Chapter 262: The Festival Must Continue (1)
The atmosphere of the New Justice Festival sank to the bottom. Even if there were many things to enjoy right now, people couldn’t properly enjoy themselves with the unsettling news that the Demonic Cult had run rampant.
“If it’s a Great Orthodox-Demonic War, then it’s a truly huge trouble.”
“Shouldn’t we go home immediately?”
The confusion among the people also reached its peak. In fact, no one here had personally experienced the Great Orthodox-Demonic War.
However, the cruelty of the Great Orthodox-Demonic War back then and the fear and hatred toward the Demonic Cult were deeply rooted in the people.
Of course, I knew that was the Imperial Palace’s intention, but that discourse had been constructed so solidly over decades that I couldn’t shatter it all at once.
“Come to think of it, I heard the New Justice Association Master was also attacked?”
“So that’s why there was a loud noise in the New Justice Association hall.”
To make matters worse, the fact that I was attacked also became known. This was a place where experts gathered. If the New Justice Association building was damaged and they could sense the qi waves I had emitted, deducing that I was attacked was not difficult.
Inquiries from participants asking what would happen to the New Justice Festival were pouring in. Although it was the most certain move to block the Imperial Palace’s interference, the backlash coming back to us was equally large.
But in the end, what mattered was the success of the New Justice Festival. If the New Justice Festival ended in vain like this, it would be like burning down a house to catch a flea.
“Brother. What should we do?”
Peng Chae-hyang asked in a trembling voice. When the New Justice Festival was going well, the strategists’ meeting was vibrant, but in such a chaotic atmosphere, dark clouds hung over the meeting just the same.
“Gather the people. As quickly as possible. Whether they are commoners or martial artists. Everyone participating in the New Justice Festival.”
And this was the perfect moment to display my true skill.
Namgung Hwi and Peng Chae-hyang moved busily to summon the people. It took quite a while to gather everyone.
Even after gathering, the people were in a clamor. Naturally, they were talking about the Demonic Cult.
Even when I climbed onto the platform, the people didn’t pay attention to me and were busy talking amongst themselves.
Before speaking, I clapped my hands once.
Clap…
The resonant sound from the clap swept over the crowd. The rustling of leaves on the distant trees could even be heard.
“Now.”
I thus began my speech.
“I know everyone is in confusion due to the sudden emergence of the Demonic Cult, but please focus.”
“Was the Association Master attacked by a Demonic Cultist?”
Someone shouted from below the platform. It seemed a rumor had spread that the one who attacked me was a Demonic Cultist. Since the timing was coincidental, such a rumor was bound to spread.
“No. It was an affair involved in a personal grudge.”
“Is that true?”
“Are you saying I would advocate for the Demonic Cult?”
I asked, looking at the person who questioned. The questioner could say nothing. In truth, I had exerted my presence slightly to suppress them.
In any case, such a person wouldn’t believe whatever was said. Treating them forcefully like this was the correct approach.
“First, I have something to say regarding the recent movements of the Demonic Cult.”
As I raised my presence, the eyes of the people naturally gathered on me.
There was no better situation than this for my true skill to be displayed. My tongue, which had been sharply honed for decades in my past life—that was my true skill.
“Actually, we have been continuously tracking the movements of the Demonic Cult. We also knew they would run rampant in the near future. We simply did not speak of it for fear that the people would fall into confusion.”
It was natural for the eyes of the people below the platform to widen in surprise. In the corner of my vision, I could see even Namgung Hwi and Peng Chae-hyang beside the platform looking astonished.
“Nonsense!”
Someone shouted. It was a rather young voice. Looking closely, it seemed to be a man of a similar age to me.
“At the very least, the movements of the Demonic Cult are thoroughly monitored through cooperation between the Martial Alliance and the Imperial Palace. For a mere New Justice Association, which still lacks personnel, to have detected the movements of the Demonic Cult when even the Martial Alliance couldn’t?”
