Jin Muryang frowned at Ma Hosang’s words.
“Hey, nobody said we were actually going to teach you anything yet.”
“But if the Great One tells you to, won’t you have to?”
“You little bastard...”
Had he already switched sides to Jeok Wigang?
“You said you worshiped us.”
“I do worship the Divine Demons. And if the people I worship serve someone else, shouldn’t I worship him even more? Otherwise, it would reflect poorly on the Divine Demons.”
That... sounded reasonable.
So why did Jin Muryang feel betrayed?
“What would you have us do?”
At some point, Ma Hosang had moved in front of Jeok Wigang and was gazing at him with shining eyes.
“Exactly what I said. Make it look as though the Four Divine Demons have resumed their activities.”
“Then you want us to attack other sects?”
“Of course not. If that were all I wanted, there’d be no reason to use you. I could just have those three do it.”
“Then?”
“Attack the sects you’ve already brought under your control.”
“Pardon?”
“Tell them it’s a staged attack meant to build up the Four Divine Demons’ reputation. They’ll cooperate.”
“Ah! That would work. But every sect connected to us belongs to the unorthodox factions. Wouldn’t people become suspicious if only unorthodox sects were attacked?”
“I’ll handle the orthodox side. You just make sure you do your part properly.”
“Understood.”
Ma Hosang had already become completely obedient to Jeok Wigang.
Watching him, Jin Muryang gave a rotten smile.
“If they’re going to imitate us, shouldn’t we first verify whether they’re strong enough? Right, Elder Brother? I’ll personally test them.”
Jeok Wigang readily agreed.
Ma Hosang’s face lit up with emotion.
“R-Really? Ah! I’m so glad I lived this long. A formal martial contest with one of the Four Divine Demons... I truly could die without regret.”
Jin Muryang grinned.
“Don’t worry. I’ll grant that wish for you. Follow me.”
*****
Jin Muryang stared at Ma Hosang, who lay unconscious with a blissful smile on his face, and shook his head.
“This bastard is insane.”
“Definitely. Anyone who can take your Seven Luminaries Bind and still look happy about it has to be insane.”
“I bet he thinks the pain is part of the joy.”
“I wouldn’t put it past him.”
They were shaking their heads in disgust when their eyes met those of the Four Heavenly Divine Guards.
The three other Divine Guards aside from the Blood-Calamity Divine Guard were staring at them with sparkling eyes.
“What? You three want a turn too?”
At Jin Muryang’s question, the three Divine Guards looked overwhelmed.
“R-Really? May we?”
“...Forget it. I’m tired. Go fight Poison-Mandate or Formation-Annihilating over there.”
Ye Yahyeon and Baek Ryeongso scowled.
“Why drag us into this when we were just standing here?”
“I’m tired.”
“You fought one guy. How are you already tired?”
“You don’t understand! You hit someone, and instead of reacting like a normal person, he gets happier! Do you have any idea how unnerving and exhausting that is? And I can’t exactly kill him either. Damn it!”
Jin Muryang glared at the unconscious Ma Hosang as though he genuinely wanted to finish him off.
“It’s only because he likes you so much.”
“You think you’d fare any better? Try spraying poison at him. Instead of covering his nose and mouth, this lunatic would inhale as much as he could and call it an honor.”
Ye Yahyeon found himself unable to argue.
“He is pretty strong, though. Strong enough to lead a cult this huge.”
“Yeah. I’d put him somewhere in the late Profound Realm.”
“If he’d devoted all that effort to the True Demon Family instead of worshiping us, there might be Six Great Families in the Central Plains by now instead of Five.”
“He’s not just strong. He’s good at running an organization too. Look how smoothly this enormous group moves at a single command.”
“He’s talented.”
“So are those guys.”
The Four Divine Demons looked toward the Four Heavenly Divine Guards.
“Who are you assigning to play your role?”
At Ye Yahyeon’s question, Jin Muryang snorted and pointed at the unconscious Ma Hosang.
