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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Chosen by the Sacred Fire
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I changed into white robes for the ceremony.
The Heavenly Dance Festival is an event attended only by the Heavenly Dance Family and the Sacred Fire Palace. So, while there weren't many people, the hundreds of flames were magnificent, the music was grand, and the decorations were splendid.
I don't know what I'd done wrong, but I sat in the front row where the rite was being held, enduring the cold stares of my brothers.
I tried my best to ignore them, but the stinging gazes continued.
'My face is going to burn through… you bastards.'
"Explain to me how the Heavenly Dance Festival proceeds. Keep your voice low enough that only I can hear."
Before taking my seat, I had hastily summoned Jang Ryang again. I still didn't know anything, and everything was unfamiliar.
"Yes, yes. Once every four years, when the Heavenly Dance Festival is held, the Head of the Heavenly Dance Family personally performs a dance dedicated to the heavens, and the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden, the mistress of the Sacred Fire Palace, receives a revelation."
"A dance and a revelation?"
"Yes. It is said that when the Family Head dances, the Sacred Fire responds. The Divine Maiden of the Sacred Fire Palace then divines the future direction of the Divine Cult based on the Sacred Fire's response. Then, the Divine Maiden is said to personally deliver the contents of the divination to the Cult Leader."
"I see, thank you."
"…Yes."
The Head of the Heavenly Dance Family, dressed in white, danced gracefully. He was emitting a considerable amount of qi. The circulation of his qi created ripples in the air from his fingertips and toes, and his elegant dance movements made even the shimmering waves beautiful.
The Family Head was encircled by many priestesses. All of them were emitting qi. As they did, the air shimmered, and the violet flames blazed even more fiercely.
'That is.'
The air shimmering with the Family Head's dance. I thought I had seen it somewhere before, and it closely resembled the shimmering my Heavenly Demon master created when he opened a passage.
'So that's a passage.'
Soon, the flames of the Sacred Fire grew larger.
The Sun and Moon Divine Maiden, dressed in a priestess's attire, knelt before the rising violet flames. Then, as if receiving a revelation from the fire, she began to write down characters.
'Is that all there is to it?'
The Divine Maiden folded the paper she had finished writing on. That paper was said to be delivered to the Cult Leader.
It was then.
The air shimmered greatly for a moment.
At the same time, the Sacred Fire dwindled as if its embers were about to die out.
"Huh…?"
"What is the meaning of this, Sun and Moon Divine Maiden?"
The Head of the Heavenly Dance Family asked the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden.
"It seems it has not only shown us the way, but has also chosen a person of destiny."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It has made a direct choice."
"A choice?"
With those words, the flames surged wildly.
Both the Family Head and the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden seemed surprised.
After a short while.
The Sun and Moon Divine Maiden stood up, holding a torch.
She caught the Sacred Fire on the torch.
And turned to walk toward me.
'She's coming toward me?'
She stopped right in front of me.
"!"
"Uh, me?"
She nodded in response to my question.
Perhaps because of that, everyone stared at me.
"Are you giving this to me?"
A nod.
I had no idea what was happening, but everyone was looking at me as if I was supposed to take it.
'Could this also be part of my Heavenly Demon master's plan?'
I had no choice but to accept the torch.
Instantly, the torch blazed fiercely.
"Huh?"
Then, the torch created a massive vortex of fire that spiraled upward like a waterspout.
With the surroundings bathed in violet light, the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden spoke.
"You have been chosen by the Sacred Fire."
"Pardon?"
Noooo—
Can't you give me some time to build up my body?
Since ancient times, the Sacred Fire had only ever given revelations; it had never once chosen a person. In other words, what was happening now was a first for everyone.
"Hah."
A hollow laugh escaped me out of bewilderment.
To think that I, one of the three great Divine Doctors of the Central Plains, would be chosen by the Sacred Fire of the Demonic Cult. It was truly an earth-shattering event.
Black silk robes. Long hair perfectly tied back without a single strand out of place. A face veiled by a thin cloth. Ornate gold accessories. Every visual cue spoke of the woman's identity.
The Sun and Moon Divine Maiden, mistress of the mysterious priestess order, the Sacred Fire Palace.
The moment the Divine Maiden handed over the torch and turned away, her face was briefly revealed behind the veil.
Our eyes met for an instant, and I saw it.
The chaos and interest in the Divine Maiden's eyes.
'Don't tell me, did she notice something?'
Amidst my anxiety, the Divine Maiden approached the Family Head.
"I must be returning now."
"D-Divine Maiden? What is the meaning of this?"
The Head of the Heavenly Dance Family asked in bewilderment, but the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden did not answer.
"I must first report to the Cult Leader. Let us conclude the Heavenly Dance Festival here."
