Chapter 80: The Three Demons of the Demonic Path (2)

“I apologize, Lady.”

San Dojeon, who had remained silent until now, finally stepped forward.

“Aren’t you a member of the Heavenly Demon Cult? Why are you protecting him?”

San Dojeon replied calmly.

“I serve this person. I’m not so devoid of conscience that I could stand by and watch my master die.”

“Master? Are you also a member of that damned Heaven-Defying Society?”

He was the one who had saved her life.

And the one who helped her adapt to the damnedly brutal environment of the Thousand-Day Pass.

Baek Sang-ah had her own sense of gratitude and goodwill toward San Dojeon.

But still, if he was a member of the Heaven-Defying Society, then she had no choice but to strike him down.

“No, I’m not.”

“…You’re not?”

“I was taken in by the Yin-Yang Fist Demon, the Seventh Elder of the Cult, and assigned under his command. And regardless of any internal strife, I have a reason to protect this person, even if it costs me my life.”

She fell silent for a moment at his words, then finally let out a deep sigh.

“I really hate the Demonic Cult. You people talk about dying far too easily.”

“……”

“But in your voice… I can hear it. That air of resignation, as if you’re following them because you have no other choice.”

San Dojeon’s eyes trembled slightly.

“I don’t intend to fight you. It’d only be a loss on my part. However!”

Baek Sang-ah declared coldly.

“Even so, I’ll still be taking that man’s life.”

***

I arrived at the last battlefield as fast as I could.

Naturally, I expected the fierce fighting to still be ongoing, and I was prepared to see blood spilled all over the place.

‘What the hell is this now?’

When I arrived, the battle had actually reached a lull, and San Dojeon and Baek Sang-ah stood at a standoff—one backing what looked to be some kind of monster.

“You’re late.”

Before I realized it, Cheon Yura had appeared at my side like a ghost.

“What’s going on here?”

To that question, Cheon Yura just shrugged.

“Who knows? I’m not really sure myself.”

“Wait, what do you mean you don’t know…”

“If anything, I think you’re the one who’d know more about how all this happened.”

“Hmm.”

She wasn’t wrong. San Dojeon, Baek Sang-ah, and that monster… huh?

That strange creature that San Dojeon appeared to be shielding—something about it stuck in my memory.

“Han Muyeon?”

“That’s the guy who said he wanted to prove himself to me.”

“Ugh!”

Yeah, figures.

That goody two-shoes San Dojeon must’ve jumped in to protect Han Muyeon out of loyalty.

‘Things are getting messier by the second.’

I had hoped to wrap things up before San Dojeon got involved.

Then, all of a sudden, a massive shadow loomed over me.

“You brat, who are you?”

A bizarre man, as if he wore layers of turtle shells on his back.

The pressure radiating off him was hardly inferior even compared to the Yin-Yang Fist Demon.

“You must be the Colorful Flower Lord.”

“I asked first, brat. What’s your relationship with the Young Cult Leader?”

“Huh? Did you say ‘Young Cult Leader-nim’?”

My head slowly turned toward Cheon Yura.

She just scowled and shook her head.

“Speak now! Depending on your answer, I’ll decide whether to tear you apart or let you die painlessly!”

I stared at him, bewildered, and asked in return.

“No, seriously. Shouldn’t I be the one asking? You’re not even a member of the Heavenly Demon Cult, so why are you asking about my relationship with Lady Cheon Yura?”

“What?! L-L-Lady Cheon Yuraaaa?!”

The infuriated howl of the Colorful Flower Lord thundered across the field.

“How dare you refer to her in such a manner! Unforgivable!”

I stood there with my mouth slightly open in disbelief.

‘He’s seriously insane.’

A man obsessed with a beautiful woman—that phrase couldn’t be more accurate right now.

But just then—

A brilliant idea popped into my head.

“You asked about my relationship with the Lady? Will this answer suffice?”

Whap!

I grabbed Cheon Yura by the outer shoulder and pulled her straight into my arms.

“W-What?!”

“……?!?!?”

The Colorful Flower Lord screamed without making a sound.

Even though there was no sound, the bursting blood vessels in his eyes made his fury crystal clear.

While watching his reaction, I was a bit surprised by how still Cheon Yura remained in my arms.

‘Huh. She’s more docile than I expected?’

A beat later, she finally reacted.

“What do you think you’re doing, Jin Yeomyung?”

“Ah, I was momentarily rude. It was just to provoke the enemy.”

We were so close that just speaking meant our breaths touched. We must have looked like a couple whispering sweet nothings.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I can let go.”

