Chapter 661: The Reason I Sided with the Young Cult Leader

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Master."

From the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's cry, Jin Hagun and the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade understood.

They knew the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had arrived. The person standing proudly at the prow of the massive ship was indeed the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

They also realized that the esteemed person the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme mentioned she was late to meet was none other than the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader came all this way?"

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme answered Jin Hagun's astonished question.

"Commander Jin, you have no idea how much the Young Cult Leader has been looking out for you."

Jin Hagun thought of Geom Mugeuk. The first image that always came to mind was his smiling face. He was constantly thinking of ways to tease Jin Hagun with foolish jokes, yet he never missed a single detail. He was, after all, the type of person who could make a huge ship like this appear at such a critical moment.

He had no idea how much the Young Cult Leader cared for him?

"How could I not know, when such esteemed people have all come here like this?"

Just then, the water creatures poking their heads above the surface shrieked with a bizarre excitement upon seeing the ship. To be precise, their screams were directed at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader standing at the prow.

Having seen them up close, Jin Hagun could feel it. Their excitement and rage were born from fear. Even the water creatures, which were created through soul-strengthening arts, could sense the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's presence.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader slowly unfolded his arms and extended a hand forward. Something materialized within his grasp.

SWOOSH. What shot out was a fishing rod tinged with a red energy.

"Well now, shall I show off my skills for the first time in a while?"

SWHIIIIISH.

The fishing line of red energy shot forward.

The water creatures in the fishing line's path were caught one after another, flying into the air. As they soared like dolls, a red energy seemed to envelop their bodies.

POP! POROK! POROROK!

The water creatures made cute noises in mid-air as they turned into water droplets and vanished.

SWHIIIIISH.

Again, the red-tinged fishing line cut through the air.

This time, an even greater number of water creatures flew into the air and burst into droplets.

The water creatures that vanished after being caught by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's fishing did not merge back together as they had before.

To the onlookers, the scene was like child's play, but the water creatures on the receiving end screamed and hid beneath the water's surface.

"You rascals, where do you think you're going!"

This time, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader waved both his hands. A giant net appeared in his hands instead of a fishing rod. The net, shimmering with red energy, spread out toward the sea.

CHWARRRRRRRR.

A net full of water creatures was caught and lifted into the air. The net seemed to suck in the fleeing creatures, capturing them all.

"A full catch!"

POOF! POP! POOOOF! POPPOPOPOP!

Jin Hagun and the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade truly could not have imagined it. They never thought the terrifying water creatures would disappear just like this.

No, the sight was even beautiful, as the water droplets caught the light and burst into particles in every direction.

Once all the water creatures had vanished, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked down at Jin Hagun below the ship and asked cheerfully.

"How was it? Was I cool?"

In truth, Jin Hagun didn't know much about the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. However, he had heard enough about him through Geom Mugeuk to have some idea of what kind of person he was, so he smiled and replied.

"You were very cool."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader crossed his arms again, looking as cool as a ship's captain.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was the first to leap.

"Alright, everyone, let's get on board."

Following the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's lead, Jin Hagun and all the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade leaped onto the ship. The ship was so high that martial artists with weaker movement arts couldn't make it in one go and had to kick off the hull midway to ascend.

Jin Hagun flew up, carrying the hostage, Gwak Ju.

Gwak Ju was moved that Jin Hagun had taken care of him throughout the terrifying battle.

Although Jin Hagun flew up carrying him, he was the first to land on the ship.

When they landed on the deck, Gwak Ju belatedly expressed his gratitude. He hadn't had a chance to properly thank him during the preceding battle. He felt he had to do it now.

"Thank you so much."

Jin Hagun replied softly to his thanks.

"Save your thanks for your Noona. She's the one who sent us here."

A look of emotion crossed Gwak Ju's face. He knew without being told how much his Noona must have struggled for his sake.

"Please, you must rescue me. I have to see my Noona."

He knew he had been kidnapped because his Noona was a smithy artisan.

He didn't resent his Noona. Instead, he worried about how upset and guilty she must have felt because of him. That's why, when he saw her, he would tell her this first, even before thanking her for the rescue.

I'm okay. I'm perfectly fine.

Jin Hagun said to him, "We will be sure to take you home."

The martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade all landed around Jin Hagun.

Once all his subordinates were on the ship, Jin Hagun walked over to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"Cult Leader, thank you so much for saving us."

Jin Hagun politely offered a clasped hands greeting, and behind him, the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade bowed in unison. Gwak Ju and the great Master Hwa Song also bowed their heads.

They had truly met the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader at the gates of hell.

"What's that Young Cult Leader doing, letting his friend get into a corner and not even showing his face?"

As expected, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader started badmouthing Geom Mugeuk the moment they met.

