Chapter 254

Chapter 254

Baek Risan was currently on the verge of losing her mind.

“So.”

“It’s not that the Demonic Cult joined hands with the Blood Cult, but that you betrayed the Demonic Cult?”

“……That’s correct.”

“So if you return to the Demonic Cult, your head will go daeng-gyeong and get chopped off?”

“Precisely!”

“Geez, you monk.”

Peoeok!

Baek Risan, who kicked the vigorously answering Eungryong, sighed deeply. A situation that she thought would be resolved smoothly when she heard he was a Chilryun had become extremely tangled.

‘Isn’t this a big problem?’

Let’s suppose she were a Demonic Cult member.

Suddenly someone says to return the Central Plains people they’re holding, and when she looks at them, they’re traveling together with a Chilryun who betrayed the Cult and sided with the Blood Cult. Moreover, the other party is a Central Plains person, not even a Xinjiang person.

If they realize that, how would they think?

‘It would be fortunate if they don’t just lump us together as accomplices and execute us all……?’

No matter how much she thought about it, the only conclusion that came to mind was a terrible one. If she goes with Eungryong as is, there’s nothing but death.

“Hey. Get tied up for a moment.”

“What?”

“Someone give me some rope.”

Baek Risan, who quickly received rope, tied up Eungryong’s body tightly, and Eungryong, who had been staring blankly at that sight, swept his feet in a figure-eight. At the same time, the rope came undone in an instant as if asking when it had been tied.

“I have no intention of returning to the Cult. Miss!”

“No. If I hand over you, the traitor, won’t the Demonic Cult release my comrades saying I did well? I’m saving my comrades through your sacrifice.”

“Then I’ll die, won’t I!”

“Cause and effect. You receive according to what you’ve done. That’s why someone told you to commit betrayal?”

“Please spare me!!!”

“I got it, so get tied……!”

Tie and untie, tie and untie, tie and untie.

After repeating the farce continuously, Baek Risan, realizing it was a meaningless action, sighed and plopped down heavily on a chair to the side. And Songbyeok Jinin, watching that appearance, carefully spoke.

“What are you planning to do from now on?”

“What do you mean what. We have to do something somehow…….”

“From what I see, it doesn’t seem like we can escort that person.”

“That would be so.”

What kind of existence is a Chilryun?

Chilryun are treated as equivalent to the Central Plains Sipcheon. No matter how much Songbyeok Jinin has a high probability of being designated as the next generation Sipcheon, the gap with the current Sipcheon cannot be denied.

Even if Baek Risan and Songbyeok Jinin rush at him together, they can’t subdue Eungryong. If Nakcheon, whose martial prowess knows no bounds, joins them, she doesn’t know how it would turn out, but…….

‘That person only seems to focus on protecting Baek Risan, Patron.’

Nakcheon isn’t a puppet who listens well. If it’s not necessary for protection, he probably won’t lend his strength.

“Wouldn’t it be better to send him somewhere else even now? If we’re seen together…….”

“We’ve already been seen by everyone, haven’t we?”

When she said that while looking around, Songbyeok Jinin, realizing the yokai hunters’ eyes were on them, let out a groan. And Baek Risan sighing deeply at the badness of the situation.

“Anyway, there’s nothing helpful.”

“Should I help with something?”

“Go die.”

“I don’t want that! Hahahaha!”

“I really wish you would die.”

“……Help?”

Songbyeok Jinin, who had been alternately looking at Eungryong laughing heartily and Baek Risan with a sour expression, narrowed his eyes at a thought that flashed through his mind. And the following question.

“Baek Risan, Patron. How about this?”

“What is it?”

“Infiltrating the Blood Cult. The three of us like this.”

“……What?”

At the absurd story, Baek Risan, who had responded with a question, looked at Songbyeok Jinin as if looking at a strange person. And at that appearance, Songbyeok Jinin smiled bitterly.

“That’s an expression saying ‘why suddenly the Blood Cult.'”

“Well…… yeah? It’s strange, isn’t it? To talk about infiltrating the Blood Cult instead of the Demonic Cult in this situation.”

“It’s not so strange. It’s just a conclusion I reached because we can do it and must do it.”

“We can do it and must do it……?”

“Who is the person right before our eyes?”

“Well that’s…….”

Eungryong. A Chilryun of the Demonic Cult and a traitor who betrayed the Demonic Cult and sided with the Blood Cult.

