Chapter 109 : Changes Within the Bright Cult

Chapter 109: Changes Within the Bright Cult

The three of them did not even go near the academy. Instead, they devoted themselves to training like madmen.

Since the one training with them was the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, every casual remark he tossed out became a stroke of fortune and a signpost pointing toward a higher realm.

Naturally, the achievements of the three rose day by day.

To the point that someone even said it was fortunate that the Ghost Demon had failed to return to his Elder position.

While they were thus consumed by training, Demon Flower came to the Vice Cult Leader’s Pavilion where they were staying.

Though she had arrived, Iron Demon and Ghost Demon remained immersed in their training, and she asked,

“Oppas, aren’t you studying? Aren’t you going back to being Elders?”

At her question, Iron Demon replied indifferently without even stopping his movements.

“Elder? Can you eat that? I’ve got no interest in that crap.”

He tossed out that single remark and continued training as before, making Demon Flower stare at him in disbelief.

After all, it had been Iron Demon who had taken the greatest pride in being the Chief Elder.

As if understanding her feelings, Ghost Demon paused his training and approached her.

“Just understand. Right now, nothing anyone says will get through to him.”

“Fine, maybe Iron Demon Oppa is like that—but what about you? You should return as an Elder.”

“Well….”

Ghost Demon scratched the back of his head and trailed off, and Demon Flower’s eyes widened.

“Don’t tell me you don’t have any intention either?”

“The thing is, our strength changes from one day to the next. With just one word from the Vice Cult Leader, our level shifts. If I return to being an Elder and lose this priceless opportunity, what do you think matters more?”

“To that extent?”

At her astonished question, Ghost Demon lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.

“Don’t even ask. The Vice Cult Leader once watched how we moved and said, ‘Try fixing this once.’ When we followed his words, a chronic problem that had plagued us for decades was solved in one stroke.”

“So how much have you improved?”

“Lately, when Iron Demon circulates his energy, three-colored clouds gather and flower buds form. They haven’t fully bloomed yet, but it looks like they will soon.”

Three Flowers Gather at the Crown, Five Energies in Harmony.

It was proof of having stepped into the Manifestation Realm.

That meant…

“M-Manifestation Realm!”

“Yes. My internal energy had already surpassed Ten Gapja some time ago. All that remained was enlightenment, and the Vice Cult Leader’s words are filling that in.”

“Then what about you? If Iron Demon Oppa is at that level, you must have undergone some change too, right?”

“Me? I’ve just started seeing a path I couldn’t see before.”

At Ghost Demon’s answer, Demon Flower asked with a gaze that mixed envy and jealousy.

“W-What path?”

“The path that clearly leads beyond the Transcendent Realm.”

Beyond the Transcendent Realm lay the Manifestation Realm. In truth, Ghost Demon’s internal energy had already surpassed Iron Demon’s.

After taking the Thousand-Year Ice Essence, he had even said he could no longer distinguish whether he was in the Transcendent Realm or the Manifestation Realm.

Which meant he was now fully entering the Manifestation Realm.

Jealousy and envy tangled within Demon Flower, but she shook her head and forced her emotions down.

Both Iron Demon and Ghost Demon were difficult to compare herself with.

Iron Demon, who had unknowingly chewed and swallowed a thousand-year-old mountain ginseng in the past, and Ghost Demon, who had stumbled upon the Thousand-Year Ice Essence by chance—both had encountered extraordinary fortunes.

So she brought up another person who belonged to the Vice Cult Leader’s Chambers and could at least be compared to her.

“Where did Profound Demon Oppa go?”

“Who knows. These past few days he’s been skipping training and not showing up. Crazy bastard. Wasting such important time. Tsk.”

For some reason, a faint smile tugged at Demon Flower’s lips at Ghost Demon’s scolding.

“Then how is Profound Demon Oppa? He’s far below you two, right?”

“For someone who’s distracted elsewhere, he’s keeping up well. From the start, aside from his internal energy, his achievements weren’t bad. And lately, even his internal energy has caught up quite a bit.”

That last remark was directed at Iron Demon, who was still engrossed in training.

At Ghost Demon’s question, Iron Demon answered as if annoyed.

“Yeah. He’s improved a lot. Now let me train.”

Ghost Demon gave a wry smile at Iron Demon’s grumbling.

Watching the two of them, anxiety flickered in Demon Flower’s eyes. She feared that even Profound Demon, who had once been similar to her, might surge far ahead.

In truth, most masters of the Transcendent Realm possessed Seven Gapja of internal energy.

Those who had reached that level knew well that after the Peak Realm, the increase in internal energy progressed like an ant’s trickle of urine.

Without the enlightenment corresponding to each realm, growth was slow.

Demon Flower herself had reached the Transcendent Realm ten years ago, yet she was still at Seven and a Half Gapja.

In other words, her internal energy had risen by only Half a Gapja in ten years.

It was not as though she had neglected energy circulation. In the Bright Cult, hoping to survive while doing so would be absurd.

She had worked that hard—yet they surged ahead with just a few words of advice from the Vice Cult Leader. It felt, somehow, like cheating.

Carrying that anxiety, Demon Flower asked,

“How much has he improved?”

Ghost Demon answered,

“About One Old Man Gapja, I think?”

Iron Demon picked up the answer.

“I checked the other day—Nine and a Half Gapja. Ten Gapja’s right in front of him. The bastard’s got a sharp head. Enlightenment bursts out the moment he hears the Vice Cult Leader’s words. Of course the internal energy follows.”

At Iron Demon’s words, Demon Flower’s expression turned distant.

However, that hesitation lasted only a moment. As if she had hardened her resolve, Demon Flower rose with a determined expression.

