Chapter 633: The Seat You Must Occupy in the Future

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Demonic Buddha parted the golden mist and revealed himself.

How could he radiate such an intense presence despite his short stature?

From below the pavilion, he looked up and politely pressed his palms together.

"Have you been well, Chairman?"

Jin Paecheon returned the gesture, greeting the Demonic Buddha with proper respect.

"It has been a long time."

The Demonic Buddha's appearance was unexpected. However, it wasn't an entirely unfamiliar sight to see the Demonic Buddha wherever the First Young Lord was. Jin Paecheon was well aware of the relationship between the two.

After exchanging greetings with Jin Paecheon, the Demonic Buddha looked at Geom Muyang, who was standing beside him.

Their gazes met in midair.

"You've come?"

"Yes, I have."

It was a simple greeting, yet it was imbued with a deep affection for one another.

In truth, Geom Muyang had been at a loss about what to do regarding the Chairman's order to leave Wuhan. He would have ignored anyone else, but he couldn't recklessly refuse the words of the Murim Alliance's leader.

Seeing the Demonic Buddha in this difficult situation, he felt as if the man's radiance was brightly illuminating his predicament.

The Demonic Buddha slowly walked up to the pavilion. Before ascending, he also greeted Jin Hagun.

"Greetings to the Demon Supreme."

"Even from afar, I've heard much about Commander Jin's righteous deeds. You're truly remarkable for your young age."

Jin Hagun was also inwardly pleased by his arrival. The tense conflict from a moment ago had been defused by his appearance.

"Here is the liquor the Chairman enjoys."

The Demonic Buddha entrusted the alcohol he had brought to Jin Hagun and asked Jin Paecheon, who was on the pavilion.

"Your tastes haven't changed in the meantime, have they?"

The Demonic Buddha never came to see him empty-handed. He was also the only Demon Supreme who had consistently sent gifts for every Murim Alliance event since long ago.

Of course, the rule was to discard any gifts sent from the Demonic Cult, and the Demonic Buddha was surely aware of this, yet he never failed to send one.

However, after the First Young Lord was pushed out of the line of succession, Jin Paecheon had figured he would no longer receive his gifts, but today he had received one again.

Having ascended the pavilion, the Demonic Buddha looked around and marveled.

"The view from up here is different from what you see below."

The rain had already stopped, and the fog was beginning to thin. Behind it, towering bamboo stalks revealed themselves.

He tried to create a pleasant atmosphere with his continuous admiration, but Jin Paecheon's reaction was cold.

"I didn't expect you to be in Wuhan as well."

He responded as gently as he did only because it was the Demonic Buddha. The First Young Lord's presence was already a problem, but for a Demon Supreme to be in Wuhan without any prior notice? This was a matter for which he could lodge an official protest with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"I, too, had urgent matters to attend to."

"What sort of matters did the Demon Supreme have?"

Then, a startling statement flowed from the Demonic Buddha's lips.

"We received intelligence that someone was audaciously targeting our Cult's First Young Lord."

Geom Muyang, who rarely showed his emotions, displayed a look of surprise at these words. It was news to him as well.

"Who was it?"

Jin Paecheon naturally expected it to be someone from the unorthodox sects or an individual with a grudge against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"The Blue Mountain Swordsman."

The moment he heard that name, a thud of shock went through Jin Paecheon's chest.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman was one of the foremost masters representing the orthodox sects. For such a man to attempt to kill the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's First Young Lord was an incident of a much greater magnitude, incomparable to the First Young Lord's arrival in Wuhan.

The Demonic Buddha's voice rose as he radiated a golden light.

"Who does that madman think he is!"

The Demonic Buddha was genuinely enraged. He was conveying that fury directly to the Chairman on behalf of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"Any attempt to harm the First Young Lord is a challenge and an attack on our Cult!"

In that moment, Geom Muyang understood. He knew why the Demonic Buddha had appeared before him so quickly.

The Demonic Buddha was already in Wuhan to save me.

Geom Muyang's heart swelled because it was the Demonic Buddha and no one else. Despite how shamefully he had acted in the past, the Demonic Buddha was protecting him, unchanged.

"Fortunately, I arrived before he could commit the act."

Unable to express true anger toward the leader of the Murim Alliance, the Demonic Buddha's radiance quickly subsided.

His dignified attitude seemed to pose a question. Was Jin Paecheon still going to question his presence in Wuhan after this?

The initiative in the conversation, which until now had been about forcing Geom Muyang to leave Wuhan, had now passed to the Demonic Buddha.

"Chairman, please don't worry too much. I haven't let this be known to the outside."

If it were any other matter, he would not have asked.

"Was it really him?"

