The next morning, a carriage was prepared in front of the inn.
Jihan had risen at daybreak and made thorough preparations for departure. He fed the horses their fill and cleaned the carriage until it shone. Now all that remained was to climb aboard and leave.
But the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Ilhwa Sword Sovereign did not get into the carriage.
“Go on ahead. We’ll enjoy the breeze a little longer before returning.”
During their walk the previous night, Ilhwa Sword Sovereign had said something unexpected.
—Since we’ve come this far, let’s stop by Taihu for the first time in a long while before we return.
Taihu lay in Jiangsu Province, north of Zhejiang. In the past, when Geom Ujin and the Fist Demon had roamed the jianghu, the four of them had once met there, together with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Ilhwa Sword Sovereign. He could not remember exactly what had happened then, but a faint memory remained that it had been quite enjoyable.
It was one of the few memories of youth she had shared with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
—I’m curious how much it has changed.
—Let’s go.
There was no hesitation in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s decision. No matter how enjoyable a journey with Geom Mugeuk might be, it could not compare to a journey alone with Ilhwa Sword Sovereign.
Normally, Geom Mugeuk would have made a fuss, saying, “Where are you two going by yourselves? Take us with you too,” and carried on with his usual banter. But this time, he obediently let the two of them go.
“It has been a long time since you came out, so please take care of everything you wish to do before returning. No, you need not come back for a year or so. After being away from the cult for a long time myself, I realized something. Infuriatingly enough, the cult runs perfectly well even without us.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Ilhwa Sword Sovereign exchanged a light nod of farewell with the Sword King.
As the Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned away, he sent a voice transmission to the Sword King.
—The Young Cult Leader likes you very much. Stay by his side as much as you can.
Without waiting for an answer, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon moved on, and Ilhwa Sword Sovereign followed after him.
Geom Mugeuk stood for a moment, watching the two of them from behind. Please make many memories before you return.
“Now then, let us be on our way as well.”
Geom Mugeuk and the Sword King boarded the carriage, and Jihan climbed onto the driver’s seat. There were three of them, but he was returning with two people different from those he had left the cult with.
Geom Mugeuk stuck his head out the carriage window and shouted loudly.
“Let’s go! To the main cult!”
He shouted with great spirit, but the carriage did not move.
“Why aren’t we going?”
With a slightly flustered face, Jihan turned back and said,
“Because I don’t know where the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is.”
Geom Mugeuk laughed and shouted,
“When you’re not sure where to go, just run first!”
Inside the carriage, the Sword King, who had heard it as well, smiled. Those words had been meant for him too.
Is it truly all right for me to go to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? To himself, still hesitating.
What are you worrying about? You go first!
And so the carriage began to pick up speed, racing toward the place where a new life awaited.
* * *
The Dark Palace Lord, Hwa Mugyeong, was wrapped in darkness.
Was he having a nightmare? From within the darkness that coiled around his body like smoke, a low groan seeped out.
The darkness surrounding him writhed as if in turmoil.
“Urgh!”
Gaye, the Divine Maiden Palace Lord, who had been sitting with her eyes closed a short distance away, opened them.
“Did you have a bad dream?”
Sssssss.
As the darkness enveloping Hwa Mugyeong parted, his face was revealed. His face was deeply furrowed, and beads of sweat clung to it. From his expression, one could guess what sort of dream it had been.
Out of habit, Hwa Mugyeong raised his head and looked up at the ceiling. Countless constellations were already shining there, but fortunately, compared to before he had fallen asleep, no new star had lit up.
After giving his final order, Hwa Mugyeong had not left this room at all.
This room, where the great secret coffer stood, where a mural of six orbs was painted on the rear wall, and where the constellations on the ceiling revealed how much of the seal had been undone.
“You should be the one dreaming.”
Hwa Mugyeong spoke in a voice with a deep resonance.
Gaye could guess what he meant. He was saying that she should be the one receiving prophecies.
Yes, at a time like this, a prophecy was desperately needed. They could not even begin to sense where this situation was flowing.
Sssssss.
Just then, a pitch-black hole appeared in the floor, and Hoe, Hwa Mugyeong’s hands and feet, rose up through it.
Before he even gave his report, the result could already be read in that brief silence and in his eyes.
“We failed.”
The first to react was Gaye. A deep sigh escaped from where she sat behind them.
“Haa.”
They had failed to find Jajeong, the final orb. Naturally, they must have failed to extract the energy within Geom Mugeuk’s body as well.
It was the moment their last hope vanished.
She had thought Hwa Mugyeong’s rage would explode, but unexpectedly, he was calm. That made him all the more frightening. At this point, nothing he did would be strange.
“Did you summon all the souls of the dead?”
“Yes.”
“And still you failed?”
Hoe answered with a gloomy expression.
“All the souls were annihilated. And Ak Gunhak survived and joined the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”
Hwa Mugyeong did not grow angry over that matter. If this mission had failed, then that was only natural. From the beginning, Ak Gunhak’s betrayal had been expected, and he had been sent for the purpose of summoning the souls.
