novelraw Chapter 167 : Chapter 167
Chapter 167 : Chapter 167
Chapter 167. We Will Help
“……!”
Jin Cheon was quite surprised hearing Dang Cheon-wi’s words.
To think he would show such quick judgment and improvisation, coating the Soul-Chasing Thunder with Ten Thousand Li Tracking Scent and Water Killing Ghost Powder and throwing it in that short moment…….
When they first set out to find Cheol Yu-ra, he thought he wouldn't be of much help, but finding the detour wasn't enough, he even provided a means to track Dokgo Seong?
No matter what anyone said, it was no exaggeration to say that the number one contributor to this operation was Dang Cheon-wi.
Although his martial arts might be a bit lacking, it was an excellent example showing that simple martial power is not everything when evaluating a martial artist.
“You, you’re pretty good?”
The Blood Qilin looked back at Dang Cheon-wi as if seeing him in a new light.
“He’s a more useful guy than he looks.”
Yeom Bi also made a remark as if acknowledging Dang Cheon-wi’s performance.
‘Right, he’s this kind of guy.’
Jin Cheon was inexplicably pleased to see Dang Cheon-wi being acknowledged by his senior brothers.
Since he was a cherished younger brother, he felt good that Dang Cheon-wi’s true value was becoming known.
“Right, good work. Rest for now. Your condition looks bad.”
“Haha.”
Dang Cheon-wi laughed.
“Actually, it’s really bad. Hehe. Heuhe. Puhihing.”
“……?”
“Heuhe…… Heuheuh…… Heueu……!”
Dang Cheon-wi rolled his eyes back white and began to laugh with foam at his mouth.
Like a person who lost his mind.
“He’s gone crazy.”
Jin Cheon shook his head as if he knew it.
The symptoms Dang Cheon-wi was showing now were nothing special.
A martial artist who learned righteous arts was exposed to very powerful demonic qi that was hard to handle, so he temporarily lost his reason due to the aftereffects.
But Jin Cheon didn't worry much.
In cases of such symptoms, they usually returned to normal after some time passed.
“Senior Brother Wi.”
Jin Cheon looked back at Wi Mu-rin with a pale face.
Perhaps because he was dominated by a very powerful Heavenly Demon Command inside the cave, Wi Mu-rin’s face was pale blue.
“Do you know what sorcery the Demonic Devil Cult cast on Senior Sister?”
“I cannot know exactly. However, what is certain is…… they possessed him into Senior Sister’s body.”
“Is there a solution?”
“If we use the Soul-Snatching Great Art after subduing, we will be able to chase his soul out of Senior Sister’s body.”
“I understand.”
Jin Cheon accepted Wi Mu-rin’s answer positively.
To think they could return Cheol Yu-ra to her original appearance, wasn't it a great fortune?
Of course, it wasn't an easy task.
Because subduing would be more difficult than killing.
However, if it was now when Dokgo Seong was weakened, it was also a sufficiently possible story.
“I have no face.”
Cheon U-jin approached Jin Cheon and conveyed his apology.
“I asked you to trust and leave it to me, but for such a result to come out…….”
There was unspeakable wretchedness on Cheon U-jin’s face as he spoke.
Cheol Ja-ryang, the Head of the Frigid Iron Clan, died, and he couldn't even rescue Cheol Yu-ra.
In the midst of that, having been subdued by Dokgo Seong without even being able to unfold his martial arts, it was natural for words like having no face to come out.
“No.”
Jin Cheon shook his head.
“It is because the opponent was bad, too bad, how could that be due to Eldest Senior Brother’s lack of capability.”
“But…….”
“The opponent is…… Dokgo Seong.”
A story that everyone expected but could not bear to speak out flowed from Jin Cheon’s mouth.
Flinch!
Cheon U-jin flinched and trembled at that name.
That was the same for others as well.
“…….”
For the cultists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the ripple effect given by the three syllables of the name Dokgo Seong was truly beyond imagination.
He was the founder of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the first Heavenly Demon, and the Supreme Ruler who reigned for hundreds of years.
