◈ Jeokhodan (4)
“… … Are you insulting us now?”
The head of the Jeokho Danju asked with anger, but Mujin didn’t care.
“If you just do what the master tells you to do, even if the master tries to kill you, how is that any different from a slave? ah. Is it not a slave? ”
“How dare you criticize our loyalty to the church!”
The Jeokho Danju drew his sword in anger, but Mujin was still sitting in his chair and just laughed at the Jeokho Danju.
“Seeing as they are trying to continue their mission without any hesitation in the midst of this, it seems like this is not the first time something like this has happened. Now that I see it, it looks like the Red Tigers were properly captured by someone high up in the Demonic Cult?”
When I mentioned something I knew from a novel, the leader of the Jeokho Danju, who had drawn his sword, flinched without realizing it.
Ever since Ouyangpae joined the Red Tigers, the only missions given to the Red Tigers were missions of extreme difficulty leading to death.
Nevertheless, the reason the Red Tigers could not refuse those missions was something else disguised as loyalty or faith.
“Why don’t you just be honest? It’s not loyalty, is it? “If you refuse the mission, you will be branded an apostate and be summarily executed, so don’t you have no choice but to follow orders?”
In response to Mujin’s words, which clearly pierce his heart, the leader of the Jeokho Danju, who had drawn his sword with excitement, only shook his fist. He could not bear to swing the sword.
And Ouyang Pae, who had been listening to the entire conversation next to him, opened his mouth with a calm expression.
“I didn’t know your insight was so great. But then, don’t you know? There is only one choice anyway. “It’s called ‘Wasin Sangdam (臥薪嘗膽),’ so now I have no choice but to carry out the tasks they tell me to do, improve my skills, and aim for the future.”
In response to Ooyangpae’s words, Mujin flicked his index finger left and right to express that what the other person said was wrong.
“That is self-justification. Do you obey and wait for the other person until the opportunity comes someday? Of course, with your talent and skills, you will be able to endure, but in the meantime, the other members of the Red Tigers will die one by one. Are you planning to dismiss the deaths of your comrades as mere sacrifices for you?”
Originally, it was in the second half of the novel that the Ouyang group began to rebel against the upper echelons of the Demonic Cult in earnest.
After persistently succeeding in the missions of the Jeokhodan and continuing to gain enlightenment with his innate understanding, he would reach the point of debridement and purify the Demonic Cult.
But that was only possible if the story unfolded as it was in the novel. Now, with his intervention, the situation has changed.
Therefore, rather than relying on luck and hoping that the development would proceed as is, it was necessary to take the initiative to change the situation.
And in Mujin’s opinion, there was no better time than now for the Ouyang faction to rebel against the Church.
“Then what should I do? “Do you mean to rebel against the church and become an apostate right now?”
“The opposite.”
“Are you saying the opposite?”
Mujin thought as he looked at the two people expressing doubt. Now is the best time to bring up ‘that story’.
“If you, the armed forces of the Demonic Cult, are the people of the Sun Palace who would come all the way here to Nanman and kill them, there would only be one person. “Aren’t you trying to kill Geum Yang-hwi, the head of the Sun Palace?”
“How do you do that!?”
The head of the Jeokho Danju shouted without even realizing it. On the other hand, Ouyang Pae, who until now did not know who the target was, had a puzzled look on his face.
Looking at the surprised face of the Jeokhodanju, Mujin answered as if it was no big deal.
“He’s the only person in the Sun Palace with ties to the Demonic Cult, right? Geumyanghwi was one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demonic Cult.”
The Demonic Cult had Cheonma, the highest leader, and Gwangmyeongjwasa and Gwangmyeongwoosa, who took on the role of the sect when the leader was absent.
And the person in power right below Gwangmyeong Jwasa and Gwangmyeong Usa was none other than the Four Heavenly Kings.
If the left and right messengers, commonly referred to as the left and right guardians, were a kind of vice lords, the Four Heavenly Kings were a kind of general.
Twenty military units that exist in the Demonic Cult. The Four Heavenly Kings were symbols of military power, each overseeing five military units.
Of course, since it was a Demonic Cult based on the logic of power in the first place, the martial arts of the Heavenly Demon and the left and right guardian angels were superior to those of the Four Heavenly Kings, but in any case, Geumyanghwi was said to be at least one of the top ten masters in the Demonic Cult.
The reason why Mujin tried to resolve the conflict with the Sun Palace through Mugung was because of Geum Yang Hwi.
