41 – 03# A Needle in a Sack (12)
The Demonic Cult.
For Peng Hyeon-cheol, the Headmaster of the Seonmu Academy and wielder of the epithet “Blade Emperor,” to hear that name was almost inevitable. He had harbored suspicions regarding the Sword Demon’s actions for some time now.
Of course, the righteous martial artists were quick to denounce him as a murderer who slaughtered indiscriminately. But in truth, he only killed those with terribly murky pasts.
Some of whom were even later revealed to have committed heinous crimes, resulting in their expulsion from the righteous sects. Were it just one or two cases, it could be dismissed as coincidence.
But when it surpassed a certain point, it became a carefully orchestrated scheme, rather than mere chance. That was when Peng Hyeon-cheol began to suspect something was amiss, and secretly investigated the Sword Demon’s disappearance.
However, in the process, Peng Hyeon-cheol encountered an unforeseen obstacle. For some reason, not only records pertaining to the Sword Demon, but even eyewitnesses, vanished without a trace.
‘Someone is deliberately erasing the Sword Demon’s traces? No, it’s different from that.’
The existence of the Sword Demon, a legend of the unorthodox sects and a great scar upon the righteous, was an indelible mark. Meaning, they weren’t erasing the Sword Demon, but “something” related to him.
Peng Hyeon-cheol hastily reported this fact to everyone in the Righteous Martial Alliance, but was met with cold scorn. He was almost expelled from the Alliance for supposedly defending the unorthodox sects.
‘After so much effort, the only thing I managed to grasp was the name “Demonic Cult,” and now I hear it directly from the source.’
Its weight was heavier than he imagined. Especially given the recent unfortunate events. Peng Hyeon-cheol moistened his parched lips with tea from his cup, and continued.
“So, what you are saying, Great Hero… is that these vile fiends of the Demonic Cult are hiding in the shadows, manipulating both the righteous and unorthodox factions as they please?”
“That is so.”
“Even though it is you who speaks, Great Hero… It is a heavy claim to believe without any concrete evidence.”
Certainly, suspicious circumstances abound. But the reality is, there is no solid evidence to support those circumstances. At those words, Mu-myeong nodded in understanding, replying:
“I understand your meaning. However, I am not the only one who has suffered at the hands of the Demonic Cult.”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you aware of what the Moyeong Clan has been experiencing recently?”
“I know that the Moyeong Clan has been in turmoil because of their patriarch.”
For someone of the Blade Emperor’s stature, who wielded considerable influence within the Righteous Martial Alliance, it was natural for all sorts of rumors to reach his ears, even unwanted ones. Especially the most clamorous rumors.
“Then you know the reason for this, as well?”
“No, I don’t. I’ve been in talks with the Righteous Alliance recently, but before that, I lived in isolation… Are you suggesting that the Demonic Cult is behind this turmoil?”
“That is correct. With cunning, the Demonic Cult infiltrated the Murong Clan, seeking to seize control.”
“I never would have imagined such a thing.”
I had heard of the unfortunate events that occurred within the Murong Clan recently. However, I did not know the precise reason. The head of the Murong Clan joined the Demonic Cult?
“Are you sure there isn’t some mistake? Even if they have cut off contact with the Righteous Alliance, the Murong Clan is still a prestigious clan, one of the Five Great Houses…”
“Even in this Sunwu Academy, which could be called the front yard of the Righteous Sects, a minion of the Demonic Cult was hidden. You understand what that means better than I do.”
“…”
“Now, nothing is ‘absolute’ anymore. We must constantly doubt, and doubt again.”
Peng Hyeon-cheol could not refute the nameless one’s sharp words. Naturally, Sunwu Academy selects its instructors through rigorous procedures. However, it was undeniably true that these procedures had become lax recently.
“If you doubt these words, go to the Murong Clan yourself. Speak my name, and they will kindly explain everything.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary. Who else knows this fact?”
“Besides the Murong Clan, only the Sado Alliance is aware.”
‘Sado Alliance… the heart of the Unorthodox Faction, where the Blood Demon’s kin reigns as Lord. Indeed, did he inform his own flesh and blood first?’
He did not want to admit that the Righteous Faction, which could be called the starting point and root of all martial arts, was lagging behind the Unorthodox Faction. But now, there was no room to cling to mere pride.