No matter if he was an enemy, fighting the Heavenly Demon was bound to be somewhat uncomfortable.
“As you have experienced, if one is a demonic practitioner possessing demonic qi, they will not be able to resist before his Heavenly Demon Command.”
“Right, it was so.”
Cheon U-jin nodded as if he knew too well.
“Before him, I was…… powerless.”
“Don’t you know it couldn't be helped.”
“But weren't you different.”
“……That is.”
Jin Cheon could not bear to answer Cheon U-jin’s words.
The fact that the First Young Master Cheon U-jin couldn't even read the Heavenly Demon Scripture, while the youngest Jin Cheon could use not only the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi but also the Heavenly Demon Command was a quite shocking matter.
This was a matter that greatly hurt the pride of Cheon U-jin as the First Young Master, and it was self-evident that the succession structure that had been solid until now would be greatly shaken by this.
If the person who would rise to the position of the next Cult Leader following the Iron-Blooded Demonic God could not even read the Heavenly Demon Scripture and could not use the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi, who would worship him as the Heavenly Demon?
“…….”
Since everyone knew such facts well, silence fell on the hall.
But Cheon U-jin actually seemed not to care much.
“Then, the only person who can punish him is you. We will help. So subdue him, and rescue Junior Sister.”
“……!”
Jin Cheon was quite surprised by Cheon U-jin’s words.
He admired that appearance of concentrating on the immediate problem as if succession structure or pride issues didn't matter.
‘His vessel is big.’
Jin Cheon realized why Cheon U-jin was the first disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, and also why he was called the First Young Master and respected as the Eldest Senior Brother.
Even when faced with the sensitive issue of succession structure, how many people would concentrate on the immediate situation and also give strength to a junior brother?
“Yes, I will definitely do so.”
Jin Cheon nodded and burned with will.
That much, this matter was very important.
Because both rescuing Cheol Yu-ra and eliminating Dokgo Seong were at stake.
***
It was on a deep night that the incarnation of evil appeared in a small slash-and-burn village situated around the Qilian Mountains.
“Who…… Keoheok!”
A poor slash-and-burn farmer was suddenly grabbed by the neck by the encroaching existence, and struggling with all his might was his last appearance in life.
“Kkeueueueueueueok!”
A groan full of pain flowed from the slash-and-burn farmer’s mouth.
But that was also for a moment.
“…….”
The slash-and-burn farmer dropped his head.
The appearance of the limply drooping slash-and-burn farmer was truly terrible.
Dried up like a rotten old tree, looking like a mummy.
Even though he was clearly a living person just a moment ago…….
Thud!
The incarnation of evil threw away the slash-and-burn farmer’s corpse carelessly and went inside the house.
“Aaaaaack!”
“S-Save me! Aaaack!”
“Kyaaaack!”
The fate of the slash-and-burn farmer’s wife and children who were inside the house was not much different.
Since the incarnation of evil was a cruel predator and also a heartless existence without blood or tears…….
“Ridiculously insufficient.”
Dokgo Seong was not satisfied even after annihilating the slash-and-burn farmer’s family and absorbing their vital blood.
An ordinary human body was too weak to contain his soul.
Only the Heavenly Demon’s Physique could fully contain his soul.
So Dokgo Seong had to constantly absorb human vital blood to maintain the body.
Otherwise, as the body collapsed, his soul would also be annihilated…….
‘I will definitely make that bastard’s body mine.’
Dokgo Seong pledged so, recalling Jin Cheon.
He thought the Heavenly Demon’s Physique could not exist twice under the heavens, but that wasn't it.
When a person born with the body of a Heavenly Demon’s Physique existed openly like that, there was absolutely no reason for Dokgo Seong to refuse it.
Collecting human vital blood to strengthen this weak body, subduing Jin Cheon, and then taking the body was Dokgo Seong’s future plan.
Of course, before that, he would have to prevent the body’s collapse and join his followers…….
Slide, Dokgo Seong moved as if sliding and headed to another slash-and-burn farmer’s house.
He was a born predator and the incarnation of evil who hated life.
This starving devil did not hesitate to take others' lives, their vital blood.
