Chapter 93: Villains Get Along Well

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Demonic Buddha did not return to his residence. Instead, he went to see Geom Muyang again.

After his meeting with Geom Mugeuk, he felt a sudden urge to see Geom Muyang. He knew he would not be able to sleep otherwise.

"You've returned?"

Geom Muyang was as proper and polite as ever. Since they had just parted, most would ask, 'Why have you come again?' But Geom Muyang rarely showed personal curiosity or emotion.

The Demonic Buddha wondered if Geom Muyang felt compelled to act this way to become the Heavenly Demon. He had never felt such a distance between them, but the Demonic Buddha was not one to be easily shaken.

"The Second Young Lord paid me a visit."

"Mugeuk did?"

"……"

"I see."

Geom Muyang did not ask what they discussed. He simply nodded once.

"Why don't you ask? Why he came, what we talked about."

"It's alright. I trust you, Elder."

The Demonic Buddha felt he had made the right choice in coming here.

Yes, this is who the First Young Lord is. He's not delicate and can be blunt, but he's a genuine person. Right, I should trust him too. This is how I'll resolve everything.

The Demonic Buddha tried to release his pent-up emotions. He brushed off his meeting with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the offer of the Strongest Demon Supreme position to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"Then, please rest well."

The Demonic Buddha rose from his seat. It would have been perfect if it had ended there, if only Geom Muyang had let him discard the emotional residue on his own.

Geom Muyang spoke from behind him.

"My offer of the Strongest Demon Supreme position to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was an attempt to win him over."

The Demonic Buddha flinched, his body freezing mid-motion.

Why now of all times? Why now? You didn't say a word when I desperately wanted you to, so why bring this up now, after I've just met with Geom Mugeuk?

Afraid his sunken feelings would show on his face, the Demonic Buddha did not turn around immediately.

From behind, Geom Muyang spoke again.

"When I become the Heavenly Demon, the position of Strongest Demon Supreme will naturally be yours, Elder."

The Demonic Buddha was furious. He felt that after treating him like a fish already caught, Geom Muyang was now saying this out of desperation, worried that Geom Mugeuk might try to win him over.

Why are you making me think this way? Didn't you say you trusted me?

Even as he tried to understand it as human nature, he could not help but feel upset.

First Young Lord, weren't you the one who always looked down on your brother? Weren't you the one who was so confident, thinking Mugeuk was nothing?

However, he could not get angry. He was, after all, the one who had mobilized the Yunnan Eccentric Duo just to show how much Geom Mugeuk had changed.

That's right, your brother is an opponent you must be wary of, but that did not need to lead to a lack of trust in me…

Forcing a smile, the Demonic Buddha turned around.

"I knew you would, of course."

"I'm worried you might misunderstand my intentions, as I'm telling you this right after you've met my brother."

Ah, he should not have said that either. If Geom Muyang had not, the Demonic Buddha could have forced himself to think it was just a coincidence, a result of insensitivity, or his own misunderstanding.

"What misunderstanding could I possibly have? I'm only grateful that you hold me in such high regard."

"It's only natural. Please, don't say such things."

"Then I shall take my leave."

The Demonic Buddha gave a polite bow and left Geom Muyang's residence.

As he walked alone down the dark, moonless path, the Demonic Buddha organized his thoughts.

He's still young. If he were as perfect as the Second Young Lord, why would he need me? The First Young Lord, with his weaknesses, is better than the sly Second Young Lord. I just need to look after him well.

His loyalty to Geom Muyang shone as brightly as the aura emanating from his body.

The Flower Sword Supreme came to find me in my office at the Sanzu River Hall.

"Here, this is a gift."

She held out a pot with a blooming flower.

"Thank you. It's beautiful."

I placed the flowerpot on the windowsill.

Seo Daeryong entered with tea as I exchanged a few words with her about the flower. Feeling mischievous, I spoke to Seo Daeryong in a stern voice.

"From now on, when I'm not here, this flower is your responsibility, Detective Seo. It's a special gift from the Sword Supreme. You know what will happen if you let it die, right?"

If it had just been the two of us, all sorts of gloomy yet amusing remarks would have flown out. However, with the Flower Sword Supreme present, Seo Daeryong simply answered yes and left.

Although they had gone together to see the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, the Flower Sword Supreme was still a very difficult person for Seo Daeryong to be around.

"I hope I haven't come while you're busy."

"Not at all. The investigators do the work. I'm just slacking off."

Despite my words, the pile of documents on my desk was far too high. The work at the Sanzu River Hall was indeed plentiful.

No matter how many we locked up, villains kept appearing. It made me wonder if the number of villains was fixed, as if a spot would automatically be filled whenever one became vacant.

However, no matter how busy I was, the work of the Sanzu River Hall was just as important as becoming the successor. While I bore the lifelong task of killing Hwa Mugi, I was also living in this era.

"My brother visited you too, didn't he, Senior?"

I had a precise guess as to why she had visited today.

"Yes. He did."

"My brother is certainly diligent."

"That's why he's so popular."

I nodded in acknowledgment. He was vile and cruel to me, but the face he showed to the outside world was different.

There was no arrogance or complacency in him, no thought that he should naturally be the successor just because he was the First Young Lord. He schemed, he worried, and above all, he was a diligent person.

"I know there are many people who like my brother."

"The First Young Lord is a person who fits our Cult well. He gives off a sense of stability, as if he would lead well if left in charge."

"And me?"

"You're someone who really doesn't fit in. You make people anxious, wondering where on earth you'll lead us, and yet, seeing that you have this much popularity…"

After a brief pause, the Flower Sword Supreme continued.

"It makes me think that there's hope for us too."

"What kind of hope?"

"The hope that the new demonic way you spoke of might actually be established."

