Chapter 441: With One Drawn Sword, All of Them

TL: FoodieMonster007

It had been a while since I last visited the Western Illusion Sanctum. A demonic energy that could sway a person's heart emanated from the towers, the bizarre decorations, and even the flowers swaying in the garden.

The demonic energy was as strong as ever, but the shamans I passed were not as hostile as before. They greeted me politely, showing respect for the Young Cult Leader.

Following the guiding shaman, I walked between houses built like snail shells. The path was so bewitching and dazzling that anyone less than a master would have had to close their eyes to avoid dizziness.

At the end of that path was a cone-shaped building, the residence of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

The room was filled with swirling patterns from the walls and ceiling to the floor. Inside, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme greeted me.

"Young Cult Leader, you've arrived?"

The demonic energy flowing from her eyes was even more intense than when I had last seen her.

"I believe this is the first time we've met here."

"Are you alright? If you're uncomfortable, we can go outside to talk."

Just being here was unsettling due to the room's dizzying patterns. She was being considerate, worried that I might be uncomfortable. Of course, since the Heavenly Demon Defense Art protected me, it was a needless concern.

"When the previous Demon Supreme was here, this place was nauseating and dizzying. But now, it's beautiful and mysterious."

I knew she was doing well. Though she became a Demon Supreme at a young age, she had already taken complete control of the Western Illusion Sanctum. The shamans recognized her as the new Demon Supreme. All that remained was to master her unique martial art and build her experience.

"What brings you here?"

She was different from the other Demon Supremes. Because she was still so young, she was a person closer to being my Demon Supreme rather than my father's. This very moment was one where the next generation's Heavenly Demon and Demon Supreme stood face to face.

I told her the current situation exactly as it was. I didn't omit or add anything just because she was young. I respected her as a Demon Supreme.

"To get straight to the point, there is only one Demon Supreme on my side."

I hadn't revealed who it was, but surprisingly, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme guessed correctly.

"Could that person be the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon?"

"How did you know?"

She told me that during the tripartite meeting, she had felt a kinship with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, seeing him stand alone and separate from the others.

"During the last tripartite meeting, the Smiling Demon envied me. He said it was because I was young and could serve the Young Cult Leader for a long time. That's when I guessed it might be the Smiling Demon, because of his thoughts for you, Young Cult Leader."

She still remembered their conversation vividly.

"Do you know what I said to the Smiling Demon then?"

"What did you say?"

"I said, 'Smiling Demon, you truly seem to enjoy difficult tasks.'"

I laughed out loud. She, who had always been somewhat stiff when dealing with me, was now speaking comfortably.

It meant her position had stabilized and her confidence had grown. Like the other Demon Supremes, no, she who still had a long way to go was growing faster than anyone.

"If it weren't for you, Young Cult Leader, I wouldn't have been able to ascend to the position of Demon Supreme."

"You don't need to make your decision for that reason. Decide as you wish, Demon Supreme."

At that, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme asked with a peculiar look in her eyes.

"Are you serious?"

Her eyes held a playful glint, as if asking if I really didn't need her help. Of course not. If that were the case, I wouldn't have come.

"No. I desperately need your help, Demon Supreme."

At my honest answer, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme smiled. Her silent smile now suited her demonic energy quite well.

"As I said, the situation is unfavorable. You might even fall out of favor with my father."

That was the most important part for the other Demon Supremes, but not for her.

"You don't have to worry about that. I'm already outside the Cult Leader's favor."

It didn't mean that my father hated her. It meant that more time and effort were needed to gain his favor. To my father, she would still be considered an incomplete Demon Supreme. She accurately grasped where she stood and what kind of person my father was.

"Will someone like me be alright?"

I gave her a polite clasped hands greeting.

"You may stand outside my father's favor, but to me, you stand at the forefront."

Those words were enough. The demonic energy flowing from the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's eyes grew even more intense.

"All the spirits of our Cult will follow you, Young Cult Leader."

The Demonic Buddha was making a stone statue in a small clearing, a short distance from the great golden Buddha. The sight of him carving stone with a chisel and hammer was both fitting and unfamiliar. While the surrounding buildings were plated in gold, the statue he was making was of ordinary stone.