He only coveted and extorted others' vital blood more greedily and persistently.
Because only his resurrection and achieving the realm of Demonic God, which he wanted to reach even by repeating reincarnation, were important to him.
***
Jin Cheon immediately led the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s martial artists and set out to track Dokgo Seong.
However, since Dokgo Seong’s movement speed was so fast, tracking was not easy.
Since the distance widened so much, he couldn't find Dokgo Seong’s tracks even with Jin Cheon’s demonic qi detection ability.
However, the Ten Thousand Li Tracking Scent Dang Cheon-wi had coated was different.
“Bark bark! Bark bark bark!”
Thanks to the Bat Squad waiting around the Qilian Mountains having dogs with excellent sense of smell and intelligence, Jin Cheon’s group could track Dokgo Seong without losing him.
At the slash-and-burn village arrived chasing Dokgo Seong like that, Jin Cheon felt sincere anger.
“This son of a bitch.”
Blue ghost fire flashed in Jin Cheon’s two eyes tinged with deep purple.
The scene unfolded before his eyes…… The tragedy of the poor slash-and-burn village was truly terrible.
Dozens of corpses dried up into mummies were scattered here and there, and what happened was obvious like seeing fire.
It was clear that Dokgo Seong sucked human vital blood to prevent the body’s collapse.
“Disgusting bastard.”
Jin Cheon was sincerely furious.
For a person called the First Heavenly Demon, a person called the ancestor of demons leading ten thousand demons, to go around eating ordinary people like a crazy cannibal ghost?
“There is no time.”
Wi Mu-rin said with an urgent voice.
“If he continues to supply vital blood, he will recover his strength soon. Then at that time…….”
“Yes, no one will be able to stop him.”
Jin Cheon nodded.
What happened inside the gorge…… Dokgo Seong who activated the Heavenly Demon Divine Qi Demonic Emperor was an existence terrifying just to imagine.
If he could maintain the Demonic Emperor for just one moment, Jin Cheon would not dare oppose him.
“Hmm.”
Jin Cheon was lost in thought for a moment.
‘He will go around causing bloodbaths to absorb vital blood for at least a few days. After becoming sufficiently strong, he will try to eat us in reverse.’
Jin Cheon saw through how Dokgo Seong would act, his inner thoughts clearly.
If so…….
“Captain Dan.”
“Yes, Liege.”
“Is the Bat Squad’s contact network well established in the Gansu Province area as well?”
“Of course.”
Danmok Cheong answered as if it were natural.
“Of course, since it is Gansu Province, various assets are not perfectly built, but I understand that enough personnel to perform a tight contact network and information warfare are deployed.”
“I see.”
Jin Cheon thought for a moment hearing Danmok Cheong’s words, then opened his mouth again.
“Captain Dan.”
“Yes, Liege.”
“Let’s borrow the power of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Imperial Family a bit.”
“Yes……?”
Danmok Cheong made a confused expression, not understanding the meaning of Jin Cheon’s words.
“The ones chasing him will be the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Imperial Family, not us.”
“Surely…….”
“Yes, mobilize the Bat Squad immediately and leak information to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Imperial Family that the Second Young Lady of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is going around causing bloodbaths. So that the bastards spread an inescapable net and make Dokgo Seong a rat in a jar.”
“Ah!”
Danmok Cheong sincerely admired Jin Cheon’s resourcefulness.
Jin Cheon’s words meant to fish the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Imperial Family to make them track and attack Dokgo Seong, draining his strength, and then deliver the finishing blow.
If done so, there would be no need to track Dokgo Seong with difficulty with this small number of people, no need to suffer damage fighting him, and wouldn't they be able to eat away at the combat power of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Imperial Family?
“Since it’s the Second Young Lady of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the bastards will also rush in with their eyes lit up. So, leak the information through the Bat Squad. So that the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and the Imperial Family take the bait.”
“As you command.”
Danmok Cheong knelt on one knee and received Jin Cheon’s order.
‘Eventually, you will be hunted.’
Jin Cheon ground his teeth looking at the direction where Dokgo Seong was presumed to be.