Chapter 319: It's Always Because of the Young Cult Leader

TL: FoodieMonster007

That night, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader strolled through the courtyard, unable to sleep. Geom Mugeuk's words rang in his ears, a reminder to look at his opponent properly and without prejudice.

He had failed to see his disciple, Jo Baekta, without prejudice. He had focused only on their differences.

Is this my personality? I don't seem like this before.

Swayed only by his emotions, he had not looked at Jo Baekta properly.

He changed the entire Cult Leader's Hall just like that? If he had any respect for me, he wouldn't have done that.

Looking at it coolly, however, the respect Jo Baekta had for him and the act of changing the Cult Leader's Hall were separate matters. Jo Baekta might have changed it after deciding it was not a big deal, or there could have been another reason.

Yes, Geom Mugeuk was right. The answer was not in his heart but with Jo Baekta. He should have been looking into Jo Baekta's eyes, not at the changed Cult Leader's Hall.

As the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader paced the front yard lost in thought, the Demonic Buddha walked out, illuminating the darkness with a golden light.

"Of the three Cult Leaders, which one is keeping you from sleeping?"

"Three Cult Leaders?"

"Is it our Young Cult Leader? Or the current Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult?"

"Who is the last Cult Leader?"

The Demonic Buddha stared intently at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Only then did the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader realize the Demonic Buddha meant himself, the former Cult Leader.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed self-deprecatingly. "The problem is always because of the last Cult Leader."

But the Demonic Buddha offered a different answer. "No. The reason we can't sleep is because of the Young Cult Leader."

How could he not know? If not for the Young Cult Leader, this situation would not exist. That Jo Baekta would still be a man staring only at the Cult Leader's Hall, wondering, When will I become the Cult Leader?

The thought was chilling. Go Wol would still be bound to the Cult Leader's Hall. No, since he had the key to his shackles, Go Wol might have even left him by now.

He himself would be jumping up and down, ordering Go Wol's death without knowing what kind of person he was. The thought of living such a life was terrifying.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sat on a rock to meet the Demonic Buddha's gaze. The Demonic Buddha probably would have lived a different life too, if not for the Young Cult Leader. If it had been a different Young Cult Leader, would the First Young Lord have become the successor?

Just then, the Demonic Buddha said something unexpected. "Honestly, I'm enjoying myself these days."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was startled. The word 'crazy' almost slipped from his mouth. To think the word 'enjoy' would come from the Demonic Buddha's lips. He was human, so he could feel joy, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader never thought he would reveal that emotion to him.

"This feeling of living a life that isn't mine is enjoyable. Have I been living too tedious a life until now?"

He had given up the power struggle, come all this way to help the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, and now received papers full of drawings of poisonous herbs. He was certainly living a different life.

"The thought, 'What would it be like to live a different life,' I'd never once had it before."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader listened, then said abruptly, "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever looked at you properly."

Not when they were once like friends, not when they fought during the succession battle, and not even now. It felt like he had never once seen him properly.

The Demonic Buddha was not upset. He sympathized with the meaning behind the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's words and easily came to a conclusion.

"That's why the Young Cult Leader is responsible for all of this."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader nodded with a smile. "Yes, it's always because of the Young Cult Leader. It's because of our arrogant and smart Young Cult Leader who keeps the adults from sleeping."

These days, the most fun he had was badmouthing the Demonic Buddha and Geom Mugeuk. The most exciting times were always when he was cursing Geom Mugeuk.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked up at the night sky. The moon in the Outer Regions looked more desolate and lonely. Then, he realized his mistake.

There I go again. Looking for the answer in my heart first.

He looked at the moon again. The moon in the Outer Regions and the moon in the Central Plains were the same. Yes, he would practice even while looking at the moon. The answer is in that moon.

The next day, they held a strategy meeting before the Welcoming Banquet.

"By now, the person behind this will have lost contact with the woman from the flower garden," Geom Mugeuk began. "They'll naturally think we got to her. There will be two possible reactions. They'll either lay low or retaliate."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Demonic Buddha showed no fear. They did not think anyone would dare take revenge on the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Demonic Buddha, and the former Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

However, Geom Mugeuk knew the opponent was the Illusion King who had lost Hwan Yeo. No one knew how he would react, so Geom Mugeuk awakened their caution.

"As you saw with the woman from the flower garden, they use the lost demonic arts of the Blood Cult. You don't know what might pop out, so you must not lower your guard."

