So? Did Someone Force You to Become the Heavenly Demon?

While ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the patients sang Il-mok's praises, the physicians of the manor came rushing over the moment word spread that the Left Guardian had arrived unannounced.

"Wh-what ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍brings you here, sir?"

With ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍so many people around recognizing him, Il-mok kept his voice low and responded through a voice transmission.

—I ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍have sustained severe injuries and have come seeking treatment.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍physician seemed to catch on immediately. His eyes went wide, but he gave a quick nod and kept his mouth shut.

"P-please, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍come inside first."

Il-mok followed the physician deep into the manor's interior.

After being led to a secluded building with no one nearby, he waited for a short while.

Clack.

The door burst open, and an old man hurried in with a younger companion in tow.

"Welcome, Left Guardian!"

"It's been so long! Left Guardian!"

It was the Demonic Physician of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and Seo Jae-pil, universally recognized as the most unhinged duo among the Divine Cult's medical staff.

"We'll do whatever it takes to get you back on your feet!"

"But of course! The Divine Cult's medical arts have advanced so fast thanks to you, Left Guardian. So it is only fitting that you experience them firsthand!"

"Hahaha! Very well said."

But why was it? Even with a critically injured patient sitting right before them, the two physicians seemed downright thrilled.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the medical field I helped you develop strictly focused on surgery? I am only here for internal injuries..."

"Hahaha. We are well aware. However, it has been discovered that treating internal injuries with surgical procedures can actually be far more effective. We have this recent war to thank for that revelation."

War had always been a great catalyst for advances in medicine.

The problem was that he might now be on the receiving end of those advances.

"Well, since you insist it's an internal injury, let's start with your pulse."

The Demonic Physician stepped forward and pressed two fingers to Il-mok's wrist.

He closed his eyes and spent a moment reading the state of Il-mok's inner body.

"Good heavens! To think you have managed to form both a Middle Dantian and an Upper Dantian! And the Qi within all three dantians is entirely different from one another!"

Hearing the Demonic Physician's outburst, Seo Jae-pil's eyes lit up like a pair of lanterns.

"As expected, the Left Guardian is the greatest test sub— I mean, the greatest there is!"

"..."

For quite some time after that, the two physicians engaged in a heated debate over how to treat Il-mok’s unprecedented condition.

‘S-should I run? Motherfucker, my internal injuries won't even allow me to run.’

Il-mok was more terrified right now than he'd been fighting the Divine Monk.

***

While Il-mok was fearing for his life, the news of victory that had begun spreading from Heyang was rippling outward in every direction and it eventually reached the unit that had been locked in a standoff with enemy forces near Weinan.

"You are telling me that Hyeon Am has been killed? That old monster?”

Wi Jin-hak who had become more dignified ever since taking on the role of Cult Leader was staring with a rare look of pure shock on his face.

Beside him, Seo Wan-pyeong looked equally shocked. Even the usually calm Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord looked like he was struggling to believe what he'd just heard.

All eyes turned to the messenger, who had come specifically to deliver the news.

"I-it is the truth, my lords! The Grand Teacher, the Left Guardian, and Lady Jin Hayeon launched a joint attack and took the Divine Monk down. The Left Guardian sustained serious injuries in the process, but the Divine Monk's death has been confirmed!"

Even with such a detailed account, all three of them still looked like they couldn't quite believe it.

‘I know the Left Guardian is a rare genius, but this feat is still unbelievable to my ears.’

‘I can't even begin to guess what kind of brilliant scheme our youngest pulled off this time.’

‘...Our youngest risked his life for this miraculous victory, but what have I done as the Cult Leader after all this time?’

Each of them sat with their own thoughts for a moment before Wi Jin-hak snapped back to attention.

"Is the Left Guardian safe? Didn't you say he sustained serious injuries?"

"He's already been sent to Xi’an for treatment. I haven't received the exact details of his treatment, but I was assured he isn't in critical danger of losing his life."

