Chapter 101: An Unexpected Variable (1)

“What brings you here, Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Thunder Corps?”

“Hm?”

Demonic Gentleman Cheon Jumyeong slightly furrowed his brow at my polite greeting.

He looked surprised, as if wondering how his identity had been discovered so quickly.

“You know who I am?”

“Of course I do. How could I not recognize the master of the Heavenly Thunder Corps?”

Most people might try to skirt around the issue, but Cheon Jumyeong was not someone that could be taken lightly.

“But you wouldn’t know my face, would you? I’d wager even the Asura King wouldn’t recognize it.”

“That may be true.”

He hadn’t attended Elder Council meetings, nor had he made any official appearances.

Though the Heavenly Thunder Corps held one of the five seats of the Five Great Halls, it was true that their activities during this time were shrouded in mystery.

That was how thoroughly veiled Cheon Jumyeong, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Thunder Corps, had kept himself during this period.

“But even if I didn’t know your face, there are still certain traits one can infer from. For example…”

I glanced sideways at Myeong-oh, who was still glaring at Cheon Jumyeong like a rutting beast.

“You can tell just by observing how my subordinates reacted.”

“Hm… that much is true.”

Cheon Jumyeong nodded, seemingly convinced.

“But that alone isn’t enough. Just now, your behavior wasn’t probing or testing. It was like you already knew me personally.”

‘Damn, he’s sharp.’

I cursed him silently.

Truly, the reputation of being the sharpest mind in the cult wasn’t for nothing.

“We’ve seen each other before. Though we didn’t exchange greetings.”

“You’ve seen me?”

“You participated in the recent Exchange Ceremony, didn’t you? You disguised yourself as one of the escorts from the Blood Dragon Demonic Clan.”

“……You figured that out?”

Chwak!

Cheon Jumyeong opened his fan and covered his mouth.

That was a habitual, unconscious tic of his whenever he was flustered—something I knew from my previous life.

“You wore the Blood Dragon Robe, but you didn’t cover your face. It was easy to tell.”

“If that’s true… then your perception is quite impressive.”

Cheon Jumyeong looked at me with an oddly intrigued gaze.

When I realized the emotion behind those eyes was greed, I couldn’t help but be taken aback.

‘Why…?’

“Fine, let’s say you managed to figure out who I am. But you still haven’t said what you all are doing here.”

“Why should we tell you that?”

Myeong-oh practically growled the words, dripping with hostility.

But Cheon Jumyeong remained unfazed.

“You seem to be misunderstanding something. I’m not asking—you’re being interrogated.”

“What?!”

“For all I care, you might be Byeok Cheon-un, who went under the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan after the Soul Reaper Order incident… but as for you—just a lackey under their leash—I could execute you on the spot and no one would say a word. Understand?”

“H-How do you know that?!”

“You thought I didn’t? I’ve known for quite some time.”

“Kh, kgh…!”

While Myeong-oh seethed in frustration, I quietly studied Cheon Jumyeong’s expression.

And I became sure of it.

‘It’s bluff. He’s bluffing.’

Though he spoke smoothly with a smirk, I could sense the subtle incongruity that only a liar gives off.

More than anything, if Cheon Jumyeong truly knew the truth, there’s no way he would’ve stood by and let things get to this point.

He would’ve acted in the Heavenly Thunder Corps’ interest from the start.

I stepped in front of him and said firmly.

“Myeong-oh is one of my subordinates, Pavilion Master.”

“So what?”

“In other words, she’s currently a member of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan.”

“……”

“If you touch her without my authorization, it could be interpreted as interference in the internal affairs of the Six Great Demonic Clans.”

My firm statement left Cheon Jumyeong momentarily speechless.

His eyes narrowed sharply and the corners of his lips twisted ever so slightly.

‘He’s considering killing me.’

With someone of his caliber, even my status as the Grand Heir of the Jin Clan held little sway.

Still, I was certain he wouldn’t act rashly.

‘If I think about why someone like him would come all the way out here…’

There could only be one reason.

I quickly continued speaking.

