How the Vice Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult Lives Chapter 53 : Because He Was a Person of the Bright Cult

Chapter 53: Because He Was a Person of the Bright Cult

The Cult Leader set the report down and asked,

“Was this also sothing done to make the cult a little better?”

“Yes. Senior Brother.”

“If I asked what you were thinking, would you tell ?”

“Of course…… I intend to make the Bright Cult a place that is not pointed at with fingers.”

“A place not pointed at with fingers……. That will not be easy.”

Just by looking at the Dream Faction alone, it was obvious. The reason the people of the world pointed at the Bright Cult and called it the Demonic Cult was not sothing created solely by the Hundred Paths’ sches and tricks.

To the Cult Leader’s concern, Yul Han replied,

“I know. That is precisely why I want to try even more.”

“A challenge, is it? Well, you were always like that. You always tried to do what others would not.”

“Will you…… watch over ?”

“As I already said, if it is sothing my junior brother does, this senior brother will wait as long as needed, whenever needed.”

“Thank you. Senior Brother.”

“Very well. Then what shall we do about this Guardian of the Faith fellow? If you want his head cut off, I will do it without rcy—”

“Please spare him.”

At Yul Han’s request that burst out before his words were even finished, the Cult Leader showed an unexpected expression.

“Why? Since you already laid hands on him, wouldn’t finishing it cleanly be better?”

“He is still useful.”

“Useful, you say…… If it is needed for what you want to do, wouldn’t it be better to find soone you can freely command within the Guardian Division and appoint a new Guardian of the Faith?”

Yul Han had not failed to consider that.

However, doing so would breed resentnt within the Guardian Division. He had judged that such a result would instead make the changes he desired even more difficult.

And.

“The current Guardian of the Faith will not harbor other intentions either.”

“I did hear you gave him a bit of a lesson, but will that be enough?”

“If he fails to understand, I believe we can lay hands on him again then. I have no intention of acting out of fear over sothing that has not yet happened. Senior Brother.”

“That is right. Acting out of fear would not be befitting of a martial artist of the Bright Cult. Very well. We will do as you say.”

At the Cult Leader’s answer, Yul Han gazed at him quietly.

The gap between the Cult Leader of the rumors and the real Cult Leader was simply too large. Of course, he knew that this side appeared only when it ca to the Vice Cult Leader.

When he gathered the various rumors circulating within the Bright Cult, he could roughly guess the reason.

It was a parent’s heart. Though his master, the previous Cult Leader, had brought him in, it was the current Cult Leader who had raised him.

He had doted on him? It was said that it had been so excessive that even the council of elders had grown worried, so the depth of that affection was easy enough to imagine.

As his thoughts reached that point, he suddenly wondered why that sa Cult Leader, who had sheltered him so closely, had not moved for the Vice Cult Leader fifteen years ago.

That was why. Why Yul Han brought up a question that had never been part of his plan.

“Why was that?”

“Hm? What?”

To the Cult Leader, who looked at him as if asking what he ant, Yul Han said,

“Fifteen years ago.”

At Yul Han’s question, the Cult Leader’s expression stiffened hard.

Previously, he had heard from the Flashing Light Blood that the greatest reason the Kongtong Sect learned that their hidden female disciple had fallen in love with the Vice Cult Leader of the Bright Cult was because information had leaked from within the Bright Cult.

And that in this matter, the Cult Leader’s tacit consent and the elders’ decision had played a major role.

That was why he had asked.

To Yul Han’s question, the Cult Leader flinched briefly, then replied in a voice filled with regret,

“You did not look happy. You suffered every day, and you lived every day in drink. Looking back now, it was a foolish thought, but back then, if that woman…… if that child disappeared, I thought you would smile again.”

Listening to the Cult Leader’s answer, Yul Han thought that perhaps the Vice Cult Leader himself had known that heart as well.

If not, even if only a fraction of the fierce, savage fury that had turned the Kongtong Sect into a sea of blood, he should have poured it out on the Cult Leader.

