Chapter 394

Chapter 394: Chapter 394 – So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

Chapter 394

Chapter Title: Propaganda (2)

Il-mok continued his extended explanation regarding the high-stakes, all-or-nothing approach.

“In addition, if our pamphlets manage to draw in a greater number of followers, and we utilize that strength to capture another fortress, we can easily pillage the corrupt local administrators and affluent aristocrats there, handing everything over to the ordinary citizens.”

This perspective did not arise because Il-mok possessed the inherent disposition of a risk-taking gambler.

Rather, it reflected the standard framework of thought for individuals who initiated military conflicts.

Il-mok could fully grasp the rationale that drove the vast majority of military commanders to gamble everything during a state of war.

‘If defeat means total destruction anyway, what point is there in holding back?’

When a person is given merely thirty days to survive and requires an astronomical sum of ten billion for a life-saving cure, the logic becomes straightforward.

Accumulating ten billion through standard, honest labor within a single month is an impossibility, and taking no action guarantees a journey to the Yellow Springs at the end of that exact period.

Under those circumstances, it makes perfect sense to maximize every available line of credit without hesitation, place the entire sum on a single wager, and attempt to exponentially increase the funds.

Should the gamble succeed, one can clear the debts and receive medical care. If it fails and the financial obligations skyrocket, the outcome remains unchanged for someone already facing imminent death.

‘Sigh. Despicable royal aristocrats.’

Il-mok suppressed his internal grievances.

By disposition, he had always favored cautious, secure paths. This high-stakes method of handling matters was far from his preferred choice.

The circumstances of the world had simply left him with no alternative.

It was only after the sun dipped below the horizon and darkness enveloped the area that he finally made his move.

“Young Master, where are you going?”

“I have quite a bit of wealth to distribute shortly, so I must handle some affairs.”

“???”

The female attendants traveling with him offered perplexed expressions upon hearing his remark.

When they arrived at their target location, the bewilderment on their countenances grew even more pronounced.

Their destination was none other than the residence of the Left Protector Sage.

Utilizing concealment methods alongside his female attendants, Il-mok slipped into the compound of the Left Protector Sage without encountering any resistance.

Upon arriving at the main chamber where the Left Protector Sage was staying, Il-mok rapidly struck the pressure points of the sentries on duty, rendering them helpless, and then announced himself in a composed manner.

“Left Protector Sage, I crave your indulgence for intruding at such an unseasonable hour, but I have arrived because there are urgent matters we must negotiate.”

He possessed several justifications for choosing a peaceful discussion rather than executing the Left Protector Sage immediately.

First, he recalled insights from his prior leadership of the Maitreya Illuminated Cult. Even though the man held an elevated government position, the Left Protector Sage had proven to be a person open to rational discourse.

The primary distinction on this occasion was that Il-mok no longer needed to take a submissive stance.

The secondary justification lay in the strategic benefit of winning over any individual capable of being convinced.

A person who had successfully climbed to the rank of Left Protector Sage undoubtedly possessed considerable talent in civil administration. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and its combined coalition were packed to the brim with combat specialists and military tacticians, yet they faced a severe shortage of bureaucratic professionals.

“…A representative from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?”

Demonstrating his perceptive nature, the query resonated from the other side of the entranceway.

“Correct.”

“Please step inside first.”

As Il-mok walked into the chamber upon the invitation of the Left Protector Sage, the official briefly exhibited a conflicted look.

‘To think they would dispatch such a youthful individual…’

He initially perceived it as a sign of disrespect, though Il-mok’s subsequent introduction made the arrangement logical.

“I am Il-mok, the final disciple of the Cult Leader.”

Il-mok offered a respectful, traditional hand gesture of greeting.

“Therefore, what objective brings you to my residence?”

“I have journeyed here to invite you to align with our movement.”

Hearing Il-mok’s declaration, Cheon-ryang opened his eyes wide in astonishment.

‘So the situation has finally developed to this point.’

