Chapter 169: Demonic Cult Footprints

[It is my turn.]

Master Heavenly Demon’s voice echoed in my head.

‘Speak of the devil.’

The most troublesome gentleman had popped out.

Well, it was true that he was the most appropriate person in the current situation, though.

But before that, there was something I had to address.

“Yi Hwa?”

“Yes.”

“Do you happen to know that person?”

Their appearances resembled each other all too much.

If you added a masculine touch to Yi Hwa, aged her, and gave her a beard, it would be exactly that person.

It was to the point where if they walked around a marketplace, people would say the father and daughter looked spitting images of each other.

That was why I asked to verify if they were related by blood.

Yi Hwa’s reply was neat.

“Are you referring to that pretender who deserves to be burned to death ten times over?”

“…I will take that as you not knowing him for now.”

If that could be called an answer, it was indeed one.

‘So they are not father and daughter…’

Even so, if they resembled each other this much, it did not seem they were entirely unrelated.

However, Yi Hwa was so pissed off that there was no room for such thoughts in my head.

It was my first time seeing her this angry.

If left alone, she looked ready to burn down the entirety of Mount Tianzi along with the middle-aged man before us.

[Hmm! What a well-disciplined child.]

‘Oh, my head…’

My head throbbed to the point of dizziness. It felt as if invisible spears were flying from inside and outside to lodge in my skull.

If I did not clear this up quickly, something highly regrettable for my mental health would likely unfold.

“Shall we move to another spot for now?”

“Is that child coming along as well?”

“Probably?”

“Good. I will be able to teach her some manners.”

I wondered who would be the one getting their manners taught.

[…I shall follow.]

From behind, the sound transmission of the extremely pissed-off Old Man Jong was heard.

No matter how I thought about it, the one to be taught a lesson was already decided.

***

Since sensitive topics were bound to be discussed in the conversation with this self-proclaimed Heavenly Demon, we had to move elsewhere.

Because bandits were swarming on Mount Tianzi right now, finding a quiet spot to talk seemed difficult, but fortunately, there was a doghole to slip out of the fortress.

A tacitly agreed-upon doghole, so to speak?

Since it was a gathering place for Green Forest bandits who were thoroughly imbued with a rebellious spirit, it was not strange for such a thing to exist, so I understood at once.

Sure enough, as we went out through the doghole, there were bandits walking to and fro.

It was to the point where I could not understand why they even built gates or why they made dogholes.

When we ran into bandits climbing up while carrying large liquor jars, not knowing where they had procured them from, it was simply absurd.

Considering there were no private houses nearby, I figured they were probably purchasing them by contracting with some merchant.

‘From the merchants’ perspective, does it feel like a market with a fairly massive demand?’

It was a place swarming with men who were crazy about alcohol.

Even if they had stockpiled liquor previously, it would run out quickly, so it was indeed a mouth-watering market for merchants specializing in bootleg liquor.

Besides that, if they supplied foodstuffs or daily necessities, they would be able to handle a substantial amount of money.

For if it was the Green Forest, the wealth they had accumulated through banditry would be considerable.

Though safety and credit were issues, they would have calculated that the bandits had no reason to attack merchants who regularly supplied goods.

I had certainly heard stories about black merchants who took the Green Forest as customers, but I had not expected them to be this prosperous.

The extravagance of the Green Forest bandits seeking alcohol even in this situation was great, but the merchants who jumped in as long as it brought profit were also amazing.

Anyway, that was that.

“Please explain.”

As we walked further away, I demanded an explanation from Master Heavenly Demon.

[Did you not roughly expect it?]

“Still, hearing it directly is clearer.”

[Hmph! You must know that I go around frying demons.]

“Yes.”

[When I interrogate them about where they were and what they did before dying, I hear about the current state of the Sacred Cult whether I want to or not. To a point of useless detail.]

That was probably the reason Master Heavenly Demon knew of the existence of this self-proclaimed Heavenly Demon.