“Him.”
Everyone frowned at his choice.
Then Jeok Wigang spoke.
“Not him.”
“What? Why not?”
“Someone has to stay at the top and direct everything.”
“Tch. Fine. Then I’ll take that gloomy-looking bastard over there.”
Ye Yahyeon nodded.
“Yeah. He fits you best. I’ll take the one with the red skin. They said he handles poison.”
Baek Ryeongso chose the pale-skinned man.
“I’ll take that one.”
“He looks like he’s about to die.”
“He reminds me of how I used to look.”
“Now that you mention it, he does. You look completely human these days, huh?”
“Let’s have the one who guided us play Mujin.”
“Yeah. He suits that role best.”
“Hm? I just had a good idea.”
“What?”
“Mujin. If he hears that someone is running around impersonating him, there’s no way his temper will let him ignore it. He’ll come looking for the bastard himself.”
“You want to set a trap?”
Ye Yahyeon agreed with Baek Ryeongso and turned to Jeok Wigang.
“What do you think, Elder Brother?”
“Good idea. Mujin will definitely come charging out saying he’s going to catch and kill the impersonator.”
“Wouldn’t that make the man playing Mujin the one in the most danger? There isn’t anyone in this entire Sichuan Divine Cult who could stop the real Mujin.”
“Forget the Sichuan Divine Cult. Is there even anyone among us who could stop him?”
Ye Yahyeon chuckled.
Jin Muryang immediately bristled.
“What are you talking about? Maybe you two can’t, but I can.”
“Oh, really? You can’t even beat Ryeongso.”
Jin Muryang frowned.
“That was ages ago! While that bastard was sitting around making clothes, I was training my ass off.”
Baek Ryeongso smirked.
“No matter how hard you train, you still can’t beat me.”
Jin Muryang’s grin turned savage.
“Want to test that?”
Their gazes collided fiercely in midair.
“How about we see what our Muryang can do after all these years?”
“Fine. I’ll show you.”
*****
When Ma Hosang opened his eyes, he immediately sensed something strange in the atmosphere and shot to his feet.
A crowd of cultists had gathered in one place, all staring at something.
“What is it?”
He hurried over and forced his way through them.
“Damn it! Who the hell is pushing— Gasp! C-Cult Leader!”
“What happened?”
“Th-The Four Divine Demons fought each other.”
“What? Really? Move!”
“It... just ended.”
Ma Hosang stared at the cultist as though his entire world had collapsed.
“What? You’re lying... right?”
“Look over there.”
The crowd parted.
Jin Muryang was down on one knee, breathing heavily.
Then a voice reached them.
“Did you really think all I did was make clothes? I’ve been preparing for the day I met Elder Brother again too.”
“Damn it! Next time, I’m definitely beating you.”
“Do your best.”
BANG—
Jin Muryang slammed his fist into the ground in frustration.
RUMBLE—
The blow was so powerful that the ground caved in around his fist.
Ye Yahyeon stepped forward to clear the area.
“All right, all right! It’s over! Show’s finished, so everyone clear out!”
At a single word from Ye Yahyeon, the cultists reluctantly dispersed like a receding tide.
Only Ma Hosang remained behind, sitting on the ground with the expression of a man who had lost everything.
“What’s wrong with him now?”
“WAAAAAH! I missed the battle of the century!”
He burst into full-blown sobs.
Then he suddenly sprang to his feet and screamed.
“You worthless bastards! You should’ve woken me up when something like this was happening! You selfish sons of bitches! I’ll make every last one of you pay!”
Ma Hosang flew into a frenzy.
WHACK—
“URK!”
THUD—
Ye Yahyeon chopped him across the back of the neck and knocked him unconscious.
“Damn, he’s loud.”
A single tear trickled from the corner of Ma Hosang’s eye as he lay sprawled on the ground.
