Chronicles of the Demonic Cult Conversion-Chapter 8 : Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Damn Annoying Bastards
The Righteous Heavenly Alliance was a coalition of countless minor sects centered around the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans.
As such, it was only natural that their response in an emergency would be slow.
In this vast world, it would take a considerable amount of time for the powers of its scattered members to unite.
Therefore, the Murim Alliance was often evaluated as a group with the fatal flaw of having a slow initial response when an incident occurred.
However, that flaw was a different story here in Wuhan.
Wuhan was not only the home of the Heavenly Martial Academy, the cradle of martial arts, but also the headquarters of the Righteous Heavenly Murim Alliance.
Moreover, the number of minor sects located in Hubei Province, where Wuhan belonged, was estimated to be around a hundred.
Why else would Wuhan be called the heart of the Orthodox Factions?
As such, it took only half a day for the inescapable dragnet to be spread across Wuhan.
However, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance's dragnet was not satisfied with just sealing off Wuhan and was extending throughout Hubei Province with each passing moment.
As if to demonstrate the will of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, a spectacular scene of countless carrier pigeons adorning the sky unfolded all over Hubei Province.
Beggars who were usually invisible, that is, members of the Beggar's Gang, appeared everywhere and actively collected information.
Also, warriors belonging to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance were stationed from the main roads to the small alleys, checking the people coming and going.
Furthermore, the entire Demon Extermination Squad, whose ability to track demonic practitioners was said to be second to none, was even dispatched.
Because of this, people did not doubt that Jin Yeong-in would be caught by the Righteous Heavenly Alliance within a day or two and publicly executed.
However, contrary to expectations, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance could not find even a shadow of Jin Yeong-in after two days.
As the situation unfolded, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance was slowly becoming desperate.
Meanwhile, Jin Yeong-in had already leisurely escaped Wuhan and was passing through Yichang, located at the edge of Hubei Province.
‘As expected of the Demonic Cult… no. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.’
Certainly, the capabilities of the Demonic Cult were astonishing.
The Demonic Cult had extracted Jin Yeong-in from Wuhan, where the Righteous Heavenly Alliance's dragnet was spread, with incredible ease.
The method was simpler than expected.
The Demonic Cult smuggled Jin Yeong-in out of Wuhan by disguising him as the Regional Military Commissioner of Hubei Province.
The Regional Military Commissioner was the third-highest-ranking official within the Regional Military Commission, the institution that oversaw the military administration of a province.
Moreover, since the Regional Military Commissioner was the official in charge of the practical affairs of military administration, his authority was sometimes even greater than that of the Regional Commander and the Vice Regional Commander.
Therefore, the Righteous Heavenly Alliance did not dare to search the carriage of the Regional Military Commissioner.
It wasn't because of the unwritten rule of non-interference between the government and the Murim.
The government and the Murim were never non-interfering.
They were in a relationship of cooperation, checks and balances, and sometimes even clashing swords.
However, for a big shot like the Regional Military Commissioner, even the Righteous Heavenly Alliance couldn't touch him recklessly.
If they offended the Regional Military Commissioner, it could be seen as rebelling against the imperial court, so the Righteous Heavenly Alliance didn't even dare to search his carriage.
Thanks to that, Jin Yeong-in was able to leisurely escape Wuhan, and what happened after that was even more surprising.
‘They have guts. To disguise a warship.’
Jin Yeong-in inwardly clicked his tongue as he looked at the waves of the Yangtze River.
The boat Jin Yeong-in was on now was a warship of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult disguised as a naval warship, and it was openly going up the Yangtze River and leaving Hubei Province.
The fact that such a maneuver was possible even in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the heart of the Orthodox Factions, meant that the capabilities of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were beyond imagination.
‘I would have been in big trouble without the Black Dragon Plaque.’
If I hadn't observed the anniversary of my master's death, and thus hadn't met that woman, I wouldn't have received the Black Dragon Plaque.
If that had happened, I would have been caught by the Demon Extermination Squad, and perhaps I would have encountered the Great Divine Physician and repeated the past.
