Chapter 389: Where is the Young Cult Leader's Demonic Path?

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Orthodox-Demonic Alliance was dismantled in that moment.

What's that supposed to mean? That you've been talking with them often lately? Did you think I was looking at you to hear that answer? How dare you look me straight in the eye and backstab me like this?

Baek Jagang's expression brightened. He fired the signal flare that announced the new formation of the Evil-Demonic Alliance.

These heretics of the evil and demonic paths!

Ignoring their reactions, Geom Woojin spoke again to prove his words were sincere.

"We hunt together, fish together, and play Go together."

Geom Mugeuk was startled.

"Huh? We've never gone fishing, have we?"

Jin Paecheon's eyes glinted coldly for a moment. Is he making things up? Claiming to talk with his children when he doesn't? Despite the suspicious glare, Geom Woojin remained composed.

"Are you my only son?"

Geom Mugeuk had asked because he guessed his father had fished with his older brother. His father was not one to lie. He wanted to show everyone that his father also took good care of his brother.

"That's too much! Please go fishing with me too, Patriarch!"

Geom Woojin pretended not to hear. He looked at Jin Paecheon and said, "The time with my son was good, but it was also necessary time for myself."

Their gazes met in mid-air.

That arrogant and haughty gaze could make one feel unpleasant just by looking at it. That was how Jin Paecheon knew. It was not a lie. A gaze like that felt no need to lie.

"Yes, children are good, and time for oneself is also good."

Jin Paecheon's gaze turned cold.

"Then what about your people?"

The excited atmosphere instantly cooled. This was not a grandfather boasting about his children. It was a question from the Murim Alliance Chairman Jin Paecheon.

Baek Jagang also watched silently. He waited to see what answer Geom Woojin would give.

Geom Woojin stared at the wine bottle before him. Depending on his answer, he might not even pour the first cup.

"Do you think you could stop us by sacrificing that time?"

The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere changed. It grew cold and heavy.

Bi Sayin looked at Geom Mugeuk. Jin Hagun and Jin Haryong also looked at Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk did not look back at them. He looked at his father's back. Both his father and the Heavenly Demon Soul tattooed on his back were beings who did not look back. They only moved forward.

His father had briefly looked back for his son's sake, but now he looked forward again. He looked at the entire murim. He had just asked the Murim Alliance Chairman if he could stop them.

The masters of the orthodox sects on the first floor reacted first. They all released their auras simultaneously, preparing to strike at any moment. The Demonic Cult Leader's words were a clear provocation.

The masters of the unorthodox sects also prepared. They exchanged telepathy, planning their moves for when the Demonic Cult and the orthodox sects clashed.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood with his arms crossed, watching the orthodox sect masters before him. He wore a serious expression, as if contemplating who he would cut down first.

But he was actually thinking about something else. He believed that as long as Geom Woojin and Geom Mugeuk were upstairs, a fight would not break out. He was thinking of Seo Daeryong. Listening to the conversation, he realized he had never had a deep conversation with his own disciple either.

I should see him separately soon.

He was surprised at himself, but he did not dislike the feeling. In the past, he would have been disgusted. He had believed such soft emotions would only hasten one's death. He suddenly recalled something Geom Mugeuk once heard from the Cult Leader.

What cheap sentimentality, perfect for getting yourself killed.

Yes, that was how he would have thought. He had lived his life that way, just like the Cult Leader, but these days, he often thought that among all his emotions, that one might be the most precious.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned his head toward a heat he felt beside him.

The Flower Sword Supreme had already chosen her opponent. If a melee broke out, she intended to kill the Taiyi Divine Sword.

The Taiyi Divine Sword had also read her killing intent. A part of him secretly hoped a fight would break out.

Every last one of those Demonic Cult bastards must be wiped out.

That had always been his unchanging conviction.

As the atmosphere grew murderous, the Drunken Demon uncorked a wine bottle and took a long swig. The faint scent of alcohol heightened the tension.

Of course, one person remained relaxed. The Poison King had opened a window and rested his chin on the windowsill, looking outside. Someone might have sent a chilling aura his way, but no one dared to pick a fight with the Poison King. One might kill him, but everyone would die together. The Poison King had always been that kind of existence.

The taut tension continued.

Geom Mugeuk sent a telepathy to Baek Jagang.

"Please stop them."

"Me?"

Baek Jagang was surprised to be asked for help, but it was not an unpleasant feeling.

"Then who else can stop them?"

