Chapter 49. I Have No Choice But to Kill You.

As Yi Mu-baek had declared, the Blood Wolf Corps training continued.

For the first few days, the training process was slow due to the lack of instructors, but soon new instructors were brought in, and the Blood Wolf Corps regained its vigor.

The area around the Divine Land was swarming with martial artists of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, forming what was almost a dragnet, so there was no need to worry about a possible attack from the Demonic Devil Cult.

Jin Yeong-in silently completed the processes of the Blood Wolf Corps, but his mind was in a state of utter complexity.

‘Have they decided to just watch me? Or are they not interested?’

Having revealed that he could control Stiff Corpse and that his two eyes were purple, he had certainly drawn enough attention.

Yet, for ten days after the incident, there was no reaction at all.

It was to the point where the Great Guardian Yi Gyu's words that he would receive word soon seemed hollow.

‘They must have doubts about me. Why.’

Before he returned to the past, as soon as his Heavenly Demon’s Physique was discovered, wasn't he subdued by the Great Divine Physician of Immortals and immediately imprisoned in the Demonic Prison?

‘Could it be that there are no records of the Heavenly Demon’s Physique passed down in our cult?’

But that possibility was extremely low.

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was like the homeland of the Heavenly Demon’s Physique, so it was impossible that its physical characteristics were not recorded.

Besides, hadn't not only the instructors but also the Blood Qilin been greatly surprised by the fact that Jin Yeong-in's eyes were purple?

Was it because Jin Yeong-in's complex inner thoughts were so clearly revealed?

“What are you thinking about so much? Are you thinking about your separated lover again?”

As he was standing guard as usual, the Blood Qilin, disguised as an instructor, approached and spoke to him.

“You’ve come.”

“Why the long face.”

“It’s nothing.”

“What do you mean it’s nothing. Your face is full of worry. What is it, tell me. I’m good at keeping secrets.”

“…….”

“What’s with that expression.”

The Blood Qilin was offended upon seeing Jin Yeong-in's expression.

“You don’t believe that I’m good at keeping secrets, do you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then why are you making that face?”

“What’s wrong with my expression?”

“It's a face that says you don't trust me at all!”

“It’s just your imagination.”

“What do you mean it's my imagination! Who do you take me for, a fool?”

Danmok Cheong, as if fed up, shook his head as Jin Yeong-in and the Blood Qilin began to bicker, and then quietly excused himself.

“Just tell me, why the long face?”

“Hmm.”

After a moment of contemplation, Jin Yeong-in opened his mouth.

It was true that he did not trust the Blood Qilin at all, but for some reason, he had an unfounded feeling that he would not do anything that would cause him harm.

“It's just that I’m concerned that there’s no reaction from the higher-ups.”

“What kind of reaction?”

“Sixth Young Master, aren't you curious about how I was able to control the Stiff Corpse? And why my eyes are purple?”

“Ah, is that all.”

The Blood Qilin shrugged his shoulders as if it were no big deal.

“Of course, the higher-ups would be curious. I am too.”

“…….”

“Controlling the Stiff Corpse, I can let that slide a hundred times over. But, having purple eyes is a reason that's hard to overlook.”

“Can I…… know the reason?”

“Because purple eyes are the symbol of the Heavenly Demon.”

“…….”

“In our cult, the only existence with such eyes is the Heavenly Demon. You know, since you’ve met her.”

Only then did Jin Yeong-in realize why the instructors had reacted in such a way.

Of course, it wasn't something he hadn't expected.

Since purple eyes were a physical characteristic that appeared when the Heavenly Demon’s Physique had attained a certain level of demonic qi, the previous Heavenly Demon would not have been any different.

Of course, he had never actually seen the previous Heavenly Demon, so he couldn't say for sure.

“This issue is more sensitive and complex than you think. It's not a matter for the Great Guardian to judge.”

“Then…….”

“Perhaps she will receive the report directly and judge for herself.”

