"Gurgle… gurgle…"
Thick blood foam sputtered from Dan Ja-Kang's mouth as his body convulsed relentlessly, as if unbearable pain coursed through him.
The scene was inevitably shocking to everyone present. It was neither understandable nor acceptable.
No matter how abnormal his state was after being attacked by Chung Myung, Dan Ja-Kang was still Dan Ja-Kang. How could anyone comprehend or accept a man who had subdued the ruthless High Priest—who had driven both Chung Myung and Jang Ilso to the brink of death with a single strike?
"Uh… how…"
Every time Dan Ja-Kang moved his lips, the sound of boiling blood bubbles escaped. It was so faint that without careful listening, one could hardly realize he was trying to speak.
However, the man dressed in a white robe, the Heaven Killing Demon Emperor, smiled gently as if he understood what Dan Ja-Kang was attempting to say. His image, casually laughing with his hand plunged into a human body, etched chillingly into the minds of the onlookers.
"Are you asking how I am here?"
"Gurgle, gurgle…"
Heavenly Kill lightly shook his head and sighed, as if feeling pity.
"Child."
"…"
"Why don't you understand? You doubted the doctrine and the Heavenly Demon, so why didn't you doubt that obvious question?"
"…"
"The Heavenly Demon never told us not to head to the Central Plains. He is not the kind of person to say such things. People may give food to ants, but they do not command the ants. Isn't that so?"
Dan Ja-Kang's body began to tremble more violently at these words. His eyes, already devoid of bloodlust, involuntarily turned toward Chung Myung.
After staring intently at Chung Myung for a long moment, Dan Ja-Kang's lips emitted a trembling voice again.
"Th-then… then why…"
"Tsk tsk. This is why you don't appoint an unqualified young brat to the High Priest's position. I wonder what the Great Priest is so urgent about to do such rushed things."
"…"
Heavenly Kill smiled faintly.
"Logic is unnecessary in serving him. What we want is obedience itself, not the reward he might give us. Do you understand?"
"Th-that…"
Bloodied, Dan Ja-Kang grabbed the Heavenly Demon's hand that had pierced through his chest.
"Guh… guuuuh!"
Then, tearing at his own body rather than Heavenly Kill's hand, he pulled out Heaven Killer's hand. Having barely freed himself from Heaven Killer's grip in a horrific and shocking way, Dan Ja-Kang collapsed mercilessly to the ground.
"Oho?"
Seeing that, Heaven Killer laughed heartily.
"Indeed. So you still have the right to bear the name of High Priest?"
Dan Ja-Kang, groaning on the ground, forced himself to lift his head. His eyes, filled with murderous hatred toward the man, glared at Heaven Killer.
"Then…"
Dan Ja-Kang shouted desperately with bloodshot eyes.
"Then what exactly did we endure all that time for? Answer me, High Priest! If that was not the Heavenly Demon's command, why did we waste our lives bound by doctrines we didn't even need to uphold? Answer me!"
"Hmm."
"Answer meeeee!"
Even hearing that agonized roar, Heaven Killer's eyes did not move. Instead, they grew colder.
"Why should I explain that to you?"
"…"
"To a filthy apostate like you."
Dan Ja-Kang looked dazed, as if struck on the back of the head.
"Apostate?"
He spoke in a daze, as if hearing words he should never have associated with himself.
"…I'm an apostate? I… am I…?"
"Didn't you know?"
Heaven Killer smiled brightly.
"You doubted the Heavenly Demon's teachings, doubted his divinity, broke the doctrine which spoke of him, and led followers to the Central Plains. If you are not an apostate, then who in the world can be called one?"
"Th-that teaching is all false!"
"And who told you that?"
Dan Ja-Kang was momentarily at a loss for words and could not answer.
"Who told you all that was false? Have you ever seen the Heavenly Demon yourself?"
"You… you…"
Hearing such nonsense unworthy of a reply, Dan Ja-Kang trembled all over. Heaven Killer took a leisurely step toward him.
"Child. You will never understand."
Another step.
"You have lost that chance to understand forever. Those who have seen the God with their own eyes cannot converse with those who have not. You will now lose the chance to see the God with those eyes forever."
"I…"
Dan Ja-Kang's body collapsed weakly. The pain from the word 'apostate' seemed greater than the physical agony piercing his flesh.
"I! I did not apostatize! I did not abandon my faith. You are not the Heavenly Demon's agent! My faith is only…!"
"Shut up."
Heaven Killer cut him off as if tired of listening to the mumbling. At the same time, a tiny black flame blossomed at his fingertips and flew like scattered embers, landing on Dan Ja-Kang's forehead.
Kwahhhhh!
At that moment, an intense black flame engulfed Dan Ja-Kang's entire body and soared.
"Guaaaahhhhh!"
A desperate scream, unbearable to hear calmly, echoed across the desolate land where almost nothing alive remained.
"There is only one death given to apostates."
An emotionless voice flowed from the Heavenly Demon's mouth.
"Die feeling the utmost pain you can endure. Your soul will never be saved even after death. Forever, eternally, wander the Nine Nethers regretting and regretting the sins you committed."
The karmic fire punishment that can only be inflicted on those who have mastered martial arts.
