At the words that I was the Heavenly Demon’s son, not only Bi Sain but Seo Jeongtae and the seven members of the Thirteen Wolves of the Evil Dao were shocked.
“Are you truly Geom Mugeuk?”
Bi Sain’s face twisted even further, and his voice sank lower.
“I am.”
Bi Sain asked Extreme Evil Soma for confirmation.
“I will ask the Demon Venerable. Is it true?”
“What man in this world would dare impersonate the Cult Leader’s bloodline in front of me?”
That settled it. Unless Extreme Evil Soma had gone mad, he would never call a fake the real thing.
“Why are you here?”
The Evil Dao Alliance had learned that Extreme Evil Soma had left the cult, but they had failed to discover that I was accompanying him.
“Probably for the same reason you are here. To resolve this matter without bloodshed. Is that not why you came out as well?”
Instead of answering, Bi Sain asked another question.
“How did you know it was me?”
Because it had happened in the past.
But I could not answer that way.
“It is said that two of the Thirteen Wolves of the Evil Dao are skilled enough to take on one Demon Venerable. And yet eight of the Thirteen Wolves came to deal with a single Demon Venerable? No matter how important this matter is, don’t you think even by your own standards you brought too many?”
“That alone does not seem like a basis for finding me.”
“Of course not. That is why I observed you. Important people are usually placed in the center, so I examined the person in the middle. And there were clearly differences.”
“What differences?”
“Even though your clothes were the same, you failed to pay attention to your shoes. Your shoes are of exceptionally fine quality, difficult to obtain in the Central Plains. The sword at your waist was no ordinary sword either. Not only that, when you released your aura earlier, the way you blended with the others was different. Since you have likely had few occasions to release your aura together, it was only natural that you stood out.”
“You truly sensed that difference?”
I nodded, and Bi Sain’s expression hardened. Merely having one’s aura read did not necessarily prove an obvious gap in skill, but it was not a situation that would put him in a good mood.
Pretending not to notice, I continued speaking calmly.
“There is another reason. I noticed the merchant guild master sending a sound transmission. Sending a sound transmission at such an important moment means he was asking someone for a decision. A person who is guarded by seven of the Thirteen Wolves of the Evil Dao, wears precious shoes and carries a valuable sword, and can give orders to this merchant guild master. With that much, should I not have guessed it was you?”
Still wearing a stiff expression, Bi Sain slowly nodded.
At that moment, Extreme Evil Soma and Ian sent almost the same sound transmission at the same time.
—The Second Young Master is a genius.
—Young Master, you’re a genius.
I sent a sound transmission to Ian.
—You just sent the same transmission as Extreme Evil Soma.
—That means both good and evil have acknowledged you, Young Master.
—Which side are you on?
—Young Master!
If it had been just the two of us, I would have burst out laughing and continued joking, but I kept my expression under control and stood calmly.
If the two of them had been pleasantly surprised, Bi Sain’s mood had sunk in the opposite direction.
Bi Sain, now is not the time for you to be offended. You have just met the only chance to change your fate.
“I envy you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Have you not already been confirmed as successor? I am still struggling.”
Bi Sain’s mouth twisted. Even when he wore only the faintest bitter smile, his entire mouth distorted, creating an intensely striking expression.
I knew why he made such a face in a situation where he should have been proud.
Though he had already been chosen as successor, fierce schemes and secret struggles still continued within the Evil Dao Alliance.
He had already suffered three ambushes, and one of them had been truly dangerous. So many people coveted the position of successor that they had yet to discover who had been behind them.
That was also why he was currently traveling with as many as seven of the Thirteen Wolves of the Evil Dao.
But in my life before regression, he was eventually assassinated.
Would his fate change because he had met me?
That was something even I could not know. Whether what was meant to happen would still happen, or whether he would live a new fate.
At that moment, one of the Thirteen Wolves guarding Bi Sain removed his bamboo hat and stepped forward. He was an aged master with white hair.
“This old man is the one who leads the Thirteen Wolves of the Evil Dao.”
First Wolf, Baek Cheolgi.
He was the leader of the Thirteen Wolves of the Evil Dao and the confidant of the Evil Dao Alliance Leader.
