Chapter 249

Chapter 249

‘Is it a misunderstanding?’

Ilryun, who had been looking at the black-robed man for a moment, shook her head. Jeokyeol, who frequently goes on external trips to the Central Plains, aside, how could she, who rarely goes outside the Divine Cult, have met such a young person?

It’s a misunderstanding. She just felt a sense of déjà vu as if she’d seen them somewhere. Ilryun, who judged so, smiled.

“Three of the Ten Heavens came out here to welcome me. Where are the other three?”

“They’re waiting at the meeting place. As for your side…….”

“I’m alone. There’s no need to invite unnecessary vigilance. You’re not thinking of saying the reception is insufficient, are you?”

“That can’t be.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who slipped in front of Ilryun who was conversing with the Great Evil Sword, burst into a chuckle.

“In a situation where we must face an old monster who might be the strongest in humanity, there’s no room to quibble about whether the reception is sufficient or not.”

“Should I understand that to mean you’re being prudent?”

“Interpret it as you like. It doesn’t seem like kind words will come out from either side.”

“……How rude.”

Sojangjado.

Ilryun, who hid a blade in her laughter, took a step and drew her form forward. Ilryun passing by the three Ten Heavens in an instant with extraordinary footwork.

“This won’t be easy.”

“Haha. I didn’t expect it to be easy either.”

At the sight of the Great Evil Sword watching that appearance and sighing, the Sado Alliance Leader spoke calmly.

“It seems the Great Evil Sword is overlooking several facts, but the opponent is an absolute ruler who has dominated the Demonic Cult for nearly a hundred years. There’s no way it would be easy. Whether negotiation or force.”

“A hundred years…….”

Since when has Ilryun been Ilryun?

At least before Manwang was born, Ilryun lived as Ilryun. Considering that being Ilryun isn’t predestined from birth but goes by skill ranking, the opponent means she was the Demonic Cult’s strongest decades ago.

“Though she lives young, the words ‘old monster’ can’t help but suit her. Because she’s a monster older than the Sword Saint, and perhaps even older than Bulgoe.”

While speaking, the Sado Alliance Leader, who shrugged his shoulders, chuckled and tilted his head to look at the person behind. The appearance of Baek Riyun wearing black robes and just watching Ilryun.

“What does our chief officer think?”

“I heard you have a secret plan to lead this negotiation well.”

“I do.”

“Can I still not hear what that secret plan is?”

“It’ll be difficult now. It’s a story that can’t be brought out of my mouth in advance.”

At Baek Riyun’s appearance shaking his head while bearing a bitter smile, the Sado Alliance Leader made a mischievous smile. Because he couldn’t even predict what Baek Riyun was currently thinking.

Several days ago.

—Please entrust this negotiation to me.

Baek Riyun, who suddenly gathered the leadership and opened a meeting, said so. That even if he can’t completely win this negotiation, he can pull it in a direction favorable to the Central Plains.

A situation where as soon as Ilryun requested a meeting, they had already pulled out a list of what the opponent’s requests might be and were devising countermeasures. Baek Riyun’s sudden words caused confusion. However.

—That method, is it certain?

—Yes.

—Then I’ll believe it.

—Are you in your right mind……?

—Is there need for more words?

Not the Sword Sovereign who was expected to raise hands, nor the Sword Emperor who is Baek Riyun’s father, but due to Taeak’s wholehearted support, that proposal passed.

Right now.

The full authority for negotiation with the Demonic Cult entered one person’s hands.

Into the hands of Baek Riyun, who is merely a mid-sized sect’s master.

“Uicheonmun Sect Master. Let’s organize once more. What the opponent wants is the Great Seal’s temporary release, correct?”

“Yes.”

“You’re certain.”

“What’s placed on the scales isn’t heavy enough to desire more than that.”

“Mm.”

At the Great Evil Sword’s appearance nodding as if not wrong, Baek Riyun, who glanced at Ilryun’s back as she entered the meeting place, continued speaking.

“Did you know the Demonic Cult’s Divine Maiden has inherited the ability to read heavenly energy for generations?”

“……I heard there’s such magic arts.”