Seeing her like that, Ghost Demon asked with a hint of regret,

“Why? Are you leaving?”

“Me! I’m quitting being an Elder and coming back.”

“W-What?”

Leaving behind Ghost Demon, who was too startled to respond properly, Demon Flower hurried away.

Guided by the Instructor, Yul Han and Profound Demon arrived and saw children gathered closely together, listening to their teacher’s lesson.

Their clear voices and bright, sparkling eyes showed considerable enthusiasm.

Many of them had never even glimpsed a book, let alone attended a village school, because though they envied the children who went, their families were so poor they could not afford it.

Some had once attended, but quite a few had been forced to stop when their parents’ circumstances worsened.

Only then had they realized how precious it was to attend school.

Perhaps that was why, now that they were able to attend an academy similar to a village school, the children’s enthusiasm far exceeded their years.

Yul Han stopped the Instructor, who was about to interrupt the lesson, and waited until class ended.

The children rested for one gak every half-shijin. In that way, they studied for two shijin (four hours).

During one such break, Yul Han met the children.

Unaware that the man standing before them was the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult—their dream and goal—the child answered as the Instructor prompted.

“I heard you asked to be allowed to take the Entrance Training Examination. Is that true?”

“Yes. I asked my father, and I heard he appealed to the Guardian Venerable.”

Though only eight years old, the child answered clearly, beyond her age.

Yul Han asked her,

“Your voice is gentle.”

“I’m a girl.”

For a moment, Yul Han’s expression stiffened in embarrassment.

It was the first time he had seen a girl not wearing a skirt.

Sensing his awkwardness, the Instructor quickly stepped forward.

“Supplies in the village are still insufficient, especially clothing. There aren’t enough clothes for the girls. So when the laundry is being washed, they sometimes wear the clothes of a brother or sibling they live with.”

In other places, elders might have caused an uproar over damaged customs, but this was a village under the jurisdiction of the Bright Cult.

Men and women alike were often seen wearing martial uniforms, so no one scolded a girl for wearing trousers.

Of course, a few elderly people clicked their tongues and muttered about the end times, but even they knew the hardship of lacking goods and could not truly criticize.

After hearing the explanation, Yul Han spoke apologetically.

“I’m sorry. This uncle didn’t know.”

“I-It’s okay.”

As she answered, the child hid behind the Instructor.

Yul Han’s sharp gaze and stern expression were too fierce for children to face.

Knowing that, Yul Han could only smile bitterly.

“Since I’ve already apologized, may I ask one more thing?”

At his question, the girl peeked out from behind the Instructor and answered.

“Yes.”

“Why do you want to become a martial artist of the Bright Cult? It will be very difficult and harsh.”

“To become a good person.”

“Huh? A, a good person?”

“Yes. My mother and father said so. They said the Bright Cult heroes are truly good people. That the only ones who care for the starving like this, while living with nothing themselves, are them. I’m going to become strong and good like that.”

At her answer, Yul Han asked with a wry smile,

“So you’re saying you want to become one because your parents said Bright Cult martial artists are good people?”

He had asked in case the parents had influenced her. The child thought for a moment before replying.

“Um… I think that’s true too.”

“You think it’s true?”

“Yes. We almost starved to death. My little brother was so weak he couldn’t even stand. But after the Instructor visited, my brother stood up again, and we didn’t die. I like that so much. I want to help people like us too.”

It pained him to imagine the suffering she must have endured. And he understood why she thought that way.

“Becoming a good person is possible even without learning martial arts and becoming a martial artist. Have you not considered other paths?”

“Um… they say girls can’t become scholars. And merchants too. They say I just need to marry well. But I want to become a good person who helps others.”

At the girl’s words, Yul Han was left speechless.

Indeed, in this era, it was not easy for a woman to do much.

In the end, Yul Han nodded.

“Very well. Make sure you pass and become a good martial artist—and a good person.”

“Yes.”

Leaving the spirited girl behind, Yul Han stepped back, and the Instructor asked,

“Would you like to see the other children?”

“No. That will be enough. Let’s meet the parents tonight. I’ll look around the village for a while, so please arrange a place once everyone returns.”

“Yes. Understood.”

At the Instructor’s reply, Yul Han left the academy with Profound Demon walking ahead.

Watching them grow distant from behind the Instructor, the girl asked,

“Who is that person?”

“Your dream.”

“What?”

“The person you said you wanted to resemble.”

“The Vice Cult Leader!”

“That’s right.”

At the Instructor’s answer, the girl hurried to the doorway, but Yul Han had already disappeared from sight.

As she stamped her feet in disappointment, the Instructor approached her.

“He said he will return tonight, so come with your mother and father. You’ll be able to see him again then.”

At that, the girl beamed and ran back into the academy.

Soon after, the sound of the children shouting “Waaah!” echoed—she must have boasted to them.

Seeing the children like that, the Instructor smiled warmly.

Honestly, he had never imagined days like these would come.

He had only thought he would wander through Xinjiang and the Cheonghae Region, preaching the great achievements of the Heavenly Demon to a handful of believers like reading sutras to deaf ears, and die that way.

But they said turning one’s eyes could open them. Ever since the Vice Cult Leader’s advice and the Guardian Venerable’s decisive action, the entire Guardian Division had undergone change.

Now everyone in the Guardian Division moved with excitement.

They went hungry from sharing their own food and grew weary from relentless toil, yet their hearts were truly full.

If he could live like this and die like this, it felt as though he might truly rest peacefully at the Heavenly Demon’s side for eternity.

That was why, even as he dragged his exhausted body, the smile never left his lips.

As he followed the traces of the Vice Cult Leader—the origin of it all—the Instructor’s gaze was gentle.