.jpeg){kind=tracking}
Chapter 62: The Time to Open the Cult Has Come
Cheok Jinkyung, the Master of Eunha Manor, frowned.
“They say if the tail is long, it gets stepped on. It seems the Justice Alliance has detected something.”
“How many have come?”
“The Justice Division of the Justice Alliance brought twenty people, and there are thirty-six warriors and monks from Luoyang.”
“Hmm, the Justice Division and the warriors from Luoyang... then, the Virtue Swordsman must be here as well.”
“Yes, he is present.”
Cheok Jinkyung let out a chuckle.
“More than twenty years ago, the Leader of the Cult told us something. He said that if the number of Great Demon Generals exceeded seven, we no longer needed to avoid fighting. He probably said that with the Seven Great Sects in mind.”
The experts of Eunha Manor held their breath, listening intently to every word from Cheok Jinkyung.
For the past twenty years, the Yoomyung Cult had remained hidden. However, including Cheok Jinkyung, there were now seven Great Demon Generals. According to the words of the Leader of the Cult, this meant it was time to come out into the world.
“We will make them know the terror of the Yoomyung Cult. Prepare to welcome our guests.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Understood!”
The cult members responded in unison.
Even though they were facing the Justice Alliance and the warriors from Luoyang, there wasn't a hint of fear among them.
-----------------
In the afternoon, the Justice Division of the Justice Alliance and the warriors of the Five Sects gathered again at the place where the corpse had been found.
Master Gong Baek and the Uicheon Sect Leader, Lee Yeonik, who had explored downstream, approached the leader of the Justice Division, Cheol Geumgang Man Baek.
“Leader, we found nothing special downstream. How about upstream?”
“Upstream, about four kilometers away, there is a large mansion called Eunha Manor. Considering its size, nothing is known about it. I think it's worth investigating.”
Lee Yeonik glanced at Master Gong Baek.
“What do you think?”
“If there are suspicions, we must clear them up.”
It was an invitation to investigate.
Lee Yeonik nodded towards Man Baek.
“Let’s check it out. Let's see if they are related to the Yoomyung Cult.”
Soon, about fifty murim-ins from the orthodox factions marched upstream in an orderly formation.
After walking for about thirty minutes, a large mansion appeared in the middle of the forest, far from the river.
The sign at the main gate bore the words “Eunha Manor” in majestic calligraphy.
The disciple of the Justice Division and Uicheon Sect, Heo Jae, gently knocked on the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
They waited for a moment, but there was no response.
Heo Jae, puzzled, slightly pushed the door.
It creaked open, surprising him. He hadn’t expected it to be unlocked.
Looking towards Man Baek, Heo Jae sought approval. Man Baek, after a brief hesitation, led his men inside with firm steps.
Lee Yeonik and the warriors of the Five Sects followed them.
When the Justice Division and the warriors of the Five Sects reached the front yard, the door slammed shut behind them.
--------------------
On the way to Pyeongjeong Mountain from Yeoju.
Five murim-ins walked briskly with backpacks on their backs. They were direct relatives of the warriors from the Five Sects, carrying ransom money to Five Peaks Mountain.
The Five Sects sent their elders to Five Peaks Mountain instead of the masters who had gone to Yeoju. However, Waryong Manor and Palseon Sect sent Yeon Seungbaek and Hwang Yeom, as their elders found it shameful to participate.
Yeon Seungbaek, the second son of Waryong Manor, and Hwang Yeom quickly became friends due to their similar age.
Yeon Seungbaek spoke to Hwang Yeom as they walked.
“Hwang Sohyeop, do you think Yeoju will be alright?”
“Yes, it should be fine. The Justice Division consists of the best from the Seven Great Sects. What worries me more is Five Peaks Mountain.”
“Why?”
“What if the bandits change their minds? We couldn’t handle them. They might take the money and refuse to release the hostages.”
“That won’t happen. If they do, the Uicheon Sect and the other factions won’t stand idly by.”
Hwang Yeom glanced at the elders and whispered.
“Anyway, after releasing the hostages, they surely plan to attack. The bandits must know this. Will they really release the hostages so easily?”
Yeon Seungbaek couldn’t respond immediately.
It was naïve to trust the word of bandits.
“Let's think positively! It’s already complicated enough with Yeoju.”
“You’re right.”
As he walked, Yeon Seungbaek looked back, hoping Yeon Mubaek would excel in Yeoju as his father did twenty years ago.
----------------------
Yeoju.
Eunha Manor.
“Ugh!”
Lee Yeonik staggered back, coughing up blood.
He glared furiously ahead. He felt pain in his Dantian from the internal injury he had just sustained in the fight.
As the Uicheon Sect Leader, he had always believed that no one could match him, except the Ten Supreme Masters of the World.
But he hadn’t lasted even ten seconds.
‘How can Cheok Jinkyung be so strong?’
Cheok Jinkyung, the Master of Eunha Manor, was known as one of the Three Elders of Nokrim in the past.
When he learned that the Master of Eunha Manor was Cheok Jinkyung, he didn’t worry much.
In his memory, the Three Elders of Nokrim were a level below him.
That complacency was shattered in ten seconds.
Cheok Jinkyung still used his signature technique, the Twelve Killing Swords.
But every time their swords clashed, an unimaginable force crushed him.
At first, he thought Cheok Jinkyung had taken some elixir to enhance his power.
But that force wasn’t something that could be obtained with simple elixirs.
The pressure he felt was similar to what he had felt when fighting against his father, Yi Euijeong.
He barely managed to withstand ten moves before the word “superpower” came to mind.
It was the same man and the same technique, but he couldn’t resist it.
