Chapter 137: This Is Why I Wanted to Come

TL: FoodieMonster007

In the flowing silence, the Drunken Demon noticed one thing.

"Did you already know?"

"I predicted it might be the case. The Hyung I know wouldn't send a broken liquor bottle to the Drunken Demon."

"I thought you two didn't get along?"

"Don't you usually learn more about people you hate than people you're close to?"

The Drunken Demon stared at me, then shot to his feet.

"Ah, I'm getting drunk."

He immediately threw himself into the lake.

"You should fix that habit of swimming after drinking!"

Despite my worries, the Drunken Demon was a good swimmer. It was more than just skill. He knew how to swim joyfully. He dove, floated on his back to look at the sky, and sped into the distance before returning. He even leaped like a dolphin before landing with a SPLASH.

After a round of exhilarating swimming, the Drunken Demon climbed back onto the ferry.

"Now I'm finally sobering up a bit."

Then he started drinking again.

"You sobered up just to start drinking again?"

"Isn't that why I sobered up, to drink more?"

I shouted to Yeo Bin, who stood on the distant lakeshore.

"Please bring some side dishes over here!"

Yeo Bin steered a ferry over as if she had been waiting. She brought the side dishes she had prepared for us earlier. It seemed the Drunken Demon had only brought the liquor. As she turned to leave, Yeo Bin bowed her head slightly to me in thanks.

"You should get into the habit of eating side dishes."

"I've never eaten them my whole life. You think that's easy?"

"How can you live your life doing only what you want? You have to do things even if you don't like them."

"Why are you so concerned about my health?"

I picked up a side dish with my chopsticks. It was warm. She must have kept it heated, ready to bring it over at any moment.

"Do you think I'm the only one looking out for you, Drunken Demon? Here, eat up."

The Drunken Demon reluctantly ate a side dish.

We drank together and looked up at the night sky.

"Ah, this is nice!"

Just as the Drunken Demon exclaimed, it really was nice. Floating on a boat in the lake, drinking while watching the stars, I truly did not envy the immortals.

The Drunken Demon lay back at an angle, gazed at the stars, and spoke.

"My dream is to just drink and live idly. If the MaJang Hu war breaks out, this very lake could turn crimson with blood. How would I sober up then?"

The unique weapon hanging from the Drunken Demon's waist was named Hyeollu. He said this while wearing a weapon named 'Blood Tears'.

"Are you serious?"

"I'm serious. I want to live my whole life like this and then die."

"Is that really why you want to become my man?"

"That's right."

"Then prove it."

"……"

"Reconcile with Elder Blood Heaven Blade Demon."

The Drunken Demon flinched, surprised by the unexpected proposal.

"I'm serious too. From now on, you'll have to make an effort to become my man. If you reconcile with Elder Blood Heaven Blade Demon and maintain an amicable relationship with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon…"

I coolly finished the remaining liquor and spoke to him.

"I will become sworn brothers with you, Drunken Demon."

Silence fell again.

The Drunken Demon stared at me for a moment before finally opening his mouth.

"You truly are an unpredictable person."

"You're the unpredictable one, Drunken Demon. You're surrounded by all sorts of preconceptions. I, on the other hand, am being rational. It's an exchange of what I want for what you want."

I took a refreshing drink of liquor, then set the bottle down and asked.

"Was your offer to become sworn brothers with me a joke?"

"It wasn't a joke."

"This is about forming a brotherhood. You have to show at least this much sincerity. 'Ah, he's doing something he really hates for my sake. He's doing it even though he's so reluctant.' Eating side dishes, reconciling. What can't be said with just words? With words alone, I could even win over the Murim Alliance Chairman."

"If it were you, you might actually win him over."

I let out a dry laugh, and the Drunken Demon drank his liquor.

"It's not that I don't want to reconcile."

"Then what is it?"

"It's because reconciling with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon is impossible from the start. Have you ever seen water and oil mix?"

"They don't need to mix. They just need to float alongside each other."

"What if someone sets it on fire?"

"Then it burns. If you really don't want to, you can be the water. We'll make Elder Blade Demon the oil. He has a fiery personality, so let's make him the oil."

He was the type to laugh at most jokes, but he did not laugh this time. He seemed extremely reluctant.

Seeing how he acts with me, it seems like he could at least put on a silly smile and humor the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

I could understand why the Blood Heaven Blade Demon disliked the Drunken Demon. He hated people who got drunk and caused a scene.

But why was the Drunken Demon so burdened by this reconciliation?

"You have another reason for approaching me, don't you? Cut the nonsense about murim peace and tell me the real reason."

The Drunken Demon could have gotten angry at my harsh words, but he just drank his liquor with drunken eyes.

"As for this kind of older brother, younger brother relationship, my one Hyung is enough for me."

I leaped toward the ferry I had arrived on.

He could have stopped me from leaving, but in the end, he said nothing. As I docked the boat on the shore, I looked back at him. The Drunken Demon was drinking alone under the moonlight.

