Dad Is the Demonic Cult Leader – Chapter 168

Chapter 168

So much trouble in Blood Light Valley, catching thousands of bees bigger than bats.

More trouble back at the Poison Immortal’s place, assisting with his surgery.

And even more trouble after the surgery, nursing the unconscious Baek-san back to health.

On top of that……

I spent three days in that cave, a place so thick with Yin energy it was suffocating, protecting Baek-san as he consumed the Internal Elixir and cultivated his energy.

And I didn’t even get a single penny for it.

“Kang Baek-san, you should be bowing down to me. When you return to the Dawn Heaven Sect, dedicate yourself to guiding the disciples. That’s how you’ll repay your debt.”

Back at the mountain villa, as I was packing my bags, I spoke to Baek-san, who was grinning from ear to ear.

The guy is currently……

Completely out of it, intoxicated by the euphoria of breaking through to the Transcendent Realm.

“Haha! Of course, of course…… You’re talking about that? I admit, it’s thanks to you.”

“What’s gotten into you?”

“What’s gotten into me?…… I’m the type of person who acknowledges what needs to be acknowledged, unlike you……”

“Shut up!”

“???”

“If you’re grateful, how about carrying my bag on the way to Chang’an?”

At my words, Baek-san shook his head with a dumbfounded expression.

“Jin So-cheon, now you’re treating me like a porter?”

“A porter is someone who lightens my load. You’re the one who’s itching to be bossed around.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you have any idea how much I’ve done for you since I arrived at the Poison Immortal’s villa?…… Want me to list it all?”

“Forget it…… I’ll carry your bag and the palanquin.”

Good!

“Wise choice, Baek-san.”

“Don’t say a word…… Ugh!”

And so, Baek-san and I were busy preparing to return to the Dawn Heaven Sect.

More than Baek-san recovering his hand that was supposed to be crippled and reaching the Transcendent Realm……

‘Whew……!’

The fact that I broke through the wall of the Profound Realm is the truly shocking thing.

If Master Dongbyeok, Yeon-u, or the Dongdong Brothers saw this, they’d be speechless. The other disciples and the Azure Dragon Unit members would be astonished as well, right?

As expected, I’m someone who stirs things up wherever I go.

But this time…… The scale of the incident seems a bit large.

“Are you all packed?”

At that moment,

The Poison Immortal approached us……

“Master? Why are you dressed like that?”

I asked him with surprised eyes.

Right now, the Poison Immortal…… He was carrying a whole bunch of bundles, looking like he was about to embark on a long journey.

“What’s wrong with my attire?”

“No…… What are all those bundles?”

“What do you think they are? I need to pack some clothes for the journey to Chang’an, don’t I? I already sold the valuable medicinal herbs to the apothecary in the village below the mountain while you two were cultivating your energy in the cave. I only kept a few ginseng roots and some special elixirs.”

Suddenly,

“Huh?”

“Huh?!”

Baek-san and I widened our eyes simultaneously and asked.

“Why are you both so surprised? Besides……! Didn’t I tell you, So-cheon? I want to entrust myself to the Dawn Heaven Sect.”

That’s right.

This old man is saying he wants to travel with us……

To be precise, he’s declaring (?) that he wants to freeload on food and drinks at the Dawn Heaven Sect for the rest of his life.

“Master! Are you really thinking of living at the Dawn Heaven Sect now?”

Suddenly……‥.

Baek-san asked in a startled voice.

He asked……

“Yes…… I originally intended to spend the rest of my days in seclusion at the villa, but…… It seems my lifespan has at least another 10 years left. I’m tired of being cooped up in the mountains. Master Dongbyeok is also staying at the Dawn Heaven Sect, so I’ve decided to live in the secular world as well.”

“You’ve made a good decision, Master. Having a renowned physician like you at the Dawn Heaven Sect would be a blessing for the disciples. Besides, Master Dongbyeok will be pleased as well.”

This situation is taking a strange turn, isn’t it?

“Ha…… Master, weren’t you just saying that casually?”

I couldn’t help but ask the Poison Immortal, baffled by the absurd turn of events.

However, the Poison Immortal glared at me and retorted.

“What do you mean, ‘casually’? Do you think I’d lie at my age? Why? Do you not want me at the Dawn Heaven Sect?!”

