Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 294
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Episode 294: Mother, Union and Surrender Are Different Things
Recently, the Apprentice of the Supreme Tao, Jang Mudeok, had grown quite close to the Three Immortals of Kunlun. For Jang Mudeok, who was caught in the futility of life, the Three Immortals of Kunlun, who were of similar age, were good companions for conversation.
The same was true for the Three Immortals of Kunlun. For them, unfamiliar with the complexities of the Murim, Jang Mudeok’s advice was invaluable.
Observing the situation, Taiyi cautiously asked:
“Master Jang, have the Twelve Demons always been like this?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“They seem lighter than their reputation suggests.”
“That’s not true. The Twelve Demons are infamous demons who dominate their era. They’re just being cautious in front of Yeon Jeokha.”
“Cautious? They seem more like they’ve been completely subdued…”
“They surely have their reasons. Even the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord has changed a lot, especially since the birth of the Lady of the Black Lotus. This time, it seems Guiyeong Ja has overstepped.”
“Overstepped?”
“He forced a woman to be violated. I don’t know how the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord will react. It didn’t matter before, but now things have changed.”
“Do you think Yeon Jeokha will actually kill Guiyeong Ja?”
“I don’t know.”
Jang Mudeok was also intrigued. Yeon Jeokha had a ruthless hand, but he wasn’t someone who killed easily. However, seeing his behavior towards Guiyeong Ja and Hyuk Muchun, he couldn’t completely dismiss the possibility.
“Do you want me to kill you, but your hand remains on the hilt of your sword? Do you want to fight me?”
At Yeon Jeokha’s words, Guiyeong Ja quickly shook his head.
“That’s not it. It’s just a habit.”
Still, Guiyeong Ja’s hand remained near the hilt of his sword, ready to draw at any moment.
“That’s a bad habit. If you really want to die, you should be exposing your neck, don’t you think?”
With those words, Yeon Jeokha took a step toward Guiyeong Ja. He instinctively stepped back.
“Where are you going? You said you wanted me to kill you.”
‘Damn, I’m screwed.’
Guiyeong Ja’s face twisted. He thought Yeon Jeokha would back down if he became aggressive, but he seemed willing to kill him. At that moment, thousands of thoughts raced through his mind. Finally, he remembered his usual mantra of ‘fight to the death.’
‘Should I try it?’
His eyes gleamed. In truth, he had never seen Yeon Jeokha’s abilities. Although the Silent Wind Sovereign had been defeated by Yeon Jeokha, he was beneath his level. He believed that with the right weapon, he could face him.
Just as he decided to try, Hyuk Muchun ran toward him, pale and with his head bowed, shouting.
“Please forgive him! Please show mercy, sir!”
“What? Why are you acting like this…?”
Before Yeon Jeokha could finish, Guiyeong Ja took the opportunity to draw his sword and attack Yeon Jeokha.
Everyone present thought Yeon Jeokha had been struck. No one expected Guiyeong Ja, who was asking to be killed, to attack so brazenly. But Guiyeong Ja’s sword cut through empty air.
Yeon Jeokha’s body slid back as if someone had pulled him, moving so quickly it seemed as though he had been dragged. Seeing the torn robe of Yeon Jeokha, where the inscription was slightly cut, Guiyeong Ja was stunned.
“Damn, that was close!”
Yeon Jeokha exclaimed as he patted his chest. The inscription was slightly cut, but there was no wound on his body.
Although his first attack failed, Guiyeong Ja did not pursue Yeon Jeokha because the distance between them was now about fifteen meters.
“Damn it! What kind of technique is that?”
The speed at which Yeon Jeokha had retreated was astonishing, almost supernatural. At that moment, Guiyeong Ja pointed his sword at Yeon Jeokha and said:
“Yeon Jeokha, you have insulted the chief disciple of the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord. That is like insulting the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord himself. From now on, the Twelve Demons…”
“Shut up!”
Yeon Jeokha interrupted him and charged forward. Their swords clashed rapidly in a fierce exchange.
Clang, clang.
Guiyeong Ja barely managed to defend against Yeon Jeokha’s attacks. The speed and ferocity of the blows left him no time to think.
Clang.
With a deafening sound, Guiyeong Ja stumbled back several steps, gasping and with trembling hands. When he looked at his hand, he found it was torn, the power behind Yeon Jeokha’s strikes was overwhelming.
Before he could recover, Yeon Jeokha lunged again. His lips were sealed, showing that he still had energy left.
“How can a young man have so much power…?”
Guiyeong Ja, exhausted, could barely keep his sword up as Yeon Jeokha leaped into the air, raising his sword.
‘I’m going to die.’
He felt he couldn’t escape or face him.
Thud.
“Forgive me! I’ll do anything, please! I’m worthless, but I will serve you faithfully!”