Even though Geumyanghwi was an outsider from the Demonic Cult, he held an important position in the Sun Palace due to his martial arts skills using Yeolyangjigi.
‘There’s no need to recall plans that were lost.’
Moojin shook off his idle thoughts and added.
“What better justification could there be to drive the Red Tigers to their deaths than the justification to punish the apostate Geumyang-Hwi?”
“… … “How on earth do you know that?”
Mujin shrugged his shoulders and answered the Red Tigers’ question filled with hostility and suspicion.
“That’s not important now, is it? “Isn’t survival a priority?”
“… … So, what do you want to say? Are you saying that we should join hands with that apostate Geum Yang-hwi and become apostates together?”
To the question of Ouyangpae, who was listening to the conversation between Jeokhodanju and Mujin with a calm face, Mujin answered by clapping his hands.
“You got it right! Since it is called 以夷制夷 (以夷制夷), what is the reason the church gave you this mission? If you fail, isn’t it because it’s better for you to die, and if you succeed, it’s better for you to be able to kill the apostate Geum Yang-hwi?”
“!!!”
“So, conversely, embrace the apostate Geum Yang-hwi and make him an ally. And just like Geumyanghwi, it is to purify the church by gathering those who are hostile towards the upper echelons of the church and apostates.”
“No matter how much the church has put us in danger, how can we join hands with an apostate who has betrayed the will of the church?”
When Ouyangpae responded as if he was angry, Mujin shook his head with a pitiful face.
“Is it really the will of the doctrine that you are following? It seems to me that you are just following the will of the upper-class people?”
“… … .”
“Geumyanghwi is a person who left when the religion was corrupted by the corruption of the upper class. In a way, he could be said to be a faithful believer who only followed doctrine.”
Geumyanghwi ultimately loses his life to Ouyangpae in the first part of the novel.
And he had that conversation with Ouyang Pae at the end.
– If I had known that someone like you would appear… … I should have stayed at the school until the end.
– Is that the last will of the apostate?
– Cough. I know. This also happened because of my lack of faith. However, before I go, I will give you one last piece of advice as someone who was an adult in the church. Be careful of the left and right guardians.
That will was a turning point in the novel. As an illegitimate son, Ouyangpae naturally suspected that his half-brothers were trying to kill him.
However, thanks to that will, I learned that there were left and right guardians behind my half-brothers.
‘Of course, I didn’t believe it at first.’
Unlike Master Gwangmyeong, who openly showed hostility to Ouyang Pae, Zwasa was kind to Ouyang Pae.
Naturally, the Guyang group thought it was a lie spouted by a corrupt person to induce internal strife, but the truth was eventually revealed in the latter half of the story.
But what was important now was not the ending of Part 1 of the novel.
“Also, besides Geumyanghwi, aren’t there many people inside and outside the school who are concerned about the doctrine being corrupted? For example, King Cheongnae (靑雷王), a member of the current Four Heavenly Kings. Men like Geomma, the master of the sword gate.”
In the second half of the novel, Mujin recited one by one the main characters who supported Ouyang’s group when they rebelled.
There was a risk that telling the characters what would happen in the future would completely change the plot, but now that I had decided to change it anyway, there was no reason to hesitate.
Only then will this guy be able to be persuaded, and although this guy must take the path of apostasy, he will be able to persuade Geumyanghwi, who he originally would have killed with his own hands.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
‘And if we recruit Sun Palace as an ally through Geumyanghwi, we will be able to overturn the table laid by Shincheon.’
While Mujin was thinking of such thoughts. Jeokho Danju shouted with a face as if he had seen her ghost.
“Who the hell are you? “How can you know such things?”
If a man you were meeting for the first time was reciting this kind of information, it was bound to arouse suspicion.
However, Mujin had already experienced this situation several times, so he also thought of a solution.
“Have you ever heard of magical powers?”
* * *
After finishing the conversation with Mujin, Ouyangpae went into the room with Jeokhodanju.
The two men just sat in silence. This was because each person was busy organizing their complicated thoughts.
Then, the head of the Jeokho Danju, who first organized his thoughts, asked Ouyangpae.
“What do you plan to do?”
To the Red Tigers’ question, Ouyangpae answered in a calm tone.
“These are just words from someone outside the church. It is foolish to believe unconditionally. However, it was too accurate and specific to just ignore.”
“Then, did you plan on following his words?”
