Chapter 215: This Is Why Rumors Are Scary.
"Leave this failure."
"..."
The Cult Leader returns to a blank expression and continues to talk.
"They are different from the Four Heavenly Kings I'm familiar with. This group is different compared to the previous ones who had died by my hand. Even in the middle of the fight for succession, you had to somehow make it to my side or be dead. Even at that time, the former Heavenly Kings didn't have much difficulty accomplishing things. It was because they had the confidence that results would follow as long as their lives were being risked in a fight. These were the people who would have been the heads of their family sects if they were dismissed from the main Cult. In short, they were one's worthy of their titles. But now, the same people holding those titles are so weak."
Woo Sa looks at the Cult Leader and bows his head. The Cult Leader continues,
"Go to the old general hall and request for the help of the elders. Order them to practice behind closed doors until they are called."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"Until then, please refrain from meddling in the affairs of the Cult. No matter what kind of training they are doing or how strong they get, it is all their choice. And when they reappear in front of me one day, if I feel like they wasted their time, I will confront them with the sins they have committed. Go."
The four of them answer.
"Cult Leader, thank you."
It isn't only until after the Four Heavenly Kings retreat that the Cult leader turns to Woo Sa.
"Woo Sa, did you tell Sword Demon that there would be an ambush?"
Wo Sa smiles.
"Yes."
"And his reaction?"
"What kind of response did you even expect from him? He had the attitude that this was just another something that was going to happen, that was all."
The Cult Leader sighs.
"In my heart, I hoped that Sword Demon would return, but things are unfolding strangely. If he was tired after dealing with a couple of elders, he probably didn't absorb their internal qi with the sword."
"There were a lot of elders, so it wouldn't have been easy to absorb while he was continuously fighting. Then what are you going to do if he ends up turning invincible?"
The Cult Leader speaks calmly.
"We need to congratulate him then. However, the Sword Demon's unbeatable sword technique, which was claimed to be invincible, isn't so anymore. Simply being able to spar with his body doesn't make him invincible. He would have been one of the top ten most skilled warriors in Kangho. Generally, one cannot live immune to faults, so every warrior has their weaknesses. However, the Left Guardian's pure obsession with the sword allows him to be greater than all of his previous predecessors."
"What do we do when he ends up achieving a great sword technique as you predict?"
Cult Leader looks at him.
"Then you and I will live to see such things. The old will die and the strong will prevail. If the Sword Demon's growth were stunted, wouldn't he have given up the position and trained himself? Why? Do you want me to continue as Cult Leader while remaining the same?"
"How can the Cult Leader just give the position up?"
The Cult Leader smiles.
"If someone else were to become the Heavenly, who would argue? The words spoken by the Heavenly Demon are the law. Woo Sa, so you must oblige. Do not forget why you want to get stronger. When the day comes that you become stronger than me, my position will be compromised. That is the role of the Left Guardian and you. That is what the Demonic Sect is."
"Yes, Cult Leader. Just one more thing."
When the Cult Leader nods, Woo Sa asks,
"What will you do about the Low-Down Sect Leader?"
"Do what you want to."
"I see, I will think about it later. He is such a strong man that it is impossible to judge him based on what the Heavenly Kings and their subordinates said."
The Cult Leader had a thin smile.
"As far as I have confirmed."
"Yes."
Cult Leader twirls his fingers near his temple.
"He is one insane bastard."
Woo Sa tilts his head.
"Is that so? In front of Cult Leader everyone should be normal, polite, and well-mannered but he is an unusual one."
The Cult Leader laughs as Woo Sa's words feel funny to him.
"If he was an ordinary man, Elder Heo wouldn't have cared about him."
Woo Sa nods.
"If you can get along with the Left Guardian and be liked by Elder Heo, isn't he a man suitable to join the Demonic Cult?"
The Cult Leader nods.
"Sometimes, there are men who are difficult to determine as true evil demons."