At dawn the next day, I quietly left the Cult.

I left a letter for Seo Daeryong, telling him I would be away for a few days.

Ever since the Four Strides of the Wind God reached the eighth level, my body had been itching, and I could not stay still. I tossed and turned all night, wanting to fight a strong opponent, but an even more intense desire was the urge to run.

I know that I must handle this desire well. Especially a supreme martial art like the Four Strides of the Wind God must be handled with even more care.

People often mishandle this desire and fall into qi deviation or die fighting a reckless battle. It happens when a person whose vessel is not ready learns a martial art beyond their capacity.

After leaving the Cult, I started running using the Swift Step. I ran with terrifying speed. There was no need to wear a mask.

My running speed was so fast that no one could tell who I was. They could not even tell if what passed was a person, a bird, or just their imagination. It was that kind of speed. I was fast at the seventh level, but this was different.

Normally, this speed was only possible in wide-open places like a plain.

However, the path I ran on now had obstacles. There were running carriages and passing people. There were trees and rocks.

But thanks to the Divine Eye Technique, I could run at this speed on any path.

Moreover, upon reaching the eighth level, the amount of inner arts consumed actually decreased. I had become able to use my martial arts more efficiently.

I ran until my inner arts were depleted, then circulated my qi before running again. It was the first time in my life I had ever run so exhilaratingly. Perhaps it was because my destination was where the people I wanted to see were.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and Go Wol were seated in a bustling tavern. Several people came to their table at different times, reported something, and left. There were men and women, young and old.

Each time they came and went, Go Wol wrote something down on a piece of paper.

"What are you writing so meticulously? They'll know you're working even without contact."

Go Wol ignored the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's words and wrote a message for a messenger pigeon. It was a pigeon to be sent to Geom Mugeuk.

Go Wol was engrossed in creating an intelligence network in the Central Plains under Geom Mugeuk's orders. Because the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had come with him, the work proceeded smoothly.

While working, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was once again impressed by Go Wol's abilities. He was building an organization that operated differently from the existing All-Knowing Hall, structuring it so that it could later be merged with the All-Knowing Hall. He was even keeping in mind the time when Geom Mugeuk would become the Cult Leader.

It was more difficult because of that, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader made the process smoother.

With the two of them joining forces, the work progressed at a breakneck pace. Of course, Go Wol had to endure the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's complaints.

"Go ahead and send them for a hundred days. See if you get a single reply from the Second Young Lord."

"This is a report. Who replies to a report?"

"Why not? You do it if you care. Didn't I tell you? That we'd end up becoming that Cult Leader and that shackle from back then. Just look, that's our situation right now. Out here in a foreign land, suffering through all sorts of hardships."

"Eating all the delicacies of each region. Sightseeing spectacular views when we have time. Such hardship."

"Leaving home is a hardship!"

"Where is your home, Cult Leader?"

For a moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader flinched. Go Wol's gaze shifted from his writing to the Cult Leader.

"The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult isn't your home, is it? Your home is here in the Central Plains. You were always singing the song of advancing into the Central Plains, weren't you? Look carefully as you travel around. We need to build your house somewhere here. Keep your eyes wide open!"

Having nothing else to say, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's arrows turned back toward Geom Mugeuk.

"Hmph! We'll have to build a house. The Second Young Lord has probably forgotten us. He'll probably feel a pang of guilt when he sees us at the Cult later. 'Ah! That's right. Among my many subordinates, there was that half-wit Cult Leader from the Outer Regions and that shackle guy. Ah, but what was that shackle's name again?' No matter how you slice it, people's hearts are all the same."

"Cult Leader."

"What?"

"Everyone is that Cult Leader, that shackle to someone. Only people like the Second Young Lord are special to everyone. Most people live like this, being moderately ignored. Becoming a special person is a tiring thing. Living like this suits you better, Cult Leader."

"You're ignoring me again, aren't you? Ignoring me again!"

Go Wol pretended not to hear and focused on writing again.

"You used to move so sluggishly, staring blankly at the Echoing Thunder Bell all day, but now you've become so diligent. What is it about the Second Young Lord that you like so much to cause all this fuss?"

"Then what do you like so much about me to follow me all the way here and suffer, Cult Leader?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could not answer.

"It's the same for me. Is there any reason to explain it? I just like him, and after the Second Young Lord, it's you, Cult Leader. So don't be too disappointed."

"Hmph! There are only two people around you, so if I'm second, doesn't that make me last?"

"You noticed?"

"You crazy bastard!"

Go Wol laughed, and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed along with him.

This kind of conversation was their joy. They repeated the same stories over and over, badmouthing Geom Mugeuk, talking about the old days, and talking about what would happen in the future. They repeated the same stories every day.

"This is proof that people are truly close. Being able to say the same thing over and over and listen comfortably. You can't talk like this with the Second Young Lord, can you? It's uncomfortable, right? That's proof you're not close with the Second Young Lord. No, wait, the Second Young Lord is too busy showing off everywhere to have time to listen to you, right?"

