Chapter 92: The Frightening Power of Words

TL: FoodieMonster007

When I returned to my residence after martial arts training, Go Wol was reading in his room. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stood in the courtyard, gazing at the night sky.

His atmosphere had changed since I first saw him. He seemed calmer in some indefinable way.

"When did you arrive?"

"I came to see that precious Strategist of yours, so don't worry. I haven't been waiting long."

"Did you enjoy seeing your precious Strategist?"

"I just got scolded."

"Oh dear. That won't do. How dare he scold the Cult Leader? I'll give that Strategist a piece of my mind."

"Don't say things you don't mean. Your words are even more annoying."

I grinned, and he returned a pleasant smile.

"I waited on purpose to see you before I left."

"What is it?"

"The First Young Lord came to see me. I wanted to tell you myself that I wasn't swayed in the slightest."

"Ah, I'm truly moved."

"Yes, you should be. The First Young Lord presented such good conditions. I rejected them all."

"Thank you, Cult Leader."

I did not ask what conditions were offered.

"Well then, I'm off. They say you shouldn't linger at times like this. It lessens the impact."

"Yes. That's right. It would have been perfect if you hadn't even said that."

"Is that so?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed awkwardly. My connection with this man was truly deep. I felt our bond would grow even stronger in the future.

SNAP!

I snapped my fingers. Suddenly, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and I stood in the middle of a green field.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was startled.

"You've perfected the Spacetime Manipulation Technique!"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked around at the towering trees, the grass swaying in the wind, and the winding country road leading to distant mountains.

"It's perfect."

"It's thanks to you for passing on such a brilliant martial art."

"Since the creation of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, you're probably the first person to master it so quickly. You wouldn't know how many long years I trained to create this space."

"I was lucky."

"Don't be modest. For this, there's truly no need for modesty."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader showed he had grown through the recent turmoil.

He suddenly grabbed my hand.

"Congratulations."

I conveyed my own sincerity in response to his.

"Thank you. At least within this space, you are my master, Cult Leader."

"You truly are…"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could not finish his sentence.

"Ah, and I have one more thing to ask."

"Go ahead."

"In the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, is it possible to make the time flowing here different from reality? I mean, can I make it flow slower than the time outside?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's eyes widened as he stared at me.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"In the past, I would have definitely said this. 'Hey, you brat, does that even make sense?'"

"And now?"

"Hey, you brat, does that even make sense!"

I laughed, and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed along as he explained.

"Actually, I've had that thought myself. I even tried researching it, but it was impossible. I thought of it years after perfecting the space, but you're thinking of it as soon as you've perfected it."

This meant there was no secret technique for it. To achieve this, I would have to research and contemplate it again when my martial arts reached a higher level.

"I understand. Well then, I'll release the space."

"Wait a moment! Were you serious earlier? About thinking of me as your master, at least in this place."

"I was serious."

"Then open this space for me sometimes. When else in my life will I get a chance to act as your master?"

"Yes, I will."

Seeing the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's face brighten, I snapped my fingers.

SNAP!

We returned to reality.

"Then, please travel safely."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader started walking away, then suddenly turned and shouted.

"I'm with the Second Young Lord until the end!"

He disappeared quickly into the darkness as if embarrassed. I watched him go and let out a small laugh.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader has such a cute side to him?

Then again, a person with that kind of heart was probably able to abandon everything and leave.

The Demonic Buddha was very angry.

He could understand Geom Muyang visiting the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. After all, Geom Muyang had matters to resolve with him.

However, he could not tolerate Geom Muyang visiting the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Geom Muyang had clearly seen the war of nerves between him and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, yet he still went.

"First Young Lord."

"Yes, Elder."

"I heard you met with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader?"

"Yes. I met with him to try and pull him to our side."

Geom Muyang answered so calmly that it was difficult to get angry. Besides, he had a clear reason.

"If we bring the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader over, won't the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme naturally join our side as well? That's why I met him."