She spoke in a firm tone and then left with all the priestesses.
After seeing them off, the Head of the Heavenly Dance Family approached me.
"Mu-heun."
Mu-heun must be me… It was disconcerting not to be Baek Jung-hyeok, but I had to accept it.
"Yes."
"I need a word with you."
"Yes."
Was it thanks to being chosen by the Sacred Fire?
I ended up having an unexpected private meeting with the Head of the Heavenly Dance Family.
'Is this a good thing?'
I didn't know if it was fate or something else, but as soon as I recovered from my injuries and could walk again, events came rushing in like a storm, and I was forced to take the next step.
* * *
-The Office of the Head of the Heavenly Dance Family.
The Head of the Heavenly Dance Family, stroking his long white hair and immortal-like beard, asked.
"Are you feeling better?"
"I apologize."
"Don't worry about the one who attacked you. I have the Azure Dragon Unit tracking him, so he will be caught soon. You just focus on recovering from your injuries."
"Yes."
The Heavenly Dance Family, whose main occupations are rituals and scholarly research, has a guard unit assigned to it by order of the Cult Leader—the Azure Dragon Unit. I heard the martial prowess of the Azure Dragon Unit's leader was at least at the Transcendent level.
"However."
The Family Head paused for a moment before speaking.
"What on earth happened? Why did the Sacred Fire choose you?"
"I don't know either."
The truth is, I am not your son. I am one of the three great Divine Doctors of the Central Plains and the successor to the Heavenly Demon. The reason the Sacred Fire chose me is because your ancestors in the heavens chose me…
…I couldn't very well say that, could I?
"Did something happen when you were attacked at the brothel?"
"No. However."
"However?"
I paused and looked into the Family Head's eyes. What I was carefully observing was…
…his emotions.
Back in my days as a Divine Doctor roaming the Central Plains, healing people with medicine was no easy task. If one was poor at reading emotions, it was easy to miss crucial points, so I had become an expert at discerning the feelings of others.
On the surface, there was puzzlement, anticipation?
Beneath that, pity and resignation.
And at the very bottom, love and sorrow.
'This is the heart of a father who loves his broken son.'
I had been uncertain, but after reading the Family Head's emotions, I was sure.
"I have a favor to ask."
"A favor…, go on, speak."
"When I was attacked and faced death, I encountered a fortuitous opportunity in a dream. That is why I was chosen by the Sacred Fire today."
It was true that I had been attacked, and it was true that I had died. The Sacred Fire was also connected to my Heavenly Demon master, so there were no lies.
"So, I was wondering, do you have any spiritual medicines or herbs?"
"You gained a fortuitous opportunity in a dream, and now you ask for spiritual medicines and herbs? What does that mean? I need more of an explanation."
"I am… a little confused. I will tell you everything once I have sorted things out, so for this once, could you please trust me and help me?"
Surprise was written on the Family Head's face. A face that said this had never happened before. Even I thought it was a ridiculous reason and an absurd request. But he would grant it. Because…
He is a father who loves his son!
"Alright, I understand. Take this for now."
The Head of the Heavenly Dance Family handed over a wooden box.
'It worked.'
With the underlying emotion of love and the surfacing anticipation, he had no choice but to listen.
"This is a Flowing Water Pill. It's not a famous spiritual pill, but it can be absorbed most gently. For your body's condition, there is nothing better, so take it with you."
"Yes. Thank you."
'Indeed, being chosen by the Sacred Fire wasn't a bad thing after all.'
"Mu-heun."
The voice of the Family Head called out to me as I was turning to leave. It was just one word, but his voice was filled with deep sorrow.
"Yes."
"You were a truly brilliant child when you were young."
"…"
"When you have sorted things out, be sure to come and tell me."
"Yes. I will do so."
'It seems something happened.'
The name of the Head of the Heavenly Dance Family was Baek Gun-hak.
He was a figure in the Demonic Cult, but he was a decent father.
I bowed to the Family Head and left.
* * *
"Baek Mu-heun. Your brothers want a word."
As soon as I left the Family Head's office, my brothers, who must have been waiting for me, began their interrogation.
My brothers were quite handsome themselves.
All of them possessed a neat appearance and a sturdy physique, unbecoming of members of the Demonic Cult. Perhaps because they were scholars, they seemed erudite. Maybe we could get along.
"Hey! You worthless brat. What kind of trouble are you stirring up this time? Wasn't it enough to tarnish the family name by fooling around in brothels? Now you're messing with the Sacred Fire?"
"You almost died and you still haven't come to your senses?"
Get along, my ass…
'Why are these guys making such a fuss too?'
"I apologize, but I'm not feeling well. May I go and rest?"
