If the Poison King had been looking up at a tree, Mabul was looking up at a fiercely sculpted golden Buddha statue in the shrine.
At that moment, a composed greeting came from behind.
“It has been some time since we last met.”
As Geom Mugeuk entered the shrine, Mabul asked without turning around.
“What brings you here?”
“I came because I wished to see you, Lord Mabul. It has been quite a while since I last saw your face.”
Even seeing just that ill-natured back of Mabul’s head filled him with such joy; it seemed it truly had been some time.
“Have you been well?”
Mabul turned his back on the statue and faced Geom Mugeuk. Behind the diminutive Mabul, the massive golden Buddha statue made for a peculiar contrast.
Whenever Geom Mugeuk saw Mabul, he was struck by the sense that not everything was as it appeared. He knew well that Mabul, this small giant, was a far greater man than that golden Buddha statue.
“Is the position of temporary Cult Leader manageable?”
“Oh, please don’t even mention it.”
Geom Mugeuk waved his hands in dismissal, putting on a show of hardship.
“I had thought my father took little interest in internal cult affairs. That he would only decide on one or two important matters. But I was wrong. He oversaw every single troop movement.”
“The Cult Leader has overseen internal affairs more meticulously than any of his predecessors.”
Geom Mugeuk could see that Mabul was well-informed about his father’s activities. Naturally, given his deep interest in politics, he would be the one most knowledgeable about the situation in the Cult Leader’s quarters.
“Do you know why he is so concerned? Because he is meticulous? Not at all.”
“Then why is he doing this?”
Then, a surprising answer flowed from Mabul.
“For the unification of the martial world.”
“!”
“The Cult Leader believes that when one can firmly rule the cult, one can also rule the world.”
Perhaps he had once heard such words from his father.
His father had shown different sides to each of the Demon Lords. It was because of this that the facets of his father seen by the Demon Lords were all different.
“In the end, five years from now, you will stand at the vanguard of the martial world’s unification.”
He had been like this in the past as well. Saying that Geom Mugeuk’s father would not acknowledge him.
There had been a reason for Mabul’s assertion. A reason he had not spoken of back then.
“It is by no means because he dismisses your will.”
If he had dismissed him, he would not be standing here face-to-face telling him such things.
“Then why are you so certain?”
The very reason he held Geom Mugeuk in the highest esteem yet still believed he could not win was precisely this.
“Because it is thanks to you that the Cult Leader is awakening.”
Mabul stared intently at Geom Mugeuk and asked.
“Can you handle the awakened Cult Leader?”
Geom Mugeuk understood. The awakening Mabul spoke of was not merely martial arts strengthened through closed-door training. It meant that Geom Ujin, the person himself, was becoming stronger.
“That is why there are nine of us, are there not?”
At the joke that the Eight Demon Lords were all on his side.
“From what I saw before, there were only two?”
On the day he promised five years later, the only Demon Lord who remained at Geom Mugeuk’s side to the end was Geukak Soma.
“Then I shall simply have to work harder.”
With an expression asking if mere effort would suffice, Mabul exited the shrine.
Geom Mugeuk quietly followed behind, walking the temple grounds with him. Passing monks pressed their palms together in greeting.
“Have you stopped making stone statues?”
“I have.”
The stone statues he had been crafting remained in the corner of the courtyard. Seeing the dust-covered tools, it seemed some time had passed since he set them down.
Geom Mugeuk had expected to tease him for his weak will.
“It was for the best that you stopped.”
“For the best?”
“To be honest, it did not suit you, Lord Mabul. Controlling your mind by carving stone statues? You are not that kind of person, are you?”
Mabul halted his steps and asked.
“Then what kind of person am I?”
“You are someone who moves among people, reads their hearts, persuades them with passion, and fights with all your might for your goals, are you not? Controlling the mind is something you do when catching your breath after fighting fiercely alongside people.”
“Is that an insult? Or praise?”
“If it offends you, it is an insult; if it pleases you, it is praise.”
Geom Mugeuk added with a smile.
“Right now, I am simply telling you the truth.”
Rendered speechless, Mabul wore such an expression as he resumed walking.
“What business brings you here? A busy man like you would not come merely to visit. Is there something you wish to order me to do as the Cult Leader?”
“No. I came to report something I was not ordered to do.”
Mabul looked at Geom Mugeuk with an expression asking what he meant.
Geom Mugeuk knew. That not giving an order was far more difficult than giving one. Just as asking someone to leave was far harder than asking them to come.
That was why this meeting with Mabul was more delicate than the one with the Poison King.
“When my brother left the cult, I secretly asked the Poison King to watch over him.”
As if betraying emotional turmoil, the golden light emanating from Mabul’s body flared more intensely.
