Chapter 438: The Cult Leader's War Has Begun

TL: FoodieMonster007

"So even if this murim becomes a sea of blood, I'll follow the Cult Leader's demonic path."

I could feel that the Fist Demon was speaking from the heart.

Right, this was the kind of person the Fist Demon was.

His loyalty could not be swayed by persuasion or appeasement. No threat could move him, and no personal relationship could penetrate it. He was a man who, once he pledged his loyalty, would see it through to the end.

Of course, that didn't mean I thought those words were the Fist Demon's true feelings.

How could he possibly want to turn murim into a sea of blood and kill people? If anything, such a desire might be hidden in the blood of the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. But I knew well that the Fist Demon was not that kind of person.

Suddenly, an image of the Fist Demon and the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon standing side by side surfaced in my mind. The two of them faced each other. They were both displaying a will that contradicted their own desires.

Out of loyalty to me.

Out of loyalty to my father.

If their fates had been reversed, they would have been saying the opposite. Was it because they lacked conviction? Of course not. It was because they were passionate men who could suppress their own desires for the one they served.

That was why I felt a renewed sense of gratitude toward the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. Seeing the Fist Demon made me realize just how much of a great help he had been to me.

And I was grateful to the Fist Demon too.

Because he had protected my father with such loyalty.

"I understand, Master."

I replied respectfully. There was no need to speak about what was right or wrong.

Father, the Fist Demon, and I all had desires and values that had been forged over long years.

And the words he had said.

I respect your demonic path.

Those words were enough.

"Thank you, Master."

Was it because I had backed down cleanly and because I was genuinely grateful?

He, who had been staring at me silently, suddenly spoke.

"Do you think the Cult Leader is preparing for war?"

It was a question that made me flinch. A question that felt like something big would follow.

"Isn't he?"

Then, the most surprising words I had heard from the Fist Demon since we met today flowed from his lips.

"The Cult Leader has already started the war."

I stared at the Fist Demon with a shocked expression. He simply left those words behind and strode away.

Watching his broad back, I felt my heart begin to beat rapidly.

Father's war has already begun?

After leaving the Eastern Fist Garrison, Geom Mugeuk headed for the Demon Village.

He was thinking of having a drink, and he also wanted to see Jo Cheonbae.

"Young Cult Leader!"

Truly, the way Jo Cheonbae welcomed Geom Mugeuk was second to none, not even to any Demon Supreme.

"Have you been well, innkeeper?"

"Thanks to you, I've been doing just fine."

The customers drinking on the first floor of the tavern all rose at once and greeted Geom Mugeuk.

The people of the Demon Village liked Geom Mugeuk. Because he had established the Sanzu River Hall Branch in the marketplace and frequented the Alluring Inn, the village had become safer than any other in murim.

No one would believe it. The tyranny and crimes committed by martial artists in front of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Headquarters were fewer than those that occurred in front of the Murim Alliance Headquarters.

Geom Mugeuk sat in his usual seat on the second floor. Jo Cheonbae followed him up, first bringing only alcohol and some simple side dishes.

"How's business these days? Haven't customers been flocking in?"

After the tripartite meeting ended, the Alluring Inn became the most famous tavern in all of murim. It had become famous just for hosting the meeting, but it grew even more renowned because of the rumor that inscriptions left by the Heavenly Demon, the Murim Alliance Lord, and the Evil Alliance Chairman were there.

So I had expected the Alluring Inn to be swarming with customers.

"Customers do come by to see the wall sometimes, but it's not enough to disrupt business."

It seemed the irrepressible curiosity of martial artists couldn't overcome the high wall of being in front of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult Headquarters. There were no martial artists from the orthodox or unorthodox sects at all. The occasional customers were said to be mostly demonic practitioners or their families.

Then again, the people who left the inscriptions were so monumental that it might have made others feel uneasy. How could they not feel anxious, worrying that a demonic practitioner might suddenly jump up and say, How dare you look with such irreverent eyes? I'll gouge your eyeballs out!?

"They might even line up later."

After all the people who left the inscriptions have died, only then will this place become a famous spot. Just like how a painting becomes a masterpiece after the artist dies.

"I won't be around by then, either."

Jo Cheonbae feigned a sigh, but his expression was bright. He was living happily, boasting to the drunks at least once a day about the inscriptions. Being happy made him feel younger. Jo Cheonbae was practically rejuvenating because of that wall.

Jo Cheonbae went downstairs to prepare the food, and Geom Mugeuk drank alone.

