Chapter 275: I Told You Not to Choose Our Cult

TL: FoodieMonster007

He had, of course, said it for the Sword Saint to hear.

Geom Mugeuk rose from his seat. He clasped his hands and greeted the Sword Saint politely.

"I couldn't greet you formally before. It's an honor to meet you."

The Sword Saint studied Geom Mugeuk with a sharp gaze. Just as before, he was impressed by Geom Mugeuk's eyes and spirit.

To have such clear eyes despite having learned demonic art? Truly astonishing.

The Sword Saint's gaze shifted to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon standing behind Geom Mugeuk. He recalled what the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said earlier.

"He can change."

Was he referring to this Young Cult Leader when he spoke of changing one's life?

The Sword Saint asked again in a low, stern tone.

"Repeat what you said before."

"I expected that you were unaware. If you had known, you wouldn't have condoned it."

The Sword Saint had only accompanied Jin Hagun to protect him at the request of the Murim Alliance Chairman, Jin Paecheon. He did not know what business Jin Hagun was on. He had no interest in it in the first place.

"Are you saying what you said before is true?"

"That's correct. That man, Seo Cheong, murdered a passerby simply because he wanted to slaughter someone, and he also killed one of our Cult's martial artists. There are other victims as well. When I, who happened to be in Hunan, tried to punish Seo Cheong, the Murim Alliance stepped in to stop me."

The Sword Saint asked Jin Hagun with cold, sunken eyes.

"Commander Jin, is what he said true?"

If Jin Hagun answered yes, a fiery reprimand would fall upon him, given the Sword Saint's personality. It would not matter if he were the Murim Alliance Chairman himself, let alone his grandson.

Jin Hagun saw Geom Mugeuk's intention. Geom Mugeuk meant to use the Sword Saint to escape this situation.

"It is true."

In that moment, anger flared from the Sword Saint.

Jin Hagun quickly added.

"However, one fact is missing."

Jin Hagun looked at Seo Cheong and spoke.

"I was also planning to give Seo Cheong a fitting punishment for his crimes."

Jin Hagun knew this was the most natural way to cut ties with the Heavenly Peace Sect.

"What kind of punishment?"

"I intended to lock him in prison. He would've had to stay there for the rest of his life."

The Sword Saint looked at Jin Hagun with suspicious eyes. Jin Hagun could just be making a hasty excuse now that the Sword Saint had stepped in.

Jin Hagun met the Sword Saint's gaze confidently. In truth, he might have done it, or he might not have. He decided to believe in himself, that he would have punished him one way or another.

Finally, the Sword Saint's expression softened.

"Yes, I knew you would."

The Sword Saint believed in Jin Hagun, which was why he supported him. He had watched Jin Hagun since he was young. He knew well that Jin Hagun had lived more diligently than anyone and was an upright child.

"I believe in you."

"I will strive to improve so as not to disappoint you."

Jin Hagun felt relieved that things had not proceeded with him absorbing the Heavenly Peace Sect. Thinking about it now, he had been truly blinded by greed.

Of course, this did not mean the Sword Saint's anger had vanished. Its target had simply changed.

The Sword Saint's gaze turned to Seo Cheong. Seo Cheong should have had the sense to run over, but he stood frozen in place, terrified.

Seo Baekjong called out loudly.

"What are you doing? Come here at once!"

The Sword Saint was already angry. If they got on his bad side, they could lose their lives right here.

"I said, come here!"

Seo Baekjong shouted and sent a telepathic message.

[Do as the Sword Saint says. Come here and beg for forgiveness as if your life depends on it!]

[Please save me, Father! I can't go to prison! I'll die if I go.]

[Shut up! This is no time to be whining!]

As Seo Baekjong flared up in anger, Seo Cheong walked toward the Sword Saint with a terrified expression.

Seo Baekjong's urgent telepathy flew to Jin Hagun.

[Please stop him!]

[Now that the Sword Saint has stepped in, there's nothing I can do. As you know, Sect Leader, the Sword Saint is the Chairman's close friend and a man who has performed righteous deeds his entire life, is he not?]

[Are you really going to do this? Do you think that person will just let this slide?]

Seo Baekjong mentioned Jin Hagun's Master.

Indeed, his master was Jin Hagun's biggest concern.

However, not only had the Sword Saint intervened, but Jin Hagun had also decided to cut ties with the Heavenly Peace Sect. He believed his master would surely understand his decision.

[Even he cannot go against Elder Sword Saint's will.]

Meanwhile, Seo Cheong stood before the Sword Saint.

The Sword Saint asked him with a cold gaze.

"Is what I heard from the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult earlier true?"

Seo Cheong hesitated, not knowing what to say. His gaze shifted back to Seo Baekjong.

