Chapter 283: Whose Spot Is This?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Moonlight settled on the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult safehouse.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had planted the Heaven Destroying Dao in the yard. He leaned against it and drank. Wine always tasted best when he leaned on the Heaven Destroying Dao.

Just then, a welcome voice came from behind him.

"You always have a book in your hand. Why a wine cup today?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon smiled as he drank.

Geom Mugeuk sat beside him. They used to sit facing each other, but now it was more comfortable to sit side by side.

"Please give me a glass, too."

Geom Mugeuk drank the wine the Blood Heaven Blade Demon offered.

"Kya, that's good."

"Aren't you busy with your work?"

"No matter how busy I am, I have to see the people I want to see. You were bored without me, weren't you?"

"If I'm bored, I can read a book. If I'm still bored after that, I can drink."

"What about Master?"

"He's training in the backyard."

He was likely training alone since he could not go to the late-night training sessions.

Come to think of it, Cheon Sohwi must be training alone too. No, she might be enjoying her freedom and playing around.

"What's troubling you?"

He's so perceptive.

"Are you reading the heavens or something?"

"An old man has to be perceptive. Why? Did the orthodox sects murim mobilize everyone to catch you? Are they saying they'll surround the perimeter?"

"If that were the case, it wouldn't even be a worry. 'Let's bounce, Elder!' That's all I'd need to say."

When his mind grew complicated, he sought out the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He did not seek an answer, but simply found that being with him like this put his mind at ease. He often found answers during their conversations.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon poured him a drink and said, "Don't try to do too well."

"Do I look like I am?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded. Geom Mugeuk realized he had tensed up without knowing it. He was being extremely cautious because the matter involved Hwa Mugi.

"When you're dying later, do you think you'll die thinking, 'I should have done better then'? Not a chance. You'll think, 'I should have seen that person one more time. I should have said one more kind word.' That's what life is when you die."

The more he learned about the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the more unexpected sides of him he saw.

When he first met him, could he have ever imagined he was the kind of person to say such things?

Of course, some parts of him had changed after meeting Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk thought he said these things because he read a lot of books.

"Then I'm doing well. I came to see you, Elder, so I wouldn't have any regrets."

Though he was pleased inside, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon did not forget the one thing he always said.

"I'm sure you think of me a lot. You're probably thinking of the Mask-wearer, the Drunkard, the Fist-fighter, and the duel-lover."

Geom Mugeuk smiled and looked up at the moon.

"You must not be able to see because of this big sword, but you, Elder, are always at the very front of that line."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon also smiled and looked up at the moon with him.

"Elder, what do you think you'll regret the most?"

His gaze deepened slightly.

Is he recalling his youth when things could have worked out with the Flower Sword Supreme? Or is he thinking of another, unspoken regret?

"I have no regrets or lingering attachments."

A faint smile touched Geom Mugeuk's lips.

Yes, he wished for him a life without regrets, and for killing intent. Not just a life without regrets in words, but a truly regret-free life.

"I met Master Jin Hagun today."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's gaze intensified at Geom Mugeuk's words. He knew that Baek Cheongeong was the one who held the key to this matter.

"How was he?"

"He was no ordinary man. Both in his schemes and his martial arts."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded.

"If he weren't, there would be no reason for us to be here."

"However we decide to handle this, I think we must be cautious."

"It won't be easy. Even if you are cautious, your opponent will not be."

"What do you mean by that?"

Then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon said something unexpected.

"Anyone who makes an enemy of you will inevitably become anxious and fearful."

"It feels good to hear a compliment from you, Elder, it's been a while. Please compliment me more! Don't worry, I won't get arrogant."

"You should be a little arrogant."

Geom Mugeuk laughed loudly, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon laughed along with him.

The two men drank.

It would have been nice to just drink pleasantly, but Geom Mugeuk had come today for a reason.

Geom Mugeuk took something out from his robes.

"Have you ever seen this before?"

It was the doll he had taken from Baek Cheongeong's workshop.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head.

"It's an unsettling-looking thing."

The body was perfectly carved, but the blank face made it look even more unsettling.

"Do you happen to know about the Thousand Wooden Souls Art?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon startled when he heard the words 'the Thousand Wooden Souls Art'. His gaze shot to the wooden doll.

"Don't tell me this doll is used for that martial arts?"

As expected, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon knew about the Thousand Wooden Souls Art. His knowledge and insight regarding the murim's various sects and martial arts were exceptional.

"That man, Baek Cheongeong, was practicing it. He also carved this doll."

"That can't be!"

There was a reason for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's surprise.

"The Thousand Wooden Souls Art was the martial arts of a mysterious sect called the Wood Heaven Clan, but the Wood Heaven Clan was already annihilated. You're saying someone who practices that martial arts is still alive?"

