The next dawn, a carriage secretly departed from the Cheonma Divine Cult.
It was a carriage carrying Geom Mugeuk, Geukak Soma, and the Poison King.
And two figures were watching that sight from afar. They were none other than the Heavenly Demon Geom Woo-jin and the Chief Strategist Sama Myeong.
“I must step down from my position as Chief Strategist now.”
When Geom Woo-jin looked at him with a questioning expression, Sama Myeong wore a self-deprecating smile.
“I never imagined that the Second Young Master would make the Poison King howl at the Great Martial Training Ground. I knew the Second Young Master was extraordinary, but I never thought he could break even the Poison King.”
Geom Woo-jin nodded.
“The same goes for me.”
“And there was one more shock. I never dreamed that the Cult Leader would permit this matter.”
“What can be done? I made a promise.”
Sama Myeong knew that Geom Woo-jin was a man who did not break promises.
That was why he should have cut it off cleanly from the start, yet he had left an opening called the Poison King.
‘Could it be that the Cult Leader had anticipated it would turn out like this?’
Sama Myeong felt that might be the case. When it came to Geom Mugeuk, he could not fathom Geom Woo-jin’s heart at all.
“While this matter is underway, fully disclose all information to the Second Young Master.”
“Yes, the Tongcheongak will certainly provide support.”
“Prepare for any unforeseen circumstances as well.”
Among unforeseen circumstances, the most serious were two. That the mission succeeded but it was revealed that the Cheonma Divine Cult had been the one to handle Yaul-han, or that Geom Mugeuk and the two Demonic Venerables failed to kill him and fell into danger.
In both cases, the repercussions would be severe. The Four Paths Alliance wouldn’t be able to wage war against the Cheonma Divine Cult, but they would demand appropriate compensation, and if that were not accepted, it could result in them joining hands with the Murim Alliance. It would also be a serious problem if Geom Mugeuk or the Demonic Venerables died or suffered grave injuries.
How could Geom Woo-jin be unaware of such facts? Yet he had given his permission nonetheless.
‘Could it be that he wishes for the political situation of the murim to grow unstable through this matter?’
Sama Myeong knew that Geom Woo-jin would one day draw his sword against the murim. The thought suddenly occurred to him that perhaps he was trying to seize upon this matter as the beginning.
In any case, one thing was certain. It was not just the Demonic Venerables who had changed. The Heavenly Demon, too—though he could not say exactly how—had definitely changed. That was evident from the mere fact that they were standing here together watching that carriage, which under normal circumstances would never have departed.
‘Second Young Master, make sure you succeed and return.’
And that wind of change was blowing not only within the Cheonma Divine Cult but also toward the murim.
* * *
The one driving the carriage was Seo Dae-ryong.
When he had gone to Seo Dae-ryong last night and told him they would be departing together the next day, Seo Dae-ryong had immediately started making a fuss.
“I don’t want to! How dangerous a place are you planning to take me to this time?”
“It’s nothing major. I just need you to drive the carriage. Run some errands later, too.”
“That’s exactly why it’s suspicious! I can smell danger all over this.”
“The smell of adventure, perhaps. The smell of growth, and memories as well.”
“All of that combined is what makes it the smell of danger. I’m sorry, but I’m not going! I told you that with the Little Dragon Tournament championship, my lifetime of adventures is over. I said I’d spend the rest of my life boasting about just that, didn’t I?”
“It has to be you.”
“There are so many demonic practitioners in our main cult.”
“Because this matter concerns the fate of myself, our main cult, and the murim. I need someone trustworthy who will keep the secret until death. At least there won’t be any wicked women trying to seduce you.”
“You always strike where it hurts.”
The decisive words that moved him were these:
“We’re going to handle that incident.”
At that, the playfulness vanished completely from Seo Dae-ryong’s expression.
“Then I have to go.”
And so, with a heart determined to inflict punishment upon the mastermind behind this incident, Seo Dae-ryong came to the carriage that morning.
“But why take a carriage? Couldn’t the two of you just go by qinggong?”
“Because it’s not just the two of us.”
“Huh?”
Seo Dae-ryong glanced inside the carriage and was startled.
He pulled me away from the carriage and spoke in a whisper.
“Why are those two inside the carriage?”
“Well, because they’re coming along to help me.”
“You didn’t tell me the carriage I had to drive was carrying Lord Geukak Soma and the Poison King! Tell me everything. Who exactly is the enemy?”
“Yaul-han.”
Seo Dae-ryong blinked for a moment and asked.
“The Yaul-han I know is only one person… It can’t be, right? Ah, what kind of joke is this, going so far? Please tell me it isn’t.”
The moment he turned to flee, I spoke.
“You tell that child yourself. Tell him we went and avenged his family.”