I also understood that this self-proclaimed Heavenly Demon had caught Master Heavenly Demon’s interest.

[He is indeed of my bloodline. Although, strictly speaking, he belongs to a distant collateral branch.]

“As expected.”

It was a mind-boggling story. It meant a blood relative of the Heavenly Demon had established themselves in the Central Plains.

“This spot should do.”

Around the time we reached a secluded spot where any presence of people had completely vanished, the self-proclaimed Heavenly Demon stopped walking.

“Did you come from the Sacred Cult?”

To that question asked point-blank, I crossed my arms and pondered what kind of attitude I should display.

‘Should I play along for now?’

“If so?”

“I have already conveyed my will. Follow me.”

‘Hmm?’

Suddenly, it felt as though weight was loaded into his words.

A heavy something was felt pressing directly against my chest.

‘Intimidation?’

It was a strange sensation that was hard to explain.

[Hah! What a worthless trick.]

It seemed this pressure was not merely something like a person’s intrinsic presence, but a type of martial art.

‘A presence that oppresses others…’

It seemed there was such a thing among Master Heavenly Demon’s martial arts left behind in the Demonic Cult.

[Why are you acting surprised? You have been using it yourself all this time without knowing.]

“Me?”

[Why do you think a fellow like Jong-geuk or those trash who foolishly boast of being the elite of the Sacred Cult act as if they cannot live without your words? Seen from the current earth, the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand is the origin and peak of all demonic arts. It is essentially a power that reigns over demons. It is because they felt that power. The class of your essence, which has touched and achieved demonhood, is higher than that fool’s.]

‘…Was it so?’

I had merely thought it was because I had inherited the true lineage of Master Heavenly Demon, but it seemed I also used this kind of trick unconsciously.

‘Giving off this kind of pressure to the surroundings?’

Not bad. It seemed particularly effective against demons from the Demonic Cult.

[To explain it conceptually, it is a power that oppresses the mind with will. Come to think of it, you would be more skilled at it. Since you are in a state of having equipped that ‘thing’ of Sanfeng’s in your Middle Dantian. If you only know how to utilize it properly, you can drive someone mad just by staring at them.]

“Is that possible?”

[Foolish fellow. A martial art being strong and the state of mind being firm are different matters.]

‘Ah…’

I understood what he meant.

Just because someone was a giant as massive as a mountain did not mean they were all confident and full of courage.

Among them, there were also those who were faint-hearted and cowardly.

To put it simply, it was a method of prey upon weak-minded people.

Essentially, since Master Heavenly Demon’s martial arts, which was the origin of the demonic path, could exert strong influence over other demons, it meant it was easy to make the opponent submit under ordinary circumstances.

“Seeing you speak incoherently, it seems I pressured you too much even before we introduced ourselves.”

Just as I realized what the opponent’s method was, the heaviness that had been pressing against one side of my chest suddenly disappeared.

I had merely been conversing with Master Heavenly Demon, but he was jumping to conclusions on his own.

Naturally, Yi Hwa’s face froze coldly.

‘To clear this up without complaints, I should persuade him well.’

Seeing that this self-proclaimed Heavenly Demon gentleman also seemed to be a chief of one of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Fortresses, he would indeed be useful.

I understood why Master Heavenly Demon had told me to come here.

‘If I rebuild the Green Forest using this gentleman as a figurehead?’

If possible, it could serve as a sufficiently effective card.

“I am Yi Gyeong-cheon. Remember it well.”

“…”

“No need to freeze up so much. For I am a generous person.”

He was someone with a rather self-centered way of thinking.

Since he was a blood relative of Master Heavenly Demon and in a position to lead a faction in his own right, it was not strange.

“Is the Sacred Cult still in chaos?”

“…Do you know about it?”

“Why would my elders, who are of the Heavenly Demon’s clan, have left the Sacred Cult? When they discovered traces that the divine art had become incomplete due to the machinations of rebellious elements, my grandfather had already foreseen the future.”