Before answering, I looked at the man’s face. It was a face that was somewhat familiar.
A face I had seen a very, very long time ago. However, it was far younger.
“…Cho Hae-ryang?”
“Cho Hae-ryang?”
The crowd clamored upon hearing the name Cho Hae-ryang.
So Cho Hae-ryang was already famous at this time. Indeed, since he was the sole direct disciple of the current Martial Alliance Leader, it made sense for him to be famous. However, because his face wasn’t yet widely known, the people hadn’t recognized him.
“The Martial Alliance Leader’s disciple?”
“Oh. Isn’t this his first foray into the martial world?”
The martial artists showed interest in Cho Hae-ryang. Cho Hae-ryang wore a slightly uncomfortable expression.
“How did you recognize my face?”
Cho Hae-ryang asked, but I had no intention of answering. In truth, it wasn’t easy to answer. I couldn’t say that I knew his face from my past life.
“Did I not tell you? The information network of the New Justice Association is beyond imagination.”
I shrugged. The crowd let out exclamations. Since I had instantly exposed Cho Hae-ryang’s identity hidden behind the veil, my words gained even more credibility.
In any case, it was a heaven-sent fortune that Cho Hae-ryang came to the New Justice Festival. No matter how good I was, it wasn’t easy to recognize the faces of people I had glimpsed in my past life—especially when their age was different.
I recognized Cho Hae-ryang because he was such an impressive figure to me. Because Cho Hae-ryang was none other than the Martial Alliance Leader who had entrusted the Divine Demon Pill to me in my past life.
I held no particular hatred toward him. We were simply on decent terms, and he had likely entrusted it to me without knowing things would turn out like that. Still, the fact that he had led me to my death remained unchanged, leaving a somewhat uncomfortable feeling.
“By the way, someone from the Martial Alliance has come to the New Justice Association.”
“Haha. Isn’t that too transparent?”
“Indeed. They should have sent an elder instead.”
The people sneered upon realizing Cho Hae-ryang’s identity. It was indeed a transparent trick.
Had Cho Hae-ryang been a widely known martial artist, it would be different, but making his first foray into the martial world at the New Justice Festival was a shallow calculation of the Martial Alliance.
If he achieved results at the New Justice Festival, they would mock the New Justice Association by revealing he was a Martial Alliance member; if not, he would quietly withdraw. However, that plan was ruined as I recognized him.
“…Everyone’s speculations are wild.”
Perhaps because I had hit the mark, Cho Hae-ryang’s face turned red. Well, what fault did Cho Hae-ryang have? It was the calculation error of Su Je-heon who had ordered him. Indeed, would he have ever thought I would recognize Cho Hae-ryang who hadn’t even made his debut in the martial world?
“Then why did the New Justice Association remain silent despite knowing the Demonic Cult would run rampant?”
Cho Hae-ryang shouted. It was obviously an attempt to shift the topic, but it was so transparent that it drew sneers from the crowd.
However, regardless of that, I had to give an answer.
“Since we did not know precisely when they would run rampant, there was no need to cause confusion by announcing it first.”
“Hmph, if you say it like that, anyone could claim they knew.”
Cho Hae-ryang shouted stubbornly, perhaps embarrassed by his current situation. On the contrary, I maintained a calm voice as I answered:
“It cannot be helped even if you do not believe us. However, what we can tell you right now is that the situation is not that urgent.”
“The situation is not urgent?”
“That is correct. Right now, the Demonic Cult has run rampant in the region of Xinjiang, and it seems they will not engage in any violent activities immediately.”
“How do you know that? Nonsense.”
Cho Hae-ryang sneered. I shrugged and replied:
“Because our information network is outstanding.”
“Have you planted a spy in the Demonic Cult?”
“I cannot tell you such details. Seeing how you ask that, are you a spy of the Demonic Cult?”
“What nonsense!”
“Seeing you flare up like that, it is indeed suspicious.”
