Chapter 268: Everyone is Always So Oblivious

TL: FoodieMonster007

Even when challenged to a duel, Seo Cheong stood his ground and refused to back down.

His pride was everything to him. With Seok Pung and the others watching, he refused to kneel as they had.

Geom Mugeuk repeated the words Seo Cheong had said at their first meeting.

"'You have strong pride?' Well, for a martial artist, pride is life."

Killing intent surged within Seo Cheong the moment he heard those words. An image of himself stabbing Geom Mugeuk to death flashed through his mind.

I'll cut down all the cultists who rush at me. I'll stand tall, drenched in blood, while everyone stares in shock and admiration. The fantasy alone was thrilling.

He hated Geom Mugeuk's clear, deep eyes, which seemed to see right through his desires.

"How could I dare cross swords with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?"

No matter how wounded his pride was, Seo Cheong was not foolish enough to attack the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

"When someone begged you like this, did you grant his request?"

Seo Cheong was confused at first, but then he remembered. Not long ago, the man he had crushed in a duel had begged the same way. He had pleaded that he was no match and asked to be forgiven just once.

"Why are you doing this to me?"

"Didn't that friend over there already explain why?"

"Everything that guy said is a lie!"

At that, Seok Pung, who was kneeling, shouted.

"I know where he buried the bodies."

Seo Cheong ground his teeth as he watched Seok Pung lunge forward, as if ready to die together.

"That moronic bastard!"

The two men glared at each other, their eyes burning with the desire to kill.

Seo Cheong's gaze returned to Geom Mugeuk.

"They were all just unimportant people. A low-level martial artist, a passing traveler. I'll compensate for everything."

Geom Mugeuk opened his energy pathways and released his demonic qi.

In that moment, Seo Cheong felt as if he had plunged into an ocean of unfathomable depth.

The pressure instantly constricted his entire body, making it hard for Seo Cheong to breathe.

He tried to resist, but it was useless. The inner arts techniques he had learned since childhood, his swordsmanship, his methods of controlling his mind, none of it worked.

A scream escaped his lips. He felt like he would be crushed to death or suffocate.

You bastard! Why the hell are you doing this to me! You've probably killed all sorts of people too!

Unable to bear it any longer, Seo Cheong screamed.

"Please, stop!"

Then, as if it were a lie, the demonic qi crushing him vanished.

Seo Cheong opened his tightly shut eyes and saw Geom Mugeuk's legs in front of him. While enduring the demonic qi, he had unknowingly fallen to his knees.

His face flushed with shame, and he shot to his feet.

Honestly, I don't understand. It's unfair. If it were anyone else, maybe, but shouldn't the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult understand me better? To him, those people must be even more insignificant.

"I said I'll compensate. I'll pay their families more money than they'll ever see in their lifetimes. Wouldn't that make their deaths even more valuable?"

Geom Mugeuk looked at him and smiled.

Not knowing what kind of person Geom Mugeuk was, Seo Cheong naturally misunderstood that smile. He did not realize that his fate had already been sealed with death, or a pain greater than death.

Yes, this is it. The Demonic Cult can't touch our Heavenly Peace Sect.

His father had once told him that the Heavenly Peace Sect was a proud sect desired by the Demonic Cult, the Evil Alliance, and even the Murim Alliance.

"Call Father."

"Alright, I'll call him."

Seo Cheong felt relieved at Geom Mugeuk's ready reply.

It's fine, I'm okay. It's no big deal. Nothing will happen to me for killing a few insignificant people. That demonic practitioner was just a low-level martial artist anyway.

Thinking it was a relief he had not killed anyone important, Seo Cheong shook off his fear. As always, everything would be resolved once his father arrived.

Next, Geom Mugeuk approached Seok Pung.

Kneeling on the ground, Seok Pung trembled in fear as Geom Mugeuk came closer. He was confused. He could not tell if this situation had happened because of the Young Cult Leader, or if he had escaped a near-death crisis at Seo Cheong's hands because of the Young Cult Leader. He could not make sense of anything.

"You just go and testify exactly as you said before."

At that, Seok Pung's gaze shifted to Seo Cheong, who was standing ahead.

Geom Mugeuk drove his point home.

"Sure, you might be scared of the Heavenly Peace Sect and change your testimony, but from that point on, who should you be afraid of?"

Geom Mugeuk slowly clenched his fist in front of the man's face.

The moment his fist was fully clenched!

KWAKWANG!

A sound like thunder erupted from his fist.

"Uwaaak!"

The thunderous sound exploding before his eyes made Seok Pung panic. It was a real thunderclap. Thunder from a fist? If he were hit by that fist, his entire body would turn to dust.

