Chapter 216: Are You Afraid of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon?

TL: FoodieMonster007

At dawn the next day, a carriage departed secretly from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

The carriage carried Geom Mugeuk, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, and the Poison King.

Two people watched them from a distance. They were the Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin and Head Strategist Sama Myeong.

"I should step down from my position as Head Strategist."

Geom Woojin looked at Sama Myeong, his expression questioning. Sama Myeong smiled self-deprecatingly.

"I never imagined the Second Young Lord would make the Poison King bark in the grand training grounds. I knew the Second Young Lord was extraordinary, but I didn't know he'd even bring down the Poison King."

Geom Woojin nodded.

"I feel the same way."

"And there's one more shock. I never thought the Cult Leader would permit this."

"What could I do? I made a promise."

Sama Myeong knew Geom Woojin was not a man who broke promises. That was why Geom Woojin should have refused from the start, but he had left an opening with the Poison King.

Could it be that the Cult Leader anticipated this outcome?

Sama Myeong thought that might be the case. He could never fathom Geom Woojin's heart when it came to Geom Mugeuk.

"During this mission, give my second brother full access to all information," Geom Woojin ordered.

"Yes, the All-Knowing Hall will provide its full support."

"And prepare for any unforeseen circumstances."

Two severe unforeseen circumstances loomed. The first was the mission succeeding, but the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult being exposed as Yayul Han's killer. The second was Geom Mugeuk and the two Demon Supremes failing and ending up in danger. Either outcome would have a severe aftermath. The Evil Alliance couldn't wage war on the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but they would demand compensation. Refusing could push them to join the Murim Alliance. The death or serious injury of Geom Mugeuk or the Demon Supremes was an equally grave problem.

How could Geom Woojin not know this? Yet, he had given his permission.

Are you perhaps hoping this incident will destabilize the state of murim?

Sama Myeong knew Geom Woojin would one day draw his sword against murim. The thought suddenly struck him that perhaps Geom Woojin intended for this incident to be the beginning.

One thing was certain. It was not just the Demon Supremes who had changed. The Heavenly Demon had also changed, though Sama Myeong could not pinpoint how. The fact they stood here together watching the carriage depart, something that would not normally happen, proved it.

Second Young Lord, you must succeed and return.

The winds of change were blowing not only within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, but toward all of murim.

Seo Daeryong drove the carriage.

Last night, I went to Seo Daeryong and told him we had to leave together tomorrow. He immediately started complaining.

"No way! What kind of dangerous place are you trying to drag me to this time?"

"It's nothing big. You just need to drive the carriage and run a few errands later."

"That makes it even more suspicious. It reeks of danger."

"That would be the smell of adventure. The smell of growth, and also the smell of memories."

"When you mix all that together, it becomes the smell of danger. I'm sorry, but I'm not going! I told you, winning the Young Dragon Tournament was the end of all my adventures for a lifetime. I'm going to spend the rest of my life just bragging about that, remember?"

"It has to be you."

"But there are so many demonic practitioners in our Cult."

"Because the fates of myself, our Cult, and murim are on the line. I need someone I can trust to keep the secret until death. At least there won't be any villainesses trying to seduce you."

"You're hitting me where it hurts again."

The one sentence that finally moved him was this.

"I'm going to handle that incident."

At that, the playful look vanished from Seo Daeryong's face.

"Then I have to go."

And so, Seo Daeryong came to the carriage this morning, determined to punish the mastermind behind the incident.

"But why are you taking a carriage? Shouldn't the two of you just go using movement arts?"

"Because it's not just the two of us."

"What?"

Seo Daeryong peeked inside the carriage and startled. He pulled me away and whispered.

"Why are those two in the carriage?"

"Because they're coming with me to help."

"You didn't tell me the carriage I have to drive is carrying the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Poison King! Hurry up and tell me everything. Who is the enemy?"

"Yayul Han."

Seo Daeryong blinked for a moment, then asked.

"I only know one Yayul Han… It's not him, right? Come on, why are you making such an extreme joke? Please tell me it's not him."

Just as he spun around to flee, I spoke.

"You can be the one to tell that child. Tell her we've returned after avenging her family."

Seo Daeryong turned back around. He walked toward the driver's seat with slumped shoulders.

"If you put it like that, how can I not go!"

