Chapter 653: The Murim Alliance, Come Out! The Demonic Cult, Come Out!

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Heaven's Edge Hermit's trembling eyes gave away his shock.

Yes, he must have been surprised.

If he wasn't the true mastermind, my words would just be the mad ramblings of the Demonic Cult's Young Cult Leader. But you are different.

The question, 'Is this Young Cult Leader really suggesting we join hands?' must have suddenly flashed through his mind.

My suggestion to join forces was intended to shake him. If I could rattle him, then Hwa Yulcheong, the conspiracy's mastermind, would surely reveal himself at least once, not the Heaven's Edge Hermit, the Chairman's friend.

The first time is always the most difficult. Once he shows his true self, hiding it again will become much harder.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit stared silently at Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk couldn't discern his thoughts from his expression. He was, after all, a man whose skill in concealing himself was equal to the Chairman's.

Then, the Heaven's Edge Hermit started to move. He walked right past Geom Mugeuk and made his way to the door.

Was he planning to call the people outside?

He opened the door and stepped out. Instead of bringing the martial artists from the hallway inside, however, he led them away from the building.

"Everyone, follow me out."

Not only were there martial artists in the hallway, but dozens more were gathered in the courtyard and outside the building. They ate their meals there and substituted sleep with meditation, truly respecting and following the Heaven's Edge Hermit.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit spoke to them.

"Everyone, you may all return now."

Just then, someone shouted out.

"Not yet, Hermit."

It was Hyeok In, the Sect Leader of the Clear Justice Sect.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit had been injured previously while trying to save him. Everyone had been guarding his residence like this ever since. Hyeok In, especially, had not missed a single day of standing watch.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit walked toward Hyeok In.

"My injuries are fine now."

"Hermit!"

"Since my body is fine, who would dare try to kill me? Are you perhaps looking down on my skills?"

"No, Hermit!"

The Heaven's Edge Hermit took the flustered Hyeok In's hand. He held his hand instead of Geom Mugeuk's.

"I know your heart. I'm telling you to leave now because it's becoming uncomfortable for me."

Hyeok In bowed his head, and the other martial artists bowed along with him.

"The Chairman is also looking out for me. So don't worry and go."

Their expressions relaxed slightly at the mention of the Murim Alliance's leader. Yes, how could the Chairman not be concerned?

"If anything happens, please send word immediately."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit politely showed his respect to the martial artists with a clasped hands greeting.

"Thank you all so much for protecting me all this time. I will never forget this until the day I die. Now, please return to your own lives."

With eyes full of respect, the martial artists all performed a clasped hands greeting and shouted their farewells in booming voices.

"Hermit, please take care of yourself!"

After sending all the martial artists away, the Heaven's Edge Hermit came back into the room.

Geom Mugeuk asked with a strange smile.

"Am I finally going to see the Hermit's true self?"

He hadn't actually expected him to reveal his identity so easily.

Indeed, Geom Mugeuk's premonition was right.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit said something unexpected.

"I sent them all away because I thought I might have to fight a life-and-death battle with you today."

Without saying another word, the Heaven's Edge Hermit immediately unleashed his aura.

CHAAAAA.

Geom Mugeuk looked around to see his surroundings transformed into a field of pure white snow.

It was difficult to keep his eyes open in the raging blizzard. Someone with weak inner arts would collapse, unable to breathe in the frigid wind, or be swept away by it.

Beyond the fierce blizzard, he stood alone and solitary. He resembled a single flower blooming by itself in the snow. This was the Heaven's Edge Hermit's aura, and a pleasant fragrance emanated from it.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit he felt now was different from the one he had sensed upon first entering the room.

He had succeeded in peeling back one layer. Beneath it was a Master who had protected the murim of the orthodox sects. He was a righteous warrior who could stand proudly before the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, one who was prepared to give his life.

Geom Mugeuk could tell.

This aura was real.

He could also tell how many long years of effort had been poured into creating such an aura.

He was now demonstrating what kind of person he was. A steadfast old master of the orthodox sects who wouldn't fall for any provocation, threat, or appeasement.