The meeting with the woman was a miraculous encounter that could only be described as a stroke of heavenly luck.
‘Thank you, Master. It's all thanks to you.’
Jin Yeong-in thought of his master's face and gave a bitter smile.
To think that the merits of the chivalrous deeds his master had accumulated in his lifetime would be received not from the Orthodox Factions, but from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult…….
***
“Young Master Jin.”
A man disguised as a naval commander spoke to Jin Yeong-in.
Danmok Cheong.
He said he belonged to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's intelligence agency, the Bat Squad, and was the person in charge of this escort mission.
“Young Master is too much. Please feel free to call me young brother.”
Jin Yeong-in waved his hands in refusal, unfamiliar with such treatment.
What Young Master.
He was a fugitive being framed as a spy for the Demonic Cult.
“I cannot do that. You, Young Master Jin, are the owner of the Black Dragon Plaque.”
“Haha…….”
“Until the day we arrive at the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, our escort team will protect you with our lives.”
I could feel a strong will to complete the mission, and it was reassuring just to hear it.
“I have just received a carrier pigeon. It is the cult's order to disembark and travel north by land after passing through Sichuan and reaching Qinghai Province. After arriving at the Jade Gate Pass, the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad will escort you from then on.”
Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.
One of the five major military groups of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
It was said that all its members were cavalry who had mastered mounted martial arts, and their combat power in open fields was unmatched in the entire Central Plains.
And if you were to ask if they were weak in close combat on foot, that wasn't the case either.
The current leader and Heavenly Demon, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, was once a member of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad, and his disciple, the Demonic Empress Cheol Yu-ra, was also said to belong to the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad.
‘The Black Dragon Plaque is really something. To be able to enjoy such a luxury.’
Currently, the status of the Iron-Armored Ghostly Demon Squad within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was at its historical peak.
The thought of being escorted by them felt strange.
“May I ask you one thing?”
“If it is something I can answer, I will answer.”
“What happens if my application to join the cult is approved?”
“Don't tell me the reason you're going all the way to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains is to join the cult?”
At Jin Yeong-in's question, Danmok Cheong showed a somewhat surprised expression.
“Yes, well. That's what happened.”
“Do you not feel any reluctance?”
“I have no such feelings. It's just a little unfamiliar to think about joining a new place.”
Danmok Cheong's reaction was natural.
From the perspective of the Orthodox Factions, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was a den of evil teeming with demons, and in reality, it was so.
Until thirty years ago, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was a group of evil that would invade the Central Plains and cause bloodbaths whenever they had the chance.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was a group that did not hesitate to commit indiscriminate massacres and sometimes even human sacrifices.
However, after the Iron-Blooded Demonic God came to power, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was transforming into a completely different group.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult of this period was in a transitional phase, evolving from a group of evil that worshipped demons to a military group that revered martial arts.
Of course, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Jin Yeong-in was the only one in the Central Plains who knew that fact.
Even that was something he had heard in the Demonic Prison, so he would have to go and see for himself if it was true.
“I am not sure what will happen to you, Young Master Jin, after your application is approved. It is a matter to be decided by the higher-ups, so it is difficult for me to predict. I am sorry for not being able to help.”
“It's alright.”
Thinking about it again, he felt he had asked a pointless question.
Danmok Cheong belonged to the intelligence agency, the Bat Squad.
How could he predict the decisions of the higher-ups…….
“In any case, I ask that you rest inside the cabin in case of an emergency. It is not yet a time when I can say it is safe. We will have to travel for at least two more days before we can say we have completely shaken off the pursuit of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.”
“I understand.”
Following Danmok Cheong's advice, Jin Yeong-in went into the cabin to rest.
Although the possibility was extremely low, it would be troublesome if he were spotted by someone and pursued by the Righteous Heavenly Alliance.
***
The escort team did not neglect their guard for a moment.
“Maintain a tight watch, and prepare for any eventuality. Anyone who neglects their guard will be executed without question.”