When Bi Sain’s face was injured in childhood, Baek Cheolgi had spent his entire life feeling guilty for failing to prevent it. And when Bi Sain was assassinated by the hidden faction, Baek Cheolgi died alongside him while trying to protect him.
Was that why? I felt goodwill toward him. In him, who had died trying to protect his leader, I saw Ian overlap.
“I had heard that the Divine Cult’s Second Young Master had recently begun to distinguish himself, but indeed, your reputation is well deserved.”
“I merely guessed through observation.”
“For a martial artist, a discerning eye is a talent more important than any other.”
“Thank you for looking kindly upon me.”
After exchanging such courteous words, First Wolf brought up the main issue.
“The reason the Young Alliance Leader personally came today was not merely to resolve the matter of the merchant guild.”
“Then what was it for?”
“Someone wishes for Extreme Evil Soma to cause another bloodbath.”
When he was mentioned, Extreme Evil Soma stepped forward and asked.
“Who are they?”
First Wolf shook his head.
“We do not know either.”
At that, Extreme Evil Soma looked at me as though seeking an answer. I met his expectations.
“They must be people aiming for the position of successor to the Evil Dao Alliance.”
“What connection do they have to me?”
“Suppose Lord Soma had slaughtered the Baekgye Merchant Guild today. Another uproar would have broken out, would it not? The people behind this matter are probably trying to use the conflict and dispute between our cult and the Evil Dao Alliance to plot something.”
When I guessed it at once, not only First Wolf, who had been speaking with me, but even Bi Sain was surprised. It was because I had grasped in an instant what they already knew.
Bi Sain joined the conversation again.
“How did you know that?”
“As you said, Young Master Bi personally stepped forward today. If it were not something directly tied to your own affairs, you would have sent someone else rather than come yourself.”
“Since you are this intelligent, I suppose there is no need to explain why you must return. Please go back to your cult now. That would be best for both of us.”
“We also have a demand for Young Master Bi.”
“What demand?”
“Withdraw the Baekgye Merchant Guild from Guizhou immediately. And compensate Lord Soma for all the losses he has suffered over the past two years.”
Everyone was shocked by the unexpected words. Most likely, even Extreme Evil Soma himself was surprised by my proposal.
The first to flare up was Seo Jeongtae, the master of the Baekgye Merchant Guild.
“What are you saying right now? Withdraw immediately? And compensation on top of that? Does that make any sense?”
I looked coldly at Seo Jeongtae.
“It seems there is no hierarchy here. A subordinate dares to interrupt when the Young Alliance Leader is speaking.”
I felt a little sorry saying that. Our cult was a mess too, after all.
In place of the indignant Seo Jeongtae, Bi Sain spoke coldly.
“We even gave you a warning, so you ought to be grateful and extend the period. What nonsense is this?”
“Young Master Bi is the one speaking nonsense.”
“I am?”
“How long has it been since you were made the official successor?”
“Two years.”
“The people who orchestrated this matter must have been working to become successor since the time Young Master Bi was chosen, or even before that. Is that not so?”
“Let us say that is true.”
“Then do you have proof that they were not involved in the bloodbath Lord Soma caused two years ago?”
“What?”
Bi Sain looked bewildered. He had likely never considered that part.
“You saw how Lord Soma handled matters today. Even in a situation where he was angered, he struggled to control himself. Then why was it different two years ago?”
I looked at Extreme Evil Soma. Extreme Evil Soma spoke with an expression of disbelief.
“Surely not. Are you saying there was some sort of hidden force behind that incident as well? They used me? This Extreme Evil Soma? There was a reason those bastards back then charged at me as if they were desperate to die?”
With each word he spoke, a cold demonic energy thickened.
Soon, Extreme Evil Soma began to giggle like a madman. It was the laughter he gave when he was truly furious.
“Second Young Master, I once joked that I should sweep them all away and be locked up for ten years, but at this rate I may have to be locked up for twenty.”
Sensing that Extreme Evil Soma’s reaction was genuine, Bi Sain could not speak for a while. He too must have begun to suspect that the bloodbath two years ago might have been part of their scheme.
“Even so, I have no intention of withdrawing the Baekgye Merchant Guild.”