I'm tired, you bastards. You're just a bunch of greenhorns…
"W-What did you say? Have you now forgotten how to show respect to your older brothers?"
"Let him go."
"B-Brother!"
The youngest-looking one grew very angry, while the ones behind him just watched with their arms crossed.
But they were only calm on the outside; inside, they were the same.
Once again, I observed their emotions.
The emotions emanating from these so-called brothers were polar opposites.
Contempt and anger… and brotherly love?
As I was about to pass my brothers, feeling puzzled.
"Wait."
I froze.
The first young master, the one who had told them to let me go, spoke again.
"Mu-heun, I had hoped you would move on from the past. At first, I tried to understand you, and I waited."
"…"
"In the end, you've betrayed all my expectations."
"May I go now?"
"Yes…"
"Then."
I gave a slight bow and walked past my brothers.
"Why isn't he saying a word back?"
"He probably doesn't even want to associate with us anymore."
That was the right answer.
I didn't want to get into a meaningless argument right now.
Because I had no idea what they were talking about.
'What is everyone talking about… Nothing is going smoothly.'
Seeing the way those guys talk, it won't be easy to live peacefully here, let alone deal with Blade Leaf Valley and the Sichuan Tang Clan.
'But I'm not your damn brother!!!'
* * *
-The room of the Heavenly Dance Family's first young master.
The third young master, as if he had realized some conspiracy, shouted angrily.
"Does this make any sense? That scoundrel almost died and now he's been chosen by the Sacred Fire? He must have fabricated this whole thing. If we don't stop him now, there's no telling what he might do."
"Calm down."
"Brother!"
The second young master, Baek Mu-seong, calmed the third young master. But he was only calm on the surface; his true feelings were similar.
"Eldest brother, I also agree with the third brother to some extent. After all the times that fourth brat has tarnished the family name and caused trouble, how can he suddenly be chosen by the Sacred Fire? It seems certain he's plotting something."
"That's right! Something is definitely wrong. Brother, what should we do?"
"Still, isn't it a relief that our youngest brother survived?"
"That is…"
"That may be true, but… if he schemes something else, he might really die this time."
"You're right, what with being attacked at the brothel and all…"
"Exactly. The Divine Cult is a merciless place. We can't just let our youngest brother be."
The first young master, Baek Mu-hyeon.
He spoke as if he had made a decision.
"What if we break all his limbs?"
"B-Brother. That's…"
The second and third young masters were horrified by the words of the first young master, who had always secretly cared for their youngest brother.
"It's not something to do to a brother, but don't think of it as too harsh a measure. We must make a decision. Since he was young, I've admonished him hundreds of times, but he only pretended to listen and never changed. Now that a brat like him has even meddled with the Sacred Fire, what will happen to our family in the future?"
"Th-That's…"
"At least I will do it with my own hands. You two stay out of it."
"…!"
* * *
"Hah."
That's the second sigh today.
"How do I solve this tangled mess?"
'The Family Head was puzzled, and the brothers were displeased.'
The window was open, and moonlight streamed in. Watching the small dust motes floating in the moonlight, I reflected on the day.
'Those greenhorns seem like they're going to stir up some trouble.'
I took out the Flowing Water Pill the Family Head had given me. It certainly had a pure and gentle energy. But my body hadn't fully healed yet, so it was too much to absorb right now.
'I need to get stronger as soon as possible, but how…?'
What was there to do? As they say, haste makes waste. I needed to set my priorities based on the information I had gathered so far.
First and foremost, the most important task is to stop the Sichuan Tang Clan and save my disciples. Ji-pyeong, Yeon-ho, So-so, just wait a little longer…
The first step in that plan is to prevent the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree fruit from falling into the hands of the detestable Golden Fang Poison Claw. If I fail to stop that…
The Sichuan Tang Clan will complete the formation for cultivating Poison Blood Demons, and my disciples, having served their purpose, will be killed.
If that happens, the Tang Clan's power will become unimaginably immense, and the world will face the disaster of a Poison Blood Demon army.
To prevent this, I needed two things.
A justification to leave the Heavenly Dance Family and search for the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree.
The strength to stop Golden Fang Poison Claw.
Right now, both were far out of reach.
First, I need to recover my body and build my strength. And then, my Heavenly Demon master's last words… They should be a clue, I need to remember them.
'Damn it! I'll just do what I can for now.'
"Jang Ryang, are you out there?"
"Yes, Young Master. Did you call?"
I had asked the Head of the Heavenly Dance Family to have Jang Ryang attend to me for the time being. This guy was useful to me in many ways right now.
"Get ready. We have a place to go."
"Ah, yes…?"
"I said, get ready."
"Yes."