I knew Seo Daeryong was just putting on a show. He might be scared, but he was not the type of man to back down from something like this.

He would want to avenge the child. Above all, it was a journey with me. On our last trip out of the cult, he became a disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the winner of the Young Dragon Tournament.

Seo Daeryong was necessary for this mission. Take this carriage, for instance. If I had been driving, a truly suffocating silence would have filled the carriage with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Poison King inside.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and the Poison King had not said a single word to each other since their initial greeting. They really were not close.

I had expected as much and made no effort to force them to get along. If an opportunity arose for them to become friends, they would. If not, they would return in this same chilly atmosphere.

"We've received all current information on our targets from the All-Knowing Hall, and we're scheduled to receive additional information."

I had not told the two of them, but the Hidden Moon, led by Go Wol and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, was also actively gathering information. Those two had also agreed to join us on-site and help with the mission.

"Our current destination is the location of the Golden Pig Jisaeng, the creator of the Miracle Deity Loan. I'll explain the plan once we arrive."

"We will follow the Second Young Lord's plan," the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon replied politely.

The Poison King glanced my way. He looked like he wanted to say something but was holding back because of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

[Let me ask one thing. Why does the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon like you so much?]

[But why are you sending me a telepathy instead of just saying it?]

[I'm not even close with that guy, so how can I ask? Does he have some dirt on you? Why is he being so nice?]

[I won't answer if you use telepathy. Be a man and just ask!]

The Poison King turned his head to the window.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon noticed the Poison King sending me a telepathy and looked at me. I smiled and gave him a nod. Just exchanging glances like this felt good. It was truly surprising.

The Poison King asked about something else, unrelated to the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

"Does a plan that doesn't exist now suddenly appear when we arrive?"

"It will when the strategist who isn't here now arrives."

"A strategist? Strategist Sama?"

The Poison King did not know that Go Wol and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had become my people.

"No, I have my own strategist."

"You already have a strategist?"

"You need a strategist to survive in this harsh murim. Doesn't everyone have at least one strategist who can't play Go?"

The Poison King looked incomprehensible. Normally, a harsh remark would have followed, but he seemed to be holding back because of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. There were some benefits to having these two together.

[Are you afraid of the Smiling Demon?]

I expected him to tell me not to be ridiculous.

[Of course I'm afraid. Just looking at that mask makes my heart tremble.]

It was an unexpected answer. I never thought the Poison King would fear the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon this much.

[Right now, the Smiling Demon is probably trembling while looking at your poison pouch.]

[No way. That man is not afraid of death.]

I did not know he held the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon in such high regard.

[What about you, Poison King?]

[I'm afraid of dying. Isn't that why I'm the guy who never even leaves the Thousand Poisons Forest?]

Are you afraid of dying? Or are you afraid of killing?

Instead of asking what I wanted to, I asked the Poison King something else.

"How does it feel to be out of the cult after so long?"

The Poison King's gaze turned to the scenery outside the speeding carriage.

"What is there to feel? I, too, once roamed the Central Plains until I was sick of it."

"You, the Poison King?"

"Do you think I earned the title of the Poison King in the Thousand Poisons Forest? In my youth, I traveled all over the Central Plains in search of poisons."

Why would a man like that hole himself up in the Thousand Poisons Forest?

I did not ask. When we reach a point where we can share our hearts, I will naturally find out. Let's hear it on the day I reveal that I have Myriad Poison Immunity.

Just then, a horse neighed urgently, and the carriage jolted to a halt.

An ordinary person would have been thrown forward, but the two Demon Supremes calmly kept their positions.

From the driver's seat, Seo Daeryong spoke urgently.

"I'm sorry! A deer suddenly jumped out from the bushes by the road."

"Since we've stopped anyway, let's take a short break. The horse seems startled too."

I got out of the carriage with the two Demon Supremes.

Seo Daeryong bowed to the two Demon Supremes, apologizing once more.

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, whom he feared the most, could have been thrown into the front of the carriage. What if the impact had chipped a corner of his mask? Seo Daeryong's face was pale, as if he was imagining just that.

To ease the tension, I formally introduced Seo Daeryong.

"He is the head disciple of Elder Blade Demon. He is currently learning the Elder's unique martial arts."

