Chapter 655: Today, He's Not the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Heaven's Edge Hermit was the one who arrived at the Azure Cloud Forest. He walked through the misty bamboo forest toward a distant pavilion where Geom Mugeuk was waiting.

Leaning against the railing, Geom Mugeuk silently watched the Heaven's Edge Hermit approach. He waved cheerfully when their eyes finally met.

Geom Mugeuk had no intention of postponing their battle.

I'll kill him today!

None of the enemies he had faced were easy, but this Heaven's Edge Hermit was an exceptionally tricky opponent. Geom Mugeuk did not know the potential hidden in his true form, nor could he predict who might suddenly appear as an ally.

The Azure Cloud Forest was the stage Geom Mugeuk had chosen for this confrontation. He considered it the most suitable place for a final battle with the Heaven's Edge Hermit, as it was the favorite location of Jin Paecheon, the Murim Alliance's leader.

There was also a more practical reason for his choice. A special formation had been spread today within the fog that flowed year-round through the Azure Cloud Forest.

It was the Cloudy Fog Concealment Formation.

Originally, the Cloudy Fog Concealment Formation was designed for concealment, allowing people to hide within the rising mist. Once activated, even the greatest masters could not find a person hidden inside unless they knew the method to break it.

Furthermore, it was known as a top-tier formation that, when deployed in fog, was indistinguishable from real fog even to formation experts. It was one of the formations possessed by the Murim Alliance.

Jin Paecheon was currently inside the Cloudy Fog Concealment Formation. Thanks to this location and the formation, this stage could be set without revealing the existence of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. This stage was the most crucial one where everyone's fate would be decided, and Jin Paecheon was the most important spectator.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit ascended to the pavilion. After greeting him, Geom Mugeuk marveled at the scene unfolding before his eyes.

"I can see why the Chairman likes this place. The fog flowing through the bamboo is so fantastical."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit silently watched Geom Mugeuk, who was looking out at the forest. Although Geom Mugeuk's back was turned, not a single opening could be found.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit raised a hand and touched the empty air. He could feel an invisible energy that Geom Mugeuk had spread out like a spider's web.

Even with his back turned, the Young Cult Leader had complete control over himself and this space. He made no effort to hide that fact.

A fiery heat flashed in the Heaven's Edge Hermit's eyes, but it vanished the moment Geom Mugeuk turned around.

"Welcome, great hermit!"

The Heaven's Edge Hermit took a few steps forward. He stood beside Geom Mugeuk and gazed at the bamboo forest.

"The fog is especially thick today."

His words sounded as if he had been here often, prompting Geom Mugeuk to ask a question.

"Have you been here before?"

"I come here occasionally myself. It's a place my friend likes."

The two men treated each other calmly, as if they had forgotten all the tension from their first meeting.

"Why don't you ask? Why I'm here instead of the Chairman?"

Today's meeting was one Jin Paecheon had arranged with the Heaven's Edge Hermit.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit simply wore an expression that suggested the answer was obvious even without asking, and he said nothing.

"I asked the Chairman to let me meet you. You were so firm last time, saying there wouldn't be a next time."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit turned his gaze toward Geom Mugeuk.

"And you didn't call me here to kill me?"

His eyes and tone of voice suggested he knew that was the case but had come anyway.

"If that were the case, would you have come, great hermit? Didn't you come because you judged that it wasn't?"

From the Heaven's Edge Hermit's reaction, Geom Mugeuk could tell he had anticipated this situation. If so, although the invitation came from his side, this stage was also the Hermit's stage. It was their shared stage.

What have you prepared for this stage?

Who would be able to leave this stage alive would be determined by whose preparations were more thorough.

"Even if you were going to kill me, I had to come."

"You'd come even if it meant death? Why?"

The Heaven's Edge Hermit then answered calmly.

"Because my friend called me."

His gaze was somehow empty and desolate. If Geom Mugeuk hadn't seen his true form within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, he would have been confused even at this moment. That was how sincerely he was speaking.

"I would even die if that friend told me to."

These were words that would break Jin Paecheon's heart if he heard them. Indeed, he was likely watching this scene right now with a heavy heart.

"That's amazing. I have no intention of dying meekly if Haryong tried to kill me."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit's eyes glinted coldly.

"That's because you weren't sharing a friendship. You were trying to use Commander Jin."

He mentioned the public rumors as if he intended for someone to overhear.

