Chapter 1053: I Was Insane Too (Part 8)

The two groups that had come to the completely collapsed the land of Hangzhou, staining it with blood, stopped moving with different meanings.

"…Bishop…"

The jaw of the Disciple of Law trembled uncontrollably. If someone who didn't know him had seen this scene, they would have thought it pitiful.

His mission was to ensure that these filthy heretics did not dare to disturb the bishop's rest. It was a task that should have been reasonably fulfilled as a disciple of the bishop. But he failed to accomplish that.

Finally, the enemies' blades were pointed at the bishop. That fact filled the disciple with unspeakable horror.

The followers of the Demonic Sect, who had received orders from the Disciples of Law, were no different. Everyone looked at Danjagang, standing alone in the ruins, with shock.

And the disciples of Mount Hua, who had caused the Disciples of Law to make an unforgivable mistake, were staring at Danjagang in a different sense.

'What is this?'

Baek Cheon's eyes were puzzled.

'This is the bishop?'

The man standing alone was very different from the bishop Baek Cheon had imagined. The bishop he had seen in the North Sea was an entity that could not be expressed as anything other than a monster. Wearing the skin of a human but a giant embodiment of unimaginable evil. That was how Baek Cheon remembered the bishop.

But what he was seeing now...

'Different.'

Although his tall stature and abnormally thin body were strangely creepy, he didn't have the inhuman appearance that Baek Cheon remembered from the bishop. Instead, he seemed like an ordinary man that could be seen anywhere.

However...

Chills.

It was only in his head, yet Baek Cheon could clearly feel it in his body.

Something incredibly enormous was hidden beneath that unremarkable appearance. A profound and dark abyss so thick and deep that just facing it felt overwhelming.

Baek Cheon, who clenched his lips tightly, glanced around. The faces of those around him were also pale and frozen. They were feeling the same thing as Baek Cheon.

Baek Cheon's gaze paused at Chung Myung's back. Even when facing the bishop, his back showed no signs of trembling.

Danjagang slowly looked down at the cup in his hand.

The red glow in the cup had become dull, covered by dust. No matter how much they dominated the Central Plains and occupied this place, it was as if those who worshipped the Heavenly Demon were not qualified to drink this fine wine.

Silently, Danjagang slowly brought the cup to his lips and drank the wine.

The original sensation that tickled his nose with a pleasant aroma was nowhere to be found. It was nothing but nauseating muddy water, losing its aroma and taste, leaving only the taste of dirt and dust.

However, Danjagang accepted the disgusting taste of the muddy water without avoiding it. What he had originally drunk was not much different from this foul water.

Savoring the taste of the unpleasant flavor and aroma in his mouth, Danjagang slowly opened the hand holding the cup.

Crack.

The fallen cup shattered into pieces.

"Regrettable."

Danjagang, who briefly looked at the scattered white fragments, shifted his gaze. Towards the two standing in front.

One with a flamboyant appearance like a clown and another in black robes with a cold sword.

Then, he scanned the people behind them and the practitioners staring at him with terrified faces. Danjagang's gaze remained as dark as ever, making it impossible for others to discern his intentions.

'Is it that even the smallest indulgence of what you enjoy is not allowed for me?'

Danjagang chuckled softly. Indeed, from their perspective, Danjagang was nothing more than an invader who came to take away everything they enjoyed.

"B-Bishop!"

At that moment, the enemy screamed as if in agony.

"The Bishop won't personally intervene. I will handle these intruders!"

Danjagang glanced briefly at the disciples. Their condition was a mess. The corner of Danjagang's lips twitched slightly.

"Please forgive my rudeness and grant me the opportunity to make amends..."

"Step back."

"B-Bishop!"

Danjagang's gaze turned towards Chung Myung and Jang Ilso standing at the forefront.

Different auras were felt. One aura was so refreshing that it felt repulsive, while the other aura was so nauseating that it was almost disgusting. Like water and oil, their auras were intensely contrasting.

But what was reflected in both sets of eyes was no different.

Clear hostility.

Feeling the overt hostility pouring out, Danjagang slowly opened his mouth.

"Here..."

But he stopped speaking soon after. He realized that he was attempting to 'communicate' with them.

Certainly, he had conversed with people from the Central Plains many times before. However, those were not 'conversations.' They were merely one-sided notifications of his position.

But now, Danjagang wasn't trying to notify them. He was trying to ask and listen.

Danjagang closed his eyes slightly.

'I've become uncertain.'

Now, even if he tried to deny it, he couldn't. Regardless of what happened, he couldn't return to being Bishop Danjagang who had not stepped out of the temple.

But... even so...

It was at that moment.

"A young guy, huh?"

The swordsman in black robes at the forefront spoke with a crooked smile. The scrutinizing gaze was sharp.

"It's not even funny."

"...."

"Someone who has never seen the Heavenly Demon is licking the soles of the feet of a non-existent Heavenly Demon."