“First of all, I’m thinking about contacting Geumyanghwi. It will not be too late to make a decision after confirming whether Geum Yang-hwi really committed apostasy due to corruption in the upper class or whether he was just a thief who stole martial arts and ran away.”
In some ways, it could be said to be the most standard answer. But the Jeokhodanju was not satisfied with that and asked again.
“If Geumyanghwi was truly a faithful believer. “What were you planning to do at that time?”
“… … .”
Ouyangpae, who seemed to ponder for a moment about the question of the Red Tiger Danju, made up his mind and opened his mouth, looking straight at the Red Tiger Danju.
“If that’s the case, you should return to your church. Please go and sell my name to save the members. If you say that Ouyang Hui betrayed the religion and joined hands with Geumyang Hui, you will probably be able to survive.”
In the end, it meant walking the path of an apostate.
Was it because of Ouyangpae’s concern for himself and the members of the Jeokhodan in the meantime?
“We will never sell your name.”
no. From the time he first asked Ouyang Pae, Red Tiger Danju had already made up his mind.
chin.
The Jeokho Danju, who had been acting as a superior to protect Ouyang Pae from the gaze of the upper class, suddenly got down on one knee and showed respect to Ouyang Pae.
“Neung Gok-hwan, Danju of the Red Tigers of the Great Heavenly Demon Church. “I pledge to follow Confucius Ouyangpai until the day I die.”
Originally, it was an oath from the Red Tigers that would have taken place years later.
Looking at the Red Tiger Danju who suddenly showed his respect towards him, Ouyang Pai responded with an uncharacteristically troubled look on his face.
“Get up. Lord Danju. “If you join me, not only the master but also the members will be in danger.”
“These are members who have been through hardships and hardships together on the battlefield for many years. How can I not know their hearts? “All of the members have the same thoughts as me.”
The fact that the Ouyang group was assigned to the Red Tigers, and the higher-ups of the Demonic Cult casually tried to destroy the Red Tigers along with the Ouyang group.
It was all because of the unique composition of the Jeokhodan, Neung Gok-hwan, the leader of the Jeokhodan, knew.
Those who were assigned to the Red Guard were all people without a background.
Those who are not from a famous family belonging to the Demonic Cult. These are people who have no connection to people in the upper echelons of the church.
The Jeokhodan was a place where consumables who did not regret dying at any time gathered.
This was quite a strange thing.
In the teachings of the Demonic Cult, the highest priority is not family or connections, but pure martial arts. It was the law of strong self-respect.
The gathering of such people in the current Jeokhodan was no different from symbolizing the deterioration of the church.
However, this decision was not made simply out of dissatisfaction with the church.
“Also, Confucius has gone through many battlefields with us over the past two years. So everyone knows it. “Confucius is truly a warrior worthy of the title of ‘Heavenly Demon.’”
What the Jeokhodan leader and members believed in was the existence of the Guyangpae itself.
“So, please ascend to the position of Heavenly Demon and purify the religion.”
At the request of the Red Tigers, Ouyang Pae gently closed his eyes as if he was lost in thought for a moment.
And after a while. When he opened his eyes. There was no hesitation left in his eyes.
“It will be no different from a mud pit. Still, will you be with me?”
“The battlefield so far was no different from a battlefield. We will follow Master Xiao until we die!”
Neung Gok-hwan, who proudly shouted, even got down on his knees and bowed to Ouyang Pae.
“The arrival of the Heavenly Demon! “Manmaangbok (萬魔仰伏)!”
It was a slogan that was usually shouted when praising the Heavenly Demon in the Demonic Church, but Neung Gok-Hwan shouted the slogan with a different meaning.
The Heavenly Demon will soon arrive, and all demons in the world will obey him.
According to the prophecy written in the doctrine.
After bowing to Ouyang Pai with an moved face, the Red Tiger Danju raised his head and asked.
“Master Xiao! “Do you have anything else to order?”
The question was asked because I wanted to do something as a future Cheonma and his subordinates, rather than as a relationship between Danju and Danwon.
Ouyangpae thought for a moment and then answered.
“I don’t think there’s anything to do right now until I meet Geum Yang-hwi. Instead, later, when I returned to school. “Do some research on Sejak.”
“What do you mean by Sejak?”
“That guy named Mujin knows too much. “And it was as specific as if I had seen it in person.”
Unlike Do Wol-cheon, who was innocent, Ouyang-pae was a man with many doubts.
fantasy, martial arts, fusion,