-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Vice Cult Leader (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Even with four swords hurtling toward him simultaneously, Shin Horyang was the picture of composure.
*Fwoosh!*
As Shin Horyang swung his saber with force, a massive tempest erupted.
"Ugh!"
Jinmyeong felt his body sway in the gale.
And it wasn't just his body that was shaken.
His swords, too, failed to pierce the storm and fell to the floor.
"Is this all you've got?"
Shin Horyang's expression was inscrutable.
He seemed satisfied, yet not entirely convinced.
"If so, I'm disappointed."
"Would you care to receive an attack with my full power?"
Of the fallen swords, only one rose again.
*Fwoosh!*
The pure white flame enveloping the sword began to burn even more fiercely.
"Excellent. Come!"
Jinmyeong's sword shot straight toward Shin Horyang.
There was no particular finesse to it.
It simply flew straight for him.
*Whoosh!*
And Shin Horyang, in turn, swung his saber at Jinmyeong's sword.
*CRASH!*
A great tempest once again blocked Jinmyeong's blade.
"Hup!"
Shin Horyang's eyes widened as he swung his saber once more.
*Clang!*
Jinmyeong's sword, having pierced the storm, clashed with Shin Horyang's saber.
After parrying the sword, Shin Horyang looked surprised to feel his own saber being pushed back.
*Whoosh!*
But there was no time to be surprised.
He heard the sound of something cutting through the air beside him.
"Impressive!"
Shin Horyang knocked away the sword he was blocking and swung his saber to parry the one flying at him from the side.
*Clang!*
Shin Horyang stared blankly at his own hand.
The saber that should have been there was gone.
"Hehehe."
How long had it been since he'd last dropped his saber?
Shin Horyang looked at his empty hand, then tilted his head back.
He saw his saber, sent flying by Jinmyeong's sword, embedded in the ceiling.
"Truly impressive. There's too much power for it to be simple telekinesis."
The saber lodged in the ceiling slid out and returned to Shin Horyang's hand.
He sheathed it and looked around.
"It's certainly a mess."
It was only natural for the room to be in disarray after unleashing martial arts indoors.
But Shin Horyang didn't mind.
On the contrary, he wore a constant smile, as if he found Jinmyeong's techniques amusing.
"Was that last one Sword Ki?"
"I was trying to create Sword Force, but it keeps turning out like that."
"I see."
Shin Horyang looked intrigued.
"That last one was certainly powerful enough to be mistaken for Sword Force."
The initial Sword Ki also had power comparable to Sword Force, but the final sword felt slightly different.
"At first, it just had the shape of a flame, but later, I felt a strange heat from it."
As if it had become real fire.
"They say Sword Ki is a formless energy, while Sword Force is a tangible one."
"Yes. I've heard that if you solidify Sword Ki, it becomes Sword Force."
"That's not entirely wrong."
Jinmyeong had tried his best to create Sword Force, but he hadn't succeeded.
However, Shin Horyang felt that even if it wasn't solid like Sword Force, Jinmyeong's white flame was its equal.
'Is it due to the nature of the Divine Arts of Heavenly Flame?'
Since the martial art's symbol was the flame of purification, it made sense that any Sword Ki or Sword Force he created would take the form of a burning flame.
'So, the power isn't bad.'
Since its form was different from ordinary Sword Ki or Sword Force, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
He had worried that it might be all for show, consuming a great deal of internal energy for little actual power.
'If the Vice Cult Leader is right, then even my simple Sword Ki can stand against Sword Force.'
He realized once again that the first Heavenly Demon hadn't been confident for nothing.
It meant the power increased in proportion to the internal energy consumed.
That was why the first Heavenly Demon had conceived of compressing internal energy into what he called Spirit Pellets.
"So, do I pass?"
"With this much, it's possible. Is that Sword Control Arts?"
"Yes."
"It's still too crude to be called Sword Control Arts. You know that, right?"
Despite its name, what he was doing now was not yet worthy of the title.
It was more accurate to call it launching sword projectiles.
None of Jinmyeong's swords were performing any actual sword forms.
"What is the name of the technique?"
"It is called the Heaven-Embroidering Sword Control Arts."
"Sword Control Arts that embroiders the heavens, is it? I think I understand what that means."
The five sword projectiles were certainly powerful, but not unstoppable.
However, he had a feeling that if those projectiles started executing actual sword forms, becoming a true Sword Control Art, it would be terrifying indeed.
"Do you want my honest opinion?"
"Yes."
Jinmyeong quietly looked at Shin Horyang.
He couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
He had certainly gained a great opportunity and learned a new martial art, but he didn't know if it would be enough to stop the protagonist of the original story.
"At your current level…"
Shin Horyang continued to gauge Jinmyeong's martial prowess as he spoke.
"Given the power behind them, few would be able to block your attacks."
Although it was still too unrefined to be called Sword Control Arts, the power contained within the swords was enough to surprise even Shin Horyang.
He hadn't been using his full strength, but it had been enough to make him drop his saber.
"However, it's still too simplistic."
"Yes."
It was fast and powerful.
But because the swords were just shot forward, it couldn't help but feel one-dimensional.
It would probably be crucial to maneuver the five swords skillfully to confuse the opponent.
"Alternatively, you'll need enough raw power to shatter your opponent's defense entirely."
But that was only if the opponent was weaker than Jinmyeong.
At his current level, even if the swords' power increased, he wouldn't be able to do much against masters like the Heavenly Demon or Shin Horyang himself.
"Compared to the other disciples…"
Shin Horyang thought of the Heavenly Demon's other disciples.
"There aren't many who could block your attacks."
