Chapter 410 : Expansion (5)

When Wi Jin-hak received the news through the Beggar King, he shelved the grand affair of the wedding night and summoned the leaders of each faction.

The Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal and Hwangbo Ak, the Beggar King and the Head of the Zhuge Family, and Wi Jin-hak all gathered in one place for a meeting.

After hearing the news about the Orthodox Faction and the Central Military Command movements, the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal opened his mouth with a grave expression.

"I had my apprehensions. In the end, Shaolin has sided with the Imperial Family."

The Beggar King raised an eyebrow at that.

"Shaolin may be called the Northern Star of the Martial World and praised by all, but couldn't the same be said of Wudang? No matter how great Shaolin's reputation is, is it really that big of a problem?"

The Beggar King was asking on behalf of the group; both Wi Jin-hak and Hwangbo Ak shared equally puzzled expressions.

In response, Zhuge Mun stepped in as the group's strategist and answered on the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal's behalf.

"There is said to be a hidden master within Shaolin, one unknown to the wider martial world."

Zhuge Mun relayed what the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal had told him a few days prior about the old monk of Shaolin, and the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal added one final remark.

"This old Taoist can say with certainty that our late Grandmaster was a master worthy of crossing blades with even the Heavenly Blood Jiangshi."

The expressions of everyone present turned visibly serious upon that statement.

What he meant was that this old monk of Shaolin was a monster entirely on par with the Heavenly Blood Jiangshi.

The atmosphere had grown quite tense when Zhuge Mun calmly picked up where he left off.

"The real nightmare is that Shaolin is just the tip of the iceberg. Whether they cut some backroom deal with the Emperor or not, the Peng Family is co-leading this crusade with Shaolin, and it's practically a given that the Namgung Family and Mount Heng Sect will jump on the bandwagon."

Namgung Jin, the Sword Venerable, and Yangmuja, the Sect Leader of the Mount Heng Sect, were both men who had already turned down the Beggars’ Gang's proposal.

As for the Head of the Hebei Peng Family, though he had long been treated as the second-ranked among the saber users, owing to Cheok Pae-myeong's shadow, that still meant he was the second greatest in the entire world and a formidable master in his own right.

And now that Cheok Pae-myeong was dead, he could rightfully be called the number one saber master in the world.

On top of that, there was the old monk of Shaolin and the Buddha Venerable.

Among the masters once known as the Twelve Heavenly Pillars, no fewer than four were aligned against them, and mixed in among those four was one old monster who surpassed them all.

After laying all of that out, Zhuge Mun turned to Wi Jin-hak.

"I know this is a shameless thing to ask, but if we're being completely honest, the combined strength of the Zhuge Family, Wudang, and the Beggars’ Gang will barely be enough to hold them off. We need the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's aid."

In truth, Zhuge Mun had prepared for this possibility from the very beginning. That was why he had deliberately left Hubei and made the journey here together with the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal and the Beggar King.

The Beggars’ Gang had no fixed base to begin with, and Wudang had its own Sect Leader. That’s why the Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal had some freedom to move. But for a ruling patriarch like Zhuge Mun to leave the clan’s ground on the eve of war was highly unusual.

The reason for that unusual activity is this.

Beyond the matter of his daughter's marriage, he wanted to deliver the request for reinforcements in person rather than through a letter.

"Manpower... In your estimation, how many would we need?"

Zhuge Mun answered Wi Jin-hak's question directly.

"Balance will be key. I need the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult to finish securing Shaanxi before the Central Military Command can consolidate forces from each province and march out."

They may have subjugated the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect, but that applied strictly only to the martial factions.

 There was still the Shaanxi Provincial Military Command to contend with, and the remaining soldiers and officials throughout the province would need to be either brought over or eliminated.

Wi Jin-hak followed up. "Speaking of which, how are things going on the Hubei side?"

"We're working beneath the surface as we speak. We're selecting those likely to join our cause, and once we return, we plan to raise our banner."

Wi Jin-hak gave a nod.                                                                 

"Between the forces of the Zhuge Family, Wudang, and the Beggars’ Gang and whoever else you scrape together in Hubei, you'll actually outnumber us two-to-one. That means the real gap is in elite fighters. I'll handpick a select few of our best."

Since he, as the Cult Leader, needed to remain here to command the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main forces, he had to choose people who could represent him in his absence, and ones who wouldn't cause trouble without him around.

"Summon the Left and Right Guardians. And bring Hall Master Yeom Ga-hwi and the Head of Hyeokryeon Family as well."

"As you command."

At Wi Jin-hak's order, the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord clasped his fists and stepped out of the hall.

The Left and Right Guardians essentially functioned as Vice Cult Leaders. 

When the Heavenly Demon or the Cult Leader was absent, they carried out all major and minor affairs on his behalf. And in the event of the Heavenly Demon or Cult Leader's passing, they were also the ones tasked with selecting the next Cult Leader.