“Why report that to me?”
“I felt I should inform you, Lord Mabul.”
After a brief pause, Mabul asked.
“Why the Poison King, of all people?”
“The forged token my brother is investigating this time was coated with a severe poison. Worried there might be a poison user involved, I asked the Poison King.”
“Why tell me this?”
“I was afraid you might misunderstand later. That you might think my brother took the Poison King because he asked.”
In other words, he was worried a misunderstanding might arise between Geom Muyang and Mabul. His brother was not the type to make excuses, nor was the Poison King the type to explain in detail.
“So what if there is a misunderstanding?”
“What do you mean? It would be upsetting. Were it me, I would be so hurt I might curse outright. ‘After how precious I thought you were, you take the Poison King instead of me?’”
“Only a narrow-minded man like you would curse; I would not.”
“You should. If you do not, my brother will be the one upset this time.”
In the end, Mabul burst into laughter.
“Do you really fuss over such trivial matters one by one?”
“I believe it is such trivial matters that cause people to grow distant and come to resent one another. Is not even the grand dream of unifying the world born from such small sentiments?”
Geom Mugeuk’s sincerity continued.
“So please do not step back. Rather, step forward more actively. Even outside of a succession struggle, are there not countless matters in the main cult that require your aid, Lord Mabul? Please act for the sake of the main cult.”
A strange golden gleam seemed to flash across Mabul’s eyes as he looked at Geom Mugeuk, and soon the intense golden radiance softened.
Lately, Mabul had been feeling a helplessness for which he knew no answer. That was why he had been carving stone statues.
But not retreating and advancing instead, facing things in his own manner—perhaps Geom Mugeuk’s words were the way to overcome this helplessness.
“No. I shall go back to carving stone statues.”
“Then even if you carve stone statues, sell them. Carve statues that can be sold. I shall be your first customer.”
A warning not to sink no matter what he did. In that moment, Mabul thought of what he wished to say to Geom Ujin.
‘If you wish to win, Young Master, you must properly awaken.’
Geom Mugeuk bowed respectfully and turned to leave.
“Whew, I am busy, so I do not know when I shall visit again.”
From behind the departing Geom Mugeuk, Mabul spoke.
“Your brother is a strong man.”
That was because Mabul was someone who believed in his brother more than anyone. He was also someone who had staked his life on him.
“So you need not worry too much. The same blood that flows in your father and in you flows in the body of the Eldest Young Master.”
Watching the brilliantly shining golden radiance, Geom Mugeuk bowed his head respectfully.
“Yes, I believe so as well.”
But Geom Mugeuk’s words and actions differed.
Believing was one thing. Worry was another.
‘It is precisely because we share the same blood that there are parts that worry me more.’
After leaving Mabul’s quarters, he spoke to Jeokyeon, who accompanied him.
“Contact Eunwol and have them concentrate all available intelligence networks on my brother and the Poison King. And one more thing.”
Geom Mugeuk added one order he had delayed giving to Eunwol.
* * *
Several days had passed since Geom Muyang left the cult.
During those days, Geom Mugeuk’s pace of work had grown faster and faster.
And today, his speed was even greater.
It was not simply because he had grown more skilled. Today, he finished his work unusually quickly, like a man with pressing business. Normally, Geom Mugeuk would crack a silly joke after finishing a task, but today he uttered not a single one.
“Is there some matter today?”
“Is it not good to finish early? It gives more time to rest.”
But today, there was a different reason.
Having finished his work faster than usual, Geom Mugeuk followed Sama Myeong out.
“Is there something you wish to discuss?”
“No, since I finished work early, I thought I would tour Tongcheongak for the first time in a while. Would that be alright?”
Who would refuse such a request?
“Yes, let us go.”
And so Geom Mugeuk followed Sama Myeong into Tongcheongak.
Passing through a place with even stricter security than the Cheonma Hall, they entered to see a vast space filled with countless officers of Tongcheongak.
The place was busy. Truly, if one wished to best express what it meant to be busy, one need only show this place.
Sshk, sshuk, sshk!
Cylinder tubes containing dispatches continuously arrived from holes installed in one wall.
The officers sorted the arriving dispatches according to their importance.
Depending on their contents, flags stuck in a map of the Central Plains were moved to different locations.
Sama Myeong could tell. That Geom Mugeuk had come here because he was curious about news of Geom Muyang. That despite his calm exterior, he was deeply worried about his brother.
“Since you are here, let us hear news of your brother before you go.”
Sama Myeong spoke to a subordinate officer.
“Bring the most recent information regarding the Eldest Young Master.”
The officer immediately brought documents and reported.
“The Eldest Young Master has arrived at his destination, Changsha. During that time, he stopped at only two inns, and excluding time spent eating and sleeping, he headed toward his destination without rest.”