That was Shin Horyang's honest assessment.
"But just because they can't block it doesn't mean you'll win."
They couldn't block it, but that didn't mean they couldn't dodge it.
What was certain, however, was that Jinmyeong wouldn't be easily outmatched by them.
"How strong are my other senior brothers?"
"Hmm. They're not bad."
The Heavenly Demon's disciples were special.
Unlike Jinmyeong, the other disciples were all formidable masters.
"All of them are among the top fifteen fighters in our cult."
The Heavenly Demon's first disciple, in particular, might even rank within the top five.
Of course, that top five did not include the Heavenly Demon or Shin Horyang.
'Were they that strong?'
Even Jinmyeong was surprised to hear that.
In the novel, the first disciple, who later became the Heavenly Demon, couldn't even properly withstand the protagonist's attacks.
'Of course, I took the opportunity the protagonist was supposed to get here…'
But even before that, the protagonist had been stronger than the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon had resorted to dirty tricks to put the protagonist in peril, but otherwise, the protagonist would have ultimately won.
'In any case, it means I have to get stronger.'
It meant he couldn't be satisfied with his current level.
"Then, as promised, I will help you."
"Really?"
Jinmyeong's face lit up at the offer of help.
"In return, I will collect my payment when you succeed in the future."
"Understood."
Without even knowing what it was, Jinmyeong had no choice but to nod.
"First, then. How high do you wish to climb?"
Jinmyeong couldn't answer easily.
How high to climb.
He had never thought about it.
'More importantly, how am I supposed to stop the protagonist?'
Should he avoid the war with the protagonist?
Or should he stop the protagonist during the war?
'How did the war start again?'
It was because the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult tried to advance into the Central Plains first.
The Kunlun Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, stood in their way and was ultimately annihilated by the cult.
That incident triggered the war, and the Righteous Alliance and the Heretical Alliance joined forces to attack the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
'In the end, the Heavenly Demon was killed by the protagonist.'
Of course, that Heavenly Demon wasn't the current one.
'What I have to do is prevent the Heavenly Demon from being replaced.'
No matter how much he thought about it, no other method came to mind.
If the Heavenly Demon wasn't replaced, the war wouldn't happen.
Even if a war did break out, the cult wouldn't be defeated so meaninglessly.
"Are you listening?"
"…My apologies."
As Jinmyeong fell silent, lost in thought, Shin Horyang looked at him with an incredulous expression.
To think he would get lost in his own thoughts in the middle of a conversation.
"If you don't wish to talk, we can end this."
"Not at all. I was genuinely pondering how high I could climb."
"Hmm. So how high do you want to go?"
How high should he go?
Truthfully, he didn't want to go all the way to the top.
He didn't know if he had the ability, but even if he did, he lacked the confidence to lead so many people.
But he couldn't say that.
Saying he would climb to a certain point and then step aside would surely displease Shin Horyang.
"I want to climb as high as I can."
"You're quite the greedy one."
"So it would seem."
Despite his words, a smile never left Shin Horyang's lips.
He liked Jinmyeong's greed, his ambition.
"Is it possible?"
"Wouldn't that depend on your talent and your martial arts?"
All of the Heavenly Demon's disciples possessed outstanding talent.
And they had all learned exceptional martial arts from the Heavenly Demon himself.
'This one's martial art isn't from the Cult Leader, but…'
That didn't matter.
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, all that mattered was strength.
It didn't matter what kind of martial art he practiced.
Even if he practiced the martial arts of the orthodox sects, as long as he was strong, he could become the Young Cult Leader, and even the Cult Leader.
That was the way of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
"Then let's start by making your name known."
"Is there a way?"
"Is there anything special to it? You just have to show your prowess. There are many ways to do that."
Shin Horyang could hold a tournament out of boredom, or Jinmyeong could pick a fight with someone in the Cult Leader's Hall.
Any method would do.
"Or it might be good to spread a rumor that the Vice Cult Leader is backing you."
Any method would work.
The goal was to make Jinmyeong famous, one way or another.
"After that, you're on your own."
He could challenge and defeat the Heavenly Demon's other disciples, or he could gather allies to support him, just as the others did.
In the end, what mattered most here was strength.
"As I said before, once you reach a certain level, you must obey one of my commands without question."
"Yes. Understood."
"Don't worry, I won't ask for your life or anything like that."
He hadn't decided what the command would be yet.
But if he wanted to kill Jinmyeong, he wouldn't be helping him like this.
For now, he would save it for his future amusement.
"However, it's possible you may not reach that position, even with my help."
He wasn't talking about the position of Young Cult Leader.
He was talking about a position from which Jinmyeong could carry out his command.
"Yes."
As he answered, Jinmyeong felt an inexplicable chill.
"In that case, you will have to repay this with your life."
"…Of course."
Though Shin Horyang didn't seem to be exuding any particular aura, Jinmyeong felt his breath catch in his throat.
An unknown fear made his body tremble uncontrollably.
"You may leave. You will be contacted later."
"Yes. Thank you."
As he was retreating at Shin Horyang's dismissal, Jinmyeong's steps halted.
"May I ask one more thing?"
"What is it?"
"Why are you going this far for me?"
To say it was simply because he found Jinmyeong's martial arts interesting didn't make sense.
No, before that, the fact that he had even agreed to meet with Jinmyeong like this, despite Yang Jeon's presence, was strange in itself.
"Ask the one who brought you here."
"…Understood."
Shin Horyang stared silently at the door through which Jinmyeong had left.
'This is as far as I can take you. The rest depends on his abilities.'
Shin Horyang let out a small sigh as he thought of a certain man.