"Thank you for thinking so highly of me."

"But don't forget. There are still many in our Cult who hate change. Many who believe that evil is our strength and our essence."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"By the way, with the First Young Lord moving so quickly, are you just going to stand by and watch?"

"Besides Elder Blade Demon and you, Senior, I don't know the other Demon Supremes well. I'm not sure who I should try to bring to our side."

Curious about what the Flower Sword Supreme was thinking, I pretended to know nothing.

Then, she said something unexpected.

"Do you know who voted for Cheong Seon back when we were selecting the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, besides myself and the Blade Demon? The person the Blade Demon persuaded, I mean."

"I don't. The Elder never told me."

"Should I tell you?"

Normally, matters and decisions among the Demon Supremes were kept strictly secret from outsiders. She was about to break that rule for my sake.

"Are you allowed to tell me?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"I'm trying to live while breaking a few rules myself."

She smiled as she said it. How could anyone think she was only halfway on my side?

"To be honest, I'm a rigid and inflexible person. If there's a set rule, I don't try to break it. If I have an appointment, I have to arrive early, and if I'm misunderstood, I get so bothered I can't sleep. I worry about things I don't need to and I'm sensitive to public opinion. All in all, it's an exhausting personality."

"Isn't that exhaustion what built your current reputation, Senior?"

The Flower Sword Supreme gave a bitter smile.

"In some ways, that might be true. In any case, I'm trying to be a little more flexible now. What does it matter if I break a few rules? If it helps you, then it's worth it."

"Is there a reason for your change of heart?"

"I must be getting old, because I keep looking back on my life. I have so many regrets, this and that, but the biggest one of all is this."

SHIIING.

She drew her sword smoothly. Her gaze fell upon the blade.

"I dedicated my entire life to making sure this sword would never be broken by anyone. In return, my life became just as rigid."

She lifted her gaze from the sword and looked at me.

"I deeply regret having lived such a rigid life."

I could feel her sincere regret.

I spoke softly, as if to comfort her.

"You're upset because it feels like no one acknowledges that life, aren't you? You've lived so meticulously, but you feel like no one truly understands. You see everyone else getting by just fine, and you wonder if you were the only one being foolish, right?"

At that, a look of surprise appeared on the Flower Sword Supreme's face.

"How do you know my heart so well?"

Because it's a feeling I've experienced myself at least once.

"It's because I respect you a great deal, Senior."

The Flower Sword Supreme beamed and said, "Alright, I'll tell you. When there's someone who understands my heart so well and respects me, why would I keep it hidden for the sake of some silly rule? The one who cast that vote was none other than the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

I was stunned by her words.

"Surprising, isn't it?"

"Yes. Isn't the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon on my brother's side?"

"He is."

It was unexpected. It was unexpected that the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon had sided with us, and even more unexpected that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been the one to persuade him.

The Flower Sword Supreme interpreted it this way.

"They probably got along well because they're both villains."

I chuckled, but she was serious.

"If it were anyone else, I might not have said anything, but I'm telling you because the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon is involved. He's not someone to be taken lightly, and it's possible the Blade Demon might have other intentions."

I asked with a smile, "Do you hate Elder Blade Demon that much?"

"I don't hate him. Hating someone implies a passionate emotion. I just… dislike him a little."

Forcibly pushing the Blade Demon from her life, she rose from her seat.

"Well, I'll be on my way."

"Thank you for sharing such important information."

"Think of it as a gift from your duel friend."

As she was about to leave, she found Seo Daeryong standing in the hallway, holding a watering can for the flowerpot.

It was his attempt to look good in front of the Flower Sword Supreme, but the problem was that she had become a bit sensitive after mentioning the Blade Demon.

To Seo Daeryong, who had gone from an investigator of the Sanzu River Hall to a disciple of the villainous Blade Demon, the Flower Sword Supreme spoke coldly.

"That flower is my most cherished. If it happens to die due to someone's mistake, I will be very, very sad."

After she left, Seo Daeryong looked like he was about to cry.

"From now on, I'm the third most important thing in this office. I'm naming that flower 'Second-in-Command'."

I laughed at his self-deprecating joke and left the office.

"Where are you going?"

"To meet the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon."

"Gasp! How can you say something so terrifying as casually as if you were going out to eat?"

"Is the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon scary?"

Seo Daeryong's eyes widened in surprise as he asked, "You're not scared of him? Among all the Demon Supremes in our Cult, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon is the one I fear the most."

"Didn't you say the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was the scariest before?"

"Well, she's dead now."

"Why is the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon scary? Because his name has 'extreme evil' in it?"

"Haven't you heard? They say the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon is truly terrifying when he gets angry."

"I'm scary when I get angry too. I think you'd be the scariest of all."

"Please leave me out of this. I'm the type to bottle it up when I get angry. My dream is to live a life with nothing to be angry about. That's the kind of person I was…"

We both knew he had changed quite a bit, so we looked at each other and chuckled.

"Are you really not scared?"

"Why would I be scared to go see a funny person?"

"A funny person?"

"He's the Smiling Demon, isn't he?"

The 'extreme evil' at the beginning often makes people forget that he is the Smiling Demon. Seo Daeryong was no exception.

"I doubt it's that kind of smile. If you peel back the character for 'smile,' underneath you'll find characters for 'burn to death,' 'tear to death,' and 'explode to death.' Gasp! Surely you're not trying to bring the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon to our side, are you? Please tell me you're not."

"Are you more scared of him being an enemy? Or an ally?"

"Obviously… Still, not the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon!"

Though I said that as I left, I knew better than anyone. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was a man who could never become an ally.

Nevertheless, the reason I was going to meet him was to ensure that while he would not be an ally, he would not be an enemy either.