If he were innocent, he would have denied it and pleaded his case. This action alone was as good as admitting to everything.

Seo Baekjong stepped forward in his place.

"This is a matter still under investigation, and the truth has not yet been revealed."

He tried to somehow escape the moment. He expected Jin Hagun to agree with him, since Jin Hagun would feel sorry for him.

However, the Sword Saint asked Geom Mugeuk instead.

"Young Cult Leader, is what this man says true?"

"No. All of his crimes have already been brought to light."

At that, the Sword Saint scolded Seo Baekjong with a cold gaze.

"Do you dare lie to me?"

The Sword Saint was displeased even with the idea of locking him in prison. His life had been one of punishing those who killed the innocent, regardless of their status.

Seo Baekjong bowed his head as if admitting fault and sent a telepathic message.

[Hurry up and kneel! Beg!]

Only then did Seo Cheong fall to his knees. He was thoroughly terrified.

Anything but prison!

Seo Cheong pleaded with the Sword Saint.

"I made a mistake because I was drunk. I don't remember what happened that day. Please, forgive me."

In that moment, the Sword Saint's expression grew even colder. The word 'mistake' came out before 'I was wrong', and he used the excuse of being drunk on top of that.

As they say, you can know ten things by seeing one. The Sword Saint immediately grasped what kind of person Seo Cheong was.

"A mistake?"

"Yes, it was a mistake."

"Then why did you kill the other person?"

"That's…"

He could not think of an excuse. He lifted his head and begged.

"Please forgive me just this once."

"I am asking why you killed him."

At the frost-like rebuke, Seo Cheong's mind went blank.

In that completely blank state, an emotion surged up from deep within Seo Cheong's heart. It was anger, the one he had used most often against others in his life.

Seo Cheong was angry. No one had ever cornered him like this before.

The next moment, he shouted.

"Because I wanted to kill him!"

A moment of silence fell over the place.

"Because it was thrilling when I killed someone."

Seo Cheong lifted his head, looked around, and shouted even louder.

"You all know that feeling, don't you? You've killed more people! Why are you picking on me!"

Everyone there just stared at him with cold eyes.

Seo Baekjong ran to him.

SLAP!

Seo Baekjong mercilessly struck Seo Cheong across the cheek.

"Shut up!"

"Why did you hit me? Did I say something wrong?"

He should have known his father hit him to save him, but the agitated Seo Cheong was seeing red.

"Why is that Elder trying to punish me? This isn't the Murim Alliance's territory, it's the Demonic Cult's territory, isn't it? If I'm to be punished, it should be by them!"

SLAP! SLAP!

Seo Baekjong struck Seo Cheong without mercy.

Who could he blame? It was his own fault for raising his son this way.

Seo Baekjong could feel it. The Sword Saint's anger had reached its peak. He thought that at this rate, the Sword Saint might kill Seo Cheong.

He quickly sent a telepathic message to Bi Sayin.

[We will join forces with the Evil Alliance.]

Bi Sayin did not answer his desperate telepathy right away. He now held all the cards.

Bi Sayin was impressed with Geom Mugeuk. To drag the Sword Saint into this and lead things this way? Looking only at the result, it might seem like something anyone could think of, but this was something not just anyone could accomplish.

While Seo Baekjong sent his brief telepathic message to draw in the Evil Alliance, Seo Cheong could not wait and caused more trouble.

He was angry at his father. He misunderstood that the person who should be saving him at all costs was keeping his mouth shut to save himself, and he was even hitting him.

Since there was usually no affection or trust between the blood relatives, only extreme thoughts came to mind in an extreme situation.

Misunderstanding that his father had abandoned him, Seo Cheong spat out words he should never have said in his terror.

"You've killed people too, Father, haven't you?"

Flustered, Seo Baekjong quickly said to the Sword Saint.

"He's just scared and spouting nonsense, please pay him no mind."

Seo Baekjong turned to Seo Cheong and scowled.

[Shut up! Do you really want to get this father of yours killed too?]

He had said it in his haste, but it was a slip of the tongue. Seo Cheong interpreted those words as 'If you're going to die, die alone!' Seo Cheong screamed as if in his death throes.

"You poisoned the Evil Poison Sword and buried him in the bamboo forest on the back mountain, didn't you? You also killed the Three Wolves of Hunan, and the Destruction Sword!"

A sudden silence fell.

A name that should not have been mentioned came out. While the Three Wolves of Hunan and the Destruction Sword were figures from between the orthodox and unorthodox, the Evil Poison Sword was a martial artist belonging to the Evil Alliance.

Seo Baekjong looked at Bi Sayin with a flustered expression.

