episode_0031

Cheongun sat directly in the seat of honor where the Black Forest Gate Lord used to sit.

After killing the former Black Forest Gate Lord, his subordinates finally flocked in, most of them seeming to have grasped the situation.

They had watched Cheongun sweep through the sect’s main base just moments ago, then saw the Black Forest Gate Lord lifelessly sprawled on the ground. They whispered among themselves before finally nodding.

Then, they saluted in unison and took their places on either side.

The strange thing was that, unlike at the Blood Bloom Pavilion, their speed in accepting the current situation was remarkably fast.

This showed how low the Black Forest Gate Lord’s popularity had been.

Well, it was a good thing for Cheongun.

He had avenged Ryeon and killed the Black Forest Gate Lord, so taking over a sect like this was the most ideal outcome for Cheongun.

“Is this everyone?”

The man closest to Cheongun answered his question.

“Uh, some are still away on missions.”

“Oh? So everyone else is gathered?”

“Yes, all the commanders are here.”

Cheongun’s eyes moved quickly. He was checking how many of them were demonic practitioners.

The current martial world’s powers could be broadly divided into three.

The Righteous Alliance, which grouped the Orthodox Factions. The Four Tyrants Alliance, which grouped the Unorthodox Factions. And the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

The Demonic Cult was not simply a group that pursued demonic energy.

It was a group of fanatics obsessed with the law of the jungle, who gathered to form a power. In fact, it was more accurate to see them as a group centered around the absolute being known as the Heavenly Demon.

Divine Cult Invincible, Ten Thousand Demons Subdued, Army of Demons Forever, Heavenly Demon Reborn. In short, they were a cult.

Naturally, they also had a purpose. Unifying the Central Plains. Demonic Heaven. To bring all the people of the Central Plains under the shadow of the law of the jungle.

Thus, they had been secretly eroding the dark forces, intending to gradually expand the domain of the dark arts from that point.

And among them, the Black Forest Gate was one of their core sub-branches, so it was only natural that there would be many demonic practitioners.

Sure enough. Over a dozen blue windows overlapped before his eyes, each one indicating the activation of a ‘characteristic’.

‘Roughly ten of them?’

Even so, the proportion wasn’t that high. It was about the same level as the Blood Bloom Pavilion.

Cheongun organized his thoughts for a moment. Then he nodded slightly and parted his lips.

“There are quite a few demonic practitioners.”

At his words, some of them could be seen swallowing hard.

“I am currently in deep thought. Although the Black Forest Gate has served as a sub-branch of the Divine Cult until now, that will not be the case as long as I am the Gate Lord.”

Cheongun tapped his knee with his fingertips.

“As the Gate Lord, the direction I will pursue is the overthrow of the Demonic Cult.”

A chilling silence settled. With several demonic practitioners present, his declaration to overthrow the Demonic Cult must have been astonishing.

“However, is the problem the cult, or the people? More than anything, I cherish demonic practitioners more than anyone.”

At his words, the commanders gasped.

Cherish demonic practitioners? What kind of absurd nonsense was this? Demonic practitioners weren’t some kind of comfort doll.

But Cheongun was sincere. To him, demonic practitioners were more precious than elixirs.

“Therefore, normally, all the demonic practitioners here would deserve to be beheaded, but I will specially grant you a choice.”

Cheongun slowly extended two fingers.

“One. From now on, pledge your loyalty to me, not the Divine Cult. It’s fine even if you’ve already learned demonic arts. I will specially impart a new internal cultivation method that can control the demonic energy.”

Then, one finger folded.

“Two. If you wish to leave, return to the Divine Cult right now.”

At those words, murmuring spread like ripples.

There were two options, but each one was extraordinary.

He offered to impart a cultivation method if they sided with him. And it was an internal energy art that could control ‘demonic energy’.

It was an absurd proposal, but its credibility changed depending on who made it. The opponent was an absolute master who could freely wield the energy of thunder.

Furthermore, an absolute master of the Taoist lineage. It wouldn’t be strange for such a master to possess demon-subduing cultivation methods.

Most importantly, the probability of a master who had reached such a high level of cultivation lying about something like this was extremely rare.

That was why the second option was also extraordinary. To simply let them leave if they wished.

The demonic practitioners’ eyes widened at words only Shaolin monks would typically utter.

Of course, Cheongun was neither affiliated with the Orthodox Factions nor walked the path of Dao, but they had no way of knowing that.

Cheongun smiled broadly and opened his mouth.

“I’ll give you a quarter-hour [15 minutes].”

Everyone fell into thought. As if stunned by the situation they suddenly faced, they merely glanced at each other.

Just then, a masked man sitting to one side suddenly stood up from his seat.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

The man glanced sideways at Cheongun and then departed.

“I’ll also take my leave.”

As if that were a signal, another man stood up and left.

Those who had been eyeing each other also began to rise, one by one.

They streamed out of the hall. Of the many demonic practitioners, only three remained.

Cheongun asked.

“Why did you three stay?”

“…We didn’t learn demonic arts by choice.”

“Is that so? That’s good.”

“…Huh?”

