Episode 344

“Look at this bastard? Laughing? How dare you…as the remnants of the defeated Vast Sky branch…?”

The lower-ranking warriors, who were approaching Hwang Shin with fierce momentum, halted due to a strange sensation.

Goosebumps rising on their arms, followed by a sudden chill running down their spine.

“Huh, what’s this? Why is my body acting like this?”

As the lower-ranking warriors all exhibited similar behavior and seemed puzzled, Hwang Shin, feeling pity, earnestly signaled with his eyes.

Behind you…behind you…

Please, just turn your heads!

Don’t you feel the monster opening its mouth wide and drooling?

When the eye signals failed, Hwang Shin extended a finger straight to point, prompting the warriors to slowly turn their heads.

“…What?”

Where the gaze of the lower-ranking warriors had landed, Jinmu was there, raising his chin slightly, baring his fangs, and smiling menacingly.

“Gr-Grotto-heaven Lord?”

“……”

Hwang Shin shook his head, lowering his dagger at the sight of the lower-ranking warrior who was so shocked he stammered.

Yes, it’s understandable to be surprised.

Those who knew would recognize Jinmu’s smile as the expression he wore when he was extremely angry.

Since he even showed his fangs, one could expect at least one, or perhaps two people, getting beaten.

But then, the lower-ranking warriors reacted unexpectedly.

“Grotto-heaven Lord! It’s the remnants of the Vast Sky branch. It seems those damned bastards were hiding them. We will deal with them swiftly.”

“……”

What is this reaction?

Do they not understand the crisis that has befallen them?

Perplexed by the unexpected response, Hwang Shin tilted his head.

Normally, those who have experienced Jinmu’s expressions and killing intent typically cower in fear… Perhaps they haven’t been beaten by him yet? At this rate, they’ll end up having a nasty time…

“There is no need for the Grotto-heaven Lord to step in. Please leave it to us!”

The lower-ranking warriors, who should have been terrified by Jinmu’s appearance, instead pointed their swords at Hwang Shin with newfound courage.

Hey…you guys. Aren’t you misunderstanding something here?

In his heart, he wished he could explain it to them.

“Grotto-heaven Lord is watching! Let us behead that remnant and the criminals who sheltered him!”

“…That.”

Hwang Shin couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Those fools have no idea. They just crossed a line.

Daring to boldly declare the intent to kill after plundering civilians in front of that damned Heavenly Lord.

Hwang Shin, seeing Jinmu’s increasingly dark smile, cautiously stepped back.

“You! You must be scared! But you can never escape us!”

The warriors, undeterred, continued to mock Hwang Shin with increased fervor.

Tteuk!

“…?”

A lower-ranked warrior turned his head to the hand gripping his shoulder.

“It’s alright. We can handle this guy…?”

In his confident eyes, a demon-like vasage and a gradually enlarging fist were visible.

“Grotto…?”

Smash! Boom!

The warrior, struck in the head by a fist that descended in an arc, collapsed as if buried in the ground.

“What the hell are these bastards doing!”

“Grotto-heaven Lord?”

To hell with Grotto-heaven Lord!

Swoosh! Boom!

Another punch was thrown, and this time the warrior carrying the stolen sack was sent flying.

“You bastards! How dare you raid a civilian house?”

Thud!

Every time Jinmu’s hands and feet moved, the warriors floated up only to crash down on the ground.

Bang! Crash! Crack!

There was no mercy.

Jinmu’s storm-like momentum engulfed all of Sixth Grotto-heaven’s warriors who were raiding the civilian house, and each time his hands and feet swung brutally, the sound of bones breaking and muscles tearing echoed.

The commoners watching the scene widened their eyes in terror as if witnessing a demon descend to earth, and Hwang Shin could only shake his head.

See, I told you.

I told you that you’re making a mistake.

“What, what is this?”

Il-hwan, having received the messenger’s report, rushed in with the warriors of the Dark Spirit Troops, unable to hide his shock at the sight of bloodied bodies strewn about.

And at the center, Jinmu, still exuding a murderous aura, trampling over the fallen.

What on earth is going on here?

What kind of unforgivable mistake did they make to enrage Grotto-heaven Lord so much?

He had to intervene.

If not, all the warriors could end up dead.

“Grotto-heaven Lord!”

Il-hwan quickly regained his composure and hurriedly ran towards Jinmu.

“Oh, you came at the right time.”

“…Pardon?”

“Damn it, who managed these subordinates like this?”

“What do you mean by that?”

Il-hwan shrank back, gauging Jinmu’s mood as he erupted in anger.

He had never been this furious before.

“Grotto-heaven Lord, please calm down for now…”

“……”

When Il-hwan pleaded, Jinmu finally let out a rough breath and stopped his trampling.

“What are you all doing! Hurry and move the injured to the medical room!”

As Jinmu showed a slightly calmer demeanor, Il-hwan quickly gave orders to his subordinates.

“Grotto-heaven Lord. Please speak slowly. If you tell me what mistake they made, I will do my best to handle it.”

“What sort of person are you! How could you let your subordinates loot the civilians?”

“……”

With Jinmu’s words, Il-hwan’s previously confused mind cleared instantly, and he frowned.

Jinmu appeared before him after Sixth Grotto-heaven had toppled the Seventh Grotto-heaven.

He became the ruler of Sixth Grotto-heaven and Seventh Grotto-heaven by defeating the Puppet, yet he did not know what typically happened after a war in the Demonic Cult.

The plundering of civilian homes by the Cultists.

This is an entirely natural action for those in the Demonic Cult.

