Chronicles of the Demon Faction - Chapter 872



Only Noblemtl

Side story 222. Dyeing (6)

The White Bone God looked up at the sky.

In the past, I used to enjoy looking at the sky from time to time. But then I got busy with work and had a lot to do, so I just looked at the ground, but then again, I started having more days like this looking at the sky.

The intense crimson glow of the setting sun in the west gave off a vivid color like the dye sprinkled by some crazy artist.

I once thought that the sun setting into the darkness looked like the current Shinto religion.

I don’t remember when it was. It was so long that I couldn’t enjoy that beautiful sunset. I was afraid to look at it.

But now I could look at it with confidence.

‘It’s changing.’

Attempts to change the religion have occurred countless times over the years.

Most of those attempts were merely a struggle to gain more power, not a better religion. The White Bone Demon could not have any kind of favor for the word change.

Going back, the beginning of change was Jo Baek-cheon.

There have been several cult leaders in the history of the Shinto religion who died suddenly without leaving a successor. In such cases, it was standard practice for the elders to gather together, form a regency system, and find and raise a suitable person to become the new cult leader.

However, Jo Baek-cheon took the position of cult leader himself. He was a person who had not even mastered the study of the Heavenly Demon.

From then on, the Cheonmasingyo Church transformed into an organization identical to the sects of the common martial arts world.

‘That was the problem.’

The greatest sin of Jo Baek-cheon is not that he did not learn the Cheonmajihak or that he committed tyranny. He left a precedent.

A precedent that one can fight for power without having to learn the art of the Heavenly Horse, and thus sit on the sacred throne.

In a sense, he could be said to be a great man. Jo Baek-cheon boiled the demon kings with only his political ability, and he became a god himself by consistently purging or ignoring the opposition.

It is something that can never be done without ability. The problem is that the ability is solely directed towards power.

In the end, the reason why the new religion is now in disarray is not because Jo Baek-cheon’s tyranny was particularly severe, but because the people’s desires were strangely twisted due to the precedent he left behind. At least, that’s what Baekgol Shinma thought.

There were so many attempts at change that they either succeeded or failed, and the new religion rotted away.

But now.

Only then did Baekgol Shinma feel that a new wind was blowing through the rotten Cheonma Shingyo.

At a time when the church was suffering from tyranny, its influence was declining, and the lives of the people were becoming increasingly miserable, the calmly blowing gust of wind was extremely refreshing and filled with light for the future.

‘Finally, finally, are you taking even one step?’

No one knows whether this change will truly open a new path for the new religion. What is important is that a change unlike before has appeared, and in a strong and active form.

‘If I have to bear the burden of sin, then in the end I will not be free either.’

The new religion has come to this point. To be exact, it was a time of enduring for the future, but when you think about the lives of the people who suffered because of it, it could be said to be a serious crime that deserves a hundred deaths.

The White Bone God was determined to take all the sins with him. He had no choice.

‘Geumpyeong-ah.’

My only son.

‘Yohaya.’

A daughter named Daughter-in-law.

He gave up his son and daughter’s death of his own free will. He did it with tears of blood because they both wanted it. He knew that one day, he would be like that too.

Although all of this is for the sake of the new religion, the heart of parents who send their children away first cannot be described in any words or writing.

A son and daughter-in-law who followed their father and devoted themselves to the religion. The two children believed that their father’s presence was necessary for a great future, and they met death with a smile.

“… … .”

The eyes of the White Bone Demon shook.

Tears welled up in his eyes, but he never shed a single tear.

I will save these tears for when I die, when my faith changes, when I am sure that a truly new future is coming.

“Elder.”

The White Bone God took a deep breath and tried to ask in a calm voice.

“What is the ranking?”

Yoo Sang-cheon bowed his head and answered his grandfather’s words, which he had guessed accurately like a ghost.

“It’s the 35th horse race.”

“Thirty-five… … .”

The White Bone God closed his eyes.

“If you are thirty-five years old, I can say that you are great.”

“… … !!”

Yoo Sang-cheon looked at his grandfather’s back with surprised eyes.

There was a moment of silence between the two grandsons.

The one who broke the silence that lasted more than half an hour was my grandfather.

“But don’t rest on your laurels. A momentary great development cannot guarantee your future self. The moment you become satisfied with your present achievements and lose your passion, there will be no future.”

“… … .”

“You should go now.”

“Elder.”

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Before he could say anything, Yoo Sang-cheon swallowed hard.

The White Bone God said calmly.

“If you have nothing to say, go back to where you are.”

“……many.”

“… … ?”

“I learned a lot.”

As he thought about the deaths of his children, the tears he had held back seemed about to burst forth again. Baekgol Shinma gritted his teeth.

It’s not new, but he loved his grandchildren. He loved them more than the whole world combined. He was even more affectionate and loving when he saw the two children he left behind.

The fact that he was in a situation where he loved and cared for someone more than anything else, yet could not say a single good word to them, his personality, and the way he had lived could not have been more cursed.

However, the White Bone God chose to remain silent in the end.

Sorry, guilt, regret.

Debt that has no way out has already piled up and left stains all over my heart. There is no way to get rid of it, so I will just have to let it rot.

“Okay, I’ll be going now.”

The White Bone God who sent his grandson away without saying a word.

