Scholar Demon Venerable

Kwaang!

"Keuk."

A single scream flowed out from Ou Huliang's contorted lips.

Jeobeok, jeobeok.

Ou Huliang staggered back, looking at Cheongun who was approaching step by step.

Thwack.

A cold and hard feeling was felt behind his back.

Ou Huliang only came to his senses after his back hit the wall.

His eyes trembled, and he plunged his sword into his heart before Cheongun could do anything.

Even if he had to die, he didn't want to die at the hands of that guy.

If he was captured by that guy, he might be tortured to open his mouth.

He had the pride of the Zirong Palace master, and he couldn't die like that.

"Keok."

Cheongun, who had not thought that the Zirong Palace master, Ou Huliang, would commit suicide, frowned.

This was already the second time that a person he was trying to capture had committed suicide, following the escort mission of the Jintian Escort Agency.

Although his heart was bitter, since the sword was already in his heart, there was nothing he could do.

Cheongun looked at Ou Huliang with cold eyes.

"If there is a next life, be sure to... be born as an animal and repay your sins."

Thud.

Ou Huliang's figure collapsed.

For the death of Ou Huliang, who had commanded the world, it was too shabby.

But as Ou Huliang collapsed, a small iron plaque fell out of his bosom.

Cheongun bent down and picked up the iron plaque.

A pattern he was seeing for the first time was engraved on the iron plaque.

'What kind of plaque is this?'

He turned his head and looked at the Blood Emperor. The Blood Emperor was staring at the iron plaque.

But before he could ask, the Blood Emperor said.

[Let's go out first. I'll tell you about that iron plaque when we get out.]

"Let's do that. I'll have to come with the Jinyiwei tomorrow."

Cheongun looked around and then stopped his gaze at one place.

"Since that's where they came in, it seems we can go out that way."

If he went out the way he had come in, he might have to face the ones who were guarding the outside again. He didn't want to see any more blood today.

Cheongun swung his sword straight at the closed door.

Kwa-kwang!

A hazy stone powder flew in all directions.

Cheongun put his body into the space that had collapsed with a rumble.

* * *

A deep night when the hour of the ox was passing.

In a cozy pavilion, a man was sitting and examining something in his hand.

The man was Cheongun, who had returned after attacking the Zirong Palace.

"So, you're saying this is the item that the ones who attacked the Heavenly Cult had on them?"

In Cheongun's hand, there was a pentagonal iron plaque that fit in one hand.

A long line was crossing it as if drawing a star, and in the middle, the character for heaven was embossed.

That iron plaque was what had come out of Ou Huliang's bosom.

[Yes, I saw it when I was facing the ones who had attacked the Heavenly Cult at that time.]

In the past, the traitors had colluded with external forces and had attacked him.

The black jade plaque that the outsiders had at that time and the iron plaque that was discovered this time were similar.

[They were bold guys, and if I hadn't been ambushed with poison, I wouldn't have been defeated so in vain. I had consumed too much internal energy to detoxify the poison with the Blood Emperor's true energy.]

At the Blood Emperor's words, which were filled with regret, Cheongun looked down at the iron plaque in his hand and said.

"You're saying the Zirong Palace is related to the ones who attacked the Heavenly Cult."

If the Zirong Palace had been the descendants of the Heavenly Cult, Cheongun would have felt sorry. Because he had killed everyone from the palace master to the elite.

Cheongun looked at the Blood Emperor quietly and then asked the question he had been holding back.

"But Blood Emperor, are you saying the Heavenly Cult is the Blood Demon Heavenly Cult?"

He needed to confirm the fact he had learned thanks to Ou Huliang. From the name, there was a fear of blood dripping.

[The Blood Demon Heavenly Cult is right.]

Cheongun's eyes twitched.

He had hoped it wasn't...

"Did you deceive me?"

[How could that be? I clearly told you it was the Heavenly Cult.]

"You did. But you left out the first two characters."

Cheongun said with a calm expression and looked at the Blood Emperor. Since he had prepared his heart, he could be calm.

In any case, wasn't he not a person of the martial world? It was also ridiculous to talk about what was right and what was just.

What did it matter if the Heavenly Cult was a righteous path or a demonic path? It was enough if it helped his revenge.