“Very well. Then let us add one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Lord Soma and I will help uncover the mastermind behind this matter.”
It was a succession of surprises. Bi Sain had probably never been this shocked so many times in a single day.
“You told us to return, but we will not go back. Lord Soma is not the sort of person who returns just because you tell him to, is he?”
Extreme Evil Soma backed me up with a remark.
“If someone tells me to leave, I am precisely the sort who insists on staying.”
I smiled faintly and continued.
“As you can see, he is that kind of person. So we will help. If they are dragging Lord Soma into this, we cannot simply endure it either.”
“Are you confident you can uncover the mastermind?”
“It may be impossible to completely expose people who have been operating in secret for years, but I will find you a definite clue that can lead to them. If I provide that clue, will you accept the demands I made earlier?”
The reason I made such an offer was simple.
I already knew who was behind it.
Bi Sain would accept in the end.
He must have seen something extraordinary in what I had shown today, and more than anything, profits in Guizhou or punishing Extreme Evil Soma were nothing compared to finding and eliminating the people trying to kill him.
Bi Sain and First Wolf, then Bi Sain and Seo Jeongtae, exchanged sound transmissions.
I gave them time.
At that moment, Extreme Evil Soma sent me a sound transmission.
—Will they accept? The amount they stand to lose will be enormous.
—They will definitely accept. Shall we make a wager? Loser buys a meal! What do you say?
—You are fixated on meals and my mask again. I refuse.
I laughed through the sound transmission, but he did not.
At last, Bi Sain finished the discussion he had conducted through sound transmission.
“Very well. I accept. However, once you give us the clue, you will withdraw.”
“Good. Let us do that.”
I drew the Black Demon Sword and held it out to him. Bi Sain drew his sword and lightly struck it against mine.
Clang.
That clear sound of sword against sword was the seal upon our promise.
Through the crossed blades, we looked at one another.
My gaze as I looked at his crushed and distorted face was utterly calm.
I had no particular fondness for him, but I did harbor ill will toward the next successor. Because an absolute piece of trash would take his place.
Of course, if this life flowed the same way as the past, it would mean nothing. That bastard, too, would end up dying at Hwa Mugi’s hands.
But if we all survived?
Then it would have meaning.
You might as well survive.
Because that wounded face of yours will be far more useful to the murim than the handsome face of that smarmy piece of trash.
“Then we shall meet again.”
“Let us.”
And so we left the Baekgye Merchant Guild without shedding a single drop of blood.
In the carriage on the way back, Extreme Evil Soma asked me.
“Was it dull?”
“Meeting the successor of the Evil Dao Alliance while he was surrounded by seven of the Thirteen Wolves of the Evil Dao? Discussing the mastermind trying to kill him? Which part of that was dull, exactly?”
Extreme Evil Soma laughed. It was his habitual laugh, but I felt it had changed somewhat.
“How did you know he would accept?”
“His life and the position of Evil Dao Alliance Leader are at stake. I thought he would accept any condition.”
“Are you confident you can catch them?”
“That is a question I should be asking you, Lord Soma. Are you confident? They will be attacking you, not me.”
Extreme Evil Soma laughed even louder.
“My dull world is becoming interesting.”
“It was never dull from the beginning. The murim is this thrilling, but perhaps you and I have stayed too much within our cult.”
“Then where do we find them?”
“There will be no need for us to find them. They will come to us. We simply have to do what we must.”
Extreme Evil Soma looked at me with sincere admiration. We were going to be attacked anyway, and if we could obtain a clue in the process, the troublesome issue in Guizhou would be resolved all at once. And we would even recover all past losses in the bargain.
To his admiration, I added one more stirring sentiment.
“I have no interest in whether the successor of the Evil Dao Alliance lives or dies. The only thing I am interested in is your world, Lord Soma. In seeing that world.”
This journey was about seeing Extreme Evil Soma’s world, and by the time that sightseeing came to an end, we would know much more about each other.
After quietly gazing at me, Extreme Evil Soma spoke with an intriguing light in his eyes.
“This time, I suppose I must take you to confirm why the Ugly Heart is ugly.”
And so the carriage once again began racing toward some part of his world.