By Zephyria 
HF 45
===
Mu-gyeong loosened Ho-yeon’s golden robes, which were crossed and fastened. Upon the flawless skin, a small bead of flesh, more prominent in color, stood out. Perhaps because the body had cooled so much, the erect tip looked like a pomegranate seed fallen upon a field of snow.
Staring intently at the plump bead, Mu-gyeong moved his hand down to the deep hollow of the navel. As he pulled the clothes down with his fingertips, Ho-yeon’s bare skin was fully revealed. He pressed his hand down on the qi sea located below the navel.
Ignoring Ho-yeon, who let out a small groan and frowned, Mu-gyeong released his true qi. To be precise, it was the energy of the blazing fire, which had now become almost one with him.
As red hues spread across Ho-yeon’s faded body, color returned to his cheeks. The area around his navel also flushed red, looking as if it had been thoroughly sucked dry.
This was the second time Ho-yeon had fainted after having his internal power drawn out, but Mu-gyeong was certain. He could feel Ho-yeon’s unstable qi and blood finding stability through his energy.
Is this not why they are called two halves of a whole?
“Hngh…”
When the energy Mu-gyeong injected reached about ten percent, Ho-yeon groaned in pain. Since only the dantian had been faintly awakened, he seemed to suffer more than before. What would happen if the sealed dantian were fully opened and Mu-gyeong poured in all of his heat?
Mu-gyeong removed his hand from Ho-yeon’s abdomen. The deep furrow between Ho-yeon’s brows gradually smoothed out, and soon, with warm cheeks, he began to breathe evenly.
Mu-gyeong roughly stripped off his long robe and embraced Ho-yeon’s body. He buried his face deep into the crook of the other’s neck and exhaled.
Outside, the scorching heat of the brazier raged, and inside, the curse of the fire dragon stormed, yet from the person in his arms, the clear scent of winter flowed incessantly. Perhaps because of the overflowing yang energy, absurdly, Wi Ho-yeon’s member poked at Mu-gyeong. And Mu-gyeong was no different.
* * *
“Dammit!”
At the hideout of the Blood Cult, known as the Third Ghost Blood Valley, Cheon Beom-yeong exploded in a fit of rage. Hyeol-jon remained bowed before Cheon Beom-yeong, whose blood vessels had burst in his eyes from an inability to contain his anger.
“I heard that bastard Mu-gyeong went into closed-door cultivation!”
Their plan to cause chaos on the birth anniversary—while the cult leader was away—and kidnap a large number of cultists had fallen through. Cheon Beom-yeong breathed heavily in agitation. It was strange enough that he had emerged from closed-door cultivation so quickly, but according to reports, the earth shook at a single gesture from Cheon Mu-gyeong, and the Blood Cultists had their limbs shattered and died.
Had Cheon Mu-gyeong truly achieved transcending demonicity? Cheon Beom-yeong could not believe it. It had only been seven years since Cheon Mu-gyeong ascended to the position of cult leader. Everyone said he had mastered the heavenly demon divine art, but Cheon Beom-yeong had not witnessed it with his own eyes. His own forces had been instantly overwhelmed by Cheon Mu-gyeong and forced to flee like dogs with their tails between their legs.
However, Cheon Beom-yeong was certain that the floating rumors were exaggerated. The last realm he remembered Mu-gyeong possessing was the transcendental realm. Even if his realm had increased after seizing the position of cult leader, it would be at most the extreme demon realm. Transcending demonicity was preposterous.
Hyeol-jon was also lost in deep thought. Thus far, no one had properly seen the martial prowess of Cheon Mu-gyeong since he became the cult leader. No one within the sect had challenged him for the position, and the Blood Cult did not engage in petty acts like sending assassins. Doing so would only increase the cult leader’s vigilance.
The Blood Cult was a meticulous force that always remained silent and moved only when the opportunity was ripe. They had not imagined that the cult leader, who had entered closed-door cultivation due to the fire energy in his body, would appear on his birth anniversary.
However, they had a second plan. It had already been decided that if the cult leader appeared, they would first prioritize planning for the future.
“It is said that the cult leader appeared among the cultists.”
They had proceeded because the throne was empty, yet to think he had blended in with the cultists wearing a beast mask… That was the part Hyeol-jon found most incomprehensible.
Could there be a spy in the cult who leaked the plan to the heavenly demon? But even so, it made no sense for Cheon Mu-gyeong to pose as a cultist and wait for an opportunity.
If there had been a spy, Cheon Mu-gyeong was the type to slaughter them on the spot. He was the cult leader, but he was not one to endure or sacrifice himself for the well-being of the sect.
Hyeol-jon had interpreted the rumors of him reaching transcending demonicity differently until now. He believed everyone assumed it was transcending demonicity because he was a man devoid of human emotion.
However, Cheon Mu-gyeong’s actions at the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons were entirely different from the information Hyeol-jon had gathered. Furthermore, if the encrypted letters sent by the spy were to be believed, Cheon Mu-gyeong had indeed transcended demonicity.
