novelraw Chapter 245 : Sometimes, a Decision Is Necessary
Chapter 245 : Sometimes, a Decision Is Necessary
Chapter 245: Sometimes, a Decision Is Necessary
At the highest peak of the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains, there stood a massive stone structure towering proudly at its summit.
This place was the heart of the Ming Cult, where all power converged—the Cult Leader’s Hall.
A grand sight built from black stone. At its peak, a white flame burned without ever going out, overlooking the entirety of the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains.
And inside the Cult Leader’s Hall, there was a man seated upon the jade throne.
His hair was streaked with gray, and he carried an atmosphere like a biting winter gale as he silently gazed at the blazing flame.
His two eyes were deep and dark, as though they pierced through the very abyss of the world.
He was the one revered here as the Cult Leader of the Ming Cult, and in the Central Plains, he was known as the Cult Leader of the Demon Cult—or the Heavenly Demon.
“Cult Leader of the Ming Cult.”
Below the throne stood a woman dressed entirely in white from head to toe.
Skin like freshly fallen snow, white hair, and a beauty that perfectly embodied the phrase snow-white skin and flower-like visage—a mysterious and ethereal beauty.
“Baek Soha.”
Her identity was that of the Divine Maiden of the Ming Cult of the current era—Baek Soha.
“It seems the resistance of the Central Plains people is quite fierce. It may be that the Dark Command Unit alone was insufficient……”
The Divine Maiden cautiously whispered that the enemy’s capabilities had exceeded expectations, subtly pointing out the shortcomings of the Dark Command Unit.
At that, the Cult Leader’s brows twitched slightly as he spoke in a cold voice.
“Then dispatch the Hanhyeol Unit. If that is not enough, even the Eungbo Unit.”
His eyes, filled with an eerie light, flashed with anger.
It seemed he was prepared to summon both the Hanhyeol—blood steeped in resentment—and even the Eungbo Unit, which repaid everything in kind.
“However, Cult Leader, if we do that, far too many of our cult members will die meaninglessly.”
No matter how vast the number of believers supporting the Ming Cult, this would be a tremendous loss and would darken the future of the cult.
Hearing this, the Cult Leader looked at the Divine Maiden with mild curiosity and spoke.
“Divine Maiden, was it not you who said this? That among them is a being both different yet the same—and that it must be captured at all costs.”
A being both different yet the same.
In other words, there was someone to whom the sacred relic of the Ming Cult, the White Flame, was reacting.
Not someone of the Ming Cult, but an outsider—someone from the Central Plains.
It was a truth that was witnessed with their own eyes, yet difficult to believe.
“…I did say that.”
“Then, Divine Maiden.”
The Cult Leader looked at her as if to ask what the problem was, since he had already attempted to encircle them without leaving any gaps, just as she suggested.
“However, any further losses would be difficult for the cult to bear.”
The Dark Command Unit had increased its numbers to scout, search, and track across the vast border regions of the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains—yet only about ten percent had returned alive.
This result greatly deviated from the oracle granted by the sacred flame.
“All members of the Ming Cult in this land are prepared to throw away their lives like blades of grass for the sake of revenge, Divine Maiden.”
“……”
Unlike the clans and sects of the Central Plains, the Ming Cult was so vast it could be called a small nation.
And in the Cult Leader’s gaze—declaring that all of them were ready to give their lives—there flickered a faint yet unsettling madness.
The Divine Maiden, witnessing this, felt an ominous foreboding rise within her.
Yet she did not make the mistake of voicing it.
“Then, for the sake of our greater plans ahead, should we not preserve our strength? Please reconsider and select only the elite experts of the cult.”
“Hmm.”
He stroked his chin and pondered for a moment before nodding.
“Have the Hanhyeol and Eungbo Units pursue them moderately, and let the Hall Leaders and Protectors engage directly.”
Only then did Baek Soha let out a sigh of relief.
This way, they could reduce losses while still capturing that unsettling and troubling existence.
‘Just what… is it?’