That made them the perfect proxies to be sent in his place. As for Yeom Ga-hwi and Hyeokryeon Cheon-gang, they at least weren't wildcards who would go off the rails and cause chaotic disasters like Dokgo Ryong or Baek Un-hak.

A short while later, the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord returned with four individuals.

As Wi Jin-hak's four subordinates entered, the members of the Orthodox Faction rose to exchange brief greetings, all while working hard to keep the shock off their faces.

‘So this is the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's true depth.’

‘The more I see, the more astonishing it is.’

The Supreme Ultimate Sword Immortal and the Beggar King were quietly struggling to contain their astonishment. All four who had come at short notice were masters on par with themselves, and the man called the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord was no different.

And that wasn't even counting Cult Leader Wi Jin-hak or Young Master Il-mok. Or the Third Disciple, Seo Wan-pyeong whom they had seen in Qinghai, and even Il-mok's personal attendant Jin Hayeon.

'Is this what Demonic Arts can do...?'

Just looking at the sheer headcount of top-tier masters in this room was enough to completely rip apart the established common sense of the Central Plains’ martial world.

***

That same night, the group exchanged brief farewells and departed Shaanxi for Hubei.

The warriors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Hwangbo Family stationed near Huayin County also began marching toward Xi'an.

Their goal was to seize the Provincial Military Command in Xi'an.

After a day and a half of marching, they arrived near Xi'an around noon.

"Cult Leader! Forces flying the Cult's banner are approaching!"

And right on cue, visitors arrived from Gansu.

It was Cheon Ryang, the Left Commissioner of Gansu, along with his officials and a small contingent of Heavenly Demon Divine Cult warriors.

"I am Cheon Ryang. I previously served as the Left Commissioner of Gansu."

Cheon Ryang presented himself before Wi Jin-hak and relayed what Il-mok had told him.

“I came with Young Master Il-mok’s order and instruction. According to Young Master Ilmok, we should take the lead in dealing with the government officials here in Shaanxi. If we can convince as many people as possible to switch sides now, it’ll make things far easier in the future.”

Wi Jin-hak mulled it over briefly, then nodded.

‘If that's the judgment of the youngest, I'll trust it for now.’

After everything they'd been through together, Wi Jin-hak's trust in Il-mok had become absolute.

With that brief exchange out of the way, Wi Jin-hak led the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's main force forward toward the Shaanxi Provincial Military Command.

The core of the force consisted of the three thousand warriors of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, joined by members of the Hwangbo Family and those who had surrendered during the campaigns against Zhongnan and Mount Hua, numbering around four thousand in total.

The moment they drew near, war drums boomed from inside the headquarters.

Soldiers emerged all across the walls, raising their bows and taking aim as if a battle could break out at any second.

Amid the suffocating tension, Cheon Ryang swallowed his nervousness and stepped forward.

"I am Cheon Ryang, Left Commissioner of Gansu! I'm not sure how many of you know my face, but I have been moved by the righteousness of this cause and have chosen to stand with them!!"

Pulling a page right out of Il-mok's playbook, he tried to coax the enemy into surrendering by loudly broadcasting the vile crimes of the Imperial Family and their eunuchs.

"What future is there in an empire run by eunuchs who slaughter thousands of innocent people without blinking an eye?!"

But the Shaanxi Provincial Military Commander wasn't about to be talked into treason by a silver-tongued politician.

"You insolent fool!! How dare you insult the Imperial Family! Strike down that traitor at once!!"

The moment the Commander gave the order, a storm of arrows came raining down on Cheon Ryang.

"Gulp."

Cheon Ryang froze in terror and could only manage a dry swallow, but the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult warriors who had stepped forward to escort him deflected the barrage without much trouble and got him back safely.

Once he was back in one piece and had wiped the cold sweat from his face, Cheon Ryang gave a respectful bow to Wi Jin-hak.

"Cult Leader, they might have shot us down just now, but we've successfully planted the seed in their minds. By showing that a man of official standing like myself is being treated with respect, I have no doubt that once you've secured the upper hand in battle and call for surrender again, some will come forward."

Wi Jin-hak nodded and rose to his feet.

"I'll be back soon.”

He said it for the nearby Zhuge Eun-yeong to hear. Even though they hadn’t consummated their wedding night, she is still his wife.

But just as he turned to leave, she sent a quiet voice transmission his way.

—I trust you won't be turning me into a young widow before we've even had our wedding night.

It was the kind of teasing remark only a wife could get away with, and Wi Jin-hak burst out laughing.

"Hahaha!"

Instead of offering a verbal reply, Wi Jin-hak simply flashed her a smile brimming with confidence before striding forward.

(TL Note: My Cult Leader ahjussi can’t be this charming.)

He used Sky Walk to stride over the heads of his own martial artists and reach the front line in an instant.

"All forces!! Charge!!!"

He let out a deafening roar and then led the way himself, sprinting forward with his lightness skill straight toward the walls of the Provincial Military Command.

"RAAAAH!!"

"Forward!!"

