Chapter 625: Don't Provoke My Old Temper

TL: FoodieMonster007

At the edge of the golden radiance, the Demonic Buddha revealed himself.

The moment the Blue Mountain Swordsman saw him, his expression soured.

"You call yourself a Buddha, but you've never once shown mercy, have you?"

The Demonic Buddha replied, rolling the prayer beads in his hand.

"That's a misunderstanding. Our Buddha treats this pitiful mortal with mercy. Though, he does have trouble controlling his temper from time to time."

With a relaxed expression, the Demonic Buddha walked slowly toward him. The two men then stood facing each other, just a few steps apart.

Because the Blue Mountain Swordsman was so tall, the Demonic Buddha had to look far up at him. They appeared like the tallest and shortest men in the world standing face to face.

"You seem to have gotten taller since I last saw you, friend."

"Who decided we're friends?"

The two men already knew each other. Since his youth, the Demonic Buddha had traveled all over the Central Plains and interacted with many masters. How else could he have befriended the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader of the Outer Regions?

"How many times have we met?"

The Blue Mountain Swordsman remembered the exact number. "Three times."

"If we've met three times and are still alive in this harsh murim, that makes us friends. Don't you think?"

The Blue Mountain Swordsman's reaction was cold. "I'm only saying this now, but you're far too reckless. In the three times we've met, you've never failed to get on my nerves."

The Demonic Buddha had a knack for saying things that provoked people's emotions. He often managed to get under his opponent's skin.

At that, the Demonic Buddha calmly asked, "Was anything I said untrue?"

A muscle in the Blue Mountain Swordsman's face twitched. The words were so irritating precisely because they were not untrue. The man had a habit of casually blurting out piercing truths.

"Looking up at you is making my neck hurt." The Demonic Buddha turned and sat on a nearby rock. After looking down at the ground for a moment, he said something unexpected. "It was probably because of your height. I felt like you'd taken something I could never have. That's why I said such hateful things."

These were words he would never have said in the past, causing the Blue Mountain Swordsman to grow even more wary of the Demonic Buddha.

"Stop with the tricks."Mu

The Demonic Buddha nodded as if he understood. He knew that saying something like this was due to Geom Mugeuk's influence. To bring up his own height? It was truly something unimaginable in the past.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman stirred his vast qi and roared.

"How dare you! Do you know where you are? You're now treading on land you should've never set foot on!"

The very reason he had come here was to root out the bastards from the Demonic Cult who had entered Wuhan.

Sitting on the rock, the Demonic Buddha looked down at his own feet and said, "I'm not touching the ground."

The Demonic Buddha's legs were so short his feet did not reach the ground.

Of course, the Blue Mountain Swordsman did not take it as a joke, but as a taunt. Killing intent began to rise from his body.

"Right. You always did enjoy mocking people."

The Demonic Buddha stared at him intently and asked, "Do you know who it was you were trying to kill today?"

The Blue Mountain Swordsman gave no answer, but his eyes and expression said it all.

"So you knew it was the First Young Lord."

A cold, golden light shone from the Demonic Buddha's eyes. This was a phenomenon that only appeared in those who had achieved complete mastery of his unique martial arts, the Great Golden Mara Art.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman raised his inner arts, preparing to draw his sword at any moment. He was not intimidated, even when facing the Demonic Buddha.

"Entering the lands of Wuhan without the Murim Alliance's permission is a crime punishable by death. The same goes for you."

He released his qi. The grass and leaves trembled in unison as the surrounding air instantly grew cold. He had never fought the Demonic Buddha to the death before, so he could not know how the fight would end. However, he was confident he could win.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman's hand slowly moved toward the hilt of his sword.

He was a master of the orthodox sects to the bone. While not to the same extent as Hanwolgeom, his feelings toward the Demonic Cult were anything but favorable. Moreover, the Demonic Buddha was an opponent he had long wanted to teach a harsh lesson.