"We'd welcome a fight between the orthodox sects and the Demonic Cult, wouldn't we?"

"What if they grow fond of each other while fighting?"

"That would be troublesome."

Among the three of them, Baek Jagang was the most flexible.

"Sayin, pour me a cup of wine."

"Yes, Master."

Bi Sayin filled Baek Jagang's cup. Both Geom Woojin and Jin Paecheon understood his intention, unless they were truly going to have a life-or-death battle.

"Mugeuk, pour a cup of wine."

"Yes, Father."

Not to be outdone, Jin Paecheon also said, "Hagun, pour a cup of wine."

"Yes, Grandfather."

And so, the three men each drank a cup.

Jin Paecheon put down his cup and asked Geom Mugeuk, "You said your demonic path is here?"

"That is correct."

"Where is this demonic path?"

At Jin Paecheon's question, everyone's gaze turned to Geom Mugeuk. Not only Jin Paecheon, but Baek Jagang was also curious. Where in this tavern could his demonic path possibly be?

An unexpected answer came from Geom Mugeuk's lips.

"Aren't you looking at it right now?"

"What do you mean?"

Geom Mugeuk looked at Jo Cheonbae, who stood awkwardly, not yet having managed to go downstairs.

Only then did Jin Paecheon realize that Geom Mugeuk's demonic path was Jo Cheonbae.

"That innkeeper is your demonic path?"

"That is correct."

Jo Cheonbae himself was the most surprised of all. Although he had grown accustomed to being surprised lately, this set a new record.

Have you ever been the Young Cult Leader's demonic path? This man must be drunk, and in front of the Demonic Cult Leader, the Murim Alliance Chairman, and the Evil Alliance Chairman, no less. Hoho, very drunk.

This time, Jin Paecheon asked Jo Cheonbae, "Are you the Young Cult Leader's demonic path?"

"How could I dare."

Jo Cheonbae was so flustered he did not know what to say.

"Tell me what you think. I want to hear the thoughts of the person involved. I'm not intimidating you, so answer comfortably."

Just because he said to be comfortable, how could this situation possibly be comfortable? The flustered Jo Cheonbae looked at Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk smiled at him. As always, Geom Mugeuk's gaze seemed to say, I am here, so do not be afraid.

How could he ever repay this person who bestowed such great meaning upon someone as insignificant as himself? Repaying it with his life was already far from enough.

"I…"

As Jo Cheonbae began to speak, the surroundings became so quiet that not a single breath could be heard. He could feel everyone's attention focused on him.

Aigoo, my heart! Stop pounding so hard!

Jin Paecheon smiled and said, "Think of me as the person you saw this morning and speak. You spoke well then, didn't you?"

He had not just spoken well. He had even scolded the Chairman.

Jo Cheonbae took a deep breath and began to speak. In truth, he wanted to say these words not to Jin Paecheon, but to the Heavenly Demon Geom Woojin. Since this might be his only chance, Jo Cheonbae mustered his courage.

"The Young Cult Leader opened a Sanzu River Hall Branch across from our tavern. He told us to go there and report any injustices. We've lived our whole lives being pushed around by martial artists, but we've gotten to see the Sanzu River Hall martial artists in person and even filed reports there. Nowadays, we've become friendly with them. When we have delicious food, we sometimes bring it over for the people at the Branch."

His voice trembled, which made his words feel all the more sincere.

"The Young Cult Leader often comes to my tavern to drink, and he told me this. My demonic path does not break tables."

The masters on the first floor heard this for the first time. They looked at each other and exchanged glances. Did I hear that right? It doesn't break what?

"Since then, the people who would get drunk, beat people up, and cause trouble have gradually disappeared. The martial artists who treated the merchants here like servants have also disappeared. The number of people dying in accidents has decreased, and the number of people going missing has also decreased. I don't know what the demonic path is, what the orthodox path is, or what the evil path is."

Jo Cheonbae spoke with his eyes squeezed shut. The only thing giving him strength was his devotion to Geom Mugeuk.

"However, if I had the choice and was told to pick just one 'path' from all the paths in the world, I would choose the Young Cult Leader's demonic path without hesitation. I would choose it even if I don't know what it is. I can guarantee that it's not just me, everyone living in the Demon Village would do the same. Because when everyone else was far away, only the Young Cult Leader was by our side."

Since he had already started, Jo Cheonbae revealed feelings he had never spoken of before.