He couldn't believe that a man like the Blue Mountain Swordsman would do such a thing without considering the consequences. He would have believed it if it were the Cold Moon Warrior.

"This was my third meeting with him."

He was saying there was no way he could have mistaken him for someone else.

The Demonic Buddha revealed the outcome of the incident before Jin Paecheon could even ask. He was a man who knew how to guide a conversation smoothly.

"We decided to have a drink at our fourth meeting."

He phrased it nicely, but Jin Paecheon understood. It meant he had overpowered him with skill. The two of them would not have ended things with a mere war of words.

A sense of relief washed over Jin Paecheon's face at the news that the Blue Mountain Swordsman was alive. At the same time, he felt a sense of unease.

The Blue Mountain Swordsman lost to this man?

Jin Paecheon quietly observed the Demonic Buddha. He felt different from the last time he had seen him. There was an air of leisure about him that he couldn't quite place. His skills must have improved by as much as that leisure he exuded.

For a moment, he thought of Geom Woojin, who was likely undergoing seclusion training.

The Demonic Cult is growing stronger.

It was a moment where he once again faced that uncomfortable truth.

In any case, the Demonic Buddha would not lie about something that could be confirmed through the Blue Mountain Swordsman.

Why would the Blue Mountain Swordsman try to kill the Divine Cult's First Young Lord? Don't tell me… at someone's request?

Someone could make a request of the Blue Mountain Swordsman. But that request could not possibly be, "Please kill the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's First Young Lord."

Unless it was his own request.

"Did you hear why he did it?"

"He didn't say, but it seemed he was acting on someone's request."

Jin Paecheon probed the Demonic Buddha.

"Do you have anyone in mind?"

The Demonic Buddha shook his head as if he didn't know. He already knew from the All-Knowing Hall that the Heaven's Edge Hermit was behind it, but he didn't even bring up the Emperor of the Heaven's Edge Hermit.

He merely pointed out the nature of the mastermind.

"The ones who have been driving a wedge between our Cult and the Murim Alliance are hardly a recent problem, are they?"

He emphasized that whoever it was, their goal was to sow discord between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance.

The Demonic Buddha did not mention the Cold Moon Warrior. To explain sending him away, he would have had to reveal that the Poison King was also in Wuhan.

"That is why I couldn't contact you in advance. I hope you'll understand with your generous heart."

"I can understand completely."

"Thank you."

The Demonic Buddha looked up at the sky. The sun, which had been hiding behind dark clouds, was beginning to show itself.

"Since the rain has stopped, we'll take our leave now."

At the Demonic Buddha's farewell, Geom Muyang also said his goodbyes.

"I'll see you again, Chairman."

"Travel safely."

They exchanged no such words as "Leave Wuhan" or "Let's meet again." The subsequent matters would have to be handled after careful consideration.

As he descended from the pavilion, Geom Muyang's eyes met Jin Hagun's.

Geom Muyang gave him a slight nod, and Jin Hagun nodded back in response. It was a silent exchange of their resolve to cooperate and handle the matter well.

After leaving the pavilion, Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha walked side by side through the bamboo forest, conversing.

He never thought they would meet like this again outside the cult. To think the day would come when they would walk side by side in front of the Murim Alliance Headquarters.

The one to break the silence first was Geom Muyang.

"The mastermind is definitely the Heaven's Edge Hermit."

The Demonic Buddha nodded at Geom Muyang's words.

"I know."

That was why he was the most difficult opponent he had faced so far.

"As long as the Chairman trusts him, we can't carelessly touch the Heaven's Edge Hermit."

His friendship with the Chairman was one thing, but the reverence of the orthodox sects' members was also a problem. The moment they mishandled the Heaven's Edge Hermit, those bastards would escalate it into a conflict between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance.

When Geom Muyang stopped walking, the Demonic Buddha also came to a halt.

The words Geom Muyang wanted to say rose to his throat and then went back down. It was the first time he was saying this to anyone.

He had never said it to his father, nor had he said it to Geom Mugeuk.

He said those words to the Demonic Buddha.

"Please help me."

How could the Demonic Buddha not know how difficult those words were to say, and how precious they were?

The Demonic Buddha's eyes trembled, and the radiance flowing from his body intensified. Sincerity was met with even greater sincerity.

"I will serve you with my entire being, with all my loyalty."

Enveloped in that brilliant radiance, Geom Muyang felt a pang of regret.

What if their relationship had been like this during the succession battle? What if he had treated the Demonic Buddha with such sincerity back then? Would the outcome of that fight have been different?

Jin Paecheon and Jin Hagun stood side by side on the pavilion, watching the retreating figures of Geom Muyang and the Demonic Buddha.

