Chapter 111: Fiery Bridge to the Afterlife (1)

“That’s the rough outline of how this incident unfolded.”

“……”

The Cult Leader fell into thought for a moment after listening to Cheon Jumyeong’s report.

“You’re saying that the Junior Brother got involved in the Sa Clan’s internal conflict?”

“To be precise, the civil war in the Sa Clan erupted because of his involvement.”

Cheon Jumyeong continued.

“As you know, Cult Leader, although the Black Gold Sa Clan had several direct descendants eligible for succession, the position had essentially been solidified around the eldest son, Sa Bihwan. Sa Biyeon had ability and ambition, but she was born at the wrong time.”

“Indeed. Even as a child, she made quite the impression, always clinging to Yura with remarkable perceptiveness.”

Just noticing that at around ten years old and acting on it was exceptional in itself.

“The Sa Clan’s going to be rather noisy for a while.”

This was her final chance, and she was not going to let it slip away.

The more rampantly Sa Biyeon acted, the more the Cult Leader would get the result he desired.

“Lend her a bit of support, discreetly, without the clan head noticing. If she secures the position of successor to the Sa Clan, it’ll make things much easier during Yura’s reign.”

“Yes, Cult Leader.”

“Alright, that takes care of that matter….”

The Cult Leader’s eyes narrowed slightly as he continued.

“I heard that Junior Brother dumped Yura?”

His voice was calm, but beneath it simmered a quiet fury.

There was no way the perceptive Cheon Jumyeong could miss that emotion.

After carefully choosing his words, Cheon Jumyeong replied with ones that would avoid inciting the Cult Leader’s wrath.

“It’s clear that he was mindful of ‘your intentions,’ Cult Leader.”

“Of course. Now the flies will start buzzing around Yura again.”

After the recent incident, Jin Yeomyung’s presence had surged dramatically.

Most of the Six Clans, upon seeing this, likely gave up without hesitation.

But after Jin Yeomyung withdrew from the exchange ceremony, the Six Clans once again found themselves agonizing over the position of Demonic Faction Lord, which now seemed back in play.

“How arrogant.”

“……”

Cheon Jumyeong remained silent in the face of the Cult Leader’s displeased reaction.

Sometimes, knowing too much about one’s superior’s inner thoughts could be a problem in itself—just like the classic tale of Yang Su, who acted on his insight into Cao Cao’s thoughts and ended up executed.

“So? What is Junior Brother doing now?”

“Well…”

Cheon Jumyeong shared the recent information he had gathered on Jin Yeomyung.

After hearing it, the Cult Leader chuckled softly and nodded.

“As expected, his first goal is the Pa Clan?”

“It’s the safest and most reliable choice.”

“But will it work? The Pa Clan is the easiest to bring in… but also the hardest to deal with, isn’t it?”

“That’s exactly why she sought ‘him’ out.”

At Cheon Jumyeong’s meaningful remark, the Cult Leader returned a knowing smile.

“If he survives, then so be it. The Grand Elder really is mischievous… of all people, she chose to connect him with that one.”

Cheon Jumyeong didn’t refute the remark.

Finally, the most critical topic emerged from the Cult Leader’s lips.

“What about the movements of the old ones?”

“They’re still chasing an impossible dream. Their puppet has started to move.”

“Cheon Yujeong, huh…”

The one who survived to the very end during the Young Cult Leader Selection and stood in the way of Cheon Yura’s future.

Though the memories of that event were vague, it had still left a lingering impression on the Cult Leader.

“She’s talented, no doubt. With proper polishing, she could easily reach the level of a Demonic Grandmaster.”

Coming from someone titled the Heavenly Demon, this was an immense compliment.

However—

“Unless she reaches the level of the Heavenly Demon’s potential, she won’t be able to stop the coming chaos.”

The Cult Leader stated it firmly.

“I won’t be able to shield her forever.”

“……”

Cheon Jumyeong found himself wondering.

Just what was the Cult Leader looking toward?

He understood the structure he was trying to create—but to achieve it, he was placing a burden upon her daughter and Young Cult Leader that was far too heavy.

***

I had been curious to see who the clan was sending my way.

And the person who showed up was someone I never expected.

“What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean? I was sent by the Clan Head.”

My blood-related younger brother, Jin Yeowoon, replied curtly.

Still boasting the massive frame characteristic of the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, the guy looked more manly now, having lost much of his baby fat since I last saw him.

“I thought the Chief Administrator would come.”

“That guy’s busy.”

“Oh?”

That was a slight change from how he used to completely disregard the Chief.

“I heard you’ve been going through successor training lately?”

“Hmph, boring stuff. I don’t get why I have to mess around with numbers.”

Jin Yeowoon grumbled at my remark.

But according to Gu Chil, even though he still looked down on subordinates, he had been diligently attending the successor training.

“When I become Clan Head, I’m going to dump all the annoying work on you, so you’d better be ready.”

Knowing his personality, I had a feeling he was dead serious about that, which was a bit concerning.

“Well, if that day comes, I’ll take it. So, what about the Clan Head?”

I asked, feeling slightly nervous.

“Didn’t he say he’d kill me?”

“No, not really?”

“For real?”

“I honestly thought the family’s execution unit would be coming for you today too, but the Clan Head didn’t react much. Actually…”

“Actually?”

“He told me to go help you out.”

“He told you to help me?”

How the hell was Jin Yeowoon supposed to help me?

“He said there’ll be more fights with the other Six Clans coming up, so don’t hold back on using the Jin Clan’s strength.”

—————————

“……”

That caught me off guard.

To counteract the elders of the Cheon Clan supporting Cheon Yujeong and the other aligned Clans, I absolutely needed the Jin Clan’s martial strength.

