Chapter 78: A Bunch of Madmen

TL: FoodieMonster007

Jang Ho was not the type to step forward. However, Jang Ho disliked the shackled man's arrogant attitude. The man dared to speak of the right-hand man position.

Jang Ho was the first to realize today's meeting was because of the shackled man.

Perhaps the reason we came today is because of that shackled man.

So he even sent a telepathy to Lee Ahn and Seo Daeryong. Lee Ahn bravely took action, and Seo Daeryong also made his move. With his rich combat experience, Jang Ho instinctively knew this place was a battlefield where an invisible fight would continue.

At Jang Ho's words, the shackled man raised his head and stared at him. The large scar on Jang Ho's face twitched.

The shackled man said to Jang Ho, "Why are you so obsessed with being the right hand? If it were me, I'd be the left hand and watch the right hands fight."

"I don't have a hobby of enjoying others' fights. Since my goal is to become the right hand, I will strive to become the right hand."

"How manly."

"Thank you."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who had only been watching, sent a telepathy to the shackled man.

How manly? Bullshit. Since when do you say things like that?

That's because you don't know me well. I'm a man who can say all sorts of things. I can joke and make witty remarks.

Damn it! Why are you saying such things in this situation?

The Cult Leader started it.

Let's say that's true, but what are these people trying to pull by flocking to you now?

Can't you tell by looking? They're all trying their best for their leader, aren't they?

Cowards! I'm alone.

What have you been doing all this time? The Cult Leader has so many subordinates.

So? Is the Second Young Lord a leader who cares more for his subordinates?

Even if I were to go to the Second Young Lord, it would be for a reason completely unrelated to them. It would be the same even if a hundred people came and praised the Second Young Lord. So you don't need to worry about them.

Then for what reason would you go?

However, the shackled man did not tell him the reason.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said to Geom Mugeuk, "The Second Young Lord has good subordinates."

"The Cult Leader surely has more good subordinates."

"No. I am a lonely man. Besides that person over there, no one understands me."

"Having someone who understands you is a great blessing in life."

"I hope that blessing stays by my side for a long time."

Geom Mugeuk did not say that he should then release the shackles. Geom Mugeuk knew well that mentioning the shackles and pushing him would be a disadvantageous choice for himself.

"Here, have a cup of my liquor."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader poured the liquor, imbuing it with his inner arts. Only a true master could imbue a cup with inner arts without breaking it. One could never receive the full cup unless they had inner arts to match.

TRICKLE.

However, Geom Mugeuk's expression did not change one bit until the cup was filled.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was greatly surprised inwardly.

Could it be? Does he surpass my inner arts? No way!

Compared to the shocked Cult Leader, Geom Mugeuk's expression was gentle. He received the cup, drank from it, and then held it out.

"This time, please have a cup of my liquor."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression stiffened. If he failed to receive Geom Mugeuk's cup, he would be humiliated in front of all these people. However, given the momentum, he could not refuse.

"Fine. Let's receive the liquor of our soaring hidden dragon."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader received the liquor. This time too, the pouring liquor was imbued with inner arts. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader tried his best to receive it calmly. The inner arts were just enough for him to endure.

"The liquor tastes excellent."

"Let's drink until we're drunk today."

"Fine."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader triumphantly sent a telepathy to the shackled man.

Did you see that? Receiving the liquor imbued with the Second Young Lord's inner arts? It was nothing special.

The Second Young Lord was just saving the Cult Leader's face. He probably didn't want to, but the reason he went out of his way to imbue it with inner arts was because he knew the Cult Leader would be embarrassed if he simply poured it after the Cult Leader had used his own. That's why he didn't even put his full inner arts into it.

…….

In truth, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had felt it before anyone else. Having exchanged inner arts with his body, how could he not know? He had tried to show off to the shackled man, only to reveal his own inadequacy.

Don't be discouraged. I know well that this is the kind of person the Cult Leader is.

You're making me feel even more intimidated. I'm usually a better person than this, but I keep making mistakes.

I understand that too.

Geom Mugeuk had noticed that the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was exchanging telepathy with the shackled man. However, he pretended not to know and continued drinking. Just then, a telepathy from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon arrived.

Why didn't you humiliate him?

If his pride is wounded, the situation will only worsen.

When you had the chance to show him, you should have. You should have crushed him completely. A person's heart is moved by simpler things than you think.

That man must have seen something more important than that.

Aren't you overestimating him?

Perhaps so.

The drinking party continued. Geom Mugeuk drank with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and exchanged calm conversation, but he refrained from any words or actions that would attack him. His strategy was not to attack the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

Geom Mugeuk focused on why he had come here today. He focused on the task of showing his people to the shackled man.

"Detective Seo. How is your martial arts training going these days?"

"It's tough, but I'm working hard."

Then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon interjected, "Tough?"

"No, it's not tough."

"Really? I should increase your training regimen."

"No, it's tough enough to kill me."

Geom Mugeuk laughed and joined their conversation. "Pleasing the Elder must be as hard as hitting my father's vital points."

"The Master isn't that difficult."

"You're calling me Master again."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon gruffly rebuked Seo Daeryong. As if it was not a mistake, Seo Daeryong spoke confidently.

"You haven't officially taken me as a disciple, but I think of you as my master. Even if you kick me out tomorrow, I will forever remember you as my Master."

"Who gave you permission to remember?"

"Are you saying I can't even remember as I please?"