"Well, he's always been a selfish and cold person. He makes people suffer and never bothers to show up."

"My friend is probably in a difficult situation himself."

When Jin Hagun defended his friend, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader firmly shook his head.

"No way! Whoever is facing the Young Cult Leader is the one in trouble, not him."

As he said this, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader habitually glanced behind him.

Geom Mugeuk usually appeared from behind whenever he was being badmouthed, but he wasn't there today. A flicker of disappointment crossed his eyes for a brief moment.

Leaving his disappointment behind, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader came up beside Jin Hagun and asked casually.

"What did the Young Cult Leader take from you? A treasured sword or some treasure, I mean. Come on, I'm like a big brother, so you can tell me everything."

Jin Hagun was flustered, not expecting to be asked such a thing in this urgent situation.

Cult Leader, can't you see the massive waves rushing toward us?

"No, nothing."

"Right, I was too embarrassed to admit it at first, too. Eventually, you'll end up sharing everything."

Jin Hagun realized the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was a much more free-spirited person than he had heard. Was it because he was this kind of person that he became friends with Geom Mugeuk? Or did he become like this because he was friends with Geom Mugeuk?

After exchanging greetings with Jin Hagun, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze turned to his disciple.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme bowed her head, looking ashamed.

"I'm sorry. I should have finished it with my own hands."

"No. You fought well enough."

It seemed the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had watched her entire fight.

He looked at the approaching large wave and extended a hand into the air.

"……"

A blue energy bloomed in the air, as if caught by his fingertips.

"The Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art deployed here is too strong. This is the first time I've seen such a powerful soul strengthening art. It must have been prepared for a very long time."

Jin Hagun nodded and said softly, "You've seen it clearly. This plot was prepared decades ago."

The person most heartbroken by those words was the great Master Hwa Song. He had spent so many years with Jin Hyo as a colleague, like a friend. He had been deceived for all that long time.

Meanwhile, the wave drew near.

Standing atop the wave, Jin Hyo was staring at the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme.

The wave approached more slowly than its natural speed. He must have been observing the newly arrived Heavenly Wind Cult Leader while riding it.

The surging wave stopped. It froze high in the air as if in a painting, and Jin Hyo raised the wave even higher to meet the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's eye level.

He recognized his opponent as the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"The crazy bitch even called her Master."

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme felt sorry to her Master, feeling as if she had caused him to be insulted.

"I'm sorry."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader didn't mind at all.

"Your opponent having a rough mouth is just proof that you fought well."

While comforting his disciple, he threw a sharp remark at Jin Hyo.

"I'm the only one who can insult my disciple. Got it, you cowardly old man!"

Jin Hyo's old eyes immediately turned fierce. He had heard the word 'cowardly' enough today, so the words that shot out were not kind.

"I've heard the rumors about you. They say you abandoned the Heavenly Wind Cult and latched onto the Demonic Cult?"

Of course, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was not one to lose a war of words.

"To be precise, I latched onto the Young Cult Leader."

Just when it seemed he was meekly admitting it, he continued.

"The very same Young Cult Leader who's been neatly snapping your necks one by one. Now that I think about it, it seems you're the one who latched onto the wrong side, don't you think?"

GRRRRUMBLE!

As if reflecting Jin Hyo's mood, the surrounding waves rose higher, and dark storm clouds rolled in.

"Yes, I knew a day like this would come eventually."

Killing intent flowed from Jin Hyo's body. He revealed a presence far more powerful than when he fought the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme. The aura he exuded was different, as if he hadn't been hiding just a fraction of his skill, but a full thirty percent.

Staring at him quietly, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader brought up something unexpected.

"I remember hearing a rumor when I was young. That a person with a natural genius for soul-strengthening arts had appeared in the Central Plains."

The soul-strengthening art Jin Hyo was displaying now was at a level of mastery. More than other martial arts, soul-strengthening arts depended on talent. Without being born with it, one could never reach such a state.

No matter how much help he received from the Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art, it was no easy feat to defeat his disciple, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, with soul-strengthening arts. He must be the one who was called a genius.

"I heard news of you disappeared at some point, but it seems that talent didn't extend to your judgment."

Jin Hyo scoffed. He didn't deny that he was that person.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader confirmed his hunch was correct. He remembered him because of his own personality. He too had grown up hearing he had a natural genius, so when he heard there was someone like that in the Central Plains, he had been jealous and envious. He remembered cursing him for a long time.

"This world of ghost-play is quite small, isn't it."

The two men's gazes intertwined in the air, separated by the churning sea.

Then, Jin Hyo also asked the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader a question.

"And you, why were you recruited by the Young Cult Leader?"

This was what he was most curious about regarding the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. To give up the position of Cult Leader and follow the Young Cult Leader? It was something he simply couldn't understand.

