Chapter 252

Illegal Dumping (2)

While most people’s attention was focused on the transportation of Eldorado’s criminals, another group was making its move in the Central Plains.

That group was the Blood Cult.

They had been secretly training and strengthening their forces all this time.

Although it had been difficult to openly expand their power with the Heavenly Demon watching them like a hawk, they were still an organization that had once dominated an entire era.

It had taken quite some time, but they had managed to recruit nearly twenty people.

Their congregation now numbered approximately fifty.

That was woefully inadequate compared to their heyday, but it was still a respectable number.

More importantly, there was something that delighted the Blood Cult’s elders.

"Does this not mean that people still yearn to join our Blood Cult?"

"Haha! Even if those are merely empty words, they are pleasing to hear!"

The mere fact that people had chosen to join the Blood Cult was welcome news to them.

Following Wi Hochang’s death, the Blood Cult had become much like a sinking ship.

More recently, they had triumphantly proclaimed their return, only to be thoroughly crushed by the Heavenly Demon.

The incident had turned them into the Gallery’s favorite punching bag, while their reputation in the real world had plummeted.

Who in their right mind would willingly board a sinking ship?

Yet the world was vast and filled with all kinds of people.

There were always some willing to make such a reckless choice.

Moreover, the Blood Cult now had a clear vision for its future.

"We must find that Great Saint—his gorilla! Is that understood?"

"Yes!"

Of course, that vision involved making a gorilla their successor...

Anyone else would have thought it utterly idiotic, but the Blood Cult had no other choice.

The Demonic Cult’s influence was already growing with each passing day.

They had to do something before the Heavenly Demon completely destroyed the Blood Cult.

This was their final hope.

Their ultimate objective was to retrieve the legacy Wi Hochang had left behind, no matter the cost.

"How are the newly initiated cultists progressing with their external martial arts?"

"They all possessed respectable martial arts cultivation before joining, so they are keeping up well."

"The Blood Demon is watching over us."

To achieve their objective, the Blood Cult had prepared extensively.

First, they had gathered every scrap of information they could about the Forest of Four Seasons.

Most of that information came from the Gallery—and specifically from Grylls—and had proven extremely useful.

The revelation that mana, or internal energy, could not be used within the forest had been particularly important in determining their course of action.

If they couldn’t use their internal energy, they would simply redirect all of it toward strengthening their external martial arts.

It was an exceedingly crude approach, but it had not been entirely fruitless.

Even though the Blood Cult had declined, it still possessed many people with a profound understanding of martial arts.

Ordinarily, internal energy was required to strengthen the external body, and doing so was a surprisingly advanced martial discipline.

The legendary realm of the Adamantine Body existed for a reason.

That did not mean the Blood Cult had attained such a realm.

They had merely chosen to abandon the cultivation of internal energy and focus exclusively on training their bodies.

Their bodies had become sturdy, but they were hardly as hard as steel.

"Do we have enough food and equipment?"

"Yes! We raided several villages, so there will be no shortage!"

"And did you clean up afterward?"

"We killed everyone in those villages, so there should be no problem!"

"We also acquired slaves to serve as porters."

"Excellent."

The Blood Cult remained the Blood Cult.

They treated pillaging and murder as though they were nothing.

They might have been treated as a joke on the Gallery, but in reality, they were still a terrifying organization.

They posed a genuine threat, especially in places beyond the reach of the authorities.

"Our preparations are complete! We depart!"

"Warn the porters! If any of them attempt to flee, cut off their heads immediately!"

"Long live the Blood Cult! Long live the Blood Cult!"

Including the porters who would serve as bait, their expedition numbered nearly one hundred people.

They had scraped together every last resource available to them, giving the expeditionary force an impressive appearance.

Some time later, the remnants of the Blood Cult arrived at the Forest of Four Seasons.

As the forest lay near the center of the world, one of its borders touched the Central Plains.

Fortunately, word of our departure did not leak.

Ak Cheonwoo, an elder of the Blood Cult, browsed the Gallery with a satisfied smile.

Had their expedition plans been exposed, he had intended to kill all the porters immediately and go into hiding.

However, the Gallery was filled almost exclusively with discussions about Eldorado.

There was barely any mention of the Blood Cult.

Aside from the occasional post using them as a punching bag, that was.

