Chapter 64: Come When I Say Come, Go When I Say Go

TL: FoodieMonster007

After the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader left, I tried the Spacetime Manipulation Technique for the first time. I was curious how quickly I could create a space.

I had no intention of practicing this martial art for decades. I just hoped to create the first space as quickly as possible.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's explanation of the incantations helped me grasp the ultimate technique within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. I skillfully circulated my qi and performed the incantations as if I had practiced this martial art for a very long time.

How much time passed?

A clear, cheerful sound rang in my ears. I found myself standing in a new space.

It was a success!

It took exactly four hours. He said even talented people needed several days, so I had created a new space in an incomparably short time.

I was certain. Not even my father could have created a space this quickly.

Four hours.

The day would surely come when I would reduce this time again and again. Then I could use this martial art as freely as the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme or the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

Learning a new martial art always brought great excitement, but the thrill from the Spacetime Manipulation Technique was completely different.

I walked slowly and examined the space. The newly created place contained nothing.

Just as the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme created a cliff and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader created a wasteland, I too would one day create any space I desired.

However, this wasn't bad either.

Was it because this space allowed me to be completely alone, cut off from the world? I felt a surprising comfort in this empty place, a feeling I had never experienced before.

It was a place away from my responsibilities, the effort, the succession battle, Hwa Mugi, and all human relationships. A place for myself, without a single thought. I liked it because I had my own space.

Unfortunately, I could not enjoy this freedom for long. The consumption of inner arts was immense, perhaps because it was my first time.

Later, as my proficiency increased, the amount of inner arts required would decrease. At my current level, however, it drained away like water from a cracked jar.

Dispelling the space was easy. I recited the incantation, and the same cheerful sound from before rang out as the space slowly vanished.

I returned to the original world, sat down, and began meditating to restore my qi.

To gain that brief freedom, I had to invest four hours and then replenish my inner arts with my cultivation method. I did not hesitate.

I replenished my inner arts and used the Spacetime Manipulation Technique again. It took nearly four hours this time as well, but it felt a tiny bit faster than before. Yes, keep getting shorter. Then I, too, will be able to create this space in an instant.

I created a space with the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, then dispelled it, then created and dispelled it again.

I was completely engrossed in creating my own space until dawn. The creation time decreased, albeit minutely.

My goodness! To think such an enjoyable martial art existed! That was my honest feeling.

At the same time Geom Mugeuk was engrossed in the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Demonic Buddha created a heavy atmosphere.

The Demonic Buddha had arrived at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's residence late at night without any notice.

The Demonic Buddha was about to sit at the tea table, but instead minced his way over to the shackled man. Because the Demonic Buddha was short, he was nearly at eye level with the seated man.

The shackled man's head was bowed, so his face was not visible.

The Demonic Buddha bent at the waist to see the shackled man's face, but his long, flowing hair made it difficult.

The Demonic Buddha hesitated, wondering if he should lift the man's hair with his small hand.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader watched with a displeased expression. He was not happy that the Demonic Buddha treated the shackled man like a spectacle.

However, he didn't say, 'Don't disrespect my subordinate.' If he did, the Demonic Buddha would surely rile him up, starting with something like, 'Who was the one who shackled him and didn't treat him like a human in the first place?'

Just then, the Demonic Buddha turned and asked abruptly.

"I heard you met the Second Young Lord."

A probing gaze, one that seemed to test a person's heart, was directed at him. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader remained completely unfazed.

"He might become the Cult Leader someday, so of course I had to meet him."

"The First Young Lord will be the Cult Leader."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader already knew this, even without such a firm answer. He knew the Demonic Buddha actively supported the First Young Lord. If the Second Young Lord had the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the First Young Lord had the Demonic Buddha.

"The situation doesn't seem to be heading that way."

"What do you mean?"

"Hasn't the Second Young Lord risen to the position of the Sanzu Hall Director? Doesn't it look to anyone like the Heavenly Demon is training him as the successor?"

"Hoho, my friend. Staying only in the Outer Regions seems to have dulled your insight."

The Demonic Buddha hurt the other's feelings with unnecessary words before he continued.

"I see it the opposite way. He intends to make the First Young Lord the successor, so he gave the Second Young Lord another position. It's a way of saying, 'Be satisfied with that.'"

"That could be true. It's a shame to return without seeing the First Young Lord on my first trip to the Central Plains in a long time."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader never revealed his true intentions to the Demonic Buddha.

"Why do you support the First Young Lord?"

"Because the First Young Lord will be the successor. Why ask such an obvious question?"

"What's the reason for your confidence?"

"It's just my intuition."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader knew the Demonic Buddha was not a man who would decide such a crucial matter based on intuition alone. He simply didn't want to tell him anything related to the First Young Lord.

How can we call ourselves friends like this?

He was the same way. He would never share any important information regarding the Second Young Lord.

"Look here, Cult Leader."

"What is it?"

"Don't think about doing anything foolish. There are many eyes watching you here."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Why haven't you returned yet?"

"Are you telling me to get lost now that my business is done?"

"That's not what I meant."

The content of their words was sharp, but the tone of both men was soft and calm.

"Then just leave me be. I'm enjoying my first trip to the Central Plains in a while. Why? Do you want to charge me for the room?"

"When you visit someone's house, you should stay quiet and then leave. Is it right to take a shit in the master bedroom?"

"Hoho. It seems you're mistaking some other dog's shit for mine."

"This is my advice as a friend. Stop causing unnecessary trouble and return to the Heavenly Wind Cult."

