Chapter 766: You're Not the Young Cult Leader

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon read a book by his inn room window as moonlight streamed inside. The light, usually cold as a blade, was incredibly soft and gentle as it illuminated the book.

The Flower Sword Supreme sat at a table drinking tea, lost in thought. "Aren't you worried?" she asked.

Seven days had passed since Geom Mugeuk left. While no news was usually good news for someone like him, she had started to worry after a week of silence.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned a page, his expression unconcerned. "About who?" he asked back.

His question seemed to really mean, Is Geom Mugeuk someone I should be worried about?

"That's exactly why I'm worried," the Flower Sword Supreme added. "He's not the type to be this late."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon lifted his head and looked out the window. The night was deep, and the street was empty. In truth, though he didn't show it, he was also worried.

He wouldn't have been worried if Geom Mugeuk had gone to kill someone, but he had stayed behind to find the tombs of past Evil Alliance Chairmen. The brilliant Young Cult Leader wouldn't search meaninglessly for days. He should have either found what he wanted in a few days or given up and returned by now.

He closed his book. "Will worrying make someone who isn't coming, come? Let's get some fresh air."

The Flower Sword Supreme put down her teacup and stood up. "Sure, I was feeling stuffy anyway."

The two of them left the room.

Sensing their movement, Ji Han came out of the room next door. "Is there anything you need?" he asked.

Since their first day at the inn, he had taken care of the Demon Supremes and the Sword King. He looked after their meals and would quickly chase away any drunkard who so much as shouted.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon walked past him without a word, but suddenly, as if remembering something, he glanced back and said to Ji Han, "You don't have to be this attentive."

"Yes, sir!"

When they had left the inn, the Flower Sword Supreme remarked casually, "You've really changed a lot."

"……" The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared at her, asking what she meant with his gaze.

"You've learned to be considerate of those under you."

"Considerate? I just find it bothersome."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon walked on nonchalantly, but his change was clear even in the way he walked. In the past, his steps had been as quick as his impatient temper, but now, he matched his pace with hers.

"besides, am I the only one who's changed?" he asked.

The Flower Sword Supreme had nothing to say to that. After all, it wasn't just her state of mind that had changed, but even her appearance. "The Young Cult Leader must've used sorcery," she chuckled. "He turned our twilight into a sunrise."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon thought the Flower Sword Supreme's metaphor was perfect. This trip out of the Cult had made him want to start everything over again.

That's right, one doesn't stop because they get old, they get old because they stopped.

They walked and talked.

Soon, they ran into the Sword King sitting alone on a rock, drinking. He stood up and greeted them, and the two offered a light greeting in return.

They had been awkward with each other for the seven days since coming down from Mount Tianmu. In the underground tomb, they had a common enemy. Now that Geom Mugeuk was gone, though, it was uncomfortable to eat or drink together, so they had lived almost like strangers.

Hence, the Sword King thought they would just pass by awkwardly again today.

However, for some reason, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon decided to join him, asking, "Is there any liquor left?"

The Sword King first took a drink himself before offering the bottle to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, to show that the liquor wasn't poisoned.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took the bottle and gulped down the liquor. "I don't doubt you, you know. Because you're someone that kid trusts."

He did not hesitate to show his trust in Geom Mugeuk.

The Sword King nodded, feeling the same. If not for Geom Mugeuk, he would never have associated with the two Demon Supremes, even if they had stood up for him. There would have been no reason for them to be together like this.

"May I sit for a moment?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked.

The Sword King readily answered, "Of course."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme sat side by side on the rock. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took another sip of liquor and returned the bottle.

In truth, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had stopped for the Flower Sword Supreme. He knew she had gained great enlightenment from her confrontation with Ak Gunhak and wanted to talk to him more, but was acting distant because she was needlessly conscious of him.

The Flower Sword Supreme said to the Sword King, "I saw you training every night."

The Sword King devoted himself to training every night. His appearance and aura suggested he would never train, but he swung his sword until dawn.

"It's because of you, Sword Supreme," the Sword King replied.

"Because of me?"

"Yes."

The Sword King acknowledged and respected the Flower Sword Supreme's swordsmanship.

If things continue like this, I'll eventually be overtaken.

Not counting Geom Mugeuk, she was the only person he had ever met who gave him this feeling.

Instead of saying he was feeling worried about being overtaken, though, he phrased it differently, saying, "Because I think I'll lose if we fight again."

