Chapter 7: Chivalry is a Nice-Sounding Justification.
The herb basket was filled with a rare medicinal herb called Clear Mind Grass.
‘Huu. Poor Big-brother. How hard it must have been for him. To even show signs of madness.’
Dang Cheon-wi had been very concerned about Jin Yeong-in's strange behavior over the past few days and believed it was due to the mental anguish caused by his qi deviation.
For that reason, he had briefly left to obtain Clear Mind Grass, which was said to be a miracle cure for madness.
‘First, I'll treat Big-brother's madness with the Clear Mind Grass, and then I'll try to persuade him to go see the Great Divine Physician.’
But who would have known that upon returning to the Heavenly Martial Academy after collecting the Clear Mind Grass, such a disaster would have occurred.
‘Big-brother… learned demonic arts?’
That couldn't be.
Dang Cheon-wi was the one who knew better than anyone that Jin Yeong-in's martial arts were orthodox arts.
Moreover, Dang Cheon-wi was the one who had watched Jin Yeong-in suffer from qi deviation for the past year.
Furthermore, Dang Cheon-wi was from the Sichuan Tang Clan, which was skilled not only in poison and hidden weapons but also in medicine.
Although Jin Yeong-in was suffering from a qi deviation of unknown cause, he could bet his life that it was not a side effect of learning demonic arts.
‘In the first place, it was difficult for Big-brother to even use his martial arts… Ah! The Three Lives Stimulation Powder! While I was gone, he must have gotten into a fight with the seven and ended up taking the Three Lives Stimulation Powder. The anger that had been building up from being tormented by the seven must have exploded.’
Dang Cheon-wi quickly deduced the course of events.
Since he was so close to Jin Yeong-in, it was possible for him to roughly grasp the situation.
‘This is not right. Isn't this an incredibly unfair accusation? Cutting down the seven was also something that was bound to happen due to the frequent bullying! How is this Big-brother's fault!’
Dang Cheon-wi could not stand by and watch Jin Yeong-in be falsely accused and branded a public enemy of the Murim.
‘I will go to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance and prove Big-brother's innocence….’
Just then.
“Stop.”
A familiar voice came from behind him.
Heavenly Poison Hand Dang Seong-yeong.
The current head of the Sichuan Tang Clan and Dang Cheon-wi's father.
He was looking at his son, Dang Cheon-wi, with stern eyes and a firm expression.
For Dang Cheon-wi, the situation was utterly bewildering.
Why was his father, who should be at the main family home in Sichuan, here in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and at the Heavenly Martial Academy of all places?
“I came to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance on business and heard the news.”
“Ah.”
“I have heard that you were particularly close to that Jin Yeong-in. But there are matters one should and should not get involved in.”
“But….”
“There are many eyes watching, and many ears listening. Follow me.”
After moving to a quiet place.
“This matter has already gone beyond what you can handle. Do you think they would declare a disciple a public enemy of the Murim in such a flash, without a proper investigation, even if an incident occurred?”
“Th-that's.”
“A few days ago. I heard a complaint about that child was reported to the Alliance Leader through the Demon Extermination Squad. The Alliance had to at least make a show of arresting him to save the face of the guarantors of the complaint. Coincidentally, the incident happened in the midst of that.”
“Are you saying it was a political decision?”
“That is correct.”
Dang Seong-yeong gave a short nod.
“The Alliance calculated that they would use this opportunity to make an example of that child to tighten the loosened discipline and to check the dragnet that hasn't been used for a while.”
“That's ridiculous! What kind of righteous path is that! Is it alright to trample on an innocent, powerless disciple just like that! I will absolutely not stand by! How can I watch such a ridiculous scheme….”
“Why do you say he is without sin!”
Dang Seong-yeong shouted, cutting off Dang Cheon-wi.
“As you said, being powerless! That is the sin! Having no roots! Having no strong background! Do you think there is a greater crime than that!”
“Even so, are you telling me to stand by while an innocent person is framed and trampled!”
“Then do you intend to bring harm to our family? You are also in danger! You could be implicated in the incident just for being close to Jin Yeong-in! Have you thought about how difficult the family's position will become if that happens? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the pressure has already begun!”
“…….”
“You, as a direct blood relative of the main family, have a duty to contribute to the peace and prosperity of the family! Even if you cannot achieve merits for the family! You must not cause harm!”
Dang Cheon-wi could not agree with Dang Seong-yeong's words.
Dang Cheon-wi bit his lip and opened his mouth.
“Father… that is not chivalry. How can compromising with injustice for my own and my family's safety be called chivalry?”
“Only the peace and prosperity of the main family is your chivalry.”
Dang Seong-yeong said curtly.
“Be quiet. I will handle the matter of your relationship with Jin Yeong-in.”
“I cannot… ugh!”
Dang Cheon-wi flinched at the sudden wave of dizziness that washed over him.
‘Paralysis Powder!’
When did he administer the poison…….
As if to prove that he wasn't called the Heavenly Poison Hand for nothing, Dang Seong-yeong had secretly poisoned Dang Cheon-wi.
“What can be done. This is how the world works. Chivalry is just a nice-sounding justification, and its true nature is as fleeting as a cloud. I hope you have clearly realized this through this incident.”
Dang Seong-yeong said, looking at Dang Cheon-wi with bitter eyes.
“I… have to help… Big-brother…….”
Dang Cheon-wi, crying out for Jin Yeong-in until the very end, collapsed.
***
No Dae-yeong was quite taken aback by Jin Yeong-in's request to join the cult.
The idea of the Azure Heaven Divine Warrior's disciple converting to the Demonic Cult was difficult to accept, even from the perspective of a cult member.
“Do you really have to join the cult? With the help of our cult, you could live comfortably in a quiet place.”
