As I watched the backs of my father and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, a martial artist from Tongcheon Pavilion came and reported.
“We have located the whereabouts of the Ungang Sect’s people, and by order of the Tongcheon Pavilion Lord, the demon troops have been deployed for a rescue operation.”
This place where we had fought Gyo Cheon was none other than the Ungang Sect. Fortunately, they had not killed them, but kept them alive.
Geom Mugeuk said to the Tongcheon Pavilion martial artist,
“Send word to the Myeolma Squad Leader that we’ll meet him there.”
“Yes! Understood.”
Before leaving, I had to see my friend’s face. In dealing with this matter, I had received a great deal of help from Jin Hagun.
When the Tongcheon Pavilion martial artist disappeared with brisk lightness skill, Seo Daeryong, who had been listening to the report beside me, rejoiced.
“What a relief.”
“You were the one who found these people.”
The last two sects Seo Daeryong had picked were the Bongsan Sword Gate and the Ungang Sect. He had said he simply could not choose between the two, and Geom Mugeuk had chosen the Bongsan Sword Gate. But that side had been a trap to stall for time, and the incident had taken place here at the Ungang Sect.
“As expected! Such is the power of entering Hwangcheon Pavilion at the top of the class!”
He could have puffed out his chest and swaggered at my praise, but Seo Daeryong bowed his head politely and expressed his gratitude.
“Young Cult Leader, thank you.”
“For what?”
“Just… for everything.”
If he had met his master alone, would such a wonderful reunion as today’s have happened? I did not think so. It would have been awkward and distant, and he would not have been able to convey his true feelings at all.
“Write down all that gratitude! Just wait until later. Even that fine head of yours will turn into one that forgets the moment you turn around. ‘Ah, the Young Cult Leader said that to me back then? I feel like I did it myself.’ You’ll make me jump out of my skin with your distorted memories. No, no. I won’t remember either anyway. So write it all down, meticulously, without leaving anything out.”
“I’ll make it into a book and pass it down through the generations.”
In Seo Daeryong’s heart, an image of the future took shape.
The image of himself sitting his grandchildren on his knees and telling them about this day.
Perhaps those grandchildren might say this.
—Grandfather, is it another story about the Cult Leader?
There was no helping it. That gratitude had piled up like a mountain.
Even today’s events were like that. Geom Mugeuk could have told him to wait at the safe house, but he had brought him all the way here.
“I’m grateful that you brought me here so I could meet Master even a little sooner.”
“That’s not why I brought you.”
“What? Then why did you bring me?”
“If possible, you should meet at the place where all grudges and debts are resolved. Meeting him after waiting at the safe house and meeting him here would have felt very different. In a martial artist’s life, what matters most is whether you were there, in that place, at that moment.”
It sounded right. The excitement he had felt when he saw his master in this place drenched with blood was still vivid.
“Even though I couldn’t fight with you?”
As a martial artist, how could he not have such regret?
“You did fight with us. Not stepping forward for no reason to help your master, only to become a hostage and a nuisance—that alone means you fought well with us. I like that you’re smart enough that I don’t have to worry about that.”
Seo Daeryong’s eyes trembled. Just what sin had this Young Cult Leader committed against him in a past life to be like this?
Of course, Geom Mugeuk was not one to simply watch Seo Daeryong’s emotion, which showed from his face.
“And if I happen to die, you’ll jump in, won’t you? How could I go on that long road to the underworld without you? I’d be bored.”
He speaks as if he loves taking credit, but in truth, our Young Cult Leader really hates doing so.
Hiding that thought, Seo Daeryong said with an incredulous expression,
“As expected! You had ulterior motives. I’m someone who doesn’t even know how grateful I should be that you told me to hide far away over there. I’m a man whose supreme task is to survive for a long, long time! Fortunately, I fulfilled my dream today. Now I’m not just your right arm. I’m the right arm that doesn’t have to do dangerous work.”
He was referring to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s words that dangerous matters should be left to the Young Cult Leader.
“But what can we do? Since he said to leave the dangerous work to me, you, my right arm, will have to follow the body.”
“Ah, does it turn out that way again?”
Geom Mugeuk strode forward.
“Now then, still-dangerous right arm. Let’s go.”
Seo Daeryong stood there for a moment.
Just as Geom Mugeuk looked at the backs of his father and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, Seo Daeryong silently looked at Geom Mugeuk’s back.
He was a Young Cult Leader who was always joking around and talking a lot, but whenever Seo Daeryong looked at his back, he often thought he looked lonely. The more he knew him, the more it seemed so.
‘If you had died today, Young Cult Leader, my skills are still lacking, so I would not have been able to avenge you. But the road you took would not have been boring. The boatman ferrying us across the road to the underworld would have covered his ears, saying we were too noisy.’