Inspired by their Cult Leader, the Divine Cult's warriors roared in unison and stampeded toward the Provincial Military Command.

Wi Jin-hak's martial prowess was nothing short of terrifying.

Fwoosh

His Heavenly Demon Sword blazed with roiling black flames, and not a single soul managed to block it. Every step he took carved a bloody path through the enemy.

***

When the battle and the subsequent negotiations were finally over, Wi Jin-hak, along with the senior figures of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Hwangbo Ak, and Cheon Ryang, gathered in the command tent.

"Tsk. The casualties are far greater than I anticipated."

He wasn't talking about their own side. Aside from a few who had taken stray weapons or Thunder Bombs’ blast, their losses had been relatively minor.

What Wi Jin-hak was lamenting were the government soldiers.

Because Shaanxi’s Provincial Military Command had resisted far more stubbornly than anticipated, they had ended up killing nearly half of the five thousand government troops before finally receiving a proper surrender.

Knowing that most of those men had just been blindly following orders made the whole victory leave a bitter taste in his mouth.

"It's fortunate at least that the Provincial Commissioner Office and the Provincial Surveillance Office gave in without much of a fight."

Near the end of the battle with the Provincial Military Command, the soldiers, constables, and officials from those two offices had arrived, but upon seeing how quickly the Provincial Military Command had collapsed, they surrendered without resistance.

Wi Jin-hak nodded with an expression that wasn't quite satisfied, then turned to Seo Wan-pyeong.

"Dark Shadow Pavilion Lord."

"Yes, Cult Leader."

"Have the Dark Shadow Pavilion's warriors comb through the government’s offices. Beyond that, investigate the Xi'an area and check whether any of those who surrendered to us have a history of exploiting the people."

"Understood, Cult Leader."

With a quick salute, Seo Wan-pyeong was already on his feet and disappeared to carry out the order.

Wi Jin-hak then turned to Cheon Ryang.

"You mentioned bringing something at the youngest's instruction?"

"That is correct, Cult Leader."

Cheon Ryang answered and produced several sheets of paper he had prepared in advance before setting them on the table.

They were propaganda leaflets and wall posters.

"We plan to distribute these throughout Shaanxi to win over the hearts of the people."

"Since you heard the details directly from my youngest brother, I'm putting you in charge of this operation. Command the Cult's warriors as you see fit to get it done."

"I will follow your command."

Cheon Ryang gave a respectful bow to Wi Jin-hak and rose to handle the task.

On his way out of the hall, he stifled a quiet sigh and paused for a moment to look up at the sky.

What had been the single greatest thing that convinced him to throw in with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?

It wasn't the ideals they stood for, nor was it the long-term strategies Il-mok had laid out. The thing that had truly pushed him over the edge was that completely mind-bending martial art he had witnessed firsthand.

That terrifying Divine Art that can compete with the destructive power of hundreds of Thunder Bombs going off at once.

If a mere young master could demonstrate that level of power, he had naturally assumed the Cult Leader would be even more terrifying, but...

‘The Cult Leader is certainly impressive, but something feels a little... lacking.’

Maybe it was just because he was blind when it came to martial arts, but compared to the visual spectacle of Il-mok's magic, Wi Jin-hak's swordplay felt almost boring.

'Did I get scammed?'

***

Now that they had Xi'an firmly in their palms, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's warriors moved fast. The Divine Cult's physicians tended to the wounded, while the Dark Shadow Pavilion's warriors fanned out across the city and began looking into the backgrounds of the officials.

Meanwhile, another group of Divine Cult warriors was making its way through the streets of Xi'an, scattering leaflets and spreading their message.

Just as the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was tightening its grip on Xi'an, a new message arrived.

"Cult Leader! The Red Tiger Corps monitoring the outskirts of Xi'an has sent an urgent report. They claim it is a missive they confiscated after capturing a government soldier attempting to enter the city."

Wi Jin-hak unfolded the letter the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord had brought him, and his brow creased.

It was an imperial edict ordering the Shaanxi government forces to assemble and march to reinforce the Western Military Command and suppress the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"It seems the Imperial Family is finally making its move in earnest."

Realizing that staying holed up in Xi'an any longer could put Gansu at risk, Wi Jin-hak rose to his feet.

"We don't have the luxury of taking our time. Mobilize the Divine Cult's warriors and the government troops at once. Now that we've secured Xi'an, we need to swallow the rest of Shaanxi as fast as possible."

They left a skeleton force behind to hold the city, then fanned out to seize government posts across all of Shaanxi.

Thanks to Wi Jin-hak's swift decision, not a single government soldier in Shaanxi defected to the Western Military Command. As a result, the Lanzhou Army faced only the Western Military Command's main force on its own.

Right as Wi Jin-hak was locking down Shaanxi and was about to take his next step, and just as Il-mok was celebrating his crushing victory over the Western Military Command, the Orthodox Faction assembled around Shaolin and the Hebei Peng Family in Henan Province and began their march into Hubei.