Chapter 247

Chapter 247

The Gongsun clan.

The lineage of that surname held by the Divine Maiden who was at the Demonic Cult’s peak doesn’t remain. Because the bloodline itself is considered severed.

If the Divine Maiden’s bloodline continues, they can release the shackles preventing the Demonic Cult from advancing into the Central Plains. That’s why the Gongsun clan took a very conservative stance on continuing the bloodline, and maintained only the legitimate line with almost no collateral branches.

Now, just because the bloodline is considered severed after the death of Gongsun Yeonbi, Baek Riyun’s mother, doesn’t mean the Gongsun clan completely disappeared. 

Two collateral Gongsun clan members still remained in the Demonic Cult before their eyes.

“Being a Gongsun means…….”

“The blood isn’t connected.”

The Divine Maiden’s Deputy, Gongsun Gung, who quietly approached at some point, frowned while looking at Jeokyeol. The words that quietly continued.

“In prestigious families where heirs are precious, they often expand their influence through adoption. Do you know this?”

“I’ve heard such cases exist.”

“Yes. This child and I were such cases. We had talent but no backing.”

Though the Demonic Cult is said not to judge people by status, that doesn’t mean everyone lives the same life. Even if there are many policies for the poor, if there’s no one to inform them about those policies, isn’t it useless?

“The previous Divine Maiden…… Lady Yeonbi’s blood relative was a compassionate person unlike Lady Yeonbi. They took us in and cherished us like their own children. Even if you grow up in the shadow of the Gongsun clan, after you grow up, freely decide whether you’ll stay or leave. That’s what they said.”

“That’s my elder brother’s beautified memory. I won’t say they weren’t compassionate, but well, even if they said that, they knew we wouldn’t leave, so they said such words.”

“Rang.”

“Ah, I got it. Elder Brother. Can’t say anything. Completely sacrosanct.”

“Isn’t it because you’re distorting facts?”

“They were compassionate to Elder Brother, but they were incredibly strict with me.”

“Because you caused trouble.”

“Ugh.”

At Gongsun Gung’s story she couldn’t refute, Jeokyeol let out a sigh.

“Is your doubt somewhat resolved?”

“Yes……. Then the reason Jeokyeol was so favorable toward us to a strange degree too.”

“I don’t think it’s all because of that, but there can’t be no influence. So to speak, you’re no different from my niece’s disciples. Lady Yeonbi was to us both the youngest sibling and the lord we had to serve. Most suited for the next Divine Maiden’s position.”

We must escape.

When Gongsun Yeonbi said so, Jeokyeol couldn’t empathize with Yeonbi’s words. Because she knew how the end of that escape would turn out.

“If she had stayed in the Divine Cult as is, Lady Yeonbi probably would have become the Divine Maiden, and caught up in the war faction’s pressure, would have eventually released the shackles. Forcibly or whatever.”

“If that happened, cult members and Central Plains people would die countless times, but Lady Yeonbi could have found peace. Because the Divine Maiden who released the shackles is just a symbol and faith for the cult. However, Lady Yeonbi fled. Even knowing she would live her entire life chased and ultimately meet death. Do you know why?”

There’s no need to ask. Though she’s never met Gongsun Yeonbi, looking at the thoughts shown in common by Baek Riyun, Baek Risan, and those children, isn’t the answer one thing?

“Because she thought it was right…….”

“Correct.”

Jeokyeol, who nodded her head, bore a bitter smile.

“Either way, it’s a stubborn family, so in the end, I couldn’t break that stubbornness. In honest words, I’m still resentful. Why the previous Divine Maiden didn’t stop that path, why Lady Yeonbi had no choice but to choose the path of sacrificing herself…… but I know one thing. The past cannot return.”

If something has already happened, accept it and do your best in the current situation.

Demonic Cult members have lived this way, and Jeokyeol has also lived this way. Then there’s no choice but to conform to reality, isn’t there?

“The idle talk has been long.”

At the sight of Seohwa looking at her with eyes somehow strangely moved, Jeokyeol, who cleared her throat, shook her head and looked at Gongsun Gung.

“Anyway, we mustn’t forget the reason we came here.”

“Ah…… I was forgetting.”

“It seemed so, so I reminded you. Now, shall we slowly talk?”

“What talk are you referring to, Rang?”

“Your ears are still dull as ever, Elder Brother. Do you know what’s happening outside?”

“……It seems Ilryun has begun to move.”

“If you know, the talk goes fast. What do you plan to do?”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Shouldn’t we stop it?”

“Why?”

At an answer different from what she thought, Jeokyeol, who looked at Gongsun Gung as if puzzled about what story she heard, picked her ear.

“Say it again. What?”

“I asked why we should stop it.”

“Until now, the reason we haven’t released the Great Seal’s shackles was simple. Because if we release the Great Seal’s shackles, war will immediately break out between the main cult and Central Plains people.”

Human and human conflict.

It’s different from Yokai and human conflict. Whether allies die or enemies die, it’s ultimately human screams. An environment that can only be filled with humanity’s sorrow.

But now is different.

“Ilryun will want to release the Great Seal. For the cult’s descendants.”

“That…… would be so.”

“It’s not to abandon the main cult’s duty. Just wanting to leave hope. If we block even that, the main cult will truly boil up like an active volcano. More blood might flow than not blocking it.”

“But…….”

