Chapter 143: Restoring the Sacred Flame
“Are the preparations for the ritual complete?”
“Yes.”
Yeom Yuhwa bowed as she answered.
“I have completed every ritual procedure required of the Flame Attendant.”
I nodded.
Right after dealing with Sa Eumryeong, I'd wanted to begin restoring the Sacred Flame immediately.
But Yeom Yuhwa persuaded me that she needed more time.
Her official position within the Demonic Cult was Flame Attendant.
In other words...
she was responsible for managing the Sacred Flame.
As the Flame Attendant, Yeom Yuhwa stressed that formal preparations were required before attempting to relight it.
Because of that...
only now, a full week later, could we finally begin trying to restore the Sacred Flame again.
Not sure we really needed to wait this long, though.
I swallowed a bitter smile.
It wasn't as though I possessed some incredible secret method for restoring the Sacred Flame.
All I knew was that the Sacred Flame Altar reacted to me and produced a small flame.
That was it.
So my plan was essentially to try whatever I could and see what happened.
There was only one reason someone like me, who wasn't even a member of the Demonic Cult, cared so much about restoring the Sacred Flame.
The Flow.
The words Immortal Yeonha had left behind.
The mysterious flame she supposedly encountered together with True Immortal Cheongun.
And the conversation between Cheongun and Heavenly Demon Dokgo Cheonyul that I'd seen in the vision inside the Heavenly Forbidden Prison.
When I put everything together...
there had to be another Flow left somewhere within the Demonic Cult.
And I believed the mysterious flame mentioned in Yeonha's final words might refer to the Sacred Flame.
Restoring the Sacred Flame might be the first step toward finding the Flow that had been left behind.
Of course...
that was still only my guess.
“This time, just like before, we might only get a small flame for a moment.”
Yeom Yuhwa's gaze deepened at my warning.
“The Cult Leader's decision to name you the Heavenly Demon's Kindred Spirit must carry a profound meaning.”
She spoke with certainty.
“The Sacred Flame will surely respond to that will as well.”
As expected...
another answer filled with absolute faith.
“Don't trust me too much.”
“I cannot do that.”
Yeom Yuhwa continued firmly.
“Right now, there is only one person capable of reviving the Sacred Flame...”
She looked directly at me.
“You, Mujin.”
I stared at her silently for a moment.
The only one.
For some reason...
hearing it phrased that way made the responsibility feel heavier.
Then Yeom Yuhwa handed me a set of clothes she had been carrying.
They were a deep shade of blue.
Subtle patterns were embroidered across the dark blue silk.
The designs looked strange.
Like flames...
and yet also like flowing clouds.
I looked at them.
“What is this?”
Yeom Yuhwa answered reverently.
“Ritual robes made in the colors and patterns symbolizing the Sacred Flame.”
She continued,
“Traditionally, they are worn by the Flame Attendant and those who assist the Heavenly Demon during rites.”
I frowned.
“You're asking me to wear these?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“Today, you must stand before the Sacred Flame Altar as the one restoring the Sacred Flame.”
Her voice became earnest.
“Please.”
I took the clothes and looked down at them.
Ritual robes of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
A Taoist of a righteous sect...
standing before the Sacred Flame Altar dressed in Demonic Cult ceremonial clothing.
The more I thought about it...
the stranger it felt.
A Kunlun Taoist in Demonic Cult ritual robes.
What would the Primordial Heavenly Venerable in the Immortal Realm say if he saw this?
Would he strike me with lightning on the spot?
No.
Come on. It's just one set of clothes.
Even True Immortal Cheongun, who supposedly ascended to the Immortal Realm, had clearly worked together with Heavenly Demon Dokgo Cheonyul.
Surely wearing one set of robes wasn't going to cause some catastrophe.
Right.
This is all for the greater purpose.
After convincing myself, I nodded.
“Fine. I'll change.”
“I will also change into my ritual robes and return.”
Yeom Yuhwa bowed and left the room.
I immediately changed into the blue ceremonial robes and looked at myself in the mirror hanging on the wall.
The clothes fit better than I'd expected.
At my waist...
I still wore the sword left behind by True Immortal Cheongun.
Rather than a Taoist of Kunlun...
I looked more like some young priest of the Demonic Cult.
What a strange feeling.
Then I sensed someone outside the door.
“May I enter?”
“Come in.”
The door opened.
Yeom Yuhwa entered again.
She too was now dressed in blue ceremonial robes.
She looked distinctly different from usual.
Her naturally sharp and resolute appearance remained...
but it was now overlaid with a solemn air.
Rather than a swordswoman...
she looked like a priestess guarding some ancient sanctuary.
She looked at me and paused.
“What is it?”
“Ah, nothing.”
The corner of her mouth rose slightly.
“The ritual robes suit you.”
“Do they?”
“Yes.”
She smiled faintly.
“You look as though you were always a member of the Divine Cult.”
"..."
I wasn't sure whether I should accept that as a compliment.
Then—
“Mujin!”
The door suddenly flew open, and Goeong rushed into the room.
He looked back and forth between me and Yeom Yuhwa.
Then his eyes widened.
“Huh? You're all blue!”
Goeong clapped his hands and laughed.
“Mujin is blue! Yuhwa is blue! Everyone is blue!”
Seeing him...
all the seriousness drained out of me.
At times like this, he really does look like an idiot.
Then I remembered what he'd done a week earlier.
Dragging No Hyeonmyeong and Gongya Dok back half-dead after beating them into bloody lumps.
Right.
I can't let that stupid-looking face fool me.
Goeong is the Heavenly Demon who beat two of the Ten Demons into pulp.
I turned toward Yeom Yuhwa.
“Isn't the Cult Leader wearing ritual robes?”
“We prepared them.”
Yeom Yuhwa looked awkward.
“However, the Cult Leader refused.”
I looked at Goeong.
Did he have some instinctive aversion to something related to the Sacred Flame?
The thought briefly crossed my mind.
Then Goeong swung both arms dramatically.
“Goeong doesn't like blue!”
"..."
“Everyone being blue is weird!”
He shook his head.
“Goeong won't wear it!”
I immediately understood.
...He just doesn't like the color.
I'd overthought it for nothing.
Yeom Yuhwa sighed.
“We could not force the Cult Leader to wear something he disliked.”
“I said I don't like blue!”
Goeong shouted again.
I nodded to show him I'd understood, then looked toward Yeom Yuhwa.
“Then...?”
“Yes.”
She bowed.
“It is time to go.”
At last...
the time had come.
Time to head to the Heavenly Demon Hall where the Sacred Flame Altar waited.
The journey there was completely silent.
We didn't see a single person on the way to the Heavenly Demon Hall.
Muk Jincheol had deliberately cleared the route.
Only a very small number of people within the Demonic Cult still knew that the Sacred Flame had gone out.
So today's ritual to relight it also had to be conducted in secret.
We continued walking through the silence.
Before long...
we reached the Heavenly Demon Hall.
One man was waiting before its main doors.
Overlord Saber Ghost Demon Muk Jincheol.
The instant he saw Goeong...
he rushed forward and dropped to one knee.
“You have arrived, Cult Leader.”
As always...
Muk Jincheol's loyalty to the Cult Leader was absolute.
Goeong quietly looked down at him.
Then pointed at him with one finger.
“Oh.”
His eyes widened.
“The crybaby.”
"..."