* * *
The sect leader of the Ungang Sect looked up at the sky and gave thanks.
‘Thank you. Truly, thank you.’
Until just a short while ago, he had been devastated.
Experts had broken into the Ungang Sect, subdued him, his blood kin, and his disciples, and locked them all in this remote storehouse.
He was a renowned expert in Chongqing, but he had been no match for the experts who attacked.
Among the attackers, there were two he recognized. Two who plunged him into despair.
The red-faced Red-Eyed Young Master.
The man with the image of a woman tattooed on his body was the Lust-Soul Vajra.
Especially when he saw the Lust-Soul Vajra, his heart sank. He knew all too well how many women that bastard had raped and killed.
Not only his wife and daughter—how could there be only one or two women in his clan?
Such vicious men had come in droves.
‘In the end, we’ll all die miserably.’
Just as he was in that state of despair,
the sound of something clashing came from outside. Then came screams.
Kwa-deu-deu-deuk.
The massive iron door was torn away, and someone filled the doorway.
When he saw that face, the sect leader was startled. It was his first time seeing a martial artist so huge, and his first time seeing one with such a frightening face.
The huge martial artist said in a blunt tone,
“We’ve come to rescue you. Everyone, come out.”
He looked even more like a villain than the villains who had captured them.
Yet they had saved him.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you. I will never forget this kindness.”
Even when he asked for the names of his benefactors, the large martial artists only told him to wait a little and did not reveal their identities.
As he was calming his startled heart, Chongqing Branch Leader Ju Gweol arrived with martial artists from the Martial Alliance.
When the Ungang Sect Leader saw a familiar face, he was completely relieved.
After exchanging greetings with the Ungang Sect Leader, Ju Gweol approached Jang Ho.
“We have received your help again.”
The look in his eyes as he gazed at Jang Ho had changed not merely because he had received help.
By now, Ju Gweol knew that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was not behind this matter.
He had been told that the Azure Cloud Divine Hero had been practicing the Myeolcheon Demon Blade Form at the Bongsan Sword Gate, and that he had planned this entire affair. Thus, his misunderstanding toward the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had been cleared.
“I’m sorry I misunderstood you.”
And earlier, when the branch had been attacked, he had heard from Jin Hagun that these large martial artists who had saved him were demon troops of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
He truly disliked and hated the Demonic Cult, but the gaze he turned toward Jang Ho was gentle. Not only had they saved his life and the lives of his subordinates, they had also prevented the annihilation of the Ungang Sect.
“I’m merely someone who follows orders.”
Because Jang Ho did not put on airs at all, Ju Gweol liked him all the more. Perhaps it was because he felt sorry for having misunderstood them. Surprisingly, he thought it might not be bad to form a friendship with such a person.
Was friendship possible between a demonic practitioner and a martial artist of the orthodox sects?
He had been truly displeased by Jin Hagun’s friendship with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, and yet, as if punishment were being handed down for that displeasure, he found himself feeling this way.
“I hope there will come a day when I can repay you.”
Ju Gweol spoke sincerely, and Jang Ho nodded with a blunt expression.
Naturally, Ju Gweol’s gaze turned toward the two people standing on the roof of a building in the distance.
There, Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun stood side by side, talking.
Geom Mugeuk told him honestly why this matter had occurred. He told him everything as it was.
“So that’s what happened.”
When Jin Hagun learned that this incident had arisen because of an old grudge, he once again realized just how frightening a person’s resentment could be.
“On behalf of our cult, I sincerely apologize for the clan that was annihilated because of this incident.”
“It was something you couldn’t help. Even so, thanks to you, they were able to survive.”
If not for Geom Mugeuk, the Ungang Sect would have been destroyed. And if the conflict between both sides had deepened because of this matter, who knew what might have happened? Thus, it was not only the Ungang Sect that had been saved.
“As expected, you did it.”
Jin Hagun looked at Geom Mugeuk. To be honest, while waiting for news at the safe house, he had believed that Geom Mugeuk would resolve it.
“It was thanks to your consideration. If you had put principles first and acted like someone rigid and inflexible, this matter would have been several times more difficult.”
If it had been his past self, he certainly would have put principles first. Had he done so, he might have danced exactly to the tune of those who had plotted this affair.
“If I’m to spend time with you, being rigid won’t be easy.”
“Of course. I’ll break through everything one way or another.”
Jin Hagun could feel it. Each time their meetings continued, his relationship with Geom Mugeuk deepened little by little. Because he trusted him, he had allowed demonic practitioners into the Chongqing Branch and had obediently gone into the safe house.
“Is it all over now?”
“The Blade Demon is taking care of the last matter. Once that is finished, we’ll leave immediately.”
Their gazes intertwined in midair.
“Soon, let’s gather the rising talents and see one another.”