At first I was flustered to see the Low-Down Sect after the fight, but when the numbers of troops began to increase, I felt strange.
"Why are you coming this late?"
Seo Gun-pyung, who led the Black Rabbit Union, saved the flag.
Everyone who had suffered at the hands of the Demonic Cult arrived and surrounded the collapsed guest house like how the Demonic Cult had initially surrounded us.
I am surrounded again, but this time by my own subordinates.
"..."
Even when I explained that the fight was over, no one wanted to head back.
Because they came too far. I feel compelled to talk to the Evil ones to entertain all the troops.
Sword Demon speaks to me in an admiring tone.
"Sect Leader, you had this many troops to mobilize?'
I speak like anyone would.
"Yes. We have a lot. Actually, I don't even know just how many there are."
Pervert Demon says,
"It is a bit late, but it is amazing that so many are here. But how is it that everyone seems so different?"
"Low-Down Sect is a refuge for the weak."
Ghost Demon smiles and says,
"Weak? A force like this is by no means a weak one."
Pervert Demon and Ghost Demon were quite surprised at the sheer number of troops that arrived. Thanks to this, the Low-Down Sect, which had nothing to do with this, ended up digging up the fallen guesthouse and rushed to clean it up.
Anyway, because it is the Low-Down Sect, everyone cleaned up pretty good.
In the meantime, some would reap the spoils left behind by the Demonic Cult troops. There are some thieves in the Low-Down Sect so this cannot be helped. Such is the case with samae Hong Shin. I wasn't able to stop her from stealing the weapons, so everything else ended up vanishing at the hands of the Low-Down Sect members.
They said they were here to help, but even to me they looked like terrifying people. Well, I can't just send them back empty handed, so I ask Pervert Demon for a favor, and I decide to treat them all to dinner.
To sum it up, it was nothing.
Moreover, since many troops had gathered around, the people of the village next to us also gathered and they began mingling with the people of the Low-Down Sect.
I have never seen such chaos in my life.
"Phew... move in moderation man."
I discovered that when a large crowd gathers, mob mentality forces others to naturally flock over.
In the end, we had no choice but to put up temporary barracks in the place where the guesthouse was to greet our customers.
I hear rumors during all of this. A rumor that was being spread by the Murim Alliance.
The rumor was rapidly blowing things out of proportion. People were talking about how the Low-Down Sect had won a battle between the Demonic Cult's forces.
After listening to the ramble, people had even begun to name the battle.
White Eagles Great Victory.
Rumors spread quickly, but fortunately the man who led the battle was Low-Down Sect Leader.
This is how we became the primary enemy to the Demonic Cult and officially moved over to the orthodox sects.
Regardless, it's time to indulge. The other day the words said of the beauty and the songs and about her turned into an intent to sleep with her.
And without realizing it, I became the Low-Down Sect Leader who was rumored to have led a huge number of Sect members to annihilate the Demonic Cult's troops.
Rumors are normally scary.
How influential was this rumor? Well, several owners from the guesthouses on the other side of town sent over food and alcohol to the campsite.
The reason being simple.
Because I fought the Demon Cult. That is how I got a free meal with my Sect, the orthodox troops, and the Four Evils. There's no reason not to enjoy the situation.
It's confusing with so many around but, at some point, everyone was drinking and eating with laughter. Once the alcohol goes in, nothing else matters.
I can't tell if they came to fight, to see me, or just to eat.
Sword Demon, who hates crowds, wasn't able to escape the situation and ended up getting caught for a meal at the camp.
Luckily, the moon is bright.
"A word from Low-Down Sect Leader who defeated the Demon Cult in the White Eagle Victory."
This was followed up with loud applause and cheers. I roughly wipe the greasy mouth with my sleeve and stand up.
There are too many people, so I have to climb onto the wreckage of the stacked guest house and look around.
A situation where everyone is sitting and watching.
