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Chapter 106. What Does It Mean to Live?
When Lunar Fairy learned that Baek Miju from Waryong Manor wanted to meet her, she wondered, "What is happening?" Waryong Manor and Fairy Cult were not places that typically met for conversation.
She accepted the meeting because Baek Miju promised a gift. This meant she wanted to improve relations with Fairy Cult, essentially signaling "no pursuit of revenge."
This was in line with the new guidelines recently established by the Great Demon Generals.
The Great Demon Generals, after establishing the seven temples, did not want to attract unnecessary attention. This could hinder the formation of the Demon Warriors.
She took the time to meet, thinking she had nothing to lose, and to her surprise, the gift turned out to be one of the Sacred Artifacts.
A Sacred Artifact meant a new Demon Warrior.
Recently, the seven temples were eager to increase the number of Demon Warriors. For the Great Demon Generals, the Demon Warriors were the most loyal and powerful followers.
Lunar Fairy saw the greed in Baek Miju's eyes.
After all, this woman was so obsessed with success that she had forsaken revenge. Lunar Fairy wondered how deep that greed ran.
If someone from an orthodox sect was willing to hand over a Sacred Artifact to the Yoomyung Cult, they wouldn't be an ordinary person. Lunar Fairy wanted to see how far that greed went.
So she said:
"Haha. I’ll teach you the purpose of this item. If after hearing me, you still want to offer it, I’ll fulfill your wish. Do you want to listen?"
"...Yes."
Baek Miju did not hesitate.
She had left everything behind when she decided to come here. Obsessed with rebuilding Waryong Manor, Baek Miju was not in a position to be selective.
"The Sacred Artifacts were used by Eastern priestesses. They are like a bridge between heaven, earth, the underworld, and the world of the living."
So far, it was an acceptable explanation.
Baek Miju nodded silently.
"As you know, the Yoomyung Cult worships King Yama. We want King Yama and his followers from the underworld to rule this world as well."
Baek Miju stopped at "We want King Yama and his followers to rule this world." She couldn’t understand what that meant and stopped nodding.
"How can King Yama...?"
"A Sacred Artifact and a small sacrifice can make it possible."
Baek Miju froze.
'Is she talking about human sacrifices?'
Waryong Manor is a sect under the Justice Alliance.
Of course, she had heard stories about the Yoomyung Cult sacrificing monks.
Lunar Fairy continued speaking with a slight smile.
"Our Cult Leader accidentally discovered an ancient scripture of monks while practicing. It is a secret technique to summon King Yama using a Sacred Artifact, a mysterious ritual, and a noble sacrifice. That’s how he became the first follower of the Yoomyung Cult."
"A noble sacrifice, does that mean... monks?"
"Haha. To cross between this world and the underworld, a cost is required."
Baek Miju didn’t know how to respond.
"The life of the sacrifice is infused into the Sacred Artifact, causing a reaction from King Yama and his followers in the underworld. With ten lives, a Demon Warrior can be summoned. When a Demon Warrior possesses a body, they gain unparalleled power."
Only then did Baek Miju understand the significance of the Demon Warriors, Great Demon Generals, and Heavenly Demon Kings, and she trembled in fear.
"With a single Sacred Artifact, a follower of the Yoomyung Cult can become a Demon Warrior or a Great Demon General. Therefore, these Sacred Artifacts are the essence of the Yoomyung Cult. Do you now understand how valuable what you’re offering is?"
Baek Miju slowly nodded, unable to speak.
Handing over the Sacred Artifact meant the death of at least ten monks.
Lunar Fairy gently pushed the Sacred Artifact toward Baek Miju.
Watching Baek Miju’s pale face brought her a strange satisfaction.
"A Sacred Artifact is perfect. If one of the eight drops of the artifact breaks, it will be useless. Even if they are already a Demon Warrior... but you don’t need to know that. So, I’ve told you what this Sacred Artifact is for. Do you still want to offer it to the Fairy Cult?"
Baek Miju pressed her lips together.
It was like asking, "Will you sacrifice the lives of ten monks?"
"...Yes."
Baek Miju pushed the Sacred Artifact toward Lunar Fairy.
For her, the reconstruction of Waryong Manor was more important than the lives of ten unknown monks.
"If you have a wish, speak it. Is it money? A desire?"
"I want to rebuild Waryong Manor. I hope that the enmities between you and my late husband won’t be passed on to our children."
"I’ll grant your wish. From today, the Fairy Cult will not be hostile toward Waryong Manor as long as they do not provoke us first."
"Thank you."
Baek Miju’s tense face relaxed a bit.
Although the Fairy Cult had destroyed Waryong Manor once, now that the past matters were resolved, only prosperity remained. With the Swordsmanship of Waryong Manor, that wouldn’t be difficult.
Just as Baek Miju was about to rise, Lunar Fairy spoke.
"Your loyalty is commendable. If you wish, I can make you a Demon Warrior. What do you say?"
"Oh, no. Waryong Manor is more than enough for me."
Indeed, she was more interested in the reputation of being the leader of a family in the Murim than in martial arts.
"You’re declining a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Very well. You may leave."
"Thank you."
Baek Miju bid farewell politely and left the hall.
----------
Mid-December.
Kaifeng.
Guided by Yeon Jeokha, Shim Tong had to go to the Yellow River to get some fresh air.
Yeon Jeokha was sitting in a riverside tavern, drinking liquor.
