novelraw Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Chapter 51
『 Translator – Divinity 』
In the middle of the quiet surroundings, Cheok Gyo-woon's words continued.
“I've unintentionally gotten to know the candidates well in the meantime, and it seems the person Head Instructor Cheon is talking about does not exist. I think they just didn't care who got caught up in it. If even one of them were to fall into Qi Deviation, the trust in the Martial Arts Academy would crumble. It seems that the things that have been taken for granted in the Divine Cult until now could be shaken.”
Cheok Gyo-woon slowly began to lay out his thoughts. Among them were things he himself hadn't realized when he first started speaking, but as he spoke, his thoughts became more concrete. As he spoke, he was continuously surprised, wondering if he had really been thinking such things.
“That could be the case, Cult Leader.”
Cheon Ha-seong looked at the Cult Leader, genuinely surprised.
Those words seemed truly important. The things that had been taken for granted in the Divine Cult until now could be shaken.
Until now, if a martial artist wanted to rise to the Divine Cult's leadership, they had to pass all the gates of the Martial Arts Academy. No one had raised any objections to that. It was because it was the Cult Leader's command.
But if someone received a wrongly made copy just for having entered the Martial Arts Academy and fell into Qi Deviation because of it, that very foundation would be shaken. A practice that had been carried out for a long time by the Cult Leader's command would be shaken.
‘If that happens, the Cult Leader's authority will also take a hit. Was that the goal in the end?’
He had brought Cheok Gyo-woon here out of an expectation that he might be able to provide an exit from this complicated situation. He had never thought that he would make this path even more complicated.
However, even if the current situation became more complicated, it was important to judge the situation correctly.
“Son-in-law, then we will need to reorganize our thoughts.”
“That would be so, Cult Leader. Things are turning out to be much more complicated than I thought.”
Cheon Ha-seong took a deep breath and looked at Cheok Gyo-woon. Cheok Gyo-woon wore a pitiful expression, as if to say it wasn't his fault.
When he couldn't even imagine being in the same position as the Cult Leader, he had thought that it would be great if he could just get such an opportunity. He believed he would be honored, and that people would see him as amazing for standing by the Cult Leader's side.
That thought probably wasn't wrong. But now, being in the same position as the Cult Leader, the feeling he had was not one of pride. He was keenly realizing just how much pressure this position was under.
This position seemed not to be one for enjoying power and showing off strength, but one for solving countless problems and protecting the followers.
Cheok Gyo-woon did not yet know what a great privilege it was for him to be able to realize that. However, the feeling that he was fortunate to be in this place with these two people was growing by the moment.
Even if he couldn't become the Young Cult Leader, if things continued like this, it would be easy for him to become the next Family Head of the Cheok Clan. Unless something special happened, that would be the case. Therefore, if he could watch what the Cult Leader did from the side in advance, it seemed it would be of great help when he led the Cheok Clan in the future.
“Now, let's think about the tasks we need to handle one by one. First, there's what the So Demonic Clan said. They said they would resolve the issue of our cult's followers being persecuted and dying unfairly in the Central Plains. For that, the Eighth Elder of the So Demonic Clan said he would take the family's martial artists with him.”
“That's right. And the Marquises have requested that their adopted sons be recognized as Young Supreme Ones and that they also be given spiritual elixirs. They must have thought, 'Let's just ask, and if the Cult Leader grants it, great, and if not, it can't be helped.'”
“Yes. That must have been it. I did not grant it, but among the followers, those who call them Young Supreme Ones have emerged. And rumors are spreading that the Young Supreme Ones will go to the Central Plains to save the followers, while you, son-in-law, are doing nothing.”
As the two of them continued their conversation, Cheok Gyo-woon became restless. Although the Cheok Demonic Clan and he himself had no connection to the matter, he was being lumped together with them because of the commonality of being an adopted son of a Marquis.
As if noticing this, the Cult Leader reassured him.
“Cheok Gyo-woon, you need not worry. It is because I know of the recent events and your loyal heart.”
“Thank you, Cult Leader.”
“Yes. If the Cheok Demonic Clan navigates this matter wisely, you will be able to profit from the conflict of others. If it were me, I would advise you to do so. As you know, my son-in-law has no faction. If you step forward at a time like this and become my faction, it could be a way of putting me in your debt.”
Cheok Gyo-woon felt as if his future had brightened, and he repeatedly bowed his head to express his thanks.
“For now, let's continue the story. The So Demonic Clan is stealing the hearts of the followers, even though they were forced to go to the Central Plains because of the kidnapping of Gi Mun-yong. They are frequently spreading false news to make the followers have antipathy towards my son-in-law. And it seems they are setting the stage to make you go to the Central Plains.”
Listening to the Cult Leader's story, Cheok Gyo-woon's eyes were being opened to how to read the political landscape.
The Cult Leader paused for a moment and looked at Cheok Gyo-woon. Cheok Gyo-woon, who had been concentrating on his words, saw the Cult Leader suddenly stop and looked at him cautiously, wondering what was wrong.
“Why… are you looking at me, Cult Leader?”