Seeing that Yi Hwa did not know who this self-proclaimed Heavenly Demon was, I had expected him to have left the Demonic Cult quite long ago.

Considering that his grandfather was mentioned, it meant he had indeed left the Demonic Cult a fairly long time ago.

‘He probably fled to the outside because it would be hard to wield power within the Demonic Cult, in order to cultivate his strength. Since he had to avoid the eyes of the world, he occupied a Green Forest fortress. Having established a foundation that way, it seemed he had tried to refine the incomplete Heavenly Demon Divine Art once again.’

The pieces of the story seemed to be fitting together bit by bit.

“The demonic qi that shook Mount Tianzi during the day was astonishing. If an expert of that caliber had to flee the Sacred Cult, I can guess what kind of state it must be in.”

“Is that the reason you called me?”

“Indeed. Though you do not seem to be the owner of that demonic qi, he is undoubtedly someone associated with you. Persuade him. If you do so, I shall make great use of you when I make a comeback and return to the Demonic Cult.”

It seemed the self-proclaimed Heavenly Demon, Yi Gyeong-cheon, had been greatly surprised by the demonic qi felt during the day.

Perhaps he was saying this after noticing that they were following nearby.

‘Is he thinking of the Green Forest’s Great Integration as a foundation for making a comeback? While taking even Old Man Jong under his command? He has big dreams.’

I got a rough idea of what kind of person Yi Gyeong-cheon was.

‘I am sorry to the angry Yi Hwa, but smashing him right now is canceled.’

Subduing him would not be difficult.

Of course, if he was a chief of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Fortresses, it was only natural that his individual martial power would be extraordinary.

Moreover, if they had refined the incomplete Heavenly Demon Divine Art over several generations, he must surely have become an expert not to be ignored.

However, he was no match for Old Man Jong.

‘I need to gradually win him over.’

Considering this guy’s current identity, ambition, the uniqueness of this place, and our position, beating him up and making him kneel right now would be a poor move.

Rather, even more troublesome matters might occur.

“Let us discuss it.”

“Well, very well. Although it is insolent that you do not give an answer immediately, I shall consider it the price for the rudeness I displayed today.”

[I have seen all kinds of bullshit.]

Anways, Master Heavenly Demon disliked the solemn-acting Yi Gyeong-cheon.

‘I like it.’

Suddenly, I took a liking to this gentleman. Even this attitude of his that seemed full of hot air.

“Ah!”

Then, I remembered there was one thing I needed to check properly.

“May I ask one thing?”

“A question. How bold.”

Bold, my foot. I take back what I said about liking him.

This fellow is already treating me like a subordinate.

‘Should I just smash his head and ship him to Master Heavenly Demon? Judging by Master Heavenly Demon’s reaction, he would probably fry him nicely.’

I barely suppressed the darkness rising in my heart.

“By any chance, have suspicious people approached this Green Forest Great Integration? Like those whose identities are unclear.”

“Suspicious people…”

Yi Gyeong-cheon’s voice trailed off.

“…I shall answer that if you enter under my command.”

And he glossed over it vaguely.

With those words, Yi Gyeong-cheon’s figure vanished.

“Ha! Talk about holding a grudge.”

Though he seemed to have both ambition and skill, he was somewhat petty compared to his actions of pretending to be broad-minded.

It felt as if all his words and actions until now were fabricated.

‘He is a fellow I want to connect to Master Heavenly Demon for exactly one year.’

All his clumsy bluffing would be completely deflated.

[You have a face thinking of some worthless trick.]

‘Yeah, like this.’

“…No, what did I do?”

[Hmph! It was not only Zhang Sanfeng and Bodhidharma who watched over you.]

It was somewhat disconcerting. I did not know how to interpret those words.

[Look behind you. Foolish fellow.]

“…!”

At Master Heavenly Demon’s words, a new presence was suddenly felt behind my back.

“You seem to go out for walks quite far.”

Sister Seol-ah’s voice reached my ears.