Just then, Jeok Hwaryeon, who had disappeared from her seat, reappeared behind Cheongun.

“Ryeon-ah. Did you find it?”

“Yes, Pavilion Master—no, Gate Lord.”

In her hand was something presumed to be a fishing rod.

“Well done.”

Cheongun sprang up from his seat and took the fishing rod.

He handled the fishing rod, then swished it around to check its condition.

Then, with a wistful expression, he murmured.

“I’ll be back.”

Cheongun’s figure vanished with a swish, leaving only swirling dust in his place.

Everyone was bewildered by the Gate Lord’s sudden disappearance. The only calm person was Jeok Hwaryeon.

She sat right next to the seat of honor, as if it were perfectly normal.

And so, everyone waited blankly for the suddenly vanished Gate Lord. How much time had passed?

A moment later, a dark figure appeared beyond the hall entrance.

The figure was strolling casually, with a fishing rod slung over their shoulder.

Their gaze followed the fishing rod to the fishing line. A massive mass was being dragged along.

It looked as if multiple people were tied together and being dragged.

“…?”

Soon, moonlight illuminated the hall entrance. The figure was Cheongun.

And the identity of the mass being dragged along was the demonic practitioners who had left the hall just moments ago.

Cheongun spoke under the moonlight. “A big catch.”

“……”

****

Cheongun generally sorted out the situation and then left the Black Forest Gate.

This was so he, as the Pavilion Master, could personally greet the Righteous Alliance elders who would be visiting the Blood Bloom Pavilion’s main base the next day.

He left the Black Forest Gate to Jeok Hwaryeon, Hong Soyeon, and the Baekseol demonic practitioner trio for now.

Since he had roughly filtered out the demonic practitioners, they would be more adept than Cheongun at reorganizing and managing the forces.

Additionally, he sent Blood Bloom Pavilion members as support.

However, a problem arose.

“……”

“……”

The Blood Bloom Pavilion Master’s residence. Two people sat facing each other at a simple wooden table, drinking tea.

One was a massive monk with a shaven head. The other was Cheongun.

Cheongun was slightly flustered, which was unlike him. This was because the monk before him was no ordinary monk.

An absolute master who had subdued demons and reached the pinnacle of martial arts, earning the title ‘Demon Subduing Fist King’. The Righteous Alliance Leader and Shaolin Abbot. It was Geum Myeongju.

Cheongun barely managed to control his expression, which had almost contorted.

He had expected at most a few elders to be sent, and certainly not for the Righteous Alliance Leader himself to suddenly appear.

Even though Cheongun’s already sensitive senses had become extremely acute upon reaching the Honwon Realm, only the faintest vestiges of the monk’s aura could be felt.

Everything about him was blurry, seeming like something beyond the ‘Returning to Simplicity’ realm.

It was to the extent that one might doubt if he was even a living being.

Geum Myeongju gazed calmly at Cheongun. Then, he slowly opened his mouth.

“I had certainly heard the rumors that the Blood Bloom Pavilion Master had changed, but I never imagined the person in question would be so young.”

“Is that so?”

“A realm achieved at an age not even yet twenty. Truly astonishing.”

“Does age matter for the sword?”

At Cheongun’s single remark, Geum Myeongju chuckled heartily and finished his tea.

“I believe you know the reason this humble monk has visited this pavilion.”

“Isn’t it to take away the spy who was hidden so stealthily?”

“That is one reason, but I can tell you that my curiosity about you, Young Hero, is greater.”

Cheongun looked at Geum Myeongju. His lips were clearly smiling, but his gaze was sharp.

Just then, Geum Myeongju opened his mouth. “I heard you attacked the Black Forest Gate yesterday.”

“Your news travels fast.”

“Haha, isn’t it said that the ears of a venerable monk can hear beyond a thousand li?”

“It seems you planted a spy in the Black Forest Gate as well.”

“……”

Cheongun placed the teacup he was drinking from onto the table.

“So, is there a problem with me attacking the Black Forest Gate?”

“There is certainly room for concern. Both the Blood Bloom Pavilion and the Black Forest Gate are factions with ties to the Divine Cult, aren’t they? Your intention to take control of these two factions…”

Before he could finish speaking. The Righteous Alliance Leader couldn’t complete his sentence.

He was looking somewhere. Cheongun slowly followed his gaze.

His gaze was fixed on the moktak in Cheongun’s embrace.

Cheongun subtly took out the moktak.

A special engraving that read ‘Shaolin Guardian’ was visible on it.

It was a moktak meticulously crafted by Geum Myeongju himself for his one and only disciple embarking on a journey through the martial world.

Shaolin disciples had one rule: to give their moktak to a Dharma friend with whom they formed a bond through the Buddha’s teachings while wandering the martial world.

That did not simply mean a friend. It was a testament to having learned under someone who had cultivated greater virtue and imparted teachings.

Therefore, the Righteous Alliance Leader couldn’t help but be astonished. A man who had received a moktak from his only disciple!

The Righteous Alliance Leader immediately clasped his hands together.

Cheongun also clasped his hands together.

“Namu Amita Bul.”

“Namu Amita Bul.”