By Zephyria 
HF 8
==
Even at the Heavenly Demon’s incomprehensible words, Su remained bowed low.
“The Sharp-Tongued Demon is curious as to why the Palace Master’s daughter is being kept by the Cult Leader, and is causing a stir within the Heavenly Demon Palace.”
“Daughter? It seems his other eye has finally fallen to the floor.”
“I, too, did not refer to him as a daughter… but he shouted that there is no man in this world with skin like white jade and hair as white as the eternal snow mountains…”
The Sharp-Tongued Demon, known as one of the fifteen greatest masters of the Demonic Cult, was a demonic practitioner who lived up to his name through his vicious words and behavior. While he ranked outside the top ten, he was more than capable of placing within the top five if a life-and-death duel were to occur. However, because he was so elusive and unpredictable, he had earned the moniker ‘Demon.’
“Tell him that if he crosses the line, he will lose his remaining eyeball as well.”
“Your will. Ack!”
A light, startled sound burst out following the solemn voice. The reason Jangun was terrified, even before he could finish his telepathic transmission, was because of the person stumbling out from the darkness of the cave. Although he had sensed Ho-yeon’s movement, the sight of the long hair cascading down was enough to startle anyone.
Mu-gyeong knew that Ho-yeon was still lingering in a dreamlike state. Had he been lucid, he would have walked straight; right now, he was merely moving instinctively in search of warmth.
“To act so recklessly before the Cult Leader… I am unworthy of becoming the Cult Leader’s shadow! Please, kill me!”
Jangun, truly prepared for death, bowed his body before Mu-gyeong.
“Looking at that phoenix head wild hair, it’s only natural.”
Ho-yeon approached Mu-gyeong and wrapped his arms around his waist from the side. Mu-gyeong glanced down at him.
“Still, he is a rare beauty.”
Lifting Ho-yeon’s chin with his index finger, Mu-gyeong looked down at the vacant face.
Jangun’s eyes widened at this unexpected interest from Mu-gyeong. The Cult Leader had never shown a distinct interest in anyone. That was why everyone used to nod in agreement, saying that one must truly abandon human emotions to ascend to the position of the Heavenly Demon.
Unconsciously, Ho-yeon rubbed his cheek against Mu-gyeong’s hand, where the warmth lingered. Even as he allowed it, Mu-gyeong’s expression remained unchanged.
“Return to the main sect. I command you to keep everything regarding me silent.”
“Your will!”
Jangun was as quick-witted as he was martially proficient. Having witnessed the entire scene, he planned to return to the main sect and announce that the Cult Leader’s identity was the second child of ‘Mu Seong-pyeong,’ one of the five demonic elders, and he would instruct Wi Ho-yeon to keep all facts secret.
Jangun watched Mu-gyeong’s back as he disappeared into the darkness of the cave, carrying the clinging Ho-yeon on his back.
His lord had told him to tell the Sharp-Tongued Demon to exercise restraint, but Jangun could already envision the face of the demonic practitioner who would pester him, asking what on earth the Cult Leader’s true intentions were.
But come to think of it, was this something the Cult Leader needed to handle personally? Even if a secret letter arrived saying that the first young master, Cheon Beom-yeong, was plotting something, the Demonic Shadow Guard(1) would have been more than enough to protect Wi Ho-yeon. Yet, after seeing the portrait, the Cult Leader had stepped forward himself.
“Still, he is a rare beauty.”
Had the Cult Leader ever mentioned the beauty or ugliness of another person even once before?
Wi Ho-yeon was certainly a peerless beauty. However, his lord was someone who had not the slightest interest in aesthetics, regardless of gender. Even when Jam Bi-hwa, known as the peerless beauty of the Divine Cult(2), expressed her longing for the Cult Leader, he hadn’t so much as blinked. Jangun remembered when she, utterly devastated, had made the shocking claim that she would take the vows of a monastic.
As he returned to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, Jangun stopped abruptly, as if struck by a sudden realization.
‘Could it be that he fell in love at first sight after seeing the portrait? But Wi Ho-yeon isn’t even a daughter—how on earth do I tell the Sharp-Tongued Demon this!’
As Jangun deployed his ascending lightfoot technique, soaring through the air, he was consumed by all sorts of turmoil.
* * *
When Ho-yeon opened his eyes, Mu-gyeong was already dressed in black light armor(3). Judging by the angle of the sun entering the cave, it seemed he had been asleep since last night.