Whispers indicating that the Maitreya Illuminated Cult was actually a front for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had already circulated extensively throughout Gansu Province. Naturally, these accounts had reached the ears of the Left Protector Sage.

It extended beyond mere hearsay. The Provincial Commander in charge of the military forces in Gansu Province was currently paralyzed by indecision regarding whether to mobilize his troops.

He was only delaying a definitive choice due to the absence of a direct mandate from the throne, constrained by the long-standing century-old agreement of mutual non-interference between government officials and the martial arts world.

In the midst of this tension, reports had circulated that the loose coalition of self-proclaimed righteous martial artists who had assembled to eliminate the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had been completely crushed.

At this moment, that identical Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was explicitly requesting his alignment with their campaign—what other conclusion could be drawn except that they were organizing an insurrection?

‘If only I hadn’t been deceived by that supposed physical manifestation of the Maitreya!’

Completely unaware that the youth standing before him was the exact individual who had played that spiritual role, Cheon-ryang cursed bitterly in his thoughts.

In truth, the Left Protector Sage possessed no inclination to participate in a treasonous plot.

Nonetheless, the primary factor that compelled him to host a warrior from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was his own prior political maneuvering.

He had provided backing to the Maitreya Illuminated Cult, operating under the assumption that their charitable initiatives would advance his political ascension.

Yet it was now revealed that the Maitreya Illuminated Cult was synonymous with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, an organization branded as dangerous outlaws for over two centuries.

With this faction now explicitly preparing a revolt, he was effectively positioned as a treasonous conspirator.

Furthermore, the Censor in charge of disciplinary actions was already watching him closely, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

The instant a royal mandate arrived from the capital, it was evident the official was prepared to place him under arrest immediately.

‘Attempting to turn this youth over to the Censor… that would be an incredibly disastrous decision.’

Not a single sentry within the compound had detected the young man’s entry.

Even the guards stationed right outside his personal door had been incapacitated without uttering a sound.

This demonstrated that the intruder possessed the capability to end his life at any chosen moment, leaving the young man with no cause to dread any retaliation.

For individuals who had already committed themselves to an insurrection, such concerns were entirely trivial.

Recognizing the reality of his situation, Left Protector Sage Cheon-ryang altered his strategic perspective.

‘Should I accept death at their hands to demonstrate my loyalty and safeguard my household? Or should I align with their forces to forge a new dynasty—and secure a grander title?’

Arriving at this conclusion, Cheon-ryang adopted a completely different demeanor.

“Do you genuinely possess a path to achieving ultimate success?”

Questions of morality were no longer paramount. If triumph was attainable, he would select the latter path; if failure was certain, he would remain with the former.

Furthermore, he was acutely aware of the primary obstacle threatening their uprising.

“Do you possess the necessary capability to confront the Grand Eunuch?”

Upon hearing Cheon-ryang’s inquiry, Il-mok knit his brows.

“The Grand Eunuch? To whom are you referring?”

Observing the young man’s entirely oblivious expression, Cheon-ryang uttered a quiet internal sigh and provided clarification.

“The supreme commander of all palace attendants. The terrifying figure whom every bureaucrat and minister dreads above all else. The ancient official who occupies a seat of power beneath only the sovereign himself.”

Utilizing Cheon-ryang’s description, Il-mok immediately deduced the underlying reality.

‘…The mastermind orchestrating the mutual annihilation of the central orthodox martial artists and our Divine Cult is likely this very Grand Eunuch.’

Discovering the existence of an influential hidden player he had previously been blind to, Il-mok posed a counter-question.

“To our faction, which has already launched this rebellion, his political influence is of no consequence. You understand this perfectly well. Therefore, what you are truly evaluating is that ancient figure’s individual martial capability.”

When Cheon-ryang signaled his agreement, Il-mok—following a brief moment of contemplation—offered an unexpected option.

“Demonstrating my capability within these walls might endanger innocent lives, so would you accompany me to an outdoor location for a brief period?”

Cheon-ryang wavered for a split second but quickly relented.

“Very well.”

He entertained a passing apprehension that agreeing to go outside might simply lead to his sudden execution, but he recognized the pointlessness of such fears.