But the Vice Cult Leader had not done so. Instead of openly venting his anger at the Cult Leader, he had chosen seclusion.

There was no need for Yul Han to bring forth anger that even the person involved had known and buried.

Moreover, just as he understood the anger and despair the Vice Cult Leader must have felt, he also seed to understand the Cult Leader’s heart well enough.

Still…….

“Senior Brother. You have never loved anyone, have you?”

At the Vice Cult Leader’s question, so different from the resentnt and rage he had expected, the Cult Leader’s eyes widened.

Soon, however, the surprise turned into joy. He believed that the Vice Cult Leader, his junior brother, was trying to let go of what had happened fifteen years ago.

That was why the Cult Leader’s reply to the Vice Cult Leader’s question ca out more exaggerated than necessary.

It was because he was excited with joy.

“W-what nonsense! Do you know how many won have passed through this senior brother’s hands?”

“Other than the courtesans you t within the cult.”

“T-then…… hey! Why exclude courtesans? Courtesans all have pure hearts and all that too.”

“From the courtesans’ point of view, perhaps. But Cult Leader…… Senior Brother, what about you? Were you like that as well?”

“…….”

For a while, the Cult Leader could not answer. Then he shook his head sharply and burst out,

“You little brat, talking about all sorts of things! If you are going to spout useless nonsense, then go!”

At the sight of the Cult Leader issuing an order to dismiss guests as if he were embarrassed, Yul Han smiled unconsciously.

Those words overlapped with the Cult Leader’s image, along with the story he had heard so ti ago from Cold Blade Blood.

Perhaps, just perhaps, he felt as though even this place might grow dear to him.

Carrying that softened heart, Yul Han left the Cult Leader’s residence with a faint smile hanging at the corner of his lips.

Having washed cleanly and bandaged his wounds, the Guardian of the Faith sat facing Yul Han.

The Guardian of the Faith’s eyes, which had looked frightened while in the Discipline Court’s Interrogation Chamber, now had life in them again.

As Yul Han gazed at him silently, the Guardian of the Faith asked,

“Was it really only for that reason?”

Though it was a question cut off at both ends, Yul Han understood it perfectly.

“If you still say ‘only,’ it sounds as though you have not properly understood my intent.”

Even as he felt the surrounding air sink coldly, the Guardian of the Faith continued his question.

“Why is that? Why did you co to think that way?”

“You still do not know your own sin. Do you truly not understand that if the number of tis people point fingers at us decreases, more opportunities for missionary work will open?”

“How could I not know? It is sothing I wish for even in my dreams. But that is precisely why I say this—such a thing cannot be achieved rely by the Guardian Division refraining from laying hands on children.”

At the Guardian of the Faith’s answer, Yul Han’s eyes narrowed.

“You still do not understand. Then I will ask in your way. Why? Why can you not be the ones to start first?”

At Yul Han’s question, the Guardian of the Faith looked as if he had been struck by sothing, his mouth opening and closing without an answer.

To him, Yul Han’s cold voice continued,

“I read the Heavenly Demon Scripture in its entirety. Love the believers, serve the believers. As with the doctrines of all religions, there was not a single line that spoke ill. Why do you not practice it as it is? Why do you not step forward first?”

Perhaps Yul Han’s reproach sounded like condemnation, for the Guardian of the Faith shouted reflexively,

“Why do you think we did not step forward first? The Guardian Division did its utmost.”

“Are you referring to the attempt to prevent war by leaking information?”

At Yul Han’s question, the Guardian of the Faith could not hide his startled expression.

“Th-that was…….”

As the Guardian of the Faith stood flustered, unable to say anything, Yul Han continued,

“I examined the records. Thirty years ago, the Maekbaek War, and even after that, information steadily leaked through the Guardian Division. Why was that? Once may be a mistake, but twice, three tis is not. In the end, I arrived at a single conclusion.”

At Yul Han’s words, the Guardian of the Faith swallowed a mouthful of dry saliva without realizing it.