Guiyeong Ja knelt and bowed to the ground. Yeon Jeokha landed in front of him.
“Are you kidding me? You attack with a sword and then ask for mercy?”
“I’ve made a grave mistake. Killing me would only tarnish your reputation. Please, have mercy and give me a chance.”
Bang, bang, bang.
Guiyeong Ja struck his head on the ground so hard that his forehead began to bleed. The ground was stained red as Yeon Jeokha spoke.
“I’m being lenient before a great task. Look, I’m a bodhisattva! A bodhisattva.”
“A bodhisattva! You are more compassionate than Buddha himself.”
Guiyeong Ja flattered him shamelessly.
Yeon Jeokha wasn’t easily fooled.
“You better behave. I’ll be watching you.”
“Yes, yes.”
Guiyeong Ja raised his head, mud and blood mixing on his forehead.
“Humph!”
Yeon Jeokha snorted and returned to Namgung Yeon and Old Shim.
Thus ended Guiyeong Ja’s rebellion before it even began.
Jiaozuo County.
Pungji Mountain.
Fairy Temple, also known as the Temple of the Goddess.
Main Sanctuary.
The Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors, deep in meditation, slowly opened her eyes. She took out a golden bell wrapped in silk from her bosom.
She unwrapped the cloth to reveal ten small bells, each emitting a dark and mysterious energy.
“Cheong Ryushin…”
The Holy Mother slightly furrowed her brow.
A spirit should blindly obey its summoner, but she had more doubts than confidence in Cheong Ryushin.
The reasoning was simple.
Spirits usually seek offerings, but Cheong Ryushin had asked for time. She had never heard of a spirit asking for time.
In the relationship between a summoner and a spirit, “special” was not a good sign. It could mean that the spirit was slipping out of the summoner’s control, or worse, could turn against them.
“Humph!”
The Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors let out a sigh.
Cheong Ryushin, what are you planning? Are you trying to escape, or will you harm me?
Either option wasn’t ideal.
She laughed softly, dispelling her negative thoughts.
“It’s still just a spirit.”
Muttering, the Holy Mother quietly recited the spirit’s incantation.
“Om naren kaya nebatta de hum.”
Instantly, Cheong Ryushin’s voice echoed in the air.
-Did you call for me, Mother?
The Holy Mother’s eyes twitched slightly. Cheong Ryushin’s voice sounded strangely cheerful, which was unsettling, as spirits don’t know joy.
“I followed your instructions but failed.”
-Failed? Did the Demon Son of Heaven not descend?
“No, he descended, but he did not grant my wish.”
-That’s strange. He said he would grant a wish. What happened?
“He asked for my soul in exchange. I agreed, but he said it already belonged to King Yama and disappeared.”
-I see. Once the soul is given to a king, it cannot be changed.
“The Demon Son of Heaven seemed to be an entity superior to King Yama. Is there no other way to join him?”
The Holy Mother of the Eight Emperors understood “soul surrender” as a “union.”
-Mother, union and soul surrender are different things.
“Different, how?”
Union means forming a single entity, but surrendering the soul means becoming the property of the king.
“Then why does my soul belong to King Yama?”
-There was probably a hidden clause in the incantation you used. The soul does not surrender unless offered voluntarily. It’s like when you create a spirit.
Hearing the word “spirit,” the Holy Mother twitched slightly. That was true. Spirits are only created when someone offers something desperately, whether it be food or air.
Recalling how Cheong Ryushin was created, the Holy Mother finally understood the difference between union and soul surrender.
‘Does Cheong Ryushin know it’s a spirit?’
A spirit should not know its own nature. If Cheong Ryushin knew, it was unheard of.
“Then I was deceived. Is there any way to reverse this with the Demon Son of Heaven?”
-Give me time.
‘Damn it.’
The Holy Mother cursed inwardly. Although she knew that the Heaven of the Kings was unknown to a spirit, asking for time in this way was irritating.
“How much time do you need?”
-Forty-nine days.
‘Humph!’
She snorted. She was no longer surprised.
‘No matter what you’re planning, it won’t work.’
Spirits are under strict control and cannot free themselves.
“Very well.”
-Thank you, Mother. There will be good results.
The Holy Mother’s face softened slightly. A spirit’s words were like a prophecy; they meant that she would find a way to attain immortality.
With the conversation over, the Holy Mother rewrapped the golden bell in silk and put it away.
At that moment, the voice of one of the Holy Mother’s disciples was heard from outside.
“Mother, four leaders have come to see you. What should we do?”
“Who are they?”
“The Swordsman of Chaos, the Heavenly Blood Demon, the Demonic Bull, and the Crimson Moon.”
“Tell them to enter.”
The Holy Mother frowned slightly. She did not like their impulsive actions, but she could not simply ignore them.
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