“Though called the Divine Maiden’s Deputy, that ability never falls greatly behind compared to the Divine Maiden. Such a Divine Maiden’s Deputy conveyed words to me through a contact connected within the Demonic Cult. That the Great Seal will be released, that heavenly energy speaks so.”

Reading heavenly energy isn’t only the Divine Maiden.

Gonryunseon, who has outstanding skill above anyone at reading astronomy, also said similar things, and even Manwang, who can read astronomy faintly and abstractly, received an intuition that something ominous would occur. Those words mean the heavenly energy the Divine Maiden’s Deputy read was never wrong.

“In the end, if it’s a Great Seal that will be released, we need preparation. Preparation to prepare for the demonic power that will begin flowing into the Central Plains’ interior. And…… preparation to suppress the Yokai that will start rampaging again.”

“If buying time is the best option, we have no choice but to buy time. But Ilryun won’t want that. Because she’ll think the hostages’ value decreases as time passes.”

They don’t need the Central Plains’ help in releasing the seal anyway. So Ilryun will try to notify rather than negotiate. While releasing the seal, she’ll search for the Great Teleportation’s survivors and send them back. Be grateful. In that manner.

“Can you suppress her?”

“To suppress an opponent in negotiation, there are only two methods. Press down the opponent with force…….”

“Or throw a more appetizing prey.”

They can’t press down.

The Demonic Cult is already like an active volcano about to explode. If the Central Plains martial world tries to pressure the Demonic Cult with force here, Xinjiang’s volcano will ultimately burst out and overflow toward the Central Plains. Of course, though the Demonic Cult bound by constraints can’t do anything, isn’t it the same as lighting the fuse of a powder keg that could explode anytime?

The method that could be taken was only one then and now. And they just need to use that method now.

“What we’ll obtain is the survivors’ safety. And time. Two things. And what we must lose is one.”

“Just cutting away the knot that’s been tied so tightly it can’t be untied.”

Baek Riyun, who looked up at the sky for a moment, closed his eyes as if organizing his feelings. And after a moment, Baek Riyun half-opening his eyes.

“We should enter.”

“It’s meeting time.”

It was time to start negotiation.

Baek Rigang never once thought of himself as a great father.

—Elder Brother. The family’s affairs are good, but aren’t you paying too little attention to the children?

—…….

—Though sister-in-law is handling the children’s education well, I think you’re neglecting them too much. I know Elder Brother is busy, but…….

Even at Baek Riseong’s story, Baek Rigang couldn’t say anything. For him who was naturally taciturn and didn’t empathize with others, approaching his children was full of difficult things.

He taught martial arts and taught how to live in the world.

Even teaching so, he didn’t feel he fulfilled his role as a father. Just a master-disciple relationship. Wasn’t it nothing more or less than that?

He never fulfilled a father’s role. So he couldn’t act as a father either.

When Baek Riseon decided on external travel and Baek Riyun determined to leave home, Baek Rigang sent them both for that reason. That he who isn’t a proper father can’t decide their futures. Let them do as they wish.

That determination changed somewhat coming to now.

If he hasn’t fulfilled a father’s role until now.

Even coming to now, lending a hand at least once is what he must do—Baek Rigang felt so.

“This generation’s Central Plains is certainly strong.”

Meeting place.

Ilryun, who sat at a long rectangular table and looked around, bore a faint smile and softly laughed. Ilryun’s appearance seeming like just an ordinary woman of marriageable age as if having reached the realm of returning to simplicity, yet holding an aura that can’t be approached somewhere.

“Even considering that old man the Sword Saint didn’t come, it’s enough to compete. How long has it been since what was openly revealed could compete with the main cult’s power…….”

“That’s a welcome sound. Doesn’t that mean we might win if we clash with the Demonic Cult now?”

“Wouldn’t it be difficult?”

At the Sado Alliance Leader’s joke, Ilryun, who burst into a chuckle, waved the long pipe she took out from somewhere through the air.

“You Central Plains people aren’t as united as the main cult. And there aren’t many Transcenders who can replace me. Taeak over there or that old man the Sword Saint would at least be able to compete with me, but…….”

“Both still don’t reach me. I can tell without having to compare skills. There’s still only one star floating in the sky.”

Transcending means casting off the human womb.