It went without saying that the ‘she’ the Blood Qilin was talking about was the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

“I hear she is currently away, so that's probably why it's being delayed.”

“Ah.”

“So even if your head is complicated, just wait a little. She will judge you and give you the answers to your questions.”

“Thank you for your words.”

“It’s nothing.”

The Blood Qilin shrugged his shoulders.

* * *

After hearing the Blood Qilin's answer, Jin Yeong-in's mind became even more complicated.

‘If even the Great Divine Physician of Immortals recognized it, there’s no way she wouldn’t recognize it.’

Then, how would the Iron-Blooded Demonic God react?

‘Is she also of the Heavenly Demon’s Physique?’

If the Iron-Blooded Demonic God was also of the Heavenly Demon’s Physique, he thought that perhaps she might not show any interest.

She was already a supreme being who had reached the realm of Heaven beyond the Heavens, the undisputed number one of all time.

Such an existence would not think much of things like the Nine Yin Severed Meridians or the Heavenly Demon’s Physique.

A few days later.

Danmok Cheong, with a sterner face than usual, came to find Jin Yeong-in.

“Young Master Jin, you must go now.”

“Where are we going?”

“Word has come from the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.”

“If it's the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons……”

“The place where she resides is called the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.”

“Ah.”

Thinking that what was to come had finally come, Jin Yeong-in shot up and followed Danmok Cheong.

Danmok Cheong asked for Yi Mu-baek's understanding and immediately left the Extreme Land with Jin Yeong-in.

On the way to the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

“Young Master Jin.”

“Yes, Brother Dan.”

“What kind of person are you, Young Master Jin?”

“Pardon?”

“As you know, my mission was to watch over you, Young Master Jin.”

“Yes, well. I had guessed as much.”

“In my view, you are an unfathomable person, Young Master Jin.”

The expression on Danmok Cheong's face as he said this was one of utter confusion.

Indeed, it would be stranger if he weren't confused, given that a fledgling who had just been initiated into demonic arts had not only controlled Stiff Corpse but also displayed purple eyes, which could be called a unique physical characteristic of the Heavenly Demon.

Jin Yeong-in, who fully understood Danmok Cheong's feelings, could only feel a sense of guilt and make excuses.

“I don’t know what kind of person I am either. If I knew that, wouldn't I have already reached the state of enlightenment?”

“Is that so?”

“But what is certain…… is that I am a person who belongs to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

“Ah.”

At the wise answer to a foolish question, a short exclamation escaped Danmok Cheong's mouth.

Yes, what could be more important than that.

Whatever kind of person Jin Yeong-in was, as long as he was on the same side, it was fine…….

“It seems I have asked a foolish question.”

Danmok Cheong smiled whitely.

“Hey, not at all. It's a question you're entitled to ask. I would have done the same. Haha.”

“By the way, how is life in the Blood Wolf Corps?”

“It would be a lie to say it’s not hard at all, but it’s still manageable.”

“I knew you would say that.”

Jin Yeong-in and Danmok Cheong, as if the heavy atmosphere had never existed, walked on, talking about various things.

* * *

The Hall of Ten Thousand Demons was a magnificent building that seemed to have perfectly captured the grandeur of Sky Mountain's mountain range.

‘This is…… the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.’

Standing in front of the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons, Jin Yeong-in suddenly felt as if he were being overwhelmed.

The prestige of the building was so great that he even had the illusion that the Heavenly Demon was standing there.

He didn't know for sure, but it was certainly the result of outstanding artisans and masters putting their heads together.

“I cannot enter. Please go ahead, Young Master Jin.”

“Yes, I’ll be back.”

Jin Yeong-in left Danmok Cheong behind and entered the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

“This way, please.”

“Yes.”

The handmaidens guided Jin Yeong-in to a door located deep within the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons.

The dark-colored iron door, embossed with a black dragon, seemed to be at least a foot thick, and its weight seemed to easily exceed several thousand catties.

Nevertheless, Jin Yeong-in could clearly feel the presence of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God behind this massive door.

