Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 279
.jpeg){kind=tracking}
Chapter 279: Cult Affairs
Henan Province.
Zhengzhou.
Chilriha Village.
Heaven and Earth Alliance.
Noon.
The guard of the Heaven and Earth Alliance, Yi Shin, tapped the shoulder of his companion Wang Sosam.
“Brother Wang, who is that person coming this way?”
“Let it be. There are many like that.”
“That’s true, but…”
Yi Shin left his sentence unfinished.
Since the Seven Great Sects and the Five Great Families had established themselves in the Heaven and Earth Alliance, they didn’t ask for identification unless someone seemed really suspicious.
Even so, the atmosphere was so unusual that Yi Shin couldn’t help but stare at the stranger.
A moment later, upon seeing the stranger’s face, Yi Shin straightened up involuntarily.
“Oh! Isn’t that the Leader of the Black Turtle Division?”
At Yi Shin’s words, Wang Sosam quickly adjusted his posture and looked ahead.
Indeed!
The person approaching with steady steps was Jang Mudeok, the Leader of the Black Turtle Division and Apprentice of the Supreme Tao.
However, unlike his usual neat appearance, he looked like an old man from the Beggar’s Sect.
With loose hair, a dirty face, and stained, disheveled clothes, his appearance was a mess.
Yi Shin and Wang Sosam were so shocked by Jang Mudeok’s shabby appearance that they couldn’t even breathe loudly.
He looked like a defeated soldier or a Wanderer who had narrowly escaped death.
Yi Shin and Wang Sosam didn’t dare make a sound and only bowed deeply.
Jang Mudeok passed by them with bloodshot eyes.
Even after he left, Yi Shin and Wang Sosam didn’t speak for a long time, fearing they might lose their jobs if they said something inappropriate.
The return of Jang Mudeok plunged the Heaven and Earth Alliance into a state of shock and terror.
Out of the fifty-two warriors of the Black Turtle Division, only one returned alive.
In a single day, the Mugeuk Sect, the Shaolin Temple, the Moyong Family, and the Jegal Family had turned into mourning houses, having lost their leaders, successors, and experts.
Although Jang Mudeok returned alive, the Mugeuk Sect was on the verge of closing, as its leader and entire direct line were killed.
The Moyong Family wasn’t in a better situation, having lost its leader and core members, suffering even more than the Namgung Family.
The Jegal Family lost its successor and all its top warriors, reducing them to an ordinary clan of strategists. Additionally, the Grand Strategist, Jegal Seun, was stigmatized as the symbol of stupidity.
Tongcheon Pavilion.
Fourteen experts from the orthodox factions gathered to discuss important matters of the Murim.
Representatives of the Seven Great Sects and the Five Great Families filled the atmosphere of the Tongcheon Pavilion with palpable tension.
Jang Mudeok looked around and continued speaking.
“…The leader of the Yoomyung Cult calls herself the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors. She seems to be related to the eight warriors she referred to as the Eight Emperors. I don’t know what ‘Holy Mother’ means.”
Jang Mudeok paused.
Although it had happened about fifteen days ago, talking about it still didn’t seem real.
Was it possible for eight people to wipe out the Black Turtle Division in less than a quarter of an hour?
“After that, as I mentioned before, while I fought with the leader, the Black Turtle Division was massacred by the Eight Emperors.”
Jang Mudeok spoke with a pained expression, pronouncing each word as if chewing them.
The Grand Strategist, Jegal Seun, looked at Jang Mudeok with vacant eyes.
The word ‘massacre’ struck his chest like a dagger, describing the death of the successor and the top warriors of the Jegal Family.
The Leader of the Heaven and Earth Alliance, Mu Geuk, cautiously asked.
“You mentioned that the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors seemed to be around fifty years old. Do you think it’s possible for someone of that age to have reached the legendary state?”
“If she used techniques to reverse aging or has longevity skills, it’s not impossible. How else can her protective aura be explained without the legendary state? Not only her aura, but she also wielded sword techniques with form freely.”
Jang Mudeok recalled the blue and red dragons that the Holy Mother had summoned.
They were undoubtedly sword techniques with form.
Upon reflection, it was clear that it was a battle of sword techniques.
“I can affirm that the Holy Mother not only masters spells but has also reached the legendary state in martial arts. She is…”
Jang Mudeok was about to mention the offer the Holy Mother had made him, but he stopped.
-Come find me anytime. I will share my enlightenment with you specially.
Just remembering it made his mouth water with temptation.
Jang Mudeok shook his head vigorously to clear those thoughts.
“She is stronger than the Ten Great Masters of the Murim.”
“…”
Jang Mudeok’s shocking final words left the representatives in silence.
After a moment of astonishment, they began to murmur among themselves.
When the shock subsided, someone asked.
“What do you think is the skill level of the Eight Emperors?”
Jang Mudeok turned his head to look at the one who asked.
It was the Master Gongji of the Shaolin Temple.
“Their skill is between the Great Demon Generals and the Demon Warriors.”
“If the Eight Emperors are truly that strong, can the Heaven and Earth Alliance face the Yoomyung Cult?”
With the difficulty of facing the Seven Great Demon Generals, adding the Eight Emperors meant a sure defeat for the Heaven and Earth Alliance.
“The Holy Mother said she has no interest in conquering the world.”
“Then what does that witch want?”
Jang Mudeok paused before sighing.
“Ah! She said she seeks to attain enlightenment.”
“Enlightenment?”