The Flower Sword Supreme chuckled. She knew he had gone easy on her in their previous fight. "I wanted to achieve the result you mentioned, but it'll be difficult if you train like this every day, won't it?"

"Didn't you only see me because you too went out to train?"

The two swordmasters' gazes toward each other were gentle, showing their mutual respect for each other.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon listened to their conversation in silence. In the past, he would have been displeased, obsessive and jealous to see the Flower Sword Supreme talking with another man, especially an absolute master like the Sword King. However, now he understood that to win a person's heart, he had to become someone she could comfortably spend time with, rather than trying to forcefully possess her.

My sincerity will get through, and if it doesn't, then she was never meant to be mine in the first place.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked up at the moon. A wolf howled and an owl hooted in the distance. The conversation between the two was pleasant to hear as they naturally reviewed their past fight and discussed swordsmanship.

A long time later, a familiar voice drifted from the far end of the road.

"Hey, isn't the mood a little too good without me? You should've been fighting and causing a ruckus. That way, you would've been desperately waiting for my return!"

A smile appeared on all three of their faces at the same time.

The Flower Sword Supreme said to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, "You were right. There was nothing to be worried about."

Contrary to her expectations, though, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon flinched and aimed his blade at Geom Mugeuk. "Wait!" he shouted in warning.

Geom Mugeuk stopped in his tracks. "What's wrong? Did someone else win you over while I was gone?"

"Who are you?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked coldly, noticing a change in Geom Mugeuk. It was probably because he had seen Geom Mugeuk more often than the Sword King and the Flower Sword Supreme had.

Finally, the Sword King and the Flower Sword Supreme also sensed that something about Geom Mugeuk was different.

"Elder, it's me!" Geom Mugeuk exclaimed, fully revealing himself under the moonlight.

"No, you're not the Young Cult Leader," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon insisted. The man in front of him clearly looked like Geom Mugeuk, but there was a strange sense of disharmony. He felt different from the person they usually saw.

"It's me, it's me! The one who ditches the masked man, the drunkard, and the poisoner to run straight to you, Elder, as soon as I return from a trip. The one and only duel friend of the Sword Supreme, and the one who truly admires our Ak-hyung's bare feet!"

The gazes of the three focused on Geom Mugeuk. His way of speaking was the same, but he had clearly changed.

Did he grow taller? Have his shoulders gotten broader?

The three most noticeable changes were Geom Mugeuk's smooth skin, his gaze, and the fragrance radiating from his body. His skin looked as clear and smooth as jade. His gaze had always been clear and deep, but now his eyes looked as if they could peer into the deepest abyss. The incredibly pleasant scent emanating from his body made one want to stay by his side forever.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon carefully approached Geom Mugeuk and observed him. Soon, his eyes widened in disbelief. "You… did you undergo Body Reformation?" he stammered, astonished.

The Sword King and the Flower Sword Supreme's jaws dropped at the unexpected conclusion.

Geom Mugeuk didn't hide his miraculous encounter. No, he couldn't hide it. "As expected! Our Elder is the first to recognize it," he said happily, the suddenly feigned being in pain. "I thought my bones were grinding away and my flesh was tearing apart. I really thought I was going to die from the pain!"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked back at the Flower Sword Supreme and the Sword King.

The Flower Sword Supreme sent him a telepathic message. [We might be witnessing the most important moment in the history of the murim.]

He completely agreed with her.

The Sword King also couldn't hide his surprise. He had seen for himself that Geom Mugeuk was a person destined to run into all sorts of secret techniques, but still, Body Reformation? It was such an incredible miraculous encounter that he was stunned speechless.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon voiced the thought in all three of their minds, "I don't know what task the murim intends to entrust you with for this to happen."

Geom Mugeuk smiled. I guess I am the only one who knows the will of the heavens.

He spoke of the life he would lead after fulfilling that will. "Has there ever been a Young Cult Leader in the history of the murim whose life goal was to just play around and do nothing? It's about time one appeared, don't you think?"

"How grandly are you planning to play?"

"You'll be playing with me later. You'll see then."

The Flower Sword Supreme interjected, "Young Cult Leader, will you let me join in then?"

"Of course."

"You promised. You can't turn your back on me just because I'm old."

"That's what I should be saying to you. You can't say you're too busy with swordsmanship training to play! And Sword Supreme, even when you hang out with us, you look like our same-age friend." Those pleasant words then shifted from her to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. "Look at how our Elder's wrinkles have disappeared. From now on, I'll have to call you Hyung. Blade Demon-hyung!"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head with an expression that said 'you're talking nonsense.' He asked, "Did you finish your personal business?"

