By Zephyria 
“Mu… You’re saying the Cult Leader didn’t come?”
For a moment, it looked as if Ho-yeon’s body might falter, but fortunately, he remained standing on his own two feet. Watching this, Right Guardian Il Gang-gun gripped his fan tightly.
What on earth was happening? As he pressed his lips together, the long scar torn across the corner of his mouth was momentarily compressed before returning to its original shape.
“Furthermore, why is Young Master Wi, who should be in the North Sea…?”
Since only Ho-yeon had arrived here riding the Light-Heaven Black Horse out of the two who had departed for the North Sea, Il Gang-gun’s bewilderment was only natural. For a fleeting second, he suspected that the Blood Cult bastards might have skinned Wi Ho-yeon to make a human-skin mask, but if that were the case, the Light-Heaven Black Horse would have crushed the wearer’s head rather than escorting him here so gracefully.
The Light-Heaven Black Horse, which had delivered Ho-yeon to the Heavenly Demon Palace, was still running wild in the plaza. It was an extraordinary horse to begin with, but it tended to become even more agitated when exposed to the demonic energy of the Heavenly Demon Palace.
“I believe the story will be too long if I explain it here.”
In this place, many ears—including those of the Demonic Shadow Guard—were open. When Ho-yeon looked troubled, Il Gang-gun finally realized his mistake and snapped his folded fan against his other hand.
“Let us go to my quarters first. Mumyeong.”
He then turned and called for the leader of the 3rd squad of the Demonic Shadow Guard.
“Yes, Guardian.”
“Go and notify Chief Han and Elder Do-gyeon as well.”
As soon as Il Gang-gun’s order fell, Mumyeong and several members of the Demonic Shadow Guard followed behind him. Il Gang-gun escorted Wi Ho-yeon with particular care as they left the plaza of the Heavenly Demon Palace.
Ho-yeon glanced back to check on Tae-pyeong, who was now standing in a calmer posture than before, though he was still clattering his large front teeth. However, none of the Demonic Shadow Guard seemed to have any intention of dragging Tae-pyeong to the stables.
Tae-pyeong, meeting Ho-yeon’s eyes, trotted over.
“The Light-Heaven Black Horse seems to be very fond of Young Master Wi.”
Ho-yeon flinched every time he heard Tae-pyeong’s real name. If one removed the middle two characters, it sounded no different from ‘Mad Horse.’ After stroking the face of Tae-pyeong, who was following behind him, Ho-yeon followed Il Gang-gun once more.
The two pavilions rising to the left and right beneath the Heavenly Demon Hall, as if assisting it, were the quarters of the two Guardians. They were situated in close proximity to the Cult Leader to receive orders promptly; the pavilions were identical in scale, height, and even the color of their roof tiles.
From a distance, the two pavilions looked like two hands gathered together toward the Heavenly Demon Hall. Even in the architecture, the devotion toward the Cult Leader was vividly apparent.
Right Guardian Pavilion
Ho-yeon looked up at the plaque hanging at the entrance of the pavilion before stepping inside.
Contrary to his expectation that the place would be filled with demonic energy, a sweet fragrance seeped into Ho-yeon’s nostrils. Ho-yeon was momentarily speechless at the magnificent garden that unfolded from the start of the pavilion.
Unknown Rare Flowers and Exotic Grasses bloomed everywhere, and the wisteria flowers, which draped like eaves, caught the eye by changing colors whenever they swayed in the wind, illuminated by the light of stone lanterns.
Seeing pruning shears lying on the ground, it seemed the Right Guardian had rushed out while tending to the garden. Ho-yeon gazed at the garden as if enchanted before turning toward the reception area following Il Gang-gun’s guidance.
Il Gang-gun’s expression momentarily turned grim. Ho-yeon realized the reason a moment later.
Tae-pyeong was haphazardly tasting the flowers of the garden that Il Gang-gun had painstakingly tended. As he stomped around with hooves twice the size of a normal horse’s, the garden quickly became a wreck. Ho-yeon felt apologetic on his behalf and thought about stopping Tae-pyeong, but he doubted the horse would listen to him anyway.
Despite having many questions, Il Gang-gun did not rush Ho-yeon. He only spoke after his servant placed tea on the table where they sat facing each other and left.
“Did you fail to reach the North Sea?”
“No. I arrived at the ice palace with Mu-gyeong… no, the Cult Leader. However….”
Should he explain the dwelling of the ice dragon? And the fact that there is a barrier connecting the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and the North Sea?
If the Demon Sect used that barrier to invade the North Sea, today’s actions of mine would become the starting point leading the North Sea to ruin.
“Please send a message to the ice palace.”
“Pardon?”
“The Cult Leader is currently in the North Sea.”
“…….”
Il Gang-gun could not easily comprehend Wi Ho-yeon’s words.
“Then how is it that Young Master Wi returned alone?”
“There are many circumstances. Could you please send a message to the ice palace immediately, stating that I am here?”
At Ho-yeon’s earnest request, Il Gang-gun immediately rose from his seat and rolled up his sleeves at the office desk where the four treasures of the study were placed. He quickly wrote a letter with ink and brush, then called a servant and gave instructions to move discreetly.
“How long will it take for the letter to arrive?”
“I told them to deliver it as quickly as possible, so ten days should be sufficient.”
Ten days…. Ho-yeon had prepared himself, but it was too long.
Il Gang-gun wondered if he should subject Wi Ho-yeon to torture interrogation to find out how he managed to return to the Divine Cult alone from the North Sea. However, he didn’t even attempt it, fearing it might cause trouble for the Cult Leader. It was certainly a fact that the Cult Leader’s fire energy had subsided through Wi Ho-yeon.