Gulp.

Looking at the tense Guardian of the Faith, Yul Han said,

“It was intentional.”

At those words, the Guardian of the Faith squeezed his eyes shut, and Yul Han’s voice continued,

“I have no intention of picking a fight over that, so do not worry. Even the Cult Leader turned a blind eye to it, and I have no desire to dig it up needlessly.”

At that, the Guardian of the Faith opened his eyes with a look that asked what that was supposed to an, and Yul Han added an explanation.

“Did you think the Cult Leader would not know what I uncovered after digging around a bit? Especially when he even receives reports from the Strategist.”

The Cult Leader might not know. He was not the type to examine every little detail.

But the Strategist was different. Considering his ticulous disposition and abilities…… because of that, the Guardian of the Faith could not raise any counterargunt to what Yul Han said next.

“Hmm…….”

As the Guardian of the Faith let out a deep hum, Yul Han said,

“Instead of killing the believers you are ant to protect in order to uphold the will of the Heavenly Demon Scripture, throw the Guardian Division itself in first. Do not just sit safely in one place and lant that no opportunity cos.”

It was a scathing rebuke. That rebuke flew like a dagger and gouged into the Guardian of the Faith’s chest.

But there was one thing he could not accept.

“Killing believers? I humbly accept that the Guardian Division was complacent, but I cannot agree with that statent. At the very least, we have never, ever driven believers to their deaths!”

“Then does the Guardian Division not regard the Bright Cult’s martial artists as believers?”

“Th-that is…….”

The Guardian of the Faith’s fluster deepened. To be honest, within the Guardian Division, the Bright Cult’s martial artists were treated as an exception.

They were the pillars that supported the Bright Cult, but the Guardian Division did not believe they followed the will of the Heavenly Demon.

Contrary to the world’s evaluation, the Heavenly Demon that the Guardian Division believed in was a sage who had subdued the rampant demon practitioners and prevented even greater damage.

It was only that his own origins lay among demon practitioners, making him sowhat rough and savage; there was no room for debate that his intentions had been good.

But the Bright Cult’s martial artists focused precisely on that aspect—his roughness and savagery.

They were a group that worshiped the ‘Might Makes Right’ bannered by the Heavenly Demon, who had subdued demon practitioners by force and extracted submission from them, as though it were the sole law.

Still, when asked so directly, he could not answer otherwise.

If the Guardian Division was the roof of the Bright Cult, then those martial artists were the pillars holding that roof up.

To the Guardian of the Faith, who could not answer, Yul Han said,

“The reason I spared the Guardian of the Faith is because you are a person of the Bright Cult.”

The Guardian of the Faith stared quietly at the Vice Cult Leader, who offered no further explanation beyond those words.

Those words from the Vice Cult Leader continued to echo in the Guardian of the Faith’s ears.

After sitting there for a long while without exchanging another word, the Guardian of the Faith left.

Yul Han silently watched the Guardian of the Faith’s back as he walked away with steps that looked endlessly heavy.

At the very least, he hoped his intent had been properly conveyed.

A few days later, a petition from the Guardian Division was submitted to the Cult Leader.

It was a request to send the Guardian Division’s instructors out to Gansu and Sichuan for missionary work.

Thinking, ‘If they want to die, there is nothing they will not do,’ the Cult Leader tried to deny the request.

Since the Vice Cult Leader had said he would make use of the Guardian Division, he could not allow them to die pointlessly.

However, the Strategist stepped forward to oppose the Cult Leader’s decision.

“Why?”

At the Cult Leader’s dissatisfied question, the Strategist replied,

“The Vice Cult Leader will not like it.”

“What are you talking about? That brat Han seed intent on making proper use of them.”

“That is precisely it. Because he wishes to make proper use of them.”

“Before I lose my temper, could you explain it in a way I can understand?”

At the Cult Leader’s question, his eyes deeply furrowed, the Strategist answered with a bitter smile.