Chapter 555

## Chapter 555: The Lazy One Steps Out (5)

“What is the situation on the battlefield?”

“There is still… still no news!”

“Why the hell hasn’t any report arrived yet?!”

The Master of Divine Abilities (신기수) erupted in anger. The messenger, who bore the full brunt of his rage, didn’t dare meet his eyes and lowered his head deeply.

“We are gathering information as quickly as possible. Please calm your anger.”

The Master of Divine Abilities massaged his temples without responding.

‘What kind of foolishness is this?’

It wasn’t wrong to be angry. If the situation warranted it, it was right to do so. But right now, the messenger hadn’t committed any fault, and venting his frustration on others just because he was impatient was deplorable behavior.

“I’m sorry for shouting at you.”

“It’s nothing, Grand Strategist.”

The messenger quickly bowed his head again.

“I will immediately go find out more. I will inform you as soon as news arrives.”

“Please do so.”

“Yes! Then…”

As the messenger stepped back to retreat, the Master of Divine Abilities reached out and picked up his teacup. The coldness of the tea, which had already completely cooled, was conveyed to his hand.

‘I must calm down.’

He closed his eyes. His heart was beating wildly. He couldn’t identify the source of this unease.

‘Should I have gone to the battlefield?’

For the Master of Divine Abilities, it was an uncommon experience to watch a war occurring so far away. He had always preferred to monitor battle situations from positions close to the front.

Because he believed it was impossible to perceive the subtle currents of the battlefield with only numbers and the perspectives of others. If the Demon Cult (마교) hadn’t been threatening the other flank, the Master of Divine Abilities would have gone to Anhui without hesitation, following the Supreme Sovereign (권극).

‘Combat is inevitable.’

Given the Supreme Sovereign’s personality, he would try to avoid fighting as much as possible. If the situation turned unfavorable, he would undoubtedly try to stop things even by sacrificing himself.

Because the Supreme Sovereign was that kind of person.

But it was a futile effort. If the war could be stopped like that, it wouldn’t have even started. The emergence of Baekgeom Fortress (백검성) wasn’t an impulsive act.

They had been planning to seize the Central Plains (중원) for a long time. Now they were only acting because they were confident. What could make them stop?

‘This war will only end when someone dies and disappears.’

Knowing that made the Master of Divine Abilities’ heart feel heavier than ever.

‘Great Leader (맹주님).’

The only way was to quickly end the war that had begun. The longer it went on, the greater the threat from the Demon Cult would become.

“What about the movements of the Demon Cult?”

“There are reports that they approached Qinghai but have stopped for now.”

“Stopped?”

“Yes. It seems the Wei Family of Guangdong (광동위가) managed to escape their pursuit.”

“…Escaped?”

The Master of Divine Abilities’ face tightened.

It was extremely good news. Wei Jeonghan (위정한) and Wei Yanho (위연호), whom everyone had assumed were dead, had survived. How could he not be happy?

Wei Yanho was irritating and unpleasant to see. But that didn’t mean the Master of Divine Abilities hated him.

It was like seeing a troublesome grandson.

So, it was something to celebrate. But the Master of Divine Abilities couldn’t enjoy that joy.

How the hell had they escaped the Demon Cult?

‘What is going on…?’

The Demon Cult wasn’t just any group. The Master of Divine Abilities knew better than anyone how terrifying they were. He had waged war against them, mutually aiming for each other’s necks.

How many people in the martial world could understand better than him how stubborn, strong, and fearsome they were?

According to the Master of Divine Abilities’ judgment, Wei Jeonghan and Wei Yanho should have been buried there. Burning a sacred place was something the Demon Cult would never forgive.

Even the Bishops (주교), who normally wouldn’t lift a finger, should have personally come out to capture them.

And they escaped?

The Master of Divine Abilities tilted his head back.

Not even his brilliant mind could clearly see the situation. It was like looking at a lake covered by a dense fog. He knew there was a large lake under the fog, but he couldn’t see it.

‘Think.’

It was impossible for them to have failed after deploying all their power.

Then there were only two possibilities.

Either they never intended to capture them, or they didn’t have the strength to do so.

It couldn’t be that they didn’t intend to. Even if they were planning something and didn’t want to kill them, they could have captured them. There was no benefit in letting Wei Yanho and the others return to the Central Plains.

So, it meant they didn’t have the strength.

‘Why?’

Because Wei Yanho was too strong?

No. That couldn’t be.

Of course, Wei Yanho was becoming exponentially stronger. When he sent him to the Tang Family (당가), he couldn’t even imagine that Wei Yanho would defeat the Heavenly Flowing Sword (천류검).

Wei Yanho’s growth had completely exceeded the Master of Divine Abilities’ expectations. If he had to choose which was more surprising, his strength at that age or that he maintained that rate of growth, he wouldn’t hesitate to choose the latter.

But no matter how fast he grew, there were things possible and impossible. Even if Wei Yanho had become twice as strong as when he beat the Heavenly Flowing Sword, escaping the pursuit of the Demon Cult was impossible.

But it had happened.

“Are you sure?”

“It’s a fact that they pursued the Wei Family of Guangdong. And some witnesses saw from afar how a small group broke away from their pursuit.”