“You asked what we were doing here, didn’t you?”

“……I did.”

I threw bait at him, now that the atmosphere had turned cold.

“We’re here scheming… to change the successor of the Black Gold Sa Clan.”

“Y-Young Master?!”

“What the hell are you saying?!”

Gu Chil and Myeong-oh turned pale at my words. This wasn’t just throwing oneself under the bus—it was a full-blown suicide move. Why would I say something like that to someone like him?!

But then—

“Oh? Did you just say ‘scheming’?”

Cheon Jumyeong’s voice suddenly rose several tones.

“Yes. One could say it aligns with the very reason you came here, Demonic Gentleman.”

“How do you know why I came?”

“To stir discord within the Black Gold Sa Clan, of course.”

“……!”

My words clearly landed—Cheon Jumyeong’s expression froze for a brief moment.

“Even though it appears the Black Gold Sa Clan is being crushed under the pressure of the Cult Leader, a clan of their caliber wouldn’t waver just from external force.”

“Do you really believe that?”

“Their financial influence within the cult is absolute. Even if you collapse the clan, there’s no one in the cult currently capable of handling the chaos that would follow.”

Cheon Jumyeong silently stared at me.

It was a look that said, ‘go on, let’s see how far you’ll take this.’

“Great empires fall not from external attacks, but from rot within. And the most surefire method… is infighting among successors.”

“Indeed.”

Cheon Jumyeong’s tone suddenly shifted to something far more casual.

“The reason Demonic Gentleman personally came all the way here… isn’t it because you thought you might be able to destabilize the Black Gold Sa Clan’s fixed succession line?”

“…….”

“And if the Heaven-Defying Society were involved, it’d be easy to pin the blame on them, too.”

“Y-Young Master, it’s dangerous!”

Before I knew it, Cheon Jumyeong and I were close enough to reach out and touch each other, staring straight into each other’s eyes.

Ignoring Gu Chil’s warning, I asked with a provocative smile.

“Is it not?”

“……Ha.”

He didn’t explode in anger.

Instead, he let out a small laugh and shook his head.

“I can see now why the Cult Leader praised you so highly.”

“What did he say?”

“He said, if you hadn’t harbored such presumptuous thoughts, he would have kept you by his side and used you with importance.”

‘Presumptuous thoughts, huh…’

How much had the Cult Leader figured out about my intentions?

Or did he simply dislike me getting close to Cheon Yura?

That, I couldn’t be sure of just yet.

“Yes, you’re right. That place is practically the secret hideout of the Yin-Yang Fist Demon.”

I flinched slightly at Cheon Jumyeong’s words.

“You knew?”

“Of course.”

Unlike with Myeong-oh’s case, this time, he wasn’t lying.

I carefully adjusted my tone, concealing my inner turmoil.

“I see. So you deliberately left it untouched for a time like this.”

“Puh! You’re really clever. The more I see, the more I want you.”

Cheon Jumyeong’s eyes widened, transforming into a four-white-eyed stare.

“How about it? Have you ever thought of joining the Heavenly Thunder Corps?”

“…Heavenly Thunder Corps?”

“Yes. If you join, I might be willing to overlook everything that happened today. I’ll even turn a blind eye to your involvement with that foolish girl. And I won’t place you at the bottom either. I’ll keep you directly under me and use you well.”

This was… quite an enticing offer.

I had, at some point, considered infiltrating the Heavenly Thunder Corps. And now, its Commander himself was extending the invitation—an ideal opportunity to slip in without raising any suspicion.

The most secretive organization of the Cult, almost nothing about it had been revealed even during Cheon Yura’s era.

This might be the perfect chance to dig into its core—but…

“I’ll have to refuse.”

Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to reject it outright, because Cheon Jumyeong’s lips twitched slightly.

“…You’re turning me down?”

“Your offer would be the ultimate path to success for any cultist…”

“And yet you still refuse?”

“Because if I enter the Heavenly Thunder Corps, I’ll never be able to accomplish my true goal.”

At least, not now. If I joined, the position of Demonic Faction Lord would be completely out of reach.

