Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion-Chapter 14 : Chapter 14

Chapter 14. The Mountain Calls to Me.
The Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad displayed truly terrifying mobility, striking the flank of the bandit group that was attempting to attack Jin Yeong-in’s party.
Boom! Cra-boom! Cra-aaaaaack!
“Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeigh!”
Following that, a spectacular scene unfolded as horses flew into the sky along with their riders, the bandits.
The charge of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad was so powerful that the bandits’ horses were sent flying far away with their masters, crashing upside down onto the sandy ground.
It was a destructive force that was truly jaw-dropping.
It was so overwhelming that it felt as if a giant carriage had run over a small child.
But that was only the beginning.
Starting with the feat of annihilating one-third of the bandit group’s forces with a single charge, the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad began a full-scale ‘hunt’.
“Wipe them all out! Leave not a single one behind!”
“Yes!”
At the clear yet sharp cry, the members of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad spread out in unison and pursued the fleeing bandits.
What followed was nothing more than a one-sided slaughter.
The members of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad turned the bandits into beehives with weapons like spears, crescent blades, and halberds.
When they unavoidably got too close to the enemy, they would even use mounted martial arts, such as taking their feet out of the stirrups to kick the side of the enemy’s horse with their steel boots or wielding their secondary weapons like swords or sabers.
Faced with the overwhelming military might of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad, the bandits could not even mount a proper counterattack.
The biggest reason was that the horses the bandits were riding were terrified and running wild like mad.
Swoooooosh……!
The demonic qi emanating from the members of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.
That demonic qi, billowing like black smoke, was throwing the bandits’ horses into confusion.
As if to prove they were not one of the five major military forces of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult for nothing, all the members of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad were demonic practitioners who had mastered a high-level demonic art.
Even the bandits who somehow managed to escape in the midst of the chaos did not survive.
The Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad was not just a group that used long-handled weapons.
Horn bows were attached to their saddles without exception, and they all wore thumb rings on the fingers of their drawing hands.
This meant that the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad also had the characteristics of mounted archers.
Whoosh, Whoooosh!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The arrows fired by the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad scattered black demonic qi as they accurately pierced the heads of the fleeing bandits.
‘Black Wind, it’s the Black Wind!’
Jin Yeong-in was reminded of a black wind as he watched the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad’s performance.
The sight of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad sweeping away the bandits looked just like a black gale raging and sweeping across the desert.
Indeed, the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad was once called the Black Wind Troupe, and the title for its leader is still called the Black Wind Squad Leader to this day…….
Clip-clop, clip-clop!
Having swept away the bandit group, the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad approached Jin Yeong-in’s party.
“We greet the Second Young Lady!”
Danmok Cheong and his subordinates knelt on one knee towards the woman at the forefront of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.
Pale white skin.
Blue eyes and distinct facial features.
Her silver hair, cascading down from under her helmet, was impressive.
“For now, I am merely the Fourth Squad Leader of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.”
Despite her outstanding beauty and small stature, her voice was imbued with an unapproachable dignity.
Jin Yeong-in could recognize her at once.
The Nine Heavens Demonic Empress, Cheol Yu-ra.
She was the second disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God and was said to be one of the strong candidates for the next Young Cult Leader.
Of course, due to the future destruction of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, she would never ascend to the position of Young Cult Leader…….
“You are Danmok Cheong of the Bat Squad, correct?”
“Yes, Fourth Squad Leader.”
“I have come under the cult’s orders to carry out a mission to escort a defector. Where is the defector?”
“He is here.”
Cheol Yu-ra’s gaze turned to Jin Yeong-in.
“My name is Jin Yeong-in. I greet the Fourth Squad Leader.”
Jin Yeong-in knelt on one knee towards Cheol Yu-ra and paid his respects.
The difference in status between Jin Yeong-in, who had just joined the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and Cheol Yu-ra was truly astronomical.
Even if she wasn’t the second disciple of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, she was one of the commanders of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad, one of the five major military forces, so she was a being that a mere ordinary follower like Jin Yeong-in could not even dare to look at.
At least, for now.
“I welcome you to our cult and congratulate you on becoming a brother of our cult.”
“……!”
“From here on, I will take responsibility and guarantee your safety. So, be at ease.”
As she spoke, the blood of the bandits she had cut down dripped from her helmet and face.
***
“I am only grateful.”
At the unexpected welcome, Jin Yeong-in expressed his gratitude.
“All forces, listen up.”
“Yes, Squad Leader!”
“We will now commence the escort operation. The defector must not feel any threat until we reach the Main Mountain. Do you understand.”
“We obey your command!”
At Cheol Yu-ra’s words, the members of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad split to the left and right, escorting Jin Yeong-in’s party.
“Why would such high-ranking people escort us……”
“W-we are in your care.”
Danmok Cheong’s subordinates did not know what to do, being escorted by the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.
Who would have thought that the Cult Leader’s disciple, Cheol Yu-ra, would come in person?
“Thanks to you, Young Master Jin, we are experiencing such luxury.”
“Luxury is too strong a word.”
Jin Yeong-in gave a bitter smile.
“Thanks to you, we will get to the Main Mountain safely. As long as we are escorted by the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad, no one will be able to threaten us.”
“I think so too.”
Jin Yeong-in nodded at Danmok Cheong’s words.
He could feel it.
The demonic qi possessed by the members of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.
‘A high-level demonic art…… is it the Black Wind Demonic Qi I’ve only heard about?’
The heart art known as the Black Wind Demonic Qi, which the members of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad were said to have mastered, was something Jin Yeong-in was encountering for the first time.