"Guaaaahhhhh!"
The demonic qi backfired, burning everything about him to ashes.
Even the strong Dan Ja-Kang writhed and screamed on the ground in agony. He screamed, sobbed like a child, and twisted his whole body.
No one dared to speak rashly. Even the disciples of Mount Hua, who only felt hatred toward Dan Ja-Kang, could not bear to watch and averted their eyes.
However, the only emotion in Heaven Killer's eyes was cold malice. In the cult, unbelievers must be killed, but apostates are treated as even filthier than unbelievers.
"Guaaaah! I, I… I am…!"
A voice filled with pain and anguish flowed like a wail from Dan Ja-Kang's mouth, covered in black flames.
He did not die easily despite such terrible pain. Because he could not die, it was cruel; because it was cruel, it was hell. That is why the cult uses this as punishment for apostates.
"I…"
Dan Ja-Kang's body slowly crumbled.
"I… am not an ap… apostate… I…"
His faint voice flowed out like a groan.
"Heavenly Demon… Oh Heavenly Demon… why… why…"
"Tsk."
"Why… my desperate cry…"
Crack!
Heaven Killer mercilessly stomped and crushed Dan Ja-Kang's nearly burnt head. Then, frowning as if stepping on something filthy, he lifted his foot.
"It's disgusting to listen to this any longer."
Dan Ja-Kang.
It was an unbelievably miserable death for the Cult's High Priest who had turned Hangzhou into hell and driven the great Chung Myung and Jang Ilso to the brink of their deaths.
Having delivered that chilling death, Heaven Killer averted his gaze from Dan Ja-Kang as if he had no more business here. Then he looked elsewhere.
Flinch.
The cult followers before his cold gaze immediately bowed their heads to the ground. They all trembled like aspens, as if they had met the King of the Underworld.
At the moment Heaven Killer frowned in displeasure, Jeok-Il, who was bowing, crawled forward on his belly.
"I, Jeok-Il, the Enforcing Guard, dares to greet the second High Priest."
His voice was filled with earnestness. It felt more intense than the pain of losing Dan Ja-Kang or the fear of facing Heaven Killer.
"All of this is my fault for failing to serve the High Priest properly. Please punish me by taking my life and forgive these others with a heart as vast as the ocean! This humble one dares, dares to plead."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Jeok-Il repeatedly banged his head on the floor. But Heaven Killer watched the scene with the same indifferent eyes.
"…Responsibility."
Heaven Killer murmured softly and chuckled. Even that faint, low laugh made Jeok-Il tremble as if struck by lightning.
"Is it because we entrusted the Cult to someone unqualified? The Cult is a mess. How dare a mere Enforcing Guard talk about responsibility."
Jeok-Il, not knowing what to say, just held his breath like a corpse.
"No fool punishes the hand for making a mistake. Moreover, punishing an Enforcing Guard who is not even worth the hand is meaningless."
"…"
"You and the followers will not be held accountable for the High Priest's sins. A mere Enforcing Guard could never go against the High Priest's will."
"Th-thank you…"
"However."
Heaven Killer spoke in an emotionless voice.
"Shouldn't the Enforcing Guard pay the price for foolishly discussing responsibility without knowing his place?"
Jeok-Il's pupils trembled. When he barely raised his head and saw Heavenly Demon's faint smile, he realized what he must do.
"Hea… Heavenly Demon…"
Biting his lips tightly, he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Heavenly Demon's Second Coming! Ten thousand demon blessings!"
Crack!
Then Jeok-Il smashed his own head with his hands in one blow.
Thud.
Jeok-Il, now a headless corpse, collapsed to the ground instantly.
Heaven Killer, watching the scene with displeased eyes, turned his gaze to the bowing followers.
"Return to the cult."
"Hea, Heavenly Demon's reincarnation…"
"Shut up."
Everyone held their breath.
"Though you bear no doctrinal responsibility, the sin of following an apostate cannot be judged by doctrine alone. For thirty-three sunrises and sunsets, remain silent and reflect on your own faults."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Unable to defy those words, the followers smashed their heads on the ground without reply. Then, they rose simultaneously and began moving in one direction as if hypnotized.
Heaven Killer's cold gaze subtly shifted toward his feet as he watched the scene.
"Hmm."
Dan Ja-Kang was now nothing but black ashes, leaving only traces. A strange expression flickered across Heaven Killer's face. He cast his gaze toward the tense disciples of Mount Hua.
"Indeed…"
A voice filled with admiration flowed out.
"The Central Plains is an interesting place. No matter how much of a foolish brat he is… I never thought the High Priest would end up like this."
Smiling as if pleased at what he witnessed, he looked at Chung Myung and Jang Il-so.
His gaze, which had shown no particular hostility, changed instantly at that moment. When Heavenly Killer's eyes, which could have been described as gentle, landed on Chung Myung, they turned into a completely different hue.
"You…?"
Heaven Killer's eyes filled with clear hostility and killing intent as he confirmed Chung Myung and the group standing protectively around him. Even a sinister aura, never before shown on his face, began to emerge.
Gnash.
The sound of grinding teeth echoed chillingly.
"Mount Hua… that cursed sect?"
Heavenly Demon's growling voice silenced even the sky.