"When I heard the rumors that the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult was approaching the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade to build a friendship, I already saw through your scheme. A scheme to delude Chairman Jin using the bonds of family."

Geom Mugeuk received his words with composure.

"That's underestimating your friend too much. The Chairman isn't someone who would fall for such a simple scheme."

"That's why you tried to use his blood relative."

The Heaven's Edge Hermit continued to press this point.

"I know you approached not only the leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade but also Haryong. Will you still say you have no ulterior motive? What is your purpose?"

Hearing only these words, he would look like a complete villain. This was why this fight was so tricky and difficult. His opponent was someone who would thoroughly exploit even these aspects.

"As you know, my purpose is to reveal your true identity, great hermit."

"Hilarious. The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult coming to Murim and revealing the identity of me, who has lived as a member of the orthodox sects for decades? A passing dog would laugh."

"Since there are no passing dogs, I'll laugh for you."

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly. A blade was hidden within his composure.

"It's just the two of us here. Is there really a need to hide your identity to this extent?"

"I'll say it again. I have no identity to hide."

Geom Mugeuk asked about the one thing he should be most curious about.

"Why don't you ask? Why I called you an incarnation of vengeance."

He should have shown some reaction to those words. But he wasn't curious at all.

"Vengeance? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Geom Mugeuk perched on the railing and spoke as if reasoning to himself.

"You're the great hermit who lost his composure at those words. Why would you hide your identity so thoroughly when it's just the two of us?"

Geom Mugeuk already knew the answer.

"You know, great hermit. You know what kind of place this is."

He didn't miss the sharp glint that flashed for a moment in the Heaven's Edge Hermit's eyes. He knew there was an audience for this stage. And that the audience was Jin Paecheon. That was why he was selectively saying things that would sway the Chairman's heart.

"You used his blood relative to delude him with all sorts of words, but that won't work on me. I will protect my friend to the end."

Geom Mugeuk could tell. He couldn't be moved by words, especially not if he knew Jin Paecheon was watching. It was time to make a move with something other than words.

Geom Mugeuk's gaze turned cold, revealing an atmosphere different from before.

"It doesn't matter. I can make you reveal your identity."

To those words, at least, the Heaven's Edge Hermit reacted. His gaze toward Geom Mugeuk held a certain emotion. You? How?

"There was a faster, more certain method, but I couldn't use it for one reason."

That reason was related to Jin Paecheon.

"To use that method, I needed the Chairman's permission."

"What permission?"

Geom Mugeuk's eyes grew cold.

"Permission to kill you."

The moment the words ended, a powerful aura erupted from Geom Mugeuk's body. The next moment, the Heaven's Edge Hermit realized he was standing in a blue sky. Of course, it wasn't the sky, but the surface of the sea. It was Geom Mugeuk's aura, so clear that the sky was perfectly reflected, making it feel as if he were standing in the sky itself.

The aura had changed from before. The sea was even clearer, and the endless abyss beneath his feet was deeper and darker.

SPLASH.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit plunged into the sea. An invisible force seized him and dragged him deep into the water. His breath caught. It was too powerful to be the aura of a mere human.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit also unleashed his own aura. His energy began to push back against Geom Mugeuk's. His surroundings in the dark abyss brightened. Snow could be seen scattering across a pure white field around him.

Then his surroundings darkened again. Pressed by Geom Mugeuk's aura, he began to be dragged back into the abyssal sea.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit drew upon his inner arts and unleashed his aura even more powerfully. His surroundings brightened again and then darkened once more. Light and darkness alternated, as if a lantern were being turned on and off. Each time it brightened, the blizzard raged more fiercely. A lone flower blooming there looked incredibly precarious.

From darkness to light, back to darkness, and then to light again.

It was at that very moment.

SWOOOSH!

A sword flew toward the Heaven's Edge Hermit's face in a surprise attack.

"……"

The Heaven's Edge Hermit shattered the pavilion's railing and flew backward to dodge the sword. Geom Mugeuk, who had been engaged in a battle of auras, had launched a surprise physical attack.

Standing at the edge of the pavilion, Geom Mugeuk looked down with a cold gaze, sword in hand.

"If you don't reveal your true aura, you will die by my hand."

Despite Geom Mugeuk's warning, the Heaven's Edge Hermit was not afraid. Instead, a smile played on his lips.

"Can you really handle the aftermath?"

"When have the bastards from the Demonic Cult you know ever worried about the aftermath before causing trouble?"