It was a heart art he had never dealt with even in the Demonic Prison before returning to the past, so his curiosity was piqued.
A martial art where a black wind raged every time one roused their true qi…….
“By the way, when you live in the cult from now on, the people will probably be the hardest thing for you to adapt to. You probably haven’t felt much of a difference with us since we’ve been influenced by the Central Plains, but the people living in the Main Mountain are different. Even if a harsh situation arises, don’t be too flustered and just let it go.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Jin Yeong-in immediately understood the meaning of Danmok Cheong’s words.
The people of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were different from the people of the Central Plains in their very temperament, making them polar opposites to those who had been part of the righteous faction.
But this was a story that did not apply to Jin Yeong-in.
‘How long have we spent struggling together.’
He had lived and shared hardships with various demonic practitioners in the Demonic Prison for twenty years.
For Jin Yeong-in, the way of thinking of demonic practitioners was more familiar than that of the people of the Central Plains.
Two days after that.
After entering the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, Jin Yeong-in’s party had to cross dozens of high mountain peaks before finally arriving at Sky Mountain, the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
And after traveling for another four hours, a spectacular scene unfolded before their eyes.
‘A great city!’
Jin Yeong-in could not help but marvel at the sight of a large city built in the huge basin right at the foot of Sky Mountain.
“It is called the Divine Land. It is the home where those who belong to our cult live.”
Danmok Cheong said with a grin.
“It’s amazing.”
Seeing the Divine Land, which he had only heard about, with his own two eyes gave him a special feeling.
The Divine Land was a city so large that it could be believed to be the capital of a nation, and even from a distance, it was clear that it was well-organized.
He felt he could understand why the Heavenly Demon, the supreme one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, was revered as a god by the followers.
Here in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, the power of the Central Plains dynasties did not reach, so the Heavenly Demon, the supreme one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, was no different from an emperor.
“It wasn’t like this in my childhood.”
“Then……”
“After the Cult Leader took power, it developed at a frightening pace, and now it has become such a bustling city. This is all thanks to the Cult Leader’s grace.”
Danmok Cheong suddenly began to worship the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
‘He has a subtle fanatic streak.’
Not only Danmok Cheong but also his subordinates would suddenly and unexpectedly worship the Iron-Blooded Demonic God whenever they said anything.
It couldn’t be helped since they were followers of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but…….
“You may not know, Young Master Jin, but the Cult Leader is truly a holy ruler like no other. What those trash-like righteous faction bastards blabber on about the Cult Leader……”
Jin Yeong-in could not listen to Danmok Cheong’s praise of the Iron-Blooded Demonic God.
Danmok Cheong also could not continue speaking.
The people coming and going.
The people living in the Divine Land under the rule of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, one by one, knelt on one knee and bowed their heads, expressing their condolences to Jin Yeong-in’s party.
It was a show of respect for the fallen warriors.
The people had noticed the presence of fallen warriors from the white flag raised by the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.
“Move quietly until we reach the inner city. No idle chatter is allowed, so maintain silence unless it is absolutely necessary to speak.”
“We obey.”
At Cheol Yu-ra’s command, the party moved their feet in a solemn atmosphere, maintaining silence.
***
The closer they got to the Divine Land, the more people they encountered, and they invariably expressed their condolences.
‘The respect for the fallen warriors is extraordinary.’
It was a complete departure from the image of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult that was said to disregard human life in the past, and which in reality treated human lives like flies.
Seeing even ordinary villagers who had not learned martial arts express their sincere condolences, Jin Yeong-in could truly feel that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had definitely changed from before.
Just as they were about to enter the outskirts of the Divine Land.
‘Th-this is.’
Jin Yeong-in shuddered at the sudden sensation he felt.
The sacred energy of the towering Sky Mountain, in other words, the spiritual energy, was gathering towards the large and tall pavilion located in the Divine Land.
The spiritual energy that had gathered at the pavilion passed through a huge being located there, changed into a completely different energy, and then spread out again to encompass the entire Divine Land.
And it was an energy that Jin Yeong-in had felt before.
‘The Iron-Blooded Demonic God!’
It was the very same power that had enveloped and led the demonic practitioners at the Yangtze River, exerting its influence.
‘Is she gathering the spiritual energy of Sky Mountain to exert influence over the Divine Land? The Iron-Blooded Demonic God?’
How it was possible, why she was doing it, what its exact effect was—he could not guess a single thing.
At this point, it would not be an exaggeration to call the Iron-Blooded Demonic God a deity.
‘Well, considering the miracles she has performed, it’s a hard fact to deny……’
Just then.
Thump!
His heart suddenly pounded as if it had dropped.
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo―!!!
The spiritual energy of Sky Mountain swirled violently around its highest peak, and soon, it went wild, soaring high into the sky.
“Gasp!”
Jin Yeong-in gasped for air in the raging storm of spiritual energy.
‘Is everyone okay?’
He struggled to turn his eyes and look around, but no one in the party showed any signs of agitation.
Was it because they were all used to it, or did they not feel it at all…….
“Young Master Jin, are you alright? You don’t look well.”
“The spiritual energy of Sky Mountain…… Keuk!”
“Young Master Jin?”
“It’s too powerful, I can’t bear it…… Ugh!”
Jin Yeong-in felt a sudden wave of dizziness and almost collapsed.
He managed to avoid falling by grabbing onto Danmok Cheong’s shoulder, but his vision was spinning so much that it was difficult to keep walking.
“Young Master Jin, Young Master Jin!”
Jin Yeong-in could not answer Danmok Cheong’s words.
‘The mountain…… is calling me.’
Sky Mountain.
The sacred mountain of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Feeling that the mountain was calling him, Jin Yeong-in lost consciousness.