Cheok Jinkyung looked at the panting Lee Yeonik.
“Heh heh, Virtue Swordsman. I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time. Do you know why I settled in Yeoju? I knew that one day we would meet here.”
“Hmph! Aren’t you ashamed to be a lackey of the Yoomyung Cult after being one of the leaders of Nokrim?”
“When did you insult me as the Demon of Nokrim, and now you complain that I joined the Yoomyung Cult? The one who should be ashamed is you, being beaten like a dog and whimpering. Isn’t that right?”
Lee Yeonik didn’t respond and looked around.
The Justice Division had been annihilated about nine meters from the main gate. The Leader of the Justice Division, Cheol Geumgang Man Baek, lay in a pool of his own blood.
In Eunha Manor, the only ones left standing were him and the representatives of the other four sects. It wasn’t because they were particularly strong, but because the Justice Division had borne the brunt of the first attack.
Lee Yeonik addressed the representatives of the other sects.
“Comrades! Don’t fight them, escape! Survive and return at all costs!”
Before he finished speaking, the leaders and Yeon Mubaek ran towards the nearest wall.
Lee Yeonik also leaped without looking back.
Cheok Jinkyung’s sword flew towards Lee Yeonik like an arrow.
It was a sword control technique beyond what was known.
“Argh!”
Just as Lee Yeonik was jumping over the wall, he let out a brief scream.
He looked at his left arm, which was burning, and saw that it was severed.
He didn’t have time to be surprised.
The sword, after cutting his arm, smoothly turned in the air.
A chill ran down his spine.
How much energy did it take to control the sword in such a manner?
Lee Yeonik fell to the other side of the wall, clutching his stump.
Cheok Jinkyung, who had been controlling the sword, clicked his tongue in disappointment as he lost sight of Lee Yeonik.
The sword returned to Cheok Jinkyung, leaving a shimmering trail.
Immediately, the Great Celestial Generals approached and bowed.
“Master, one has escaped the manor. Should we send a pursuit group?”
Cheok Jinkyung shook his head at the words of Muyeong-gwi.
“He’s a lucky guy. Let him go. After all, Lee Yeonik also escaped. Rather, inform that the time has come to open the temples in Gwangmyeong Manor, Chowa Mountain Manor, Shinyue Temple, Ilwondo Temple, and Musan Sochuk. Even the Seven Great Sects won’t be able to do anything if six temples open simultaneously.”
“Yes, Master!”
Muyeonggwi disappeared like smoke after a brief response.
Cheok Jinkyung asked the chief general.
“Are the Shaolin monks alive?”
The chief general, Chiljeol Mado Sin Yang, replied regretfully.
“Unfortunately, their skills were too high to capture them.”
“It can’t be helped. There are many monks and taoists. Wait a little longer and I will grant you the honor of becoming a Demon Warrior.”
“Thank you, Master!”
Sin Yang bowed deeply to Cheok Jinkyung.
In the Yoomyung Cult, to become a Demon Warrior or a Great Demon General, it was essential to gain the favor of the superiors.
The number of artifacts is extremely limited, so not everyone can enjoy that privilege.
Each person needs one, but the quantity is insufficient compared to the number of people.
Unlike other religions, the Yoomyung Cult does not demand faith. Instead, it requires blind loyalty to the superiors. Then, the superiors will guide you.
Once you become a Demon Warrior, it is as if you are reborn with superpowers. Evil experts are attracted to the Yoomyung Cult for this simple and certain reason.
---------------------
Bobong County.
Five Peaks Mountain.
The five families of Luoyang still did not know what had happened in Yeoju. They moved tirelessly, eager to rescue the hostages as soon as possible.
They arrived at the mountain camp around noon.
When the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain welcomed them, Yi Wonho, the guardian of Uicheon Sect, spoke on behalf of the group.
“I am Yi Wonho of Uicheon Sect. I will get straight to the point. We have brought the money requested by each sect. Release the hostages.”
With those words, Yi Wonho offered a money bag.
The others also took out money bags from their robes.
Yeon Seungbaek, who had to pay a considerable amount, quickly untied his backpack.
Lee Cheolsan, acting in place of Yeon Jeokha, collected the money bags.
“Where are the Five Heroes of Luoyang?”
Pung Yeoncho signaled, and Hwang Yomyeong, who was waiting, brought the Five Heroes of Luoyang.
Yi Wonho frowned slightly upon seeing the tied hostages. If the Great Master of Uicheon Sect knew, it would be a disaster.
Yi Wonho thought it fortunate that he had come instead of the Great Master.
The Great Master was known as the Virtue Swordsman, but when it came to his family, he did not hesitate to do whatever was necessary.
If he had seen his daughter in such a state...
‘He would have drawn his sword without a second thought...’
Hwang Yomyeong held a rope and looked at Yeon Jeokha.
But Yeon Jeokha, with an indifferent expression, looked away into the distance.
“Friend, we’ve paid the ransom. Why not release them?”
Yi Wonho extended his hand to take the rope Hwang Yomyeong was holding.
Hwang Yomyeong brusquely pushed Yi Wonho’s hand away.
Though he felt indignant, Yi Wonho could only wait for the decision of the Ten Heroes of Five Peaks Mountain.
Yeon Jeokha observed the representatives of the Luoyang families and asked.
“They don’t seem to be the leaders. Who are you?”
“I am Yi Wonho, the chief general of Uicheon Sect. This is an elder of Daeyeon Sect, and that is an elder of Chilyang Sect. Those two young men are the second son of Waryong Manor and the principal disciple of Palseon Sect.”
“Why didn’t the leaders come?”
The Five Heroes of Luoyang also looked curiously at Yi Wonho.