Wooooong!

Drrrrrrrrrrrrr, kuung!

That thick iron door opened by itself.

‘Th-This is.’

Jin Yeong-in was startled when he instinctively realized that the iron door had moved not by any human or mechanical force, but by a formless qi.

With such a powerful formless qi, it was certain that crushing a person would be no effort at all.

“Enter.”

“Yes.”

At the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's call, Jin Yeong-in headed towards the throne.

The long red carpet and the stone statues of demonic beasts lined up on both sides did not even enter his eyes.

The only thing that caught Jin Yeong-in's attention was a single person, the current Heavenly Demon and Cult Leader, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

“The Heavenly Demon reigns, the demonic dao rules the world. Ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand ten thousand years.”

Jin Yeong-in performed a full prostration towards the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, showing his respects.

It was a tribute offered as a member of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to the Cult Leader, and at the same time, a reverence from one martial artist to the supreme being of all time who had reached the state of divinity.

“Raise your head.”

“Yes, your Holiness.”

Jin Yeong-in raised his head and looked at the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.

She was looking down at Jin Yeong-in while sitting on a jade throne shaped like a nine-headed dragon.

‘Ah.’

Jin Yeong-in could not describe the appearance of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God in words.

He felt an absolutely overwhelming dignity and pressure, but at the same time, he also felt a sense of grace and elegance.

No matter how he thought about it, she did not seem to be a being belonging to the human world.

“I hear that an incident occurred while I was briefly away.”

“Yes, your Holiness.”

“I heard a story that is hard to believe.”

“…….”

“Therefore, I will ask. What happened.”

Jin Yeong-in instinctively felt that lies would not work in this place.

If he did not speak only the truth, he would not be able to escape the wrath of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God…….

However, he could not get a feel for how to start speaking, where to start, and how much he could say.

‘She must know everything. She probably just wants to hear it directly.’

Jin Yeong-in judged that there was no way the Iron-Blooded Demonic God would not recognize his constitution.

It might have been different before he learned demonic arts, but now that he had achieved the Small Heavenly Cycle of the Reverse Heaven Heart Art, hoping to deceive the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's eyes would be an excessive greed.

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God's question was surely nothing more or less than a confirmation.

“I…… was born with the ability to handle demonic qi. For that reason, I was able to know in advance that the group from the Demonic Devil Cult was approaching, and I was able to control the Stiff Corpse.”

“Just as I thought.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God nodded slightly as if she knew.

“Yes, I thought so. I saw it as well when you came through that door.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God's insight was indeed accurate.

As Jin Yeong-in had expected, now that he had achieved the Small Heavenly Cycle, he could not deceive the Iron-Blooded Demonic God's eyes.

“Did you know that you had the Heavenly Demon’s Physique even before you requested to join the cult?”

“I knew.”

“Was that the reason. The reason you defected to our cult.”

“I swear that is not it. If it were for the sake of some martial arts, I would have rather destroyed my own qi center and secluded myself in a deep mountain valley to live as a slash-and-burn farmer. What is so good about this cursed body that I would abandon my master's teachings and walk the demonic path.”

Jin Yeong-in's tone became somewhat fierce as his emotions flared up.

However, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God did not mind Jin Yeong-in's attitude.

“A cursed body.”

The Iron-Blooded Demonic God repeated Jin Yeong-in's words.

For some reason, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God seemed to quite like Jin Yeong-in's expression of the Heavenly Demon’s Physique as a cursed body.

“In the end, is it because of the revenge you spoke of then? Towards the Righteous Heavenly Alliance?”

“Yes.”

“But looking back at your past actions, your reasoning lacks persuasiveness for harboring such revenge and anger.”

“…….”

“It couldn't have been because of the bullying of some worthless guys. If that were truly the case, then your master raised the wrong disciple.”

“…….”

“Answer. What is the source of the bottomless anger you hold in your heart. If you cannot give a plausible reason…… I, as the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, will have no choice but to kill you.”