Chapter 108: Swaying Flame (1)
Despite Jin Gun-ak's concern, the matter with the Illusion Clan concluded without issue—but my expression remained grim.
‘What should I do?’
I could handle many things, but when it came to the Cheon Clan, getting involved was difficult.
The Cheon Clan’s isolation and strength made even the Jin Clan’s power feel insufficient.
‘I can safely say that Cheon Yura won’t lose to Cheon Yujeong in a one-on-one fight. But… what about on the political side?’
Judging from how Cheon Yujeong acted toward the White-Faced Demon General and her energetic movements, at least on the surface, she was doing far better than Cheon Yura.
‘The biggest problem is… I know nothing about Cheon Yujeong as a person.’
I had met her for just a single day—barely even a full two hours.
While I had some fragmented information, I needed concrete details: what kind of personality she had, what forces she commanded and how.
‘In the end… do I need to ask for help?’
Right now, there was only one place I could turn to for assistance.
With a sigh of resignation, I shook my head.
“The Pavilion Master’s probably going to glare daggers at me.”
It hadn’t been long since I got back from going out… and now I had to head out again.
***
Heavenly Reflection Pavilion
One of the nine Halls within the Cult, and the group overseen by the Great Elder Cheon Yeongha.
It was the place that managed all martial arts texts within the Cult—a group of strategists that essentially formed the origin of the Heavenly Thunder Corps.
“I did say you could come if you needed help, and gave you the token, but you’ve come far quicker than expected.”
As expected of a place responsible for managing the Cult’s Martial Arts Repository, Cheon Yeongha’s office—Heavenly Reflection Pavilion’s lord—was filled to the brim with rare manuals.
I glanced around at the books and let out a soft groan.
‘Each one of those is a forbidden and deadly demonic art, right?’
Forbidden demonic techniques so dangerous that they had to be managed personally by the Pavilion Head.
If even one were to leak, the one responsible—Cheon Yeongha—would lose her head without hesitation.
It was because no successor could be found that even twenty years later, Cheon Yeongha still held her position as the head of Heavenly Reflection Pavilion.
“I’m sorry, Great Elder. But right now, I desperately need your help more than anyone else.”
“Heh heh! I’m not blaming you. Sit down.”
Cheon Yeongha, immersed in her duties as head of Heavenly Reflection Pavilion, greeted my sudden visit with calmness.
Over warm tea, we sat across from each other.
“I’ve heard the rumors and know the general situation. So, you met Yujeong, didn’t you?”
“You already knew?”
“Of course I did. You came to me precisely because you felt how dangerous Yujeong is, right?”
“I need information on Cheon Yujeong as an individual—and about the Cheon Clan’s power structure associated with her.”
At my request, Cheon Yeongha couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! You’re asking me—one of the senior elders of the Cheon Clan—to hand over insider information to another family?”
“She’s going to become the Young Cult Leader’s greatest enemy!”
I clenched my fist and pushed my argument forcefully.
“If we don’t deal with her now, it’ll be too late.”
“Hmph… You’re being rather arrogant.”
She took a sip of tea and spoke in a low voice.
“You should be glad I think favorably of you. If any other elder of the Cheon Clan heard you say that, they’d try to kill you on the spot.”
“……”
I grit my teeth.
Indeed, this was nothing less than political interference in the Cheon Clan’s affairs.
But I had already prepared myself for this. Since I had come this far, I had to see it through.
After a brief silence, Cheon Yeongha suddenly said,
“Have you heard of the phrase ‘If Zhu was born, why did the heavens give us Liang’?”
“It’s from the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, isn’t it?”
A rather famous line—Zhou Yu’s lament about why the heavens gave birth to the brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang after giving birth to him.
Cheon Yeongha nodded slowly.
“That’s right. The relationship between Yura and Yujeong is exactly like that.”
“…!”
“Yujeong… If Yura didn’t exist, the position of the third female Cult Leader would have gone to her. That’s how talented and ambitious she is.”
It was extraordinary praise. It meant that Cheon Yujeong had more than enough qualifications to be another contender for Cult Leader.