Honestly, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was inwardly flustered. He hadn't expected the Demonic Buddha to come and tell him to leave so openly. Regardless of their true feelings, they had at least maintained a pretense of friendship and courtesy on the surface.

"Am I someone who must come when you say come, and go when you say go?"

His tone was still calm, but his words were like a gleaming blue blade.

"Were you not?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression hardened. The air around them instantly grew cold.

At that, the Demonic Buddha broke into a wide smile.

"A joke, it was a joke. My friend, getting so serious over a little jest. You really have lost your touch from staying only in the Outer Regions. Stay and play as much as you like. Let's play here together for the rest of our lives. Hahaha."

As if he had never been angry, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed along with him.

"It seems so. I suppose being exposed to the desolate sandstorms for too long has made me desolate as well. That's what the Outer Regions are like."

"I'll buy you a drink at a place with a good atmosphere. A place with beauties who will melt our Cult Leader's desolation like snow."

"Is it right for a monk to frequent such places? Won't your Buddha scold you?"

"The Buddha I serve sometimes manifests as a Buddha of Carnal Desires."

"Excellent."

The two men faced each other and laughed.

"Well then, let's get together for a drink soon!"

"Sounds good."

The Demonic Buddha laughed heartily and left the room.

Once the Demonic Buddha was gone, the smile vanished from the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's face. He asked the shackled man.

"What do you think?"

"He's getting anxious. It seems he's noticed that you, Cult Leader, are trying to join hands with the Second Young Lord."

"Is that something to be so anxious about?"

"It means he's that wary of the Second Young Lord. His assessment is correct."

"What should I do now?"

"Think for yourself. Don't make a habit of constantly asking."

"The survival of myself and our Cult is at stake right now. So don't play hard to get."

The man turned to face him and shook his shackles.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader wore a reluctant expression, but he opened a new space in the end.

Gazing at the green field, the man's face lit up as if he were about to fly.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader unlocked the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron shackles with the key around his neck and asked.

"Why do you like this place so much?"

For a fleeting moment, a certain fondness flickered in the man's eyes. However, the emotion vanished so quickly that the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who was bent over unlocking the shackles, did not see it.

"You should try being bound in shackles all day, Cult Leader. Let's switch roles for just one day."

"I'll pass."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gave the man a moment to enjoy his freedom.

The man's emotions were particularly calm today. Was that why? Gazing at the field, the man immediately offered the necessary advice.

"The Demonic Buddha will do whatever it takes to make you return, Cult Leader. He'll probably use his own Cult Leader."

However, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had no intention of returning meekly. He was determined to establish a foothold for advancing into the Central Plains on this occasion.

"What should I do?"

"Go to the Second Young Lord and ask him for a way to remain here. He will surely tell you how."

"Is it not a method you also know?"

"Even if I knew, you must give the Second Young Lord a gift to hear it from him."

"I can't understand it. Why must we cling to the Second Young Lord like this?"

"Then who will you cling to?"

For a moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was speechless. The Heavenly Demon disliked him, and the Demon Supremes, including the Demonic Buddha, supported the First Young Lord.

Only the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had officially joined hands with the Second Young Lord. The rest of the Demon Supremes were either neutral or believed the First Young Lord would become the successor. He truly had nowhere to stand.

"If you don't want to cling to him, then you can stay cooped up in the Outer Regions, coming when you're called and going when you're told. You'll be able to live well, feasting and dressing in finery for the rest of your life."

If he had cursed while saying it, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would have been less angry, but because he spoke so politely, he became even more furious.

"Don't provoke my pride with such words!"

However, the man paid no mind to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's feelings.

"The way to win this fight is simple. Choose well, and believe until the end. Simple, isn't it? It's so simple that it's actually difficult to practice. The losers never realize it until the very end. That victory depended on whether or not they adhered to these simple principles."

"Enough with the nagging! Enough with the lectures!"

"If you don't think you can abide by this principle, then we should return, just as the Demonic Buddha said."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was about to yell at him to shut up, but he calmed himself down.

He was several times more infuriating than the Demonic Buddha, but everything he said was right. So, instead of getting angry, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader revealed his inner thoughts.

"I don't want to keep giving things to the Second Young Lord. Honestly, it feels like a waste. A complete and utter waste. I still regret giving him the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. I couldn't sleep a wink last night because I kept thinking I gave it to him for nothing."

No one would ever know that he, the Supreme One of the Outer Regions Murim, had such a personality. Or that he lived his life listening to such scolding.

"It's because you're petty and greedy."

Whenever he heard such words, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader felt anger rise to the top of his head. At the same time, he felt a strange sense of pleasure.

He had lived his life hiding his true nature better than anyone, but there was a sense of kinship in knowing that one person knew exactly what kind of man he was.

"But what can I do if it feels like a waste? And you're telling me to give him more?"

"If you've made a choice, you must believe in it. Give it to him. Give him everything."

"It's a waste! I don't want to give him a single thing!"

Normally, a curse would have burst from the shackled man's lips at this moment. Today, however, the man remained calm until the very end.

"Let's just go back and spend our days wiping the dust off the sacred objects and ringing bells. That's a perfect fit for a vessel of your size, Cult Leader."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader bit his lip firmly.

"I will break out of it. I'm doing this to shatter this petty disposition of mine, which is as small as a soy sauce dish! I will definitely establish the Heavenly Wind Cult Headquarters in the Central Plains. I will achieve with my own hands what our predecessors could not."

He would have preferred a curse, but the shackled man only sighed.

"…You probably won't succeed."

After that, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader remained silent for a long time, lost in thought. It was a day he had been terribly angry, yet the virtual space lasted until his inner arts were completely depleted.