Master Seong was an old man with white hair, but his back was straight, and the light in his eyes was intense.
Moreover, the neatly worn black jangsam contrasted with his white hair, creating a strange air about him.
He was carrying a large box, and from beneath the white cloth covering it protruded various tools of unknown purpose.
The first to greet him was Jin Hagun.
“It has been a long time.”
Jin Hagun had known Master Seong since he was young. Master Seong was an indispensable figure in the Murim Alliance when it came to matters related to demonic arts, and his research into demonic arts was acknowledged by all.
From the Murim Alliance’s standpoint, he was someone who studied the martial arts of their most powerful enemy, so how could they not value him? Even in his old age, he remained active, training numerous disciples.
“Have you been well, Captain Jin? I’ve heard much of your accomplishments as captain of the Demon-Extermination Unit.”
Jin Hagun introduced Geom Mugeuk to him.
“This is the Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult.”
Master Seong was startled, not having expected the Demon Cult’s Young Cult Leader to be here. He examined Geom Mugeuk with a renewed look in his eyes.
“You are quite different from what I imagined.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled as he greeted him.
“I have long heard of your reputation, sir.”
“You people must dislike me, no?”
“How could that be? On a day like this, it is precisely because you are here, Master, that we may be cleared of false charges.”
Master Seong’s eyes narrowed.
“We will know once I investigate.”
Ju Gwol, who had brought Master Seong, made a polite request.
“As you know, this is a grave matter. The truth of this incident rests solely in your hands.”
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk said to Ju Gwol,
“Do you hope the culprit is us?”
Ju Gwol thought that perhaps he did. If someone other than the Demon Cult had committed such a brutal act, then that would be far more terrible than the culprit being from the Demon Cult.
Ju Gwol once again made a courteous request of Master Seong.
“I leave it in your hands.”
It was a plea laden with the wish that he would not miss it if it was demonic art.
“No matter what you all wish for, I will only reveal things as they are.”
Master Seong walked over to the corpse of the Daejeong Sect Master.
He opened the box, took out his tools, and began his investigation in earnest.
He collected blood from the corpse and mixed it with the liquid in a medicine bottle.
He examined the wounds carefully, and applied different medicines to the severed flesh, bones, and organs.
Nor did he examine only the corpse. He investigated where the blood had splattered from and to, and what traces had been left on the walls.
He scattered powdered medicine on the floor to reveal footprints, determining what footwork had been used here. He conducted every investigation he could.
Unless a technique had been used that left behind a very distinctive trace, even this made it difficult to determine exactly what martial art had been employed. There were simply too many similar martial arts in this murim.
After watching him for a while, Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun walked over to the window.
Ju Gwol could not follow them and watched from afar. He found it displeasing that, in this situation, Jin Hagun was associating with the Demon Cult’s Young Cult Leader.
Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun silently looked out the window. The Murim Alliance warriors were moving the corpses into the courtyard.
Jin Hagun saw it. The look in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes as he watched that sight was no different from his own. He, too, was as furious and sorrowful as Jin Hagun was.
Knowing that he was this kind of person, the fact that he had suspected Geom Mugeuk earlier might have been due to his own personality.
He was someone who did not truly trust others. No, perhaps he was someone who did not know how to trust.
“Why did you go to Shaanxi?”
At Jin Hagun’s question, Geom Mugeuk answered honestly.
“The Tongcheongak of our cult discovered the funding line of the ones behind this in Shaanxi. I went to cut off that money line.”
Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“Did you cut it?”
“Clean through.”
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Jin Hagun’s mouth, then vanished.
“Do you think they’re the ones who did this as well?”
“They could be. Or they could not be.”
Taking revenge for the elimination of the King of Assassins?
If so? Then those who had been hiding and weaving plots until now would be making their first proactive attack.
But the King of Assassins had died only a short while ago. Would they carry out revenge this quickly? This incident seemed to have been prepared meticulously. Would they really have had time to prepare in the interim?
Geom Mugeuk sent a voice transmission to Jin Hagun.
—My father came out with me.
Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk in surprise.
—I’m telling you because I don’t want to deceive you.
—Where is he now?
—At a safe house of our cult.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Jin Hagun.
—That is the proof. Proof that we did not do this. Would I commit such an act while my father is with me?
Jin Hagun now believed him completely. He knew how much Geom Mugeuk liked and respected the Heavenly Demon. Even if he were to use some kind of deception, he was not someone who would do so while invoking his father.
—Thank you for telling me.
—When we become Cult Leader and Alliance Leader, we may face something like this again. When that time comes, you tell me too. Honestly, like I did now. Then no matter what attempts to drive us apart, no matter what misunderstandings arise, we will be able to overcome them.
The two looked at each other, then turned their gazes back to the courtyard. The corpses continued to be moved.
In the meantime, Master Seong’s investigation continued. His investigation was meticulous and fervent.
He did not frown even once at the foul-smelling medicines. He lay prone on the floor where blood had pooled, searching for something. He connected red threads here and there throughout the hall, trying to recreate the fight that had taken place here.