Everyone metaphorizes so, but one doesn’t actually become non-human. Just, when a Transcender appears, that appearance gets imprinted in the astronomy.

“Each Transcender is a monster who can change the world. Even searching the entire world, it’s not common for three to appear.”

“From that perspective, this generation deserves to be called a golden generation. Even if they haven’t reached transcending yet, there are so many talents at the end who might reach transcending like this…….”

The Sado Alliance Leader. The Sword Emperor. And, Baek Riyun.

Ilryun, who confirmed those sitting quietly at the table, smiled. And Ilryun, who glanced upward and continued speaking.

“We should slowly start the meeting. Do you need a grand opening speech?”

“Such things aren’t necessary.”

“Then, we should start negotiation.”

Simultaneously with her words, Ilryun, who crossed her legs, loosely leaned her body forward.

“I heard there was a Great Teleportation.”

“Though it wasn’t our doing, it’s truly regrettable. The Central Plains’ promising young people. Or elders. Sect leaders, gate masters……so many people were caught in the disaster, how could it not be called tragic?”

“You speak well. Despite only viewing it as an opportunity.”

“Huhuhu. It’s true I’m feeling regret. Viewing it as an opportunity…… well, that’s also true.”

How could she not view it as an opportunity?

It’s communication with the severed Central Plains. Nothing had an advantage. For communication, they had to choose a path where all perish together, and that wasn’t Ilryun’s true intention.

“I just think and move for the main cult’s future. It’s not that I want to antagonize you.”

“What do you want?”

“And you are?”

“I’m Uicheonmun Sect Master Baek Riyun.”

“Baek Riyun…… Ah, you’re a child of the Baek Ri Family.”

Ilryun, who glanced at Baek Rigang sitting in a corner of the table, smiled.

“What I, and the cult desire is only one thing. Not shouldering this duty alone. Coming to shoulder it together.”

“……We can’t sacrifice tens of thousands for merely hundreds of lives.”

“That would be so. However, you can prepare that much of a foundation. If not this generation, then the next generation. If not the next generation, then the generation after that.”

Temporarily release the Great Seal. Through that, introduce demonic power into the Central Plains.

“It’s difficult immediately. We need preparation.”

“Even during preparation, your hearts will change. This can’t become negotiation in the first place. Aren’t we managing the Great Seal?”

Deciding whether to release the seal or not is the Demonic Cult’s choice. This meeting now is just to reduce Central Plains people’s resistance and prevent future conflicts.

“I’ll give you one week. After one week, I’ll release the Great Seal.”

“You can’t finish all preparations, but in that time you can finish very urgent preparations. That’s the maximum deadline I can give. How about it?”

At Ilryun’s appearance bearing a small smile, Baek Riyun let out a deep sigh. And after a moment, Baek Riyun, who quietly shook his head.

“One week isn’t enough.”

“It seems you didn’t understand. Didn’t I say this can’t become negotiation? This is notification. Notification that you must prepare…….”

“I’m speaking while understanding. One week isn’t enough. And, Ilryun, you cannot notify me.”

“……Hm?”

“Because I’m the only method that can release your shackles.”

Silent determination.

Confirming firm determination settling in Baek Riyun’s eyes who seemed to keep worrying about something, Ilryun tilted her head in puzzlement. However, Baek Riyun’s words that didn’t stop.

“What’s binding the Demonic Cult’s feet are the shackles by the Divine Maiden’s oath. The oath that will bind the Demonic Cult members’ feet unless the Great Seal is completely destroyed……”

“……That’s right.”

“And that Divine Maiden’s bloodline that executes that oath fled to the Central Plains decades ago. However.”

“Do you know? That actually that Divine Maiden’s bloodline has continued. That she left her bloodline in the Central Plains.”

Eyes wide with shock.

Confirming Ilryun’s eyes widening as she gradually understood Baek Riyun’s words, Baek Riyun paused for a moment, then clenched his fist. And.

“I am the key to the oath.”

The moment Baek Riyun declared so.

“──How wonderful.”

Ilryun struck toward Baek Riyun at a speed like a beam of light.

“This works out well.”

Baek Rigang, who had already drawn his sword, blocked in front.