"You know that if you draw that sword, there's no turning back, right?"

To the Demonic Buddha's question, the Blue Mountain Swordsman replied coldly.

"Eradicating the Unorthodox is the road I've walked my entire life. I'll have no regrets."

Amidst the taut tension, the Demonic Buddha spoke softly.

"I respect that about you. You're an excellent member of the orthodox sects."

Hearing such words from the Demonic Buddha for the first time, the Blue Mountain Swordsman flinched.

He was certainly different today than he used to be.

He glared at the Demonic Buddha with eyes that seemed to ask what kind of trick the man was trying to pull.

The Demonic Buddha looked up at the sky, where the stars were visible between the trees.

"My life's become more relaxed these days. I'm not the man I used to be."

The Blue Mountain Swordsman sneered at this version of the Demonic Buddha.

"That's probably because you've become a kite with its string cut."

He knew very well that the Demonic Buddha had supported the First Young Lord.

"Aren't you and the First Young Lord useless now? If I kill you, I think your Demonic Cult would actually be grateful."

At the mention of Geom Muyang, the Demonic Buddha's expression turned cold.

"The Blue Mountain Swordsman."

The Demonic Buddha called his name coldly.

"I'm trying to be nice, so don't make me revert to my old ways."

The Blue Mountain Swordsman knew that, at the very least, those words were no bluff. He knew the man had the skill to back them up, and that he had a rotten temper.

However, if he had been afraid of him, he would not have revealed that he was chasing the First Young Lord in the first place. This was a place where one of them had to die today.

"A change like that means nothing."

The Blue Mountain Swordsman slowly drew his sword.

"You can't fix a bastard from the Demonic Cult."

Just then, the Demonic Buddha suddenly shouted.

"Shut up! When I speak nicely, you should listen nicely! What the hell is this nonsense you're spouting?"

After that outburst, the Demonic Buddha sighed.

"Sorry for cursing. I've been feeling too timid and withdrawn lately. Seeing you after so long, I'm having trouble controlling my emotions."

So this must be why Geom Mugeuk kept telling him not to be subdued, but to live a life that suited him.

"You madman."

The Blue Mountain Swordsman aimed his sword.

Watching the Blue Mountain Swordsman become one with his blade, the Demonic Buddha stood up from the rock.

"You know what? People on the outside might not know, but our Cult has changed a lot recently. Getting stronger has become a trend, especially among the Demon Supremes. Everyone's crazy about martial arts."

The Demonic Buddha leaped down from the rock.

"I've also been trying my best, in my own way, not to fall behind that trend. After all, I'm the kind of person who absolutely hates to lose."

A new golden radiance flowed from the Demonic Buddha's body. The depth of the golden light in normal times was different from the golden light in battle.

"……"

Blue enhanced qi flowed like a wave along the blade of the Blue Mountain Swordsman, which vibrated in the air.

The moment the Blue Mountain Swordsman was about to rush the Demonic Buddha!

SWOOSH!

"……"

One of the Demonic Buddha's prayer beads shot out powerfully. The prayer bead split in half and fell.

SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH SWISH!

The prayer beads flew in continuously. It was an attack with enough power to pierce a body straight through if it hit.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman's blade embroidered the air as dozens of sword lines appeared in an instant. The prayer beads split in half and rained down on the ground.

As he cut the last prayer bead, the Blue Mountain Swordsman saw it.

The Demonic Buddha's now-empty hands were already forming a hand seal.

The Great Golden Mara Art!

The Slaughter Scripture Regret Stamp!

Golden enhanced qi swirled from the Demonic Buddha's hands and shot forward.

SHWAAAAAAAAAAK!

He could not simply block the enhanced qi that spread out like a wave.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman Technique!

The Blue Mountain Windy Forest!

Blue enhanced qi poured from his sword as well. And so, the golden enhanced qi and the blue enhanced qi collided in mid-air.

KRAAAAAANG!

