Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion-Chapter 46 : Chapter 46

Chapter 46. You Didn't Believe Me?
“There is no time. When will you be ready.”
“Yes, Seventh Apostle. It seems we will be able to move around the Hour of the Ox.”
“The Hour of the Ox. Is there about an hour left.”
“But, is there really a need to strike the Blood Wolf Corps? I don't understand why we are deploying this much force to kill such small fry…….”
“It is the will of the Great Archbishop.”
The one called the Seventh Apostle cut off the words of the man leading the Stiff Corpse.
“The Heavenly Demon's Kin, life as fleeting as grass. All of his kin must be able to offer their lives as if they were straw. A noble sacrifice requires no questions.”
“The Heavenly Demon’s second coming, ten thousand demons bow in submission.”
The man leading the Stiff Corpse prostrated himself before the Seventh Apostle, bowing his head.
“As you said, attacking the Blood Wolf Corps will be nothing more than killing mere small fry. However, sometimes even the deaths of small fry can be a meaningful military achievement.”
“By meaningful military achievement, you mean…….”
“There are still many within the Divine Land who follow him. They are just foolish and do not believe in his second coming. Through this attack, they will learn that he is alive and well, and they will harbor distrust towards Yi Cheong-ha.”
“Will it really happen like that?”
“No one notices the signs until the embankment collapses. The fall of a well-built tower also begins with a small crack. So do not be hasty, nor doubt. This too will be a foundation for the second coming, so daring to have doubts would be an unnecessary act. Therefore, give your all to complete the mission.”
“Is there any doubt?”
“Just in case, deploy a scout team to monitor their movements and prepare for the attack.”
“As you command.”
Jin Yeong-in looked back at the Blood Qilin.
“Is Yi Cheong-ha the honorable name of the Cult Leader?”
“Shh.”
The Blood Qilin frowned and brought his index finger to Jin Yeong-in's lips.
“A person who claims to want to become a warrior of our cult doesn’t even know her honorable name?”
“I did not know that much.”
“Don’t you dare utter that honorable name carelessly anywhere. I’m letting it slide because it’s me.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“But why her honorable name all of a sudden?”
“While talking about their purpose for attacking the Blood Wolf Corps, those men said that the cult members would come to harbor distrust towards Yi Cheong-ha.”
“How dare these traitorous bastards try to tarnish her dignity? By mentioning her honorable name?”
The Blood Qilin's two eyes spewed a red, ominous light.
“Please calm down.”
“Even tearing them to shreds wouldn’t be enough…….”
“If you do this, we’ll both die.”
He was so enraged that the Blood Qilin's body trembled.
If Jin Yeong-in hadn't stopped him, he would have undoubtedly rushed at them without a second thought.
“Let’s go for now. Don't we have to go back and inform them of their attack.”
“You want to retreat just like this?”
“Then, can you wipe out all those men by yourself?”
“……That’s.”
No matter how powerful the Blood Qilin was, it would be absurd for him to face over a hundred Stiff Corpse and the masters of the Demonic Devil Cult alone.
“Let's go for now. They said it's around the Hour of the Ox, so time is of the essence.”
“Alright.”
Jin Yeong-in barely managed to soothe the Blood Qilin and carefully escaped the scene.
* * *
The Blood Qilin immediately relayed this fact to Yi Mu-baek.
“Is that really true?”
“So, are you saying I’m telling a lie?”
“That is not what I meant…….”
Yi Mu-baek showed clear signs of not believing the Blood Qilin's words.
‘Just how much distrust has he earned.’
Jin Yeong-in inwardly gave a bitter smile at this laughable farce.
Just how much of a mess had his usual conduct been that his words held not even a speck of credibility?
At this point, it was clear that no one would believe him even if he said he was making Meju with soybeans.
It was so extreme that Yi Mu-baek had even confirmed the facts with Jin Yeong-in instead of the Blood Qilin.
“Are you certain? Number forty-four?”
“Yes, Commander.”
“If it is a false , you will have to offer your head, you know?”