How could he not worry? Hyung, I told you not to dwell on nearly killing me! Even if I had been struck, I would not have died!
“If we stay here, I suppose we could even find out what rice my brother ate.”
At that, the officer flipped through the documents.
“We have records of what he ate at the inn here. Shall I report it?”
“That will not be necessary.”
He could truly appreciate how thoroughly Tongcheongak was monitoring his brother. The role of Eunwol, which was cooperating with them, was likely significant as well.
“My brother might have a woman hidden in the Central Plains. I suppose this shall reveal her.”
At Geom Mugeuk’s silly remark, Sama Myeong subtly asked.
“Are you worried about your brother?”
Geom Mugeuk answered with a smile.
“You know how wicked my brother is. Rather, I worry for the martial world.”
But contrary to his words, Geom Mugeuk’s gaze was fixed on the flag marked “Muyang.” The flag was placed in the Changsha region, and beside his brother’s flag, a flag of the Changsha Biaoju had been placed together.
And slightly apart from the two flags, a single ornate green flag was planted.
* * *
Geom Muyang was striding boldly through the streets of Changsha.
He passed by all the taverns and sights he would have visited had he come with Geom Mugeuk. He had run straight toward only his goal.
Only by capturing the one who had made that forged token—which had nearly killed his younger brother and nearly led him to an irreversible mistake—could he enjoy the leisure afforded by this long-awaited departure from the cult.
Of course, he did not act recklessly.
Geom Muyang knew exactly how to handle such matters. He did not resolve this by recklessly revealing his identity as the Eldest Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult or by using force. He was not a man who rushed his work simply because his heart was impatient.
A middle-aged martial artist was waiting for him in front of the Changsha Biaoju. He was Ho Myeong, the lord of the Changsha Branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, who had come after receiving advance notice.
“It is an honor to meet you, Eldest Young Master.”
“Branch Lord Ho, thank you for coming out.”
“The branch’s elites are all waiting nearby.”
Ho Myeong had truly been surprised to receive the Eldest Young Master’s dispatch. No matter that he had lost the succession struggle, he was the eldest son of the Heavenly Demon. A single slip of the tongue could cost him his head.
“If you but give the order, I can have everyone at the Changsha Biaoju kneeling within half a shichen.”
“That will not be necessary. Let us meet the chief with just the two of us. Do not reveal my identity.”
“Yes! Please wait a moment.”
Ho Myeong said a few words to the martial artist guarding the entrance of the Changsha Biaoju. At that, the martial artist turned pale and ran inside, while another martial artist guided Geom Muyang and Ho Myeong in.
As they waited in the main hall, Ji Daehyeong, the chief of the escort agency, appeared with his escort leaders. One of the escort leaders recognized Ho Myeong’s face and sent a telepathic message to Ji Daehyeong confirming that he was indeed the branch lord.
Geom Muyang had used the Changsha Branch Lord to meet the chief of the escort agency as quickly as possible. It was not a fox borrowing the tiger’s might, but rather a tiger borrowing the fox’s might.
“To what does the Evil Cult’s branch lord owe a visit to our agency?”
Only Ho Myeong was visible in Ji Daehyeong’s eyes. A visit from the Changsha Branch Lord of the Evil Cult, with whom there was normally no interaction, was truly a serious matter.
“I have come to inquire about the escorted goods you previously delivered to the Heuksu Faction.”
At Ho Myeong’s words, Ji Daehyeong’s expression hardened instantly.
“We do not disclose information about escorted goods to outsiders.”
Then Branch Lord Ho Myeong unleashed a cold demonic energy.
The escort leaders were not easily intimidated either. They raised their internal energy, ready to draw their swords at any moment. This was what they trusted.
“No matter who you are, if you touch us, the Zhongyuan Biaoju Alliance will not sit idle.”
They were one of the largest interest groups in the martial world, so even the orthodox and demonic sides did not treat them carelessly.
Then Geom Muyang, who had been silent, stepped forward.
“I have not come to intimidate or trouble you.”
The moment Geom Muyang opened his mouth, Ji Daehyeong could feel it. He had naturally assumed this young man was merely an attendant warrior of the branch lord.
‘This man did not come serving the branch lord. The branch lord came serving this man.’
From the moment he spoke, the dignity and pressure emanating from Geom Muyang were extraordinary.
“The item you delivered was a counterfeit of our cult’s weapon.”
Ji Daehyeong was startled. From his expression, he seemed completely unaware of this fact.
“A large escort agency like the Changsha Biaoju would not have delivered goods to the dark path without checking the contents.”
Geom Muyang looked at the accompanying escort leaders with cold eyes and asked.
“Who deceived the chief?”