I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 212

< Side Story 8. (End) >

Jo Gwangyun walked towards the leader of the Wudang Sect.

The sect leader was busy tending to his disciples, having recovered from his internal injuries to some extent.

“I need some help from Wudang, Sect Leader.”

“Please, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I intend to fulfill the destiny given to me now.”

Jo Gwangyun slowly explained that he was destined to become the leader of the Demonic Cult.

“Y-You mean… now… you’re saying you’ll become the leader of the Demonic Cult here in Wudang?”

The Wudang Sect Leader couldn’t believe it.

What would the world say if the Demonic Cult’s leader was born on sacred Wudang Mountain? How could they bear the sin of associating Wudang’s name with the Demonic Cult?

“It’s a presumptuous request, but this is to protect the Central Plains martial arts world [the traditional Chinese martial arts community]. Or is Wudang willing to admit defeat and close its doors from now on?”

“I would rather choose to close the doors than have Wudang become the birthplace of the Demonic Cult’s leader.”

“Even if the orthodox sects are safe because of Wudang’s sacrifice? If they leave Wudang now, the next place will be Shaolin and then Mount Hua. The entire Nine Sects, no, the entire Central Plains martial arts world will live under their thumb, holding their breath. Is that alright?”

Isn’t the greatest cause sacrifice? If you can throw yourself to save others, there is no greater cause than that.

If Wudang sacrifices itself, the entire Central Plains martial arts world will live.

The sect leader knew he had no more reason to refuse and let out a long sigh. Besides, the one asking to borrow the place was none other than the absolute power of this nation.

Wudang was too weak to stand against a clear cause and the pressure of power.

“There is a quiet and secluded place on Jinsan Peak. That would be suitable.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader.”

Jo Gwangyun immediately called his men.

“General Jang.”

The title of General meant that the order being given was from the Prime Minister.

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“Send a guard to deliver my order to the waiting five thousand cavalry.”

“I await your command.”

“Before I leave this mountain, make sure not even an ant can escape Wudang Mountain.”

“Understood.”

“Also, General Jang and the remaining guards will guard the entrance to Jinsan with Great Warrior Yeom. If anyone tries to enter after I go up, you may behead them in the name of the nation.”

“I will carry out your orders!”

Having finished his instructions, Jo Gwangyun turned to the thirteen elders.

“Let’s go up.”

The elders set out on a path where they might die without hesitation.

Seeing them, Jo Gwangyun, a thorough atheist, once again felt how terrifying the power of religion was. This time, he used that terrifying power for himself, feeling even a little gratitude as he slowly climbed the mountain.

* * *

It wouldn’t be strange if the entire Wudang Mountain looked like a den of demons.

The entire mountain was enveloped in ominous demonic energy, and that energy made even the mountain beasts and insects hold their breath.

Only the immense demonic energy and deep silence enveloped Wudang Mountain, and those days continued for two days.

Slightly more than two days later, Jo Gwangyun knew it was over.

The energy within his body no longer fluctuated, and his mind was clearer than ever.

And there was one crucial thing.

He easily realized how insignificant the martial arts of Mo Yonghwi, No Hyegwang, Yu Gyuseong, and his master Gwon Jungwon, whom he had admired, were, and how crude the martial arts displayed by the Demonic Cult figures, which had left him speechless, were.

Jo Gwangyun slowly opened his eyes.

His appearance hadn’t changed in the slightest; the only differences were that his pupils had a slightly deeper darkness and the pattern engraved on his chest had disappeared as if washed away.

Turning his head to look around, the thirteen elders, devoid of any blood, seemed to be in a daze, barely breathing.

They had given their lives to create the Demonic Cult’s leader, but they were destined to close their eyes without even seeing their achievement.

Jo Gwangyun slowly rose.

Looking down at them, he slightly raised both hands.

From his hands, a black, dark cloud-like energy began to swirl, then split into thirteen strands and began to seep into the nostrils of the fallen elders.

It was as if he was returning what he had received, and that continued for nearly an hour. When a red glow returned to their faces, Jo Gwangyun turned and descended from the mountain peak alone.

“Prime Minister!”

The first to rush over were Jang Cheongun and Yeom Sin.

“Are you alright?”

“Never been better.”