Worse, Cheon Jumyeong would practically cut off any relationship I had with Cheon Yura.

“The Cult Leader really was right. Even though you grasp his will, you still refuse to cast aside your arrogant ambition.”

Chchchchch!

Perhaps as a rebound from having held back this long, an overwhelming formless qi began pressing down on my shoulders.

“Interesting. Very interesting. Other than the Cult Leader, no one’s ever turned me down.”

‘Damn it. Maybe I should’ve played it a little smarter.’

I had made a clean refusal because I believed I’d still survive in this situation no matter what.

But the pressure now radiating from Cheon Jumyeong was far beyond playful.

Crack!

 Creaaak!

Gu Chil and Myeong-oh stood on edge, ready to draw their weapons at any moment, watching Cheon Jumyeong’s movements warily.

Then—

“Cheon Jumyeong, why are you still loitering here?”

Rustle!

“…!!”

A brawny man brushed aside some branches and appeared.

And the moment Gu Chil saw him, he dropped his arms as if all hope had been lost.

“Goddamn it.”

Apparently, Myeong-oh felt the same. Her face turned pale, and she began trembling as she stumbled backward.

Seeing their reactions, I instinctively understood.

There was a chance I might not make it out of here alive.

But strangely, Cheon Jumyeong withdrew the pressure he had directed at me and responded nonchalantly.

“Apologies. Something interesting came up.”

“Interesting? You know very well that not even a moment should be wasted if we are to carry out the Cult Leader’s orders… Hm?”

It was only then that the man seemed to notice the others in the clearing.

“Byeok Cheon-un and Myeong-oh. So you’re still alive.”

Gu Chil nodded weakly.

“It’s been a while, Commander.”

“……”

At those words, I also realized who he was.

‘Commander of the Doom-Wielding Ghost Unit, Deathbringer Investigator Cheon Jumun!’

The elite who led the Heavenly Demon Cult’s most lethal assassination squad—the Doom-Wielding Ghost Unit!

And in terms of sheer power alone, said to be second only to the Cult Leader himself!

“I thought it strange no body was ever found. Seems you really did survive. I wasn’t sure about Myeong-oh, but I figured you, Byeok Cheon-un, were still alive.”

“……”

A peak-level expert who once slaughtered countless assassins from the Doom-Wielding Ghost Unit single-handedly during the Soul Reaper Purge.

The fact that Gu Chil wasn’t even showing a will to fight meant the idea of resistance had likely been deeply rooted out of him entirely.

“What… are you planning to do with us, Commander?”

“Hm? What do you mean?”

Cheon Jumun tilted his head and replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“The Soul Reaper Purge is over. Return. You’ll be useful.”

“R-Return…?”

Gu Chil and Myeong-oh stood frozen, mouths agape in disbelief.

Cheon Jumun casually dropped a bomb on them.

“If you survived, then you return. That’s how it works.”

“……”

“……”

Even I was dumbfounded at this point.

‘He’s completely insane.’

According to Gu Chil, the number of people this man had personally slaughtered was easily in the dozens.

He had killed his own subordinates with his own hands—and now he says what?

‘What kind of twisted logic allows someone to spew that kind of crap with a straight face…?’

Even Cheon Jumyeong, of all people, looked awkward as he muttered.

“Um… Jumun. I normally wouldn’t say this, but in this situation… don’t you think that’s a little off?”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Hmmm…”

Cheon Jumun looked genuinely confused, as though he truly couldn’t understand why it was strange.

‘He’s a lunatic with no sense of common logic.’

But that confusion didn’t last long.

“We’ll think about that later. For now, we need to carry out the Cult Leader’s orders first.”

“Ah, about that—I have something to say.”

“What is it?”

“I think we can take care of that order… right here, right now.”

Cheon Jumyeong waved his hand and turned his gaze back toward me.

He looked at me with a regretful gaze, as though he had just let a prized catch slip away.

“It’s rare for me to be this generous.”

“I suppose I’m lucky, then.”

“Extremely lucky. This would’ve been the perfect place to eliminate all evidence.”

“……”  

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