Chapter 645: A Simple Greeting Is Fine, Isn't It?

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Father won't stand for my death?"

Geom Mugeuk's thoughts turned to his father.

If I really die, will Father start the MaJang Hu War?

Wouldn't he just sit on his throne as usual and say something like, "From today, our Cult's successor is Muyang." He might just say that one line and carry on as if nothing had changed. He could even add another comment. "Now our Cult will finally quiet down a bit."

Of course, Geom Mugeuk also considered the possibility that their analysis was correct. An image of his father sitting alone on the throne in the Heavenly Demon Hall, deep in sorrow, formed in his mind. It was the image of a father missing his child. On the day he names his brother as the new successor, he might declare to the Eight Demon Supremes lined up before him, "Let's go, to the Central Plains!" A fishing rod might even be sticking out of his father's war carriage window. He might go to war taking me with him like that. He really couldn't know how his father would react.

"Was this really predicted by a smart person?"

So Cheongrak answered Geom Mugeuk's question.

"You created this result."

Honestly, Geom Mugeuk didn't feel bad. It meant his father cared about him that much.

"But if a war breaks out because I die, will you all be safe?"

So Cheongrak gave a meaningful smile.

"We are people accustomed to living different lives."

This meant they would hide without revealing themselves at all. If masters like them intentionally hid, it would be impossible to find them during a war.

"Rather, the war will bring us immense wealth."

With the power cultivated from that wealth, they would attempt to tear at the throat of the wounded victor.

Geom Mugeuk openly sneered at him.

"Right. That was always your way. A life of waiting for the perfect moment to backstab someone with an innocent face, isn't that your past life?"

Despite the provocative words, So Cheongrak remained completely composed. The struggles of someone on the verge of death were always just laughable.

It was a situation with no variables. Geom Mugeuk had been poisoned with a toxin that would burst his blood vessels if he used his inner arts, and two masters were present as well.

So Cheongrak looked at the two old demons with satisfaction.

The Demonic Fire Lord was radiating a blood-red demonic qi. It was the first time So Cheongrak had seen someone display such a vibrant and crimson demonic qi. His unique martial art was the Blazing Palm, a demonic art containing the extreme yang energy of molten lava. The image of a fiery palm print embedding itself in a chest like a brand was a terrifying martial art to even imagine. Even at one hundred years old, his eyes held a fearsome glint no less intense than a young man's.

Next, So Cheongrak looked at the White Bone Spirit Demon. His face, hands, and feet were as white as if powdered, making him look like a real skeleton at a glance. Considering his age, he really should have been a pile of white bones by now. All sorts of white bone accessories, made from real human skeletons, hung from his skinny body. His unique martial art was the Ghost Controlling Art, a forbidden demonic art that dealt with the souls of the dead. Stealing souls, reviving corpses, and commanding hundreds of skeletons to charge was a demonic art chilling to even imagine. The dark energy emanating from his eyes truly gave the impression of a connection to hell.

How about it? Even if it's you, will you still talk big in front of them?

With a triumphant heart, So Cheongrak looked at Geom Mugeuk.

Just then, Geom Mugeuk suddenly spoke to the two old demons.

"Aren't you going to greet me?"

So Cheongrak thought he had misheard.

But he hadn't.

Geom Mugeuk said to them in a louder voice.

"I am the Acting Cult Leader. Greet me!"

The Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon looked at each other. They couldn't have imagined Geom Mugeuk would act like this.

"Acting Cult Leader? Did the Cult Leader die?" the Demonic Fire Lord asked in a voice like scraping metal. It was as if his age had settled in his voice, which was very unpleasant to hear.

So Cheongrak then answered politely.

"The Demonic Cult Leader is currently in seclusion training."

Instead, the mouth of the White Bone Spirit Demon, who was listening from the side, opened wide. His mouth, smiling brightly like a child's, was clearly visible, showing that all his teeth had fallen out except for a few.

"Good that he's alive. I'll tear the Demonic Cult Leader to death with my own hands."

Having reached the age of one hundred and fifty, he had the clear, thin voice of a child.

Just like the saying that one becomes a child when old, his voice and his expression showed a cheerful appearance. However, his eyes, full of dark energy, were so contrary to his appearance that they gave off an overall bizarre feeling.

The energy flickering from the Demonic Fire Lord's body flared up, growing hotter.

"Same here. Today, let's just tear that young brat apart."

Bound by the Demonic Seal Mandate, they had wished only for this day. It had been years filled with malice. If they listened to their demands and had the restriction lifted, the past years would be compensated with blood.

Geom Mugeuk let out a smirk. Were they trying to bluff in front of him? Or had they lost all sense of reality after being bound by the Demonic Seal Mandate for so long?

If it were a master from the orthodox sects, they might be able to say such things. However, for someone who practices demonic arts, it could only be a bluff. This was because the Nine Calamities Demonic Art stood at the pinnacle of all demonic arts, and facing it with another demonic art was several times more difficult. Moreover, his father was challenging a new realm beyond the tenth stage of complete mastery.