"What are your thoughts?"

Jin Hagun had a premonition that how this incident concluded would have a great impact on his own selection as a successor.

This entire process could be his grandfather's test, so he had to weigh each and every word carefully before answering.

"It must be one of three things. Either the Divine Cult is lying, the Heaven's Edge Hermit is truly the mastermind, or someone is driving a wedge to make us believe so."

That was not the answer Jin Paecheon wanted.

"I asked for your thoughts."

"I believe at least one thing is certain."

He knew his grandfather was worried that he would suffer a setback from trusting Geom Mugeuk too much.

"I believe that, at the very least, the Divine Cult is not lying."

As expected, a look of concern crossed Jin Paecheon's face. In the past, he might have tactfully given the answer his grandfather wanted to hear.

But he was different now. He knew that an answer meant to evade the moment was like building a bridge of sand toward the other person. It might hold for now, but it would inevitably collapse. And it would collapse when it was more complete, when he had gotten closer to the other side, making the other's disappointment all the greater and burying him in an even deeper pit of sand.

"Do you trust the First Young Lord that much?"

He certainly had faith in Geom Muyang. He knew it instinctively. He knew the man had spoken the truth. But there was a more certain reason than that.

"No."

"Then why?"

It was an answer that would worry his grandfather even more.

"The one I trust is the Young Cult Leader."

Jin Hagun conveyed his honest feelings to his grandfather.

"Since the Young Cult Leader is serving as the interim Cult Leader, the current master of the Divine Cult is the Young Cult Leader."

Jin Paecheon nodded. All decisions would be up to him.

"He might have a hidden ambition."

He had expected his grandson to defend the man, but he readily admitted it.

"He's a very clever man, so that might be true."

"Then why do you say you trust him?"

He didn't know Geom Mugeuk completely, but there was at least one thing he was sure of.

"Even if he were to scheme, he isn't the type of person to proceed with a plan that puts his older brother in danger."

Right now, the First Young Lord was isolated and in a dangerous situation in Wuhan. He didn't think Geom Mugeuk would have driven his own brother into such a situation.

"If he were that kind of person, the First Young Lord would have already died during the succession battle."

Jin Paecheon could not refute those words. The Geom Mugeuk he had observed was no different from what his grandson described.

"It seems we must fight with all possibilities open."

He braced himself for his grandfather's scolding. To leave all possibilities open was to say they should suspect the Heaven's Edge Hermit.

However, Jin Paecheon did not get angry. Instead, he looked at his grandson with a gentle gaze.

"Hagun."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"Are you worried about this old man?"

"No."

He said that, but he was clearly worried. Worried that his grandfather's judgment would be clouded by their long friendship. Worried about the hurt he would receive when that trusted friendship shattered.

Then, unexpected words flowed from Jin Paecheon's mouth.

"In my heart, I've already killed him."

"Pardon?"

His eyes widened, not understanding what he meant.

"I've driven a sword into that man's heart. I've already stood before his grave."

Jin Hagun could tell. He knew that "that man" meant Hwa Yulcheong. He could see it in his grandfather's deep and bitter eyes.

Ah! Grandfather had already left all possibilities open!

He had forgotten. His grandfather had lived his entire life upholding a sense of justice that was difficult to practice even once, and he had watched over all sorts of people for a long time from his position as the Murim Alliance's leader.

"I earnestly hope it isn't so… but I've already accepted the possibility that a friend I've known for decades could betray me."

He had bet his entire life on this position.

"Because I am the Chairman of the Murim Alliance."

He was telling his grandson something he had never told him before.

"The seat you must occupy in the future is a seat like this."

Jin Hagun bowed his head with a look of shame.

"I'm sorry, Grandfather."

He had tried to see clearly, to see properly, but he still wasn't seeing his grandfather for who he truly was. Seeing a person for who they are is just that difficult.

Instead, Jin Paecheon's tone grew even gentler.

"What I've felt while in this position for a long time is that we of the orthodox sects can't keep pace with the Demonic Cult or the unorthodox sects. Even when I tried to run out first and lead them, I was always a few steps behind. I was busy cleaning up the mess and chasing after them. But do you know why we haven't collapsed against their cruel and persistent desires?"

"Why is that?"

Jin Paecheon looked up at the blue sky from which the dark clouds had retreated. He filled his eyes with that blue sky and said forcefully.

"Because we are right."

Jin Hagun's heart pounded. His grandfather had lived his entire life with this one belief. And with a single sentence, he had told him the path he must walk.

You, too, must walk the righteous path.

Jin Paecheon's gaze, which had been filled with the sky, turned to his grandson.

"Therefore, trust the Young Cult Leader only after you trust in this."