“Yes!”
Danmok Cheong strictly managed his subordinates and maintained the highest possible level of alert.
Even after the two days that Danmok Cheong had mentioned had passed and they had almost escaped the dangerous area, the military discipline of the escort team was quite strict.
It couldn't be helped, as the current strength of the escort team was very weak for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The escort team was composed of personnel operating in areas where the influence of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult did not reach.
Therefore, most of them had either not learned demonic arts at all, or if they had, they had learned a low-level demonic art with almost no discernible demonic qi.
Of course, there were some among them who exuded a rather strong demonic qi, but they were less than ten in number.
If they were to be pursued by the Righteous Heavenly Alliance with this level of strength, the situation could become dangerous, so it was not unreasonable for Danmok Cheong to be on edge.
Jin Yeong-in was grateful to Danmok Cheong and the escort team.
From their perspective, they were just faithfully carrying out their mission, but from Jin Yeong-in's perspective, he couldn't help but feel a special emotion.
Being protected by someone.
It was something he had never experienced in the Orthodox Factions.
Not even at the Heavenly Martial Academy.
At the Heavenly Martial Academy, they would occasionally go on chivalrous missions like bandit subjugation for the disciples' practical experience, and each time, Jin Yeong-in was always abandoned.
The martial instructors of the academy were only concerned with protecting the disciples from renowned orthodox sects and didn't care a whit about Jin Yeong-in's safety.
Thanks to that, he had certainly gained practical experience, but the dirty feeling he felt every time something like that happened was still vivid.
Of course, since Jin Yeong-in was a warrior himself, being protected by someone wasn't entirely welcome.
However, given the situation, he couldn't help but feel reassured.
‘I haven't even joined the cult yet, but I'm already starting to feel a sense of belonging.’
Just as Jin Yeong-in let out an unintentional chuckle.
Rumble!
Loud footsteps began to be heard from the deck above.
Soon, urgent shouts were also heard.
“Multiple enemy ships spotted ahead!”
“Emergency, emergency!”
“All escort team members! Prepare for battle!”
Sure enough, Danmok Cheong hastily came down to the cabin and shouted.
“Young Master Jin! Multiple express boats that appear to belong to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance are approaching!”
“……!”
“There are many of them! We must switch boats immediately!”
A large warship was unsuitable for escape, so he meant to switch to a smaller, faster boat.
‘Damn annoying bastards.’
The tenacity of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance made him want to curse.
Were they planning to forcefully search, risking a conflict with the government, or were they chasing with precise knowledge…….
“Young Master Jin! Come out quickly!”
“I understand!”
Jin Yeong-in hurriedly followed Danmok Cheong out of the cabin.
When he went up to the deck, he saw the small boats of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance approaching at high speed.
There seemed to be over ten of them, and it was clear that at least a hundred enemies were on board.
“Lower the express boat! Hurry!”
Danmok Cheong shouted at the top of his lungs, urging his subordinates.
However, it took less than a moment for Danmok Cheong's plan to switch to a small boat to be scrapped.
“Enemy ship ahead!”
“They're on the left too!”
“They're here too! On the right!”
A perfect encirclement.
The small boats of the Righteous Heavenly Alliance were swarming in from all directions like a school of sharks.
“Damn it…….”
Danmok Cheong gritted his teeth.
He was already anxious due to the lack of manpower, and now the very thing he was worried about had happened.
If they had been surrounded while traveling by land, they could have somehow broken through the encirclement and sent Jin Yeong-in to safety.
But to be surrounded while traveling by boat meant that their escape route was completely blocked.
In the middle of this vast Yangtze River, where and how could they escape?
‘Is the mission… a failure?’
Just as Danmok Cheong bit his lower lip in the gloomy situation.
Sreung……!
A faint sound of a sword being drawn was heard from the side.
When he turned his head, he saw Jin Yeong-in drawing his sword with a calm expression.
“If we fight, a path to survival might open up, don't you think?”
Jin Yeong-in said with a white smile.