Little Demon Reversion to Youth

Chapter 206

The old man, whose age was difficult to guess, was sitting on the grand master's chair in the Cult Leader's hall.

On his left and right, Hyuk-ryeon Gi and the 'Soul Demon' stood as if they were guarding him.

The white-haired old man, whose benevolent impression evoked a sense of familiarity, examined the people who filled the great hall one by one.

They were the elders of the Elder Hall who had participated in this great undertaking, the lords of the inner and outer fortresses, and those who held the main positions of the sect.

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu's gaze, which had been sweeping over the people gathered in the great hall without a word, stopped at the person at the very front on the left.

Then Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu, as if he were sighing, spoke.

"Inner Fortress Lord, you have also aged a lot."

The Inner Fortress Lord, Dan Yue, bowed his waist.

"I am sorry. I should have served you sooner, but my thoughts were short."

"No. If the sect had not been in crisis, I would not have come out."

"Since the old ancestor is so strong, it can only be a great blessing for our sect."

"Yes... since I couldn't die of old age, I get to sit in a place like this."

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu, the former head of the Hyuk-ryeon family.

After losing his son, Hyuk-ryeonjong, and raising his young grandson and handing over the position of family head, he had lived in seclusion, and he had shown himself for the first time in decades.

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu's gaze turned to the Outer Fortress Lord, Feng Sheng-hui, who was standing at the head on the right.

"Is the enemy still at 'Shi Fortress'?"

"We have dispatched the outer fortress martial force and have sent a messenger to the guardian families. But since the scale of the enemy is quite large, it seems we will have to issue a general mobilization order."

"A general mobilization order... to issue a general mobilization order for a mere three thousand, isn't that a bit much?"

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu's gaze turned to Dan Yue.

At that, the corner of Feng Sheng-hui's mouth twisted slightly.

Dan Yue looked at such a Feng Sheng-hui and said, "Although the 'Mingshan Sect' is said to have ground its teeth, they will not dare to climb the Heavenly Mountains. I will send the inner fortress martial force right away."

"No, no. The place where the inner fortress martial force should be is here."

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu said to the 'Soul Demon', "You go and tell the old ancestor of Mingshan that I want to see him. Is there a need to shed the blood of the lower ones unnecessarily?"

"...I understand."

As the 'Soul Demon' was about to step forward, a messenger ran in and then, at the door of the great hall, he knelt on one knee and shouted, "The enemy is retreating."

"...?"

"―!"

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu's eyes for a moment turned to Hyuk-ryeon Gi and then were fixed on the messenger.

"The old ancestor of Mingshan has retreated?"

"They say they have repelled them with the support of the So family, the Zhu family, and the Hong family. By the time the outer fortress martial force arrived, the enemy was already in a state of rout."

"Hmm... it seems the old ancestor of Mingshan was a more careless person than I thought. To be routed so easily."

"They say he did not even step forward properly. When So Baek-cheon of the So family stepped forward and made a thousand fierce enemies kneel, he immediately fled."

The messenger of the outer fortress martial force briefly reported the battle situation.

"So Baek-cheon?"

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu's benevolent impression hardened for a moment. Hyuk-ryeon Gi, who saw this, approached and said, "He is a person who claims to be the grandson of the Young Lord."

Although he had spoken lowly, the ears of those in the great hall heard him clearly.

Hyuk-ryeon Gi had said that he was a person who was claiming to be the grandson of the Young Lord. Everyone took it to heart.

"Hmm. Is So Baek-cheon chasing the old ancestor of Mingshan?"

"No, sir. They say So Baek-cheon has suffered an internal injury while fighting with a thousand people of the 'Mingshan Sect'. Elder Lei Mo and Elder Quan Ma are chasing the old ancestor of Mingshan."

Although Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu just nodded his head without a word, Hyuk-ryeon Gi said again, "It is fortunate that the 'Mingshan Sect' has retreated. First, let's reorganize the sect and call the ones who have merit and reward them."

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu nodded his head and then said to the ones who were gathered in the great hall, "As you all know, the former Cult Leader and the Young Lord have passed away at the same time. Besides, since even the great elder of the Hyuk-ryeon family has been injured due to internal strife and cannot step forward, what can we do? This old man intends to support the sect with his last breath, will you join me?"

"We will serve you with loyalty."

The ones in the great hall were the ones who had already sworn allegiance to the Hyuk-ryeon family. They also knew that the ones who were not in this place were dying without a sound.

To them, it was just that the hegemony of the sect was passing from the So family to the Hyuk-ryeon family. Since the stem of power had changed, they just had to switch.