“Now that things have turned out this way, how are we to gather the sacrifices! Hyeol-jon, if you have a mouth, speak!”
Veins branched across the temples of the bowed Hyeol-jon. By temperament, he wanted to kill Cheon Beom-yeong and absorb all the internal energy he had gathered thus far, but the time was not yet right.
Though he hadn’t mentioned it to Cheon Beom-yeong, no matter how he thought about it, it seemed the cult leader had obtained the extreme yin constitution. A man with snow-white hair had been roaming the streets, and it was said that the man was by the cult leader’s side at the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons. It was certain that Wi Ho-yeon, who had failed the assassination, had fallen into the cult leader’s hands.
According to information from the Haomun, Wi Ho-yeon was not an extreme yin constitution, but it seemed that was incorrect information for which they had wasted money. Why else would the cult leader keep someone who wasn’t an extreme yin constitution by his side?
Still, it was utterly incomprehensible that the cult leader had hidden among the cultists wearing a beast mask in such harmony with Wi Ho-yeon. According to the encrypted message, the cult leader had even protected Wi Ho-yeon to ensure he wasn’t hurt.
“Perhaps…”
Hyeol-jon let out a low breath and lifted his face. He hesitated over whether he should ask Cheon Beom-yeong, but there were few cases where a person did something they never did before. Either they were on the verge of death…
“Is the cult leader a sodomite?”
…or they had found a lover.
Cheon Beom-yeong frowned deeply as if asking what kind of nonsense this was.
“A sodomite? That bastard is so crazed by demonic arts that he’s a eunuch who has no interest in women or men!”
Cheon Beom-yeong had never seen Cheon Mu-gyeong rest for a single day. He was a man obsessed with training to the point where one wondered if he even slept; so much so that the Sword Demon had once joked that the one truly obsessed with the sword wasn’t himself, but Young Master Cheon Mu-gyeong.
Though their fraternal bond was not strong, they were brothers of the same blood. Hyeol-jon did not believe there was a lie in Cheon Beom-yeong’s words. Or was he trying to win favor to look good to the extreme yin constitution? No, even that was unlike Cheon Mu-gyeong. He was more likely to rip out the heart of an extreme yin constitution and crush their dantian to take it for himself.
“But…”
Cheon Beom-yeong tapped the chair he was sitting on with his clenched fist.
“He’s been a bit strange since he returned from the dead. I haven’t seen that lunatic even train or perform meditative breathing.”
Looking back, Cheon Mu-gyeong had become a completely different person starting from the age of nineteen.
“He might have become a sodomite.”
Cheon Beom-yeong gave him a look that asked why on earth he was asking that. Hyeol-jon bowed politely, but inside, he cursed him as a pathetic fool.
“It is because it would be beneficial to know anything about the cult leader.”
“And did knowing so well make the mission a success?”
Despite Cheon Beom-yeong’s sarcasm, Hyeol-jon remained polite.
“Please do not worry too much. The arrangements for the First Young Master will proceed without a hitch.”
Did he have to revise all the information regarding Cheon Mu-gyeong? The politely responding Hyeol-jon felt as if he were trapped entirely within a fog.
* * *
Standing in the courtyard, Ho-yeon looked down. Below, the magnificent black roofs of the Heavenly Demon Palace were visible, and looking further, the main headquarters of the demon sect, where the cultists resided, could be seen below the Elders’ Hall.
Where Ho-yeon stood was the residence of the heavenly demon, situated at the peak of a rugged mountain. He also learned from Jangun that this place was called the Pavilion of Nameless.
In truth, it was strangely modest for the residence of the heavenly demon. Far from having precious treasures or overwhelming stone statues, it was merely a plain wooden building, as if a detached wing of the Demonic Shadow Martial House had been moved here.
It was a place where one could truly feel the soft mountain breeze blowing even in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. On a wooden platform in the courtyard sat an empty liquor bottle. By the looks of it, Mu-gyeong had drunk it. However, he had not been here since Ho-yeon opened his eyes.
“He lives with liquor in his mouth, only avoiding the courtesan houses.”
Ho-yeon muttered almost inaudibly. The shoulders of Jangun, standing behind Ho-yeon, trembled slightly. It was because of the way Wi Ho-yeon spoke. However, if the cult leader himself let it slide, how could he possibly do anything? Dressed in blue light armor, Ho-yeon found the liquor table on the platform bothersome and simply sat on the ground.
Ho-yeon could not fathom Mu-gyeong’s intentions. It was suspicious that he left him alone even though he knew the blazing fire in his body was being quelled by Ho-yeon’s frost energy. Though it was a relief that he wasn’t locked away in the bedchamber.
Then again, he had an incredible watcher attached to him, someone he couldn’t do anything about. Ho-yeon turned his head and glanced at Jangun. Jangun, still wearing a mask, cast his gaze down to the floor.
“Does Wi Ho-yeon have two lives?”
Perhaps one needs sharp ears to become the heavenly demon. Ho-yeon shifted his gaze to Mu-gyeong, who had appeared suddenly.
“I suppose he won’t come to his senses until his head is severed.”