“How could I sleep with my feet stretched out? Even if I lived in luxury, I would have to live like a dead rat for the rest of my life.”
“Umm.”
“I'm sick and tired of the Orthodox Factions. Since it has come to this, I think it wouldn't be bad to learn demonic arts.”
“Could it be.”
No Dae-yeong narrowed his eyes and glared at Jin Yeong-in.
“Was the rumor that you were secretly learning demonic arts tr….”
“I have never done such a thing.”
“Oh, my apologies for the misunderstanding.”
At Jin Yeong-in's firm answer, No Dae-yeong broke out in a cold sweat and continued.
“Joining the cult… that is not something I can decide. It is not easy for an outsider, especially someone who was part of the Orthodox Factions, to join the cult. There is also the issue of spies. It is not a matter I can handle at my level.”
“Ah.”
Jin Yeong-in frowned.
‘These people are of no help at all.’
What have they done for me to be so obstructive to my future?
“An application to join from a former member of the Orthodox Factions will probably be reported all the way up to ‘him’.”
“By ‘him’, you mean….”
“The one who reigns above all demons.”
The one who reigns over all demonic practitioners.
The current leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
It must be referring to the current Heavenly Demon, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
“Of course, before that, there will be a background check, as well as intense interrogation and questioning. If there is even the slightest suspicion, your life will be forfeit.”
“I am prepared for that.”
“If that is your will, Young Master Jin, then when you arrive at the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, look for the Missionary Hall. Joining the cult is their jurisdiction.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
“I warn you, our cult is by no means a refuge. It is not a place to go just because you have fallen out with the Murim Alliance, and you must prove your abilities. Your body, Young Master Jin, is….”
“I am confident, so you need not worry, Master.”
Qi deviation?
If I slowly disperse my inner arts, the Clear Mind Heart Art, from now on, my body will naturally recover.
In fact, after taking the Three Lives Stimulation Powder and losing a third of my inner arts, my body felt much lighter.
If I had my way, I would take the remaining two doses at once and disperse all my inner arts, but I was holding back just in case.
“I see. That is your role, so I will not ask further. Perhaps joining the cult will be easier than expected, and I might just be making a fuss over nothing.”
“What do you mean by it might be easier than expected?”
“Great Warrior Jang's reputation in our cult is quite good. To be honest… it's true that our reputation of him is much better than those garbage Orthodox Faction bastards.”
“…….”
Jin Yeong-in frowned as the Demonic Cult member brought up his master again.
‘I'll have to look into this in detail later.’
At this point, he couldn't help but be curious about his master's past.
“The situation seems to be escalating quickly, so we must hurry.”
This place, Wuhan, was like the heart of the Orthodox Factions.
Since the Murim Alliance and the Heavenly Martial Academy were located here, it would be nearly impossible to escape once the pursuit began.
Now was the time to quickly leave Wuhan.
“First, could you tell me about your recent movements? Seeing as you came here secretly, you don't seem to have revealed your tracks….”
“Of course.”
At No Dae-yeong's words, Jin Yeong-in recounted his movements over the past few hours.
“Excellent. That should have bought us at least a few hours.”
No Dae-yeong was impressed.
Secretly getting off the boat and swimming back, spraying himself with tracking scent to erase his own, stealing someone's clothes that were hung out to dry, and climbing to the top of the Red Moon Pavilion.
There was nothing to fault in his actions.
“Good. You must be tired, so get some sleep. We will depart within one or two hours. I will wake you when it is time to leave.”
“I understand.”
Thanks to No Dae-yeong's consideration, Jin Yeong-in took a nap in a secret room deep inside the Red Moon Pavilion.
He had been up all night, so he needed at least a short nap…….
***
“Young Master Jin, wake up. Hurry.”
Unfortunately, Jin Yeong-in had to wake up after only half an hour of sleep.
“The situation is very bad. I think we've gotten into serious trouble.”
“Pardon? Is something wrong?”
Jin Yeong-in asked, forcing his heavy eyelids open.
“The Righteous Heavenly Alliance's movements are much faster than expected.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I'm saying it's an overreaction for a case where a disciple of the Heavenly Martial Academy who was secretly learning demonic arts cut down his fellow students and ran away.”
“To what extent?”
“An inescapable dragnet is being spread. This is a response worthy of catching a great demon lord of the era. Even considering that Wuhan is the heart of the Orthodox Factions, it's more than I thought. Oh, and.”
No Dae-yeong asked Jin Yeong-in again.
“The Righteous Heavenly Alliance is claiming that you were a spy infiltrated into the Heavenly Martial Academy by our cult.”
“Ah?”
“Are you not surprised? Or angry?”
“As expected, they don't disappoint. That's about it.”
“Heo.”
No Dae-yeong was surprised by Jin Yeong-in's cynical reaction.
He wondered how badly he must have been burned in the past for someone who was a disciple of the Heavenly Martial Academy until this morning to react like this.
Of course, No Dae-yeong had no idea what Jin Yeong-in had been through in the past.
“Will it be possible to get out of Wuhan?”
Jin Yeong-in didn't care what the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was spouting.
His only interest was escape.
If things had gone according to plan, he would have left the Heavenly Martial Academy without any trouble and headed for the Demonic Cult, but to think he'd be held back by the likes of the seven.
“Do not underestimate the power of our cult. Our cult will devote all its efforts to your escape and will protect you no matter what happens.”
“Thank you.”
“Don't mention it. The wishes of the holder of the Black Dragon Plaque are the commands of our cult. I am simply doing my duty. Now, we don't have time for this. Let's get moving. We must leave Wuhan before the dragnet is complete. Follow me for now.”
“I understand.”
Jin Yeong-in hurriedly followed No Dae-yeong.