The Great Wind Pavilion.
Once a dazzling and splendid tavern in the heart of Hangzhou, it now stood half-ruined, its grotesque skeleton exposed.
Just a week ago, it had been alive with the laughter of courtesans, music, and the boastful voices of drunken patrons. Now, only an eerie silence filled the space.
On the highest floor of the tavern, miraculously still standing, a man sat by the window.
Clink.
A transparent liquid with a faint red glow was poured into a glass. The fragrance of the liquor spread pleasantly in all directions.
Thud.
Dan Ja-Kang set down the bottle and silently gazed at the white cup filled with liquor. After a moment, he reached out and lifted the glass.
The liquor flowed leisurely into his mouth. He savored its subtle fragrance and closed his eyes. The sensation of the liquor sliding down his throat was vivid. Dan Ja-Kang quietly set the glass down.
"Hoo…"
A sigh escaped him. Was it because the liquor displeased him? No, quite the opposite.
The fragrance tingled not only at the tip of his nose but seemed to dye his entire body. Anyone who has tasted this liquor would painfully realize that drinking is not merely about getting drunk but about enjoying the original taste and aroma.
Yes. Anyone who has tasted this liquor.
"…For us…"
Dan Ja-Kang slowly looked up at the sky. Beyond the broken ceiling, a half-fallen moon was visible.
"We never had that chance."
That fact hollowed Dan Ja-Kang.
What truly frustrated him was not that the believers could not enjoy such liquor, but that they lived without even knowing such liquor existed.
Few feel regret for things that do not exist. Regret only truly surges when something once present disappears. The believers, unaware even of what they were denied, were not even granted the freedom to feel sorrow.
Even now, countless believers consider only cheap, low-grade liquor worthy of their drink, longing and yearning for that inferior bottle.
What would they think if they tasted this liquor here? What would they think seeing the feast of countless premium liquors filling the walls and storerooms?
"Haha…"
They might hate the unbelievers of the Central Plains even more fiercely, who have enjoyed all these things they cannot.
"Hahaha!"
Perhaps they would resent the religious leadership for not telling them this truth.
"Haha… Hahaha…"
And perhaps…
Dan Ja-Kang paused briefly and slowly shook his head. Blasphemous thoughts kept creeping into his mind.
An indifferent hand refilled the glass. Then he lifted it and drank deeply.
After repeating this several times, Dan Ja-Kang stared blankly out the window. When he first arrived here, the city shone dazzlingly with people and lights.
But now, only darkness and desolation remain.
Just like the world they live in.
Only now… yes, only now have those who lived here and the believers become equal. But…
If sharing a miserable fate is equality, what does that leave for the believers?
A relief that more people suffer the same pain? Or a lowly pleasure in dragging those who enjoy a higher life down to their level?
"Hahaha."
It's simply laughable.
Soon, the world will all become like this place. The dazzling lights will vanish, fertile fields will be stained with blood, and streets once filled with laughter will be filled only with death and silence.
And what remains is just…
"The Heavenly Demon's Second Coming, Ten Thousand Demons' Blessing…"
Dan Ja-Kang closed his eyes.
Yes. What remains is not the believers but only the teachings. The Heavenly Demon returns, and all demons in the world obey him.
"The Heavenly Demon's Second Coming, Ten Thousand Demons' Blessing."
Their mantra, their everything. The only truth they must uphold.
But Dan Ja-Kang wanted to ask. A sad question he had never dared to hold before but now could no longer endure pierced him painfully.
"Oh Heavenly Demon…"
Has his faith wavered? No, it has not.
Despite painfully realizing all these contradictions, his faith in the Heavenly Demon remained unshaken until now. Rather, because of this, he could not help but ask this question.
"This lowly one dares to ask the Heavenly Demon…"
The Heavenly Demon's Resurrection, Ten Thousand Demons' Blessing. The Heavenly Demon's Second Coming, Ten Thousand Demons' Blessing.
"This filthy world will be purified as the Heavenly Demon wills. And soon, the glorious reign of demons will come."
This is a grand ceremony for him. Also, a holy war for him.
But he wanted to ask.
After all that is accomplished, what lies beyond?
After welcoming the returning Heavenly Demon, purifying this world, and opening the Demon Realm, what kind of life should the believers live?
No one speaks of what comes after. No one discusses the next world. No one is curious because those who have not even fulfilled the first command from the Heavenly Demon have no right to think about what follows.
Dan Ja-Kang leaned back in his chair and tilted his head. Emptiness filled his eyes.
"…What is there, oh Heavenly Demon? What is there…"
For what have we endured this long and arduous time? And for what must we fight?
Even if all this glory is only for the Heavenly Demon, we would gladly walk that path with a smile. But… why does your mercy not extend to us even a little?
"Haha…"
It's laughable, all of this. Simply laughable.
Tap tap tap tap.
At that moment, hurried footsteps came from the stairs leading downstairs. Dan Ja-Kang greeted the visitor without turning his head.
"High Priest."
Jeok-Il climbed the stairs and bowed deeply as soon as he greeted Dan Ja-Kang.