Master Gongji looked at Jang Mudeok with incredulity.
It wasn’t something expected from the leader of the infamous Yoomyung Cult.
The Leader of the Wudang Sect, Enlightened Grand Master, intervened.
“I don’t think the Holy Mother is interested in dominating the Murim. Thirty years ago, in the south of the Yangtze, conflicts arose when we punished her human sacrifice rituals. Recent events are her revenge for those times.”
Gongji replied, clearly unconvinced.
“To say she has no interest in the Murim is absurd. She may not be interested in domination, but her evil acts have enraged everyone. They continue to perform human sacrifices, showing a total disregard for humanity. They claim not to want domination, but they behave as if they already own the world. I see no difference.”
Enlightened Grand Master tried to defend himself.
“I’m not denying that. I’m just saying that the current struggle is not a direct fight for power like in the past.”
Gongji held back his anger.
Even though it wasn’t a direct fight for power, the Yoomyung Cult already behaved as if they were the owners of the world.
Jang Mudeok, who had been listening in silence, spoke.
“I’m sorry to say, but our Mugeuk Sect will close its doors from today.”
The Tongcheon Pavilion fell into a heavy silence.
At that moment, the Supreme Elder of the Moyong Family, Moyong Mun, stood up.
“Our Moyong Family will also close its doors from today. I ask for your understanding.”
“…”
The announcement of the Moyong Family’s closure left the representatives with desolate expressions.
The Moyong Family was the most affected, losing its leader, successor, and entire direct line.
It was unclear if the Moyong Family would ever return to the Murim.
After bowing to the representatives, Moyong Mun withdrew.
Now, all eyes turned to Jang Mudeok.
They were eager to know his decision after announcing the closure of the Mugeuk Sect.
“Although the Mugeuk Sect will close, I will stay in the Heaven and Earth Alliance to seek revenge.”
“I deeply appreciate your difficult decision.”
The Leader of the Heaven and Earth Alliance, Mu Geuk, bowed respectfully.
“There’s no need. From now on, I will…”
Jang Mudeok paused, looking at the three main leaders.
He wasn’t sure where to go.
However, his hesitation didn’t last long.
He had already decided his fate while returning to the Heaven and Earth Alliance.
“I will act together with the Vermilion Bird Division, if the Alliance Leader and the Vermilion Bird Division Leader agree.”
“I have no problem with that. What does Leader Namgung think?”
Mu Geuk looked at Namgung Byeok, who nodded.
There was no reason to refuse an absolute master like Jang Mudeok.
“It’s an honor to have you with us, Jang Daehyeop. I count on your help.”
Namgung Byeok, being the youngest, showed total respect towards the veteran Jang Mudeok.
Jang Mudeok responded with a bow.
When the conversation seemed to be ending, Mu Geuk looked at the Grand Strategist.
The Jegal Family, like the Moyong Family, suffered a mortal blow.
They had been reduced to an ordinary clan of strategists.
Thanks to their past contributions, Jegal Seun still held his position as Grand Strategist and Commander General, but barely.
When their eyes met, Jegal Seun immediately stood up.
To maintain his position, he had to show his worth.
“Jang Daehyeop, the leader of the Yoomyung Cult, the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors, is still in Pungji Mountain. Do you know why?”
“No.”
Jegal Seun looked at the representatives.
“Nicknames often reflect a person’s identity. The Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors is no exception. ‘Eight Emperors’ refers to the eight warriors under her command. So, what does ‘Holy Mother’ mean?”
“…”
The representatives looked at him, waiting for his explanation.
“Before continuing, let me tell you something. Until recently, the Vermilion Bird Division had a sorceress named Cheong Ryushin. However, she left the Heaven and Earth Alliance due to her connection with black magic. Everyone knows what that means.”
Jegal Seun looked around, seeing the representatives nod.
“Cheong Ryushin came from the Fairy Temple of Pungji Mountain. She called her master ‘Shinmo,’ which means Holy Mother. It’s likely that the ‘Holy Mother’ of the Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors comes from there.”
“Ah!”
The representatives exclaimed in understanding.
“‘Holy Mother’ has religious connotations. It means spiritual mother, not carnal. We mustn’t forget that the leader of the Yoomyung Cult is a religious figure. The Holy Mother might be conducting a religious ritual in Pungji Mountain.”
“What kind of religious ritual?”
The Leader of the Quanzhen Sect, Mu Jong, frowned.
What ritual could be more important than the current fight with the Heaven and Earth Alliance?
“Think of the Demon Warriors and the Great Demon Generals. They were all created through human sacrifices. Pungji Mountain has been called ‘Mountain of Death,’ ‘Gate of Hell,’ and ‘Beginning of the End of the World.’ The Holy Mother might be trying to become the Heavenly Demon King there.”
The mention of the ‘Heavenly Demon King’ caused a stir among the representatives.
“She has already reached a legendary status. If she becomes the Heavenly Demon King, the Murim will face its end.”
“Are you saying she will become the King Yama?”
“Does that mean the Gate of Hell will open?”
“Oh! She wants to summon the King Yama. That witch intends to turn this world into hell.”
Jang Mudeok slightly shook his head.
Given the Holy Mother’s power, she was already comparable to the Heavenly Demon King.
‘Jegal Seun, you always go off course at the critical moment.’
Jang Mudeok thought that was Jegal Seun’s limit.
Maybe he should meet with Namgung Yeon and Yeon Jeokha.
English