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu said to his grandson, Hyuk-ryeon Gi, "Family head, this old man hates troublesome things. Will you place the talents of the sect here in the right place and report to me?"

"I understand."

Hyuk-ryeon Gi bowed his waist.

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu, who had naturally handed over full authority to Hyuk-ryeon Gi, stood up and then said to the 'Soul Demon', "You, come and see me."

The expression of Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu, who had entered the Cult Leader's office, was cold. The 'Soul Demon', who had followed behind, frowned and said, "So Baek-cheon, that brat's martial arts are unexpectedly high. I was completely deceived."

It was the 'Soul Demon' who had seen Baekji briefly when he had entered the Heavenly Mountains. He was the brat who had run away, setting off a 'thunderclap bomb', saying he would block the assassins of the twelve guardian families.

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu's eyes turned to the 'Soul Demon'. At the snake-like gaze in front of its prey, even the 'Ten Demonic People' 'Soul Demon' inwardly flinched.

"You brat, can you still call yourself the 'Soul Demon'? To be played by a young brat whose blood has not even dried on his forehead, and to say that you were deceived."

The 'Soul Demon' hastily prostrated himself.

"I am sorry. I was dealing with Lei Mo and could not pay attention."

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu slowly approached the prostrated 'Soul Demon' and then placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Seung-hyeol-ah..."

As Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu called his name, the 'Soul Demon's' body hardened. It was his name that he had heard for the first time in a really long time.

"Do you know how much our family has invested in you?"

"I know well. Older brother."

"If you know, shouldn't you do well?"

"I will do my best with all my heart and soul."

"It is a hundred-year plan. The brat who ruins things by being careless..."

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu grabbed the 'Soul Demon's' shoulder. The 'Soul Demon' could not dare to raise his 'protective energy'. He endured the pain as if his shoulder would break.

"I will kill him with my own hands."

"I will keep that in mind."

The 'Soul Demon' bowed his waist and touched his forehead to the floor.

At that, Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu returned to his own seat and sat down.

"So Baek-cheon..."

He was a brat whose origin was completely unknown. Since Hyuk-ryeon Gi had sent a person to the Central Plains, his identity would be revealed soon, but it was meaningless now.

The original plan was to put forward Hyuk-ryeonhu as the successor to the Cult Leader and to take the form of being his regent.

Although he had intended to take control of the sect smoothly, since So Baek-cheon had stepped forward and had made the great elder of the Hyuk-ryeon family a cripple, it had been twisted.

He had put forward the 'Mingshan Sect' to create a crisis in the sect and had used a strong move to take control of the main headquarters in that gap.

But to think that the old ancestor of Mingshan had run away without even fighting properly...

At least, he had to destroy the martial force of the twelve guardian families, but it had been thwarted.

"A strange brat is stirring up a hundred-year plan..."

Since the brat had revealed his claws... he just had to tear him apart.

Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu, towards the 'Soul Demon' said as if he were spitting, "It is fortunate that he is injured. You take care of that brat."

* * *

The secret passage of So Jeong-hu's office opened, and a pure-looking middle-aged man entered.

It was Baekji, disguised as the Cult Leader.

So Jeong-hu stood up and bowed his waist.

"You have come!"

Since it was the appearance of the Cult Leader, he naturally showed extreme courtesy.

The two sat facing each other at a tea table.

"The matter you went for?"

"The old ancestor of Mingshan... what on earth is that brat? As soon as he saw me, he ran away."

As Baekji told him what had happened at 'Shi Fortress', So Jeong-hu tilted his head.

"By any chance... could he be a fake?"

Since neither of them had seen the old ancestor of Mingshan, there was no way of knowing.

"It doesn't seem like it. Well, we'll know when we catch him."

"Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu has personally stepped forward and has taken control of the main headquarters. The 'Bright Right Emissary' and most of the 'Ten Demonic People' have gone over to the Hyuk-ryeon family."

"Tsk, tsk... what were you doing, sitting in that position?"

At Baekji's nagging, So Jeong-hu looked ashamed.

"I had let go of the position of family head for a while... it seems my eyes had become cloudy."

"That's enough. The Hyuk-ryeon family must have prepared thoroughly."

"Are you going to step forward right away?"

That was the original plan. But the fact that Zhuge Wenqing was in the 'Mingshan Sect' bothered him. Then a thought occurred to him.

"It doesn't seem as simple as I thought. The Hyuk-ryeon family might be the Blood Sect."

"What does that mean? Are you saying the Hyuk-ryeon family has joined hands with the Blood Sect?"

"What did you hear me say? It's not just that they have joined hands, they might be the Blood Sect itself."