With a tremendous roar, a shockwave powerful enough to shake the very earth spread out in all directions. Trees snapped, rocks tumbled, and dust and dirt billowed up.

SHWAAAAAK.

Cutting through the dust, the Blue Mountain Swordsman rushed in. The surest way to deal with the Demonic Buddha was to get close and prevent him from forming those hand seals.

Just then, the Blue Mountain Swordsman saw it.

Another hand seal was already formed in the Demonic Buddha's hands.

The Heavenly Promise Seal!

A single streak of enhanced qi struck down from the air toward the crown of his head like a lightning bolt.

As he lunged to stab the Demonic Buddha, he twisted his body.

KRAAANG!

The Blue Mountain Swordsman swung his enhanced qi-infused sword as fast as lightning to block it. A shock that felt like it would shatter his wrist surged through him.

The Demonic Buddha was much stronger than he had thought.

I have to cut off those hands, no matter what!

The Blue Mountain Swordsman rushed in again. In a flash, he closed the distance to the Demonic Buddha, but another flash was waiting for him.

The Turning Scripture Light Stamp!

In that moment, a light more powerful than the sun erupted from the Demonic Buddha's body. Because it was night, the light was even more intense.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman squeezed his eyes shut and swung his sword. He slashed at the Demonic Buddha not with his eyes, but with his senses.

SHWIIIIK!

I missed!

He raised his protective enhanced qi and unleashed another ultimate technique. Because offense was also defense.

The Blue Mountain Return!

WHIRRRRRRL!

The Blue Mountain Swordsman spun on the spot like a whirlwind, sending his blade flying in all directions.

PAPAPAPAPAPAK!

Dozens of strands of sword qi flew everywhere, embedding themselves in trees and rocks.

PAPAPAPAPAPAK!

The sword qi flew toward every possible location, but the sound of the Demonic Buddha's flesh tearing was not heard.

Where is he?

For a brief moment, he had lost sight of the Demonic Buddha.

Then he located the shining golden radiance beyond a severed tree behind him.

The Demonic Buddha had already completed a hand seal. It was the most ornate seal, with his fingers intricately intertwined.

The Demonic Palm Destruction Stamp!

WHOOOOOOSH.

A colossal energy bore down, and a shadow formed around the Blue Mountain Swordsman's body.

He lifted his head and looked at the sky. The palm of a giant golden Buddha was striking down at him. A golden radiance poured from the hand!

It was already too late to dodge. The Blue Mountain Swordsman raised his protective enhanced qi to its absolute limit.

KRAAAAAANG!

With an earth-shattering roar, the surface of the ground was overturned, and dust billowed up.

When the dust settled, the Blue Mountain Swordsman was standing there. He was in a huge, sunken, palm-shaped crater. Its depth was several times a man's height.

As the Blue Mountain Swordsman tried to leap up, he suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood. His internal injuries were so severe he could no longer fight. It was a miracle he was not dead.

Staggering, he collapsed to his knees.

Then he saw it. From above the crater, the Demonic Buddha was now looking down at him.

Looking up from below, the Demonic Buddha seemed like an incredibly large man.

I was defeated so futilely?

It was not because of bad luck. He felt a clear difference in skill. From the moment the small prayer beads were thrown until the giant palm struck, the fight had flowed exactly as his opponent intended. He had thought it would be a close match at least, but the man was a cut above.

He could not clearly see what expression the Demonic Buddha was making from up there. Then, he heard the Demonic Buddha's voice.

"Fortunately, it seems I haven't fallen behind the trend."

Seeing the Demonic Buddha form another hand seal, the Blue Mountain Swordsman closed his eyes.

A complete defeat.

It was a fight where he would have no complaints even if he died. He expected a blast of enhanced qi to fly in and end his life.

WHIIIIIRL.

His body rode a golden wave and rose out of the crater. He was then gently set down in front of the Demonic Buddha.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman asked with a surprised face, "Why aren't you killing me?"