When I spoke in a mocking tone, the crowd laughed. Naturally, no one actually thought Cho Hae-ryang was a spy of the Demonic Cult.
It was just amusing that the disciple of the Martial Alliance Leader was being toyed with.
As I always felt, there were not many people in the martial world who could defeat me with words. On top of that, Cho Hae-ryang was making his debut. Toying with a fresh novice felt incredibly satisfying.
“It is indeed amusing, but we must still address the point. Then are you saying that the Demonic Cult put up banners across the Central Plains on such a large scale, yet they will do nothing?”
“For the time being, yes. They will not do anything immediately.”
To be precise, I had told them to do so. Since Gwan Seo-ye must have spread the word that I was the reincarnation of the Heavenly Demon, it was unimaginable for them to disobey my words.
Because of this, it felt as if I had become a mastermind manipulating the entire Central Plains. Being the leader of an orthodox faction while also being the Heavenly Demon revered by the Demonic Cult—the situation was truly bizarre.
“If that information is incorrect, it could bring an immense backlash, you know?”
“If that happens, you all will naturally antagonize and distrust the New Justice Association. I am not speaking for free right now. We are trading our trust.”
Had I been a mere leader of a merchant group or Muk Hui-yeong, a lay disciple of the Wudang Sect, this word wouldn’t carry weight.
However, I was the leader of the New Justice Association, recognized by five of the Nine Great Sects and the Namgung Clan. It was natural for significant weight and a proportional responsibility to follow my words.
“Furthermore, if the Demonic Cult were to spark rebellions across the country as they usually did, there is no place safer than the New Justice Association right now. With so many experts gathered here, how could they dare attempt any major action?”
“That is also true.”
“Somehow, the words of the New Justice Association Master seem correct.”
The crowd gradually began to be convinced. Looking at Peng Chae-hyang and Namgung Hwi beside me, they were looking at me with eyes of absolute adoration.
It was truly a change achieved with nothing but a single tongue.
“Then does this mean the New Justice Festival will continue?”
Someone asked. I had been waiting for that question.
“Of course.”
I smiled.
“The festival continues.”
The crowd cheered. Perhaps because they had experienced a crisis that shook their foundation once, the cheers were even louder. Thus, the crisis of the New Justice Festival was safely averted.
The people tried to forget their fear of the Demonic Cult by immersing themselves in the New Justice Festival. Rather, for us, it was a good outcome as it drew more enthusiastic participation.
“I respect you, Brother.”
As I stepped down from the platform, Namgung Hwi knelt down. Since the New Justice Festival, on which he had lavished so much effort, had come to the verge of ruin, his legs seemed to have lost their strength.
Even while kneeling, Namgung Hwi had no intention of rising, closing his eyes and raising both hands to the sky.
“Everyone must know your true worth, Brother. Only then can they worship you as I do.”
“Stop talking nonsense and get up. You have to participate in the tournament too.”
“Ah, right.”
Even though I spoke like this, the anxiety regarding the Demonic Cult couldn’t be fundamentally extinguished. Right now, I had merely blocked it temporarily with the dam of my tongue.
Therefore, the tournament, which was originally scheduled to last seven days and nights, would be compressed to three days.
Because what the people feared regarding the Demonic Cult was their personal safety, but also the safety of the places they belonged to.
“Then I will finish the Earth group by today.”
“Do so.”
“Ah, and Priest Myeong-gyeong…”
Peng Chae-hyang trailed off. I nodded.
“He declared his forfeiture?”
“Ah, you knew.”
“There is a reason.”
His mind was likely not in a state to participate in the tournament right now. For now, I had entrusted Senior Brother Myeong-gyeong to my Master, who was the most stable person.
“Then you are up tomorrow, Brother.”
“Indeed.”
The tournament for martial artists from youth to middle age. The Earth group was tomorrow.
And in the first match of that Earth group, I was scheduled to step forward.