## Chapter 1523 – 1523. The Ascent To Light
The Mookjiryun Jongnam Mountain branch was located beneath Jongnam City.
They had dug an underground tunnel and used it as their branch. Aside from being a tunnel, it was quite comfortable. It seemed they had actively used sorcery.
I looked around the tunnel, impressed.
“To think they’d dig a tunnel right under the Jongnam Sect… They’ve got guts.”
“Isn’t it said that the darkest place is under the lamp? People are good at seeing things that are moderately far away, but often can’t see what’s right in front of their noses. It’s been over three years since the Jongnam branch was created, and they haven’t been caught.”
“What kind of barrier is here? I don’t feel the usual strangeness of a barrier.”
“Barrier? There isn’t one.”
“What?”
I asked again, not believing it.
Places with a certain amount of power always had barriers. There were many benefits to setting up a barrier. The biggest advantage was that it made defense easier.
“Unless you’re going to set up a barrier that’s better than the Jongnam Sect’s, it’s better not to have one at all.”
I couldn’t argue with that. The Jongnam Sect really didn’t know about this tunnel.
We went deeper into the tunnel.
There were humans and monsters. It was an ironic scene. Humans and monsters were fundamentally hostile to each other.
“Who are you?!“
“Who do you think you are, barging in here… Keok!”
The Rakshasa Woman swung her sword with her one hand. The sword wind rose, sweeping through the humans and monsters. Blood splattered the black cave walls.
“Weren’t you part of Mookjiryun? They don’t know you.”
“There are few who know my face even in Mookjiryun. Including the branch leaders, there aren’t even 20 people.”
“Is killing these guys also for silencing them?”
“There’s nothing more certain than killing to silence.”
“Did you originally plan this?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. How could I, after investing so much in the Jongnam branch? The situation has become more serious, so I’m trying to clean things up. We need to slip away cleanly so that the Martial Alliance and the Demonic Cult can fight each other without hesitation.”
We arrived at the end room.
There was Mahobeol.
He wasn’t normal either. He had many small wounds on his body, probably from rampaging in Jongnam City. His legs were like insect legs, and his eyes had turned into the compound eyes of an insect.
“Branch Leader… Why are you doing this? Did I do something wrong?”
Mahobeol was aware of the situation. He was tensing his body, ready to fight at any moment.
The Rakshasa Woman looked at Mahobeol and then stepped back. It wasn’t because she was scared of Mahobeol. She was blocking the exit so he couldn’t escape.
“You did well. You were annoying sometimes, but it wasn’t that serious.”
“…Then why are you trying to purge me? I have been loyal to you, Branch Leader, and I will continue to be loyal! Please trust me!”
“That’s the problem. You definitely have ability and loyalty. But strangely… I can’t trust you.”
“Are you abandoning me for such a flimsy reason?!”
“Flimsy? I prioritize my intuition over logic. This intuition has saved me from danger many times. And this time too… it will save me. Mahobeol. You’ve worked hard. Die here.”
“You damned bitch…! Is this all the reward for my loyalty?! I should have followed him instead of you!”
“Cheon Yu-un. Do you think that guy would have trusted you? I’d bet my hand that he wouldn’t.”
Wings sprouted from Mahobeol’s back. They were like dragonfly wings, transparent and thin. Mahobeol bent his knees and waist slightly, then shot forward like an arrow. He had given up on fighting and was focusing on escaping this cave.
It was a natural choice. He wouldn’t have the confidence to win against the Rakshasa Woman.
‘He’s underestimating me too much.’
I didn’t need to use an instant. Even if it was hard to follow his movements with my eyes, the only direction he could go was straight ahead.
Demonic Divine Art (天魔神功) Demonic Dragon Hand (天魔龍手).
I grabbed Mahobeol’s neck as he tried to pass by me.
“Keek?!”
The captured Mahobeol flapped his wings. Fine powder-like particles scattered from his wings.
Demonic Divine Art (天魔神功) Returning Demonic Dragon (回天魔龍).
The rotational force from my grip was transmitted to Mahobeol. Mahobeol began to twist and turn. Mahobeol pulled up his inner force to counter the rotational force.
I became stubborn. I poured all my demonic energy into the rotational force.
Crack, crack, crack.
Mahobeol’s body began to twist little by little. Blood spurted from his hardened, insect-like skin. Sensing that he couldn’t go on like this, Mahobeol moved his arms and legs, attacking me with all his might.
However, Mahobeol’s attacks couldn’t penetrate my protective aura.
“You’re weaker than I thought.”
“Kuhhhhh. If I put my mind to it, someone like you…!”
Mahobeol’s body began to swell. Its size suddenly increased. From a flying insect-like form to a heavy beetle-like form.
Before he could complete his transformation, I punched him in the head. He flew backward and crashed into the floor.
Thud, thud!
His body swelled rapidly. Mahobeol’s gaze was directed at the ceiling, not at me.
‘He has no intention of fighting. He’s only thinking about escaping. It must be because of the Rakshasa Woman behind him.’
I felt bored. Compared to the fight with Song Jik a few hours ago, this was nothing.
I approached him and placed my palm on Mahobeol’s body. Mahobeol spread his six legs wide, trying to grab me.