And as his master had said, martial arts depend on the person who uses them.

As long as it wasn't an evil demonic art that changed a person's nature, there would be no problem.

'To be honest, the righteous path hasn't done anything for me, has it? It's not like they're going to get revenge for my father and me.'

As if Cheongun's gaze, which had become strangely comfortable, was burdensome, the Blood Emperor cleared his throat.

[Ahem. I didn't particularly mean to deceive you. But still. Although the name is like that, the Heavenly Cult is not an evil place.]

"Is that so? Just hearing the name, it sounds like a demonic cult."

[Don't compare the Heavenly Cult with those crazy black guys. They're completely different.]

"What's different?"

Cheongun decided to know exactly on this occasion.

The place that could be called his root was the Heavenly Cult and the Blood Emperor. It was the most important problem in his future actions.

If it was a place that was branded as a public enemy of the martial world like the demonic cult, it would be troublesome in many ways. If he was not careful, he could become a public enemy of the martial world in an instant.

In that case, he had to devise a countermeasure in some way.

As if he knew such a Cheongun's heart, the Blood Emperor said.

[In the history of the martial world, the only proper public enemy was the Blood Cult. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, which is known as the demonic cult, was driven to be a public enemy because the country felt threatened. When I was active, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was not a public enemy of the martial world.]

"What about the Heavenly Cult?"

[The Heavenly Cult was just strong, not hungry for blood. I made it so that it couldn't be. Of course, it's true that a lot of blood was shed while scolding the world. To put it simply, it's like the principle of killing each other when a war breaks out. But whether the winner rules with blood or with benevolence is a separate issue.]

Cheongun smiled bitterly, knowing that the place called the martial world was more complicated than he had thought.

It seemed there was a difference in something fundamental, such as ideology, not just being divided into righteous, evil, and demonic paths like the white and black paths.

"Phew."

Cheongun let out a deep breath. It seemed his frustrated and anxious heart had been relieved a little.

"That's a relief. I was worried I would become a public enemy of the martial world."

[A public enemy of the martial world? Hahaha. If, by any chance. If the martial world points you out as a public enemy, they will regret it.]

The Blood Emperor said as if he were sure.

In the past, the martial world had not been able to point out the Blood Emperor as a public enemy of the martial world. Because he was so strong, they had not even dared to attack.

Moreover, Cheongun could grow to be even more frightening than him.

If Cheongun was pointed out as a public enemy, the martial world would have to pay a huge price at that moment.

Cheongun put the iron plaque in his bosom and stood up from his seat.

"But it's a pity."

[What is?]

"If the Heavenly Cult were a righteous path, I would have tried to become the supreme ruler of the martial world later, but if I'm not careful, I'll just be called a demonic sovereign."

As Cheongun said it as if he were joking, the Blood Emperor smirked.

[Supreme ruler? That's not such a good position.]

"Is that so?"

[I know because I've been there, just know that it's a very troublesome position.]

The deep night passed like that.

The next day, as the day broke, Cheongun mobilized the Jinyiwei.

The number was well over a thousand.

They were the elite gathered from the Jinyiwei garrisons of Anhui and Henan.

Cheongun mobilized them and surrounded the Zirong Palace.

At the sudden move of the Jinyiwei, the Zirong Palace strongly protested. Above all, the absence of the palace master and the elders was great.

At dawn, the bodies of not only the palace master but also the elders and the best elite warriors were discovered. Because of that, in a situation where they were dazed, as the Jinyiwei rushed in, even the executives of the Zirong Palace were in a state of confusion.

"Can't you open the way at once?"

The commander of the Jinyiwei garrison in Anhui Province, Thousand-household Commander Song In-ho, shouted.

At his loud shout, the members of the Zirong Palace flinched.

They also knew Song In-ho.

Song In-ho was a powerful person who was said to be able to make a flying bird fall in Anhui.

A big man who was behind the Zirong Palace warriors who were in a confrontation stepped forward.

"Your Excellency, what is this outrage?"

"Who are you?"

"I am the outer hall master of the Zirong Palace, Cheol Hak-jung."

A large saber was held in his hand, befitting his huge build.