“Conversely speaking, that means Eungryong is currently one of the Blood Cult’s core figures. With his help, infiltrating the Blood Cult won’t be very difficult. Unlike the Demonic Cult.”

“I understand that, but…….”

What would they do by infiltrating the Blood Cult? The comrades aren’t captured by the Blood Cult but by the Demonic Cult.

While thinking that and looking at Songbyeok Jinin, Songbyeok Jinin quietly leaned his upper body toward the table.

“Why hasn’t the Demonic Cult engaged in full-scale war with the Central Plains until now, even while bickering? Do you know that reason?”

“Isn’t it because they couldn’t come out? They say they’re bound by some kind of restriction.”

“That’s now. But even in the past, they weren’t bound by restrictions. Nevertheless, the Demonic Cult spent at least several hundred years without warring with Central Plains people. Do you know why?”

“That’s…….”

“Because of self-respect.”

“Self-respect?”

“Because of that self-respect and sense of responsibility that humanity’s lifeline rests in their hands.”

The Great Seal.

The heads of the Nine Sects and One Gang. The family heads of the Five Great Families. And the origin of this Great Seal, known only to the Sipcheon, is also the Demonic Cult’s self-respect and foundation. Wasn’t the Demonic Cult an organization created to establish the Great Seal at the beginning of time and to protect that seal?

“This place Oyeon has no meaning except for being an axis of the Great Seal. At most, there’s the fact that it’s the yokai hunters’ stronghold.”

“The Blood Cult probably doesn’t harbor a grudge against the yokai hunters, and even if they did, they wouldn’t make a move like this, so what the Blood Cult is probably aiming for is the Great Seal. Since they’re people who wish for the world to fall into chaos, there’s no mistake. Then isn’t the story simple?”

If the Great Seal is the Demonic Cult’s foundation, then protecting the Great Seal is the Demonic Cult’s duty. No matter how much the current Demonic Cult members feel dissatisfied, having the Great Seal destroyed by others’ hands would be like having their sanctuary violated.

“If we infiltrate the Blood Cult, prevent them from destroying the Great Seal, and then with Eungryong’s help enter the Demonic Cult’s interior……?”

“We can use Eungryong’s authority and also gain the Demonic Cult’s favor?”

“Exactly that.”

Why would Eungryong’s head get chopped off if he returns to the Demonic Cult?

That’s because he betrayed the Demonic Cult. Because he stood at the forefront of the Blood Cult’s scheme to destroy the Great Seal. But if we can frame it as if he infiltrated the Blood Cult with some ulterior motive?

“If we just thwart the Blood Cult’s scheme, he can return to the Cult without getting his head chopped off. Rather, there’s a high possibility he’ll become a hero who prevented the Blood Cult’s scheme.”

“Of course, several things must be prerequisites for this scheme to succeed.”

First. They must create a method to somehow thwart the Blood Cult’s scheme.

And second. There must have been no casualties caused by Eungryong.

“What do you think?”

“From what I heard earlier, you said you already destroyed one axis and came back. Did you…… kill people?”

At Songbyeok Jinin’s heavy words, Eungryong, who had been thinking for a moment, shook his head.

“There won’t be any dead. Well, they’ll suffer a bit though.”

“……Is that possible?”

“Yes. Unlike other Sipcheon, my specialty is spells.”

If it’s the Great Seal’s main formation, perhaps, but to the degree of disabling an axis that helps maintain the Great Seal, it’s not very difficult to do without causing casualties.

Of course, the formation protecting the village would have disappeared as the formation was disabled, but what could have happened in that short time?

“If they realized the formation disappeared, they would have evacuated successfully. Originally, this side also intended to do it that way.”

“……So that’s how it is.”

What will you do?

At Songbyeok Jinin’s eyes looking at her, Baek Risan, who had been briefly troubled, looked around. The people who caught her eye.

‘Songbyeok Jinin. Me. Nakcheon. And Eungryong.’

It’s not insufficient forces, but it’s ambiguous and unstable. If Eungryong pretends to betray the Blood Cult and drives them into a trap, it will be difficult to escape.

No matter how much he’s related to her mother, Baek Risan wasn’t believing Eungryong straightforwardly. They haven’t known each other long, and to begin with, isn’t he someone who once betrayed the place he belonged to? There’s no way she can trust him.

Then what should be done?

“Let’s bring that person too.”

“That person?”

“You know, that stupid person who was locked up in Thunder Prison.”

“The one who was locked up……? Ah.”