If it were the Danjagang from some time ago, he would have felt an indescribable anger at those words. Like the practitioners in front of Danjagang, who couldn't vent their boiling anger in front of Danjagang and were forcibly suppressing it.

But ironically, the current Danjagang didn't feel much anger at those words. It was because he considered that statement not entirely untrue. He knew that it was proving his shattered faith.

Therefore, he became curious once again.

"I have one question, swordsman."

"We don't seem to be on friendly terms enough for a conversation, do we?"

Danjagang chuckled quietly.

"Then I suppose you could call it a favor."

At that, there was a hint of youthfulness in Chung Myung's eyes.

'A hundred years....'

He realized once again how long that time was. Never did he think he would see a bishop making such a statement.

"Go ahead and say what you want."

There was a moment of silence. Danjagang, who had been silently observing Chung Myung and Jang Ilso, slowly opened his twisted lips.

"Why don't you run away?"

"What?"

Danjagang's indifferent gaze pierced through Chung Myung.

"If you were at my level, you would have felt it by now. Perhaps you already understand."

Danjagang's tone was matter-of-fact, as if stating an established fact.

"The difference in power is clear. You can't stop me."

It wasn't a threat. At least not from Danjagang's perspective.

"But why don't you run away? Why resist? Why engage in a fight when the outcome is predetermined?"

It was truly foolish.

Certainly, he acknowledged their strength. They were formidable experts, to the point that finding an opponent within the sect, unless at the level of a bishop, would be difficult.

However, precisely because of that, they should be able to understand that clearly the moment they face him. It meant there was no chance of victory for them.

'Yet why do they show such unwavering determination in their gaze when facing an overwhelming presence?'

Facing an irresistible giant, why could they still hold their ground?

It was a question without much meaning, but for Danjagang, it was a question he couldn't help but ask. However, the returned answer was slightly different from what Danjagang expected. What he received was a blatant scoff.

"I'm going to hear all kinds of stupid questions. Did you become a philosopher after living in the outskirts of the Demonic Cult, eating nothing but dirt?"

It was a very rude and impudent feeling to show to the bishop.

Chung Myung laughed aloud and then asked Danjagang.

"Well then? Because the enemy is strong, should we bow our heads and submit in front of them?"

"...."

"Listen well, you foolish brat. Cowards like you might tremble and bow to an imaginary Heavenly Demon, fearing death, but I'd rather die than become a despicable human like that."

"....Are you not afraid of death?"

"Of course, it's scary, you foolish brat."

Chung Myung laughed as if he found it amusing.

"But submitting is more nauseating than death. Especially to brats like you."

Just as Danjagang was about to speak, a faint nasal sound reached his ears.

"Hmm."

Danjagang's gaze turned toward Jang Ilso, who was next to Chung Myung.

A vividly drawn curve of red lips, like blood etched on an entirely white face, appeared eerily.

"...Bishop, Bishop. I wondered how remarkable of a person he was."

Jang Ilso, who paused for a moment, let out an exaggerated sigh.

"This is a bit disappointing."

Jang Ilso's eyebrows twitched uncomfortably.

"Remember one thing."

Jang Ilso spoke in an oddly sinister voice. The youthful arrogance on his face even made Danjagang, the supreme bishop, frown.

"The moment you acknowledge that someone above you naturally exists, you've reached your end as a person."

"..."

"That's the difference between those who dominate and those dominated. And I am not afraid of those dominated. No matter how strong you are, in the end, the same fate awaits for humans who choose to submit."

Klack!

Jang Ilso's rings grated harshly against each other.

"So, what kind of person are you?"

Danjagang, who was listening to Jang Ilso's words, chuckled quietly.

'An uncontrolled human...'

He slowly tilted his head.

"I don't know."

"..."

"You don't know either. You don't have the answer I want. No…maybe I won't get an answer from anyone in the world."

A disappointed tone seeped from Danjagang's lips.

"I do not submit. I overcome. I resist."

As the muttering continued, Danjagang's face gradually distorted.

"That's a phrase that those who have never experienced true fear, true greatness, and true holiness can say."

Under Danjagang's feet, black magic surged and swirled. It was so dense that it seemed like an otherworldly darkness wrapped around his feet and began to coil.

"Even so, if you still intend to blurt out such words..."

Whiiiiiiiiing!

The magic released by Danjagang spun faster and faster, forming a gigantic vortex that fiercely writhed with intense flames.

"Let me tell you."

Danjagang's voice also gradually became rough. His two eyes emitted a profound, blood-red glow.

"What true despair is!"

Kwaaaaaaa!

The black magic soared into the sky like a black dragon. Finally, from Danjagang, who threw himself into madness, a scream reminiscent of a demonic creature from hell erupted. It was overwhelming to the point of being shocking.

In the midst of the spectacle of the surging magic, the world began to be dyed with terror.