“People aren’t machines, Rang. It’s not something that can be calculated with a formula where you put in one thing and one thing comes out.”

If it’s blood that will ultimately be spilled, minimizing that blood can also be an answer. It’s the only conciliatory measure that Ilryun, who has only advocated war until now, has brought out. Just pressing with fundamental talk won’t be able to stop it.

“Can you convince them?”

“……Grr. Then Elder Brother thinks it’s fine to release the Great Seal?”

“Well.”

Gongsun Gung, who let out a small sigh, looked up at the sky.

“Though we walk different paths like this, Ilryun is also someone running in all directions for the main cult. I don’t want to reject her ideology so much. It’s not like I have no such feelings at all. But now the circumstances are a bit different.”

“The Great Seal will definitely be released.”

“……What? What on earth does that.”

“That’s how the heavenly energy is flowing.”

The fact that the Great Seal will be released.

At least that much can be known. Astronomy. Because it appeared that way in the mirror reflecting the earth.

“What’s important is one thing. If the Great Seal’s release is confirmed, should it be released by our hands, or should it be released by external will…….”

“Damn it, you only talk about things I can’t understand at all. What story are you telling?”

“I don’t know either. Would the Divine Maiden have known?”

At Gongsun Gung’s appearance carefully shaking his head, Seohwa, who bit her lip, clenched her fist tightly and stepped forward. Then Gongsun Gung looking at Seohwa.

“It seems the guest has something to say to me.”

“Can you not…… stop it?”

“You mean Ilryun.”

“Yes. I heard you have the power to do so. Though you’re a deputy, you maintain some degree of authority from when the Divine Maiden was whole.”

“That’s true. But would it mean anything to stop it? The Great Seal will be released anyway. Whether we stop it or not, it will be released through some route. In that case, wouldn’t it be better not to stop it?”

“I think it’s foolish to just sit idle saying the future is fixed.”

At the story strangely containing current energy, Gongsun Gung quietly looked at Seohwa. However, not caring and stepping one more step forward while pointing at her eyes, Seohwa.

“As you can see, my eyes are different from other people.”

“It seems they were affected by demonic power.”

“Yes. But I wasn’t just affected. I held demonic power in my body.”

“Until now, all those who held demonic power in their bodies met death without exception. Because humans can’t accept demonic power. But I did.”

To not let go of the connection she grasped. To save Choa.

She did so knowing it was the best method for everyone. Did she do so because there was even one percent probability of surviving?

No.

“They say heavenly energy doesn’t change, but I don’t actually know if it doesn’t change. Because I can’t see heavenly energy.”

“Even if heavenly energy is really determined and is a flow that can’t be changed, it doesn’t matter. Only one thing is determined—the Great Seal’s release. The situation after that. The situation before that. There are plenty of things that can be changed.”

The Great Seal’s release isn’t the end. That’s ultimately a passing point toward the future.

“I decided to stop doing nothing and just waiting for the approaching future.”

“……It seems there was such a time.”

“Yes. There was a time when I just waited for death. The Sect Master taught me that I shouldn’t live that way.”

Even hands and feet freezing, even gradually becoming short of breath—these aren’t notifications of the end. They’re just devices to break people down.

“If you don’t give up, it doesn’t end.”

“That’s what I learned from the Sect Master. Who the Sect Master learned it from…… I think I can know without saying.”

Isn’t that the Gongsun Family’s family tradition?

“……Blood doesn’t necessarily have to be connected to continue the line.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing.”

Gongsun Gung, who muttered while looking at the sky as if bitterly reminiscing, closed his eyes.

“……It’s not like there’s completely no method.”

“A method to stop the Great Seal’s release?”

“No. Didn’t I tell you? When I saw the heavenly energy, the Great Seal’s release is a confirmed matter. My eyes are eyes that read heavenly energy. So I can’t tell you a method to escape from heavenly energy. However.”

There’s a method to clean up even after the Great Seal is released. After all, the Great Seal is like a shield blocking demonic power.

“The guest from the Central Plains wouldn’t know, but there’s something called Divine Beasts in this world.”

“What? Ah, I know. Our sect also has two Divine Beasts entrusting their bodies to us.”

“……? There are only three remaining Divine Beasts in this world.”

“Yes. Two of those three are in our sect?”

“Ahem.”

Gongsun Gung, who cleared his throat, continued speaking.

“Anyway, Divine Beasts are existences like natural enemies of Yokai. A Divine Beast could replace the Great Seal.”

“……Even if outstanding, would they have that level of ability? When I saw the Divine Beasts at our sect…….”

“It’s impossible for ordinary Divine Beasts. No matter how long they’ve lived, at most one to two thousand years. That level wouldn’t be possible. But it’s possible for one.”

“If it’s one?”

“Sangwi. The oldest Divine Beast above all else. The guardian of humanity who has lived tens of thousands of years.”

If they could just bring that turtle wandering beyond Xinjiang, cleaning up the aftermath of the seal’s release would be nothing. Because no Yokai of the present can face Sangwi head-on.

“Time is tight. It’s also dangerous. Even if I send Rang along…… the probability of survival is less than ten percent.”

“Even so, will you do it?”

Will you risk your life for one uncertainty?

At such a question from Gongsun Gung, Seohwa, who bore a small smile, triumphantly stepped forward.

“I didn’t learn how to retreat. So I’ll try it.”

“Where is it? That Divine Beast called Sangwi?”