Demonic Divine Art (天魔神功) Returning Heaven Piercing Essence (回天浸精).
Compressed demonic energy penetrated Mahobeol’s body. The penetrating demonic energy rotated, completely destroying his insides. Mahobeol tried to counter with his inner force as before, but it was too late. Mahobeol had too much faith in his own body.
“I can’t…! I can’t die meaninglessly like this!”
Mahobeol’s right eyeball popped out. The back of the eyeball was long and worm-like. It aimed for my eyeball, and I used an instant to snatch it.
The thing in my grasp wriggled disgustingly.
“Kieeeek! Kieek!”
“Was this the main body? Disgusting.”
I squeezed my hand. The insect burst, and its fluids splattered. I shook my hand in the air.
The Rakshasa Woman approached me.
“Good work. Just clean up all the data here and run away.”
“There must be some guys who were caught by the Jongnam Sect. What are you going to do with them?”
“They’re fine. They were lured in with elixirs, so they don’t know anything about Mookjiryun.”
***
A Black Horse Eagle flew in from afar. The face of a hawk and the body of a horse. It was still an awkward combination.
The Black Horse Eagle landed in front of me and threw a pouch hanging from its neck to me. I opened the pouch and checked the letter from the Demonic Cult.
[I heard there was an incident in the Jongnam Sect. Investigate the incident in the Jongnam Sect and return. If the situation is not favorable, give up the investigation and focus on returning. Before returning, recruit Hwang So-dong of the Gijangsa and return together. If recruitment is impossible, eliminate him.]
The Demonic Cult must be incredibly busy right now. A week ago, the Martial Alliance had officially criticized the Demonic Cult, and rumors were spreading throughout the martial world that the Demonic Cult had criticized the Martial Alliance. War was imminent.
‘The rumors don’t mention Mookjiryun. The prevailing opinion is that the Demonic Cult used monsters to attack.’
The orthodox sects had a huge backlash against the Demonic Cult. They thought it wouldn’t be strange for the Demonic Cult to join hands with monsters.
I first set fire to the house where I had been living with Mireyeong. The bright red flames burned the house like firewood.
“……”
It felt like watching a huge bonfire. I stared blankly at the flames, recalling memories. Memories of having sex with Mireyeong came to mind.
‘I don’t have any other memories besides sex.’
Mireyeong and I hadn’t lived here for long. We had spent most of our time at Wi Yu’s house on Nakwol Mountain. It was more familiar and comfortable there.
‘Mireyeong has started to focus on sorcery research….’
I had to return to the Demonic Cult as soon as possible. I was going to be busy.
I headed to Hwang So-dong’s smithy.
Hwang So-dong swallowed hard as soon as he saw me.
“You’ve arrived. I, I heard about the situation.”
I stared at Hwang So-dong. Several bundles were visible around him. Behind him, his family members stood nervously.
“Were you packing?”
“I will go to the Demonic Cult.”
“Why? Weren’t you going to stay here no matter what?”
“I changed my mind. I judged that I could reach a higher level with the support of the Demonic Cult.”
He said, sweating profusely. He was smart. He had realized that his life was in danger as the situation had changed.
I smiled at him.
My mission was to take him to the Demonic Cult, but I had no intention of taking him there. He could become a variable in the future.
‘I can’t trust this guy. I’ll clean him up neatly, just like the Rakshasa Woman killed her subordinates.’
My hand went to the hilt of my sword.
Hwang So-dong and his family members, panicked, tried to run away.
Thunder Heaven Style (雷天流) Thunder Flash (雷光).
A blue flash cut through their bodies.
Two seconds.
After a terrible silence, their bodies collapsed, and blood splattered everywhere. I sheathed my sword and slowly looked around.
‘I need to take what I need and then set fire to it to get rid of all the corpses.’
***
I began my return to the Demonic Cult.
I used auto-travel and rested on Nakwol Mountain from time to time. Thanks to the space transfer system, one of the functions of the Cheon Gang Seong system, I could easily return to Nakwol Mountain without using space transfer scrolls.
The mansion on Nakwol Mountain was quiet.
Namgung Rin was in closed-door training. Namgung Seol was lost in her own contemplation, in a state no different from closed-door training.
Wi Yu looked at Namgung Seol, who was lying as if dead, and said,
“This is a very important training for Seol. It’s a training to create a mental image. The foundation of the Empty Spirit Divine Art (空靈神功) will be determined by what kind of mental image she creates.”
“Is a mental image that important?”
“The Empty Spirit Divine Art is particularly more influenced by mental images than other martial arts.”
“I’m curious about your mental image, Master.”
“The center of my mental image was the moon. The reason I’m called the Moon Goddess of Nakwol is also related to the moon.”
“When will Seol wake up?”
“She’ll wake up when her mental image is complete. It will probably take quite a while.”
I quietly looked down at the sleeping Namgung Seol. I held back the urge to stroke her. I might interfere with her training if I touched her body.
Wi Yu and I left the room.
“Where’s Mireyeong?”
“The fox is locked in her room and won’t come out. She’s completely absorbed in sorcery research. Do you have something to ask the fox?”
“No, I was just curious.”
That meant that only Wi Yu and I were moving freely in this mansion.
