Chapter : 204
“W‑What… what happened…?”
Only after belatedly taking in his surroundings did the Sect Master of Saon realize the situation. His eyes shook violently with disbelief and terror.
It was only natural that Owon, who had been carefully moving forward, sensed the gaze and turned his head. Having witnessed everything from the very center of the slaughter, Owon’s senses were at their sharpest.
The moment he met the eyes of the Saon Sect Master—eyes desperately trying to deny reality—Owon shook his head.
At the pleading look directed at him, he opened his mouth firmly.
“Your greed went too far, Sect Master Saon.”
“O‑O Great Hero O! What do you mean by—”
Ignoring the flustered voice as if it didn’t concern him, Owon turned away and resumed walking.
Reaching the wide‑open main gate, Owon turned his body and cupped his fists toward Cheon Mujin.
“Then, I shall take my leave.”
With a deep bow, Owon disappeared.
The Sect Master of Saon, who had been staring blankly at the utterly unreal scene, suddenly snapped back to his senses.
“O‑O‑Owoooon!! How dare you! How dare you!”
Despite the furious, betrayal‑filled scream, Owon did not falter in the slightest and vanished in an instant.
“Is it really fine to let him go like that?” Seong Dowoon asked.
Cheon Mujin waved his hand dismissively.
“It doesn’t matter.”
It truly didn’t.
“A mere Saon Sect won’t be enough to make the Evil Alliance move.”
Like most massive organizations formed as alliances, it was fundamentally a gathering driven by profit—not individual gain, but the利益 of each group.
That was why neither the Martial Alliance nor the Evil Alliance could start a war unless public sentiment gathered to a certain degree.
Especially not against an extreme enemy like the Heavenly Demon Cult.
A war where the losses would clearly outweigh the benefits? There was no reason for the Evil Alliance to choose that.
“If they had swallowed up most of the Evil Alliance, then it’d be a different story.”
But that wouldn’t happen.
The Evil Alliance was a collection of people more sensitive to profit than anyone else. As long as that man existed, they wouldn’t be completely consumed so easily.
Of course, in the tragedy yet to come, the Evil Alliance would be the first to collapse—but that wasn’t because the entire unorthodox faction was destroyed.
It was simply that people realized the Evil Alliance itself had become meaningless, and each chose to fend for themselves.
Turning his gaze toward the trembling Sect Master of Saon, Cheon Mujin walked over.
“D‑Don’t come any closer!”
The sect master collapsed onto the ground, scrambling backward, but Cheon Mujin had no intention of conversing at length.
What he wanted was clear.
“If you cooperate properly, your end won’t be very painful.”
* * *
“Hu… hng.”
Summoned by Cheon Mujin, Mo Unjak arrived at the Saon Sect and swallowed hard at the crimson carnage visible the moment he crossed the gate.
Having climbed as far as a branch chief within the Demonic Cult, he had experienced more than enough life‑and‑death situations—enough to understand all the more clearly.
“Th‑This was a one‑sided massacre.”
There were hardly any signs of resistance, and the corpses were all oriented outward, as if they had been fleeing.
The terror was indescribable, because the final moments of those who had abandoned even the thought of fighting were left vividly behind.
And that was because—
“This is someone you must never make an enemy of.”
Mo Unjak had learned through life itself that someone capable of such cruelty must never be opposed.
In an overwhelming battle like this, killing those who abandon fighting and try to flee in terror is far harder than it sounds.
When one is intoxicated by the thrill of life‑and‑death combat, it’s easy to cut down surrendering foes without realizing it. But in a battle this one‑sided, there is no such frenzy.
This meant everything had been done through cold, rational judgment.
Those who carried it out—and the one who ordered it all.
People who must never be made enemies.
Either they had lost their sanity entirely, or they were capable of severing the human heart at will.
Swallowing his dry saliva, Mo Unjak bowed deeply toward Cheon Mujin, who was seated near the building entrance.
“We‑We will take care of the bodies. I’ve also sent people to the Black Path, so the investigation will begin immediately.”
“It’s good when people understand each other so easily.”
Nodding, Cheon Mujin rose to his feet.
“By midnight tonight. Don’t miss even the smallest detail—bring everything.”
“Yes!”
Leaving Mo Unjak’s booming reply behind him, Cheon Mujin exited the Saon Sect and headed straight back to the branch.
“Lord, wouldn’t it be better if you moved personally?” Seong Dowoon asked.
Cheon Mujin gave a bitter smile.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have talent in that area.”
Cheon Mujin fundamentally lacked talent as an information gatherer. He had never been properly trained for it, and his conversational skills weren’t good enough to skillfully lead others into revealing answers.
And he couldn’t very well torture everyone he met.
So it was better to wait quietly.
He might not be good at gathering information himself, but he could judge well based on what had been collected.
How much time had passed as Cheon Mujin waited quietly in the branch chief’s office?
“Come in.”
Sensing someone outside before a knock came, Cheon Mujin spoke first. The person outside froze mid‑motion.
After a brief hesitation, the door opened, and a figure clad in pitch‑black clothes, wearing a white mask, knelt before him.
“I pay my respects to the Great Young Master of the Cheon Family.”