Hoe prostrated himself flat on the spot.
“Before the seal is fully undone, I will find the energy of Jajeong by any means necessary.”
How, when even summoning the dead had not accomplished it? This was not something that could be solved with loyalty alone.
It was at that very moment.
Flaaaash.
Light burst from the secret coffer depicted in the mural behind Gaye. Astonishingly, the place that shone was the final remaining circle.
“The energy of the Purple Dao has appeared in the world.”
The purple light that filled the room dyed the faces of those within, who had fallen beyond surprise and into shock.
“Could it be? Are you saying the Young Cult Leader found even the final energy?”
The one who answered Hwa Mugyeong’s question was the mural behind them.
Flaaaaaash!
The six circles began shining all at once, and light poured from the square shape at the center. Once the central square shone, the six circles surrounding it lost their light.
“The Six Dao Primordial Energies have merged into one!”
Five of the energies had been with the Young Cult Leader. If all six had merged into one, that meant—
“The Young Cult Leader has absorbed the power of the Six Dao Primordial Energies.”
Her voice, which had rung out like a cry, faded.
“……The power of the Six Dao Primordial Energies now belongs to the Young Cult Leader.”
A heavy silence flowed through the room.
Hwa Mugyeong slowly looked up at the ceiling and, toward the sky that lay beyond it, spoke coldly.
“Is this all your will amounts to? Is this pathetic reality what you left behind three hundred years later?”
The prophecy handed down through the generations since three hundred years ago had been wrong. That power had not gone to them, but to the Young Cult Leader.
Until now, even when the Young Cult Leader had snatched away the power of the orbs, Hwa Mugyeong had regarded that itself as fate. A fate in which the Young Cult Leader would gather them with great effort, only for Hwa Mugyeong to seize them in the end.
Because there had been a prophecy that the Palace of Heaven’s Will would rule the murim.
“Is this your Heaven’s Will? You damned sky! Do you think I will give up because of this? Don’t make me laugh! This is not your will, but mine, and the will of all of us who have struggled for three hundred years!”
As if answering his cry—
Pat.
Another star lit up.
Watching it, Hwa Mugyeong’s two pupils trembled.
Then, as though he had resolved something—
Srrrrrr.
The energy of darkness that had been wrapped around Hwa Mugyeong vanished in an instant.
Hwa Mugyeong was completely revealed.
Layer upon layer of wrinkled traces of time covered his body.
It was the first time Gaye had seen him with the darkness so entirely gone. Until now, darkness had always lingered around him in some form.
And she understood why he had cast off the energy of darkness.
Because very soon, darkness itself would emerge into the world.
If he could not control it, then even if he had to submit to it, he would achieve his objective no matter what. He, who had ruled darkness, had resolved himself to be ruled by it.
He had not yet given up.
* * *
The carriage continued racing toward the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Geom Mugeuk deeply enjoyed his time with the Sword King. He cooked with his own hands and fed him, and at night, they lit campfires in scenic fields.
They spoke of martial arts while feeling the cool breeze that entered through the carriage window, and more than anything else, they could demonstrate them directly.
“Brother Ak, it has been a long time. Why don’t you have a bout with me?”
Geom Mugeuk was curious to see what changes there would be when he fought with a body that had undergone rebirth. And there was an utterly excellent person with whom to test it. He could not simply let the opportunity pass.
And he did not allow Jihan to watch the match.
“It is not because the martial arts are so extraordinary that I am hiding them. It is because if you see them, they will instead hinder your future training.”
For it to be helpful, the difference in skill had to be within reason. Watching a bout between himself and the Sword King would only obstruct Jihan’s training.
In a windswept field, Geom Mugeuk and the Sword King stood facing each other.
Both of them knew well how precious this moment was. Search all of the murim, and there would be no chance to have such a spar against such an opponent.
The Sword King silently gazed at Geom Mugeuk. Even though Geom Mugeuk had not yet drawn his sword, the Sword King could feel it from his stance alone.
‘The pressure is different.’
It was completely different from when they had pointed their swords at each other at the end. And so the first words he spoke to the opponent before him flowed from his mouth.
“Shall we fight for real?”
Geom Mugeuk smiled gently.
“Why are you being so frightening?”
Shing.
Geom Mugeuk lightly drew the Black Demon Sword.
Geom Mugeuk standing there, and Geom Mugeuk after drawing his sword, gave off yet another feeling entirely.
‘You are the more frightening one.’
Because he felt that with that face full of mischief, Geom Mugeuk might truly be able to kill him.
The Sword King also slowly drew his iron sword.
The two of them, watching for an opening with deep gazes, moved at the same time.
Clang!
Sword met sword.
Geom Mugeuk did not launch the next move.
The moment their swords collided, Geom Mugeuk closed his eyes and sank into thought.