Both of them were martial artists, so they understood the meaning of those words exactly.

“Congratulations on your achievement!”

Jo Gwangyun smiled and moved his feet, and many people were waiting for him when he arrived at Wudang.

Everyone looked fine, just like the neatly organized Wudang.

Mo Yonghwi, who was the first to rush to his side, scanned his whole body and let out a long breath.

“I thought a terrifying demon would be born with such abundant demonic energy, but thankfully, the demonic energy didn’t swallow you.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m inherently wicked. Haha.”

Mo Yonghwi smacked his forehead at Jo Gwangyun’s laughter.

“That’s right. I forgot about that fact. Haha.”

The great training hall of Wudang was filled with the swordsmen of Wudang and Mount Hua, looking at him with anticipation and curiosity.

Jo Gwangyun put his hands together towards them and bowed.

“Thanks to your great generosity, the martial arts world has regained peace. Now, the Demonic Path people will go their own way, so you don’t have to be wary.”

These words were nothing less than a declaration that the Envoy had become the leader of the Demonic Cult.

There were quite a few who were not satisfied even though he said peace had come.

They were the masters of the two sects who wanted to see how powerful the martial arts of the Demonic Cult’s essence, the leader, were.

Mo Yonghwi, who was emitting an even stronger gaze than their expectant expressions, opened his mouth.

“Would you like to broaden your horizons?”

Jo Gwangyun chuckled.

“Do you want to see the true sky beyond the sky? Everyone will fall into despair, you know?”

It was a very presumptuous statement, but no one could get angry. Weren’t they already in despair with just the martial arts of the elders? He possessed everything of those elders, so even if he said he was beyond the heavens, it wouldn’t be an arrogant statement.

“It is a martial artist who rises again after overcoming such despair. Hurry up!”

At Mo Yonghwi’s urging, Jo Gwangyun paused for a moment. How should he make them accept that he was beyond the heavens?

He had to show them that appearance. The rumors would spread quickly, so no one would be able to think otherwise in the future.

“Then, prepare sixteen from each sect.”

Everyone thought they had misheard. Sixteen from each sect meant thirty-two people?

“Ah, that includes Brother Hyegwang and Great Warrior Yu Gyuseong.”

Even the two top experts representing the two sects?

Mo Yonghwi asked Jo Gwangyun, who was speaking so easily about something that was difficult to handle even with his martial arts.

“Why thirty-two?”

“Ah, no special reason. It’s just that I only have thirty-two daggers.”

It was a ridiculous reason, but already the swordsmen of the two sects were fighting to be the first to step forward.

* * *

“Is this possible? How?”

He couldn’t believe it even though he was seeing it with his own eyes. This was the first time he had seen such martial arts.

Jo Gwangyun was leisurely chatting with Mo Yonghwi, standing side by side with his hands behind his back, yet the thirty-two daggers were pouring out attacks so strong that the thirty-two swordsmen were soaked in sweat.

“Didn’t I say it was beyond the heavens? If there were more daggers, I could face all the swordsmen.”

Jo Gwangyun shouted towards the training hall.

“Alright, now that you’re warmed up, get ready. The real thing starts now.”

As soon as Jo Gwangyun finished speaking, the movement of the daggers targeting the swordsmen became faster. Before long, only the afterimages of the daggers could be seen, and before a moment had passed, one by one began to kneel.

When No Hyegwang and Yu Gyuseong finally dropped the swords in their hands, all the daggers returned to his waist at once.

Jo Gwangyun looked at them panting and called Jang Cheongun and Yeom Sin.

“Now we return to the capital. General Jang will be with me, and Great Warrior Yeom.”

“Yes, Prime Minister.”

“The Demonic Cult elders will come down when they regain consciousness. I don’t know how many days it will take, but when they come down, bring them all to the Blue House [the executive office and official residence of the South Korean president].”

“I will obey your command.”

Before descending the mountain with the guards, Jo Gwangyun left a word for the disciples of Wudang and Mount Hua.

“I hope you all train diligently and become a little stronger martial artists.”

* * *

After a few days, the people he had been waiting for came in, looking around.

As soon as they saw Jo Gwangyun, they prostrated themselves.