“You’re one of Senior Salseong’s subordinates. What is it? Have you found new information?”
Expectation crept into Cheon Mujin’s voice.
It was Salseong who had first reported Cheon Muyang’s disappearance.
However, Salseong had discovered it only incidentally while pursuing traitors of the Wi Family. He hadn’t personally begun searching for Cheon Muyang because he had been on another mission.
So for Salseong to suddenly send someone here—
Expectation was unavoidable.
The woman trembled slightly under Cheon Mujin’s gaze and bowed deeply.
“…Salseong has gone missing.”
“…Who did you say is missing?”
“We’ve lost contact with Salseong. Even during missions, he never goes more than two days without contact—but it has already been three days.”
The news that even Salseong had disappeared caused Cheon Mujin’s brow to twist.
Could there truly be no connection between the two?
No. There had to be one.
And if there was a connection, then—
“The Wi Family intervened. Why?”
What benefit was there in abducting Muyang?
Though the balance of power had largely tilted thanks to Cheon Mujin’s actions, the position of Young Cult Leader had not yet been decided.
If the Wi Family rallied public opinion to check Cheon Mujin, it wouldn’t be entirely ineffective.
Especially if they had joined hands with those who wield tainted energy—then expanding their operational range in the open would be the correct move.
Rather than abduct Cheon Muyang, it would make more sense to stay by his side and try to persuade him.
As Cheon Mujin’s thoughts flowed naturally to their conclusion, his expression hardened.
What if Cheon Muyang’s resolve was absolute?
What if they judged it impossible to manipulate him?
“…Tell me the last place Senior Salseong’s trail ended.”
“Yes. Here.”
Snatching the neatly folded paper the woman produced, Cheon Mujin scanned its contents.
Then he immediately returned to his seat and reviewed all the information gathered so far.
“Contact the branch chief. Tell him I need specific information immediately.”
* * *
A damp underground prison.
Despite the clammy air, Cheon Muyang—his lips cracked from lack of water—raised his head at the presence he felt across from him.
His eyes widened when he saw who was imprisoned in the opposite cell.
“…Elder Salseong?”
“So you’re still alive, Cheon Muyang.”
Wearing a partially shattered mask, Salseong was pinned to the wall, several stakes driven through his body.
“I doubt I’ll live much longer, though.”
“Wh‑What happened to you?”
“My mistake. I never imagined their strength was at that level.”
Recalling those mobilized to capture him, Salseong frowned behind his mask.
“I fell into their trap like a fool. I’m too ashamed to even lift my head.”
“…A trap?”
At that word, Cheon Muyang’s expression stiffened.
Calling it a trap was one thing—but to bind Salseong would require extraordinary preparation.
A trap capable of capturing a demonic‑level warrior.
The moment he realized that, only one thought crossed Cheon Muyang’s mind.
“D‑Does my brother—no, does Cheon Mujin know about me?”
At the trembling voice, Salseong was silent for a moment before answering.
“He likely does. I reported it. The branch would have submitted a report as well.”
“…I see.”
Cheon Muyang closed his eyes with a sigh.
Watching him quietly, Salseong spoke calmly.
“Are you thinking of taking your own life?”
“If I’m to become a burden, I will end it myself.”
A resolute answer.
Salseong let out a hollow laugh.
“Now I understand why the Cult Leader kept only one wife.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You don’t need to know.”
Salseong didn’t know what Cheon Wigun had felt when he killed his half‑brothers in revenge for his younger sibling.
He couldn’t know—and had no way to.
And so—
“He must have hoped that true brothers could end things without resorting to mutual destruction.”
Cheon Muyang fell silent, unable to understand the meaning behind Salseong’s words.
But unfortunately, mention of his mother only strengthened his resolve.
“…I can’t forget my mother’s last words to me.”
“You must’ve been very young.”
To remember words spoken when one could barely walk.
Realizing anew just how exceptional Cheon Muyang’s mind was, Salseong chuckled.
“Then what did she say?”
“Nothing special. That she loved me. That I should get along with my brother. That I shouldn’t fight him.”
“So that’s why you never confronted Cheon Mujin directly?”
Cheon Muyang said nothing.
Had he only remembered his mother’s words, he might have acted more boldly.
But—
“…That’s not the only reason.”
If Cheon Mujin had been a rotten person, he might have given up.
But he still remembered his brother’s back—the one who carried him out of the forest after being badly injured because of his childish whining.
He still remembered his brother shielding him even while being scolded by their mother.
And so—
“I won’t become a burden.”
Cheon Muyang steeled himself.
Once preparations were complete, he would end his own life without hesitation.
Before falling into their hands.
A fierce will flickered in Cheon Muyang’s lightless eyes.
Watching him, Salseong grinned crookedly.
“Don’t say things like that. I might end up beaten to death by that monster.”
Did Salseong not know how strong Cheon Mujin was?
He had watched him fight a king‑class monster from afar—and had personally seen him battle that inhuman thing.
Salseong knew well that Cheon Mujin’s strength had already surpassed common sense.
And so—
“Wait. It won’t take long.”
Cheon Mujin would come.
Even if the place was filled with traps.
And he would show them—
That before overwhelming power, petty schemes meant absolutely nothing.