Why was the White Flame trembling so, and why was the oracle becoming clouded?
It was as if two Divine Maidens existed in the same era.
Even so, it made no sense for a Divine Maiden of the Ming Cult to be born from an external intruder.
‘O auspicious and sacred flame. Please show me the path.’
Ever since the intruders arrived, even the movement of the celestial bodies had grown strange.
She could only hope that this situation would be resolved as soon as possible.
“Cough… I can’t believe my head is still attached to my body.”
Jang Jin, who had fainted and only just regained consciousness, muttered in disbelief.
His face was filled with a mix of awe and relief as he gave thanks for still being alive.
Watching him, Jeok Unyeop, Captain of the Demon-Slaying Unit, smirked and spoke.
“Be grateful to our Vice Captain. I don’t know why, but she went mad, cutting down enemies like she was ready to throw her life away.”
Everyone looked toward Murong Cheonghye, who had collapsed as if she had fainted from exhaustion. Her performance in the battle just now, drenched in blood, had been nothing short of an Asura.
“Terrifying, that one. How do you even manage someone like her as your Vice Captain?”
In the Murim, martial strength was everything. And that woman’s clan influence was so overwhelming that even Jeok Unyeop couldn’t control it.
“…Manage her? I just try not to die while following along.”
The very purpose of the Demon-Slaying Unit was to eradicate demons, which aligned with the goal of the Evil-Slaying Demoness—making their relationship a strange form of symbiosis.
“My goodness, Oppa! Are you alright? How are you bleeding this much…!”
Namgung Sohye rushed over to Namgung Jin, who was still tending to his wounds after his fierce efforts.
She applied Golden Wound Balm to his injuries and pulled out an Internal Healing Pill, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Sohye, calm down… you’re making a mess.”
Even while being treated, her excessive fuss made him grimace awkwardly as he wrapped a cloth around his wounds to stop the bleeding.
“Ugh… we somehow all survived…?”
Meanwhile, Jo Harang, in terrible condition, muttered as she tried to stop her bleeding.
Thanks to the Purple Tenuity Star’s resilient constitution, she had barely survived. Fighting at the very front like a bulldozer alongside Murong Cheonghye, her body was covered in deep and numerous wounds.
“Hey, Broadsword. Stay still. You’ll reopen your wounds if you move.”
Tang Yeo-hye ran around like a battlefield medic, treating everyone’s severe injuries in a frenzy.
Perhaps because of her foul temper—or because she had been spreading poison—the enemies had targeted her less, leaving her in relatively better condition than the others.
Of course, countless Demon Cult followers had been swept away by her claw techniques.
“Dan Mujin.”
From beside me, Murong Cheonghye’s faint voice was heard.
“Honestly, I thought this would be my grave… but both you and I survived. Perhaps the heavens and earth have helped us……”
Once, she had cursed the heavens atop a cliff—yet now she was thanking them.
But in my view, it wasn’t the heavens. It was simply a chain of coincidences that saved us.
The first reason was the existence of the Evil-Slaying Demoness, who had rampaged wildly in an inexplicable frenzy.
The second reason…
Was that there were not one, but two Evil Stars secretly mixed among us.
‘Are there really… just two?’
At that moment, the Heaven-Slaying Star intruded into my thoughts, saying something strange.
What did it mean—“just two”? Could it be that there was another Evil Star among us?
That the energy of the stars I felt wasn’t just from Jo Harang?
I quickly looked around at the people beside me. Then suddenly, I noticed something strange and stared intently at the red hand in front of me.
‘…Why do you have a wrist now?’
Originally, it had only been a floating red hand—but now, it had a thin wrist attached to it.
‘Why… do you think?’
It answered arrogantly, as if telling me to figure it out myself.
It seemed that, in the chaos of battle, I had contributed to ending a few lives.
I hadn’t intended to kill, nor had I even been aware of it—but still, its influence had grown slightly.
Not enough to grow significantly… but enough for a wrist to form.
‘…But you—are you really fine with me killing Demon Cult followers?’
