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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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As soon as the Head Administrator finished speaking, Mae-hwa grabbed Yeon-hwa and me, one under each arm, and launched herself into the air.
“Whoa!”
“Eek!”
Yeon-hwa and I screamed at the sudden ascent.
“My apologies, Young Cult Leader. I had to take hold of you for your safety.”
Mae-hwa said that as we soared through the air.
“What’s going on?” My voice was barely audible above the wind.
“It seems someone has infiltrated the Cult,” Mae-hwa replied, glancing back.
“Someone who would dare attack the Black Heaven Cult?”
“I’m not sure. The Cult Leader has crushed most of the major sects. Perhaps it’s an elite force from the righteous faction.”
– But how did they break through the Head Administrator’s formations? They’ve never been breached before.
She muttered to herself, her voice betraying her anxiety.
“Why didn’t the Head Administrator come with us?”
“He’ll be right behind us. He’s buying us time by holding off the intruders.”
‘I hope he’ll be alright. He’s not exactly a fighter. Can he really hold them off?’
I was worried.
Mae-hwa flew back to the Black Heaven Cult.
“Intruders!” she shouted as we cleared the walls.
Every Cult member within earshot grabbed their weapons and formed ranks.
I had assumed they were mostly just ordinary workers, but it seemed everyone had some fighting skills.
Mae-hwa led me past the assembled Cult members, each group taking their designated positions, and towards my quarters.
“Stay here.”
She led me past my bedroom and to the end of the hallway, where she pulled back a rug and opened a hidden door.
*Creak*
A secret passage leading down.
Mae-hwa handed the lantern to Yeon-hwa.
“Protect the Young Cult Leader. Understood?”
“Yes! I’ll protect the Young Cult Leader, no matter what!”
Yeon-hwa’s voice trembled, but she spoke with determination, repeating the words like a mantra.
I felt a pang of shame, being protected by someone so young.
“Young Cult Leader, whatever happens, do not leave this room.”
The door closed behind us, and we descended slowly, the lantern illuminating the passage.
We reached a small, underground chamber.
It resembled a small basement.
It was furnished, but my first thought was:
“This is a shelter.”
“Huh?”
“It’s nothing.”
A shelter for hiding important figures. It seemed I would be staying here until the situation was resolved.
“Don’t worry, Young Cult Leader. The Cult members are all really strong,” Yeon-hwa said, trying to reassure me.
Her legs were trembling.
She was clearly scared, but she was still trying to comfort me.
“That’s… reassuring.”
I patted her head and sat down on a chair.
‘Please, let everyone be safe.’
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After Mae-hwa left with the Young Cult Leader and Yeon-hwa, the Head Administrator, Jegal Hwi, stood alone, listening intently to the sounds coming from the mountain.
*Clang*
*Clang*
A distant bell began to toll.
The sound grew steadily louder. He could sense the subtle changes in its intensity.
He had hoped it was just a lost herb gatherer, but his hopes were dashed.
“We’ve had many attacks, but this is the first time they’ve gotten this far.”
He pulled a dagger from his pocket and pressed the blade against his palm.
*Slice*
A sharp pain shot through his hand as he made a deep cut, and blood welled up.
He held his hand out, letting the blood drip onto the ground.
As each drop fell, the surrounding plants withered, and a purplish mist began to rise.
“The outer formations have been breached.”
The bell had stopped ringing. He focused his internal energy.
Someone burst through the bushes and swung a sword at his head.
He deflected the blow with a fluid movement and grabbed the attacker’s throat.
“Gah!”
The intruder struggled, but Jegal Hwi’s fingernails dug into his flesh.
In a matter of seconds, the intruder’s face turned blue, he foamed at the mouth, and then went limp.
“Nineteen… no, twenty.”
Twenty-one intruders.
Nineteen at the peak of the first stage of Transcendence.
And then…
“Is he not coming?”
One whose strength he couldn’t even fathom.
He swallowed hard.
“It’s fortunate he’s not here yet, but…”
Jegal Hwi muttered and drove his arm into the stomach of another attacker.
He examined the dead intruder’s clothing.
“The Azure Dragon Unit… are they underestimating us? Or do they have another motive…?”
The Azure Dragon Unit was a martial arts group affiliated with the Martial Arts Alliance.
They were a step below the White Tiger Unit, but still a formidable force.
Attacking the Black Heaven Cult would require the combined strength of the White Tiger Unit and the leaders of the remaining prestigious clans.
Why would they launch such a reckless attack?
“Could it be… they know the Cult Leader is away?”
That would explain their boldness.
But even without the Heavenly Demon, the Black Heaven Cult was not to be trifled with.
He turned and ran towards the Cult.
He had already poisoned two of the intruders. The poison, reacting with their blood, would create a poisonous mist, slowing down the others.
It would buy him some time. If he could join the Cult’s defenses, they could repel the attack.
But there was one thing that worried him.
The mysterious figure leading the Azure Dragon Unit.
‘Whatever it takes, I will protect the Cult. That is my duty.’
Pushing down the rising sense of dread, he returned to the Black Heaven Cult.
The assembled Cult members greeted him with weapons in their hands.
“Head Administrator!”
The security chief bowed.
“Are we ready?”
“Yes. Each unit is guarding the entrances. The formations you prepared are also active.”
“Normally, we would rely on the formations, but this time, assume they don’t exist. They’ve already breached the outer formations, so these will be no different.”
“Understood.”
“Eighteen at the peak of the first stage of Transcendence. And one leading them.”
“I’ll inform the units. May I ask about the leader’s level?”
“…I couldn’t gauge his strength. He must be a hidden master the Alliance has been keeping secret.”
“I see.”
“I can’t say for sure, but…”
The Head Administrator grimaced, as if reluctant to admit it.
“His level… is similar to the Cult Leader’s.”
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