After a while the sunset disappeared.

In a place filled with darkness, the White Bone God felt terribly lonely.

* * *

Lee Cheon-sang, who needed a place to stay, gave the gold directly to Jamiruju. It was a huge sum of money that would not be strange for Jamiru to stay there for at least five years.

The monthly salary he received from the Yaksha Commander was not that much. The reason he was able to give this much money to Rooju was thanks to Baek Sodam.

She, who had obtained a huge sum of money through the previous red flag incident, gave a large sum of money to Lee Cheon-sang as a token of her gratitude.

He told Lee Cheon-sang, who was giving up, that the money came from Wonju’s personal safe and was also used for the Jongmahoe, so if he was interested, he should join the Jongmahoe and run for the new religion.

Although I hadn’t joined the stables yet, I had no reason to refuse the offer of money just for that reason.

In this way, Lee Cheon-sang, Seo Pil, and Yoo Sang-cheon each prepared a place to stay for a year.

Jamilruju said that he was grateful and that he would not accept any money for food except for alcohol. When Lee Cheon-sang added more money on the spot, he decided not to accept money for alcohol either.

Thanks to this, the three of them were able to enjoy good drinks and snacks at one of the best annex of Jamiru.

“From now on, it’s important.”

Seopil did not take a sip of alcohol or a bite of meat.

“I will start moving right away tomorrow. It will be dangerous, but I am confident that I will return alive. Don’t worry too much about that.”

Lee Cheon-sang drank his alcohol in silence.

Seopil continued speaking right away.

“I can move as I please, but the problem is my lord. The positions of my lord and Yu Ma-jang are special. Although the two of you are Ma-jangs, my lord is someone who has been swept up in a civil war for several months, and Yu Ma-jang is the grandson of the White Bone Elder, one of the ten Demon Lords.”

“… … .”

“No one will dare to challenge, but on the other hand, dangerous people other than the branch will approach.”

Yoo Sang-cheon asked.

“for example?”

“There are many. The most dangerous ones would be the minions under the General Staff and the troops under the Demon King.”

A slight tension appeared on Yoo Sang-cheon’s face.

Although the Black Goruma clan has recently achieved great success, if they were to face the real powerhouses of the civil war, they would most likely be defeated.

Defeat means death. Yoo Sang-cheon also became a horseman and gave up his life.

“Of course, they won’t move easily. Especially the military. They prefer to block problems in advance rather than eliminate them. Since they were caught by surprise and couldn’t block them in advance, they will wait and see how things turn out for the time being.”

“Then, should I only worry about the Demon King?”

“That’s not true either.”

Seopil’s eyes deepened.

“The military won’t touch you directly, but there might be other forms of harassment. Harassment is also a good way to see how the person reacts.”

“If there is a method… … ?”

At that moment, Lee Cheon-sang opened his mouth.

“Suburban mission.”

“That is correct.”

Seo-pil got a calligraphy brush.

“Actually, when I was the vice-minister of Baeknoegak, I used this method a lot. First, I would drop them on campus and then do background checks or see how they handle difficult tasks. It has its own justification and is perfect for observing from various angles, so there’s no reason not to use it.”

“then……?”

“The demon lords will take action directly, but the military will notify the operation. If the two periods coincide, then it would be fortunate.”

Yoo Sang-cheon frowned.

“It would be worst if the attacks came one after another without interlocking.”

“Yes.”

Seo-pil looked at Lee Cheon-sang.

“Your Majesty’s talent is the best. It’s not because you’re my servant, but because you’ve grown stronger at a rate that is hard to find in the past or present. I believe that in just ten years, you will be able to obtain the power befitting a Demon King.”

Yoo Sang-cheon looked at Seo-pil in surprise.

The Teenage Demon King. The name wasn’t just symbolic.

Even the Demon Kings who left the religion without permission, the Ten Demon Kings of the time were the heroes who created the current religion. Their tremendous experience and amazing talents allowed them to reach the highest level of power, and each and every one of them could be called a disaster.

But how could Lee Cheon-sang reach such a level in just ten years? It was a statement that even Yoo Sang-cheon could not easily believe.

“But the problem is now. I wish you had ten years, my lord, but you never know what might happen tomorrow. The lack of force is a painful situation.”

“I see.”

“Fortunately, the Yaksha Commander said he would send reinforcements without letting anyone know, but even if the Yaksha Commander enters the civil war as a whole, he will not be able to handle the Demon King and the military department once he decides to do so.”

Even if the Yaksha Commander, not only the Horyeong, but also the entire Sixth Civil War Brigade came out, it would be difficult to handle the two organizations.

“Of course, even in this situation, Yu Majang’s safety is guaranteed. Unless you make up your mind and act accordingly, you won’t be able to attack Elder Baekgol’s grandson without permission.”

Yoo Sang-cheon’s eyebrows twitched.

Seopil asked Lee Cheon-sang.

“Do you have somewhere else to go?”

“Yes.”

Seo-pil’s eyes sparkled.

“Where are you?”

Lee Cheon-sang stood up from his seat.

“I must go and see Elder Baekgolshinma.”

The two people were surprised by the sudden statement.

“I haven’t been able to properly greet you since I came out. I owe you something, so I should at least greet you.”

With those words, Lee Cheon-sang suddenly disappeared.