“Son-in-law, what do you think? We know that Cheok Gyo-woon will not betray us, but couldn't we use that fact? To others, it might seem even stranger that the Cheok Demonic Clan is suddenly trying to be loyal to me. The things you have found out so far were truly discovered by good fortune. But it would be difficult to think that such luck will continue in the future, wouldn't it?”
Listening to his words, it seemed he was suggesting making Cheok Gyo-woon a spy.
If the Fourth Demonic Marquis didn't stubbornly insist on maintaining her own independent line, the Second and Third Demonic Marquises would surely try to pull her in by any means necessary. Since the Second Demonic Marquis's So Demonic Clan had already been greatly damaged and their power was wavering, if the Fourth Demonic Marquis and the Cheok Demonic Clan just agreed to join them, they would welcome it with open arms.
If that happened, the Cult Leader and Cheon Ha-seong would be able to learn of their plans with ease.
If the unidentified entity hadn't appeared and targeted the candidates of the Martial Arts Academy, he wouldn't have tried to go this far. It was because he could have responded to the unfolding events sufficiently without doing so.
Cheok Gyo-woon also keenly grasped the atmosphere. It seemed the Cult Leader was not a person who would say such things lightly, and this situation that had made him say it could be an opportunity for his own family.
“What will you do, Cheok Gyo-woon? Will you try to do as I say? It will be accompanied by great danger, and perhaps both you and your mother could be endangered. Therefore, I will not force you.”
At those words, Cheok Gyo-woon answered without even a long deliberation.
“Please trust this subordinate, Cult Leader. I will be sure to do so. It seems the current situation will ultimately affect the entire Divine Cult, so now is not the time to only consider the interests of our own family.”
The Cult Leader, not having thought Cheok Gyo-woon would go that far, wore a pleased expression.
“Is it alright for you to give such a firm answer without listening to your mother or the Family Head? Your mother and the Family Head may have different thoughts.”
“Yes, I believe their thoughts could certainly be different. But I believe this is the right thing to do. And if I speak to them with all my heart, I believe they will follow my wishes.”
The Cult Leader slowly nodded his head.
After experiencing this, he was getting a feel for the traditions of each of the families.
“Good. Then let's do so. I will entrust the task to you.”
At the Cult Leader's words, Cheok Gyo-woon seemed to belatedly grow tense. He had asked to be trusted with the task, but he was anxious about whether he could do a good job. However, the die had already been cast, and he firmed his resolve that he must now succeed, staking his family's future.
When Cheok Gyo-woon withdrew from the Cult Leader's presence, Cheon Ha-seong followed him. Cheok Gyo-woon looked at Cheon Ha-seong, wondering if he still had something to say to him.
“What is it, Head Instructor Cheon?”
“Cheok Gyo-woon, I am thinking of teaching you a martial art.”
“Yes?”
He looked at Cheon Ha-seong, wondering what he meant. He knew that Cheon Ha-seong was a renowned person at the Martial Arts Academy, but he didn't think he was in a position to say he would teach him martial arts.
Having been born and raised in a prestigious Demonic Clan, the martial arts he had learned until now were by no means ordinary. Among them were many supreme martial arts that other martial artists would want to learn by any means necessary. Although Cheok Gyo-woon had not mastered any of them, he still didn't think he was lacking in martial arts.
He was one to respect Cheon Ha-seong, but those words did not sound very good to him. His pride was hurt. It wasn't just that he alone had been slighted; it felt as if his entire family had been slighted, so his mood soured even more.
However, it seemed Cheon Ha-seong had already grasped that Cheok Gyo-woon would think that way.
“I received the Cult Leader's permission before coming out. He said it was alright to teach you in the training ground.”
Cheok Gyo-woon wondered what this sudden situation was. Until he left the Cult Leader's office, hadn't the Cult Leader seemed to be in a great hurry about this matter? But he couldn't understand why he was now suddenly saying he would teach him a martial art. It was a strange thing, when he would have likely postponed it to a later date even if he had been the one to ask to be taught.
“You will face countless crises from now on. And you will face life-and-death situations hundreds of times. With your current skill, you do not have the ability to protect yourself from assassins who appear suddenly.”
He didn't want to admit it, but denying it wasn't the answer either.
“Even if you teach me a martial art, Head Instructor, there won't be time to learn a new one now. Don't they say that a familiar technique is better than an excellent one?”
“I acknowledge that. But the martial art I will teach you will be helpful. It is because I created it after watching you all this time, thinking it would be the most suitable for you.”
He still didn't believe it, but for the time being, he decided to just see what he was trying to do.
Cheon Ha-seong, who had gone to the training ground, demonstrated a few techniques on the spot. And he also explained in detail about the flow of internal energy.
Cheok Gyo-woon was still in a state of half-belief, half-doubt. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he was still full of disbelief.
Thinking it wouldn't work right away even if he tried, he executed the technique.
“……”
Cheok Gyo-woon couldn't understand why he was able to execute the technique so easily. Still, thinking he would get stuck soon, he continued with what Cheon Ha-seong had taught him. However, even after that, there were no blockages.