All three let out a collective breath of relief.

Then Wi Jin-hak rose to his feet and issued the order. "Tell every unit to prepare for combat. We'll strike the enemy position the moment we're ready."

The Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord responded cautiously.

"Cult Leader, the sun will begin to set in about an hour. I worry this may be too hasty."

"It is indeed hasty, but we must seize this opportunity. The news of the Divine Monk’s death will reach the enemy camp at any moment. We must launch a surprise attack as swiftly as possible before they hear of it and attempt to flee."

The Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord bowed his head and said nothing more, though he had to work to keep his expression neutral.

His thoughts were complicated.

The Divine Monk was dead, but there was still no word on where the Supreme Eunuch was. That meant there was a chance he was somewhere in the enemy position they were about to strike. If they rushed in and the Supreme Eunuch was there waiting for them, the casualties could be catastrophic. In the worst case, the Cult Leader himself might not make it out.

And yet, the reason he could not easily voice his opposition despite these risks was because of the report they had just received.

A mere three people had killed the Divine Monk.

And right now, there were also three high-level martial artists on their side.

Suggesting they call off the attack out of fear of the Supreme Eunuch was basically calling the Cult Leader weaker than his own Left Guardian.

After a brief but heavy moment of deliberation, the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord made his decision.

‘All I can do is pray the Supreme Eunuch isn't in that camp.’

Rather than trying to stop the Cult Leader, he chose to follow his lead.

He gave a respectful bow and replied, "I'll give the order to prepare."

But it wasn't a decision made on blind luck alone.

Before leaving the tent, he quietly sent a voice transmission to Seo Wan-pyeong.

—If the Supreme Eunuch appears on our front, we must protect the Cult Leader at all costs.

He had already made peace with the worst-case scenario.

If the Supreme Eunuch was in that camp, he was prepared to lay down his life to keep the Cult Leader alive.

***

While Wi Jin-hak's unit was gearing up for battle, the enemy camp on the other side of the standoff was receiving its own intelligence.

Inside the command tent, Eunuch Bang was working through a stack of reports when one particular letter was delivered to him.

"!!!"

His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he read what was written inside.

It contained news he never could have anticipated.

Divine Monk had been killed in action. Furthermore, he had fallen to the combined assault of a mere three people.

‘Useless piece of shit.’

Truth be told, Eunuch Bang had always planned to backstab the Divine Monk eventually. With the Supreme Eunuch personally involved in the war, a well-prepared ambush would have been more than enough.

But that plan was supposed to be saved for after the war ends.

The Divine Monk was supposed to be their meat shield! He wasn't supposed to die until their victory was guaranteed.

While Eunuch Bang was swallowing down his curses, a voice reached him from across the room.

"Is something the matter? Amitabha."

He turned to find the Buddha Venerable and the Shaolin Abbot watching him.

There was a very simple reason why these esteemed Shaolin monks weren't by the Divine Monk's side. 

In the early days of the war, back when the fighting was mostly just border skirmishes, the monks had moved as one big group. But the moment the Demonic Cult caught sight of even a single bald head, they would immediately pack up and run for the hills.

Realizing this, the imperial army changed tactics. By intentionally splitting up the Shaolin elites and the Divine Monk, they managed to keep the Cult constantly guessing.

With both senior monks now looking at him, Eunuch Bang quickly concocted a lie.

"Ahem. It was an intelligence report from the spies we sent deep into enemy territory. Apparently, the Demonic Cult is forcibly confiscating grain from ordinary civilians."

"Despicable."

"Amitabha. We must deal with them without delay."

Eunuch Bang quietly patted himself on the back for successfully fooling the two monks.

But a far worse piece of news came crashing in right on its heels.

"Enemy ambush! The Demonic Cult forces are marching right at us!"

Eunuch Bang's face twisted.

‘They already got word that the Divine Monk is dead.’

Why else would they launch such a frenzied assault?

