Chapter 37 — The Sect Leader’s Request
“…It seems… movements from the Heavenly Demon Cult have been detected.”
For a moment, my mind went blank.
Heavenly Demon Cult.
For anyone belonging to Kunlun, even mentioning that name in jest was something to be avoided.
And yet it had come directly from the Sect Leader’s mouth…
Just that fact alone made the air in the room feel oppressively heavy.
I instinctively steadied my breathing and waited for the Sect Leader’s next words.
Jin Gwang-ung had already uncrossed his arms and straightened his posture.
“Heavenly Demon Cult? Sect Leader, what exactly do you mean by that?”
Jin Gwang-ung asked with a hardened expression.
“……”
Cheon Gwang-cheon did not answer immediately.
He closed his eyes for a moment as if organizing his thoughts, then slowly looked at us.
“A few days ago, contact was lost with the disciples who were patrolling the northwest border region.”
Kunlun’s unique position near the Heavenly Demon Cult’s territory.
To prepare for any possible threats, Kunlun regularly deployed scouting teams.
These teams were sent to the border areas to monitor the Heavenly Demon Cult’s movements.
“Is that all? You’re suspecting the Heavenly Demon Cult just because of that? Shouldn’t we at least send an investigation team—”
“I already did.”
The Sect Leader cut off Jin Gwang-ung’s gruff words.
With an even darker expression, he continued.
“…And contact with the investigation team was also lost starting yesterday.”
“……!”
Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon spoke with a grave face.
“Both the scouting team and the investigation team have gone missing. And right in the border region with the Heavenly Demon Cult. Of course, we need to investigate further… but I do not believe this is a coincidence.”
I could understand the Sect Leader’s seriousness.
The scouting team and investigation team were all martial artists who had trained in Kunlun’s arts.
It wasn’t just one or two — multiple people had gone missing at the same time.
In the area near the border with the Heavenly Demon Cult.
‘…This is no ordinary situation.’
It was only natural to suspect the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Jin Gwang-ung seemed to have realized the severity as well; his expression grew increasingly stiff.
After a brief silence, Jin Gwang-ung spoke to the Sect Leader.
“If both the scouting team and investigation team have gone missing, shouldn’t we send a search party as soon as possible?”
“That’s true… we certainly should… but…”
Cheon Gwang-cheon trailed off and slowly shook his head.
“We cannot yet conclude with certainty that this is the work of the Heavenly Demon Cult. For now, it is only my speculation. We don’t even know clearly what has happened. If we mobilize a large-scale search party right now…”
The Sect Leader paused and looked at both of us.
“You both know what the current atmosphere outside is like.”
Baek Cheong-woo’s death had caused quite a stir in the Murim.
The sudden death of one of the rising stars known as one of the Five Dragons and Two Phoenixes.
Although it had officially been concluded as an accident, many in the Murim still suspected some kind of conspiracy behind it.
Given Kunlun’s location on the border with the Heavenly Demon Cult, some even claimed his death could be the work of the Cult.
The fact that the conclusion had been reached too hastily was their main point of suspicion.
They believed the Orthodox Alliance and Kunlun Sect were clearly hiding something.
Such ominous rumors were circulating throughout the Murim.
In this kind of atmosphere, if word spread that people had gone missing near the Heavenly Demon Cult’s border?
And that Kunlun had even dispatched a large-scale search party…?
‘…The entire Murim would be thrown into turmoil.’
And the aftermath would undoubtedly have negative repercussions for Kunlun as well.
I could fully understand what Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon was worried about.
“If we move urgently because we’ve detected signs of a Heavenly Demon Cult invasion, the Murim will interpret it that way.”
External pressure from the Orthodox Alliance and others would sweep over Kunlun.
The stability that Kunlun had barely regained could be shaken once more.
‘…Indeed, organizing a large-scale search party would be risky.’
Jin Gwang-ung raised his voice in frustration.
“So you’re saying we should just sit still? All because we’re worried about what outsiders might think? Our disciples have gone missing! Shouldn’t we take some kind of action?!”
“Of course I intend to send a search party.”
“You intend to send one? But earlier you said—”
“I plan to send only a small group of elites. Small enough that outsiders won’t notice a search party has been formed.”
At the Sect Leader’s words, Jin Gwang-ung narrowed his eyes.
“If it’s a small elite group, who do you plan to send?”
“I intend to select those with outstanding ability whom I can trust, and whose names are not widely known outside, so their movements remain relatively free.”
“Who exactly… Surely you don’t mean…?”
Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon nodded and glanced briefly in my direction.
Then he looked back at Jin Gwang-ung and spoke slowly.
“That’s right. The representatives from the Great Assembly of Elders.”
“……!”
My heart trembled faintly for a moment.
The Sect Leader continued.
“They possess exceptional martial prowess, and even if outsiders notice Kunlun’s movements, they will likely dismiss it as nothing more than a few young disciples moving around the mountain.”
At those words, Jin Gwang-ung muttered.
“Hah, the representatives…? Those young kids?”
Cheon Gwang-cheon nodded lightly.
“Of course, I don’t plan to send only the representatives. A leader capable of guiding them will go as well. Someone with strong enough martial prowess to handle any situation, sufficient experience, and who won’t draw much external attention.”
“Who are you referring to?”
Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon looked Jin Gwang-ung straight in the eyes and said,
“The only person suitable for that role is you, First Generation Elder Jin Gwang-ung.”
Jin Gwang-ung shook his head at the Sect Leader’s words.
“What are you saying? Why are you suddenly asking me…”
“Gwang-ung. You know better than anyone that you are the person I trust the most in this sect.”
“Stop with the nonsense. I’m not the type for—”
“It’s Black Spirit Valley. That’s where contact with both the scouting team and investigation team was lost.”
“……!”
For a brief moment, Jin Gwang-ung’s facial muscles twitched slightly.
It was not his usual calm expression.
‘Why is he reacting like that?’
As I observed Jin Gwang-ung’s unexpected reaction, the Sect Leader continued.
“Gwang-ung… You know better than anyone that there is no one in the sect who knows Black Spirit Valley as well as you do. And you are also the only one who can move freely outside the sect.”
“……”
“I’m asking you as a favor. Please take on the role of leading the search party.”
“……”
A short silence fell.
A dark shadow that I had never seen before clouded Jin Gwang-ung’s face.
It wasn’t exactly fear or worry, but something closer to deep, inexplicable regret.
A moment later, Jin Gwang-ung gritted his teeth and answered.
“…Damn it. Fine. I just have to go, right?”
At his reply, the Sect Leader’s face brightened slightly.
“Thank you, First Generation Elder Gwang-ung. You’ve made a big decision.”
“Enough. There’s no need for flattery.”
Jin Gwang-ung grumbled, then suddenly glanced sideways at me.
“I don’t care, but it looks like that damn disciple of mine is getting dragged into the search party. If he disappears for a long time, all the chores in the Abandoned Martial Hall will fall on me. It’ll be easier for me if I just finish the search quickly. I only accepted for my own convenience.”
Jin Gwang-ung spoke as if it were a hassle, but honestly, I felt a little touched inside.
Jin Gwang-ung, who had lived his entire life doing whatever he pleased.
Yet here he was, accepting the Sect Leader’s burdensome request out of worry for me.
‘This old man… why is he acting so out of character…’
I even felt a slight sting in my nose from his consideration.
Unconsciously, I looked at Jin Gwang-ung and smiled.
In response, he scowled fiercely.
“What the hell is that expression? If you go out with that idiotic face and run into Heavenly Demon Cult bastards, you’ll die instantly. Fix your damn expression!”
That damn old man.
I regretted feeling even a moment of emotion toward this eccentric geezer.
Seeing our exchange, Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon burst into laughter.
“Hahaha. What a wonderful master-disciple relationship. It’s truly heartwarming to see such closeness and lack of formality between master and disciple. What a blessing. Truly a blessing.”
“……”
Why did everything become a “blessing” with him?
Once again, I thought that Sect Leader Cheon Gwang-cheon viewed the world far too positively.
Jin Gwang-ung and I simultaneously shook our heads as we looked at him.
A moment later, Jin Gwang-ung asked the Sect Leader.
“Then when should the search party depart?”
“I’ve already informed the other First Generation Elders. Preparations should be complete within one hour.”
“So soon? Tch, you already knew I’d accept, didn’t you? Hmph.”
“Hahaha. I simply trusted in your chivalrous spirit, which always thinks of the sect and the Murim.”
“Chivalrous spirit my ass. This is exactly why I hate staying in Kunlun. You keep pushing annoying tasks onto me.”
The heavy silence that had filled the Sect Leader’s Hall when I first arrived had eased considerably.
That didn’t mean the tension had disappeared.
The disappearance of Kunlun disciples near the border with the Heavenly Demon Cult was still an extremely serious matter.
Separately from the disappearance incident, my mind had been occupied with other thoughts since earlier.
‘Movements from the Heavenly Demon Cult…’
In the timeline of my previous life, the Heavenly Demon Cult had never invaded the Central Plains.
There had only been one clash between the Murim and the Heavenly Demon Cult.
It was when the Orthodox Alliance raised the banner of “Exterminate Evil, Repel Demons” and declared war.
It was also the time when I had lost my life amid the flames of the Myriad Calamity Flame.
But that war between the Orthodox Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Cult was supposed to happen far in the future.
At least several decades from now.
So why were signs of the Heavenly Demon Cult’s movements being detected at this time?
This had definitely not happened in my previous life.
‘Could it be related to that?’
When comparing my previous life and the current one, there was only one variable that had changed.
Baek Cheong-woo’s death. That was it.
‘Don’t tell me… his death was significant enough to trigger the Heavenly Demon Cult’s movements?’
But I shook my head inwardly.
‘That’s overthinking it.’
Baek Cheong-woo was a rising star among the Five Dragons and Two Phoenixes, but that was all.
He didn’t have the fame or influence to provoke the Heavenly Demon Cult into action.
I firmly steadied my complicated thoughts.
‘There’s nothing more foolish than being swayed by something that hasn’t even happened yet.’
Once I shook off the anxiety, my mind became clearer.
There was only one thing I needed to do right now.
‘I’ll confirm it myself. No matter what variables the future holds, it doesn’t matter. I can just cut down any variables that appear.’
With that firm resolve, I raised my head.
Bright morning sunlight was already streaming through the windows of the Sect Leader’s Hall.
The darkness was retreating, and light was once again illuminating the world.
I moved to meet the other members of the search party.
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