The place where Mabul resided was a massive temple called the Golden Buddha Temple (黃金佛寺).
It consisted of dozens of large and small buildings, most of them painted golden. The pagodas erected here and there also emitted a golden light.
The Four Heavenly Kings statues placed at the entrance to ward off evil ghosts looked different from those at ordinary temples. They were so fearsome in appearance that they seemed like demons themselves.
In the center of the temple stood a Great Golden Buddha statue. It was as large as the giant stone statues erected throughout the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and it was said that when Mabul's cultivated Golden Darama Demonic Art reached its zenith and he unleashed his martial art, one could see the Great Golden Buddha appear and then vanish.
The monks belonging to the Demon Cult were originally called Demon Monks (魔僧), but the monks of the Golden Buddha Temple used the character for madness (狂), calling them Mad Monks.
When I announced my arrival, a Mad Monk of enormous stature came out to greet me.
“I shall guide you.”
I knew who this Mad Monk was. He was Daegwang (大狂), Mabul's right-hand man. He was great in size, and great in madness.
It wouldn't have been strange at all if he had suddenly lunged at me and strangled me with those prayer beads.
When this large man stood beside Mabul, Mabul looked even smaller. Nevertheless, Mabul had taken this towering man as his right arm.
I wondered if he had chosen Daegwang to show that he felt no inferiority whatsoever about his short stature.
The passing Mad Monks greeted me with their palms together. After my outburst at the training ground last time, I had heard my popularity had risen quite a bit in this place filled with crazy monks. Of course, since Mabul was someone who fervently supported my elder brother, they too officially supported my brother.
Mabul was chanting sutras in the Grand Dharma Hall.
Having only ever seen him following my elder brother around, I found this appearance of him draped in monastic robes and a kasaya, reciting Buddhist scriptures, extremely unfamiliar.
If I could tell that man was indeed Mabul, it was only because of the golden Buddha statue behind him, which looked far more fearsome than ordinary ones.
After paying my respects to the Buddha statue, I sat quietly behind Mabul.
Since he showed no intention of finishing his chant, I quietly closed my eyes and cultivated the Heavenly Demon Guardian God Art. These days, my martial arts training focused on two things. When I had to be aware of my surroundings: the Heavenly Demon Guardian God Art; when no one was around: the Heaven-Soaring Secret Art.
Every martial art I had learned was important, but these two were also extremely important.
The Heavenly Demon Guardian God Art was a martial art akin to a second life, and the Heaven-Soaring Secret Art was necessary to achieve the Great Perfection of the Nine Transformations Demonic Art in time; perhaps from now on, it was the most important martial art after the Nine Transformations Demonic Art.
Unfortunately, I was still studying the formulas of the Heaven-Soaring Secret Art. Because the formulas were so abstruse, unleashing the martial art was no easy task.
How much time had passed?
The sutra chant Mabul had been reciting began to grow louder, and demonic energy began to coil around me. Naturally, the Heavenly Demon Guardian God Art activated, protecting my body.
Just as I thought I heard the chanting in my head, an illusion appeared.
Within pitch-black darkness.
A golden radiance shone from afar, and it began walking toward me.
It was Mabul. In this illusion, Mabul was tall.
He walked right up to me and stopped. I could see his flustered face.
Mabul extended his hand. A hand that couldn't cross over and was repelled. There was some invisible, transparent barrier between him and me that prevented him from crossing. And it seemed Mabul couldn't see me beyond the barrier.
I could tell. That Mabul had tried to invade my mind with the Golden Darama Demonic Art to read my thoughts but had been blocked. The Heavenly Demon Guardian God Art had activated and repelled the intrusion. Because the Heavenly Demon Guardian God Art I had learned, together with the Nine Transformations Demonic Art, was an absolute demonic art that took precedence over any other demonic art.
Mabul made a troubled expression, then soon turned and walked back into the darkness. The golden light vanished into the dark.
Why had he appeared before me with such a tall stature?
I thought that perhaps, in this brief moment, it was I who had peered into his heart instead.
The chanting that had been echoing in my head gradually faded and soon disappeared.
When I opened my eyes, Mabul was sitting turned toward me.
He had the look of someone flustered that his demonic art hadn't worked.
But soon, as if nothing had happened, Mabul pressed his palms together and spoke.
“Second Young Master. I'm relieved you returned safely this time.”
“It's thanks to your concern.”
I also pressed my palms together and paid my respects.
“But wouldn't it have been better if I hadn't returned safely?”
