In the spacious room, there was a round table where about ten people could sit. There were eight chairs placed around the round table, and each chair had its owner.

The eight people currently sitting there represented the powerful families and leadership of the Demon Cult.

As a result, with just a single breath from this place, the direction of the Demon Cult could often sway back and forth.

Each possessed immense power and influence, keeping each other in check while simultaneously acting as collaborators suppressing the absolute ruler, the Cult Leader.

The head of the Blood Soaked Joo clan, Joo Jonghak, was one of the men occupying those eight chairs.

Joo Jonghak surveyed the other silent clan heads with a sour expression, leaning back against his chair.

They all maintained silence, with unreadable expressions on their faces.

Joo Jonghak stared at Do Seokhwi sitting across from him and raised his eyebrows.

‘Damn it. If you called busy people, shouldn’t you get to the point quickly? This old hag with a head as thick as his name is keeping his mouth shut, probably thinking about something. He’ll probably just spew out curses as usual.’ (tl/n: literal meaning behind the ‘Seok’ in his name is stone/rock.)

Joo Jonghak, who didn’t get along well with Do Seokhwi, inwardly cursed to vent his dissatisfaction with him.

However, unaware of Joo Jonghak’s thoughts, Do Seokhwi’s mouth remained closed, showing no intention of opening.

Feeling frustrated by this, Joo Jonghak was about to open his mouth first when a voice came from the opposite side.

“Elder Do.”

The deep, low voice drew everyone’s attention. An elderly man with a shaved head like a monk opened his mouth again with a solemn expression.

“How much longer must we wait?”

Snow Willow Sword, Lee Seonghak.

He was a man who had served as an Elder of the Demon Cult for the longest time and was also known for his cruelty. So much so that even the violent and ruthless Do Seokhwi had to yield to him.

However, he was usually quiet and calm, so the elders tried not to provoke his temper. For once his eyes rolled back, he would slaughter anyone in front of him, a vicious man.

Do Seokhwi glanced at the other elders before finally opening his mouth.

“I met her today.”

“Who?”

In response to Lee Seonghak’s question, Do Seokhwi spoke softly.

“The wench from the Righteous Sect.”

Hearing her answer, Joo Jonghak frowned. His reaction wasn’t unique; the other elders showed curiosity or sighed as well.

However, they all seemed quite surprised by Do Seokhwi’s words.

Lee Seonghak stared at Do Seokhwi, urging him to continue with his gaze. Do Seokhwi opened his mouth again.

“To confirm what Do Hyul said and see what she actually looked like, I went to meet her in person…”

He let out a snort of laughter.

“It was nothing special. Like a wench from the Righteous Sect, she was frail as if she would break with a single push, and her hair was white like an old woman’s. I had some expectations since she’s from a martial arts clan, but there wasn’t a single trace of inner energy in that wench’s body.”

The others didn’t seem particularly interested in his words. It was understandable since the family heads and leadership of the Demon Cult were already aware of information related to Moyong Sowol.

They already knew more than what Do Seokhwi had mentioned.

They were more curious about what Do Seokhwi, a man with a dirty personality who despises the Righteous Sect and refuses to treat weak martial artists as human beings due to his vile personality, had done to her.

Among the elders and family heads, opinions on Moyong Sowol were divided. Some believed that even if she became the Young Cult Leader’s wife, Hyuk Dojin would pay her no heed, so they could eliminate her later.

On the other hand, others found it unacceptable for a wench from the Righteous Sect to even temporarily sit beside the Young Cult Leader. These individuals advocated for the swift elimination of Moyong Sowol.

Regardless of their opinions, the common ground was to eliminate Moyong Sowol.

However, for some unknown reason, since they had received reports that Hyuk Dojin was taking care of Moyong Sowol, they couldn’t act rashly and were observing the situation.

In the midst of this, if Do Seokhwi took the initiative and caused an incident, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. Whatever happened, if Moyong Sowol’s death benefited them, it would be advantageous, not a loss.

“To be honest, I was disappointed. Even if she’s a wench from the Righteous Sect, I was going to observe her for a moment if she had the qualifications to be the Young Cult Leader’s wife. But a wench with wrists thinner than twigs, unable to even open her mouth out of fear due to her voice lacking any inner energy.”

Do Seokhwi clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.

“Welcoming such a frail wench as the Young Cult Leader’s wife is a disgrace to the Demon Cult, a disgrace.”

“So, what are you trying to say?”

Lee Seonghak spoke calmly. He met Do Seokhwi’s gaze and slowly continued.

“That you cannot accept that woman? If that’s what you mean, you don’t need to say anything more. After all, you, I, and everyone else sitting here feel the same way.”

“So, immediately…”

“But unfortunately, even if that is your thought, Elder Do, we need that woman for now. Do you think we brought her here because the Young Cult Leader needs a bride?”

“But Elder Lee Seonghak, if that wench sits as the Young Cult Leader’s wife, then at that moment, the dignity of the Demon Cult…”

Lee Seonghak interrupted Do Seokhwi’s words by clicking his tongue. Although he would have protested more under normal circumstances, he had to restrain himself because it was in front of Lee Seonghak.

“If you want to kill that woman, do it later. Eventually, her value will decrease, and she won’t be needed.”