At that moment, Baek-san, oblivious to the atmosphere, interjected and supported the Poison Immortal.

“So-cheon, Master Dokson’s medical skills are comparable to Master Dongbyeok’s. What’s your problem?”

It seems this guy……

Knows that I dislike the Poison Immortal and is deliberately trying to annoy me, isn’t he?

No……

He definitely is!

“Whew……! Fine, do as you please. But one thing, Master. There’s something you need to keep in mind.”

Alright……

There’s no helping it now.

I guess this is what they call a situation you can’t get out of?

But I couldn’t stand the thought of the Poison Immortal running wild at the Dawn Heaven Sect.

“What is it? What do I need to keep in mind?”

“Do you know what the most important value of our Dawn Heaven Sect is?”

So I decided to lay the groundwork.

A groundwork that even the unruly Poison Immortal couldn’t escape, no matter what……

“What is it?”

“Those who don’t work, don’t eat.”

“???”

“……That is it.”

For now……

This old man may have a bad temper, but he’ll be useful in many ways.

Not to mention his medical skills, he was once one of the Ten Freaks of the Evil Path in his younger days, so I’m essentially getting a guest who’s at the level of the One Emperor, Three Sovereigns, Five Kings.

Of course……

That’s assuming I can control him.

“Shut up, you brat!”

However……

“Huh?”

“So-cheon, are you already trying to manipulate me into working, you young whippersnapper?”

This old man……

Is he using mind-reading techniques?

“I’m warning you, don’t try to trick me. I’m not someone you can fool.”

“Ah……”

“Chuckle chuckle chuckle.”

Once again, I realize……

This old man and I don’t get along.

Not even a little……

◈ ◈ ◈

Wudang Sect Ancestral Hall━.

All the Taoist priests of the Wudang Sect gathered at the Ancestral Hall.

In the Taoist temple where the spirit of the founding master, Zhang Sanfeng, was enshrined to honor his memory, Ju Yeong-cheon gazed intently at the portrait of his master, Zhang Sanfeng, before speaking.

“Master. Do you remember? When I first entered the Wudang Sect and became a young Taoist priest, you used the cane on me a lot. Hahaha! But now, I’m almost a hundred years old……”

The Sect Leader Heo Won, the elders, and even the current generation of disciples watched him.

Everyone inwardly sighed softly.

“Master…… This foolish young Taoist priest is now coming to your side…… Please don’t scold me in the afterlife and look upon me kindly.”

At the same time,

“Cough……!”

Ju Yeong-cheon coughed up a fountain of blood.

“Martial Uncle!”

Heo Won caught Ju Yeong-cheon’s body as he swayed, as if about to collapse at any moment.

“Heo Won…… I’m glad. Even though I lived my whole life as a foolish man who didn’t fit in with the Wudang Sect…… I can die as a Taoist priest of the Wudang Sect, more than anyone else. Hehe…… There’s no greater blessing for a martial artist who could die unexpectedly at any time.”

“Martial Uncle…… You must stay strong. You can’t leave like this.”

“Heo Won…… I’ve never been of help to you, but…… Still, as the greatest elder of the Wudang Sect, let me say a word.”

Heo Won abruptly knelt before Ju Yeong-cheon. Seeing the Sect Leader’s actions, all the elders and disciples also knelt.

“Wudang disciple Heo Won will listen to your words……”

Even though it was difficult for him to even move, Ju Yeong-cheon waved his hand with a smile.

“Hahaha…… How can the Sect Leader kneel so carelessly? You are the one who leads the Wudang Sect.”

“Martial Uncle……”

“Heo Won.”

“Speak.”

“Promise me.”

“What do you mean?”

“Promise me you won’t seek revenge.”

Heo Won’s gaze wavered for a moment.

Reading his mind, Ju Yeong-cheon continued in a low voice.

“Of course, I don’t mean that you should stop fighting the Demonic Cult or not intervene in the affairs of the Jianghu. We are Taoist priests of the Wudang Sect…… And you are the Sect Leader, so you must fight the Demonic Cult, but don’t act rashly out of revenge.”

“Martial Uncle……”

“The Heavenly Demon is someone you cannot defeat. You are one of the strongest swordsmen, but…… Unfortunately, you cannot be his match. So think big. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Martial Uncle……”

Heo Won understood exactly what Ju Yeong-cheon was trying to say.