“The Cult Leader and I were originally in the same space, but I was caught in a strange phenomenon and ended up here alone.”
Ho-yeon did not even touch his teacup, his demeanor filled with anxiety.
Originally, he had thought about writing a letter to the Palace Master himself, stating that Mu-gyeong was trapped in the underground cave, but he couldn’t fully trust the Palace Master either. From the Palace Master’s perspective, there would be no reason to save Cheon Mu-gyeong.
And if it were Cheon Mu-gyeong without the burden of someone like me, he might be able to exit the underground cave on his own. That is, if he is still in the underground cave.
But would Mu-gyeong believe that I arrived here first? Even if he mentioned the barrier, it was a forgotten memory to him, so there was no other way.
“I apologize, but could you help me prepare to leave so that I may go to the North Sea immediately?”
“That is impossible.”
“It may be hard to believe, but the Cult Leader truly is in the North Sea right now—”
“It is not that, but currently, the Divine Cult has blocked all entry and exit.”
Despite that, I came in riding Tae-pyeong….
As if reading Ho-yeon’s inner thoughts, Il Gang-gun moistened his lips with tea and spoke.
“The Light-Heaven Black Horse is a spiritual creature that knows the Divine Cult’s magic arrays, so its movements cannot be stopped, but it is different for the people of the Divine Cult. Even so, we cannot simply send Young Master Wi and the Light-Heaven Black Horse to the North Sea alone. You would need a guide and guards.”
“For what reason has it been blockaded?”
“The Blood Cult’s blood-flame jiangshi are running rampant.”
According to the following explanation, while ordinary blood jiangshi could simply be burned to death, blood-flame jiangshi possessed the characteristic of becoming stronger within flames. Furthermore, it was said that blood-flame jiangshi possessed powerful fire attacks, capable of creating clones that exploded.
“The Divine Cult is still safe from those flames, but as various parts of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains are being burned away by the blood-flame jiangshi, Mist Valley has not been spared.”
Ho-yeon wondered if the piles of ash he had seen while searching for the demonic cult headquarters were Mist Valley. He had wondered why various parts of the mountain had turned to ash, and to think it was the work of the Blood Cult.
Cheon Mu-gyeong did not cross over into the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. If he had, there was no way he wouldn’t have entered the demonic cult headquarters after seeing such a sight.
Then did he truly escape the underground cave and go back to the place where he first fell during the landslide? Or did he go up alone, leaving me behind?
No, that’s not it. Ho-yeon was certain that Mu-gyeong was not that kind of person. Even if the current him were different from the past him, a man who would leave me alone in such a desolate place would not be the type to provide a warm bed for me.
Ho-yeon felt like tearing his hair out, not knowing what on earth was happening.
“Young Master Wi!”
The sound of a storm seemed to blow from somewhere, and the door slammed open as a woman’s voice erupted. It was Chief Han, who had rushed over while emitting demonic energy.
As soon as she saw Wi Ho-yeon, she withdrew the demonic energy that had leaked outside her dantian. However, Ho-yeon no longer felt suffocated or felt his skin tingle from their demonic energy as he had before.
“What is the meaning of this? Where is the Cult Leader?”
Chief Han, who always wore a neat official robe, was unusually disheveled. Even the sword she always wore neatly at her side was crooked, much like Tae-pyeong’s saddle.
“To be at a level where you can shake off the Cult Leader, you are truly impressive, Young Master.”
Do-gyeon, wearing an eyepatch over one eye, was entering slowly with his hands behind his back. After Chief Han took her seat, Do-gyeon filled the remaining side of the table. And once again, Ho-yeon had to explain the circumstances of how he came to be here in a roundabout way.
“In that case, I shall guide you to the North Sea.”
“Elder!”
“Senior!”
At Do-gyeon’s words, Il Gang-gun and Chief Han raised their voices in competition.
“Since we have the Light-Heaven Black Horse, who is proficient in magic arrays, if I step forward, what need is there to open the main gates of the Divine Cult?”
“The Cult Leader is absent. It is absurd for Senior Do-gyeon to leave his post while the Blood Cult is running rampant.”
Faced with Chief Han’s strong persuasion, Do-gyeon did not argue further. As the person who had suffered severe injuries after confronting a blood-flame jiangshi, he knew the seriousness of the situation well.
“Then what shall we do. I wished to repay my debt to Young Master Wi of the North Sea.”
Do-gyeon drooped his eyebrows toward Ho-yeon in a forced manner. He added that if it hadn’t been for the ice crystal grass of the North Sea, he would have suffered even greater agony from the fire poison inflicted by the blood-flame jiangshi.
Ho-yeon fully understood the situation of the Demon Sect, but he wanted to head to the North Sea even if it was just with Tae-pyeong. If by any chance Cheon Mu-gyeong was in the Eternal Snow Mountains, he would surely be looking for him. Beyond that, Ho-yeon’s thoughts reached the absolute worst-case scenario.
‘Maybe… there was a way out.’
Could he think that I left on my own? Since he had a history of disobeying Cheon Mu-gyeong’s orders and trying to escape his grasp in the Demon Sect, he might not trust him. Especially since he disappeared after saying he would tell him everything after waking up….
Ho-yeon suddenly snapped his head up. It was because a loud explosion was heard from somewhere. The other three leaped away from the table faster than Ho-yeon.
Ho-yeon also deployed his lightfoot technique to follow them out of the Right Guardian Pavilion, and soon he could see the entire view of the main headquarters spread out beneath the Heavenly Demon Palace.
Near the river below, flames were surging from the low buildings where lower-ranking warriors and ordinary merchants resided.