“Hmph, forget it. You’ve already provoked him—might as well do it right.”

Swoosh!

Boldly, she wrapped her arms lightly around my waist instead.

Hm.

Now would be the perfect time to whisper something romantic like “You poor thing, never knowing the beauty of love,” and seal it with a kiss.

But if I did that, I’d probably be shredded to pieces by both Cheon Yura and the Colorful Flower Lord.

“…You’re quite solid.”

Her sudden comment snapped me out of my wandering thoughts, and I realized I hadn’t quite caught what she just said.

“Pardon? What did you just say?”

“It’s nothing!”

Anyway, as Cheon Yura and I continued to pose as a couple, the Colorful Flower Lord’s face turned crimson, as if he was about to suffer Qi Deviation.

“How dare you, how dare you betray me?!”

“…Betrayal?”

Cheon Yura looked up at the Colorful Flower Lord, dumbfounded.

“I—I was even planning to purge the other girls and take you as my legitimate wife!”

“Heavenly Lord? What do you mean by that?!”

“Silence!”

From a distance, Han Muyeon protested, but in return came a violent wave of Qi.

It wasn’t as strong as a blow from the Yin-Yang Fist Demon, but it was still a force no ordinary master could possibly withstand.

“U-Uaaagh!”

As Han Muyeon pathetically tried to crawl away on the ground—

“Hrrmph!”

San Dojeon stepped in front of him and swung his great blade with force.

“Senior San!”

“You fool!”

Baek Sang-ah and I shouted at the same time.

KWA-KWAKWANG!

The Colorful Flower Lord’s strike landed squarely on San Dojeon’s blade.

Unsurprisingly, San Dojeon’s great blade was shattered beyond recognition.

However—

Even with his whole body covered in blood—

San Dojeon survived.

“H-He blocked it?!”

“He’s alive?!”

“Grrgh!”

Just a single blow.

He had only blocked one hit, but San Dojeon had survived it.

Everyone in the area instinctively realized that this alone was nearly a miracle.

“Hmph. Lucky bastard. No matter. I can kill you anytime I want.”

The Colorful Flower Lord’s eyes glowed wildly as he roared toward Cheon Yura and me.

“If I can’t have her, I’ll destroy her instead!”

Ch-ch-ch-ch!

Once again, a blood-colored current burst out from his body.

“E-Everyone, fall back!”

Touching that current would drain a massive amount of one’s internal energy and Qi.

With that power layered atop his awakened form’s massive defense, he had become an impenetrable fortress.

Clicking my tongue, I looked at the divine pressure radiating from the Colorful Flower Lord’s awakened form.

‘To those of lower level, he’s practically invincible.’

Unless one possessed the attack power to pierce through that defense in a single strike, defeating him was virtually impossible.

“Jin Yeomyung, you go retrieve that brute. I noticed you’ve had your eye on him as a subordinate.”

Cheon Yura, always sharp, had seen through my intent, and I just shrugged in reply.

“What do you plan to do?”

“I’d hoped that Evil Overlords of Heaven took a little more damage, I could act then… but that doesn’t seem possible anymore.”

Despite mobilizing their top force, the Yaksha Heavenly Blade Unit, Evil Overlords of Heaven had lost nearly a third of their strength with nothing to show for it.

They could still capture the Colorful Flower Lord if they pushed the rest of their forces, but Grand Disciple Geum Jeoksan would never take that risk.

Any more casualties now, and he wouldn’t just lose power—he’d be facing purging.

“Even if this ends now, that bastard’s downfall is guaranteed. And that alone brings us many benefits. For example…”

A faint smirk tugged at Cheon Yura’s lips.

“Like the Qinghai Province trade route you’ve been planning?”

At that, I returned her smile.

“Impressive. How did you know?”

I said that, but she probably got the intel through Sa Biyeon.

“Surprising. I thought you’d be more rattled.”

“It’s nothing major. I was just testing the waters.”

“Is there a share in that plan for me?”

Cheon Yura seemed to have already figured out that I’d intended to pocket a portion for myself through this operation.

I shrugged again, as if saying she was too clever for her own good.

“You’ll be pleased.”

“Good. Biyeon.”

“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”

“While I kill that one, you take care of him.”

Her gaze shifted toward Third Order Han Museong, who had been hanging back this whole time, watching the situation.

‘Ah, right. That one’s still here.’

He might look clueless now, but in ten years, he’d become quite famous under the alias Dark Cloud Blade.

Better to cut the bud now while I had the chance.

“Understood.”

“Beating them down is one thing, but I worry Evil Overlords of Heaven might stab us in the back.”