Sixth Grotto-heaven was the invader and the victor, with the authority to seize everything from the defeated.

People, wealth, and even the power over life and death of the vanquished.

This was a long-standing tradition and a law-like principle applied to all in the Xinjiang Demonic Cult.

It was because Jinmu, a man of Central Plains, did not understand this that the situation arose.

“Order the Dark Spirit Troops to withdraw immediately and control the surroundings.”

At Il-hwan’s command, the Dark Spirit Troops quickly organized the surroundings.

After some time passed, only Jinmu, Hwang Shin, and Il-hwan remained.

“Grotto-heaven Lord.”

“What is it?”

Jinmu responded coldly to Il-hwan, who spoke to him politely.

“The Demonic Cult is different from Central Plains.”

“……”

“They are accustomed to slaughter rather than tolerance and forgiveness, and have continued their history by repeatedly taking or being taken.”

“So?”

“To them, such plunder is natural.”

“Natural?”

Jinmu glared at Il-hwan with a distorted expression at the calm explanation.

However, Il-hwan did not avoid his gaze and continued explaining.

“When we occupied the Vast Sky branch, even the commoners must have been prepared.”

“……”

Jinmu’s face became even more distorted at Il-hwan’s serious explanation.

“No way.”

“…Pardon?”

“Whatever it is!”

“……”

“I will never allow the act of plundering an occupied territory.”

Jinmu spoke firmly to Il-hwan, as if hammering each word in.

But is that something that can be resolved with just words?

Change, though it can happen at any time, should occur naturally. If it is forced or controlled, resistance is inevitable.

“Grotto-heaven Lord, that is a tradition that the Demonic Cult followers have upheld until now.”

“……”

“Pillaging the vanquished is the exclusive right of the winners, and it serves as a ritual to commemorate their victory.”

At these words, Jinmu listened with a twitch around his eyes.

“Controlling this could potentially provoke backlash. And backlash can lead to collapse, so please make a prudent decision. Sixth Grotto-heaven, which has just begun to stretch its wings….”

“Shut your mouth.”

“……”

There must be limits to what is tolerated in the name of tradition.

If the victor devours the flesh of the vanquished, how is that different from a beast?

And now, should he let Sixth Grotto-heaven expand its power without breaking its spirit?

Il-hwan, you have completely misjudged me.

I am not so weak as to give up making soy sauce because I fear maggots.

“Who decided that?”

“…Pardon?”

“Who decided that it’s okay to plunder the defeated?”

“Well…”

“Perhaps someone decreed it long ago. And as time passed, it became customary, as you said.”

“……”

“From now on, I will set a new standard. As long as I am the Lord, you must follow my standards. There will be no compromise.”

Jinmu’s voice, filled with strong power, resonated softly with Il-hwan, the Dark Spirit Troops who controlled the surroundings, and even the warriors of Sixth Grotto-heaven who had retreated beyond, as well as the commoners.

“From now on, I forbid all acts of plunder by the warriors of Sixth Grotto-heaven who follow me. Especially any actions that harm civilians will not be tolerated under any circumstances. If anyone disobeys, regardless of their rank or reasons, they will be punished.”

“……”

Jinmu growled at those around him with eyes glistening with murderous intent.

At that sight, Il-hwan spoke with a face full of concern.

“Grotto-heaven Lord. It’s a habit ingrained as if brainwashed. It won’t change easily.”

Is that so?

Then we might as well just root it out completely.

Jinmu spoke with a sly smile in response to Il-hwan’s words.

“Il-hwan.”

“Yes.”

“Then let them try. I’ve made myself clear, and I’m more than willing to show what kind of person I am.”

“……”

“Tell everyone under my command. I will be watching to see if my orders are being followed.”

Il-hwan knelt and bowed respectfully at Jinmu’s firm words, as if punctuating a sentence.

He had no choice but to comply.

Jinmu was the lord he had chosen, the new ruler.

“I will obey your command.”

“……”

Jinmu, who had been glaring at the bowed Il-hwan for a long time, turned sharply towards the main hall and spoke.

“Hwang Shin! At dawn, behead all those who plundered before me!”

“Understood!”

There was no forgiveness.

No one dared to speak to Jinmu’s back.

That included Hwang Shin, who followed Jinmu.

For now, Jinmu was too angry, which was frightening…

Today, for some reason, the Heavenly Lord seemed impressive.

A person who sets standards.

Hwang Shin silently vowed to remember this and use it someday.

And then……

The window seat on the second floor of the luxurious inn located on the main road.

“Uh… Warrior?”

“……”

The elderly innkeeper approached with a servile expression, rubbing his hands together.

“When will the Grotto-heaven Lord arrive?”

At the innkeeper’s words, the young warrior standing by the window, Gak Chul, looked troubled.

“…Well.”

He had nothing specific to say.

Two hours had already passed, yet there was no sign of either Hwang Shin or the Lord approaching.

His throat was hoarse from shouting so much.

“Shall I reheat the food?”

“……”

At the innkeeper’s suggestion, Gak Chul glanced at the table laden with delicacies.

Clearly, when it was first served, steam was rising…wafting gently…

“The liquor…shall I reheat that too?”

“……”

Once again, he had no words.

Gak Chul merely nodded, and the innkeeper sighed deeply, gesturing to the staff.

It’s already the third time. That the cold food and drinks have been replaced.

Why on earth isn’t he coming?

A crestfallen Gak Chul once again stuck his head out the window, cupping his hands around his mouth, and shouted.

“Hwa-ang Shi-in hyu-ung~! I am over here!”

Gak Chul’s plaintive voice echoed, spreading far and wide.