“He’s probably still wandering around the village. He hasn’t established countermeasures for yokryeok either.”

Thinking of Dokgo Cheon who had disappeared without even getting his sword back, Baek Risan wore a sticky smile.

“Since it’s come to this, we have to suck him dry to the bone marrow.”

Search party headquarters. Inside the tent where the leaders of the Central Plains’ great forces had all gathered.

“Let me organize things a bit.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who had heard my explanation after returning from the Demonic Cult, rested his chin on the table in a languid manner and tapped the table with his hand. The clear sound resonating tong-tong on the wooden table.

“So right now, the Blood Cult is scheming to release the Great Seal.”

“The Demonic Cult is trying to stop that. And they’re requesting our help for that?”

“Yes.”

“Moreover, about three of the Chilryun have already turned to the Blood Cult’s side. Right?”

“Precisely.”

“That’s quite troublesome.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who had frowned, shrugged his shoulders after giving each person gathered a glance. Because everyone’s gazes were unusual.

“What does everyone think?”

“Is there a need to say? We must help immediately. If the Great Seal is destroyed, it’s not just the Demonic Cult that will suffer.”

“Mm.”

At Geomhu’s words, Bulgoe, who had been quietly sitting, nodded his head. Bulgoe expressing agreement with firm eyes as if they should naturally help.

“Amitabha. The Great Seal is a shield protecting humanity. If the Great Seal is under threat, helping without hesitation is the right course. Don’t you all think so?”

“My thoughts differ.”

“……Daesageom.”

“Isn’t this an opportunity?”

Daesageom, who had cut off Bulgoe’s words and interjected, quietly turned his gaze to look at the people in the hall.

“So many masters have gathered here to rescue those who were transferred to Xinjiang. Since it could lead to a正邪大戰, so many people gathered here to handle that.”

“But what about the current situation? Let alone a正邪大戰, it’s become a situation where it wouldn’t be strange if the Demonic Cult invaded the Central Plains. If the Great Seal is released as they notified, that probability rises even more.”

Having the Great Seal destroyed is something even the Demonic Cult doesn’t want. So the Demonic Cult will use any means to protect the Great Seal.

Then isn’t it right to gain profit through this situation? At the very least, it’s a priority to prepare a device to restrain the Demonic Cult’s actions.

“We must seize this opportunity. While they’re desperate now, we need to get some commitment from them so we can negotiate from an advantageous position in the future, don’t you think?”

“……You’re terribly selfish.”

“It’s not selfish but practical. I don’t wish for my disciples and my sect to suffer for the sake of others.”

“……Can you still call yourself a martial artist after that?”

“I am a martial artist. Of the Sapa.”

Listening to Daesageom’s words cutting it off as if he wouldn’t argue, Geomhu, who had been grinding her teeth, caressed her sword hilt. Soon, the conference room became a battlefield.

-Don’t we also have responsibility for neglecting our duty all this time?

-It’s not about bringing up history. Isn’t this a matter where your disciple could die?

-It’s not someone else’s problem!

-We’re not saying we won’t help. Just that if we can gain a bit more profit in the process…….

-What if our response is delayed because of that!

Loud voices ringing out. Clashing opinions running rampant.

“What a mess.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, watching the heads of great sects each gesticulating while fighting after casting off their dignity, laughed pisik and stomped on the table.

Kwajijijik!

“……Sado Alliance Leader.”

“Where do you think this is, a marketplace brawl?”

“Let’s hear the story first. To begin with, it seems the key isn’t held by you all but by the Uicheonmunju. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s…….”

“I’m not saying you must accept it. I’m just saying let’s hear opinions a bit more since we’ve already entrusted the vanguard. Now then.”

The Sado Alliance Leader, who had instantly settled the commotion and looked at me, asked with a mischievous appearance.

“So, does our search party commander have any insights?”

“……I do.”

“Then, I’d like to hear those insights.”

What should be done? Which direction should the search party go?

While everyone turned their gazes to look at me, I steadied my breathing. No matter how much I thought about it, what I needed to say now was clear.

“What we need to do is simple.”

“What is this thing we need to do?”

“We need to change history.”

What was the reason the Demonic Cult and Central Plains fought? Thinking about it, it’s extremely simple.

Because of the Great Seal. The reason the Demonic Cult and Central Plains continue to be at odds is because of that. And.

Therefore.

“We will destroy it.”

“……What?”

“The Great Seal.”

The Great Seal’s destruction.

“We must destroy it now.”

That’s what we need to do.