“Elder Lee Seonghak…!”

“I don’t like to repeat myself. So I hope you follow my words, Elder Do. If you happen to move recklessly and ruin this plan, even I won’t be able to tolerate it… Just bear with it this one time.”

Joo Jonghak found it unexpected. It had been a long time since Lee Seonghak, who usually kept quiet and didn’t assert his opinions, had taken such a strong stance.

Thanks to this, Do Seokhwi could only open his mouth without voicing his dissatisfaction any further.

He couldn’t match his authority or power. As Lee Seonghak observed Do Seokhwi, he was about to speak slowly when his gaze turned toward the door.

At that moment, a voice came from outside.

“It’s Eun Do.”

A voice that was conversing only with Hyuk Dojin in the darkness. Hearing the voice coming from outside the door, Lee Seonghak spoke with a deliberately stern voice.

“What is it?”

“I have received an order to summon Elder Do Seokhwi.”

“Who…”

Lee Seonghak was about to ask whose order it was, but he stopped himself.

Lee Seonghak closed his mouth and turned his head toward Do Seokhwi. Do Seokhwi had an expression of incomprehension.

“He’s waiting. Go quickly.”

An urging voice was heard. Do Seokhwi glared at the door with a scowl.

Why was he being summoned? Could it be that the wench had tattled to the Young Cult Leader?

He hadn’t violated a single rule or gone against the law, so he wasn’t guilty. But his heart felt heavy. Even a great man would become insignificant before the name Hyuk Dojin.

The others seemed to find the incident interesting. They merely watched as observers, as if they would decide their attitude based on what happened to him.

“You’re late, Elder Do.”

Suppressing the urge to crush the nagging voice of Eun Do, Do Seokhwi rose from his seat.

And following him, Lee Seonghak also stood up. When Do Seokhwi looked at him with a puzzled expression, Lee Seonghak spoke softly.

“I also have a matter to discuss with the Young Cult Leader. Let’s go together.”

He put his hands behind his back and leisurely moved to open the door. The owner of the voice outside, Eun Do, was not there.

But as if it didn’t matter, Lee Seonghak went out first and then turned around. Looking at Do Seokhwi standing still, he said softly:

“Come on. We’ll be late.”

* * *

One, no, two.

Hyuk Dojin’s head turned slowly toward the door. Then, as if waiting, a knocking sound came from the door.

When Hyuk Dojin answered briefly, the door opened, revealing Lee Seonghak and Do Seokhwi.

The two men knelt down and bowed their heads before Hyuk Dojin’s gaze. Hyuk Dojin’s gaze slowly moved from top to bottom, following their movements.

In the dark room, Hyuk Dojin said nothing.

Lee Seonghak felt perplexed. Usually, the Young Cult Leader would have smiled and said, ‘Don’t be uncomfortable like that, get up.’ But as if he were a different person, Hyuk Dojin didn’t open his mouth, and the atmosphere of silence became increasingly uncomfortable.

Eventually, it was Lee Seonghak who spoke first, unaccustomed to the atmosphere.

“Young Cu…”

“I didn’t give you permission to speak, Lee Seonghak.”

Hyuk Dojin, who was where Lee Seonghak’s gaze fell, looked down at him with a chillingly hardened face.

“And I haven’t allowed you to raise your head.”

Lee Seonghak hurriedly lowered his head. If he hadn’t seen wrong, Hyuk Dojin was angry. He was displaying anger that he hadn’t shown even once since losing his mother.

Lee Seonghak bit his lip. No matter what had gone wrong, he felt that something had gone terribly wrong, and his gaze fell on Do Seokhwi.

Had he made some mistake? But Do Seokhwi had said that he had only scared the woman with his words and hadn’t harmed her.

Could he really be angry over just that?

For a moment, his train of thought was cut off. Ridiculous. How could the Young Cult Leader be angry over such a wench…

“Lee Seonghak.”

“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”

“Isn’t it amusing?”

Lee Seonghak slowly raised his gaze from the ground. His view was filled with Hyuk Dojin’s face, coldly settled. He spoke with a chilling voice, his back to the moonlight.

“Even then, you came to this room without me calling you and knelt before me. And with that clever tongue of yours, you mocked me when I was young.”

“…”

“Do you remember?”

Lee Seonghak closed his eyes and lowered his head. It had been more than ten years since then. But Hyuk Dojin had brought up that incident.

“I remember.”

“So you haven’t forgotten.”

Hyuk Dojin approached with a thin, mocking smile. Lee Seonghak looked at Hyuk Dojin’s approaching legs. With a rustling sound, Hyuk Dojin’s knees bent.

“Raise your head, Lee Seonghak.”

At his command, Lee Seonghak slowly raised his head. His face, full of wrinkles, was deeply marked by the passage of time. One wrinkle held the years he had carved himself to become stronger, and another wrinkle bore the years he had struggled to maintain his position as an Elder.

Lee Seonghak was a witness of the Demon Cult and a respected member of the Demon Cult.

But Hyuk Dojin merely mocked the respect and praise showered upon him.

Lee Seonghak raised his head and met Hyuk Dojin’s gaze. He swallowed hard at the sight of Hyuk Dojin looking down at him, and his stomach crumbled.