novelraw Chapter 217 : Chapter 217
Chapter 217 : Chapter 217
Chapter 217. Because I wasn't just playing around
“Yes.”
Jin Cheon answered towards the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
“I will definitely be victorious. I will be victorious, bring peace to the world, further prosper Our Cult, and take care of the Cult’s people.”
“That is not enough.”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God shook her head.
“The Cult’s prosperity and well-being will also be important, but there must be something that should take precedence over that.”
“May I know what that is?”
Jin Cheon sought teaching not knowing what the Iron-Blooded Demonic God meant.
“Jin Cheon, my disciple. My son.”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God smiled gently and said.
“Why do you neglect yourself?”
“Do you mean me?”
“In your aspirations, there is the world, there is Our Cult, but there is no yourself.”
“T, that is.”
“Why do you have no thought of taking care of yourself.”
“But…….”
“As you also know, This King lost everything for the peace of the world and the well-being of Our Cult. After losing, I came to know. In front of individual happiness and a comfortable life, things like the well-being of the world or the prosperity of the Cult are useless for anything. When you cannot even take care of yourself, how can you plan for the world and achieve the prosperity of the Cult.”
“……!”
“Remember. Also, you must not forget. That the peace of the world and the prosperity of Our Cult are also for yourself.”
“I will keep it in mind.”
Jin Cheon engraved the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s teaching deep in his heart.
That was not something like martial arts, but a teaching about life.
It was the experience of one who lived in a chaotic world, the sense of loss of one with a story who had lost everything, and remorse felt after a long time.
As it was the experience of one who experienced it directly, there would be no doubt that it was a teaching that became blood and flesh.
Of course, Jin Cheon did not have a lover like the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, but even so, it didn't mean he didn't have his own happiness.
Wasn't there the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, his teacher and mother, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God?
Furthermore, Cheon U-jin, Cheol Yu-ra, Wi Mu-rin, So U-bin, Yeom Bi, and even Blood Qilin.
There were senior brothers who were no different from brothers.
Also, there were his sworn brother Dang Cheon-wi and the hangers-on staying at the house.
Living together with them itself was a great happiness for Jin Cheon, and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was indeed his hometown and nest.
“I will absolutely not die. I will survive to the end, and please Master.”
“Right, you must do so.”
The Iron-Blooded Demonic God nodded and smiled.
Thick affection seemed to drip from the Iron-Blooded Demonic God’s two eyes.
* * *
Meanwhile, an unprecedented alliance in history was born in Sichuan.
Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
A group that threatened the Central Plains for the past hundreds of years and was enemies with the Imperial Family as well as the sects belonging to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
That such a Heavenly Demon Divine Cult joined hands with Wudang, Shaolin, Sichuan Tang Clan, and Emei Sect to build one huge force was something worthy of being called a major event.
Adding to that, if you combine the heroes who came to Sichuan due to the oppression of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Imperial Family, the number was estimated to be over tens of thousands.
Jin Cheon named this huge force the Divine Demon Alliance and created a new flag and pattern.
It was an action expecting that if there were an official name and pattern of the force, the sense of belonging and bond of those belonging to it would become stronger.
The Divine Demon Alliance placed its banner not only on opposing the oppression of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Imperial Family, but also on regaining freedom and creating a peaceful world.
An alliance of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the sects belonging to the existing Nine Sects One Gang was something that couldn't happen even if the sky split in two in the old days, but since the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Imperial Family joined hands to start oppressing martial artists, it was also something fully understandable.
‘Foolish.’
Jin Cheon considered that Dokgo Seong committed a blunder this time as well.
If Jin Cheon were in Dokgo Seong’s position, he would never have used such a method.
Since he usurped the throne by possessing an Imperial Prince, he would have strengthened imperial power as Emperor and then settled public sentiment to make the world his side.
But Dokgo Seong did not do so this time either.
He always tried to reign with fear, and did not hesitate to turn the world into an enemy.
That was probably something like a trap for those born extraordinary.
Because he knew too well that he was special, not treating ordinary people as the same humans was the problem from the start.
With peculiar sense of privilege and elitism, he regarded ordinary people as less than insects, so he considered making enemies as insignificant.
Eventually, the first generation Heavenly Demon Dokgo Seong ended up turning the world into an enemy again.
‘You bastard will collapse because of those ordinary people you despise. Even then, you probably won't realize it for your whole life, until the moment you die.’
It was when Jin Cheon was thinking such thoughts.
“Liege, the movements of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Imperial Family are unusual.”
Danmok Cheong gave an urgent report to Jin Cheon.
“Movements of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the Imperial Family?”
“Yes, Liege.”
Danmok Cheong showed Jin Cheon the report that came up from the Bat Squad.
“It is a report that the core experts of the Heavenly Dao Alliance and as many as three hundred thousand Imperial troops are gathering in Gansu Province.”
“Three hundred thousand?”
Jin Cheon frowned.
People say a million-man army, a million-man army, but in fact, a million-man army was truly an absurd scale.
Even in the thousands of years of Central Plains history, there were almost no instances where a million-man army was actually mobilized.
Considering that dynasties that raised a million-man army collapsed completely due to the aftermath, three hundred thousand was a number that could never be called small.
“There is more.”
“What?”
“It is said disappearance incidents of children in the Imperial Capital reach dozens, hundreds a day.”
“……!”
“Circumstantially it seems they were dragged into the Imperial Palace, but there is no way to know the situation inside the Imperial Palace currently. It is said it has already been over a month since even high-ranking officials who handle state affairs with the Emperor have not been allowed entry.”
“Is he accumulating power?”
“Yes……?”
“You would have seen it previously. What the bastard possessing Senior Sister did.”
“Ah.”
Danmok Cheong recalled Dokgo Seong who possessed Cheol Yu-ra in the past.