"The score is three to two. I'm winning."

I started by bluffing to the Demonic Buddha. Of course, it didn't work.

"In the time I haven't seen you, only your lies have grown."

"And you, Demonic Buddha, are as sharp as ever."

This, in fact, was the lie. The Demonic Buddha felt much gentler. Had he perhaps attained some spiritual enlightenment?

I stood for a moment and watched the Demonic Buddha, who had become a stonemason. He wasn't just good at gathering medicinal herbs. His skill at carving statues was also excellent.

"But how did you know? That there were two on my side."

"Because even two is a lot."

I couldn't help but laugh at his words. How could I deny it? My opponent was my father.

"There's a good side to this incident. I was able to meet all the Demon Supremes and see what they were thinking. Maybe my father intended this. 'Know your place and realize your reality!'"

TANG! TANG!

The hammering stopped for a moment. From behind the hammer, the Demonic Buddha glanced at me.

"Would the Cult Leader really create this stage just to show that he has many Demon Supremes supporting him?"

The Demonic Buddha used the expression 'stage'. In other words, he believed my father had intentionally created this situation.

"Was it because he hoped I would grow closer to the Demon Supremes?"

TANG!

As if to say I was wrong, the sound of the Demonic Buddha's hammering was light and crisp.

"Or perhaps my father is trying to reflect on his relationship with the Demon Supremes through this opportunity?"

Again, as if signaling an incorrect answer, only the sound of hammering echoed, tang, tang.

How did the Demonic Buddha truly see this situation? Though he was acting like an enlightened man who had taken a step back, he was once the most political and realistic of the Eight Demon Supremes.

"Please tell me. Why did my father create this stage?"

The Demonic Buddha stopped hammering and examined the statue. He frowned and shook his head, as if the balance was off.

Right, how could he concentrate on his work while having a conversation like this?

The Demonic Buddha set down his hammer and turned towards me.

"To seat us on that stage as the audience."

It was an unexpected statement. If he seated the Demon Supremes as the audience?

"Don't tell me. Does that mean he intends to fight me on that stage?"

The Demonic Buddha looked at me with an expression that said, 'Isn't it obvious?'

In that moment, the words of the Fist Demon came to mind.

[The Cult Leader has already started the war.]

Did the war my father started, which the Fist Demon mentioned, mean a war with me?

"Isn't there a saying that no parent can win against their child?"

Then came an unexpected remark.

"The Cult Leader will not lose to you on purpose."

I could feel that the Demonic Buddha also saw my father in the same light as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"Don't ordinary people think it's foolish to make another enemy when you already have one?"

"Isn't it?"

"For ordinary people, perhaps."

"Then what about for my father?"

The Demonic Buddha raised his head and looked towards the distant Heavenly Demon Hall.

"The Cult Leader intends to cut down everyone with one drawn sword."

"He intends to persuade you in front of the watching Demon Supremes, use that unified power to punish those behind the scenes, and furthermore, use that blood-drenched sword to cut down the Murim Alliance and the Evil Alliance."

The words 'That can't be true' did not leave my lips. Instead, a scene came to mind. The empty throne. The sight of my father, who always occupied that seat, being absent from it. That was a more frightening sight than the image of my father holding the Heavenly Demon Sword, dripping with blood.

"Is there a reason you're so certain?"

"There is."

A golden radiance shone intensely from the Demonic Buddha's body.

"Because our Cult has never been this strong."

If the Demonic Buddha's thoughts were true? Then, in the end, I was the one who had moved my father to action.

"Young Cult Leader!"

The person staring at me with surprised eyes was Go Wol. After meeting the Demonic Buddha, I immediately ran toward Go Wol's location using the Swift Step. I truly ran like the wind. Even while I was in the North Sea, Go Wol had been traveling between our Cult and the outside world, further solidifying the Hidden Moon. The Branch I arrived at today was a half-day's run away using the Swift Step.

"You must be busy, what brings you here?"

The desk where he sat was still piled high with documents.

"What's with all that work? I told you to have your subordinates do it."

"I do have my subordinates do it."

"You should just drink tea and nag."

Knowing full well he wasn't the type to do that, I added another word today.

"Strategist Go. You know how important you are to me, right?"