His gaze naturally drifted to the inscriptions left on the wall.

The Murim Alliance Lord Jin Paecheon, saw a new demonic path here.

He recalled the image of the Chairman leaving that inscription. Then, the inscription left below it.

The Evil Alliance Chairman Baek Jagang, saw his disciple's dance at the Alluring Inn.

The image of Baek Jagang also came to mind. He remembered the moment he danced with him that day.

However, if a war were to break out, the events of that day would become a cunning ploy by the Demonic Cult. They would think the tripartite meeting was held just to put them at ease.

Then, the words the Fist Demon had said echoed in his mind.

[The Cult Leader has already started the war.]

What did he mean? Who had he started a war with? The orthodox or unorthodox sects? Or the forces behind this recent incident?

Both cases were possible. One was his father's dream, and the other had wounded his father's pride.

But if such a move was underway, Go Wol would have noticed. Did it mean he was moving so secretly as to deceive even Go Wol's eyes? If not, then who could the target be?

This was a question I couldn't even ask my father. It was something the Fist Demon had specially told me for my sake.

As he was lost in thought, drinking a few cups of alcohol, Jo Cheonbae brought the side dishes.

"Innkeeper, it's been a while. Have a drink on me."

"Oh my, I gratefully accept this precious drink."

Jo Cheonbae accepted Geom Mugeuk's drink with a grateful expression and gesture. One of his strengths was that he never acted carelessly just because they had grown close. He knew mistakes were always made when one let their guard down out of familiarity.

Knowing this, he always maintained a consistent demeanor. Even if he were to receive a drink on his deathbed, he would be the type to accept it with gratitude. That's why he was someone you wanted to treat even better.

"It's been a while, and this drink from you, Young Cult Leader, tastes exceptionally good."

"Pour me a cup, too."

As Jo Cheonbae filled Geom Mugeuk's cup, he asked cautiously.

"Do you have something on your mind, by any chance?"

"Do I look like I have something on my mind?"

Jo Cheonbae gave a slight nod. After all, how could he not know after so many years of running a tavern? He could probably guess someone's emotional state just by the way they held their cup.

"I have many worries, as I'm standing against my father."

At that, a low gasp of Aigoo escaped Jo Cheonbae's lips.

"I shouldn't have asked, should I?"

"I didn't hear a thing."

I poured another drink for him as he shook his head and waved his hands dismissively.

"Still, I trust that our innkeeper's on my side."

Jo Cheonbae let out another pained 'aigoo' as he accepted the drink. Being close to Geom Mugeuk, he was now even experiencing what it was like to be on the side opposing the Heavenly Demon. Normally, he was the type to have just one drink and leave, but today, he accepted another.

"Do you happen to remember that day?"

"What day are you talking about?"

"When those esteemed individuals left their inscriptions on that wall, I was very worried."

What if the wall was damaged? What if someone stole it? It was a worry that truly kept him from sleeping.

"Thanks to the advice you gave me then, Young Cult Leader, I've been living with a peaceful mind."

To the anxious Jo Cheonbae, Geom Mugeuk had given this advice.

[If someone were to damage the wall for one reason or another on a certain day and disappear, that too would become a moment in history. Perhaps it might even become a more interesting piece of history.]

That was a great help to Jo Cheonbae. If he hadn't said that, he might have collapsed from a nervous breakdown.

It isn't some grand thing that makes a person anxious or puts them at ease. A single, casually tossed-out word can make someone stay up all night. That one word can become a lasting wound in the heart, tormenting a person.

However, he now realized the opposite was also true.

It would be more interesting if the wall disappeared instead.

Surprisingly, these words won the battle against his anxiety. Because humans can be hurt by a single word, he experienced firsthand that they could also be healed by one.

"Your words erased my worries as if by magic. I even find myself having extreme thoughts, like I'm almost hoping someone will steal that wall."

What Jo Cheonbae wanted to say was this.

"The things I worried about didn't happen so easily. So much so that I wonder why I was ever that worried. So please, don't worry too much. Everything will be alright, Young Cult Leader."

To that, he added his own special touch.

"Please wait just a moment. I'll prepare a special dish for you, Young Cult Leader!"

Watching him go down to the first floor, Geom Mugeuk felt his heart grow calm. There was a sense of relief that the Alluring Inn, that Jo Cheonbae, provided. That was why this place was also a world within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, but in reality.

As he was drinking like that, someone entered the Alluring Inn.

The person who came up to the second floor with a giant dao on his back was none other than Seo Daeryong.