"If I were going to kill you, you'd have already died down there."

It meant that he had not used his full power for that final move.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman stared at the Demonic Buddha with eyes full of disbelief.

"…You were this strong?"

The Demonic Buddha's gaze was gentle, and his face was at ease. The murderous aura he had during the fight was already gone. The brilliant radiance that had shone from him throughout the battle had also subsided.

After the succession fight, there had been a change in the Demonic Buddha's state of mind. He had been greatly influenced by his meeting with Geom Mugeuk. He had also calmed his mind by carving stone statues.

He did things he had never done in his life and felt emotions he had never felt before. As the Demonic Buddha's life changed, so did his martial arts. Because the Demonic Buddha had let go of everything, he had become stronger.

"Even if you spare me, I won't tell you who sent me."

"I'm not going to ask."

The Blue Mountain Swordsman stared with surprised eyes. He had naturally assumed he was being spared so he could be questioned about that.

"Figuring out who is behind you is the First Young Lord's job. I just came to make sure the First Young Lord can do his job."

The Demonic Buddha gave the Blue Mountain Swordsman two choices.

"Now, choose. Will you return to your hometown as you are? Or will you die by my hand right now?"

The Blue Mountain Swordsman had tried to kill the First Young Lord, and he had also tried to kill the Demonic Buddha.

"You're sparing me? Why?"

The Demonic Buddha put his hands together in a prayer gesture.

"Our Buddha bestows mercy upon pitiful mortals."

"Cut the nonsense!"

The Demonic Buddha answered honestly. "Because, as you said, this is Wuhan."

The moment a rumor spread that the Blue Mountain Swordsman had been killed in Wuhan by a Demon Supreme, the orthodox sects of the murim would rise up in fury. Perhaps that was what 'they' wanted.

"Still, if you want me to, I'll kill you. It'll cause a big problem, but it'll be handled somehow. In the end, only the dead are wronged. You know that, don't you?"

The Demonic Buddha calmly persuaded him.

"Why do you think the First Young Lord came all the way to Wuhan to cause this ruckus? To destroy the Murim Alliance? Do you really think so? That the best we could come up with was sending the First Young Lord to Wuhan to destroy the orthodox sects of the murim?"

After a brief pause, the Blue Mountain Swordsman asked. It was a question lacking confidence.

"…If not that, then what?"

"What reason did the person who summoned you give?"

The Blue Mountain Swordsman could feel another meaning hidden in the Demonic Buddha's words. 'Did you really come here because you trusted the person who summoned you?'

One thing was certain. If they were truly plotting some grand conspiracy, they would not have spared him.

After a long silence, the Blue Mountain Swordsman chose one of the two options.

"I'll return. I'll go back to my hometown and not emerge for three years."

The Demonic Buddha knew. Because of his pride, he would never say he was returning because he had lost. He would make some other excuse, so at the very least, the fact that he had come to Wuhan would not be known.

"This was our fourth time. When we meet for the fifth, let's have a drink."

Staring at the Demonic Buddha, the Blue Mountain Swordsman turned without a word and walked away.

As he staggered away, the Demonic Buddha called out to him.

"Hey, friend."

When the Blue Mountain Swordsman looked back, the Demonic Buddha spoke calmly.

"Next time, don't touch the First Young Lord."

From the Demonic Buddha's deepened gaze, the Blue Mountain Swordsman could see just how much he cared for the First Young Lord.

"If something like this happens again…"

Furthermore, the Demonic Buddha did not hide those feelings.

"It won't matter if it's in Wuhan or in front of the Murim Alliance's Chairman's Hall. You will die by my hand."

After finishing his words, the Demonic Buddha politely put his hands together in prayer, then turned and walked away.

Watching the faint golden radiance disappear into the darkness, the Blue Mountain Swordsman once again started walking in the opposite direction.

And so, the two banners parted ways once more.