"I know."

"Then don't make me worry about your health, too."

I wasn't worried about his bodyguards, since I knew the masters sent by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader were protecting him. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would surely have taken good care of Go Wol, wouldn't he? However, I had to nag him about his health.

"You must be busy meeting with the Demon Supremes, how did you come all this way?"

As expected, Go Wol knew the details of our Cult's situation.

"I came because I wanted to see you. Come on, let's get some fresh air, even for a little while."

I left the office with Go Wol. Exiting through the backyard, we immediately entered the marketplace. We walked side by side through the bustling crowd.

"Don't sit for too long. They say your lifespan shortens the longer you sit, right? Get up and walk around at least once an hour."

"I understand."

"It's been a while, and I'm nagging too much, aren't I?"

Go Wol smiled without denying it. I know how well Go Wol teases the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. If the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had been the one nagging, his reaction would have been different.

"Do you hear from the Cult Leader often?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had stayed behind in the Heavenly Wind Cult for his disciple, the current Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. I thought he would be back in a month or two, but he's been there for quite a while. Now that his relationship with his disciple has recovered, it seems he has a lot he wants to teach.

"A messenger pigeon comes occasionally. Half of it is complaining about his disciple."

"Is the other half complaining about me?"

"How did you know?"

We laughed together.

"Seeing as the interval between the messenger pigeons is getting shorter, it seems the Cult Leader is getting frustrated too. I think he'll be back soon."

"I miss the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, too."

As we walked and talked, I brought up the main reason for my visit.

"While meeting the Demon Supremes this time, one thought kept coming to my mind."

"What thought was that?"

"Do I have the right to crush my father's dream?"

The Demon Supremes all understood my father's aspiration. Though they didn't show it as openly as the Flower Sword Supreme, their feelings were likely similar. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's dilemma must lie there as well, and how would the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon be any different?

"Even so, what is your reason for trying to stop it?"

Because too many people will die. But this answer didn't come easily. Just as it was difficult for the Poison King to answer, 'Because I like poison,' it was difficult for me to say those words.

Are you really the kind of person who worries about the well-being of all martial artists?

That question immediately rose in my mind.

Normally, I should have said this. Because the purpose of my regression is to save those who must be saved and kill those who must die. However, if a war breaks out, people who shouldn't die will die. I don't know who it might be. It could be one of the Demon Supremes, it could be Lee Ahn, or it could be Seo Daeryong. It could be Go Wol, who is right in front of me, or it could be the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. It could be Jo Cheonbae, or it could be the guests of the Alluring Inn. This matter won't end with just a broken table.

In addition to that, there is also my concern for my father. In my life before regression, I experienced so much. I saw many lives and felt extreme loneliness. I endured unbearable hardships and escaped death's grasp many times. I endured all of it for the sake of revenge. This is what revenge is.

Killing someone is an act that creates this kind of vengeful spirit. If humans can't forget someone for a lifetime over a few hurtful words, this is an act that takes the lives of countless people. The friends, comrades, and families of the dead. The war will create thousands, tens of thousands of vengeful hearts. Tens of thousands of me. Tens of thousands of Hwa Mugi.

That burden will fall on the shoulders of my father, the one who started the war. I don't want my father to bear that burden of resentment. I don't want him to stand at the tip of countless swords of vengeance. Isn't it my father's dream? His aspiration? I was like that before my regression, and I believe my father was the same. We never got the chance to dream a different dream.

Father lived as the Heavenly Demon, unable to open his heart to anyone, and I lived as the blood relative who had lost that Heavenly Demon. We were stronger than anyone, but we were people who couldn't dream a proper dream.

On top of this feeling, there was one more belief. Because the reason the heavens gave me a chance to regress couldn't have been to drive countless people to their deaths. My various thoughts circled around and returned to the starting point.

"Because too many people will die in that war."

Go Wol silently watched the people passing by for a moment.

Then he looked at me and said softly.

"If that's the reason, isn't it enough to endure everything and stop it?"

Yes, it seems I wanted to hear those words from Go Wol. That must be why I ran all this way like the wind. To hear this from my Strategist. The time has come to go back and meet my father.

"I think I'm ready to get on the stage, too."