Chapter 1020: What Did You Just Say? (Part 5)

Yang Kun, the head of the Hangzhou branch of the Black Ghost Castle, turned his head slightly.

'It sounds like something, but never mind.'

Although he had heard what sounded like the distant rumbling of walls being attacked, he quickly turned his head away. He had no energy to spare on such minor matters right now.

"What a pain in the ass."

As long as the Evil Tyrant Alliance occupied the Yangtze River, the Black Ghost Castle would eventually have to make a decision, sooner or later. Depending on the decision made by their superiors, they might either bow down and submit to Myriad Man Manor, which had swallowed up Su Lo Chae, or engage in a fierce showdown.

'No, no.'

Life rarely flows in such an extreme manner as people might think. Perhaps they could maintain the facade of the Evil Tyrant Alliance and continue to coexist with mutual understanding, keeping a comfortable distance from each other.

Maybe that was the most realistic prediction.

"The more I think about it, the more my head hurts."

Yang Kun sighed deeply.

Honestly, he didn't want to pay much attention to matters that would shake the overall balance of power in the Kangho. Managing Hangzhou well, and occasionally identifying the Hao Sect members hiding in the alleys, was enough to make his head spin.

Yang Kun was one of those enlightened individuals who knew that being satisfied with what you know and living with it was the way to become a winner in life. Unfortunately, for those who joined the organization, there was no room for choice.

"I wonder what decision the boss will make..."

Muttering to himself, Yang Kun licked his lips.

The overall situation of the Kangho might not be important in the end. What mattered to the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold was what choice would benefit the Black Ghost Castle the most.

However, it was challenging for Yang Kun to predict which side would bring more wealth to the Black Ghost Castle in the future.

"Phew."

In the end, he shook his head.

He just hoped that whatever decision was made, it wouldn't lead to a bloody battle. At his age, he had no intention of rushing onto the battlefield and screaming his head off.

With such thoughts in mind, just as Yang Kun was about to stamp the document with approval, there was a sudden loud noise.

Crash!

The door opened violently, and a person rushed inside with a pale face.

"Sir, Head!"

"What's going on?"

"Ha, some guys showed up in downtown Hangzhou. These crazy people are killing people of all ages and genders right now."

"What?"

Yan Kun sprang up from his seat. No matter how ruthless they might be, he had to stop any brutality within his territory.

Furthermore, the Great Master of Ten Thousand Gold understood the common truth that people equated money. If people, as valuable as money, were dying within Hangzhou, the responsibility would fall squarely on Yan Kun, Hangzhou's regional chief.

"Which lunatics dare to cause trouble in Hangzhou?"

Sparks flew from Yang Kun's eyes.

People in the Kangho didn't usually stir up trouble in Hangzhou. Causing an incident within Black Ghost Castle's territory meant challenging the Black Ghost Castle itself.

However, sometimes younglings who didn't understand the balance of power in the unseen world would still engage in such actions.

"Gather them all."

"Yes? All of them?"

"Yes."

Yang Kun gave a cold order.

"The atmosphere has been a bit relaxed recently. We need to set things straight."

"All right!"

"Move!"

As the subordinate rushed outside, Yang Kun let out a heavy sigh.

"Kids these days."

In reality, he wasn't too angry, even though he had shouted orders. He was just rounding up the youngsters who believed they were invincible in Hangzhou. It was a familiar task, and as long as they cleaned up the situation, it would be fine.

However, showing his true emotions to his subordinates was a different matter.

Yang Kun was adept at separating his inner thoughts from his external appearance.

"I guess it's time to restore some order."

With that, Yang Kun left his office with a light heart.

"....Branch manager."

"...."

"...Branch manager, what in the world..."

Yang Kun, his face pale, stared at the unfolding scene.

What made him realize that the situation was more severe than he had initially thought was when he encountered the crowd fleeing in terror.

Hangzhou was a city of pleasure, and as a result, incidents were bound to occur continuously. Arguments on the streets, a few deaths here and there - he had merely treated them as part of the entertainment.

And solemnly, Yang Kun had sworn that he hadn't seen the people of Hangzhou in a state of panic like this even once since he became the branch head.

Although he was briefly startled, he steadied himself. He vowed not to be surprised and to react calmly to whatever happened before him.

However...

As he faced the situation in Hangzhou, his resolute determination melted away, leaving him powerless.

"This... what..."

Yang Kun's hand trembled.

Everything before his eyes was in complete chaos.

Everything was mixed up, the buildings, the ground, and perhaps even the people who were inside them.

Amidst the remnants of the halls, which had been destroyed as if by a vicious storm, there were people mixed in who had clearly been alive just a while ago. These were people who had been torn to pieces along with the halls.

"Ugh!"

The sound of someone retching filled his ears. They were from the Evil Sect. They had no qualms about murder. Yang Kun, too, couldn't count how many people he had killed to reach this position.

But...

What he had done was 'killing.'

In other words, when Yang Kun killed someone, he clearly recognized that the person he had killed was a 'human.'