"What did the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader say?"

"He said he would think about it."

Geom Muyang said nothing more.

The Demonic Buddha pondered how to convey his feelings without upsetting Geom Muyang. In the end, he took a step back and started with an apology.

"It was my mistake to call the Yunnan Eccentric Duo."

"What do you mean?"

"I think my thoughts were too shallow. I shouldn't have involved such people in the First Young Lord's affairs."

"I know very well that it stemmed from your concern for me."

"Thank you for thinking so. As expected, the Young Lord is very generous."

"However, there is one thing we must correct."

"What do you mean?"

"You said you involved the Yunnan Eccentric Duo in my affairs. Strictly speaking, it's not my affair, but yours, Elder."

Geom Muyang drew a clear line. He was walking the path to become the successor and wanted no connection with trash like the Yunnan Eccentric Duo.

The Demonic Buddha wondered if this was necessary but hid any sign of it.

"Ah, I misspoke. That's right, the matter of the Yunnan Eccentric Duo is entirely my affair."

"Of course, I'm well aware you called them for my sake. So please don't worry too much about it."

Geom Muyang smiled first, and the Demonic Buddha laughed along.

The conversation ended with laughter, but the Demonic Buddha's heart did not feel clear. There was a problem, and it was unsettling because he could not tell if the problem was with himself or with Geom Muyang.

As the Demonic Buddha left Geom Muyang's residence, someone was waiting for him at his own.

To his surprise, it was Geom Mugeuk.

"Second Young Lord?"

"I was waiting because I wanted to see you, Elder."

"Me? Why?"

The Demonic Buddha tensed. He secretly raised his qi, wondering if Geom Mugeuk planned to kill him here. However, Geom Mugeuk's reason was completely unexpected.

"Would you like to go to the market and have a drink with me?"

"A drink with me? At the market?"

Normally, he would have refused at once, worried about starting a rumor that they were conspiring.

Today, however, the Demonic Buddha was not his usual self.

"Alright. There's no reason not to."

If Geom Muyang could meet the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, then he could meet with Geom Mugeuk. In fact, he hoped word of this would reach Geom Muyang.

Second Young Lord, you are truly a lucky man.

To come looking for me on a day like this.

"I don't think I've ever walked side-by-side with you like this, Elder."

"Don't try to act friendly for no reason."

A normal person would have walked quietly out of embarrassment, but Geom Mugeuk did not.

"I won't have many chances to walk with you like this, Elder. If I don't act friendly now, when will I? Please understand even if I act a bit excited today."

"So this is how you tempted the Blade Demon."

"Yes, that's right. I knocked on the door endlessly."

"The door?"

"The door to his heart, I mean."

The Demonic Buddha scoffed. He suddenly wondered if Geom Muyang had ever knocked on his door, but he quickly regained his composure.

Second Young Lord, no matter what you do, I'm not a monkey that falls from a tree just because you shake it, like the Blade Demon.

The two arrived at the Alluring Inn in the Demon Village.

Jo Cheonbae recognized the Demonic Buddha at a glance, even without an introduction from Geom Mugeuk.

He was not flustered. He had changed since receiving the Heavenly Demon as a guest. He now felt confident he could handle the Murim Alliance head and the Evil Alliance Chairman arriving at the same time.

"Welcome, Director."

"A precious guest has arrived, so I'm counting on you again today."

"Yes, I will serve you with all my heart."

Geom Mugeuk and the Demonic Buddha sat facing each other on the second floor.

"This is my regular spot."

"I don't care to know. Why did you want to see me?"

"There are many reasons, but you wouldn't believe them all. To give you a believable one, it's a sort of check."

"A check?"

"My brother has started meeting my people. So I'm going to show him that I can meet his people too. You are the first one, Elder."

"Will anything change just by meeting?"

"I know your loyalty to my brother is firm."

"What do you know?"

"Didn't you show it on the day my brother returned? I strongly felt your devotion to him then."