At Baekji's words, So Jeong-hu's mouth fell open in surprise.

"Is that possible? Hyuk-ryeonjong was defeated by the Blood Cult Leader. Doesn't that mean he killed his own child?"

"Did those brats kill him? I killed him."

"But it seems too much of a conjecture. The Hyuk-ryeon family is one of the twelve guardian families of our sect. What were they lacking that..."

"There is a possibility of 'soul division'."

Baekji had been thinking about who the target would be if the Blood Cult Leader had divided his soul.

If the Blood Cult Leader, who had been pursuing eternal life, had changed his direction to take control of the world, what kind of being would be good to become?

If he became an emperor, a Martial Alliance Leader, or a Demonic Cult Leader, it would be easier.

That was why he had been suspecting the Zhuge family. The fact that they were deeply involved in the internal strife of the Martial Alliance and were pressing the 'Four Shrines Heaven' had supported that suspicion.

"There was a Zhuge in the 'Mingshan Sect'. Since he is a master of formations, he would be the center of the Zhuge family, but would such a person take refuge in the 'Mingshan Sect'?"

"Of course not."

"I thought the 'Mingshan Sect' and the Hyuk-ryeon family had joined hands. But as soon as the old ancestor of Mingshan thought he was in danger, he immediately fled. What does that mean?"

"Are you saying he had no will from the beginning?"

So Jeong-hu was also the head of a family. He immediately understood the meaning.

"The old ancestor of Mingshan is a brat who moves for profit. He is not a person who would risk his life for something like revenge. But he dared to aim for our sect? He didn't come because he wanted to, but because he had received someone's order. It means the Hyuk-ryeon family is holding him and shaking him. It should be seen as a subordinate, not an alliance."

"The fact that there was a Zhuge there..."

"It means the Hyuk-ryeon family and the Zhuge family are connected."

So Jeong-hu could not hide his astonishment at Baekji's words.

"Then... the picture is that the Hyuk-ryeon family takes over our sect, and the Zhuge family takes over the Central Plains."

"On the outside, it would be the Martial Alliance. The Zhuge family will put forward an Alliance Leader that they can control as they please."

"Since the Martial Alliance Leader is in good health, would that be possible?"

Baekji frowned.

"That's... the Alliance Leader has lost his martial arts."

"Yes?"

"The world doesn't know yet, but probably... it will be revealed soon."

So Jeong-hu's face hardened.

"Isn't it a coincidence? As soon as there was internal strife in the Martial Alliance, a rebellion broke out in our sect."

"..."

"If the Blood Cult Leader had divided his soul and had taken control of the Hyuk-ryeon family and the Zhuge family, all of this would be easy to understand."

"Our sect... is fortunate to have the Young Lord, but the Central Plains is the problem."

The Demonic Cult was worrying about the Central Plains.

Baekji was thinking of something else.

'Is the 'soul division' really only three?'

The Blood Cult Leader, the brat who was crouching in the Zhuge family, and Hyuk-ryeon Seung-mu of the Hyuk-ryeon family.

He had originally thought that the Blood Cult Leader had infiltrated Hyuk-ryeonjong's body, had stolen the 'soul weaving art', and then had divided his soul.

But if the Hyuk-ryeon family was the body and not the limbs... he would have learned the 'soul division art' early on, and there might be more 'soul divisions' than he had expected.

Baekji's thoughts could not continue.

The sound of 'sharp energy' exploding was heard from a distance.

So Jeong-hu also seemed to have heard it and frowned. Judging by the sound, it was clear that an enormous master had exploded it.

"I must go and see."

.

.

.

"Keu-eu-euk. I'm dying..."

Jian Yi could not withstand the aftermath of the 'sharp energy' and rolled on the ground with the 'Bright Left Emissary', whom he had been holding at his side.

Although the So family was not far, he had been caught.

Jian Yi staggered up and then, with his folding fan brushed off the dirt from his clothes.

"As expected of the 'Bright Right Emissary'. Among my humble talents, the only one that is somewhat useful is 'lightness skill'... to be caught so easily... or not? I came with the 'Bright Right Emissary', but should I endure that? Then am I not a little better than the Right Emissary?"

The 'Bright Right Emissary's' face contorted hideously. Not all masters were proficient in all fields. Even an absolute master had things he was good at and things he was lacking in. 'Lightness skill' was the Right Emissary's weakest area.

Since Jian Yi knew this and was teasing him, his anger exploded.

"You rat-like brat. I have always wanted to smash your mouth. Let's see if you can still talk after all your teeth have been pulled out."

(End of Chapter)