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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Audience (1)
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It was unexpected. If things had gone as I'd thought, a bloody storm would have swept through the cult after the leader's death. I had expected the supreme master who seized power afterward to ascend to the position of Cult Leader…
Did he mean the Cult Leader would officially pass down the title himself?
Three years… It was by no means a long time, but for someone like me who had already mastered the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon once…! Yes, for me, it might just be possible.
To become the Cult Leader by proving my skills in a relatively peaceful manner.
It wasn't that I hesitated to get blood on my hands, but I had no desire to cause unnecessary slaughter.
'There's no reason to refuse.'
As I showed a hint of surprise, my father slowly continued.
"It means there are only three years left. Because of this, the factions within the cult—excluding the Guardian Unit and the Heavenly Demon's Light Brigade, which are directly under the Cult Leader's command—have begun to support different disciples or remain neutral."
"But since this has only just begun, the lines haven't been clearly drawn yet, I presume."
"That's right. The cult's power is primarily divided among the Three Palaces, the Five Pavilions, and the Council of Twelve Elders, but it's still unknown which disciple any of them will support. And there's no guarantee that their current choice will be their final one."
'In other words, the cult's power structure will be reorganized around the next Cult Leader, but since the succession contest has just begun, the factions are still scattered and haven't coalesced yet.'
Frankly, it was a relief. If the power had already shifted to one side, with Blade Leaf Valley belonging to that faction and cooperating with the Golden Fang Poison Claw, there would have been nothing I could do in my current state.
But this raised a question.
"In that case, which side are we on?"
I wondered which of the Cult Leader's five disciples my family, the Heavenly Dance Family, was currently supporting. I needed to know this to decide how I should act within the family from now on.
"Until now, we have remained neutral. However…"
"…The time has come for our family to make a choice."
"Yes… and the sooner, the better."
So we haven't aligned with anyone yet…
That was another relief.
"Then, Father. I have another question."
"Go on."
"Do you happen to know of a place called Blade Leaf Valley?"
"Blade Leaf Valley…? Hmm. I feel like I've vaguely heard of such a place, but I don't know the details."
'Ah… I'm lacking crucial information.'
"Then do you know… which faction Blade Leaf Valley is under?"
"Hmm… I'm sorry. I do not know."
"Oh, no, it's alright. Thank you for the explanation."
I had asked about the cult's power structure to gather information on Blade Leaf Valley, but it was more complicated than I expected. On top of that, I hadn't managed to learn anything about the valley itself.
While more information was good, if I couldn't figure out the faction that managed Blade Leaf Valley and cooperated with the Tang Clan, I wouldn't even have a pretext to go there, let alone be able to turn them against each other.
It was time to choose and focus. My immediate priority was to stop the Tang Clan from taking the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree.
As my mind raced, my father spoke.
"Ah, and the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden of the Sacred Fire Palace is looking for you."
Huh? Just as I was deep in thought, I heard something unexpected. The Sacred Fire Palace, one of the three major powers in the cult, was looking for me? Something was clearly about to happen.
"Pardon? The Sun and Moon Divine Maiden is looking for me?"
"Yes, it seems to be because you received the blessing of the Sacred Fire during the Heavenly Dance Festival."
It did seem too quiet after I had been chosen by the Sacred Fire in a ritual that foretold the cult's future. It was only natural for the Divine Maiden, as the master of the Sacred Fire Palace, to summon me.
From my perspective, I couldn't refuse, nor did I have a reason to. In fact, this was a golden opportunity to gauge the intentions of the Sacred Fire Palace.
First, I had to ask if there were any traitors within the cult colluding with outside forces, and if so, whether that force was one of the Orthodox Sects. And among the Orthodox Sects, if it was the Tang Clan.
The Sacred Fire Palace would be the first faction I would probe.
From my impression of the Divine Maiden during the festival, she wouldn't be an easy person to deal with, but it was well worth a try.
"But her method was a bit strange. She asked that you be sent tomorrow with your identity concealed, without anyone knowing."
"Conceal my identity?"
"Yes. We've decided to gather those who assist with the family rituals and have you wear ritual robes as well. So, tomorrow, you will change into plain ritual robes with me and go to the Sacred Fire Palace where the Divine Maiden awaits."
'The Sun and Moon Divine Maiden asked for me to be sent with my identity concealed?'
This was on a completely different level from being summoned simply because I had received the blessing of the Sacred Fire.
It was suspicious.
Being summoned by the Sacred Fire Palace on the day I was chosen by the Sacred Fire? I could understand that a hundred, a thousand times over. But to be summoned with my identity concealed…?
There had to be another reason.
"Has she ever requested someone be sent with their identity concealed before?"
"This is the first time. The very act of the Sacred Fire choosing someone is unprecedented."
'Then… could it be!'
I had a theory. If my guess was correct, this was both a crisis and an opportunity.
Of course, things could get more complicated, but it also opened up the fastest and most certain path.
"...I understand. I will see you again tomorrow."
I bowed respectfully to my father and went outside. Jang Ryang was waiting at the door.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all, sir."
"Alright, let's go back."
"Yes, sir!"
'I'll find out when I get there.'
There were two possible reasons. One was obvious, but the other… if I brought it up carelessly, I couldn't predict the consequences, so I had to be cautious.
***
-The next day-
When I arrived at the office of the Heavenly Dance Family Head, my father had prepared a white ritual robe that fit me perfectly.