SWOOOOOSH.

Geom Mugeuk leaped from the pavilion, flying toward the Heaven's Edge Hermit.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit did not evade. Instead, he drew his sword to meet the attack.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!

The clash of blade against blade produced a series of sharp sounds and sparks. A dozen exchanges of offense and defense passed in an instant.

"……"

The Heaven's Edge Hermit barely dodged the final, strike. It was an attack that would have decapitated him if he hadn't dodged. The killing intent imbued in Geom Mugeuk's sword was real.

"I told you before. For someone like you, killing you first and dealing with the consequences later isn't a bad method."

Geom Mugeuk's swordsmanship was neither the Nine Calamities Demonic Art nor the Soaring Sky Sword Art. It was simple thrusts and slashes, but those simple sword strikes contained the entirety of Geom Mugeuk's martial arts. Freed from technique, Geom Mugeuk's attacks were incomparably fast and fierce. The strength born from freedom was being fully displayed at this very moment.

SPLURT!

Blood spurted from the Heaven's Edge Hermit's arm. He was as famous as the Chairman, but he wasn't famous for being as strong as the Chairman. He was famous because he was Jin Paecheon's friend and also a Master guest. He couldn't handle Geom Mugeuk's momentum as he pressed forward with terrifying, murderous intent.

Even though he was cornered, he did not reveal his true form.

He had one conviction.

You can't possibly kill me!

Just as Geom Mugeuk had thought, the Heaven's Edge Hermit had accurately grasped what this place was today.

I have to show my identity to Jin Paecheon. The more you try to kill me, a master of the orthodox sects, the greater his suspicion will grow.

With every drop of blood he shed, the suspicion toward the Young Cult Leader would grow larger. The Heaven's Edge Hermit was certain of it.

And Geom Mugeuk was certain of something too.

You will definitely show your true form.

Because he would never want to die here in vain. After enduring for decades, how could he die so futilely?

SWOOOSH!

Geom Mugeuk's sword flew toward his neck.

The Heaven's Edge Hermit did not dodge.

In the end, you'll stop.

Because he would never kill him.

It was like two carriages charging toward each other. Two carriages, each convinced the other would surely pull the reins, racing onward without stopping.

DUDUDUDUDUDU.

And at the last moment, one of the two men pulled the reins and changed direction.

KAAAANG!

An ear-splitting metallic sound erupted. Geom Mugeuk was thrown back and retreated.

At the last moment, the Heaven's Edge Hermit had swung his sword and counterattacked. This counterattack was incomparably faster and more powerful than the skills he had shown so far.

Geom Mugeuk, like a true madman, had not withdrawn his sword until the very last moment. It was not because he truly intended to kill him, but from the belief that he would surely dodge.

Because no matter how strong the Heaven's Edge Hermit's will was, there was something that would betray it. That something was the 'instinct for survival'. He believed that the survival instinct of such a powerful master would compel him to survive, even if it meant ignoring his will. Just as the Heavenly Demon Defense Art would not stand by and watch, no matter how much Geom Mugeuk himself tried to die.

Another person stood where the Heaven's Edge Hermit had been. It was the same person but now radiating a completely different aura. It was Hwa Yulcheong. As he began to reveal his true self, his presence became incomparable to before.

He stood in the middle of a battlefield. Instead of swirling snow, the ashes of burnt corpses swirled around him.

It was different from the aura he had seen that day at the Nothing Manor. If the aura back then was a war in a single region, the aura he saw now was a war across the entire Central Plains. Blood flowed like rivers and corpses were piled up like mountains.

In the midst of it all stood Hwa Yulcheong with eyes as hot as lava.

"You won't step forward even when he's trying to kill me?"

The person Hwa Yulcheong spoke to was not Geom Mugeuk. He spoke toward the fog.

Then, someone's voice was heard from within the fog.

"Because I decided to trust that friend over you."

The owner of the voice was, of course, Jin Paecheon.

Was it because he had expected it from the start? Even with Jin Paecheon's appearance, Hwa Yulcheong's eyes showed no fear at all.

"You'd trust the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult over a friend of several decades?"

His words were filled not with regret or disappointment, but with mockery and anger. After all, Jin Paecheon had already seen his true form.

Gradually, Jin Paecheon's voice grew closer.

"That person, at least for today, is not the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult."

Soon after, Jin Paecheon fully revealed himself from within the fog.

"Today, he is my grandson's friend."