"No, I'll tell you everything honestly. There are more evil deeds that bastard has committed."

He thought that if he tattled on all of Seo Cheong's crimes, he himself could get away safely. He did not even consider things like burying the bodies together or unilaterally beating a young man who worked here nearly to the point of crippling him as crimes. Geom Mugeuk did not bother to shatter that delusion.

"As expected. You looked smart from the moment I first saw you."

Watching this, Seo Cheong scoffed.

Even so, he can't touch me. If he could have, he would have done it already.

The ones he could threaten were gangs like the Clean Night Gang. The sound of thunder made him even more certain.

When Geom Mugeuk gave the signal, the Hunan Branch cultists came forward. They subdued the inner arts of Seo Cheong, Seok Pung, and the other men before leading them away.

Seo Cheong shook off the hands of the martial artists who tried to grab his arms.

"I'll walk on my own two feet!"

Seo Cheong remained defiant to the end.

Because he was so defiant, the expressions of the other men being dragged away with him also relaxed somewhat. After being terrified, they were now being led away without anyone getting hurt, which made them think, 'This isn't such a big deal, is it?' They knew nothing.

In the empty banquet hall, only Geom Mugeuk and his bodyguards remained.

Cheokyeon said to Geom Mugeuk.

"You resolved it without lifting a finger."

"Didn't I tell you? This matter isn't a big deal."

"I thought you would crush Seo Cheong in a duel."

"His father is coming to see him, so would that be right?"

At that moment, Geom Mugeuk was thinking of two fathers.

This incident began with the father of Haejin, who was assaulted here, and it will end with the father of Seo Cheong, who assaulted him.

"Let's see how this father reacts."

The Heavenly Peace Sect Leader, Seo Baekjong, was in the middle of a meeting.

With his intense gaze and cold impression, he was a legendary figure who had raised the Heavenly Peace Sect from a mere small sect in Hunan to the number one sect in Hunan. Having spent his entire life running only towards success, he was working today as well to make the Heavenly Peace Sect even stronger.

Just then, his subordinate, Yoo Maeng, rushed in and reported via telepathy.

[The Young Lord has been captured by the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Hunan Branch.]

Seo Baekjong showed no agitation at Yoo Maeng's report.

[Have them wait until the meeting is over.]

Seo Baekjong remained calm even at the report that his son had been captured. He finished the meeting he was in. He showed so little change in emotion that it was hard to believe he had even received Yoo Maeng's report.

After the meeting ended and he had sent everyone out, he finally asked.

"Was he taken by the Young Cult Leader?"

"Yes, that's what I've heard."

After Yeo Sogwang's death, rumors that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Young Cult Leader was at the Branch had spread widely throughout the Hunan region.

"Did he know he was my son when he took him?"

"……"

For a moment, an unconcealable displeasure flickered in Seo Baekjong's eyes.

"How did it happen?"

Yoo Maeng reported cautiously.

"It seems the Young Lord committed murder."

Seo Baekjong was not surprised at all. His reaction made it impossible to tell if he already knew, or if he simply did not care about such a trivial matter.

"Who did he kill?"

"Several people, but the problem is that a martial artist from the Demonic Cult's Hunan Branch seems to be among them."

"Foolish!"

He was not calling him foolish for killing. It was anger at his failure to clean up properly after the killing.

"Since it was revealed in front of everyone, it seems it won't be easy to cover this up."

"But why was he captured by the Demonic Cult?"

"The Young Cult Leader was apparently there."

"Did my son invite him?"

"That hasn't been confirmed. What has been confirmed is that a fight broke out with the Clean Night Gang's Young Lord Seok at a banquet, and during that process, Young Lord Seok seems to have revealed everything."

Yoo Maeng was always amazed by Seo Baekjong's composure. Even in a situation where his son had been captured by the Demonic Cult, he did not react emotionally. It would have been natural to show anger and killing intent towards Seok Pung, but he showed no sign of it.

And what was more surprising was that he would surely remember and retaliate for things that seemed to be buried and forgotten beneath this composure. Once this incident was over, Seok Pung would definitely not be safe.

"Prepare the carriage."

Seo Baekjong politely greeted Geom Mugeuk.

"Greetings, Young Cult Leader."

"It's a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Sect Leader."

Seo Baekjong was inwardly surprised by Geom Mugeuk's appearance. First, he was surprised by how young he was, and second, by his looks, which would stand out anywhere.

"I didn't know the Young Cult Leader was so handsome."

"Thankfully, I don't resemble Father, so I hear that often."

At the mention of the Heavenly Demon, Seo Baekjong tensed inwardly.

"The Cult Leader would be disappointed to hear that."

"Actually, if I resembled Father, it would be more convenient for my killing intent. Our Sect Leader wouldn't be able to treat me so comfortably either."