How much time passed like that?
At last, Master Seong finished his investigation.
Everyone gathered around Master Seong. Amid the tense gazes focused on him, Master Seong spoke calmly.
“I have determined what martial art it was.”
Jin Hagun and Ju Gwol, of course, and even Geom Mugeuk waited for his answer with tense expressions.
“The martial art that killed the Daejeong Sect Master was…”
Master Seong’s gaze turned toward Geom Mugeuk.
“It was demonic art.”
Jin Hagun flinched in shock, while Ju Gwol wore an expression that seemed to say, As expected.
If anything, Geom Mugeuk remained calm.
This conspiracy had truly been deliberate. Though he had told Master Seong that he would clear them of false charges, he had anticipated that the culprit might have killed using demonic art.
Ju Gwol asked Master Seong,
“Were you able to determine specifically what demonic art it was?”
To his surprise, Master Seong nodded.
A shocking truth flowed from his mouth.
“It was the demonic art of a Demon Venerable.”
All three who were listening were shocked.
This time, Geom Mugeuk, who had been calm earlier, was the most surprised. He truly had not expected a Demon Venerable’s demonic art to appear.
Even Ju Gwol, who had insisted it was demonic art, grew taut with tension when a Demon Venerable was mentioned. The culprit was a Demon Venerable? This was an issue on a completely different level from anything so far.
“Who is it? Which Demon Venerable?”
At Ju Gwol’s trembling question, Master Seong identified one person.
“Hyeolcheon Doma.”
“!”
“The one that killed the Daejeong Sect Master was his Myeolcheon Demon Saber Form.”
A heavy silence descended over the place.
Hyeolcheon Doma had massacred Yuming Manor and the Daejeong Sect.
If this news spread through the jianghu, not only the Chongqing murim but the entire murim would be turned upside down. Even if war broke out between the Murim Alliance and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, it would not be strange at all for this incident to be the spark.
Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk was silently staring at Master Seong.
Taking that reaction as an admission of Master Seong’s words, Ju Gwol swiftly launched himself toward the entrance. Then he called in all his subordinates outside. Geom Mugeuk paid him no attention.
The first thought that came to him after hearing Master Seong’s words was this.
‘Could this Master Seong also be someone recruited by Hwa Mugi’s side?’
Because he had produced such an absurd result.
But in his life before regression, Master Seong had never appeared in connection with the Twelve Zodiac Kings.
He could have helped them from the shadows, but that could not have been the case. The Twelve Zodiac Kings had appeared after the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult closed its gates, and Master Seong of that time had been unnecessary.
Moreover, there was one more thing.
If he had been recruited by them, he would not have produced such a result in front of him, knowing he would be immediately suspected.
He would have said it was another martial art here, then gone to the Murim Alliance Leader and sowed discord. Saying something like, I could not speak the truth in front of the Young Cult Leader.
‘This man is not their pawn.’
That was why this result was astonishing and shocking to Geom Mugeuk.
Jin Hagun confirmed with Master Seong once more.
“Are you certain it was Hyeolcheon Doma’s martial art? As you know, Master, this is a matter of utmost importance.”
Master Seong spoke firmly.
“I am certain.”
There was not a shred of hesitation in Master Seong. With a confident expression, he gave weight to his assurance.
“Even if the Demon Cult Leader were here instead of the Demon Cult’s Young Cult Leader, I would give the same answer. I can say this on my name.”
His certainty left Jin Hagun confused. At first, when he had said it was demonic art, Jin Hagun had thought the ones who plotted this incident must have recruited an expert who used demonic arts to commit the deed.
But a Demon Venerable’s martial art?
‘Can someone forge a Demon Venerable’s demonic art?’
It seemed impossible.
‘What if it truly was Hyeolcheon Doma’s doing?’
Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk.
What on earth was he supposed to say to Geom Mugeuk in this situation? He could not say he trusted Master Seong’s eye, nor could he say in front of Master Seong that he trusted Geom Mugeuk.
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk asked Jin Hagun,
“If evidence appeared that the one who did this was the Murim Alliance Leader, would you believe that evidence?”
It was such an absurd hypothetical that Jin Hagun did not even answer.
“You would never believe it, right? That is exactly how I feel right now.”
Geom Mugeuk stared intently at Master Seong.
“If he is not falsifying the result, then I’ll have to find out how they created this result.”
Master Seong spoke firmly.
“I did not falsify anything. Whether you believe me or not is not important.”
Geom Mugeuk nodded silently.
“That had better be the case. I don’t know who it is, but they keep touching things that must never be touched. They enraged my father, and now they have enraged me.”
It also meant that the enemy knew his father and him well.
In the meantime, the warriors of the Chongqing branch flooded into the main hall and surrounded Geom Mugeuk in layers. Thinking an incident had occurred, even the warriors of the Demon-Extermination Unit entered and watched the situation. Fortunately, nothing had happened to Jin Hagun.
Geom Mugeuk said to Jin Hagun,
“I should be going now.”