When Geom Mugeuk laughed, the White Bone Spirit Demon also smiled brightly.

Geom Mugeuk looked into his mouth and said, "You have no teeth, can you even eat?"

After staring blankly at Geom Mugeuk, the White Bone Spirit Demon looked at the Demonic Fire Lord.

"What has become of our Cult while I was away?"

"I've heard the young ones these days have no manners."

"It was the same in our time. Nothing's changed."

Thus, the child's voice and the metal-scraping voice went back and forth.

Despite hearing their conversation, Geom Mugeuk treated them even more sternly.

"Greet me! You can talk about manners after you've shown some yourselves!"

The Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk. At first, they looked at him with indignation, thinking, what kind of reckless fool is this?

Geom Mugeuk's gaze, looking back at them, was clear and deep.

It did not grow hot with the heat.

It did not sink into the deep darkness.

In that gaze, there was none of the childishness or recklessness of a successor who couldn't tell heaven from earth.

Geom Mugeuk was genuinely scolding them.

You disrespectful things! Show some manners while I'm asking nicely!

He was rebuking them with dignity and authority, without a shred of fear. Furthermore, Geom Mugeuk was not using his inner arts at all. He overwhelmed them with nothing but his natural presence.

"Impressive."

The Demonic Fire Lord clapped his hands. It was a sincere applause. It was the first time he had been so overwhelmed by such a young opponent to the point of admiration.

The White Bone Spirit Demon also revealed his honest feelings.

"It's a waste to kill him, a real waste."

He could see where the analysis that the Demonic Cult Leader would start the MaJang Hu War came from. How could he bear to lose a son like this?

Geom Mugeuk still calmly rebuked them.

"Age is earned through the mouth. Knowing when to speak, when to be silent. Knowing when to curse and when to greet. Prove with your mouths that you haven't aged in vain."

A moment of silence passed.

Then something surprising happened. The Demonic Fire Lord, who had been staring at Geom Mugeuk, actually greeted him.

"The Demonic Fire Lord greets the Acting Cult Leader."

It was the sound of scraping metal, but it was a greeting with a measure of respect. Of course, greeting him didn't mean he wouldn't kill him. It was admiration for his commendable spirit. If he had this much presence at such a young age, a greeting was the least he deserved.

On the other hand, the White Bone Spirit Demon did not greet him obediently.

"I have aged in vain. Because of your damn Cult Leader's decree."

It was unlikely that Geom Mugeuk would give a soft response to that.

"It's because of the sins you committed. Greet me!"

HWAAAAAK!

In that moment, a dark energy shot out from the White Bone Spirit Demon's eyes.

"Let's see if you're worthy of my greeting."

The Dark Black Mind's Eye, which peers into the human soul, was activated. With this demonic art, he could see what kind of person his opponent was. Before the Dark Black Mind's Eye, no bluff or pretense could work. He could see their naked, true selves. He could see the fox wearing a tiger's mask or the coward wearing armor.

The moment he looked into Geom Mugeuk's mind!

The White Bone Spirit Demon flinched in surprise.

A moment later, the dark energy vanished from his eyes. His gaze changed after looking into the mind of the man named Geom Mugeuk.

Staring at Geom Mugeuk, he took a step back in their battle of wills.

"The White Bone Spirit Demon greets the Acting Cult Leader."

Only then did Geom Mugeuk accept their greetings.

"I am the Acting Cult Leader, Geom Mugeuk."

In that moment, it was as if they were in the Heavenly Demon Hall. They felt as if Geom Mugeuk was sitting on the throne, and the two of them were below, looking up at him.

As if he had never asserted his authority, Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and greeted them anew. He was as friendly as if he were a different person from moments before.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Seniors. Even if you're going to kill me, a simple greeting is fine, isn't it?"

Watching this, So Cheongrak thought that changing the target to Geom Mugeuk was a truly excellent decision. To get a greeting from these two in this situation? Who in the entire murim could accomplish such a thing?

He was certain that if this Young Cult Leader grew any stronger, no one would be able to stop him.

So Cheongrak tried to suppress Geom Mugeuk's momentum. He too felt how incredible it was, so he tried to downplay it as if it were nothing.

"Meeting you two while unable to use his inner arts has completely terrified him. He probably doesn't even know what he's saying right now."

At the words that he couldn't use his inner arts, the Demonic Fire Lord expressed his dissatisfaction in his even more grating voice.

"Why did you suppress his inner arts? We said we would kill him ourselves!"

A greeting was a greeting, but his desire to tear Geom Mugeuk to pieces remained.

So Cheongrak explained about Geom Mugeuk. Since they had spent decades bound by the Demonic Seal Mandate, they wouldn't know the recent situation in the murim.

"That Young Cult Leader possesses truly unparalleled martial arts skills."

Those who have already died at the hands of the Young Cult Leader have proven it.

"Even now, with his inner arts suppressed, he is someone you must never let your guard down against."

"Even so, we can't kill someone who can't even use his inner arts. Release him."