Seo Dae-ryong turned back. With slumped shoulders, he walked toward the driver’s seat and said:
“If you put it that way, how can I not go!”
I knew that Seo Dae-ryong had been putting on unnecessary airs. He must have been afraid, but he was not the kind of man to back out of such matters. He would want to avenge the child, and above all, it was a journey with me. Since his last departure with me, he had become the disciple of Hyeolcheon Doma and the champion of the Little Dragon Tournament.
Seo Dae-ryong was needed for this matter. Even just this carriage was reason enough. If I had been driving, the inside of the carriage carrying Geukak Soma and the Poison King would have been filled with a suffocating silence.
Since the time they first boarded the carriage and greeted each other, Geukak Soma and the Poison King had not said a single word. Truly, these two were not close at all.
This had been expected from the start. And I deliberately did not try to make the two of them get along. If an opportunity presented itself, they would become close; if not, they would return just as coldly as they departed.
“I have already received all the information on those bastards from the Tongcheongak, and I plan to receive additional updates as well.”
Though I had not told them, Eunwol, led by Gowol and the Pungcheon Sect Leader, was also actively gathering intelligence on this matter. The two of them had also agreed to join us on-site and assist with this task.
“The place we are heading to now is where Jisaeng the Golden Pig, the creator of Sinseoncho, is located. I will explain the plan once we arrive.”
“I shall follow the Second Young Master’s will regarding the plan.”
At Geukak Soma’s polite reply, the Poison King glanced this way. He looked as though he wanted to say something, but he was holding back because Geukak Soma was present.
―Just one question. Why does Geukak Soma like you so much?
―But why are you sending a voice transmission instead of speaking?
―How could I ask him when we’re not even close? Did he catch some weakness of yours? Why is he treating you so well?
―If you keep using voice transmission, I won’t answer. Ask like a man!
The Poison King turned his head toward the window.
Geukak Soma noticed that the Poison King had sent me a voice transmission and looked at me. I smiled and gave him a single nod. Even just exchanging glances like this brightened my mood. Surprisingly so.
The Poison King asked something else, not related to Geukak Soma.
“Does a plan we don’t have now suddenly appear when we arrive?”
“If a strategist we don’t have now arrives, then there will be one.”
“Strategist? Strategist Sama?”
The Poison King did not know that Gowol and the Pungcheon Sect Leader had become my people.
“No, I have my own strategist.”
“You already have a strategist?”
“You need a strategist to survive in this treacherous murim. Everyone has at least one strategist who can’t even play Go, don’t they?”
The Poison King made a baffled expression. It was a moment where a harsh word would normally have slipped out, but he was holding back because Geukak Soma was present. Having these two together came with such benefits.
―Is Lord Soma scary?
I had expected him to tell me not to be ridiculous.
―Then do you think he’s not scary? My heart trembles just looking at that mask.
It was an unexpected answer. To think the Poison King feared Geukak Soma this much.
―Right now, Lord Soma is probably trembling while looking at your poison pouch.
―That can’t be. That person is not someone who fears death.
I hadn’t known he evaluated Geukak Soma like that.
―What about you?
―I’m afraid of dying. Isn’t that why I’m someone who never even leaves the Thousand Poison Forest?
Are you afraid of dying? Or are you afraid of killing?
Instead of asking what I wanted to, I asked the Poison King a different question.
“How does it feel to leave the cult after so long?”
The Poison King’s gaze turned to the outside of the moving carriage.
“What feeling? There was a time when I roamed the Central Plains to the point of weariness.”
“You, Poison King?”
“Then how do you think I earned the title of Poison King in the Thousand Poison Forest? In my youth, I traveled all across the Central Plains to obtain poisonous substances.”
Why had someone like that holed himself up in the Thousand Poison Forest?
But I did not ask. If we ever became close enough to share our hearts, I would naturally come to know. Let me hear it on the day I reveal that I am invulnerable to ten thousand poisons.
Right then.
With an urgent whinny, the carriage came to a sudden halt. Ordinary people would have flown forward and crashed, but Demonic Venerables were Demonic Venerables. The two calmly kept to their seats.
Seo Dae-ryong on the driver’s seat spoke urgently.
“I’m sorry! A deer suddenly jumped out from the bushes along the road.”
“Since we’ve already stopped, let’s rest a while. The horse seems startled too.”
I got off the carriage together with the two Demonic Venerables.
Seo Dae-ryong bowed deeply to the two Demonic Venerables and apologized once more. Geukak Soma, the one he feared most, had nearly flown forward and collided with the front seat of the carriage. Had the impact broken even a corner of that mask? Imagining such a scenario, Seo Dae-ryong’s complexion had turned deathly pale.
Meaning to ease the tension, I formally introduced Seo Dae-ryong.
“He is the chief disciple of Lord Doma. He is currently receiving Lord Doma’s unique martial arts transmission.”