Beneath this aura, what is your true aura like?

The Heaven's Edge Hermit rebuked him in a low but stern voice.

"How dare you suggest joining hands with me?"

Moreover, he had sent the martial artists outside because he was worried they would get hurt or killed if a fight erupted.

"Tell me. Who did I suggest joining hands with? I don't know who you are."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit replied coldly.

"Don't try to deceive people with nonsense. Instead, you should fulfill your true desire."

Geom Mugeuk had stated his true desire was to kill him. In other words, it was a challenge to a fight.

Geom Mugeuk was impressed on the inside.

He had the nerve to send the martial artists away instead of using them as a shield. He also had the accurate judgment to know that I wouldn't fight him.

After all, he wouldn't think of fighting a life-and-death battle alone against me, the one who had dealt with the Demonic Fire Lord, the White Bone Spirit Demon, and even So Cheongrak.

As expected, he was not an easy opponent. With a man like this, how could everyone not have been deceived?

Geom Mugeuk held up his own hand, feigning disappointment.

"There's no better hand to join with than this one. Don't regret it later."

Of course, the atmosphere was not one that could be lightened with a joke.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit's expression stayed cold, and a tense atmosphere flowed between the two of them.

"I didn't like the fact that you people set foot in the lands of Wuhan from the very beginning. How dare you? Do you know where you are?"

Staring quietly into the Heaven's Edge Hermit's eyes, Geom Mugeuk spoke in a soft tone. The tone was soft, but its meaning was sharp.

"Our dear Hermit seems to have reached the final stage of deception, where one even deceives oneself."

"You're the one who's deceiving."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit scoffed in rebuttal.

"A moment ago, you said it yourself. That you'd protect the Chairman from me. And now you want to join hands with me? Is that how you people protect someone?"

Then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

"This is all because of you."

"Because of me?"

"As you know, I suspect you. But seeing you in person today, I was surprised. I couldn't find anything suspicious about you either. How could I fail to find anything even when I was looking with certainty? Then again, a man like this must be why you could hide your identity next to the Chairman for decades."

Normally, he should have replied that it was nonsense. If he were truly a righteous warrior, it would have been complete nonsense.

However, he was waiting for my next words. As a human being, he wanted to hear it. He wanted to be acknowledged for how great his work had been.

The satisfaction would be even greater if the person saying it was the Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult, their greatest enemy.

"I suddenly had the thought that I wanted to make you my man. That's why I extended my hand."

Only after hearing everything did the Heaven's Edge Hermit react. He softened his previously sharp demeanor.

"I'd rather die than become a God of War for the Demonic Cult."

Somehow, I have to peel back one more layer here. I have to strip off that thick mask of a righteous warrior and draw out his true self.

It was not just to show the Chairman the evidence. To uncover the mastermind behind them, I had to put him on this stage as well.

On this stage called Wuhan, where they had been drawn in to start the MaJang Hu war.

Geom Mugeuk abruptly said to him.

"The renowned physician, So Cheongrak, is dead."

What meaning does this news hold for you?

Is it sadness over the death of someone you have been with for decades? Or is it anger that the work you were proceeding with has been halted?

The Heaven's Edge Hermit showed no emotion. Geom Mugeuk did not miss this reaction.

"Ah! The Chairman should have seen this."

"What do you mean by that?"

"No one knows the news of his death, so why aren't you surprised? The most famous physician in Wuhan, the physician who did the most good, is dead. Shouldn't you be surprised?"

And most importantly.

"Shouldn't you be asking why he was killed? He was merely a physician, so wouldn't it be a normal reaction to wonder why the Demonic Cult killed him?"

For a moment, he saw the Heaven's Edge Hermit's eyes tremble slightly. It was a subtle change that only Geom Mugeuk, who had experienced such moments countless times, could see.

"The conclusion is that you knew why So Cheongrak died. Ah! I can't show this to the Chairman! It's a shame I can only tell him with words!"