After changing into the robe, I came out to find about twenty others dressed identically, their faces covered with cloth. I covered my face with a cloth as well, joining them.
"Let's depart."
"Yes!"
It was the first time I had left the Heavenly Dance Family estate since my return to life. The feeling was particularly novel.
After a long walk, we arrived at the Sacred Fire Palace.
The palace enshrined the sacred flame said to have been left by Master Heavenly Demon. It seemed my master truly was a great man.
I, too, had gained renown as one of the three great Divine Doctors of the Central Plains, but that was a fame that would fade away after my death.
But Master Heavenly Demon had been dead for a long, long time, yet he was still revered and worshipped like this.
"Welcome. We have been waiting for you."
The Sun and Moon Divine Maiden, her face veiled with black cloth, came out to greet us.
"After a brief discussion, you may perform the rites and then leave."
Following her short words, she lit the flame, and we performed a simple ritual. It was a plain ceremony, praying for the well-being of the cult, holding no special meaning.
My father and the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden stepped aside to talk, leaving me and the others in ritual robes, along with the priestesses, to wrap things up. When the ritual ended, my father and the Divine Maiden spoke loudly enough for all to hear.
"Family Head of Heavenly Dance."
"Please speak."
"There are preparations to be made for the next ritual, so could you leave one person behind?"
"Of course."
My father pointed at me.
"You will remain here and assist the Divine Maiden."
"Yes, sir."
It was a simple act, all pre-arranged. And so, my father and everyone else left, leaving me alone at the Sacred Fire Palace.
"Thank you for staying."
Once the members of the Heavenly Dance Family had all departed, the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden expressed her gratitude.
"Not at all. It is my duty to help."
"Hoho, you are very kind."
After a few meaningless exchanges, the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden dismissed the priestesses as well. Finally, the two of us were alone.
"You may uncover your face now."
"Ah, yes."
At the maiden's words, I removed the cloth covering my face and confirmed that there was truly no one else around but her and me.
As far as I could see, there wasn't even an ant. Having assessed the situation, I asked the question I had been holding back.
"Is the Cult Leader inside the Sacred Fire Palace?"
"...!"
My direct question seemed to startle the Sun and Moon Divine Maiden, and she was silent for a moment.
"How did you know?"
How did I know?
It would be stranger not to know…
It was actually a simple deduction.
"The biggest recent change concerning me was being chosen by the Sacred Fire. You, Divine Maiden, are the Palace Lord of the Sacred Fire Palace, responsible for the Sacred Fire. Therefore, I thought it was perfectly natural for you to summon me."
"And?"
"It was precisely because it was so natural that it was strange. You had no need to avoid the public eye to meet me in this manner. But to summon me separately, without anyone knowing? It all felt unnatural."
"What does that have to do with the Cult Leader?"
"It is related. If you truly needed to meet me away from prying eyes, it would have been faster for you to come to the Heavenly Dance estate. A visit from the Divine Maiden of the Sacred Fire Palace to the Heavenly Dance Family is a common occurrence."
"..."
The Divine Maiden stood silently, listening as if telling me to continue.
"And yet, the fact that you summoned me with my identity concealed made me think that you intended for me to meet someone else while avoiding the gazes of others."
"..."
"In our cult, there is only one person who would warrant such measures. The one being to whom you report the affairs of the Heavenly Dance Family—the sky of our divine cult, the Cult Leader."
"Is that all?"
"Pardon?"
An unexpected question came my way.
"I asked if that was all you have deduced, Young Master Sa."
If that was all I had deduced?
Of course not.
Her question suggested she was expecting something more from me. Her tone was as if to say, 'Is that all the insight you have, you who were chosen by the Sacred Fire?'
So, she was testing me.
The deduction I had just explained was something anyone could arrive at if they considered the relationship between the Sacred Fire Palace and the Cult Leader. But my explanation was missing the core point.
Because of that, what I had said so far made me seem like someone who knew only one side of the story.
It didn't add up. Just as it wasn't strange for the Divine Maiden to visit the Heavenly Dance estate, there was no reason for the Cult Leader to avoid others' eyes just to see someone like me.
I had simply held back because I didn't know what consequences it might bring if I spoke carelessly.
'However, if you're going to press me like this, I have no choice but to ask as well.'
"Before I share my thoughts, may I ask the Divine Maiden a question first?"
"Ask away."
"Are there traitors within the Cult colluding with outside forces?"
"…Is that your inference?"
"It is."
"I cannot answer that."
"..."
'I knew it. Now all the pieces fall into place.'
Her reaction made it clear.
Arranging a meeting with the Cult Leader and summoning me in such secrecy—it was undoubtedly a test of my usefulness.
I, who was infamous as the fool of the Heavenly Dance Family, had been chosen by the Sacred Fire. I, who had been considered useless and unknown, had distinguished myself in the duel with the First Young Master.
The Cult Leader was combining all this information to verify my worth. There were surely traitors colluding with outside forces within the cult, and they were so meticulous that someone like me was needed.
So, he intended to use 'me, who was still growing and not yet under the watch of any faction,' to expose them.
It was a way to test me, the one chosen by the Sacred Fire, while simultaneously assigning me a troublesome task. He was a man who knew how to use his head.
'Just as expected from the leader of the Demonic Cult.'
"Excellent. You're sharp."
The Divine Maiden seemed pleased with my deduction.