Chapter 216. Nine in the Fifth Place (12)

“Didn’t you do the same thing, senior brother?” Si-Hyeon asked.

“... No.”

“

Keke

. Looks like we were both stupid.”

“It’s because we were both stupid that we were able to resolve the misunderstanding.”

“You’re right. If we really thought wholeheartedly that we were betrayed by each other and actually fought with the intention of killing each other... who knows what might have happened? Everything may have ended in a tragedy.”

“It’s a relief that we’re stupid, then.”

The two of them sat quietly, feeling each other’s heartbeats in the silence.

After a little more time passed, the two locked lips again and started to explore each other. And this time, their thirst wasn’t quenched with just their lips.

Was it because they had been apart for so long?

The two craved to feel the other more deeply, more completely, to embrace their lover and accept them wholeheartedly.

Desire bloomed.

Hands naturally roamed, taking off clothes, and their pale bodies were revealed under the moonlight. No one had taught them such things, but nobody needed to; the two moved according to their most primal instincts, becoming one.

About an hour later.

“... I’m so happy,” Si-Hyeon said while tracing Woo-Moon’s chest with her fingernails.

Hearing this, Woo-Moon hugged her tightly.

As neither was wearing anything, they could feel each other’s soft skin and the warmth that radiated from within.

“I’m happy too. It’s such a relief I can see you again.”

The moon was slowly setting.

They had to return to their respective camps before the sun rose. However, even that brief separation felt heartbreaking.

Si-Hyeon found Woo-Moon’s lips again.

“There’s... still some time left, right?”

“Yeah. There’s more than enough.”

The two moved as one again.

This time, they were both a little more familiar with each other and more considerate of each other, and Si-Hyeon didn’t feel much pain either.

After their act of love, Si-Hyeon stood up to get dressed.

“Ugh!”

As she stood up, she almost immediately lost power in her legs, and pain arose in her lower abdomen. It had hurt terribly when they had first broken the barrier, and now it was hurting again.

“Are you okay?”

She nodded at Woo-Moon’s words.

“Yes, I’m fine. Phew. This is really unfair. Not only do we have to give birth, we also have to suffer through this thing.”

Woo-Moon scratched his head.

They both got dressed, and just before they parted ways, Woo-Moon suddenly asked, “Your engagement with Hwi Ji-Gang was broken, right?”

“Of course. Yes, it was a formal engagement, but it’s not like the Heavenly Demon can get married to a lunatic.”

After saying that, Si-Hyeon suddenly felt sorry for Hwi Ji-Gang.

He was truly a talented person, and he even had a good personality.

However, he had become obsessed with her and ended up falling into cultivation deviation, becoming a lunatic.

Si-Hyeon knew that she shouldn’t feel guilty because of that.

He was the only one to blame for his own fate. After all, he was the one who had lied to both of them and almost caused them to kill each other. But even so, Si-Hyeon couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

‘Whew...’

She sighed inwardly, but then smiled brightly.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow, senior brother.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, junior sister.”

“By the way, that was a relief.”

“What was?”

“That I was your first.”

Woo-Moon’s face turned slightly red.

𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

“How did you know?” he panicked.

“Because you were as clumsy and scared as I was.”

“Really? Was it that visible?”

“Hehe, it was. It really is a relief. I felt like I was falling behind Ma-Ra and Young Lady Ha after being away from you for so long, but... I think I’ve fully caught up with them,

hehe

.”

Woo-Moon grabbed her hand.

“See you tomorrow. Take care, and from tomorrow on, we’ll be together again.”

“Yes, senior brother. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

After Si-Hyeon left, Woo-Moon cleaned up and headed to his own camp.

***

“No, just how can you expect me to fight alongside those demons?!”

“Even if it’s the Undefeatable Sword Hero who’s requesting it, I can’t accept it!”

These were Ok Heo-Ja and Abbess Myeol Jin, the sect master of the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect, respectively.