So Cheongrak said with a calm face, "I cannot do that."

The two old demons were fearsome beings, but So Cheongrak was not afraid of them. A person who uses poison fears no one. The only person he acknowledged was the Poison King.

Breaking the tense atmosphere, the White Bone Spirit Demon stepped forward. Instead of telling him to release Geom Mugeuk's inner arts, he asked something else.

"Are the preparations to lift the restriction complete?"

"As promised, if you kill just two people, we will perform the grand ritual immediately."

At those words, Geom Mugeuk asked in surprise, "You said the target was changed to me? Then why are there two?"

Then, a name that should not have been mentioned came out.

"We'll kill you, and then we'll kill Jin Hagun. Since one side lost a son, it's only fair that the other side loses a grandson."

So Cheongrak said to the two old demons, "Now, please finish it."

The White Bone Spirit Demon looked at the Demonic Fire Lord. The Demonic Fire Lord nodded at the look that suggested they act together. He felt that the White Bone Spirit Demon, who had looked into Geom Mugeuk's mind earlier, had become more cautious than before. He wasn't usually like this. What on earth did he see?

Just as the two were about to walk towards Geom Mugeuk.

"But have you two met the person who will lift the restriction?"

At Geom Mugeuk's question, the Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon stopped walking.

The gazes of the two turned to So Cheongrak.

"Isn't he right there?"

Geom Mugeuk shook his head at the Demonic Fire Lord's question.

"That's not something he can do alone."

The Demonic Fire Lord's expression hardened slightly.

"He can't?"

"How could he possibly lift the restriction of the Demonic Seal Mandate by himself? If it could be lifted so easily, would the Demonic Seal Mandate have been maintained for all those long years?"

The Demonic Fire Lord asked So Cheongrak, "Is that true?"

So Cheongrak did not answer.

"That is a matter for us to handle."

So Cheongrak could tell. Geom Mugeuk was trying to drag in his other backers as well. This guy is truly… a madman!

Instantly, the expressions of the Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon hardened. The aura of one grew hotter, and the other grew colder.

So Cheongrak was at a loss. He shouldn't have been so complacent. He should have just killed him from the start.

Every time Geom Mugeuk opened his mouth, an unexpected situation unfolded.

That mouth opened again.

"I don't know for sure, but that grand ritual will cost an enormous amount of money. Probably enough to make one have second thoughts."

How could the two old demons not know what those 'second thoughts' were? It meant that the cost of killing them would be cheaper than performing the ritual.

The Demonic Fire Lord firmly denied it.

"That's impossible."

The White Bone Spirit Demon also nodded. It seemed he at least trusted the person who made this promise.

"I don't know who made the promise, but the one carrying out the work is that man. Isn't the heart of the person who puts the knife to your bodies important?"

So Cheongrak then said leisurely, "It seems you're trying to sow discord with trivial words, but it's useless."

Then Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

"I will now show you why that man cannot be trusted."

Before the words were even finished.

SHIIIIK.

Geom Mugeuk's sword was drawn.

CHWAAAAAK.

"……"

The one who let out a short scream was So Cheongrak. The sword qi that flew from Geom Mugeuk's sword had split in all directions, severing the vine-like lines connecting So Cheongrak and the sleeping patients.

It looked like a light move, but it was imbued with the highest level of martial arts. That's why it looked so easy and simple.

"Didn't he lie just a moment ago, saying I couldn't use my inner arts?"

Before So Cheongrak could make an excuse, Geom Mugeuk quickly added, "His intention was for our two Seniors to attack me defenselessly and fall into danger."

In an instant, the expressions of the Demonic Fire Lord and the White Bone Spirit Demon hardened. They had clearly heard him say that he couldn't use his inner arts.

"Isn't his plan to make us fight until we're both grievously wounded, and then kill everyone with poison at the end?"

So Cheongrak just listened blankly to Geom Mugeuk's words. He was more shocked by the fact that the poison he had administered earlier hadn't worked than by the current misunderstanding.

Why aren't his blood vessels bursting?

However, to the two old demons, his appearance seemed to confirm Geom Mugeuk's words.

So Cheongrak asked Geom Mugeuk, "What happened?"

It was a question of why he wasn't poisoned.

"What do you mean, what happened? Your plan to use me to make us destroy each other has failed."

Geom Mugeuk began to win over the two old demons.

"As they say, the arm bends inwards. Let's join forces. I save my life, and you get your restrictions lifted. How about it?"

So Cheongrak was flustered. He never imagined Geom Mugeuk would try to side with the two demons.

What is his intention?

However, in this rapidly developing situation, he couldn't grasp Geom Mugeuk's true intentions.

"Don't fall for his wicked tricks."

As he said that, So Cheongrak secretly poisoned Geom Mugeuk again.

The White Snake Powder.

It was a poison that caused blindness and speechlessness. He had to shut that detestable mouth first.

However, Geom Mugeuk's eyes widened even more as he raised his voice.

"My dear Seniors, are you going to trust that liar with your lives?"