Geom Mugeuk lightly launched himself away, vanishing from sight in an instant.
Because there was the expectation that they would meet again soon, the parting did not feel regretful.
Jin Hagun looked at the sky where Geom Mugeuk had flown, then looked below.
His eyes met Ju Gweol’s as the latter turned back after sending off the demon troops.
Every time Ju Gweol had seen him with Geom Mugeuk, his face had twisted into a frown, but today his expression was unusually gentle.
‘Whatever the reason, change like that.’
Because he felt that the power of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was growing greater and greater, just like the massive physiques of the demon troops.
‘If we don’t want to lose, we too must keep changing.’
* * *
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat down before the old fortune-teller.
The old man’s expression darkened. The news he had been waiting for had not come, and the person who should not have come had arrived.
“The place you told me was wrong.”
The old fortune-teller had told the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to go to the Bongsan Sword Gate. But Gyo Cheon had been carrying out his scheme at the Ungang Sect.
“Did you perhaps meet my master?”
At the old fortune-teller’s question, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded.
The fact that he had met his master and yet appeared safely before him meant that their plan had failed.
“He untied the knot.”
The one who should have untied that knot had been Gyo Cheon.
No matter how strong the Heavenly Demon was, he had believed that he would not be able to face the twelve of them and then avoid even Gyo Cheon’s final move.
The old fortune-teller sighed.
“I misread the divination.”
When he had met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon previously, he had read his own fortune.
The divination he drew then was: those who will live shall live, and those who will die shall die. He had thought he was on the side that would live.
When the old man sensed his end, his heart instead grew peaceful.
“While planning this affair, I cast countless fortunes, but one thing kept nagging at me. Perhaps, in the larger sense, this matter failed because of that.”
“What is it?”
After a brief pause, the old man brought up something unexpected.
“Your Young Cult Leader.”
The old fortune-teller let out a sigh.
“I simply could not grasp his divination. At times, it came out as though he held the fate of the martial world in his hands; at other times, it came out as though he had no influence on the martial world at all. Sometimes he became a great baleful star that would bring about bloodshed, and sometimes the divination of a great grandmaster who would save the martial world appeared. Each time I cast his fortune, his future was far too different. In all my years of divination, this was the first such case.”
He made a request of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“May I cast one last fortune about the Young Cult Leader’s future?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded.
The old fortune-teller shook the divination tube filled with bamboo sticks. Knowing it would be his last, the old man’s hand movements were careful.
And so one divination stick sprang out.
When the two men saw the characters written on the bamboo, both were startled.
There were four characters written there.
—Unification Under Heaven.
After staring blankly for a moment, the old fortune-teller laughed loudly.
“If so, then my death is the will of heaven.”
The old fortune-teller tilted the divination tube in his hand toward the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Pwaaaaaang!
Hidden weapons shot forth from the tube. It had been both a divination tube and, at the same time, a concealed weapon. At this distance, it was the old man’s unique hidden weapon that no one could avoid.
Chang-chang-chang-chang!
But the hidden weapons were blocked by something and all bounced away. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had raised the Myeolcheon Great Blade and blocked them.
Shiiik!
The great blade flew in and carved deeply through the old fortune-teller’s chest.
Bone and flesh split apart, and the old fortune-teller collapsed. If he had truly meant to ambush him, it would have been far more difficult to block than this; this attack had been one asking to be killed.
“Since I failed because of one who has received the mandate of heaven… I have no regrets.”
After leaving those final words, the old fortune-teller breathed his last.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon picked up the bamboo stick that had fallen to the floor. He silently looked down at it, then tried to burn it away with his Blazing Yang True Qi.
But soon he withdrew his true qi and, for some reason, placed it inside his robe.
At that moment, Geom Mugeuk arrived there.
“Ah, is it over? I ran over hoping to have my fortune told at least once.”
“What fortune would you have read by a charlatan?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon strode away.
“Senior, let’s go together!”
Geom Mugeuk followed after him. Had something happened with the old fortune-teller? Geom Mugeuk sensed something different than usual from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Oh, and don’t think of going back to the main cult alone. When we return, we all go together.”
He said it out of concern that the man might find his father uncomfortable and simply leave on his own. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was more than capable of doing so.
After a brief pause, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon answered.
“I intended to go together.”
It seemed that, while speaking with his father, he had decided then to go with them.
“Ah, good. There will be even more enjoyable things on the way back.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Seo Daeryong would be joining him on the journey back to the main cult. Just as he had spent much time with his father, he hoped the two of them would have such an opportunity as well.
“Ah, and look forward to it. There’s a real contest left.”
“What contest?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at Geom Mugeuk with a curious expression.
But Geom Mugeuk did not tell him, as if to say he would find out later. Instead, he smiled meaningfully and said,
“You’ve never tried the fish dish my father makes, have you?”