By Zephyria 
HF 20
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In the Heavenly Demon Great Hall, which was saturated with demonic energy, the Cult Leader’s eyes glowed with a red light. This was because the demonic energy was flowing toward him, seeking its master. However, within the Cult Leader’s own mental power, that energy was transformed into his own pure essence. This was because he had already reached the stage of transcending demonicity.
Suddenly, an immense fire energy began to seethe from the Cult Leader’s entire body. It felt as if lava, capable of melting away all the demonic energy filling the hall, was instantaneously flowing throughout the space.
The intensity was so great that the two guardians, who were among the top ten in terms of martial prowess within the cult, did not dare approach. They were all too familiar with this kind of heat. It was identical to the vicious blazing fire exhaled by the fire dragon.
Suddenly, the fierce fire energy surged into the Cult Leader’s right arm, and a snake-like energy flickered along the tendons of his thick forearm. Beneath the half-exposed sleeve, black characters began to carve themselves densely into his skin.
The inscribed words, etched like a brand, wrapped around his forearm as if they were alive. Despite the immense pain that must have accompanied the fire energy, the Cult Leader’s expression remained unchanged. It was as if he was so accustomed to it that he felt no pain at all.
Looking at the curse of the fire dragon cast upon his arm, he muttered.
“Keep a closer eye on Wi Ho-yeon.”
Neither guardian dared to voice the thought: Even more than this? Ho-yeon’s every move was already being monitored by those who boasted the finest stealth techniques in the Demonic Shadow Guard. The guardians once again shouted their obedience. However, the Cult Leader had already vanished from the hall.
“…Ji Hyeok-gyeong, did we actually do the right thing?”
At Il Gang-gun’s question, which came a while later, Ji Hyeok-gyeong let out a low groan. They were the ones who had insisted on bringing the child of the Palace Master from the Ice Palace, but now he was no longer certain if it had been a wise decision.
“Wi Ho-yeon certainly doesn’t seem to have the extreme yin constitution, yet the Cult Leader’s interest is excessive…”
“Right? You agree that it’s interest, don’t you?”
Il Gang-gun quickly agreed, glad that he wasn’t the only one thinking this.
While assisting the Cult Leader, they had attempted to introduce various people into his private quarters, but they had never succeeded. Among them were many beauties and handsome men who could leave even the two guardians spellbound. But thinking back, how could any of them compare to Wi Ho-yeon?
Even with his hair dyed dark, he was as exquisite as a snow lotus blooming on the eternal snow mountains; it was impossible to gauge how dazzling he would be if he revealed his pure white hair. After a period of silence, they both gasped and looked at each other simultaneously.
“Could it be that the Cult Leader…?”
As Il Gang-gun failed to finish his sentence, Ji Hyeok-gyeong pointed at him, asking, You too? Il Gang-gun nodded and used his fan to smack away Ji Hyeok-gyeong’s pointing hand. The two were clearly arriving at the same conclusion. Their thoughts were in sync, but neither Il Gang-gun nor Ji Hyeok-gyeong dared to speak it aloud.
The inner thought: ‘Has he developed feelings for Wi Ho-yeon?’
‘But Wi Ho-yeon is essentially here as a hostage, so there is no way he would have positive feelings toward the Cult Leader. Therefore, the Cult Leader must have created a situation to hide his true identity.’
Though the two guardians did not get along well, their inner thoughts were remarkably aligned. Thus, they reached the same conclusion once again.
“Come to think of it, it started after he saw the portrait.”
At Ji Hyeok-gyeong’s words, Il Gang-gun snapped his fan open in agreement.
“Something that did not exist, now exists.”
Il Gang-gun and Ji Hyeok-gyeong simultaneously recalled the Cult Leader’s words.
He was a man who had not given even a shred of his heart to anyone. Yet, saying that something which did not exist now exists—did that not mean that someone had finally appeared to shake his heart!
“The Palace Master truly raised a fine daughter.”
At the voice echoing from the pitch-black ceiling, the two guardians each let out a short cry of surprise. The one hiding in the ceiling was Do-gyeon, the Sharp-Tongued Demon.
Although Do-gyeon was well over fifty, his appearance was far younger than that of the two guardians. If not for the eyepatch covering one eye, he could easily pass for a young master of some prestigious noble family.
The two guardians were quite looking forward to the day Do-gyeon’s remaining eye would actually be plucked out. The Cult Leader must have left him there despite knowing he was hiding.