The mention of the Blood Cult was effective on the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. His gaze intensified. He was someone who believed in the conspiracy theory that people were trying to resurrect the fallen Blood Cult.

"Cult Leader, please carefully observe the attendees at today's banquet to see if anyone has been affected by soul-capturing arts."

He gave a different request to the Demonic Buddha. "The enemy might try to catch us off guard and approach you, Demonic Buddha, instead of me or the Cult Leader. Please be mindful of that and watch for any suspicious individuals."

Geom Mugeuk stood up energetically. "Now, let's go. The war starts now."

He left the guest hall with the two men. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the Demonic Buddha walked on either side of Geom Mugeuk. Here in the Outer Regions, they were his wings.

At the Welcoming Banquet, all of the Heavenly Wind Cult's key masters gathered, not just the five Head Elders.

Not everyone in the Heavenly Wind Cult was a master of illusion. Some were pure martial artists who did not use illusions. Elder Ho Yang, who now greeted the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader warmly, was one such person. He was a master swordsman, one of the Three Great Swordsmen of the Outer Regions.

"It's been a long time." Since he could no longer use the title Cult Leader, Ho Yang felt awkward about what to call the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"Have you been well?" the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked.

"Thanks to you, I've been well. You seem to have lost a lot of weight."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader smiled with satisfaction. That was the phrase he most liked to hear these days.

"Your face also looks at ease," Ho Yang added.

"Thank you. You look very well too."

In the past, he would have naturally thought, Since we had a good relationship in the past, he must naturally be favorable to me now.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader calmly gazed at him. Is that really true? Now, this question felt heavy.

This is what Geom Mugeuk was talking about. Do not judge based on hasty assumptions from past relationships, personalities, reputations, pleasant words, or even slips of the tongue. Instead, look straight at the gaze, expression, and words directed at you now, and listen properly.

"I was sorry for not having valued and employed you more," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I respected you as a pure martial artist. I was grateful for your service as the God of War of our Cult. I thought I should treat you better, but I kept putting it off and missed the chance. I'm sorry."

He apologized to him. Apologizing like this was another change that came after meeting Geom Mugeuk. Apologizing to Go Wol, to the Demonic Buddha, and now to Ho Yang. Yes, he would apologize to them all.

He could feel Ho Yang's bewilderment. Ho Yang could not hide his feeling of, What on earth is his intention?

Yes, the relationship between himself and the man named Ho Yang was just this distant. A distance that created the thought, Why is this person suddenly being so kind? The vague familiarity he had felt earlier was an emotion that existed only in his own heart.

As he tried to look closely, he began to see things he had not seen before.

"I just said it because I thought I wouldn't have another chance if not today."

"Thank you for thinking of me that way."

Following Ho Yang's lead, other Elders also came to greet the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. After exchanging greetings with each of them, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked, "But I don't see Elder Seong."

Ho Yang said cautiously, "Elder Seong has voluntarily stepped down from his position as Elder."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was shocked. Elder Seong was the man known as the Star Elder, the head of the five Head Elders. He was also the person he had cherished the most.

"What was the reason for his resignation?"

"He said he wanted to rest now."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader recalled what Elder Seong had said when he stepped down as Cult Leader.

"I will serve the new Cult Leader until this life ends."

"I'm leaving, trusting only you."

That was the kind of person Elder Seong was, yet he stepped down saying he wanted to rest? That could not be. There must be a reason.

Meanwhile, people also came to greet Geom Mugeuk. The chance to meet the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in person was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so everyone introduced themselves to make an impression.

Just then, a woman offered a bold greeting. "If I had known the Young Cult Leader was this handsome, I would have already escaped the Outer Regions."

She was a middle-aged woman with a friendly appearance. Unlike the rough and bewitching people of the Heavenly Wind Cult, she had kind eyes.

"I'm Gu Suk."

"I am Geom Mugeuk."

Geom Mugeuk knew she was one of the five Head Elders and a woman who had followed the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader closely.

Just then, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader walked over. "If you fall for the Young Cult Leader, you really will end up attempting to escape the Outer Regions."

Gu Suk smiled brightly and greeted the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. "Like my Orabeoni?"

"Orabeoni?"

At that word, not only the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader but everyone around them was startled.

"Now that you've stepped down as Cult Leader, I should call you Orabeoni. Don't you remember? I said I would call you Orabeoni once you stepped down."

Honestly, he did not remember. She would not make something like that up, so he realized anew how poorly he had listened to what others said.