It was surely not a delusion to feel that these were words he couldn't bring himself to say to the Blood Qilin.
“Yes, there is not a shred of falsehood. Commander, time is of the essence. Seeing the enemy's strength, if we do not respond right now, we will be annihilated.”
“Hmm.”
Yi Mu-baek seemed to believe Jin Yeong-in's words more than the Blood Qilin's.
Recalling the diligent attitude and outstanding performance Jin Yeong-in had shown so far, it was impossible not to trust him.
“I shall hurry and request reinforcements and evacuate the Blood Wolves.”
“A wise decision, sir.”
Jin Yeong-in showed a clasped hands greeting towards Yi Mu-baek.
“Wait, you didn't believe me?”
“It's not that I didn't believe you, it was just such an unbelievable statement that I was just asking for confirmation.”
“No matter how much of a ruffian I am, do you think I would joke about something concerning the well-being of our cult……”
Jin Yeong-in quickly cut in and interrupted the Blood Qilin.
“Sixth Young Master, this is not the time for this.”
“Well, that’s true, but…….”
“Now, now, save your complaints for later.”
Jin Yeong-in calmed the Blood Qilin down and then looked back at Yi Mu-baek.
“Commander.”
“Is there anything else to say?”
“Before evacuating, shouldn't we eliminate the enemy scout teams first? If we evacuate without eliminating the scout teams, they might notice and attack earlier than the scheduled time.”
“……!”
Yi Mu-baek was quite surprised by Jin Yeong-in's proposal.
The situation was so urgent that Jin Yeong-in had accurately pointed out a part that even Yi Mu-baek had missed.
“I will serve the Sixth Young Master and eliminate the enemy scout team.”
“Huh? Me?”
The Blood Qilin pointed to himself and tilted his head.
“As of now, the only one with the martial prowess to secretly take care of the enemy scout teams is you, Sixth Young Master.”
“That certainly seems to be the case. Very well. I accept your opinion. Help the Sixth Young Master immediately to eliminate the enemy scout team.”
“Thank you. Ah, and I would be grateful if you could assign Instructor Danmok Cheong to us.”
“How did you know about that?”
Jin Yeong-in answered by glancing back at the Blood Qilin.
“I see. I will assign Instructor Dan to you as well.”
“Thank you. Let’s go.”
As soon as Jin Yeong-in reached an agreement with Yi Mu-baek, he grabbed the Blood Qilin.
“H-Hey? I never said I would do it?”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
“Whoa?”
“Let’s talk as we go.”
Jin Yeong-in moved his feet while gently coaxing the Blood Qilin as if dealing with a disobedient child.
* * *
Yi Mu-baek immediately gathered the instructors and prepared for the evacuation, while also sending a carrier pigeon to request reinforcements.
In the meantime, Jin Yeong-in and the Blood Qilin, having joined up with Danmok Cheong who was disguised as an instructor, set out to hunt the enemy scout team.
Danmok Cheong did not ask how he knew his identity.
Like Yi Mu-baek, he had preemptively guessed that the one who had blabbed his identity was the Blood Qilin.
The problem was how to find the enemy scout team.
It was not as if they could openly play hide-and-seek with an enemy in hiding.
“If we carelessly stir things up, we might hasten the enemy's attack.”
“So it would be best to disguise ourselves as patrolling instructors and sweep the surroundings.”
At Danmok Cheong's concern, Jin Yeong-in offered a secret plan.
“When I discover the movements of the enemy scout team, I will subtly give you a signal.”
“Will you be able to do that?”
“I am quite confident, so please trust me.”
“Understood.”
Jin Yeong-in showed confidence in the search.
Why?
Because it was nearly impossible to hide demonic qi from the Heavenly Demon’s Physique.
The story would be different if they hadn't learned demonic arts at all, but even so, it would not be easy to escape Jin Yeong-in's notice.
If he used Favorable Wind Ears, one of the Seventy-Two Supreme Arts of Shaolin, it would be quite possible to detect the breathing of a hidden person.