“Then, where are they now?”

“According to their speed, they should have entered Shaanxi (섬서) by now.”

“And Mount Hua (화산)? Has there been no news from them?”

“Not yet…”

“Ugh.”

The Master of Divine Abilities let out a deep sigh without realizing it.

‘I must think.’

There was something. Something he had overlooked.

No matter how much he thought, he couldn’t catch that elusive something…

‘Lack of strength?’

The Master of Divine Abilities’ temples throbbed. The brush he was holding snapped in two and fell to the ground.

“Grand Strategist?”

The Master of Divine Abilities trembled as if he had been struck by lightning. It seemed no sound could reach his ears at that moment.

And finally, his lips opened.

“The surveillance…”

“Yes?”

“How are the defenses at the entrance to Shaanxi?”

“The surveillance troops were concentrated in Qinghai. And the other half is in Anhui, isn’t it?”

“The troops in Qinghai?”

“The spies watching the Demon Cult have been scattered throughout Qinghai and Sichuan (사천). We need to find out their route of advance…”

“This…”

The Master of Divine Abilities stood up abruptly.

Everyone stared at him, uncomprehending.

“You incompetent fools!”

“G-Grand Strategist!”

“We’ve been tricked.”

Everything began to become clear.

They hadn’t captured the Wei Family of Guangdong. If a few Bishops had acted, it would have been easy. That they didn’t only meant one thing.

“There were no Bishops.”

If there had been Bishops there, they wouldn’t have allowed them to escape. They weren’t there.

Then, where were they?

Where else would the Bishops be if they weren’t with the main group?

“Anhui…”

“Yes?”

“Send a message to Anhui! Now! Immediately! Send a carrier pigeon! The Bishops of the Demon Cult are heading there!”

“G-Grand Strategist!”

“Now!”

“Yes!”

The Master of Divine Abilities’ face twisted like that of a demon.

‘Damn it.’

It had all been a trap since they showed the movement of their main forces. That’s why they hadn’t eliminated the spies. It wasn’t a show of confidence. It was a signal for them to observe and act.

The Bishops had never planned to move with them. It was obvious that from the beginning, they had moved separately, leaving only the minimum necessary to control the main group.

It was impossible for such a large group to evade the Martial Alliance (정무맹)’s spies.

But a small group led by Bishops?

Even if they had already infiltrated the Central Plains, the spies wouldn’t have noticed anything. The difference in their abilities was abysmal. Even if a Bishop passed over the head of a spy with his eyes open, he wouldn’t notice anything.

Then, where would they have gone?

Anhui.

And…

“Reinforce the defenses! Call all the disciples of Wudang (무당)!”

“Where, sir?”

“Here, of course!”

“The main headquarters??”

“Hurry!”

Although their faces still showed confusion, the Master of Divine Abilities’ ferocity prevented further questions.

“What… a stupid mistake.”

The Demon Cult moves.

The Demon Cult moves together.

The Bishops were the core strength of the Demon Cult. So, no matter what, they should be with the main group.

But they had exploited that blind spot.

‘But how?’

The Bishops were figures in conflict with each other. It was impossible for them to move in such a coordinated manner. It could only happen if someone at the top gave orders.

But not even the Great Demon King (대마대제) had achieved that. Who could be doing it now?

‘The Blood Demon (혈마)? The War Demon (전마)?’

No. They weren’t enough.

Even if one of the Bishops took full control, he could never obtain the authority that the former Great Demon King had. To move the Bishops as extensions of his will, absolute power surpassing it was needed.

Then, had he appeared?

That absolute power?

A leader with enough authority for the fearsome Bishops of the Demon Cult to infiltrate the Central Plains without complaint?

‘Could the Heavenly Demon (천마) have appeared?’

Otherwise, it was impossible.

It made no sense according to logic. But that was exactly what was happening.

‘Perhaps I’ve gotten ahead of myself too much. Perhaps…’

Maybe it was nothing. Maybe Wei Yanho and the others had escaped purely by luck, and the Bishops, in their internal conflict, didn’t pursue them.

Surely that was possible, surely!

But…

‘Bad premonitions always come true.’

It was his heart, not his head, that was speaking. Something was very wrong.

“Send carrier pigeons to Qingcheng (청성) and Kongtong (공동). We need reinforcements.”

“Even to them?”

“Yes! Right now! Tell them to abandon their mountains and come to the headquarters. This is not a request. It’s an order. In the name of the Great Leader… No! I’ll write it myself! Me!”

He had to do something.

If he stood by with his arms crossed, a disaster would occur.

The Master of Divine Abilities’ mind began to work at full speed.

But…

It was already too late.

BOOOOM!

A sudden, enormous explosion caused the Master of Divine Abilities’ eyes to widen.

“What was that?”

“What is that sound?!”

Everyone rushed to the window. Those who looked outside slowly turned their heads back.

There was no need to look to know.

What had happened.

The color had drained from their faces, and their fingers were trembling.

It was impossible not to know.

The Master of Divine Abilities closed his eyes in silence.

The sound he least wanted to hear at that moment reached his ears.

“The Demon Cult… has arrived.”

Tricked.

A perfect defeat.