"Strangely, I had a feeling you'd be here."

"What brings you here at this hour? What about evening training?"

"We decided to take the day off today."

"Because of me?"

"Pardon? What do you mean by that?"

I wondered if Seo Daeryong had heard about the situation from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, but that wasn't the case.

"Master said he was going to the Great Sky Peak, so he told us to rest today."

"Why the Great Sky Peak?"

"He didn't give a reason."

Seo Daeryong added playfully.

"As for the reason, I'm sure the Young Cult Leader, who knows everything in the universe, would know."

"Of course I know."

He had said it as a joke, so when I said I knew, Seo Daeryong's eyes widened.

"You know? Why did he go to the Great Sky Peak?"

"He went to sort out his troubled mind."

The view of the stars pouring down from the summit of the Great Sky Peak was truly a magnificent sight. He was probably standing there, organizing his thoughts about my father and me.

"Why's he troubled?"

"Because I'm the one who troubled him."

The Young Cult Leader and his master. Since it involved the two people closest to him, Seo Daeryong naturally became cautious.

"What on earth is going on?"

"Alright, you're my right-hand man, so you should know the situation."

Geom Mugeuk explained the current situation to Seo Daeryong. After hearing the whole story, Seo Daeryong's eyes hardened as he spoke.

"I wish I had the right to choose as well."

"Then it would've been one against three, not one against two, right?"

"You're so quick on the uptake."

Though he said that, Seo Daeryong knew for certain. If such a situation truly came, he would support the Young Cult Leader. Even knowing he would have to risk his life to defy the Cult Leader, he felt he would support Geom Mugeuk.

He felt a sense of relief rather than surprise at this realization about himself.

The relationship between Geom Mugeuk and the Demon Supremes was one of equals, but he was different. Geom Mugeuk had turned a mere investigator into the Sanzu Hall Director and allowed him to become a disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Beyond all that, he had led him, who had been gloomy and full of dissatisfaction, into a world of light.

This was the kind of person Geom Mugeuk was.

But still, how can I defy the Cult Leader?

He was relieved that he didn't seem to be the type to make such a cowardly excuse.

"This is such an important matter, we should hold a secret ballot!"

He was grateful and proud of the person he had become, one who could make such jokes without hesitation.

"So, who will you go to see now?"

The remaining Demon Supremes were the Flower Sword Supreme, the Demonic Buddha, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, and the Poison King. Seo Daeryong couldn't tell who would side with the Young Cult Leader.

"I tried to bring down a cliff, but it didn't even budge."

Geom Mugeuk said as he drank his alcohol.

"I guess I'll have to climb the cliff and dig up some poisonous herbs, won't I?"

There are many ways to make someone your ally. You can persuade them with logical words, move their heart with emotion, or simply subjugate them with force. Or, there's the method of drawing them in through negotiation, giving what's to be given and taking what's to be taken.

And now, I was on my way to meet someone on whom none of those methods would easily work.

When I arrived at the Thousand Poisons Forest, it wasn't Sangseon who usually greeted me, but another poison user.

"Young Cult Leader, Sangseon has entrusted me with guiding you. Let's go."

I followed him through the Thousand Poisons Forest. Poisonous snakes flickered their tongues from tree branches. Beneath them, poisonous insects rustled with strange noises from within the thick piles of leaves.

It's been a long time since I was here, too.

I asked the poison user who was guiding me.

"Does the Demonic Buddha still visit often these days?"

"Yes, I understand he comes often to gather medicinal herbs."

The Poison King and the Demonic Buddha. They were a truly mismatched pair, both in appearance and personality. Yet, the bond we formed when the three of us gathered herbs together had blossomed into a friendship between the two of them.

Between the Poison King and the Demonic Buddha, the easier one to predict was the Demonic Buddha.

He was his older brother's man, through and through. His brother's opinion would influence him, and unfortunately, his brother would never defy our father's will. I couldn't be sure, but it was highly likely that the Demonic Buddha would also follow my father.

Even without his brother's influence, the Demonic Buddha had a great ambition for power. He was the type to side with war, not raise his hand for peace.

In that case, I absolutely had to get the Poison King on my side.

After walking for a good while, I arrived at the Poison King's residence. Sangseon was standing in front of it.

Why would he send a subordinate when he's just standing here with nothing to do?

The question was answered soon enough.

"It seems you'll have to wait a little."

"Is the Poison King in the middle of concocting an important poison?"

"No."

A completely unexpected answer came from Sangseon.

"The Cult Leader's here right now."