Perhaps he thought that the words delivered by that Young Cult Leader might be even more vivid than seeing it for himself?

The Heaven's Edge Hermit did not just let it go.

"What kind of absurd claim are you trying to make?"

"I'm not making an absurd claim. I'm asking why you aren't curious."

After a brief pause, the Heaven's Edge Hermit answered.

"Why? I'll give you an answer. It's because of you people."

He threw back the same words Geom Mugeuk had used earlier, "because of you."

"Because of us?"

"Aren't you the ones who kill all the good people?"

It was not mockery. The Heaven's Edge Hermit's gaze was confident, as if he truly believed it.

Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not one to let it slide.

"So Cheongrak wasn't a good person, was he? Just like you."

Before he could answer, Geom Mugeuk provoked him further.

"Come to think of it, that So Cheongrak was a truly pitiful man. Because of you."

The blame, "because of you," was once again aimed at the Heaven's Edge Hermit.

"For decades, he struggled by your side, playing the role of a physician he didn't want to be, trying to protect you. Did you shed even a single tear for him? I doubt it. He's probably in hell, feeling resentful and blaming you."

At times like this, how nice it would be if he retorted, 'What do you know! I cared for him so much!' However, the Heaven's Edge Hermit was perfectly calm. Like a man who truly would not shed a tear, let alone offer a word of condolence.

"You still won't ask why he was killed."

The strange smile forming on the Heaven's Edge Hermit's lips was so faint that only Geom Mugeuk could perceive it. His emotions were being felt like this, little by little.

Yes, if I keep searching, I will surely find a hole to break this dam.

"So Cheongrak is dead, and the two old men who violated the Demonic Seal Mandate are dead too."

Of course, the Heaven's Edge Hermit would know that fact. He would also know about the warning from the master of soul-manipulation techniques.

"Now only the soul-manipulator is left. Can you manage with just his subordinate? Ah, or perhaps you take orders from that person?"

Geom Mugeuk subtly poked at his pride. He watched to see how he would react, but the Heaven's Edge Hermit walked over to the tea table and drank his tea.

It seemed like an attempt to hide his reaction, but in Geom Mugeuk's eyes, even this was a reaction.

"Why don't you just frame me for using the soul-manipulation technique?"

At his response, Geom Mugeuk also walked to the tea table.

"Because that's definitely not it. There's no way the Chairman wouldn't recognize a person skilled in soul-manipulation techniques standing right next to him, is there?"

GLUG.

Geom Mugeuk filled his own teacup.

"You're not originally this kind of person, are you? Not some frustrating old man from the orthodox sects, but a fiery person, right? That must be why you were chosen for this important role."

In that moment, a faint tremor came from the Heaven's Edge Hermit. Yes, how could one forget such moments? There are moments that cannot be faked, even if everything else is a lie.

"I want to talk with that fiery person. I want to have a refreshing talk, villain to villain."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit simply stared at Geom Mugeuk impassively, without any wavering.

"Deceiving, plotting from the shadows. Living in hiding. Aren't you tired of it by now? Don't you want to drag everyone out and have a real fight? The Murim Alliance, come out! The Demonic Cult, come out! Isn't that you?"

As if he did not want to hear any more, the Heaven's Edge Hermit ordered him to leave.

"If you've finished your tea, you may leave now."

The gazes of the two men tangled in mid-air.

Yes, he was not a man who would be shaken by a single meeting.

However, he had detected several subtle emotional changes from him today.

Geom Mugeuk bowed politely and bid his farewell.

"The tea was excellent. Until next time…!"

The Heaven's Edge Hermit cut Geom Mugeuk off.

"There will be no next time."

Geom Mugeuk looked at him and said.

"Yes, that's what I'm hoping for too. Instead of this boring righteous warrior, the Heaven's Edge Hermit, I want to meet the avatar of vengeance next time."

"!"

Leaving the man staring at him with a shocked face, Geom Mugeuk strode toward the door and said.

"Next time, let's meet with Hwa Yulcheong, the avatar of vengeance."