“We greet the Cult Leader. Ten thousand years, ten thousand thousand years! [A traditional Korean blessing wishing someone a very long life.]”

Jo Gwangyun greeted them with a smile as they bowed.

“Yes, how is your body?”

“Thanks to the Cult Leader’s grace, it’s better than before.”

Gang Sangyoung bowed his head once more.

After checking their condition, it was not an empty word. The energy they were emitting was even more distinct and heavy.

“Now, let’s discuss the future of the Cheonmyeong Cult [Heavenly Light Cult, a fictional demonic cult].”

“We will only follow the Cult Leader’s words.”

Jo Gwangyun said as if he had been waiting.

“So, the law of the Cheonmyeong Cult is the Cult Leader’s word?”

“How dare we lie?”

“The reason you want to enter the Central Plains seems to be because it’s hard to survive in the barren land, is that right?”

Gang Sangyoung blushed and said.

“It’s been a drought for over ten years. All one hundred thousand believers are on the verge of starvation and can no longer endure.”

“Then, take a look at this.”

Jo Gwangyun handed over the prepared map.

When they unfolded the map, a large mark was visible on a part of Xinjiang [an autonomous region of China].

“Everyone should migrate and settle there. Although the mountains are rugged, the water is abundant, so if you cultivate the land, you will not starve.”

Gang Sangyoung couldn’t hide his embarrassment.

“Cult Leader. Even at this moment, young children are starving to death. Cultivation is…”

Jo Gwangyun raised his hand to stop him.

“I will provide all the necessary supplies until you cultivate the land and produce grain. There will be no difficulty in establishing a base there, so do as I say.”

“Cult Leader. It’s as many as one hundred thousand. How can one hundred thousand…”

“Is the Cheonmyeong Cult’s loyalty so weak that they don’t believe the Cult Leader’s words? I have never failed to keep the words that come out of my mouth. There will be no more starvation among the Cheonmyeong Cult’s believers.”

“Forgive me. I did not recognize the Cult Leader’s great power.”

Gang Sangyoung hit his head on the floor.

“And about the Cult Leader’s choice…”

Jo Gwangyun glanced at the elders and said.

“I don’t like living according to what the heavens have determined. We humans must live by human will.”

“Enlighten us ignorant ones. I don’t understand your intention.”

“I am the Prime Minister of this country. Taking care of all the people is a priority, and I cannot only take care of the one hundred thousand believers of the Cheonmyeong Cult. Therefore, the Cult Leader will be elected by humans, not the heavens. From this moment on, the position of Cult Leader of the Cheonmyeong Cult will be held by Great Elder Gang Sangyoung!”

“Please withdraw your words. It is too much for me to handle.”

Gang Sangyoung hit his head on the floor again.

“Didn’t you say that the Cult Leader’s words are the law?”

Everyone couldn’t open their mouths. This was the first time this had happened, so they didn’t know what to do.

“Answer! Aren’t the Cult Leader’s words the law?”

Gang Sangyoung jumped up and bowed deeply again.

“I will follow the Cult Leader’s words.”

Jo Gwangyun asked Gang Sangyoung.

“Then, the former Cult Leader will ask the new Cult Leader once.”

Gang Sangyoung bowed his head even further when the honorifics suddenly came out.

“What criteria should be the qualifications for the Cult Leader in the future? Keep in mind that you must not mention the heavens in front of me and answer. You must remember that human rules must be determined by humans.”

Gang Sangyoung thought for a while and carefully opened his mouth.

“There is one qualification that is absolutely necessary to protect as many as one hundred thousand believers.”

“What is it?”

“It is strength (强) [qiang, meaning power or strength in Chinese].”

Jo Gwangyun was very pleased with Gang Sangyoung’s answer. This man is strong and wise.

“That is truly beyond my expectations. Then, the top priority among the laws of the Cheonmyeong Cult will be the supremacy of the strong (强者之尊) [qiang zhe zhi zun, meaning the supremacy of the strong in Chinese].”

After giving the decree, Jo Gwangyun discussed the migration of the Cheonmyeong Cult’s one hundred thousand believers with them for a while before sending them back.

After they left, Jo Gwangyun changed back into his official robes.

“Well, shall we go to work?”

Jo Gwangyun slowly walked towards the Imperial Palace.

– End –