Shim Tong, who was drinking with him, subtly asked.
"Young master, when do you plan to go to Zhengzhou? The year is about to end."
"Shim Tong."
"Yes."
"What does it mean to live?"
"Hehehe, asking me that..."
What could a demon like him know about that?
"The other day, I asked a beggar boy if he wanted to come with me, right?"
"Yes."
"But that boy preferred to stay with the beggar who beat him. Am I worse than a beggar? Why would he prefer to live being beaten?"
"I don’t know either..."
Shim Tong wasn’t clever enough to understand a child’s psychology.
"I extended my hand to that boy because I felt sorry for him. You saw that, right?"
"Yes, I saw. That boy doesn’t know what he’s missing. His fate is to be a beggar."
For Shim Tong, that was all he could think.
Who is Yeon Jeokha?
A master so powerful that even the leaders of the Uicheon Sect look up to him. If at that age he was already at that level, in his twenties or thirties, he would be considered the best in the world.
For someone like that to extend his hand and be rejected only meant the boy was unlucky... or a complete idiot... who knows.
"Can you imagine? I extended my hand to that boy, and he preferred to stay with the one who beats him. Does that make sense? What kind of life is that? What a poor boy. Being beaten, what’s so good about that?"
Yeon Jeokha kept muttering non-stop.
For the first time in his life, he had shown compassion, only to be rejected.
"Young master, what did you see in that beggar boy that made you want to take him?"
"I didn’t do it because I liked him. I did it because I felt sorry for him. But why? Why would he prefer to be beaten? It doesn’t make sense."
"Well, sometimes when someone is used to being beaten, they feel anxious when they’re not."
Shim Tong recalled his own past.
"Do you feel anxious if you’re not beaten? Do you want me to beat you every day?"
"Oh, no. I was just saying that’s what happened to me when I was a child."
"So, you were strange since childhood? I’ve heard that people who grew up being beaten then beat others. Didn’t you become a demon because of that? You said stealing, beating, and killing was your pleasure."
"Well, I don’t know about that..."
Shim Tong felt his mouth go dry and took a sip of liquor.
"So, elder sister Yeon has the nickname 'Heart-Reading Solitary Flower,' right? I need to ask her why the boy did that. Don’t think ill of it. I really want to know."
"Oh, yes. Then, should we go to Zhengzhou soon?"
"Let’s see how elder brother Pung and elder brother Tak are doing. Things seem tense. I don’t want to seem insensitive if we leave now."
"Hehe, if you want, I can destroy that Chamber of Commerce or whatever."
"You’re very simple. In the Three Hundred Characters, it clearly says: 'Do not raise intentions nor seek to achieve things. Let everything follow its course.' Yes or no?"
"Yes, it says that."
"So, if you reflect on that day and night, do you want to destroy the Chamber of Commerce? Do you want to break the wall or make it stronger?"
"I forgot."
"I understand, given your age. Pour me another drink."
"Yes. But, young master."
Shim Tong poured another drink and looked at Yeon Jeokha sideways.
"What?"
"Didn’t you raise intentions with that beggar boy? Didn’t you try something and fail...? Ah, forget it."
Shim Tong quickly reached for his cup.
Yeon Jeokha slapped Shim Tong’s hand.
"I didn’t have intentions. I just followed my heart. Even though I don’t like children, my heart felt it. There’s a big difference."
"Yes, your words are always right, young master."
"What? Why do I feel annoyed?"
"Let everything go. That might help."
Yeon Jeokha looked at Shim Tong with an annoyed expression.
Shim Tong quickly grabbed his cup and laughed loudly.
"Hahaha! What nice weather! Young master, you know? You look impressive when you’re thoughtful. Your eyes have a different intensity."
Shim Tong shamelessly praised Yeon Jeokha.
Normally, Yeon Jeokha had a slightly indifferent expression.
This made others think he was weak.
But when he had that intense look, he seemed like a different person.
As Yeon Jeokha received more praise, his expression relaxed.
He returned to his usual look, a bit dull and unimpressive.
Shim Tong sighed silently.
He wanted Yeon Jeokha to always look impressive, but he couldn’t anger him just for that.
Zhengzhou.
Yang Family Mansion.
After a long time, Yeon Seolju visited her two elder brothers.
It was the second time they had met since the destruction of Waryong Manor by Lunar Fairy.
The three siblings were sitting in a room, drinking hot tea.
After the fall of Waryong Manor, Baek Miju had not pressured Yeon Seolju. Thanks to that, Yeon Mubaek and Yeon Seungbaek could see their younger sister in peace.
The eldest, Yeon Mubaek, set down his cup and spoke.
"I’ve already heard from the Yang Family that things aren’t going well with the Chamber of Commerce."
"Yes. It seems a fight could break out at any moment."
"Is it that serious? If you need help, just say so. The Yang Family is also in a tense situation lately."
Yeon Seolju sighed as she looked at her two elder brothers.
"Brothers, actually, I didn’t come here for that today."
"Then? Has mom said something again?"
Yeon Mubaek thought their mother’s old illness had resurfaced.
"No. Compared to this, mom’s issue is nothing. This is... Haa, I really don’t know what to do. That’s why I came to see you despite being busy."
The second brother, Yeon Seungbaek, asked curiously.
"What’s going on? Don’t beat around the bush."
"...Jeokha has appeared."