When Geom Mugeuk tried to pour him a drink, the Demonic Buddha snatched the bottle and poured it himself.

"Don't speak so carelessly as if you know me."

The Demonic Buddha emptied his cup. Geom Mugeuk drank after him.

Again, Geom Mugeuk tried to pour a drink, but the Demonic Buddha filled his own cup.

"There will be times when you'll struggle because my brother is selfish. Please guide and look after him well, Demon Supreme."

"You're a truly pretentious person. Did you think I'd be moved by such words?"

"It's not for that reason. I was just badmouthing my brother, calling him a selfish person."

The Demonic Buddha praised Geom Muyang, as if to prove such attempts to drive a wedge between them would fail.

"Your brother is a brilliant man."

"He's a bit lacking in humanity, though."

"That's fine. A person destined for great things shouldn't be swayed by petty emotions."

"He'll probably ignore you sometimes, Elder."

"That's fine. What does it matter if the one who will one day become the Heavenly Demon ignores me?"

"He'll probably break important promises, too."

"The words and actions of the Heavenly Demon are the law. Important, unimportant, a promise or not. All of that is for the Heavenly Demon to decide."

"You're truly impregnable. I envy my brother for having you on his side, Elder. I'll drink this in respect for you."

Geom Mugeuk emptied his cup.

The Demonic Buddha sneered, the corner of his mouth curling up.

"I admit the Second Young Lord is skilled at handling people. Still, you won't be able to win me over. I am a different person from the Blade Demon or the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader."

"I know. As I said before, I have no intention of making you my person in the first place."

"Then why are you doing this?"

"I wanted to know what kind of person you are. I was curious about who was protecting my brother, and I've reached a conclusion."

"And what is it?"

The Demonic Buddha was curious how the Second Young Lord would evaluate him.

"If my brother ever hurts your feelings, Elder, he will be the biggest fool in our Cult."

The Demonic Buddha scoffed and drained his cup.

Geom Mugeuk tried to pour him another drink. This time, the Demonic Buddha did not snatch the bottle away.

As he poured, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

"When I look at you, Elder, I think of a small giant. You are greater than anyone."

The power of words is truly frightening. He knew it was blatant flattery, but he could not stop himself from feeling good. The expression 'small giant' was particularly to his liking. He had thought of himself that way before, but no one had ever said it.

Lest his inner thoughts be discovered, the Demonic Buddha glared at Geom Mugeuk with an even more displeased expression.

Whether he knew his feelings or not, Geom Mugeuk threw out an unexpected line.

"Please take good care of my brother."

"Take care of the First Young Lord? What do you mean?"

"I intend to end the tradition of killing each other in the succession fight with this generation. To do that, we can't treat each other emotionally. My brother's pride is strong, so it will be difficult for him to control it. Please help him, Elder. If it's you, you'll be able to stop him even if he goes on a rampage."

The Demonic Buddha, who had been glaring at Geom Mugeuk, said coldly.

"You know nothing about me. If the First Young Lord goes on a rampage, I will pour oil on the fire. A small explosion isn't enough to become the successor, so I will incite him to blow everything away. If you're trying to find a way to survive through me, wake up from that dream."

The Demonic Buddha stood up. Just as he was about to leave, he added one last thing.

"If you believe a successor can be chosen peacefully, you're either a fool or a madman."

"Seeing as all the Elders who know me call me a madman, I'm probably a madman."

The Demonic Buddha stared at Geom Mugeuk and said firmly.

"I hate madmen."

The Demonic Buddha went straight down to the first floor.

Geom Mugeuk looked down at Jo Cheonbae, who sat at the counter.

He must be planning to get the shock of his life later, dozing off even as the Demonic Buddha passed right by him.

Then again, it was only natural to get sleepy when tired, even if his grandfather passed by.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze shifted from Jo Cheonbae to the tavern's exterior.

Far in the distance, a golden radiance walked toward the horizon. His height was half that of an ordinary person, but his shadow, stretched long by the sunset, was large and vast.