"Annihilated?"

Geom Mugeuk knew about the Thousand Wooden Souls Art, but he did not know that their clan had been annihilated.

"They were wiped out over a decade ago."

"How were they annihilated?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head.

"Almost nothing is known about it. Befitting a mysterious sect, their end was also shrouded in secrecy."

Baek Cheongeong is a descendant of the annihilated Wood Heaven Clan?

An unexpected truth was revealed.

"The Master of the Murim Alliance Chairman's grandson is a descendant of the annihilated Wood Heaven Clan? This is certainly unusual."

"Jin Hagun knows nothing about this. I expect the Murim Alliance Chairman probably doesn't know either."

"I heard the secret arts of the Wood Heaven Clan are as subtle and secretive as the energy of a forest. If he was determined to hide it, it's possible they wouldn't know, but how did you find out?"

"The Nine Calamities Demonic Art reacted. It seems the martial origins of the Thousand Wooden Souls Art stem from demonic art."

This was because the Nine Calamities Demonic Art was the absolute demonic art that took precedence over any other, standing at the pinnacle of all demonic art.

A descendant of an annihilated mysterious sect has infiltrated the Murim Alliance? And not just in an ordinary position, but as the Master of the Chairman's grandson, with Hwa Mugi behind him as well?

"What should I do? Please give me an answer, Elder!"

No matter how much he feigned distress, there was no answer the Blood Heaven Blade Demon could give.

"I don't know. I've lived my life killing everyone without thinking about the consequences."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon tilted his cup and added, "That's why for a novice, killing is difficult, and for a master, saving a life is difficult."

At the same time, Jin Haryong met with Jin Hagun.

"What happened?"

Jin Hagun hesitated to answer his sister's question. He could not bring himself to say that his master did not think of him as a disciple. Instead, he only relayed part of what Geom Mugeuk had said.

"He said that since it was their first meeting, he wasn't sure yet."

Jin Haryong sensed two emotions in her brother's expression, anger and hope. She could guess the target of each.

"Orabeoni."

"What?"

She wanted to tell him that she believed in her Orabeoni and that he should believe in himself, but she knew Jin Hagun's personality. Such words would only hurt his pride and be counterproductive in this situation.

"I guess you're a martial artist through and through, Orabeoni."

"What do you mean?"

"When a crisis comes, your eyes start to sparkle."

Jin Hagun gave a bitter smile. The sparkling eyes belonged to his sister. He did not need to see his reflection to know what his own eyes looked like.

"But don't try to bear that crisis all by yourself. Thinking it's cool to handle things alone, I see that as just bluffing."

The little kid who always cried and asked for piggyback rides had grown up so much. She was now comforting him.

"If you're having a hard time, Orabeoni, maybe it's because your trust is half-hearted?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you're going to trust Geom Mugeuk, you have to trust him completely, but you can't. Why not just go all in and trust him? You asked for his help because you trust him anyway, right?"

"What if I lose everything because of it?"

"So? If you were going to lose it, wouldn't you lose it even if you didn't trust him?"

"!"

"When I see that person, Geom Mugeuk, I've never felt like his door was closed. It felt wide open, so open that I felt I couldn't enter carelessly. If the other person can open it anyway, wouldn't it be better to get rid of a flimsy lock? Ah, I've talked too much. Get some rest."

As she was about to leave, Jin Hagun said, "Thank you."

Jin Haryong felt her Orabeoni was growing. He did not get angry, and his pride was not hurt. In the past, the atmosphere would not have even allowed for such a conversation.

Jin Haryong mimed holding a ball to her chest, just as Jin Hagun had done when comparing himself to Geom Mugeuk. No, she made the ball seem much bigger.

"To me, Orabeoni is this big!"

The next day, I went to see Baek Cheongeong.

He was not surprised at all, as if he had expected my visit.

"The Young Cult Leader seems to have a lot of free time."

He felt different from yesterday, now that I knew he was a descendant of the annihilated Wood Heaven Clan.

Baek Cheongeong, what is he doing here?

The question was the same, but the feeling was different. I knew I would not get the answer from him. Last night, after leaving the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's residence, I immediately sent an urgent messenger pigeon to Go Wol. I told him to work with the All-Knowing Hall to find and send all information related to the Wood Heaven Clan. I would get the answer from Go Wol.

"Unless we go to war with you people, what is there for a Young Cult Leader to be busy with?"

"Do you have time to see me? You must be busy trying to meet Haryong."

"Commander Jin is vehemently blocking me. He says I can't meet his sister until his master's permission is granted. That the moment I make contact with her, a war will break out."