But even that would end today.

The Blood Demon must have left behind a secret manual. The fact that he taught the gorilla to speak proves it.

As an elder of the Blood Cult, Ak Cheonwoo knew what kind of man Wi Hochang had been.

Although notorious as an unparalleled murderer, he had possessed a surprisingly meticulous side and had faithfully kept a diary.

However, that diary had been completely destroyed during the Righteous-Blood War.

Whatever remained of his legacy had to be inside the Forest of Four Seasons.

Ak Cheonwoo stroked his wire-like beard and turned his head.

"Is that...?"

"Ooh..."

The entrance to the Forest of Four Seasons stretched out before the remnants.

They currently stood upon a vast plain.

Beyond the entrance, however, countless natural environments unfolded before them.

All they had to do was cross through it.

Just as they were about to begin preparing—

"So, you have come."

"Gasp!"

A delicate woman’s voice suddenly pierced their ears.

Startled, Ak Cheonwoo looked around.

The other cultists also scanned their surroundings, evidently having heard the voice clearly.

It was impossible to tell where it had come from.

Rather than traveling through the air, it seemed to have pierced their ears and struck their brains directly.

"What was that?"

"Where did that voice...?"

"Everyone, draw your weapons!"

While the Blood Cultists looked around in confusion, Ak Cheonwoo alone issued an order.

The cultists hurriedly drew their weapons.

They had no idea what was happening, but an order was an order.

Meanwhile, Ak Cheonwoo shouted at the person who had appeared without making a sound or revealing the slightest trace of her presence.

"Who are you?!"

At his shout, the remnants looked ahead.

Until moments ago, they had seen nothing but the aurora-like entrance to the Forest of Four Seasons.

That was no longer the case.

A young woman now stood proudly before it.

She wore a narrow-sleeved martial robe embroidered with a golden dragon, seemingly fashioned from extremely expensive materials.

Yet even the magnificent robe paled in comparison to its owner’s appearance.

Calling her a peerless beauty would have been inadequate.

She was a breathtaking vision in human form.

"This woman is the Heavenly Demon."

The Heavenly Demon, Yu Sowol, spoke in a calm voice.

Her voice was as beautiful as jade beads rolling across a silver tray, but the meaning behind her words was anything but pleasant.

"Th-the Heavenly Demon?"

"Why is the Heavenly Demon here?"

"Th-that woman really is the Heavenly Demon! I saw her in the pictures!"

The remnants began to panic.

Within the Blood Cult, the Heavenly Demon’s name inspired pure terror.

Hadn’t she effortlessly defeated Geumjang, the Blood Cult elder said to have been second only to Wi Hochang?

Although the footage had since been deleted, it had dominated the Gallery for quite some time.

They could never forget Yu Sowol’s appearance.

Why is the Heavenly Demon here?

Ak Cheonwoo couldn’t understand it.

The Blood Cult’s plan had undoubtedly been conducted in complete secrecy.

A few people had deserted them along the way, but there had been no signs of trouble afterward.

How had their secret leaked?

His confusion only deepened.

"W-what the hell are you doing?!"

"Why are you pointing your weapons at us?!"

"Have you bastards lost your minds?!"

That was not all.

Several remnants positioned at the rear had suddenly turned their weapons on the others.

The abrupt defectors addressed the bewildered Blood Cultists.

"Long live the Heavenly Demon, and may ten thousand demons be blessed. Did you truly believe we intended to follow you?"

"Every member of the Blood Cult will die here today."

They were not members of the Blood Cult.

They were demonic practitioners from the Demonic Cult.

The moment the Demonic Cult learned of the Blood Cult’s plan, it had secretly planted spies among the new initiates.

The Blood Cult of old would have identified the spies long ago, but it had lost its better judgment ages ago.

Indiscriminately accepting new recruits had now come back to haunt them.

"W-what will happen to us?"

"Is the Demonic Cult... going to protect us?"

The porters who had been forcibly dragged along by the Blood Cult slowly slipped behind the Demonic Cult’s members.

They didn’t understand what was happening, but it was obvious that the two groups were about to fight.

The demonic practitioners jerked their chins at the porters, silently telling them to get out of the way.

The porters hurriedly fled before they could become caught in the battle.