Jin Hagun could not find in Geom Mugeuk’s eyes any trace of panic at having his conspiracy exposed. His eyes were as clear and deep as ever.
“You will have to uncover the truth as quickly as possible.”
Jin Hagun believed Geom Mugeuk. He did not believe in the Demon Cult, did not believe in demonic practitioners, and did not believe in Hyeolcheon Doma, but he believed in his friend.
“I will. Thank you.”
When Geom Mugeuk tried to leave, Ju Gwol blocked him. The branch warriors raised their internal energy and pointed their swords at him in unison.
“Now that the martial art used by the culprit has been revealed to be demonic art, we cannot let you leave like this.”
If this incident was indeed the Demon Cult’s doing, he thought this was the perfect opportunity to capture the Demon Cult’s Young Cult Leader.
Then Jin Hagun said to him,
“Even if you want to capture him, we cannot do it with just us here. So let him go.”
Ju Gwol was not the only one surprised by those words. The warriors of the Chongqing branch present all thought the same thing.
‘Leaving us aside, Captain Jin and the Demon-Extermination Unit are here, and we still can’t capture a single Young Cult Leader?’
At that moment, Ju Gwol gravely misunderstood.
‘You’re going easy on him because he’s your friend. Listen, Captain Jin. This matter may drag you down from your position as successor.’
Jin Hagun looked at Ju Gwol and said,
“Open the way.”
Jin Hagun’s gaze was resolute, leaving no room for further obstinacy.
When Ju Gwol gave the order to his subordinates, only then did the branch warriors withdraw their swords in unison and open a path.
Geom Mugeuk quietly walked out between the Murim Alliance warriors.
Jin Hagun stood by the window and watched Geom Mugeuk cross the courtyard and leave the building.
From Ju Gwol and the branch warriors staring at his back, he sensed anger and agitation.
There were not many who would understand a friendship between the grandson of the Murim Alliance Leader, a leading candidate for successor, and the Demon Cult’s Young Cult Leader.
Moreover, Master Seong was someone everyone trusted when it came to demonic arts.
Judging from how things were going, this result too would quickly spread as rumor.
‘My friend, there is not much time.’
* * *
When I returned to the safe house, Father was in the courtyard, practicing qi circulation and breathing.
Lately, Father had been devoting himself noticeably to training his internal cultivation method.
I held my breath and waited for Father to finish his cultivation.
And at the very moment Father completed his qi circulation, I saw it: the true qi coiling around his body gathering together like a mirage in scorching heat.
It was the Heavenly Demon Soul.
For an instant, I had the illusion that the Heavenly Demon Soul formed of true qi was looking at me.
It was a frightening sight no matter how many times I saw it, but I was glad to see the Heavenly Demon Soul again after so long.
That gladness lasted only a moment. The Heavenly Demon Soul dissolved back into true qi, then scattered and was absorbed into Father’s body.
When Father slowly opened his eyes, their gaze was as deep as an abyss.
“Did you see it?”
“Yes, I saw it.”
Father’s gaze grew intense.
“The true qi of the Nineflame Demonic Art can only be seen by those who have learned it, and the form of the Heavenly Demon Soul only begins to appear faintly once one’s attainment reaches the seventh level. It means your cultivation has reached the seventh level.”
Father looked surprised that I had already reached the seventh level.
“Far faster than the achievement I made.”
And Father must have been called one of the fastest achievers in history.
Considering when I had begun learning the Nineflame Demonic Art, it was an absurdly fast achievement.
Of course, this achievement was only natural. On top of Father’s repeated lectures, I had been spending even more time cultivating through the Time-Heaven Secret Art.
“It is thanks to how well you taught me, Father.”
My achievement was surely stimulating Father.
I wanted to reach great completion as soon as possible and summon the Heavenly Demon Soul. I was unbearably curious how Father’s Heavenly Demon Soul and mine would differ.
“How did the matter you went to investigate turn out?”
“It was as you expected, Father.”
Before contacting the Martial Alliance Leader, Father had told me to first go and confirm what martial art had struck the Daejeong Sect. The reason he had me confirm it was because he thought they might have been attacked by demonic arts as well.
“What demonic art was it?”
Father clearly assumed it would be a known demonic art. Only then could they pin the blame on us with certainty.
I relayed a truth that even Father could not help but be shocked by.
“It was Elder Saber Demon’s martial art.”
Father’s gaze settled coldly. They had touched the Demonic Path, and they had touched a Demon Venerable, so Father’s anger was only natural.
“I don’t know how they fabricated it, but since Teacher Seong, who is well-versed in our cult’s demonic arts, uncovered it, the Martial Alliance will demand an explanation for this incident. Of course, Elder Saber Demon will be in our cult reading books and teaching Daeryong, so there shouldn’t be any problem.”
Just then, someone entered the safe house, guided by one of its warriors.
I had never imagined he would come, so I stared at him in surprise.
Seo Daeryong, carrying a great saber on his back, was stepping into the safe house.
Absolute Regression Chapter 498