Hearing this, the Heavenly Demon Cult Elders Solitary Sword First Demon and Thousand Hands Flying Tiger grew just as enraged and started shouting in turn.

“Do you really think we like you moldy Righteous Faction bastards?”

“If it weren’t for my lord’s orders, I would have already snapped your weak little necks, you hypocritical bastards!”

Si-Hyeon looked at the two elders with a cold expression.

Immediately, the two coughed awkwardly.

“

Ahem

,

mmhm...

”

“No, it’s not that we

won’t

work with them but...”

She didn’t respond, just continuing to stare at them with her piercing gaze.

Eventually, they bowed their heads.

“I’m sorry, my lord.”

“We will make sure we don’t act rashly.”

To the Heavenly Demon Cult, Si-Hyeon seemed different today than yesterday. Her beauty seemed even more outstanding, her expression brighter, and above all, her face displayed a sense of composure and stability that they had never seen before.

While she had always exuded the same overwhelming aura of invincible might, there had also been a sense of impatience and urgency, as if she was constantly teetering on the precipice of a cliff. However, now, that hint of vulnerability was nowhere to be seen.

The difference was minute, but the effect was incredible.

Compared to before, Si-Hyeon’s control over the Heavenly Demon Cult had become even stronger, and the cultists had also become incomparably more obedient.

Everything had changed, thanks to the power of composure.

On the other side, Woo-Moon did the same, staring at Ok Heo-Ja and Myeol Jin. Their reactions weren’t much different from the cultists.

“Ahem, ahem.”

The Sword King and Divine Monk had both died as traitors, while the Fist Emperor had lost his cultivation. Moreover, Jin Won Myeong of the Kunlun Sect, the newest Absolute Master of the Righteous Faction, was on Woo-Moon’s side.

Thus, all of them had no choice but to be wary of his every move.

“So, does that mean that the two of you won’t be able to work alongside the Heavenly Demon Cult?”

While watching Woo-Moon’s every move, Ok Heo-Ja and Abbess Myeol Jin stuttered as they carefully spoke.

“We... we understand that the organization you mentioned, Great Hero Song... Martial Heaven is truly a strong and fearsome entity. However, the Heavenly Demon Cult is one of the true heretical forces that must be eliminated.”[1]

“The resentment between us is so deep, how could we ever...”

Woo-Moon smiled and nodded at their words.

“I see. I get it. I can understand that feeling, too.”

Ok Heo-ja and Abbess Myeol Jin were delighted.

“Oho! As expected! You feel the same as us, Great Hero Song.”

“You are indeed the grandson of the Palm Martial Emperor. Let us defeat the heretical forces together!”

However, Woo-Moon looked all surprised at their exclamations.

“What are you saying? I never agreed to such a thing.”

“Yes, we... pardon?”

“Fight them. Fight the Heavenly Demon Cult. But don’t expect me to help. No, actually, you should be thankful if I don’t side with them and attack the Righteous Faction.”

The faces of the Justice Coalition leadership turned pale.

It was like a bolt of lightning dropping from a clear sky.

If Woo-Moon did not side with the Justice Coalition, then neither would the Kunlun Sect, Baek Family, Namgoong Family, and Baekri Family.

They would not have one single Absolute Master; moreover, with their powers weakened, it would be difficult for the Justice Coalition to even put up a fight against the Heavenly Demon Cult. They wouldn’t even be able to deal with the cult’s Absolute Masters, let alone their leader. Who could stop the Paragon Heavenly Demon?

It was not just certain defeat that they faced, but complete annihilation.

All that awaited them was death.

Moreover, Woo-Moon had taken things a step further. He suggested that there was a chance he himself would side with the Heavenly Demon Cult and attack the Justice Coalition.

If that truly happened, they wouldn’t even last for a few minutes.

“B-benefactor Song... how could you say such a thing?”

“Great Hero Song, you must not forget that you are a member of the Righteous Faction.”