But this scene, what is it? Collapsed walls, roofs, pillars, and heaps of dirt were mixed together in a chaotic mess. Can we really call this 'murder'?

"No…"

This is a disaster. Sweeping away things, whether living or not, without distinguishing between them, is something that only an emotionless entity can do.

Thunk, thunk.

From among the wreckage, crimson drops of blood fell from the outstretched hand of a corpse. Yang Kun even closed his mouth tightly, feeling the oppressive atmosphere suffocating him.

The nocturnal landscape of Hangzhou. If you were to view this scene from the sky, it would look as if a section of the vast land was soaked in darkness, like a beast had razed it.

Distinguishing between beasts and humans. Yang Kun thought that this was the light. No creature could produce light like a human.

Here, darkness had descended heavily. This meant that there were no longer any humans here.

"Which lunatics…"

The sound of someone moaning, like a lament, penetrated Yang Kun's ears. Right. This is something someone caused. That means the person who created this insane scene is not too far from here.

As he thought of it this way, he got goosebumps all over.

'What should I do?'

Should he run away? Or should he attack?

Normally, it was an obvious decision to find and attack the perpetrator. After all, Yang Kun was the regional chief of Hangzhou responsible for the Black Ghost Castle.

However, in the face of this utterly catastrophic scene, he began to doubt even the most obvious decision.

Could a human really create such a scene? A human driven by obsession?

If he attacked such an entity…

"Chief!"

Someone forcefully called out to the absent-minded Yang Kun.

"Over there…"

And then Yang Kun saw it.

Everything mixed up, bathed in an ashy hue. Except for a distant light, the entire space was engulfed in thick darkness. At the far end of that space, someone with crimson robes, like blood, draped over them, was slowly approaching.

Yang Kun had an instinctual understanding. 

It was the perpetrator.

The perpetrator behind this whole calamity.

Step by step, the person in the crimson robes approached, seemingly oblivious. Yang Kun, captivated by the sight, unconsciously took a step back. This slight movement caused him to bump into someone standing behind him.

Backing away in fear when confronted by an enemy is disgraceful. However, Yang Kun had no capacity to concern himself with honor at this moment.

His face paled increasingly.

Having overcome numerous crises to reach this position, he found himself in a situation where he didn't know what to do. The only thing he could do was invoke the might of the most powerful entity he knew.

"Y-You dare commit such deeds in the territory of the Black Ghost Castle!"

As he shouted, the approaching figure came to a halt.

He slowly raised his head. When Yang Kun met the crimson pupils, he felt a sudden, painful surge in his heart.

"...Black Ghost Castle?"

The man muttered indifferently.

"Such a place exists, huh..."

"Y-You..."

Yang Kun was about to say more when the man casually slashed his waist.

"It doesn't matter where you belong, your gender, or your age... Those things are not important. What matters is that you're alive right now."

"...!"

Yang Kun was momentarily at a loss for words. The man continued nonchalantly.

"Looking at it now... You seem to be somewhat well-known, it's a good thing."

Someone called Yang Kun out like a scream.

"Lord... Lord!"

Startled for a moment, Yang Kun scanned his surroundings with sharp, bloodshot eyes. Suddenly, a group dressed in ragged clothing had surrounded them.

"When did they...?"

"Kill them all."

As the man's words fell, a horrifying aura burst forth from all directions. It felt less like the aura of humans and more like something raw, akin to ravenous beasts.

With relentless and suffocating energy, the group, clad in tattered garments, surged toward Yang Kun and his subordinates.

"Aaaargh!"

"Aaaargh!"

Watching them get swept away in an instant, the man in the crimson robe slowly turned his body.

At that moment, a colossal figure, wrapped in black clothing, knelt before him. The person bowed their head deeply, as if they couldn't bring themselves to make eye contact.

"Bishop."

"...What is it?"

"Do you intend to proceed any further than this?"

The cold gaze of the one addressed as "bishop" fell on the lowered head.

"If you have any objections, you can leave now. I won't take your life."

"Objections? I am here to serve the bishop. However, according to the sacred revelation, we should remain concealed and await His return..."

"Are you going to repeat the same old-fashioned things the elders say?"

"I merely..."

"Nonsense."

The bishop uttered coldly.

"If you believe that He is almighty enough to find us hidden away, why do you think He succumbed to the clutches of unbelievers?"

"Well, that is..."

The man struggled to provide an answer.

Any response he offered would likely be in violation of the doctrine. He was not in a high enough position to remove the label of being a heretic on his own.

"Do not doubt!"

The bishop's bloodshot eyes flared with fury.

"If you truly consider yourself His faithful servant, it is only natural that you should make our existence known to Him! We must annihilate everything we can see, to the extent that the world may be aware of our presence here. The blood you shed and the sacrifices you offer to Him will become a solitary beacon. Only then can we genuinely look forward to His return."

"I will follow your command."

The bishop turned, his robe fluttering.

The Demon Sect endures and endures. While the survivors perish and the newly born age, it merely waits and continues to wait.

He could no longer endure it.

"If He has truly returned, He will undoubtedly respond to our call."

Without a doubt.

Because that is the 'God's' duty.