"I hope that the Young Cult Leader doesn't take on any great tasks in the future. Because he will undoubtedly be considerate of everyone he meets and act for the sake of all. I'm worried that those tasks will be too difficult for him. I'm worried he'll become exhausted."

As if possessed, Jo Cheonbae finished speaking and bowed his head deeply.

"My humble self has overstepped my bounds. Please forgive me."

His body trembled violently. Now that he had finished, fear washed over him. He could not remember what he had just said. Did I commit some unforgivable rudeness?

Geom Mugeuk approached him and said gently, "Thank you, innkeeper. What other innkeeper in the world would speak for me in a place like this?"

"It would be the other way around. What Young Cult Leader in the world would speak for a tavern owner? For the Young Cult Leader's sake, I would have no regrets dying right here."

Geom Woojin, Jin Paecheon, and Baek Jagang all silently watched Jo Cheonbae's fervent gaze. It was the same for Geom Muyang, Bi Sayin, Jin Hagun, and Jin Haryong. The Demon Supremes and the masters on the first floor also watched.

Some deeply understood the relationship between the two. Others did not understand it at all. There were those who thought it was a trick, an act. There were also those who found it pathetic.

It was at that moment.

GURGLE.

With a clear sound, Geom Woojin poured wine into the cup before him.

"Innkeeper, come and receive a cup of wine from me."

"!"

At Geom Woojin's words, Jo Cheonbae's face went pale.

"How could I dare!"

He trembled, but he could not refuse the command. Jo Cheonbae rushed over and respectfully received the wine.

"Drink it, and then pour me a cup."

After drinking the wine, Jo Cheonbae poured a cup for Geom Woojin. His hands shook so much that the wine overflowed.

Miraculously, the wine flowed back into the cup. Geom Woojin had used his supreme telekinesis to return it. Not a single drop fell to the floor. That was the first time Jo Cheonbae's eyes met Geom Woojin's. It was a brief moment, but it was a gaze Jo Cheonbae would never forget.

It was at that moment.

"Receive a cup of my wine as well."

Surprisingly, Jin Paecheon spoke. Jo Cheonbae's sincere heart for Geom Mugeuk had reached the Chairman. That was why these words were genuine.

"I still don't understand the Young Cult Leader's demonic path, but at least I think I understand why it is here."

Jin Paecheon offered a cup of wine to Jo Cheonbae.

Baek Jagang did not remain idle either. He silently gestured for Jo Cheonbae to come closer. Baek Jagang said nothing. He simply poured wine for Jo Cheonbae, then lightly clinked his own cup against it in a toast.

"……"

The clear sound of the cups clinking echoed softly through the tavern. That sound became a signal, and the tense atmosphere relaxed once more.

Geom Mugeuk said in a loud voice, "Father, Chairmen, we will have a drink as well."

After Geom Woojin and the two Chairmen nodded, Geom Mugeuk took the four of them to a corner on the second floor and sat down.

"Innkeeper, bring us wine first!"

"Yes, coming!"

Jo Cheonbae brought over wine and cups. It was at that very moment, as they all sat around, about to have a drink and greet each other.

Something flew up from behind them and slowly floated over to their table. The object, moved by telekinesis, was a stir-fried mushroom dish. It landed precisely in front of Bi Sayin.

From behind came a single remark from Baek Jagang.

"These are the mushrooms our Sayin likes."

Bi Sayin's eyes widened. It was the most flustered he had looked since they had met him.

Then, the duck dish on Jin Paecheon's table flew through the air and landed in front of Jin Hagun.

"Hagun, it's the duck you like. Don't drink on an empty stomach."

Then, a dish rose from a table that seemed like it would never float. A dish flew from Geom Woojin's table and landed in front of Geom Mugeuk.

"But this is a dish I hate?"

Then Geom Woojin said, "I sent it because it's a dish I hate."

From where Geom Mugeuk sat, he could only see his father's back. It was as if the Heavenly Demon Soul was smiling.

"As expected! Blood is thicker than water, so our tastes are the same! Still, the dish Father sent is the best."

At Geom Mugeuk's cry, Jin Hagun shouted, "No! The dish the Chairman sent is the best."

Not to be outdone, Bi Sayin shouted even louder, "No! The dish my Master sent is the best."

At this new competition, Jin Haryong smiled with an expression that said they were hopeless. They say men are children no matter how old they get, and to understand men, you just have to study children, and these men are protecting the murim.

"Why are you laughing like that?"

At Geom Mugeuk's question, she raised her cup high and said, "Because I feel so reassured. Now, let's all have a drink together!"