*****
The pupils of the Four Heavenly Divine Guards trembled violently as they stared at the secret manuals in their hands.
“They only imitate the outward appearance of the Four Divine Demons’ martial arts. Anyone who doesn’t know the truth will probably mistake you for the Four Divine Demons returning to the world.”
“Even if they only resemble them outwardly, they are still martial arts modeled after the Divine Demons’ techniques!”
“It is an honor!”
“We will devote ourselves completely to mastering them!”
The Four Heavenly Divine Guards shed tears of emotion.
Ma Hosang watched them with naked envy.
“I’m jealous. Why do I resent being the Cult Leader so much today?”
If he could have those martial arts, he would hand over this ridiculous Cult Leader position on the spot.
He sighed and turned to Jeok Wigang.
“As soon as they master the martial arts, we’ll begin operating.”
“Good. Whenever possible, prepare to make it look as though the sects you attack have been completely annihilated.”
“Understood.”
“Make it as convincing as possible.”
“Yes. We’ll raze the sect grounds completely and even plant fake corpses.”
“Good. You’re clever enough to handle the details yourself.”
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
“Baek Ryeongso is restoring the formation that disappeared. It should function much as it did before.”
“Is that really true? What an honor!”
“Right. And operate as discreetly as possible. Don’t let anyone discover the truth.”
“Yes!”
“What exactly is your task?”
Jeok Wigang made him repeat it one more time.
“Yes! We are to make it appear as though the [N O V E L I G H T] Four Divine Demons have returned to the martial world and resumed their activities!”
“Correct. And one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Spread a rumor that the Four Divine Demons came from a place called White Horse Heaven.”
“What is White Horse Heaven?”
“You don’t need to know. Just spread the rumor.”
“Yes. I will do exactly as you command.”
“If you need to contact me, send word through the True Martial Sect or the True Martial Merchant Company.”
“You’re leaving already?”
“Yeah. I have a lot to do.”
“Understood. We will prepare as quickly as possible and carry out your orders perfectly.”
“Good.”
Jeok Wigang handed him a sword.
“What is this?”
“A gift. For doing a good job.”
Ma Hosang accepted the sword, and his hands began to tremble.
He had never felt anything so perfect.
This was a sword made for him.
A gift personally bestowed by the man whom the Four Divine Demons themselves served.
It existed on an entirely different level from the imitation martial arts.
Ma Hosang’s entire body trembled with emotion.
Jeok Wigang smiled.
“Use it well. And do a good job.”
“I-I will! I swear I will complete the mission!”
Leaving the tearful Ma Hosang behind, Jeok Wigang and the others set out once more.
*****
On the road back to the textile shop, Jin Muryang spoke.
“Looks like someone’s been waiting for us.”
The others smirked.
“Not bad. The overall level of the Central Plains martial world really has risen a lot these days.”
“Yeah. If it had been like this back when we were active, things would’ve been a lot more fun.”
Almost regretfully, they walked toward the people waiting for them in the distance.
An old man sat perched on a tree branch, while four martial artists stood guard beneath him.
His eyebrows were white and luxuriant, and he wore what appeared to be a gentle smile.
But his eyes were deep and still, and the moment one met his gaze, there was something almost chilling about them.
“Are you the owner of Jin Textile Shop?”
Baek Ryeongso nodded.
“I am. Who are you?”
The old man slowly rose.
“Let’s just say I came to find out whether you truly intend to pluck the flower I cherish most.”
“You came because of Cheon Hyanghwa?”
“Hoho. Sharp, aren’t you? I also heard you were quite skilled in martial arts.”
“I’m capable enough to look after myself.”
“That isn’t what my information says. Which only makes you more suspicious. Why would a man with martial prowess like yours run a textile shop?”
“Because I feel like it.”
“You must have some purpose.”
“I have no purpose.”
“Hmm. It seems it would be quicker to find out for myself.”
The old man stepped down from the tree.
And began walking slowly through empty air.

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