"It seems you're afraid of a war breaking out while you stroll through the Murim Alliance as the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult."

"It wasn't that obvious threat that scared me. I'm just understanding Commander Jin as a fellow man trying to protect his younger sister."

Baek Cheongeong turned and went inside. He did not close the door, which meant I should come in. I followed him, grumbling unnecessarily.

"Even so, he shouldn't be like this. His own sister was the one who invited me."

Baek Cheongeong pretended not to hear. He sat down and began to carve wood. Since I arrived, he had done nothing but carve wood in front of me.

But now I knew how terrifying this moment was. Every time we met, he was creating his subordinates.

He asked as he carved the wood, "If I told you not to meet her, would you go back?"

I wandered around the workshop and asked back nonchalantly, "Would you do that?"

I don't think so. He'll try to use me in whatever way is advantageous to him.

"Of course. I have to accept my disciple's wishes."

"You seem to care for your disciple a lot."

Baek Cheongeong neither confirmed nor denied it.

What does he truly think of Jin Hagun in the depths of his heart? Is he planning to use him to his heart's content and then discard him? Or does he have feelings for him as a true disciple?

"I won't back down until you let me meet her. I'm the type of person who does what he says he'll do."

As I spoke, I lifted the cloth covering the display shelf. The dolls' positions had changed again since yesterday.

All the dolls stood in a formation, forming a circle around an empty space. They were posed as if drawing their weapons, clearly intending to strike an opponent.

However, there was no doll in the center.

"Whose spot is this?"

"That will depend on how you act. You could stand there, or Hagun could stand there."

"Why are you excluding yourself?"

Baek Cheongeong raised his head and stared at me.

"Didn't you say so yesterday? That you didn't come to kill me."

"That's right. I did."

"In that case, it's highly likely to be you."

I took the doll out from my robes. It was the faceless doll I had taken yesterday.

"Or it could be this person."

He did not mention it, perhaps because he already knew I had taken it.

"I want to try carving this doll's face myself."

He reacted immediately to those words. Baek Cheongeong looked at me and asked, "Who are you going to carve?"

"Since you're the one who made this in the first place, you must know who it is."

Our gazes tangled in the air.

"He can be anyone."

"Will you teach me how to carve? I'll try to finish it."

He started carving the wood again, as if my words were not even worth a response.

SAKAK SAKAK.

I put the faceless doll back inside my robes.

Then I took another carving knife and a piece of wood from the workbench and began to imitate him.

"This carving knife is still a blade, isn't it? And I have some skill when it comes to using blades."

I roughly followed his movements and carved.

Will he be able to move the one I made too? Probably. It's also made of wood, after all. Or maybe, since he didn't make it himself, it might not move according to his command.

I carved the doll for a long while. Once it roughly took a human shape, I showed it to him.

"How is it? Doesn't it look quite plausible?"

Baek Cheongeong looked as if he could not understand me at all.

"What is your real purpose?"

"To win Miss Jin's heart."

He was half in doubt. If he believed me, it was unbelievable. If he did not, he would wonder why I was acting this way.

"If you allow me to meet her, I will repay you."

"Repay me?"

"If you receive something, you should give something in return, shouldn't it?"

"I wouldn't want anything from a demonic practitioner, even if it were a thousand pieces of gold."

"What if I give you something more important than a thousand pieces of gold?"

Curiosity flickered across Baek Cheongeong's face.

"For example, what if it's the Heavenly Peace Sect?"

Surprise flashed in Baek Cheongeong's eyes. The words were clearly unexpected.

"I know that you connected the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader and Commander Jin. Why did you move for the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader?"

I mentioned the Heavenly Peace Sect at an unexpected moment to observe his reaction.

"I was merely trying to save the Heavenly Peace Sect Leader's son from your grasp."

"You must have known his son was a villain. Aren't you from the orthodox sects?"

"Good and evil are relative concepts. To be honest, aren't you the greater villain?"

"That's right. It certainly seems relative. I get the feeling that you're a greater villain than I am."

A faint smile touched his lips. It seemed like a sneer of denial but also a smile of acknowledgment.

The conversation ended. Baek Cheongeong's gaze returned to the wooden doll he was carving.

SAKAK SAKAK.

He was endlessly creating subordinates.

What is he planning to use so many dolls for? Just what is he plotting?

"I'll come to learn again tomorrow."

After Geom Mugeuk left, Baek Cheongeong finished carving the doll.

He fiddled with the doll for a moment, looking down at it. Then he got up and walked slowly to the display shelf.

"That doll can be anyone…"

Baek Cheongeong placed the doll he had made in the center of the encirclement. He said in a tone as subdued as his gaze, "And anyone can come here."

The finished doll was a young woman.