"I wasn't recruited."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sighed and added, "I was kidnapped. By the Young Cult Leader."

Jin Hyo didn't understand what he meant, but Jin Hagun, who was listening, smiled faintly.

He understood why he described it as being kidnapped. It felt like he had come to his senses only to find Geom Mugeuk standing before him, saying something.

You've been kidnapped by me.

Yes, I can completely relate.

Of course, Jin Hyo couldn't relate to those words or that feeling.

"How dare you walk into my world on your own two feet. It seems you enjoy being kidnapped."

Jin Hyo began to push his inner arts to their limit. A blue energy erupted from his body.

SHWAAAAAAAAA.

The clothes of those on the ship fluttered in the fierce wind. The wind began to blow stronger and stronger.

Soon, sea spray began to rise from the ocean, and whirlpools started to form.

KWAAAAAAAAAA!

It wasn't just one whirlpool. All around their ship, whirlpools began to appear. They grew one by one until their number exceeded a dozen. It was a terrifying sight just to behold.

The whirlpools originating from under the water gradually grew larger, and their speed increased.

He thought they were meant to smash the ship, but that wasn't it.

Something rose from the whirlpools.

PWAAANG! PWAAANG! PWANG!

What shot out from them were giant tentacles. He had used tentacles that emerged from his back when fighting the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme before, but this time, they were tentacles that looked like the giant legs of an octopus from the depths of the sea.

KWAAAAAAAAAA!

From all directions, tentacles flew toward the martial artists. Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade drew their swords in unison and leaped into action.

KWAANG!

A giant tentacle struck the ship, causing it to lurch.

The martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade scattered in all directions, unleashing their sword qi.

The sword qi wounded the tentacles.

PWAAAAK!

Blue blood flowed from the tentacles. When the blood fell onto the deck, blue smoke rose, melting the wood.

CHIIIIIIK!

"It's poisonous smoke!"

The martial artists retreated, covering their mouths and noses.

Jin Hagun unleashed a palm technique to blow the smoke away, shouting, "Don't cut them recklessly!"

Now that the tentacles couldn't be cut recklessly, the situation for the martial artists of the Demon Slaying Brigade became even more difficult.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader remained standing at the prow, his arms still crossed.

One of the tentacles flew toward the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, standing beside him, gathered her remaining inner arts and extended a hand toward the tentacle.

HWARURURUK!

The incoming tentacle burst into flames.

The tentacle shrieked and retreated into the water. After extinguishing the fire, the tentacle re-emerged but did not attack the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader again.

The deck was in utter chaos. A martial artist was ensnared by a tentacle and lifted into the air.

Jin Hagun leaped and swung his sword.

SHWIIIIK.

The tentacle, cut by his sword qi, released the martial artist. Jin Hagun snatched him from amidst the scattering blood and saved him.

Watching the scene with a calm gaze, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, "What should be done in a situation like this?"

"We must find the method to break it."

"Then find it."

The Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme first looked at Jin Hyo. He was still standing on the wave with his eyes closed, controlling the tentacles. Three or four tentacles were protecting him.

Killing him would naturally make this space disappear, but she doubted her Master was asking for such a fundamental solution right now.

"The solution is in the water."

Since the tentacles came from the water, the solution must be in there as well.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stared at her quietly and said, "Shall I go?"

"Ah, no. This disciple will go."

Without hesitation, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme dove straight into the water.

Seeing this, Jin Hagun followed her and dove into the water. He knew that the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's inner arts were nearly depleted.

"I'll help."

As Jin Hagun went in, a few martial artists from the Demon Slaying Brigade saw him and followed.

"They're all so young!"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze deepened as he watched the water they had entered.

Then, Jin Hyo opened his closed eyes.

As he looked at him, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader patted the ship and said, "I lost a lot of weight recently. But after drinking a bit with that disciple from the Outer Regions, I got a beer belly right away."

Talking about a beer belly in this situation? Jin Hyo wore an expression that said, Is this guy crazy?

Of course, even amidst this, the gazes of both men were frighteningly cold. Their eyes showed they would not allow a single moment of weakness.

"You asked why I was recruited by the Young Cult Leader, right? I was no different from you. I didn't care if others died, as long as I could satisfy my own desires. But this detestable Young Cult Leader, he acts like he's taking care of others first. His dark intentions haven't been exposed yet, but they will be someday. Right?"

As the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed loudly, Jin Hyo spat out disdainfully.

"What bullshit."

At that, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze deepened.

"That's right, that's why. You were called a genius, and I was called a genius as we grew up. But this is the result. What's the point of being a genius in martial arts? When small-minded people like us, with tempers as small as a soy sauce dish, get together, it only leads to this kind of bullshit. That's why. That's the reason I sided with the Young Cult Leader."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader finally answered the question he had first posed.

"To try living a little differently."