The remnants of the Blood Cult were now completely surrounded from the front and rear.

Ak Cheonwoo thought to himself.

I expected this to be difficult, but...

The situation had become far more complicated than he had anticipated.

He looked ahead.

More than ten demonic practitioners blocked their retreat.

Only the Heavenly Demon stood before them.

To anyone watching, their chances were clearly better in the front.

More importantly, the entrance to the Forest of Four Seasons lay behind her.

We’ll deal with that bitch first.

He had no illusions about defeating her.

Even Geumjang had been helpless against her.

But the situation would change if they could forcibly push her into the Forest of Four Seasons.

As Ak Cheonwoo formulated a plan—

"You appear to have a great deal on your mind."

Yu Sowol spoke.

Her tone was indifferent yet supremely arrogant.

She gazed down at Ak Cheonwoo with open contempt.

"Kneel."

"If you do so, this woman shall at least spare your lives. Consider it my final act of mercy."

Bang!

Ak Cheonwoo gave no verbal response.

He merely launched himself forward.

A blood-red palm shot toward Yu Sowol’s solar plexus.

Ak Cheonwoo wasn’t trying to strike her directly. His goal was to blast her backward with powerful wind pressure.

He had not yet redirected all his internal energy into his external martial arts.

He intended to unleash every last bit of his power in this attack.

"What a futile endeavor."

However, Yu Sowol moved far faster than Ak Cheonwoo.

By the time he thrust out his palm, she had already passed him.

But...

Something was wrong.

Apart from the fact that his body refused to obey him, there was something strange about his vision.

The entrance to the Forest of Four Seasons had been directly ahead of him moments ago.

Why could he see the others now?

And why was Yu Sowol walking away with her back turned to him?

Those were Ak Cheonwoo’s final questions—and his final thoughts.

His vision slowly faded into darkness.

"E-Elder!"

"Good heavens! Elder Cheonwoo..."

The remnants of the Blood Cult stared in horror.

It had happened in the blink of an eye.

The instant Ak Cheonwoo thrust out his palm, his neck twisted in a direction it should never have been able to turn.

They had no idea what Yu Sowol had done, but one thing was certain.

That woman was a monster.

Step. Step.

Yu Sowol walked past Ak Cheonwoo, who had died while still holding his palm-strike stance, and stopped before the remnants.

An oppressive aura, like an entire mountain range advancing toward them, made them recoil.

But members of the Demonic Cult were already behind them, pointing their weapons at their backs.

They were trapped between a rock and a hard place.

The Blood Cultists had very few options left.

"Damn it! Activate the Blood-Burst Corpses!"

"Yes!"

A Blood Cultist who appeared to be another officer issued the order.

Several of the remnants plunged their fingers into their own chests.

At first glance, it looked as though they were harming themselves, but the actual reaction came from elsewhere.

"Aaaaaaargh!"

"M-my body...! Aaaaaaargh!"

The porters who had hurriedly fled began convulsing.

As the startled demonic practitioners tried to determine what was happening, someone shouted.

"Everyone, run for the entrance! The Blood Demon awaits us!"

"Long live the Blood Demon! May ten thousand blood disciples be blessed!"

"Wi Hochang! Protect us!"

The Blood Cultists surged toward the entrance to the Forest of Four Seasons.

Yu Sowol stood directly in their path, but they paid her no heed.

There was now only one possible route to survival.

The Forest of Four Seasons.

What a contemptible trick.

Even Yu Sowol narrowed her eyes this time.

What they had done could only be described as atrocious.

The convulsing porters would soon explode.

It was a demonic art that used blood as a medium—one that perfectly embodied the Blood Cult’s cruelty.

I would prefer to eliminate every one of those loaches, but...

The Demonic Cult was a refuge for the persecuted and the innocent.

She could not abandon the porters.

Within a world that seemed to be moving in slow motion, Yu Sowol swiftly assessed the situation.

Twelve porters were currently being transformed into Blood-Burst Corpses.

It would take approximately five seconds to stabilize all of them.

As for eliminating every Blood Cultist charging toward the Forest of Four Seasons afterward—

That is more than enough.

There was no need to calculate it.

She had ample time.

With a serene smile on her lips, Yu Sowol began walking.

Around her, the remnants of the Blood Cult desperately sprinted for their lives.

