowly.’

Jin Won-tak soon reprimanded his rash thoughts.

For a human and a human to get closer, sufficient time and a safe distance are necessary.

If he were to try to recover the lost dozen or so years between the two in a single day and night, it would, on the contrary, have a reverse effect.

Since Jin Won-tak was a person who was well-versed in such human groups and the world, he vowed to become a good brother to his younger sibling, little by little, one step at a time.

“So-ah…”

“Yes, brother.”

“After we finish this matter, won’t you stop by Beijing once?”

“Why Beijing?”

“Because there are people who would be very happy to see you.”

“???”

“My wife and daughter will probably jump for joy when they see you.”

In an instant, So-ah’s two eyes opened wide like a lantern.

“Brother! When did you get married and have children?”

“Haha. You brat. I’m over thirty. Did you think I wouldn’t have gotten married by now?”

“Hahaha. Hearing you say that, it makes sense. By the way, to think that I have a sister-in-law and a niece! I’m dying to see them.”

“Then, after we subjugate the White Lotus Cult, you must come to my house. No, our house.”

“I will. I will bring the most wonderful gift in the world for my sister-in-law and niece. Hahaha!”

The two looked at each other and put on a pleasant smile.

In the midst of that.

Suddenly, a curiosity arose in Jin Won-tak and he asked.

“But So-ah. You’ll be twenty-three soon, right?”

“That’s right.”

“…Then what about marriage?”

That’s right.

As if he were his older brother, Jin Won-tak was suddenly curious about So-ah’s marriage.

“Aha! Brother. I’m still far from it. I have a lot to do.”

“I don’t think the women of the Central Plains will leave you alone. You’re handsome, your martial arts are strong, and your background is solid. Besides, didn’t you say you’re making good money these days? Tell me honestly. You have a woman in your heart, don’t you?”

A woman in his heart…

Come to think of it, it was definitely a strange thing.

No matter how much of a martial artist he was, a normal man of So-ah’s age was bound to have thoughts about women.

But since So-ah had never even given a woman a second glance until now, others might have a reasonable suspicion that he might be a eunuch.

‘A woman…’

Even So-ah himself could not readily understand it.

Therefore, he tried to recall his close associates one by one in his head…

‘Myo-seon is my childhood friend, like my real sibling… my junior sister? Phew. My junior sister is not a woman, but a troublesome younger sister. Hmm… Hwa-rin is not a woman either. Although she’s cute, Hwa-rin is also a friend to me, a friend.’

Then.

‘So-yeong?! Kekeke… if I were to consider So-yeong as a woman, Lord Wang Bang-tae would jump for joy. Haha!’

He recalled Wang So-yeong, with whom he had shared joys and sorrows to obtain the Ten Thousand Year Ice Jade Essence, and the Lord of the North Sea Ice Palace, Wang Bang-tae, who had shouted at him to become his son-in-law from their first meeting.

At that, a smile leaked out for some reason.

“Haha! You brat. As expected, you have one, don’t you? A woman in your heart?”

“Hey! Brother. I said no. Hahaha.”

But no matter how much he thought about it, Wang So-yeong was also just a comfortable friend to So-ah.

It seemed that for So-ah, getting married and starting a family was still less important than rolling around in the martial world and making money.

***

The next day…

Bao Qingtian and Jin Won-tak were about to leave the Moyong family early to have an audience with the emperor and to purge the corrupt officials, including Eunuch Han.

They had drunk heavily with the people of the Moyong family the day before.

Although So-ah, Moyong Baek, and others originally enjoyed drinking, the officials Bao Qingtian and Jin Won-tak were people who did not drink heavily…

Since it was a precious moment where the cooperation of the martial world and the government was achieved in the subjugation of the great evil, the White Lotus Cult, and the unexpected reunion of the brothers, everyone cheerfully drank their cups.

And…

“Family Head. Thank you again, sincerely. Our So-ah. Please take good care of him.”

Jin Won-tak unusually bowed to Moyong Baek and expressed his gratitude.

Considering his status as the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to bow to the family head of a mere martial family was to show the best possible courtesy.

Of course, Moyong Baek, who was not inferior to anyone in the world in terms of courtesy, also bowed to him and cupped his fists.

“You are too kind, Head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jin. It is an embarrassing thing to say, but So-ah is like the main pillar of our family. He is the great disciple of the Moyong family, who does not need me to look after him. And he will continue to be so.”

‘Huh?’

But the lines were a bit strange.

Moyong Baek had emphasized the part of ‘the main pillar of our family’ and ‘the great disciple of the Moyong family’ very strongly, and since he was not unaware of his intention, So-ah, perhaps because he was embarrassed, blushed.

But.

“Hahaha. It is you who are too kind, Family Head. No matter how much So-ah is the ‘great disciple’ of the Moyong family, isn’t he strictly an ‘external disciple’? Since he is not of the Moyong clan, how can he be the same as a blood relative? As So-ah’s ‘real brother’, it is only right for me to make a request to the family head.”

Jin Won-tak was taking it a step further.

In a word, it was no different from saying ‘So-ah is my bloodline, not yours’ in a grand and polite way.

At least, that’s how it sounded to Moyong Baek.

Thus, the two people.

‘Not a chance, you brat. Where did you suddenly pop out from and try to take So-ah?’

‘The relationship between blood relatives is a heavenly law, a heavenly law! Of course I’m closer to So-ah!!’

…were having a silent battle over the ‘ownership of So-ah’.

‘Hah… what is this situation again? It’s one mountain after another, one mountain after another.’

At the premonition that a tiring matter would arise for a long time to come, So-ah shook his head.

(End of Chapter)

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