Of course……

Emotionally, he wanted to gather all the forces of the Wudang Sect and attack the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.

But as the Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect, he had to fulfill his role.

“I will keep it in mind, Martial Uncle.”

“Yes…… That’s enough. Please lead the Wudang Sect well. I’ll be watching from the afterlife. Hehehe.”

“Martial Uncle……!”

Heo Won tightly grasped Ju Yeong-cheon’s hand━.

‘Martial Uncle……’

Feeling Ju Yeong-cheon’s hand gradually growing cold, Heo Won realized that he would soon pass away.

“Jinhu……”

At that moment,

Ju Yeong-cheon called Jinhu’s name, and Jinhu hurriedly stepped forward and bowed before him.

“Martial Grand-Uncle Ju…… Speak.”

“Jinhu. I still remember.”

“What do you remember?”

“The Taekgeuk Hyegeom you showed at the Martial Alliance.”

All the Taoist priests’ eyes filled with nostalgia as they recalled the situation.

“Martial Grand-Uncle……”

“I thought then that maybe…… You might be able to avenge me and Heo Won.”

“Martial Grand-Uncle……”

“My master was the greatest martial artist under heaven. Countless experts of the time, regardless of black, white, righteous, or evil, challenged him, but none could match him. He was truly an overwhelming figure.”

Ju Yeong-cheon’s gaze turned back to Zhang Sanfeng’s portrait as he spoke.

Jinhu, too, could not suppress the trembling in his chest and shuddered.

“How could I not know the legendary myth of the Founding Master……”

“But Jinhu, after Master ascended to immortality, our sect declined.”

“Martial Grand-Uncle…… Our sect has prospered since then. I heard that when the Founding Master established himself on Mount Wudang and founded the sect, it was insignificant in terms of personnel and scale. But now, the Wudang Sect is the largest sect in the Jianghu.”

Everyone in the Ancestral Hall could not help but agree with Jinhu’s words.

Indeed……

Currently, the Wudang Sect, along with the Shaolin Temple, was one of the two major forces in the Jianghu, and if you combined the number of disciples from the main sect and the secular families, it was comparable in size to the Namgung Family.

But Ju Yeong-cheon shook his head.

“Of course, the scale may be like that, but…… Since then, our sect has never produced the greatest martial artist under heaven. We haven’t even produced the best martial artist of the righteous path.”

“Ah……!”

“You walk that path.”

“Martial Grand-Uncle!”

“Hehehe! If it’s possible, of course.”

“Disciple…… I don’t know if I can do it, but I will strive my whole life to walk that path.”

“Hahaha…… It won’t be easy. Because of that crazy Sect Leader in Chang’an.”

Jinhu knew that the crazy Sect Leader in Chang’an Ju Yeong-cheon was talking about was Jin So-cheon.

Also, Ju Yeong-cheon always thought highly of him and considered him a candidate for the greatest martial artist under heaven, so he spoke.

“Martial Grand-Uncle…… Do you have any last words for Sect Leader Jin? He will be shocked too.”

“Haha…… What last words would I have for Young Master Jin? But would you convey a word for me?”

“Speak.”

“Tell him it was fun.”

“Martial Grand-Uncle……”

“Tell him it was enjoyable. And…… Tell him to be careful of Wi Ji-hon.”

Jinhu’s heart ached at Ju Yeong-cheon’s words, but he barely managed to compose himself and nodded.

“I will.”

Finally……

Ju Yeong-cheon bowed deeply to Zhang Sanfeng’s portrait and burned incense.

“Hehehe━ Farewell, everyone! Although this old man lacks in cultivation and cannot ascend to immortality…… I have lived a righteous life, so I will enter the afterlife. Don’t be cooped up in the mountains as Taoist priests and live lonely lives! Come down the mountain sometimes, drink some alcohol, and have fun.”

At the same time,

Thud━.

Ju Yeong-cheon’s body lost its strength and collapsed onto the floor of the Ancestral Hall.

“Martial Uncle!”

“Martial Uncle!”

“Martial Grand-Uncle!”

On a day with a drizzling winter rain……

Just like in the dream he had seen.

Ju Yeong-cheon met his end in the Ancestral Hall of the great Wudang Sect.