It was at that moment someone spoke abruptly from behind the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"You kept calling me Second Young Lord until the very end."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader turned in surprise. I was standing there with a smile.

"So you meant to badmouth me until the very end."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and Go Wol shot to their feet in shock.

"Second Young Lord!"

"Second Young Lord!"

Still smiling, I spoke to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"This is why I wanted to come."

"Hmph! Did I say anything that wasn't true? So what!"

Seeing his unchanging demeanor made me feel glad.

The place I had run to like a madman was where the two of them were working. I found them because they always sent messenger pigeons detailing their location and work progress.

I caught up on things with the two of them.

Surprisingly, Go Wol already knew about the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Drunken Demon. He even knew that my Hyung was in contact with the Fist Demon and the Poison King.

I could see he had already secured a proper intelligence network within the Cult. The external intelligence network was also rapidly expanding throughout the Central Plains.

"What's the financial situation?"

"We've almost run out."

Hiring capable people and establishing an organizational network cost an enormous amount of money. Go Wol had left with one million two hundred thousand taels, but it was already about to run out. The initial costs of building the organization were just that high.

"I'll send additional funds soon."

"……"

For now, I had enough funds from the Golden Market, but I would have to earn more money later to operate the Ghost Shadow Squad as well.

Just then, my eyes met the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's. He flinched in surprise.

"Why are you looking at me while talking about running out of money?"

"It's been a while, so I was just happy to see you. Why? Am I not allowed to look?"

"It feels like silent pressure to lend me money, doesn't it? That's right, it's that look. Exactly that look! That sinister look you had when you were after my divine object before. Not a chance. Nope, you're absolutely not getting my money!"

I burst out laughing.

"Thanks to that divine object, my life was saved."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was startled by my words.

"Really?"

"Yes. I survived thanks to the Top-Quality Heavenly Silk."

"Ah!"

A look of joy flashed across the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's face. He was still grumbling, but the favor in his eyes toward me was incomparable to before.

Cult Leader. Forget the money. Let's just keep going like this. I know very well what you sacrificed to come this far. I'm grateful enough just for you being by Go Wol's side.

"Now that I've seen your faces, I should be heading back. I have to return by the morning after tomorrow."

"The morning after tomorrow? What are you talking about? Do you know how far it is from here?"

"It took me two days to get here. I'm thinking of shortening the time on the way back."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who had been making a dumbfounded expression, saw an opportunity and said to Go Wol.

"See? This is your Second Young Lord's true nature. Didn't I tell you before that the Second Young Lord was a braggart? Now you see how well I can read people, right? Are you still going to ignore me after this?"

Then, Go Wol said slyly.

"Is it really a bluff?"

What was on Go Wol's face as he looked at me was firm belief.

At that, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader raised his voice.

"Of course it's a bluff! It would take ten days to run from here to our Cult without resting. Even if I ran myself."

"You're slow because you're fat, aren't you, Cult Leader?"

"What? You haven't seen me run, have you? I'm the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader!"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader provoked me.

"Two days? If you can get to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Headquarters within two days, I'll give you a million taels. How about it? Let's make a million-nyang bet. You wouldn't be able to do that, would you?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader showed his triumphant confidence. He believed it was absolutely impossible.

"Let's do it, the bet."

"Really?"

"……"

"Don't tell me you're trying to give me money as a reward for saving my life with the Top-Quality Heavenly Silk? You don't have to do that. I have plenty of money."

"I am grateful, but I don't have the luxury of giving you money. As you know, I have a lot of expenses right now."

"Alright, then let's do it! I'm telling you in advance, I won't give back a single penny. It's no use whining about it later!"

"That's what I should be saying to you. You can't say things like it was for medicine or it was your retirement fund."

"I told you I have a lot of money! I'm the former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader!"

"Alright. When I arrive, I'll send an official messenger pigeon from our Cult here. Since it's an official messenger pigeon, it will be stamped with the date, and when you come to our Cult later, you can confirm when I arrived."

"Don't worry. I have someone who can confirm the date you arrive. Don't forget. It's a million taels, Second Young Lord."

I smiled and rose from my seat.

"I know very well how much the two of you are suffering for my sake. I am always grateful. I'll see you later then."

As I was about to turn, Go Wol said suggestively.

"Congratulations in advance on the million taels."

"Thanks."

From behind, I heard the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's grumbling.

"What are you talking about? You should be cheering for me! If you're going to be like this, even if I get the million taels from the Second Young Lord, I'm not giving you a single penny!"

After bidding them farewell, I started running toward the Cult again.

The more I ran, the more accustomed I became to running, and I increased my speed even more. The more I ran, the faster I became, and the more I ran, the greater the freedom I felt. I also felt a strong desire to achieve complete mastery.

And two days later, I was writing a message for a messenger pigeon at our Cult.

[To the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, I will make good use of the million taels. Thank you as always. Ah, and if you're feeling disappointed, we can do it again, this time for a day and a half…]