'Oh fuck, too many'
This is the most embarrassing situation of my life.
If it was only the Low-Down Sect here, I would speak nonsense, but there are strong people from the village and other strong individuals gathered here too.
Suddenly, I spot the clothes of Baek Wei. This mad man is mingling with the disciples right under our noses and is eating our food!
'... this man is completely mad, isn't he?'
Master Baek Wei is talking about something with the disciples, then he laughs and points at me.
"... Sect Leader say something. Everyone listen."
"Yes, master."
I have no choice but to pretend like I don't know about this idiot who was trying to mingle with the people since he could easily wipe out half the crowd if he were to use his strength.
It takes a while for the crowd to go silent.
I stay still until everything goes quiet.
"..."
It is the first time that I'm experiencing something like this.
I have never been in front of so many people. Also in the crowd, there are orthodox troops, unorthodox, Low-Down, and many more crazy people. It's the perfect crowd. What the hell am I supposed to say to them?
I calm down and open my mouth.
"I am Lee Zaha. Low-Down Sect's Leader."
Before speaking I make sure to chug some alcohol. But since I ended up drinking everything, I speak as if I am drunk to leave room for mistakes.
"Thank you for coming. I'd like to clarify what kind of organization the Low-Down Sect is for those who are not familiar. This group is otherwise known as a one-person sect."
At my unexpected announcement, chaos begins to ensue. I put up with it for a while then I open my mouth.
"Shut up now. Why is everyone rambling?"
"..."
After clapping my hands roughly, I put my hands on my hips.
"Attention, Attention!"
"..."
"As I said, our Low-Down Sect is a one-person sect. I am the Sect Leader and I am the martial arts holder. However, I never taught martial arts to anyone, so there is no formal procedure. The people who gathered here today are brothers of Kangho who I helped or saved the other day. I think the peddler on the road is also a member of the Low-Down Sect. The shopkeeper is also one of us, but I am the only one who officially belongs to the Low-Down. Do not bully petty people and visit the Low-Down. After today, the Low-Down Sect's alliance will be dissolved. Are my words so difficult?"
Pervert Demon pulls me in as I continue to talk nonsense.
"Sect Leader is drunk."
"Let go."
After I shake him off, I tell the crowd,
"Repeat after me. Low-Down Sect is a one-man sect."
"When the Sect is bullied, Low-Down Sect leader steps out alone. We are the troops that advocate for the working class. Kangho's people are brothers, and they all belong to the Low-Down Sect. This is my point. By no means is anyone officially a part of the Low-Down, nor should you mistreat those who aren't either. We all understand what I mean, right?"
Did I drink too fast? Everyone is quiet.
I feel like I'm dreaming so I slap myself on the cheek and look around.
"Is this a dream?"
While I am drunk I point to master Baek Wei.
"Look here, that one who looks like a turtle, Baek Wei. You get what I mean? Stop bullying the weak and come to just me. Okay?"
Not just my Sect but those around turn to master Baek Wei. I wasn't sure exactly who, but everyone stares at me and him. Master Baek Wei laughs and nods.
"I get it. I will come find you, who else will I come find?"
People don't know who he is, so they probably don't understand the meaning behind his words. But I speak in earnest.
"Master, let us solve it with martial arts. You cannot just kill the weak. Do not treat them like ants. I can see it in your eyes."
Only then did his face go stiff.
"... I understand Sect Leader, enough."
I nod and glare at him.
"If a man is strong like you and tells me it is enough, I should listen. I confirm."
While looking around, I speak.
"I hope everyone eats and drinks in peace. There are too many people, so let us say goodbye here as if we are all going back home after a meal. That is it, Low-Down Sect Leader is done."
I wave my hand and come down from the mound of what's left of the guest house. Anyway, what I want to say is this.
I spewed nonsense in hopes that the word about me and the Low-Down Sect would spread. The speed at which rumors spread can be scary.