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was not surprised, as if he already knew. The Poison King, however, was startled.

"A disciple of the Blade Demon?"

The fact that this small, frail-looking man was the next Blood Heaven Blade Demon seemed to have surprised him.

I gave Seo Daeryong more backing.

"He's also my right-hand man."

The Poison King's gaze shifted to me. His eyes seemed to ask, 'He's even your right-hand man?' and I replied forcefully.

"Having him around is very reassuring."

At that, the Poison King's gaze returned to Seo Daeryong. Naturally, Seo Daeryong felt a hundred times more burdened.

"You praise me too much," Seo Daeryong said, bowing politely.

At the same time, a telepathy flew in.

[Don't do it! Please stop making me stand out to the Demon Supremes! Just treat me like I don't exist!]

As Seo Daeryong raised his head, I smiled.

"He also won the Young Dragon Tournament, a competition among the best prodigies of the orthodox sects."

Seeing Seo Daeryong curse at me with his eyes, I made sure to add a finishing touch.

"You two will meet him again in the distant future at a Demon Supreme assembly."

Having given up on everything, Seo Daeryong looked up at the sky with an enlightened face and laughed. I was done teasing him.

"Alright, let's depart."

We got back into the carriage.

Seo Daeryong, who had been driving cheerfully just moments before, now drove the carriage cautiously, like a novice coachman. He was afraid of having to stop suddenly again.

I shouted toward the driver's seat.

"If you're going to drive this slowly, you'll have to switch places with me. You want to come in here?"

The next moment, the carriage began to race forward at a furious speed.

The carriage ran and ran.

To avoid leaving a trail, we camped out instead of stopping in towns. When the alcohol and food ran out, I hunted and cooked myself to serve the Demon Supremes.

The Poison King, tasting my cooking for the first time, marveled that I was good at everything.

We continued driving until we arrived in the region where the Golden Pig Jisaeng was located.

Go Wol and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader greeted us at a safehouse there.

The Poison King saw not only Go Wol but also the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and asked me.

[Why is the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader here?]

[He has a special relationship with my strategist.]

[I heard the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader left his position as Cult Leader. So it was because of you.]

[But why do you keep sending telepathies? Speak confidently. 'Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, what are you doing here?' What is the great Poison King so afraid of?]

[Am I afraid? No, it's just awkward.]

[And barking in front of all those people was fine? Being defiant in front of Father was fine?]

[That was because I had to. I'm just uncomfortable around all these people.]

Still, I felt my relationship with the Poison King had progressed. He was being honest with me about his feelings.

After letting the two Demon Supremes unpack in their rooms, I met with Go Wol separately.

"You are incredible. To think you even moved the heart of the Poison King."

"Their actions are driven less by loyalty to me and more by goodwill or curiosity."

"I believe that goodwill can exert a greater power than loyalty."

"I hope so."

I believed my relationship with the Demon Supremes was just beginning.

Truly getting close to someone is difficult. Maintaining that relationship is even harder. In the space left when novelty fades, boredom and disappointment are bound to creep in. I still have a long way to go with the Demon Supremes.

"This matter must be handled more cautiously than any other," Go Wol said.

He knew the gravity of this situation better than anyone.

"Frankly, considering the skills of the Young Lord and the Demon Supremes, dealing with his four underlings won't be difficult. The problem is not leaving any trace of our Cult in their deaths, and also not making Yayul Han tense up as a result."

Go Wol already seemed to have given this a lot of thought.

"I will follow your plan."

I was not just saying that to make him feel good. I fully intended to follow Go Wol's words. How to nurture a good strategist? It's simple. Follow his plan and make that plan succeed. The more a strategist's confidence grows, the more brilliant his next plan will be. I just need to handle any deviations with improvisation.

"Our first target, Jisaeng, is creating a new Miracle Deity Loan. He recently found someone to entrust with the task."

This is why it is useless to just get rid of the underlings. Only by eliminating Jisaeng, who has tasted the money from the Miracle Deity Loan, will the Miracle Deity Loan itself disappear.

Go Wol's expression showed that a plan was already in place.

"It is said that he who chases a deer cannot see the mountain. In the end, it will be his own greed that kills him."

I guessed his plan and smiled.

"We'll have to teach the guy who likes immortals that among them, there are also evil immortals."