"I thought you were joking."

"I have never once joked."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader just blinked and listened, but Geom Mugeuk could feel it. She respected the former Cult Leader.

"Young Cult Leader, I hope I have a chance to treat you to a drink before you leave," Gu Suk said.

"I'm available anytime. How could I miss the chance to learn about alcohol and life from a beautiful older sister who has been through it all?"

At Geom Mugeuk's pleasantries, Gu Suk beamed and scolded the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, telling him to be at least half as good as the Young Cult Leader.

While there were cool and straightforward Elders like her, there were also Elders like Wang Hyo who only greeted him and then observed quietly.

Laughter came from the side. When Geom Mugeuk turned, the Demonic Buddha was sitting on the edge of a table, talking with people. He had met many people and had a talent for leading conversations.

Just then, Cult Leader Jo Baekta entered the banquet hall. The martial artists of the Heavenly Wind Cult all showed their respects and welcomed him. The pattern on Jo Baekta's face from yesterday was cleanly gone.

Perhaps that was why the bewitching atmosphere from before felt pure today.

Jo Baekta attended to Geom Mugeuk first. "Today is a day for you, Young Cult Leader, so please eat and drink to your heart's content."

"Today is the first time I've learned that the alcohol of the Outer Regions is this delicious."

"It is a special liquor prepared for a distinguished guest."

Next, he greeted the Demonic Buddha, and finally, he attended to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. "Master, did you sleep well?"

"Thanks to the consideration of our Cult Leader, I slept comfortably." He deliberately said 'our Cult Leader' loudly for everyone to hear. He did not know how the mastermind had infiltrated, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader felt a responsibility to protect Jo Baekta and the Heavenly Wind Cult.

"Cult Leader."

"Yes, Master."

"Returning to the cult after so long, I suddenly miss the Echoing Thunder Bell. Would it be possible to see it?"

"Of course. I will escort you."

He had said it because he wanted to be alone with Jo Baekta, but he also genuinely wanted to see the Echoing Thunder Bell. Jo Baekta left the banquet hall and led the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader towards the Cult Leader's Hall.

The Echoing Thunder Bell wasn't in the place we went to yesterday, though?

Though puzzled, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader silently followed Jo Baekta.

Inside the Cult Leader's Hall, Jo Baekta went to the throne, sat down, and infused qi into the armrests. The surrounding walls began to rise.

GUUUUUUUNG.

Behind the walls were display cabinets storing the sacred treasures of the Heavenly Wind Cult.

"Since I was changing the interior anyway, I changed the storage for the sacred treasures like this as well."

"It's a very elaborate mechanism. Impressive." Of course, it did not suit the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who had lived for the pleasure of looking at the sacred treasures.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader walked slowly, looking at the treasures. Seeing them after so long brought a new wave of emotion. He had taken all of these with him to the Divine Cult.

The Echoing Thunder Bell was placed in the center behind the throne. "It's really been a long time."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze deepened as he looked at the bell. It had been so long since he had seen the demon carved on the Echoing Thunder Bell.

Go Wol says hello.

Jo Baekta, standing right next to him, said quietly, "Do you remember what you said to me when you left the cult?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader flinched for a moment. What did I say when I left?

He had been in such a daze back then. His only thought was to finish his business quickly and return to Go Wol, but even so, he could not remember those words? Just like how he had forgotten what Gu Suk had said earlier.

This was not a matter of having a good or bad memory. This was a matter of his attitude toward life. An attitude of being so absorbed in his own emotions that he did not look at others properly and did not listen to their words. To him, reality was perhaps a world inferior to the one within his illusions.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader turned from the Echoing Thunder Bell to look at Jo Baekta.

Jo Baekta calmly repeated the exact words the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had said that day. "I couldn't achieve my dream, but you must achieve yours."

Hearing those words, he remembered. Yes, he had said that. What else could a departing person say? He had meant that Jo Baekta should remain Cult Leader for a long time and die in that position.

Jo Baekta also turned to look at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Their gazes met, with the demon of the Echoing Thunder Bell between them.

"I intend to achieve that dream."

"What is your dream, Cult Leader?"

For some reason, he felt that words that should not be spoken were about to come out. His premonition was correct.

"The unification of murim."

"!"

Yes, that much was still acceptable. It was a dream the head of a great power like the Heavenly Wind Cult could have at least once.

The problem was the words that came next.

"I believe I will now take the first step."