“Without the Righteous Faction, the

murim

would be rife with evildoers. Please reconsider.”

“Great Hero Song...!”

“Think of your grandfather, the great hero who devoted his life to justice and righteousness.”

“Great Hero Song!”

“Great Hero Song, please reconsider!”

Woo-Moon cut off their pleading words.

“Hey, hey, cut it off! I haven’t made my decision yet. I’m just saying that my stance can change depending on your attitude. If you work with the Heavenly Demon Cult, I will neither leave nor become your enemy.”

“Ugh...”

The sect masters of the Nine Sects and One Gang, the patriarchs of the Eight Great Ancient Families, and the leaders of the other Righteous Faction forces found themselves unable to answer him easily; they just groaned and whispered to each other.

“Please make your decisions quickly,” Woo-Moon urged.

Then, there was an exchange of glances between the leaders, and soon, the sect master of the Wudang Sect and the abbot of the Shaolin Temple spoke up.

“Very well. We will temporarily work with the Heavenly Demon Cult. However, this will only be until the mysterious force called Martial Heaven is destroyed.”

Inwardly, Woo-Moon was dumbfounded. The Justice Coaition’s current record against the Heavenly Demon Cult consisted of defeat after defeat, so how could they be this obstinate and say things like this?

‘No... actually, it makes sense. How could they be trustworthy if they weren’t like this? As the Righteous Faction, they shouldn’t easily compromise with evil, or at least whatever they define as evil. They are the kind of people who refuse to compromise on their own ideals of justice even if their lives are at stake. That’s exactly what makes them so trustworthy.’

“But then how are we electing the new alliance leader?

Since both the alliance leader, Divine Monk, and the Chief Commander Emeritus, the Sword Emperor—or rather, Sword King—had fallen, the position of leader was currently vacant.[2]

If this were a normal case, having the next in line rise as the new leader would have been the easiest solution. They could simply choose one of the two advisors as the next leader. However, there was one problem with doing so.

Namely, the existence of Song Woo-Moon, and his title as a supreme advisor.

Although the supreme advisor of the Allied Forces of Good and Evil didn’t necessarily have a higher status than the advisors of the Justice Coalition, it was clear that they were at least on the same level.

If they were to choose a new leader from one of the Advisors, Woo-Moon could not be ignored.

But at the same time, from the perspective of the Justice Coalition leadership, Woo-Moon, who was in a romantic relationship with the Heavenly Demon of the Heavenly Demon Cult, could never be chosen as the new leader.

So, they had to resort to other methods.

They could either take recommendations from each faction and compete by majority vote or hold an official spar and elect the winner as the new leader.

Unfortunately, since Woo-Moon had four forces supporting him and his own power was absolutely unrivaled within the Righteous Faction, to the point where no one could hold a candle to him, it was difficult for them to use either method.

Thus, the higher-ups of the Righteous Path were racking their brains.

Understanding the delicate situation, Woo-Moon smiled knowingly.

“Nothing will turn out well if you make a decision too hastily. Please make sure you think carefully and consider everything.”

The Justice Coalition’s leadership blushed, knowing what Woo-Moon’s smile meant.

“U-understood.”

From the side, Ye-Ye watched with clenched fists.

‘In order to prevent any interference with Uncle’s work from now on, someone from our side, or even Uncle himself, must become the new Coalition Leader. By any means necessary!’

Thankfully, after the Justice Coalition members finished talking, one of the advisors stepped forward as temporary leader to sign the treaty.

Then, Si-Hyeon signed as well, confirming the alliance between the two forces.

Woo-Moon smiled to himself.

‘With this, one of the biggest obstacles in fighting Martial Heaven has been removed.’

1. The word here is made of three characters, for evil, demonic, and heretical. That kinda covers everything, doesn’t it? ☜

2. Palan Shin-Tong is also dead, but I guess he doesn’t deserve a mention, RIP. ☜