However, perhaps thanks to the long sleep, his physical condition felt much better than yesterday. He had only performed a rough meditative breathing, so it was puzzling that his body had recovered so quickly. He wondered if the snake he ate last night had been a spiritual creature, but in truth, he hadn’t even touched it.
“Did I wake up a bit late?”
Ho-yeon’s first words upon waking were filled with apology. Thus, he added an excuse.
“I sleep a lot…”
“Your sleeping habits are severe.”
The words acted like a splash of cold water, instantly waking him up. Having slept with children, Ho-yeon hadn’t even known he had sleeping habits. Since the children rarely woke up once they fell asleep, he had never known until now.
“Did I… kick you?”
“You’re lucky it was only that.”
“Ah…”
Ho-yeon could not hide his dismay.
“From now on, if I do that, will you wake me up by hitting me, or maybe just tie me up?”
“Maybe I hit you too softly.”
Mu-gyeong said something that sounded like either a joke or a serious remark while tidying his cuffs. Ho-yeon didn’t actually think he had hit him, but he spoke while hiding his embarrassment.
“You can hit me harder next time.”
“Does Young Master Ho-yeon intend to keep sleeping with me?”
At the nonchalant question, Ho-yeon’s face immediately flushed hot.
“It’s not that, but… I didn’t talk in my sleep, did I?”
Ho-yeon spoke tentatively, his lips twitching. This made the two moles beneath his lips stand out particularly. Mu-gyeong had been closely observing Ho-yeon’s condition from the moment he woke up.
Had anyone ever remained intact after being exposed to the energy he intentionally infused? Usually, they either died or barely survived. However, Ho-yeon’s complexion, which had been pale, was better than ever.
“We are almost at the main sect, so let’s eat at an inn.”
Ho-yeon didn’t get an answer to his question, but his mind was already preoccupied with another topic. Already at the main sect? He didn’t think the distance to the main sect could be covered in just a few days… To reach the Demonic Cult headquarters, one had to pass through numerous traps and barrier formations.
Over a hundred years ago, the Murim Alliance had lost many of the rising generation while searching for the Demonic Cult headquarters somewhere in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. This was the primary reason the orthodox sects could not rashly attack the Demonic Cult, which had been designated as the public enemy of Murim. However, Mu-gyeong was the child of one of the five demonic elders. He likely knew all the shortcuts, including the magic arrays.
“I’m truly lucky.”
After finishing his preparations and stepping out of the cave, Ho-yeon smiled at Mu-gyeong.
“I survived thanks to you, and thanks to you, I can reach the main sect easily. Just coming from the Ice Palace took over fifty days.”
Indeed. He crawled like a turtle.
At Mu-gyeong’s mutter, Ho-yeon asked, “Huh?” This time, he asked because he truly hadn’t heard. However, Mu-gyeong did not answer again.
* * *
Ho-yeon had resided in the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Palace where the Palace Master and elders lived, but the Eumbyeol Hall, where he actually lived, was located in a very remote area. Beyond Eumbyeol Hall were civilian homes, and Ho-yeon would bring orphaned children who were starving from there to feed them and teach them to study.
The elders of the Ice Palace were not fond of it, but the Palace Master generally left him alone, saying to let Ho-yeon do as he pleased. Looking at the massive outer wall unfolding before his eyes, Ho-yeon briefly thought of the children from the Ice Palace and Eumbyeol Hall.
Mu-gyeong had said they were almost at the main sect, but they had to travel on foot for over a day, and the paths were all steep and treacherous canyons. It was only after dawn broke that they arrived at the Demonic Cult headquarters.
He was unaware that Mu-gyeong had intentionally chosen a more rugged path to test Ho-yeon’s condition. Tae-pyeong, who had been throwing a tantrum by kicking trees with his hind legs, had vanished from sight at some point.
Due to the strict control over outsiders, there was only one entrance to the Demonic Cult headquarters. A fortress gate made of thick black wood appeared, as if a whole mountain had been carved out to make it. Above it was a watchtower, and below, guards armed with swords and spears blocked the entrance.
Did Mu-gyeong break through this heavy security just to go to a pleasure house?
==
The elite military unit directly under the Cult Leader.
The official name the demonic practitioners use to refer to themselves is the Divine Cult (Divine Cult).
Simple martial attire with narrow sleeves and chest.