Of course, if a professional assassin were to hide their presence, it would be difficult even for Jin Yeong-in to catch them, but the possibility of such a person being in a scout team was remarkably low.
‘Sixth Young Master, over there.’
Jin Yeong-in sent a signal to the Blood Qilin.
The enemy scout, unaware that he had been discovered, was just holding his breath and waiting for Jin Yeong-in's party to pass.
“I'll go to the latrine for a moment.”
The Blood Qilin naturally broke away from the group and approached the hidden person from behind.
‘Let’s leave that one to the Sixth Young Master and continue moving.’
‘Understood.’
Jin Yeong-in left the Blood Qilin and set out with Danmok Cheong to find another scout team.
After some time had passed, Jin Yeong-in, the Blood Qilin, and Danmok Cheong gathered again.
Each of them had taken care of one scout.
“I don't think there are any more than this, let’s return now.”
“I think so as well.”
Usually, when placing scouts, it was extremely rare to deploy a large number of troops, so having eliminated three was enough to have blinded the enemy's eyes and ears.
“But what are you getting on your mouth?”
“Oops. It’s nothing, nothing. Haha.”
At Jin Yeong-in's question, the Blood Qilin hastily wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
However, what was on the Blood Qilin's mouth was not something that could be wiped clean.
“Isn’t that, blood?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Why do you have blood on your mouth?”
“I think some of it splashed.”
Jin Yeong-in let it be and did not ask any further.
Given the circumstances, he was not idle enough to talk about such trivial things.
* * *
Jin Yeong-in met Yi Mu-baek again and informed him that the mission was complete.
“It seems we have eliminated all the enemy scout teams.”
“You have worked hard, number forty-four.”
When Yi Mu-baek praised Jin Yeong-in as if he were proud, the Blood Qilin frowned.
“Then what about me?”
“Of course, the Sixth Young Master’s contribution is the greatest, isn't it? You have truly suffered a great deal.”
“That's right, isn't it? Hoot.”
“Then, may we evacuate the Blood Wolves now?”
“Probably?”
“Understood. I will immediately issue the evacuation order and evacuate the Blood Wolves to a safe place.”
Yi Mu-baek immediately gathered the instructors and ordered them to wake the Blood Wolves.
“Everyone wake up, wake up.”
“This is a real situation. Everyone, do not be agitated, and move quietly.”
The instructors woke the soundly sleeping Blood Wolves and moved them out of the Extreme Land.
Jin Yeong-in, the Blood Qilin, and Danmok Cheong also helped those instructors in evacuating the Blood Wolves.
“I’ll explain later, so for now, just move.”
Jin Yeong-in, like a proper Lead Blood Wolf, led the Blood Wolves who followed him.
‘I hope the retreat is successful.’
Although they had eliminated the enemy scout teams, Jin Yeong-in's heart was still uneasy.
He didn't know when the Demonic Devil Cult's forces would notice and give chase, and if such a situation were to occur, annihilation would be unavoidable.
The instructors of the Blood Wolf Corps were personnel specialized in cultivating martial artists, and it was difficult to say that their martial arts were outstanding.
Moreover, seventy percent of the Blood Wolves were fledglings who had never learned martial arts, so if a fight broke out, it was highly likely that they would be more of a hindrance than a help to their forces.
‘I hope they notice a little later.’
Jin Yeong-in thought so and quickened his pace.
* * *
The Hour of the Ox.
“Wake them.”
“As you command.”
At the Seventh Apostle's command, the sorcerers removed the talismans attached to the foreheads of the Stiff Corpse and recited the incantation to awaken them.
Soon, a bluish ghost fire spewed from the eyes of the awakened Stiff Corpse.
As soon as the Stiff Corpse awoke, the Seventh Apostle led them towards the Extreme Land, the base of the Blood Wolf Corps.
And upon arriving at the Extreme Land, the Seventh Apostle could not hide his bewilderment.
“What is this……!”
What greeted the Seventh Apostle was an empty Extreme Land where not even an ant could be found, and only the sound of the wind echoing like a wail from a haunted house.