Mabul slowly rolled his prayer beads as he spoke.
“The Buddha said all life is precious.”
To hear about the preciousness of life from someone whose prayer beads seemed liable to fly like hidden weapons at any moment.
My gaze naturally turned toward the golden Buddha statue behind him. Looking at the Buddhist painting (佛畫) drawn behind the statue, I said,
“Over there, Demon Monks are tearing people apart and killing them, aren't they?”
At my unexpected words, the corner of Mabul's mouth rose slightly. He was forcibly holding back an incredulous snicker.
“Why have you come to see me? Perhaps if you wish to take refuge in Buddhism, I shall personally shave your head. That would be good. As you wish, there would be no need for bloodshed between brothers.”
“I like to play around, so I'd be expelled for breaking the precepts soon enough. My elder brother is steadfast and taciturn, so he'd be a better fit. And his shaved head would look prettier too.”
Though our words passed like jokes, we were engaged in a fierce battle of auras.
“The reason I came to see you today is...”
After a brief pause, I spoke to him.
“It is because of Operation: Golden Buddha.”
By informing him of the operation's name, I initiated this operation.
Mabul asked with a suspicious look.
“Operation: Golden Buddha? What is that?”
“It is the operation to make you my man. Today is the day it begins.”
In the end, Mabul couldn't hold back his laughter.
“I truly cannot help but acknowledge that you are an unusual person. I acknowledge it, I acknowledge it.”
“You used to call me a crazy bastard before. I've improved.”
Mabul suddenly stopped laughing and spoke.
“Do not underestimate the Eldest Young Master. The successor will be the Eldest Young Master.”
“When I went to visit the Demon Lords, I should have started with the elders. Then right now, a Demon Lord would be somewhere saying, 'Do not underestimate the Second Young Master. The successor will be the Second Young Master.'”
Mabul scoffed.
“Do you think they would fall for you just because of that?”
“What do you think?”
“Not a chance.”
Watching this unwavering loyalty toward my elder brother, his first impression as a politically ambitious monk consumed by greed for power was so regrettable that he could very well feel aggrieved by it.
“Why do you like my elder brother so much?”
“Your elder brother is...”
There seemed to be some reason, but he didn't tell me. I thought that I would only be able to hear that reason once Mabul became my man.
“I believe the Eldest Young Master is better suited to be the Heavenly Demon.”
I nodded silently.
“Does that mean you think the same?”
“I acknowledge that there are certainly areas where my elder brother does things more meticulously.”
“Then concede.”
Instead of answering, I asked him.
“Isn't it hard serving my elder brother?”
“Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and the Eldest Young Master? It won't work.”
“As I've said before, Mabul, you are a little giant. Obtaining you was my elder brother's greatest fortune. I thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?”
Mabul gave a suspicious look. Knowing he wouldn't easily open his heart, I calmly conveyed my feelings.
“I told you before that I intended to put an end to the killing in this generation's succession struggle. Since my elder brother's pride is strong, controlling him is difficult, so I asked you to help him from the side. Do you remember?”
“I remember.”
“I believe it is all thanks to you, Mabul, that my elder brother hasn't gone on a rampage until now.”
“I said that if the Eldest Young Master went on a rampage, I would pour oil on the fire. That I would urge him to blow everything away. So why do you think I stop him?”
I gazed at him and spoke calmly.
“Because no one knows my elder brother better than you. If you weren't by his side, he wouldn't have been able to endure like this.”
It was my sincere feeling. Regardless of whether I could draw him to become my man or not, I was truly grateful to him. For steadfastly staying by my elder brother's side until I came to visit like this.
“I shall take my leave for today.”
I pressed my palms together respectfully and bid farewell.
Mabul wordlessly turned back and began chanting sutras again.
Through my conversation with him, I realized for certain.
That though he was the smallest in stature, he was the most difficult person to win over.
Now it begins.
* * *
The next day, I greeted Mabul as he exited the Golden Buddha Temple and approached him.
“Have you eaten?”
“I have not.”
“Will you join me?”
I thought he would naturally refuse, but he readily accepted.
“Very well.”
When I made a surprised expression, Mabul asked.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“I didn't think you would permit it so easily.”
“You are mistaken about one thing. I am a very moderate and compassionate person.”
Moderation and compassion? To spout such shameless words so nonchalantly.
“That's a relief. I was planning to follow you around every day.”
Mabul took the first step, and I followed behind him.
“What do you like? Just say the word!”