"It seems I was rude in our first meeting."

"No, please don't misunderstand. I like things to be comfortable."

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly.

Seo Baekjong inwardly felt that the Young Cult Leader was not an easy person to deal with. By throwing out such words before the conversation began, he made his opponent uncomfortable, naturally seizing the initiative and gaining the upper hand.

Quite impressive.

Then again, no matter how young he was, one should not take the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult lightly.

"I heard my son has caused some trouble."

"We should have met under better circumstances, Sect Leader."

"It is my fault. I was too busy with work to educate my son properly."

Seo Baekjong stood from his seat and gave a polite clasped hands greeting. It was an apology meant to make Geom Mugeuk stand up with him and say it was alright, that such things can happen when one is young, but Geom Mugeuk remained seated. He even said this.

"So it seems."

Seo Baekjong politely bowed his head again.

Look at this little punk.

Though he felt indignant, his tone became even more polite.

"As you know, our Heavenly Peace Sect is the number one sect in Hunan. We have the most disciples and the most masters."

After showing off his power like that, he apologized once more.

"Because of that, I have neglected my household. I ask for your understanding and leniency."

"I would like to do that, but the crimes committed are too great, which makes it difficult."

"There will be many things our sect can do for your esteemed cult. We will atone for his sins for the rest of our lives by carrying out those tasks."

He was speaking indirectly, but he meant he would give him money. Most of the serious problems he had faced in his life had been solved with money and swords, so he was trying to solve this one with money as well. After all, he could not face the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult with a sword.

In the end, isn't money what you want? How much do you want? Two hundred thousand taels? Three hundred thousand taels?

Then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

"I believe you've done a lot of that with Commander Yeo."

At the mention of the deceased Yeo Sogwang, Seo Baekjong flinched in surprise.

So this was it.

Now Seo Baekjong understood. His son was not the only sinner in the world. The reason Geom Mugeuk had specifically captured his son was to pressure him into revealing what he had done with Yeo Sogwang.

He's not asking for one or two hundred thousand taels, but telling me to cough up millions!

He did not know Geom Mugeuk's true intentions. It was something he would not be able to understand even if told. That this all started for the sake of a child who served drinks at the banquet hall, and that the matter concerning Yeo Sogwang was to make an example to establish discipline in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Branch. Even if he were told, he would suspect there was another hidden meaning.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know what you're talking about."

"When it comes to this kind of situation, without fail…"

Geom Mugeuk added with a bright smile.

"Everyone is always so oblivious."

The gazes of the two men locked in mid-air.

Seo Baekjong realized this was not a problem that could be solved this way. His opponent wanted something he could not give.

"I have taken too much of a busy man's time. I will take my leave for today."

Seo Baekjong gave a polite clasped hands greeting and then left the room.

After he left, Cheokyeon entered the room.

Geom Mugeuk said to Cheokyeon.

"That bastard Seo Cheong, I should have beaten him to a pulp."

"What do you mean?"

"He's leaving without even seeing his son's face, isn't he?"

"Isn't it because he's angry?"

Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat and walked to the window.

"No. It's because he didn't come for his son."

No matter how angry or hateful he felt, if his son was captured by the Demonic Cult, it would only be right to at least see his face and check if he was hurt, but right now, Seo Baekjong is completely preoccupied with how he will deal with me from now on. You two don't see each other either, do you? You really, truly don't see each other.

The figure of Seo Baekjong walking away in the distance was visible.

"If he had come as a father, my fight would have been much harder."

Just then, Seo Baekjong, who had briefly stopped walking, looked back this way.

Geom Mugeuk waved from the window. Seo Baekjong politely bowed his head and turned away.

"Instead of that meaningless greeting, you should have met your son."

Whether to scold him, beat him, or promise to save him. You should have met your son. Then again, if they had that kind of father-son relationship, this incident might not have happened in the first place.

Late at night, Seo Baekjong was sitting alone by the river, fishing.

The sound of footsteps could be heard from beyond the thick fog.

JEOBEOK JEOBEOK.

Someone approached with steady steps, making a sound as if they would walk this way no matter what happened in the world.

A man emerged, parting the fog.

He wore a bamboo hat pulled down low, obscuring his face, but he was a man with a strange aura.

Looking at the lake where his fishing line was cast, Seo Baekjong said.

"My son has been captured by the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult."

The words 'the Demonic Cult' were spoken, and the words 'Young Cult Leader' were spoken. Even though the two words combined to become the most dangerous phrase in the murim, the man in the bamboo hat answered without hesitation.

"We will take care of it."

The man disappeared into the fog, making the same sound of footsteps as when he arrived.