Just then, the two oblivious old monks chimed in. "A fine opportunity to show these wicked demons what awaits those who terrorize the people."

"Quite right, Abbot."

Eunuch Bang barely stopped himself from cursing out loud at their idiotic rambling. But then, an idea suddenly flashed through Eunuch Bang's mind, and he quickly gave an order.

"Tell everyone to prepare for combat immediately!"

Trying to call a retreat now would be a death sentence. Any commander worth his salt knew that falling back was infinitely more dangerous than fighting. Add to that the fact that most of his army were barely trained conscripts, ordering a retreat would guarantee they broke ranks and washed away like sand caught in a tidal wave.

As the imperial soldiers scrambled to form up on Eunuch Bang's orders—

"RAAAAH!"

"CHARGE!!"

The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's forces came pouring toward them.

Screams and battle cries erupted everywhere. The sounds of steel clashing rang out alongside the sounds of flesh being cut apart.

At first, the imperial army managed to hold. But once the Divine Cult's elite fighters began pushing in earnest, the imperial army’s line started crumbling fast.

Unable to stand by and watch any longer, the Shaolin monks stepped in to hold back the Divine Cult's forces directly.

"Haaah!"

CRACK!

Every time the Buddha Venerable threw a punch, an enemy soldier's head or torso caved in. With the rest of the monks cutting down the Divine Cult's fighters alongside him, the Shaolin monks began to efficiently dispatch the Divine Cult’s soldiers.

Slash!

Just then, a hair-raising sound caught the attention of both the Buddha Venerable and the Shaolin Abbot. 

Their heads snapped toward the source on pure instinct.

What they saw was a middle-aged man swinging a sword wreathed in ominous black flames.

Cult Leader Wi Jin-hak.

Though his reputation had been somewhat overshadowed by the existence of the Divine Monk, this man was still undeniably one of the strongest martial artists on the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's side.

With their paths having crossed a few times before, the Buddha Venerable didn't hesitate. He immediately whipped his head around, desperately scanning the battlefield.

‘I can't handle him alone.’

He needed another master to help him pin the Cult Leader down.

But for some inexplicable reason...

‘He was just here a moment ago. Where did Eunuch Bang go?’

No matter how hard he looked, Eunuch Bang was nowhere to be seen.

***

A short distance from the battlefield where the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the imperial forces were tearing into each other, Eunuch Bang and his eunuchs were tearing through the underbrush as fast as their legs could carry them.

The sun was about to set as they ran.

‘Right. This is a trap to wipe out those ruffians. If anything, this worked out well.’

It was a delusion that bordered on madness.

The war was already tilting heavily out of their favor now that the Divine Monk was dead. If the Buddha Venerable fell on top of that, the situation would only get worse for them.

Eunuch Bang was dimly aware of that fact somewhere in between his greed to stay alive and his rational mind, but he forced himself to believe otherwise.

‘The Supreme Eunuch will surely praise me for this. He stepped into the war himself, so we'll find a way to win no matter what.’

Since preserving his own skin trumped literally everything else in the world, he gladly threw the Buddha Venerable to the wolves and convinced himself he was doing the right thing.

Fueled by a cocktail of emotions, Eunuch Bang sprinted as fast as he could while his instinct was telling him a nagging sense of unease.

Then a sharp chill ran down his spine without warning, and he twisted his body on pure reflex.

Slash!

Accompanied by a sound that made the fine hairs on his body stand on end, the hem of his robes was sheared cleanly off. It had been cut by a blade that materialized out of thin air.

"They say the net of Heaven is vast; thus, nothing escapes its grasp. I see now that it's true.”

A quie murmur followed.

In the empty air where nothing had been a moment before, a man dressed in black now stood menacingly.

"I never imagined the heavens would personally hand-deliver my revenge to me on a silver platter."

It was Seo Wan-pyeong, the Lord of the Dark Shadow Pavilion.

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