With no choice, the Sword King waited for him to open his eyes. From this sight, he could tell.
‘He has already surpassed me.’
From the one strike he had delivered with all his sincerity, Geom Mugeuk had undoubtedly gained some realization.
Perhaps through that single exchange, Geom Mugeuk was drawing out hundreds of exchanges in his mind.
How much time had passed?
Geom Mugeuk opened the eyes he had closed. The swords of the two men were still crossed.
“Why are you so strong?”
As expected, it meant he had realized something from that single exchange.
“You should replace that iron sword with a treasured sword!”
The Sword King had never once thought of changing swords. This old iron sword had been enough.
“I want to see you holding a treasured sword, Brother Ak.”
Geom Mugeuk was telling him to wield stronger swordsmanship with a stronger sword.
Carrying an old iron sword was certainly a striking sight, but even that striking quality was bound within a frame. He had to break that frame to become stronger. Now was the time to put on shoes.
The Sword King could instinctively feel it.
When the time came for him to take off the shoes he had put on again, he would no longer even need an iron sword.
“I will obtain a treasured sword for you.”
“I have a lot of money.”
“I will obtain something money cannot buy.”
“You buy me shoes, you buy me a sword, you even introduce me to women. Why are you doing this to me?”
Geom Mugeuk withdrew his sword and walked toward the carriage as he said,
“If I want to tie Brother Ak tightly to my side, I must put in every effort. And that effort has not even begun yet!”
* * *
The carriage ran and ran, and at last arrived at the headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The moment Jihan saw the majestic buildings beyond the high walls, his heart pounded as if it would burst.
‘I’m finally here.’
The demonic practitioners standing guard at the main gate exuded truly terrifying demonic energy.
From far away, he had rehearsed it in his mind countless times.
‘This is the carriage carrying the Young Cult Leader. No, that’s not right. This is the carriage the Young Cult Leader is riding in, move aside! Should I say it that forcefully?’
He could not ask Geom Mugeuk about something like this, so Jihan’s heart only kept thumping.
And since it was his first time at headquarters, he thought they might tell him to get down and inspect him in various ways. He had all sorts of worries and imaginings, but the actual result was anticlimactic.
The gate opened, and the demonic practitioners spoke respectfully.
“You may proceed straight down this road.”
They already knew Geom Mugeuk was riding inside.
The moment they entered the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, an exclamation escaped Jihan’s mouth on its own.
“Ah!”
A vast, open space spread before him.
Buildings had been erected endlessly throughout that space, and between them towered terrifying statues of evil spirits.
Countless demonic practitioners came and went through the place. It felt as though they had opened a gate and stepped into another world.
Geom Mugeuk stopped the carriage as it slowly proceeded forward.
“Since we are here, let us get down and walk while looking around the main cult.”
Geom Mugeuk, the Sword King, and Jihan got down from the carriage.
When the passing demonic practitioners saw Geom Mugeuk, they respectfully cupped their fists and greeted him.
“We greet the Young Cult Leader!”
“Have you been well?”
“Yes!”
To the demonic practitioners who recognized him from afar and greeted him, Geom Mugeuk waved back one by one.
“I am not creating a pleasant atmosphere to make Brother Ak grow attached to this place! Please do not misunderstand!”
“I wasn’t thinking that.”
Geom Mugeuk within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was exactly as the Sword King had expected.
He was not the sort to treat experts well and treat subordinates roughly. And the Sword King could feel that the bright expressions directed at Geom Mugeuk were not false.
Geom Mugeuk asked Jihan,
“What do you think?”
“I still feel dazed.”
“From now on, this place is your home.”
It did not feel real that he had attacked the man who would one day become the master of this tremendous place, and that he had become that man’s subordinate.
Thus overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Divine Cult, they finally arrived at the Heavenly Demon Hall.
“You wait here. There is someone I will introduce to you later.”
“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”
After having Jihan wait, Geom Mugeuk looked at the Sword King and said,
“Brother Ak, let us go.”
The Sword King looked up at the statue of an evil spirit standing tall at the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Hall.
He truly had never imagined that the day would come in his life when he would meet the Heavenly Demon.
“Are you nervous?”
At Geom Mugeuk’s question, the Sword King shook his head.
“No.”
“As expected! Brother Ak, your nerve is the best.”
That was not the reason. Geom Mugeuk had missed the mark completely.
“It is not that I am nervous. I am frightened. Do you see my hand trembling here?”
“Why?”
“Because I am about to meet the man who gave birth to a son like you.”
Geom Mugeuk laughed and answered,
“Do not worry. Am I not the blue that surpassed the indigo, the tiger son of a tiger father, the later wave of the Yangtze? And my father is unexpectedly ordinary and affectionate.”
The two of them entered the Heavenly Demon Hall.
Far off, beyond the Path of Blood, Geom Ujin could be seen seated in the grand chair.
Already suffocating beneath his presence, the Sword King muttered under his breath,
“You damned liar.”