Geukak Soma did not seem surprised, as if he had already known, while the Poison King was startled.
“A disciple of Doma?”
It seemed unexpected that this small and frail man would be the next Hyeolcheon Doma.
I put more weight behind Seo Dae-ryong.
“He is also my right-hand man.”
The Poison King’s gaze turned to me. At the questioning look in his eyes, as if asking, ‘Your right-hand man?’ I spoke assertively.
“Having that friend around makes me feel much more secure.”
Then the Poison King’s gaze returned to Seo Dae-ryong. Naturally, Seo Dae-ryong was burdened a hundredfold.
“You overpraise me.”
Seo Dae-ryong bowed his head respectfully. At the same time, a voice transmission flew in.
―Please don’t do this! I beg you, don’t make me stand out to the Demonic Venerables! Please treat me like I’m not here!
As Seo Dae-ryong raised his head, I smiled and said,
“He also won the Little Dragon Tournament, where the finest young prodigies of the orthodox faction compete.”
Seeing Seo Dae-ryong curse me with his eyes to stop, I made sure to finish thoroughly.
“You will meet again at the Demonic Venerables’ Assembly in the distant future.”
Having given up on everything, Seo Dae-ryong looked up at the sky with an enlightened expression and laughed. Since I had teased him enough, it was time to go.
“Now, let us depart.”
We boarded the carriage again. Seo Dae-ryong, who had been driving the carriage excitedly until moments ago, now drove cautiously like a novice driver. He was terrified of having to stop suddenly like before.
I spoke loudly toward the driver’s seat.
“If you’re going to drive this slowly, you’ll have to switch places with me. Do you want to come in here?”
The next moment, the carriage began to race forward at a ferocious speed.
* * *
The carriage ran and ran. To leave as few traces as possible, we camped instead of stopping at villages. When our prepared alcohol and food ran out, I hunted and cooked myself to treat the Demonic Venerables. The Poison King, tasting my cooking for the first time, marveled that I was good at everything.
And so we kept running until we arrived at the region where Jisaeng the Golden Pig was located. Gowol and the Pungcheon Sect Leader welcomed us at a country house there. Seeing both Gowol and the Pungcheon Sect Leader present, the Poison King asked me,
―Why is the Pungcheon Sect Leader here?
―He has a special relationship with my strategist.
―So the rumors that the Pungcheon Sect Leader left his sect leader position were because of you.
―But why do you keep sending voice transmissions? Speak with confidence. Pungcheon Sect Leader, what are you doing here? Is the great Poison King so scared of something that he acts like this?
―Is it because I’m scared? It’s because it’s awkward.
―It was fine for you to howl in front of all those people? It was fine to act bold in front of your father?
―That was because it was something I had to do. These people all make me uncomfortable.
Even so, it was a moment when I could feel that my relationship with the Poison King had advanced. Because he was honestly confiding such feelings in me.
After having the two Demonic Venerables rest and unpack in their respective rooms, I sat separately with Gowol.
“This is remarkable. To think you have moved even the Poison King’s heart.”
“Their actions are closer to goodwill or curiosity toward me than loyalty.”
“I believe that goodwill can wield even greater power than loyalty.”
“I hope so.”
I thought that my relationship with the Demonic Venerables was only beginning. Truly becoming close with someone is a difficult thing. But more difficult than that is maintaining that closeness over time. Because once the freshness and interest in a new person fades, ennui and disappointment are bound to creep into that space. I still had a long way to go with the Demonic Venerables.
“This matter must be handled more carefully than any other.”
He knew the gravity of this matter better than anyone.
“In truth, given the martial prowess of yourself and the Demonic Venerables, dealing with the subordinate Sa Sibang would not be difficult. The problem is leaving no trace of our main cult on their deaths, and likewise not causing Yaul-han to grow wary as a result.”
Gowol already looked as though he had given the matter much thought.
“I shall proceed according to your plan.”
These were not words meant to flatter me. I intended to follow Gowol’s words completely. The way to raise a good strategist? It’s simple. Follow his plan and make it succeed. Because the higher a strategist’s confidence grows, the more outstanding his next plan will be. I would simply adapt in the moment to any parts of his plan that went awry.
“Our first target, Jisaeng, is currently trying to create a new Sinseoncho. He has recently found someone to whom he can entrust that task.”
This was why punishing underlings endlessly was useless. Only by eliminating Jisaeng, who had tasted the money of Sinseoncho, could Sinseoncho itself be made to disappear.
Gowol spoke with an expression that said the plan was already set.
“They say one who chases deer cannot see the mountain. What kills him in the end will be his own greed.”
I guessed his plan and spoke with a smile.
“We shall have to teach that man who likes immortals that among immortals, there are also evil immortals.”