It wasn’t exactly good news for me, though.
“But as things stand, Yura’s accomplishments are beyond what Yujeong can reach. You were the one who made her that way—don’t pretend you didn’t know.”
“…You knew?”
“Even jade can’t hide forever. Did you really think she could stay hidden in the Lesser Demon Hall without being noticed?”
“Well, not exactly…”
Extreme Level.
And she had reached it around the age of twenty.
Such an overwhelming achievement was almost unheard of in the long history of the Heavenly Demon Cult.
In a place like this, where the rule of the strong reigned supreme, strength wasn’t just a weapon—it was legitimacy itself.
“Not all, but it’s likely that several other Cheon Clan elders know as well.”
“And that’s exactly why something that should never have happened… is on the verge of happening.”
My eyes locked with Cheon Yeongha’s.
“If we delay any longer, we might lose our chance.”
“Sigh…”
Cheon Yeongha let out a soft breath.
“Yura… has risen too far, too fast. The Cult Leader may be pleased with her, but that has turned into poison for her in the long run.”
This was the true peak of the butterfly effect I had caused.
Because of it, Cheon Yura’s rivals had been needlessly provoked, and a civil war within the Cheon Clan—which should’ve taken years to erupt—was now being drastically accelerated.
“Please… help us.”
Cheon Yeongha didn’t respond right away.
She tapped her fingers on the desk, murmuring to herself.
“Yujeong… she’s impulsive and has a temper, but unlike the passive Yura, she knows how to fake a demeanor and read political currents. Honestly, she might be a better match for you than Yura is.”
“……”
“Maybe… the one more suited to being Cult Leader isn’t Yura—but Yujeong.”
Shiver!
The moment I heard those words, a chill spread through my chest.
If Cheon Yeongha truly thought that way, there was nothing I could do.
I clenched my fists hard, gritting my teeth.
“Do you truly believe… that Lady Cheon Yura is less qualified than her to be Cult Leader?”
If she said “Yes” here, then everything would really be over.
Thankfully, her answer was vague.
“Who knows? Time will tell.”
“If that’s the case, then please trust me and the Young Cult Leader.”
“Hm?”
“No matter what achievements Cheon Yujeong may accomplish, I will lead the Cult into greater prosperity than any reign she could ever hope to bring.”
At my absurdly bold declaration, Cheon Yeongha’s eyes widened.
Then she let out a hollow laugh, lifting one corner of her mouth.
“Keh keh keh, and what are you basing that on?”
“On my abilities.”
“You really think you’re capable of that?”
“At the very least, I believe I’ve proven myself up to now.”
“……”
Together with Cheon Yura, I had exposed the betrayal of the Yin-Yang Fist Demon, Jan Hyeol—something left unknown even in my past life—and also killed Colorful Flower Lord, Myung Yuryang, who was with him.
On top of that, I’d even taken care of the Black-Spotted Blood issue, which would’ve wreaked havoc across the Cult in the near future.
Even I had to admit, the merits I’d earned so far were considerable.
“……”
“……”
A stifling silence hung heavy in the room for a long while.
Cheon Yeongha stared at me without saying a word.
There was no trace of emotion in her eyes, making it impossible even for me to read her.
‘So even my senses don’t work on someone this seasoned.’
What could she be thinking right now?
After nearly a whole fifteen minutes of silence, Cheon Yeongha finally broke it.
“I’ll ask just one thing.”
“I’m listening.”
“What do you think the Cult Leader’s response to this matter will be?”
I replied without hesitation.
“He won’t intervene.”
“Why not?”
“Based on the temperament I’ve observed in the Cult Leader, I believe he would see this as another rite of passage that the Young Cult Leader must overcome on her own to truly become the Cult Leader.”
The Cult Leader was expecting nothing less than perfection from Cheon Yura.
To him, a trial like this would be something she simply had to surpass.
Though in my past life, that had proven to be a fatal miscalculation—something this version of the Cult Leader would never understand, not even in death.
“…That makes sense.”
Cheon Yeongha looked up at the ceiling with a soft sigh.