After she took several more steps, the demonic practitioners hurriedly gave chase.

One. Two. And three.

In only five seconds, Yu Sowol stabilized all the porters.

Only one task remained.

She had to deal with the Blood Cult remnants desperately racing toward the Forest of Four Seasons.

Under ordinary circumstances, she might have allowed two of them to slip through.

But matters in this world rarely unfolded exactly as one wished.

"You bastard...! Fine! You’re coming with me!"

L-let go of me!"

Blood Cultists and demonic practitioners became entangled as the latter desperately tried to stop them.

Their attempt to help had only become an obstruction.

Clicking her tongue inwardly, Yu Sowol took measures to prevent the demonic practitioners from becoming caught in her attacks.

As a result, four Blood Cultists entered the Forest of Four Seasons.

The very thing she had feared had happened.

But there were still remnants remaining outside.

I shall have to apologize to my benefactor.

After briefly entertaining that thought, Yu Sowol moved swiftly.

Crack! Crunch!

"Aaaaaaargh!"

"Aaaaaaah!"

"Urgh! Ghh...!"

Garbage that couldn’t even be recycled.

"Aaaaaah...! P-please, spare—!"

"Silence."

Crunch!

She had no intention of illegally dumping that garbage.

Once the massacre ended, Yu Sowol gazed at the entrance to the Forest of Four Seasons.

The forest’s aurora-like entrance was truly magnificent.

Could another phenomenon this beautiful exist anywhere in the world?

At the same time, could there be another place so dangerous?

Beyond this entrance...

Her benefactor—the man who had saved her life—was struggling desperately to survive.

Yu Sowol unconsciously began reaching out her hand.

Then she sensed someone approaching from behind.

She withdrew her hand and spoke with her customary indifference.

"What is it?"

"Hehehe. H-Heavenly Demon, it’s merely that..."

The man approaching Yu Sowol had a rather treacherous appearance.

He rubbed his hands together obsequiously as he approached, looking very much like a rat.

"I was wondering... what will happen to me now..."

"..."

Only then did Yu Sowol turn and face him.

The man could not help but become entranced by her beauty, which no painting could ever hope to capture.

Bright red blood dripped from her hand, yet even that seemed picturesque.

"Now that I think about it, the Devilish Brain said you were the informant. Is that correct?"

"Y-yes. That is correct. I was the one who revealed every detail of the dreadful Blood Cult’s plan."

There was a very simple reason the Blood Cult’s plans had been leaked in real time.

They had an informant.

Moreover, that informant was someone of elder rank.

Perhaps that was why Yu Sowol’s eyes narrowed.

A person who had risen to the rank of elder must have committed all manner of crimes.

Yu Sowol stared coldly at the man before smiling.

"What do you desire?"

"Pardon?"

"This woman asked what you desire."

Perhaps because he had been one of the greatest contributors to the operation’s success, Yu Sowol’s tone made it sound as though she intended to reward him.

The man inwardly rejoiced before speaking in a servile voice.

"I-I desire nothing. I ask only that you permit me to serve beneath a new heaven."

"A new heaven... Is that truly all?"

"Yes. That is—"

"How amusing."

"...Pardon?"

Yu Sowol’s demeanor changed without warning.

Her voice carried the bitter chill of the dead of winter.

While the man stood bewildered, Yu Sowol silently extended her hand.

The movement appeared slow, yet she seized his throat with ease.

"G-ghk...?!"

The man’s feet gradually left the ground.

He struggled desperately, but his resistance amounted to less than the writhing of an earthworm.

"You abandoned benevolence and righteousness, and now you have cast aside loyalty as well. Yet you dare claim that you wish to serve beneath a new heaven? You are as duplicitous as a serpent."

"Ghh... G-ghk...!"

Crack!

Yu Sowol exerted the slightest pressure, snapping the man’s neck.

As his neck broke, his tongue protruded from his mouth.

"The Demonic Cult has no need for one who has forsaken righteousness."

Whoosh!

With those words, Yu Sowol threw the corpse into the Forest of Four Seasons.

"Ah. That was careless."

The moment she saw the corpse disappear, she realized her mistake.

To think I threw garbage at my benefactor. It seems I shall have much to apologize for.

Yu Sowol found herself worrying that Grylls might scold her.

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