The stifling feeling, like a thick fog that obscured everything, finally began to clear somewhat. If I acknowledge the existence of the Demonic Cult, all the questions that have been accumulating can be answered.
And at the same time, Peng Hyeon-cheol was able to discern what the Blood Demon was aiming for. Judging from the story, the Demonic Cult must be a place that even the Blood Demon cannot face alone.
What does that mean?
‘The Blood Demon is clearly recruiting allies to confront the Demonic Cult.’
The Murong Clan and the Sado Alliance together, the Righteous and Unorthodox Factions joining forces? It was absurd, but Peng Hyeon-cheol had already grasped through investigation that the recent flow of the martial world was ominous.
‘Perhaps… it might really be possible.’
An unprecedented alliance of the Righteous and Unorthodox Factions, who are like cats and dogs.
‘This is enough to make them believe, right?’
The person in question did not have such thoughts at all.
◇
The Demonic Cult originally believed in and revered power above all else. They always pursued overwhelming strength and believed it to be the truth. Therefore, they ridiculed the current martial world as puppies.
But even the Demonic Cult uniquely acknowledged one martial artist, the Blood Demon. In fact, the Blood Demon precisely matched the mysteries pursued by the Demonic Cult. Overwhelming martial power that no one dared to approach.
Thanks to the Blood Demon, who single-handedly devoured 70% of the Demonic Cult, the Demonic Cult lost all its power and was on the verge of collapse. It was fortunate that they joined forces with the Righteous Faction to stop the Blood Demon at that time.
If that had not been the case, the Demonic Cult would not have survived to this day and rebuilt its strength. But thanks to that, a problem arose. The Demonic Cult, which had originally been united by a single doctrine, was divided.
[Overwhelming power is the ultimate mystery we pursue. There is no need to think about anything else.]
[Can strength truly mean only brute force? People, hidden resources, even this land and these buildings. All can be weapons, all can be power.]
[Wordsmith only. You’re the reason the current Demonic Sect weakens.]
[Oh, how droll. If not for us, you’d have been shattered by the Sword Demon long ago, leaving not a trace.]
[Just a defeat in a contest of strength against strength. Better to have vanished then than to witness this wretched state.]
The Asura Sect, pursuing only overwhelming martial might. The White Serpent Sect, regarding the manipulation of wealth and people as power, not just force. Divided by these two creeds, each kept the other in check.
If the scheme to devour the Murong Clan belonged to the White Serpent Sect, then conversely, the Asura Sect used force to eliminate obstacles. Though their roots were the same, their essence differed completely.
Thanks to this, Elder Juk-Young, who personally led the White Serpent Sect, sighed deeply, her beautiful face clouded with worry. The simple-minded Asura Sect caused no end of trouble.
‘The existence of the Sword Demon has already spread beyond Henan, throughout the entire Central Plains, it would seem.’
At least, fortunately, not all of the White Serpent Sect’s past intrigues and machinations were known. But several clans and families, sensing something amiss, had begun their own investigations.
‘The Sunmoo Academy disciple, the Zhuge family, and that wretched she-devil of the Sado Alliance. Not only that, but hidden masters lurking in the shadows have begun to stir.’
Rumors traveled like a single horse covering a thousand *li*. They tried desperately to bury the rumors, but burying the Sword Demon’s reputation was nearly impossible.
Even the Murong Clan and the Sado Alliance were secretly meeting, plotting something. The Murong Clan, one of the orthodox Five Great Families, and the Sado Alliance, a demonic faction, uniting? An absurd notion.
Except for one person.
One being made it possible.
“The Sword Demon… He’s returned as an enemy far more troublesome than I imagined.”
It wasn’t as if the Sword Demon of the past was easy to deal with. On the contrary, his overwhelming power inspired even Juk-Young, who saw humans as insects, to offer respect. But even he had limitations.
In the end, that Sword Demon was critically wounded by the combined forces of the orthodox and demonic factions, forced into seclusion for decades. But this time, the Sword Demon had secretly begun to gather power.
‘He learned from his past defeat, did he? If he succeeds in consolidating his power like this…’
Juk-Young felt a shiver run down her spine for the second time in her life.
She had to stop him, at all costs. For the sake of the Demonic Sect’s survival.