“Stubborn old ox that he is, and the brats who still hunger for power despite their age… I don’t know why I’m suffering like this in my old age.”
‘You’ll be suffering for another twenty years at least.’
I didn’t dare say that aloud. If I did, her Thousand Hands would probably start pounding me gently from head to toe. That thought, I kept to myself.
“Well, the less chaos, the better.”
“…!”
I lit up at her words.
That was effectively her saying she’d help.
Cheon Yeongha continued speaking.
“What should have been an internal Cheon Clan conflict has now spread to the entire Six Great Demonic Clans.”
“Yes, the Heavenly Illusion Hwan Clan has already switched allegiances.”
“Even though Yujeong claimed she let the White-Faced Demon General take the credit, everyone knows who really quelled the chaos in the Illusion Clan.”
In the end, the whole affair had been a self-staged performance by the Heavenly Illusion Hwan Clan and Cheon Yujeong.
But with it, Cheon Yujeong made a dazzling first entrance into the political arena of the Cult.
“And even if it wasn’t the Illusion Clan, what the other clans who lost out at the Exchange Ceremony do next… will depend on you.”
The Young Cult Leader Exchange Ceremony was ultimately a battle that left only one winner.
That didn’t mean I shouldn’t defeat my enemies.
But what benefits would I offer those I defeated?
Or how would I thoroughly suppress those who turned into enemies for good?
Choosing among the countless possibilities and reducing the number of enemies as much as possible—
Cheon Yeongha was clearly expecting me to perform well in that political arena.
“Then I’ll have to focus on creating allies before enemies.”
“Exactly. To make this struggle viable, you’ll need to bring at least one of the other clans to your side.”
‘Then the first clan I need to reach out to must be…’
As soon as I thought this, a certain family popped into my mind.
“I’ll pay a visit to the Extreme Saber Pa Clan.”
Cheon Yeongha nodded approvingly.
“That’s a good first move. They’ve never shown much interest in the Exchange Ceremony to begin with, so they’re the most likely to become your allies.”
I hadn’t intended this result, but I had already developed a decent relationship with Pa Yeongyeong, the heir of the Pa Clan.
At the very least, I wouldn’t be turned away at the door.
Still, there was one problem…
“Great Elder.”
“Hm? What is it? Is there a problem?”
With a solemn expression unlike before, I bowed my head toward Cheon Yeongha.
“There’s a big favor I’d like to ask you.”
“…?”
“Please… teach me a saber art.”
“Wh-What?”
Cheon Yeongha blinked, unable to grasp what I meant for a moment.
***
Two weeks passed.
In that time, the Exchange Ceremony—which had been suspended due to Sa Cheongmun—resumed for a second round.
“The Sa Clan is absent, huh? Well, after what happened, I suppose that’s to be expected.”
Because of the incident Sa Cheongmun caused, general cultists were now banned from spectating the event.
Naturally, there were complaints, but it couldn’t be helped.
“The Heavenly Illusion Hwan Clan… wait, that’s a woman? Who is she?”
A woman I had never seen before was now sitting in the seat once occupied by Hwan Ryung.
Pale skin and crimson eyes. At a glance, she gave off a chilling impression.
“Since the Pa Clan’s heir showed up before, I guess the Illusion Clan’s also stepped back in all but name.”
“Then it’s basically a three-way match between the Jin Clan, the So Clan, and the Ma Clan?”
“That’s how it looks… but honestly, the outcome’s pretty much decided.”
“Hm, I suppose!”
Among the martial artists gathered at the Exchange Ceremony, fierce debates erupted over the incidents that had occurred.
But the conclusion was unanimous.
“So the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan is going to produce the next Demonic Faction Lord?”
“Seems that way.”
“With all that he’s accomplished, it’d be strange if he didn’t.”
Many were convinced.
That the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan was about to seize the next generation of power within the Cult.
And many were stunned.
Because barely after the Exchange Ceremony resumed, the one thought to be the star of this event uttered a single line—
“I, Jin Yeomyung, will withdraw from this Exchange Ceremony due to personal reasons.”