“That bastard maintains the body by absorbing human vital blood. Also, he gathers demonic qi. The authority that bastard obtains through human sacrifice is hard to even dare imagine. Recalling the knowledge recorded in the Heavenly Demon Scripture…… releasing demons of hell into the human world is not an impossible task.”
“Is, is it to that extent?”
“Of course.”
Jin Cheon nodded.
“The knowledge he possesses is from a very long time ago before the human world and the Immortal World were severed. Since it is knowledge of a world where Heavenly Gods and Demonic Gods ran rampant, people like us wouldn't dare even imagine.”
“Then…….”
“There is no time.”
Jin Cheon said with a stiff expression.
“As long as he is on the throne, supplying vital blood of young boys and girls is too easy. Even at this moment, he must be absorbing the vital blood of poor children to become endlessly stronger, and using terrible sorceries nonchalantly.”
Jin Cheon sprang up from his seat.
“Captain Dan.”
“Yes, Liege.”
“Summon the leaders.”
“I obey the command.”
Danmok Cheong immediately sent word and called the scattered leaders.
“There is no time to delay any longer. Now is the time to move.”
“……!”
At Jin Cheon’s declaration, the faces of the leaders, that is, the core experts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the representatives of the Righteous Faction side, hardened stiffly.
It meant an earth-shaking and heaven-shattering war had arrived right under their noses, so it was extremely natural for everyone to be tense.
“Right now immediately move the Divine Demon Alliance to Gansu Province…….”
“Wait.”
So U-bin, who was staying quiet, put on the brakes.
“Surely you don't mean to wage a real war?”
“Yes……?”
“It is a large army of as many as three hundred thousand. On top of that, experts of the Heavenly Dao Alliance side centered on the Sword Saint must be gathered in droves, and you want to push in from Gansu Province?”
On So U-bin’s expression saying so, a thick sneer lingered as always.
“In the end, isn't it enough to just execute him?”
“That is true but…….”
“If small fry fight among themselves, they only shed blood.”
So U-bin scoffed, pi-sik, and pointed to a specific point on the map.
“The path is not overland.”
“Are you saying…… to use the waterway?”
“Correct answer.”
So U-bin nodded.
“Like you said, make the main unit of the Divine Demon Alliance go to Gansu Province to confront the bastards, and what if only the core experts centered on you bastard move through the waterway?”
“……!”
“Isn't that right? I hear you are the only one who can deal with that person.”
“That is correct.”
“Then isn't the answer already out?”
So U-bin’s opinion was extremely rational, and also made sense.
As long as Dokgo Seong was holed up in the Imperial Family, there would be no need to bother waging a large-scale war.
“Ultimately the decision will be made by you bastard, but I think this is right.”
“I also think so.”
“Then we just have to prepare.”
Perhaps considerably satisfied that his opinion was accepted, So U-bin smiled a faint smile and spoke.
“Transporting about five hundred people is fully possible. I am confident in decent water warfare too, so don't worry. While you bastard was going around making a fuss in the Central Plains, I wasn't just playing around either.”
“Good.”
A smile also rose on Jin Cheon’s lips.
Because he knew there was no malice at all in So U-bin’s words spoken as if spitting them out, tuk-tuk.
Furthermore, since strong confidence was felt in So U-bin’s words that he wasn't just playing around all this time, it was reliable beyond compare.
Although it wasn't revealed well, So U-bin’s role in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was truly immense.
Since it was So U-bin who virtually took responsibility for the Yama Fortress alone and built up the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s navy, if it was his confidence, it was fully trustworthy.
* * *
Three days later.
The main unit of the Divine Demon Alliance left Sichuan and headed for Gansu Province.
Meanwhile, the core experts of the Divine Demon Alliance centered on Jin Cheon moved secretly and boarded the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s navy, that is, the fleet of the Yama Fortress.
And the majesty of the Yama Fortress seen after a long time was truly surprising.
“It is immense.”
Jin Cheon’s impression upon seeing the Yama Fortress' fleet was such.
It was understandable, as the Yama Fortress was not the Yama Fortress Jin Cheon knew.
At the time he saved So U-bin who was in crisis in the past, the Yama Fortress was nothing more than a group of water bandits on the verge of ruin.
Not only did they lose most of the warships, but even the remaining flagship was half-destroyed and on the verge of sinking.
However, the Yama Fortress seen again had become a fleet possessing over thirty warships.
That was not a scale a mere water bandit group could possess.
At this level, it was to the extent worth competing against the Imperial Family’s naval power, so it was no longer a weight class to be treated as a subordinate organization of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Now the Yama Fortress was sufficient to be recognized as a military group of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult like the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.
Though he didn't know for sure, if this fight ended, not only promoting it to a formal navy rather than a subordinate organization, but reorganizing the core experts centered on So U-bin into a highest-ranking military group would be appropriate.
So U-bin’s words that he wasn't just playing around all this time were by no means empty words.
“Get on.”
So U-bin guided Jin Cheon to the flagship with a confident voice.
“I will make sure you don't lift a finger until the destination, so you just have to admire the waves of the Yangtze River on the way. If a fight breaks out, you can watch that too. Since it will be the most fun fight to watch in the world.”
“Can we really do that? Haha.”
“Of course.”
So U-bin smiled, ssi-ik, a creepy smile.
“I guarantee, the Imperial Family navy bastards won't be able to do anything. Since the waterway is no different from being dominated by Our Cult, put your mind at ease.”
“Yes, Senior Brother. I will trust you.”
So U-bin did not show signs of dislike even though Jin Cheon called him Senior Brother.
Before he knew it, even So U-bin, who was said to have strong pride and a nasty temper, was acknowledging Jin Cheon as a member of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and a junior brother.