But for Jin Gun-ak to read my intentions and offer help before I even said anything!

‘This… really is unexpected.’

“How much of the Jin Clan’s strength are we talking about?”

“All of it.”

He answered lightly, as if it was nothing, which only shocked me even more.

In truth, this meant Jin Gun-ak was staking the fate of the entire clan on what I was doing.

“He said this: either the clan stakes everything on what your brother is doing, or we kill him and pull out now.”

Ugh!

“He really did say that your actions made him want to kill you, especially since you moved without discussing anything with him…”

Shiver!

“But he said the odds aren’t bad, so he’ll back you.”

“I-I see… I’ll have to thank the Clan Head then.”

I got goosebumps just imagining Jin Gun-ak saying those exact words.

‘Even if I enter the Heavenly Thunder Corps, if this guy’s active out here, it’ll be enough.’

It felt like I had just gained a thousand troops and ten thousand horses.

“Oh, also.”

Jin Yeowoon suddenly pulled out a letter from inside his sleeve.

“Before coming in, the Pavilion Master of the Thousand-Day Pass told me to hand this to you. Said it just arrived from the Black Gold Sa Clan.”

“…The Black Gold Sa Clan?”

I opened the letter with a hint of suspicion.

Inside, scrawled in shaky handwriting, were five characters.

– 我要殺了你 (Translation: I will kill you)

“……”

There was no ambiguity about who wrote it or what they intended.

‘Should I be watching out for an assassin from the Black Gold Sa Clan?’

I put the letter down and let out a deep sigh.

***

“Since it’s been a while, how about a match?”

Apparently not having neglected his training, Jin Yeowoon challenged me confidently.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind.”

I watched Jin Yeowoon warm up in the sparring arena, attended only by my subordinates and the Pavilion Master of the Thousand-Day Pass.

Since I last saw him, his muscles had become even more massive, and it looked like he had overcome the stiffness in his movements I’d once pointed out.

Most notably, unlike the violent aura he once gave off, his killing intent was now neatly controlled.

‘Oh? Not bad.’

When the Jin Clan’s internal energy combined with their external techniques, it could reach a destructive power that surpassed ordinary levels.

After all, the Six Great Demonic Clans possessed secret arts that could break through traditional cultivation boundaries.

‘At this rate, even a Master Level martial artist would be toast.’

It would still be tough against Qi Projection, but given the Jin Clan’s martial arts characteristics, unless the gap in skill was huge, they wouldn’t give their opponent any opening.

“I’ll have my revenge from last time!”

Still remembering how he got beaten like a dog last time, Jin Yeowoon charged at me as soon as he finished prepping.

“Haaaaaah!”

Overlord Asura Divine Fist

Ten Halberds Chaotic Strike

Ten afterimages appeared, targeting all the vital points in my body.

His fists were sharp like spear tips, and the shadows of his arms moved as flexibly as whips.

‘He’s improved a lot.’

You couldn’t show movement like this without having paid real attention to flexibility.

His reckless, brute-force charges hadn’t changed, but that was part of the Jin Clan’s martial arts style to begin with.

To overwhelm the opponent with sheer firepower before they had a chance to strategize!

‘It’d be cheating to counter this with Qi Projection.’

I chuckled to myself and began moving my feet.

Even if I had learned sword techniques and cultivation methods from other sects, the basic martial arts, footwork, and movement techniques I practiced were all from the Jin Clan.

Naturally, Jin Yeowoon and I moved in similar rhythms, like partners dancing in sync.

Pa pa pa pat!

“Haaaaaaah!”

Even though his deadly strike missed, Jin Yeowoon didn’t give up. Using only footwork and upper-body movement, he kept pressing on.

He just kept pounding me like waves until his internal energy and stamina hit their limits!

“Impressive! You remind me of the Asura King from years ago!”

The Pavilion Master of the Thousand-Day Pass, using his title to justify his presence at the match, couldn’t hold back his admiration as he watched Jin Yeowoon’s relentless assault.

“Overwhelming internal energy and tireless stamina. If someone gets caught in that momentum even once, it’s over.”

Those who faced the Jin Clan’s warriors always had to make a binary choice: get swept up in the storm or not.

“Jin Yeowoon, the Fist Overlord Dragon, certainly lives up to the name of one of the Six Demonic Dragons!”

Gu Chil, annoyed by the constant praise, pointed his finger and shouted.

“But Young Master hasn’t even started yet! Don’t you see how relaxed he is?!”

“Well, that’s true.”

The Pavilion Master could already sense the significant gap between the two fighters on the sparring stage.

And soon, the very person they were talking about appeared in the arena—

“Well now, this is a fun little show I’ve stumbled into.”

A man suddenly appeared outside the sparring stage, having bypassed all the guards.

“You are…?!”

With an unkempt beard and a languid expression, he didn’t look particularly well-kept.

But more than anything, what stood out was the massive greatsword on his back—larger than his own body.

Surprise slipped through the Pavilion Master’s mask.

“How did you come all the way here?”

He naturally slipped into formal speech.

Though they were similar in age and ability, the man’s official ranking in the cult was higher.

The man scratched his twisted beard and answered.

“Oh, well… I was threatened into coming.”

“Th-threatened?”

“The Grand Elder hag told me to teach some brat for a few days… or else she’d toss me into the Forbidden Demon Cavern for half a year…”

“……”

“Damn it… skipping a few Elder Council meetings and she goes that far… petty old hag.”

The man was openly grumbling, but a six-month solitary confinement was a pretty light punishment for shirking his duties as an elder.

“Elder Yeom Nado. Is this true?”

Yama Blade.

The Twelfth Elder of the Heavenly Demon Cult, a madman obsessed with swordsmanship, had arrived at the Thousand-Day Pass.

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