The Heaven-Slaying Star seemed somewhat satisfied that its form was being restored.
It was said to have once been the Divine Maiden of the Demon Cult—perhaps now that it existed as something like a vengeful spirit, it no longer cared.
‘The strong… live. The weak… die.’
A rule born from when the Ming Cult was betrayed by the Central Plains and began sharpening its blade of revenge.
It was the law of strength above all—a doctrine upheld by the former Divine Maiden of the Demon Cult.
“Definitely the Demon Cult, alright.”
A world where only the strong were respected. It was pure wilderness—not a doctrine any normal nation or religion would uphold.
At the mention of the Demon Cult, it flinched in anger.
Its palm—and even its wrist—trembled violently.
‘Your… Central Plains… made… this doctrine…’
It claimed that this belief had arisen from their struggle to survive and grow stronger against us.
But in the end, it was all just excuses.
Still, because of that strange doctrine—and because it would be in trouble if I died—it didn’t stop me even when I ended up killing Demon Cult members.
‘If you die… I… get dragged… too.’
Dragged? Where could something already bound to an Evil Star be dragged to?
Was it like what Hwang Geolgae had seen inside me—being seized by something terrifying and made to suffer?
“Now that everyone’s somewhat recovered, get up.”
Despite still being heavily injured and suffering from internal damage, Jeok Unyeop stood first and urged everyone to move.
“He’s right. The enemy’s reinforcements are still chasing us.”
Namgung Jin agreed—they had only repelled one wave among countless to come.
“That’s right. The Demon Cult never gives up. That’s just how they are.”
Jang Jin nodded. As members of prestigious clans and sects, they had all heard stories from elders who fought in the Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Factions.
About how ruthless those enemies were—and what lengths they would go to kill martial artists of the Central Plains.
“But in everyone’s current condition, we won’t be able to escape far.”
Tang Yeo-hye spoke coldly after assessing their state.
Their stamina and internal energy were depleted, and their bodies were battered.
“At this rate, we’ll just kill a few dozen more before getting captured……”
The Murim Alliance couldn’t move until they escaped Demon Cult territory, lest it provoke war.
Which meant the enemy would relentlessly pursue them—trying to kill or identify them before they could return to the Central Plains.
Was that why Dark Command Unit Leader Jeokgwang, as he died, shouted that they would all be swallowed by the White Flame?
Just as that curse-like cry came to mind—
“I’ll stay… and buy time.”
Murong Cheonghye, realizing they would eventually be caught, declared with determination that she would hold them off while the others escaped.
“…Don’t talk nonsense.”
I rejected her outright and started thinking.
The situation was the worst possible—but how could we save everyone?
For a moment, I considered taking her place.
‘There is… a secret passage… leading to the Central Plains…’
At that moment, the red thing—who would be in serious trouble if I died—offered a way out.
This border region of the Demon Cult had seen countless wars. Many hidden tunnels had been created for ambushes.
That was welcome news.
“I’ll take the lead since I’m in the best condition. Everyone, follow me.”
I stepped forward, looking toward where the Heaven-Slaying Star pointed.
Though we should have been at a geographical disadvantage, it seemed we had gained a reliable guide.
“Everyone, this way.”
The rocky mountain stood firm against the harsh winds.
Following the direction pointed by the red finger, I cleared away bushes and worn cloth.
Before us was a moss-covered rock. Together with Jo Harang, I pushed it aside with brute force.
Kuuuuung—
“Oh? What’s this? A secret passage?”
Jeok Unyeop immediately recognized it as a remnant of the Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Factions.
“And this direction… leads into the Central Plains, doesn’t it?”
“…Indeed. I recall senior martial artists saying that enemies used tunnels like these to suddenly appear from the rear—it caused great trouble.”
The Namgung Clan siblings spoke with relief.
“My goodness, just when it seemed hopeless—there’s always a way out!”
The rest of the group also cheered, their faces filled with relief.
It seemed like they had found a way to survive.
At least… that’s what we thought.