"So you are Hall Master Cheol. We have confirmed that the eldest son of the Hyeokryeon Manor of Henan, Hyeokryeon Hui, has hidden himself here. If you do not open the way obediently and cooperate, we will arrest you all as traitors."

At Song In-ho's sharp words, Cheol Hak-jung bit his molars.

He also knew about Hyeokryeon Hui. But he could not admit it obediently.

Moreover, this was not a problem he could decide.

He was a being who guarded the outer city. A message had to come from the higher-ups for him to open the gate or to block it.

But he also knew well that he could not block it forever.

"I have sent a message inside, so a contact will come soon."

There was nothing to be gained by provoking the Jinyiwei for no reason.

Song In-ho also had no intention of causing a military conflict.

It was only Cheongun's words that Hyeokryeon Hui's existence had been confirmed. No matter how much of a superior he was, if he was not careful, he might have to take the blame himself.

So he decided to give him a little time.

By the time a quarter of an hour had passed, someone came running and whispered to Hall Master Cheol.

Cheol Hak-jung's complexion changed from moment to moment.

Cheol Hak-jung hardened his expression, took a step forward, and said.

"Your Excellency, it seems it won't be today. Please set another date..."

"You bastard! I've waited this long, thinking of your face, and what? You're telling me to go back?"

Song In-ho got angry.

At the very least, they had to let them in and let them search formally. But as they came out strongly, he thought there was something they were hiding.

Cheol Hak-jung also did not know that it was an unreasonable demand. But he could not let them pass as they were. An order had been issued from above to block them.

As Cheol Hak-jung was hesitating, another person came out from the inside.

He was the leader of the Blood Lion Unit, one of the Zirong Palace's military units, Hong Min-gu.

"Step back. Your Excellency, thank you for coming like this."

Song In-ho frowned as he looked at the newly appeared person.

Hong Min-gu's fame was also not something that could be ignored here in Anhui.

If it were normal, the Jinyiwei might have taken a step back. But since Cheongun was watching from behind, he could not retreat.

Hong Min-gu said to such a Song In-ho as if growling.

"Hey, Thousand-household Commander Song. This is the Zirong Palace. No matter how much of a Jinyiwei you are, aren't you going too far?"

"What's too far? Didn't I say I came to find a traitor? If you're innocent, you can just open the way and receive an investigation."

"You're ignoring our Zirong Palace too much, coming in without evidence and saying you'll search. How do you see our Zirong Palace? I will strongly protest this matter to the government!"

Hong Min-gu's words were not entirely wrong either. The Zirong Palace was a place known as a great sect of the righteous path. He could not just stir up a place like this just because a traitor was hiding.

Song In-ho's head turned. His gaze went to Cheongun, who was standing behind him.

It was a question of what he should do.

Cheongun sent a signal to push through with a gesture of his chin.

Song In-ho let out a deep breath and said to Hong Min-gu.

"I'm sorry, but please move aside."

"Didn't I say I can't do that?"

"Do you really want to see the coffin to shed tears?"

"What? Are you threatening me now?"

The two's argument grew longer.

Cheongun, who was behind, became irritated.

Song In-ho had asked in advance and had left it to him, but the situation did not seem to be getting better.

In the end, Cheongun, who could not endure it, stepped forward.

"Stop! What are you doing, Thousand-household Commander Song?"

At Cheongun's shout, Song In-ho, who had been arguing, rushed over and bowed his head.

"The Zirong Palace is a representative sect of the righteous path. If we press them without reason, all the righteous paths will rise up..."

"So what are you saying?"

"As they say, for a while..."

"What!"

Cheongun deliberately let out a shout like a lion's roar.

Ureureureung.

"Keuk."

The people who had gathered in the area covered their ears and suffered.

The warriors of the Zirong Palace also became tense at Cheongun's tremendous lion's roar.

"Do you really want to die!"

At Cheongun's continued words, Song In-ho's shoulders slumped. His body trembled at the sharp shout.

Cheongun passed by Song In-ho and stepped forward in front of the warriors of the Zirong Palace, who were looking at him blankly.

"Move aside. Otherwise, I will consider you traitors and... execute you all!"

(End of Chapter)