The youth retained the power to end his life whenever he pleased.

Ultimately, Cheon-ryang departed from the residence alongside Il-mok, transported through the air by the female attendants who were positioned at the doorway.

Following a brief display of high-level movement techniques, they left the boundaries of Lanzhou behind, arriving at an isolated area.

“Maintain a safe distance and observe. Lady Jin, ensure you provide protection for the Left Protector Sage if necessary.”

Positioned behind Jin Ha-yeon while observing the scene, Cheon-ryang found it impossible to conceal his utter shock.

‘What exactly is he attempting to do?’

The darkness of the night was already profound, and looking forward, the outline of the young man appeared as nothing more than an indistinct, blurry shadow.

In that precise instant, vibrant crimson and azure energies commenced pooling within the palms of the obscured figure.

‘What is that?’

The two distinct energies wove together, generating a peculiar sphere that mirrored the design of a taiji diagram.

Gulp.

He detected the sound of the female warrior positioning herself protectively in front of him, as well as the other woman bearing an immense longbow on her shoulders, both swallowing hard in anticipation.

Peering slightly backward, Cheon-ryang noted that both female warriors were fixated on the youth with intensely apprehensive expressions.

“???”

As immense bewilderment expanded within Cheon-ryang’s thoughts, the young man extended his arm forward, sending the sphere drifting gently into the air ahead.

The concentration of inner energy glided forward in an deceptively serene manner, traversing a distance of roughly twenty zhang.

Suddenly—

Crackle-crackle-crackle.

A discordant, jarring screech reminiscent of a massive flock of startled birds taking flight resonated through the open space.

The entirety of the surroundings was instantaneously flooded with brilliant illumination.

“!?”

His vision stung intensely, forcing him to abruptly turn his gaze away just as a colossal, earth-shattering detonation tore through the atmosphere past his ears.

BOOM!!!!!

The magnitude of the sound was so overwhelming that a sharp, continuous ringing echoed in his ears afterward.

It was only when the blinding flash subsided that Cheon-ryang, with his head still averted and his hands clamped over his ears, finally brought himself to look back.

His expression was frozen in absolute shock.

Beneath the dim radiance of the moon, the terrain stretching out in every direction had been utterly pulverized, presenting a vista of complete devastation.

Too overwhelmed by the sight to notice anything else, he failed to perceive that the two female companions who had shown deep anxiety moments prior—the crimson-haired maiden and the spear-wielding warrior—carried matching looks of awe.

Hyeok-ryeon Seon-a and Ju Seo-yeon were likewise beholding Il-mok’s devastating world-Annihilating Chaos Jade Palm for the very first time in their lives.

While Cheon-ryang and the pair of female warriors remained frozen in astonishment, Il-mok—the individual who had just executed a nearly divine display of martial prowess—strolled back to their position.

“What is your assessment? Is this capability sufficient to contend with that Grand Eunuch?”

Because his ears were still vibrating from the blast, Cheon-ryang perceived Il-mok’s words as though they were drifting from an immense distance.

To Cheon-ryang’s disoriented senses, that distant tone sounded like an ethereal deity delivering an inquiry from the heavens above.

Consequently, in his state of shock, he simply nodded his head emphatically without offering a spoken word.

Observing Cheon-ryang’s intense nodding gesture, Il-mok inexplicably darkened his expression and knit his brows.

‘Could I have provoked his anger by demanding a demonstration of his power?’

A sudden wave of anxiety rippled through Cheon-ryang’s mind, but his assumption was completely wide of the mark.

• How dare he put your abilities to the test! Execute the simpleton this instant! He is clearly looking down on your status!

• Bah. There is no reason to worry about a decrepit old man. Eliminate him just as requested!

• Hahaha! Let your fury loose without restraint!

• Do not hold back! The maidens standing behind you are completely captivated—strike while the iron is hot!

• Is your mind occupied by absolutely nothing but depraved thoughts?!

  The entire awkward interaction was driven solely by those persistent, irritating internal side effects.