“Is it because you only have one eye? Wi Ho-yeon is a son, not a daughter,” Il Gang-gun grumbled.
“Aha, so the Cult Leader is becoming a sodomite now?”
Thud. Do-gyeon landed on the floor and chuckled. Unable to tolerate the insult toward the Cult Leader, Il Gang-gun infused his fan with killing intent and swung it toward Do-gyeon.
“Il Gang-gun, it truly seems your time to die has come!”
As if waiting for this moment, Do-gyeon drew his sword and sliced through Il Gang-gun’s fan diagonally. He then moved to rip open the other side of the man’s mouth.
“That is enough.”
At the Cult Leader’s telepathic transmission, laden with terrible cultivation power, Do-gyeon clicked his tongue. Do-gyeon lowered his sword just inches before ripping Il Gang-gun’s mouth. Ji Hyeok-gyeong also finally lowered his hand, which had been coated in demonic energy to stop Do-gyeon.
There was only one reason why Do-gyeon, who sought to draw blood at every opportunity, would suddenly stop his attack: the Cult Leader. Was the Cult Leader, who had already left the room, aware of everything happening inside the Heavenly Demon Great Hall? The two guardians marveled once again at the Cult Leader’s realm, which could see a thousand miles away.
Il Gang-gun, in particular, swore his loyalty to the Cult Leader even more deeply. The Cult Leader had been the one to take the life of the enemy who had ripped his lips long ago. Once again, he had protected him from the blade that would have torn his mouth.
“Fine, I get it! Unless you plan on blowing my head open, stop pressing your energy into me!”
Do-gyeon shouted harshly toward the empty air and spat out a low curse. It seemed the Cult Leader’s internal energy-infused telepathic transmission was tormenting him.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this? I might just eat him up before the Cult Leader does! No, can’t I even make a joke! Just know that I’ll be taking a hefty payment for cleaning up after this!”
Since there was no way to know where the Cult Leader was, Do-gyeon could not send a telepathic transmission and simply raised his voice.
The two guardians didn’t know what conversation was taking place, but seeing Do-gyeon act as if he were on a leash before the Cult Leader was immensely satisfying. Il Gang-gun, especially, did not hide his smirking face.
“I wonder which will happen first: my other eye disappearing, or the other side of your mouth being sliced,” Do-gyeon sneered, stepping on the broken piece of the fan.
* * *
Ominous rumors spread through the main sect and numerous civilian villages near the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. It was a rumor that people, both children and adults, were disappearing. Naturally, these stories reached Ho-yeon’s ears while he worked at the courtesan house.
“Maybe they were taken to the Demon-Taming Cave.”
“The Demon-Taming Cave? That’s ancient history. It’s been forbidden for ages since the Cult Leader ascended.”
In the room where the artists waited, many others besides Ho-yeon were preparing. Dancers performing sword dances, singers playing the pipa, puppeteers showing puppet plays—it was exceptionally crowded today. He heard that Young Master Yeom had rented out the entire Jade Pavilion to hold a banquet with his friends.
They were all busy discussing the disappearance cases. Ho-yeon, who was essentially a stranger, could not join the conversation and gathered information only by eavesdropping.
In the Demon Sect, there was a place called the Demon-Taming Cave, where orphans or children of low status were kidnapped and trained as demonic practitioners. The Ice Palace had a similar training center, but it was closer to hungry children volunteering rather than being kidnapped. Still, since it had been forbidden after the current Cult Leader ascended, Ho-yeon contemplated the diversity of human nature.
Even if his personality is ruined, I suppose he treats his own followers well.
“Yeon.”
Ruju approached Ho-yeon, who was tuning the seven-stringed zither. On the back of Ruju’s neck, there was a burn mark shaped like a coin; he said it was a brand etched into him during his youth as a waiter after he miscalculated the money for a demonic practitioner. Just from that one anecdote, it was clear how much hardship Ruju must have endured to own a massive inn like the Jade Pavilion.
Since Ruju called him but said nothing further, Ho-yeon continued tuning the zither. Perhaps conscious of the other artists’ gazes, Ruju tapped Ho-yeon on the shoulder. He then gestured with his chin, signaling him to come outside.
Leaving his oiled umbrella neatly beside the seven-stringed zither, Ho-yeon followed Ruju out of the room. Leading him to one side of the corridor, Ruju abruptly held out some silver.
“Yeon, your circumstances aren’t exactly plentiful, are they?”
“Thank you.”
As Ho-yeon reached out to quickly take the silver, Ruju, startled, pulled his hand back.