"The unbelievers' forces have invaded the outskirts, and a battle is underway."
He swallowed dryly and continued his report.
"Their numbers exceed five hundred."
Dan Ja-Kang showed no particular reaction to the information. Normally, just knowing about the filthy unbelievers' presence would have made him tremble with rage.
"Five hundred…"
He murmured in a lax voice.
"Are they aiming for my head?"
"It is the most blasphemous thing to do, but that seems to be the case."
"I see."
Dan Ja-Kang's gaze turned beyond the window.
Though there is distance from the outskirts of Hangzhou to here, the fact that such a number approached unnoticed means his mind must be that distracted.
"My head…"
A profound emptiness clouded his eyes as he gazed at the moon. Normally, upon hearing this news, he would have rushed out to punish the invaders. But now, somehow, he did not feel like it.
"What should be done?"
Jeok-Il immediately spoke in response.
"Currently, they are fighting with ordinary believers patrolling the outskirts. The devout demon troops of the region are moving to punish them, so there is no need for you, the High Priest, to intervene directly."
"Is that so…"
Dan Ja-Kang grabbed the bottle again and began pouring liquor into the glass.
Clink.
The reddish-hued liquor filled the glass.
Jeok-Il's face stiffened at the leisurely gesture of their High Priest. Despite finishing his report on those opposing the sect, Dan Ja-Kang showed no reaction.
But at that very moment…
"…How dare."
The world began to shake. The ominous aura emanating from Dan Ja-Kang shook not only the air but even the tavern itself.
Jeok-Il, momentarily breathless from the aura, quickly bowed his head to the ground.
"Hi-high Priest, please calm your wrath…"
"Jeok-Il."
"Yes! High Priest!"
A deadly voice escaped from Dan Ja-Kang's mouth.
"They dare oppose the Heavenly Demon. Chew their flesh, grind their bones, and make them pay for their disbelief. Let this wicked world know well the price of unbelief."
"The Heavenly Demon's Second Coming, Ten Thousand Demons' Blessing!"
Thud!
Jeok-Il slammed his head on the floor, then carefully rose and swiftly dashed down the stairs like the wind.
As his presence faded, Dan Ja-Kang's gaze darkened.
"Amitabha!"
A majestic Buddhist chant echoed, and golden light spread ahead.
Kuuuuung!
A heavy explosion burst. The attacking Demonic cult members were repelled by the power but immediately stood up as soon as their backs hit the ground and charged again with screams.
"Ugh!"
From Hae Yeon's mouth came a suppressed groan for the first time.
"Keep charging!"
But there was no time to stop and think. Chung Myung's voice continuously urged them on.
Chung Myung and the elite of Mount Hua he led.
Jang Ilso and Ho Ga-Myung following him.
At first, when Chung Myung and Jang Ilso left the battlefield to Black Ghost Fort and entered Hangzhou, most did not understand why they had to make such a choice.
But now, everyone understood its meaning.
'Damn it!'
Baek Cheon gritted his teeth. The attacking Demonic cult members seemed endless in his eyes. Those they faced on the outskirts of Hangzhou were only a small part, mere scouts.
The deeper they entered, the more Demonic Cult members exuded dense demonic qi, making it hard to breathe.
Pah!
Baek Cheon pushed off the ground with force and, at the forefront, unleashed his sword with full power against the charging cultists.
The soaring red sword qi created dozens of afterimages and mercilessly pierced the Demonic cult members' bodies.
"Kyaaaak!"
The cult members, riddled with holes, screamed in agony but fiercely swung their long claws.
"Ugh!"
Just then Jo Gul, backing Baek Cheon, hurriedly jumped in to block the attack.
Paaang!
With an ear-piercing explosion, a golden meteor-like object flew in and instantly smashed the heads of the cult members in front of Baek Cheon.
"Be careful, child."
A gentle voice resonated deeply. Baek Cheon grimaced and turned his head.
"Jang Ilso!"
"Getting excited isn't good for you, so don't waste your strength early. You still have much to do."
"Ugh!"
Baek Cheon bit his lip tightly. Receiving help from Jang Ilso made him feel utterly humiliated.
At that moment.
Paaat!
Chung Myung's flying sword instantly sliced the neck of the Demonic Cult members charging at Jang Ilso.
"Don't slack off, you fool!"
"…As kind as ever."
Jang Ilso smirked crookedly. Even now, Chung Myung's eyes swiftly scanned all around.
'Where is he?'
His senses stretched out in all directions.
The bishop's behavior is unpredictable. Each action is so different. So guessing where he might be in this vast Hangzhou is impossible.
But there's no need to.
They only need to find the place where the densest demonic qi flows in this suffocating aura. With his senses now several times sharper than before, it won't be difficult.
After a moment, Chung Myung's head sharply lifted upwards.
In Hangzhou, where the towering pavilions have all collapsed, leaving the land flat enough to reveal the horizon, only one pavilion juts out!
"This…"
Chung Myung bared his teeth and smiled.
"Looks like I'm not the only one being kind?"
A fierce aura flowed from Chung Myung's eyes.