[So the missing Evil Poison Sword was buried on our Sect Leader Seo's back mountain.]

[It's a misunderstanding.]

[No need for excuses. The Evil Poison Sword wasn't one of my people anyway.]

[Then will you join hands with us?]

[Unfortunately, that would be difficult. Even if we are unorthodox sects, we have our pride, don't we?]

He could not accept them after knowing they had killed an unorthodox sects martial artist. There were too many eyes watching. Geom Mugeuk had rolled a whole pumpkin vine his way, but it had tumbled right out of his grasp.

In the end, Seo Baekjong clung to the rope that was furthest from him.

"We will join hands with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Please accept us."

Seo Baekjong did not even send a telepathic message. There was no time to coordinate the situation with telepathy now. His son was one thing, but now his own life was in danger. The only one he could trust was the Demonic Cult.

Seeing this, Bi Sayin sighed. So it ended up like this after all. When Geom Mugeuk had first jokingly told them never to choose the Demonic Cult, Bi Sayin had a premonition that it might end up this way.

And it really happened.

"Didn't I clearly say I didn't want you? I told you not to choose our Cult."

"Please, accept us."

"I said no! Go over to the Murim Alliance that you like so much."

"Please!"

"That Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman over there looks scary, but he's a good person. Go to him."

"Please accept us into the Divine Cult! I'm begging you!"

Seo Baekjong grabbed Geom Mugeuk's pant leg and begged.

"This is troublesome."

It truly did not deviate one bit from Bi Sayin's prediction.

In the end, Geom Mugeuk pretended to give in and said suggestively.

"Fine, but I have one condition."

"Please, state it."

"Your son is going to prison. As long as the Heavenly Peace Sect's loyalty doesn't waver, I will postpone his execution."

It was not forgiveness. Life in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's prison would bring more pain than death.

At those words, Seo Cheong was horrified and began to thrash about again.

"Save me! Why me! Why should I suffer for killing a few insignificant things! Father, save me!"

He had lived his entire life haughty, but this was the moment he would taste the true terror of the world.

"You hypocrites! You all kill indiscriminately, so why can't I!"

Seo Baekjong sighed. It seemed as if his son was shouting whatever the grim reaper whispered in his ear.

In the end, Seo Cheong hurled curses at Seo Baekjong as well.

"What kind of father abandons his own son! How dare you lead a sect! You bastard!"

The bond between the two was completely severed in that moment.

Seo Baekjong thought that this might be a better path for the sake of the Heavenly Peace Sect. The Heavenly Peace Sect would continue to run well, and in any case, his son was alive. That was enough.

Seo Baekjong calmed his heart that way.

Just then, the Light Flash, who had not said a single word until now, strode forward and called out to Seo Baekjong.

"Sect Leader Seo."

The moment Seo Baekjong casually turned toward him.

SHWIIIIING!

"……"

The Light Flash cut him down in a single stroke. His swordsmanship was so fast that his blade was not even visible.

No one had expected him to kill Seo Baekjong, so everyone was startled. His son, Seo Cheong, was especially engulfed in shock. He collapsed on the spot, his face pale with fear that he would be next.

The Light Flash bowed his head to Bi Sayin and said curtly.

"The Evil Poison Sword was my sworn brother. I will gladly accept the punishment for moving without orders."

Even Geom Mugeuk had not known that fact. When the indifferent heavens turn their attention to the world, there is no escape.

The Sword Saint, who was watching this, sent a telepathic message to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

[This situation, did you create it?]

He thought the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been sending telepathic messages and planning the strategy throughout the meeting today. The Sword Saint remembered the Blood Heaven Blade Demon as that kind of person.

[I wish I had…]

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was not one to lie about such things.

The Sword Saint's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk.

[I suppose I'll have to live a long life.]

He had belatedly realized that even he had moved according to Geom Mugeuk's will.

[If you keep meddling like that, you won't hear good things from the young folk.]

[That's fine.]

And so, the Heavenly Peace Sect was dealt with.

With Seo Baekjong dead and Seo Cheong imprisoned, the new leader of the Heavenly Peace Sect would now be someone who followed the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Everyone's gaze naturally focused on Geom Mugeuk.

Today, Geom Mugeuk had achieved it all. He had absorbed the Heavenly Peace Sect and made Seo Cheong pay for his sins. Standing there with a silly grin and no tension, he now felt like a different person.

If someone were to say that nine out of ten rumors are exaggerated, the people present here would at least shake their heads and say this. That the remaining one was Geom Mugeuk.

Jin Hagun and Bi Sayin slowly walked toward Geom Mugeuk. They stood facing him as if forming a circle.

Just as their meeting had been, the first farewell of the three successors, a first in murim history, was about to begin.