At this point, Geum Jeoksan’s fall from grace was all but confirmed.

Which meant the moment things settled, he might lash out wildly to try and gain some merit.

“Jin Yeomyung, do you have a plan?”

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.”

I replied confidently.

“Demonic Emperor Lord Geum Jeoksan won’t do a thing. He’ll back down quietly.”

“Oh?”

“Go wild to your heart’s content.”

“Reliable as always.”

Cheon Yura, who had been observing everything from a step behind until now, finally stepped to the front.

Normally, considering her opponent, a team effort like when we fought Jeokun at Hidden Trace Manor would have been appropriate.

But Cheon Yura clearly wanted to handle him on her own.

‘I’m curious—just how strong has she become?’

It was certain that, thanks to the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, she’d broken through her wall.

The question was—how high a wall had she shattered?

Was she still at peak Master Level, or had she become the first in history to reach the Extreme Demonic Realm at such a young age?

That would soon be revealed.

“Khuhh!”

San Dojeon, who had lost consciousness, came to from the immense pain coursing through his body.

“A-Am I… alive? How…?”

The pain surging through his body was proof that it wasn’t yet his time to die.

Had his body truly died, he wouldn’t even be able to feel this agony.

“Oh. You’re awake, senior.”

“Y-You are…?”

“Seeing you recklessly protect that useless bastard without even loyalty was impressive.”

San Dojeon gave a bitter smile at the completely changed tone, so different from the polite way I’d spoken before.

“I’m in your debt. You’re the one who treated me?”

“Well, I haven’t given up on you yet, senior.”

San Dojeon had barely clung to life. Without additional treatment, he absolutely would have died from those injuries.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be changing my mind. You might as well give up.”

I spoke as if just passing by.

“The San family, wasn’t it? The relatives the Yin-Yang Fist Demon supposedly took hostage.”

“H-How do you know about that?!”

“There are ways to find out.”

Before leaving the Thousand-Day Pass, I had investigated San Dojeon’s background.

It wasn’t something I uncovered on my own. Since the Yin-Yang Fist Demon was involved, I also borrowed the information network of the Black Gold Sa Clan through Sa Biyeon.

“Let me give you just one piece of advice, senior.”

“……”

“The chance that your family, the San Clan, is still alive… is close to zero.”

“W-What did you say?!”

San Dojeon’s face went completely blank.

“The Yin-Yang Fist Demon was subdued by me and the Grand Protector before coming here. If you want, I can confirm it for you once we return to Ten Thousand Mountain.”

“And why are you so certain?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

I laid out the harsh reality with cold detachment.

“There’s no reason to keep them alive just to use you.”

From the perspective of the Seventh Elder, Yin-Yang Fist Demon, San Dojeon was nothing more than a convenient pawn on the board.

He didn’t have enough value to warrant using hostages as leverage.

‘While I personally rate his future potential highly, others wouldn’t see him that way.’

Just someone with decent external strength but who had missed his prime for mastering martial arts.

That was the overall evaluation San Dojeon received in both his past and present lives.

“I don’t believe you.”

“I didn’t say it to make you believe me. I just made a guess based on the Seventh Elder’s personality.”

“……”

“Since parting ways with them, have you ever actually met them again?”

“……”

San Dojeon remained silent.

Naturally so.

He never had, not even once.

“If you want to waste your whole life being used, I won’t stop you. But I doubt you really want to rot away your years babysitting someone like Han Muyeon, clinging to a hope that’ll never come.”

I was confident this provocation would work.

San Dojeon, besides his affection for his family, the San Clan, also harbored a strong desire to climb higher and gaze upon the realm of the heavens.

It was just unfortunate that the one who awakened that desire in him was the Yin-Yang Fist Demon.

After a long hesitation, San Dojeon finally spoke with difficulty.

“What’s the difference between serving the Second Order and serving you?”

“Oh, there’s a big difference.”

I brightened.

The fact that he asked that meant he was starting to waver—proof that my persuasion was working.

“I have two goals. One is to utterly destroy that wretched Heaven-Defying Society you were unlucky enough to get tangled up with.”

“And the other?”

“The other…”

Swoosh.

I raised my finger and pointed at Cheon Yura, who stood facing off against the Colorful Flower Lord.

“I’m going to make that woman… a god of Ten Thousand Mountain.”

“A god?”

He already called her Young Cult Leader—was there any point in turning her into a god?

“Not just any god. A being who grants kindness instead of iron-blooded rule, who offers virtue instead of oppression, and love instead of fear.”

For a moment, San Dojeon and I locked eyes.

“That… is the purpose of this life of mine.”

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