Passing demonic followers looked at us. Their eyes contained the sentiment: Is even Mabul now associating with the Second Young Master?
But Mabul paid them no mind. In the past, he was someone who would have been uncomfortable because such talk would reach my elder brother and cause misunderstandings.
Mabul, walking ahead with a resolute expression, looking only forward... had definitely changed.
* * *
That evening, I went to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon again.
Seo Daeryong, who had returned after finishing his duties, was receiving martial arts instruction.
With the affairs of the Hwangcheon Pavilion and his martial arts training, Seo Daeryong was always the busiest person.
“I will wait in the room.”
“Why did you come again?”
“Didn't I say I would stay here until I found the answer?”
At that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shouted.
“Don't lie on the bed without washing!”
“It's not a bed where women visit; aren't you being too fastidious?”
Then Seo Daeryong stepped up for his master and raised his voice.
“Who said that? That women don't come.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and I looked at Seo Daeryong. The one more startled by those words was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Don't disrespect our master!”
Heavy silence fell.
I spoke with my eyes. Daeryong, this doesn't seem right!
Seo Daeryong spoke with his eyes. Pavilion Lord, what should I do?
“Women used to line up for him in his youth. He's still vigorous even now.”
I sighed with my eyes, and eventually Seo Daeryong's voice trailed off.
“...So don't disrespect him.”
In the end, Seo Daeryong hung his head deeply and spoke.
“I will prepare for hell training starting tomorrow.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon said in a low voice.
“Tomorrow? It starts now!”
* * *
Seo Daeryong's training only ended when the night had grown late.
After sending his disciple away, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon entered the room. Until then, I had been reading a book. I couldn't remember how long it had been since I'd read a book that wasn't a martial arts manual.
“Do you teach this late?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded and answered.
“The boy is clever, so teaching him is quite enjoyable.”
“He is the one who entered the Hwangcheon Pavilion as the top student, after all.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat in a chair by the window and asked.
“But why has someone who should be carrying out a grand operation come here?”
“Didn't I tell you? When I feel a crisis in my life, you're the only one I think of.”
“It's not easy, is it?”
“He's impregnable. He's bound tight by loyalty to my elder brother. Might I say it's similar to the relationship between you and me?”
“Then wouldn't a ten-thousand-year snow ginseng root solve it?”
I let out a sigh, pretending not to have heard.
“It's not easy.”
Then the Blood Heaven Blade Demon laughed and spoke of past events.
“I once drank with Mabul at a pleasure house in the past. Back then, I asked him the same thing. 'It's not easy, is it?'”
“And what did he say?”
“Mabul answered just like you, saying it wasn't easy. It's amusing, the two of you telling me to my face that it's not easy.”
I pictured the two of them drinking.
It must have been a very stifling time for Mabul. The very fact that he drank with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon showed as much.
Hidden behind the resolute face he showed me was the anguish of Mabul confessing to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon that it wasn't easy.
Leaning my body against the window frame, I gazed at the moon and repeated once more.
“It's not easy, truly.”
I was reminded once again that nothing is as difficult as winning people's hearts. Given my experiences with various Demon Lords, it should have gotten easier by now, but human relationships were always as difficult as they were the first time.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked up at the moon with me and spoke.
“You are trying to become the successor to the Heavenly Demon; how could it be easy?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's words were a comfort.
Then the Blood Heaven Blade Demon suddenly spoke.
“Mugeuk.”
I was startled for a moment. It was the first time he had called my name.
I looked at him with a trembling heart. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was still looking up at the moon and spoke calmly.
“I know how hard you've tried to win the hearts of us old men. You can take a break when it's hard.”
I looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, deeply moved. The one who used to poke my side with disapproving eyes was now becoming my sanctuary.
I had been about to joke, “What would I do without you, Elder?” but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon beat me to it.
“You can't survive without me.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at me, smiling. I smiled brightly too.
“Thank you for your words. I should take a break as well...”
It was at that very moment. A thought flashed through my mind. If it's not easy for me, and it's not easy for Mabul either, then...?
“Ah! If it's as hard for me, then it must be as hard for Mabul, right? He may not show it on the outside, but his heart must be as urgent as mine, mustn't it?”
The best thing Mabul could do in the current situation was to persuade me. The fact that he readily ate with me today must have been due to such feelings.
“I was too hasty. This isn't the time to push with all my might, but to slowly pull him over to my side.”
It was the moment the first detailed plan of Operation: Golden Buddha was finally being established.