"Yes, it's been taken care of."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded. In truth, Geom Mugeuk's radiant skin spoke of the result without him needing to ask.

"Let's return to the Cult early tomorrow," Geom Mugeuk added.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme nodded. The journey that had begun with the three of them riding out in a carriage was finally ending.

Geom Mugeuk scurried over to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and stuck his face out. "Come on, this isn't something you can see every day. Touch my cheek! It's soft baby skin. I'm telling you, give it a pinch."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood up, looking disgusted. "I'm still in the middle of my walk."

"Me too." The Flower Sword Supreme stood up to follow.

"Hey, where are you going! I'm telling you, it's really smooth! This is your only chance to pinch the Young Cult Leader's cheek! No, even if you're leaving, you should at least congratulate me. Say 'Congratulations. You suffered a lot! You'll become a legend of murim!' No, don't go!"

The two Demon Supremes pretended not to hear and quickened their pace.

Once they were far from Geom Mugeuk, the Flower Sword Supreme finally showed her surprise and admiration. "I thought there would be no more surprises on this trip. Body Reformation? I had no idea that was possible."

It was an absolute miraculous encounter known to have been experienced by only a few people in the long history of murim. Even seeing it with her own eyes, it was unbelievable. If it had been anyone other than Geom Mugeuk, she would have thought it was some kind of trick.

"Either he's a madman, or the heavens are mad."

"They're both mad."

Considering Geom Mugeuk's actions so far, there was no other way to describe it.

Though they said that, however, the two Demon Supremes were overjoyed. Geom Mugeuk was someone they had to protect, even at the cost of their own lives. For such a person to become stronger was what they wished for more than anyone.

"Those bastards behind the scenes picked the wrong opponent."

Geom Mugeuk had achieved complete mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art at a young age, and now he had even undergone Body Reformation. Who could possibly be a match for him?

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon offered a different perspective. "The reason the heavens are bestowing this fate upon him, huh?"

He couldn't imagine Geom Mugeuk losing to anyone.

Could there be another reason for granting such a miraculous encounter? If so, then…

"…Maybe its because the Cult Leader will really push for the unification of the murim."

The Cult Leader was the only person that Geom Mugeuk could not defeat.

Was this miraculous encounter was granted to Geom Mugeuk because he is fated to stop the Cult Leader's ambition?

The Flower Sword Supreme also knew well that the Cult Leader wouldn't give up on his dream easily. "If that's the case, then the Young Cult Leader is in for a very tough battle." She sighed worriedly, "Whose side should we be on then?"

Geom Mugeuk watched the two Demon Supremes disappear into the distance. Unlike what they worried about, he wasn't thinking about his father at all.

Now that the Twelve Zodiac Kings were all dead, there was only one nemesis left in his mind.

"The real enemy will appear now," he said.

The Sword King, who didn't know of Hwa Mugi's existence, assumed that Geom Mugeuk was referring to the Darkness Palace Lord. He wondered if his former superior could truly face this young man after losing all of his subordinates.

Geom Mugeuk called out, "Ak-hyung."

"……" The Sword King looked at him.

"Even if you leave eventually, please stay and have your fill of fun in our Cult before you go."

"Why do you think I'm going to leave?"

"Because everyone who asks that question ends up leaving. Please don't give me false hope. It's painful for me."

Geom Mugeuk wanted to keep the Sword King by his side somehow, but it was more important for his friend to live the life he wanted.

"I won't stop you from leaving. Instead, leave later, much later. Stay and have a great time with me. When you think, 'Ah, it's not fun being with this guy anymore. I'm sick and tired of these Demonic Cult bastards,' then you can leave."

Instead of answering, the Sword King looked up at the moon.

If I were to leave when it's no longer fun being with you, I'd never be able to leave.

In truth, he was of two minds. He wanted to go far away and live quietly among people who didn't know him, but he also wanted to stay by Geom Mugeuk's side and watch what kind of life this man, granted such an incredible destiny, would lead.

Geom Mugeuk grinned mischievously. "Whether you're leaving or just visiting, though, there's someone you absolutely have to meet first!"

Despite knowing full well who Geom Mugeuk was talking about, the Sword King feigned ignorance. "Fine. Let's go see just how pretty that woman you mentioned is."