The Flower Sword Supreme added to the sharp retort. "That's just the kind of person he is."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon did not get angry at her blunt words. "Do you really know me well enough to say that?"

"Perfectly. In fact, I'm the one who doesn't want to remember."

The two engaged in a war of nerves without raising their voices. Geom Mugeuk did not stop them. The purpose of today's visit was to show them as they were. The problem was that he was showing them a little too much as they were.

Geom Mugeuk silently poured them liquor. The Flower Sword Supreme fiddled with her cup, while the Blood Heaven Blade Demon immediately emptied his.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader watched this with a somewhat unfamiliar feeling. It seemed he had never expected the Demon Supremes to have an emotional squabble right in front of him.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sent a telepathy to the shackled man and asked, What in the world are they trying to pull? What's their intention?

You already knew those two don't get along, right?

But to fight so openly, showing their emotions in front of me? Those sly foxes? No way. I know what kind of people they are.

It's probably not because they're in front of the Cult Leader.

!

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader bit his lip gently as he looked at Geom Mugeuk and the two Demon Supremes. Sitting on either side of Geom Mugeuk like wings, they freely expressed their emotions without a care for him. Even that sight pressured the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. A loneliness like standing alone on a deserted rocky island washed over him.

This can't go on!

When this meeting first started, he thought he could really face Geom Mugeuk with great momentum. He thought he could bring about some grand reversal. However, in reality, he was being pushed back in momentum, in inner arts, and in magnanimity.

Moreover, the people who came with Geom Mugeuk were moving differently than he had expected. The woman suddenly offered liquor to the shackled man, that small and gloomy fellow stepped up to agree with him, and the Demonic Army General uncharacteristically coveted the right-hand man position. Now, the two Demon Supremes were having an emotional fight with each other.

These guys are a bunch of madmen.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was lost in all sorts of worries. If he could, he wanted to flip the table and scream.

You bastards! Won't you all get lost? Do you know who I am, coming here in a group and pulling this shit! You want to go to war with the Outer Regions Murim? Come at me if you dare!

However, he could not do that. If he had that kind of nerve, a moment like this would never have come.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader did not give up until the very end. He poured liquor for Geom Mugeuk and said cheerfully, "Our Cult will give its unsparing support so that you can become the next Heavenly Demon."

"Thank you. I, too, will actively help the Heavenly Wind Cult's advance into the Central Plains."

"This time, with your help, my disciple became a Demon Supreme. You didn't ask for any reward for it, but I must reward you."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader showed that he no longer considered the sacred artifact a waste. He was trying to show the shackled man that he had changed. He wanted to show his will to change, that he was not a narrow-minded and greedy person forever.

"Choose."

"Will you really give me what I want?"

"That's right. I will give you anything in this room."

Everyone looked at Geom Mugeuk, anticipating what he would choose. Finally, Geom Mugeuk spoke to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Words that no one in that room could have imagined flowed from his lips.

"Please give me those shackles."

Everyone was startled by his request for the shackles. Among them, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's surprise was an expected one, a feeling of 'it has finally come'. For that reason, he was even more furious.

How dare he make such a demand even after I called him my right hand?

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said resolutely with a cold gaze, "I can never give you that man."

However, he had misunderstood Geom Mugeuk's request.

"I am not asking for the man. I am asking for the shackles, made of ten-thousand-year cold steel."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was shocked. They were truly unexpected words.

"What do you plan to use the shackles for?"

"To tie up anyone who doesn't listen."

He said it like a joke, looking at Seo Daeryong.

Seo Daeryong pouted and said, "Shackles are for tying up people who listen well. You can't tie up someone like me who doesn't listen! That's when big trouble happens."

He had said it as a joke, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader flinched, shaken. It was an issue he had never considered before.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk revealed his original purpose for wanting the shackles. "I want to melt this ten-thousand-year cold steel and create something more valuable. A treasure like this would be hard to find even among sacred artifacts."

He could bind the man with another set of shackles anyway. So this request was a symbolic one. It was an expression of his desire to set the man free.

"So please, give me those shackles."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was lost in thought.

What should I do?

He wished the shackled man would talk to him at a time like this.

It's about releasing his own shackles, so there's no way he'd discuss it with me.

Just then, the shackled man sent a telepathic message.

[Refuse.]

[What?]

[For the Cult Leader's sake, this is a demand you must not accept.]

[Why are you telling me this?]

[Didn't you ask me to be fair?]

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sighed without realizing it. He had not known Geom Mugeuk would ask for the shackles, nor that the shackled man would send a telepathy.

Everyone is smarter than me, so I can't keep up with my own head.

He thought he could do really well, but the vast difference between ideals and reality made him despair. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was conscious of the gazes directed at him.

"A promise must be kept."

It was not because of pride or face. It was because of the judgment that releasing him now would make the shackled man see him in a better light.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader took out the key hanging from his necklace. He then slowly walked over and unlocked the man's shackles. During the process, they said nothing. They did not exchange telepathy either. He simply unlocked the shackles, and the man just watched.

"……"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader brought the shackles and the key and placed them in front of Geom Mugeuk.

"Take them."

"Thank you."

The shackled man remained seated in the same position, his head bowed.

Geom Mugeuk asked the shackled man, "Is there anything you would like to have made from this when it's melted?"

Everyone's surprised gazes focused on Geom Mugeuk. They had never imagined he would give the melted ten-thousand-year cold steel back to the shackled man.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader felt a wave of dizziness and squeezed his eyes shut. He felt that the only thing he could do against these people was to flip the liquor table.