Chapter 391. A Day It Wouldn’t Have Been Strange to Die.

There was still liquor left, but the Cult Leader rose to his feet.

I could have drunk and chattered all night, but the Cult Leader did not give me the chance to chatter.

I got up after him and gestured toward the entrance. Whether the Cult Leader wanted it or not, I intended to see him off.

The Cult Leader looked around Zaha Inn, then turned away.

It was not simply because the Cult Leader was strong. Because he had appeared after even looking around Ilyang County, even I could not treat him carelessly.

I matched the Cult Leader’s steps and stood beside him on his right.

Judging from experience, it was only right for a madman to stand to the Cult Leader’s right. And so, occupying the Bright Right Envoy’s place, I walked with the Cult Leader for a while.

At the entrance, the Cult Leader looked at me as if I were an annoying fly, so I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“When else would I get to walk with the Cult Leader? Let’s go.”

He probably wanted to tell me to get lost, but the Cult Leader had a line he abided by, so he did not speak recklessly.

The Cult Leader’s pace was slow.

I walked beside him as though driving away the darkness that had covered Zaha Inn. I wanted to call Eldest Brother out and walk with him too, but I could not drag out someone who said he did not want to.

As we walked, I asked the Cult Leader.

“Will you be bringing around ten people from the cult as well?”

“Fewer than that.”

“By the way, when did you surpass the other Three Calamities?”

“I already knew when we fought.”

I nodded, then voiced what I had been guessing.

“Senior Cheonak seemed to have roughly caught on. Am I right?”

“Each of them thinks differently, so I cannot know.”

Only now did I come to understand that the ranking beneath heaven had been the Cult Leader, Cheonak, and the Divine Beggar. The reason the other Three Calamities had shut themselves away to train was this clear.

My guess was that the three of them had not used techniques meant to take each other down with them. Either that, or they were still hiding their trump cards…

In other words, back then, it did not seem as though one person had held an overwhelming advantage for certain.

Just a slight edge, perhaps?

Senior Divine Beggar and Cheonak must have realized that as time passed, the gap between them and the Cult Leader might widen further, and so they devoted themselves to training.

It was certain the Cult Leader had the advantage, but if Cheonak and the Divine Beggar resolved to perish together with him at the same time, the reality was that even the Cult Leader would likely not survive.

Now, though, who knew?

Even walking beside him, I could not grasp the Cult Leader’s presence, could not gauge his level, and could not find anything resembling an opening.

Merely walking alongside him made my hands and feet feel as though they were flailing slightly.

Because I was tense.

But strategically speaking, getting beaten in advance was better than feeling it for the first time in a fight, so walking with him was the best thing I had done since coming here.

Even though I appeared together with the Cult Leader, the cultists kept their mouths firmly shut.

However, their gazes gathered on me all at once.

Where else would there be an attention seeker like me?

The cultists also stared at me as though looking at some strange animal. I spoke to the black-clad cultists standing by.

“…Cultists, listen. Since the position of Right Envoy has become vacant again, I will temporarily take charge of it.”

“…!”

Left Envoy Wi, who was nearby, snapped his head around and narrowed his brow, glaring at me before looking at the Cult Leader.

At this unexpected bullshit, the Cult Leader stared at me silently.

“……”

Thinking this was my chance, I began a staring contest with the Cult Leader for a moment. The Cult Leader said,

“Sect Leader, what sort of bullshit is this?”

I ignored the Cult Leader’s words and looked at the cultists.

“The bastard who newly became the Bright Right Envoy was defeated by the former Left Envoy and died. And the Bright Right Envoy before him left of his own accord because his mental health was in danger. That means the position is vacant. The term will last until I reunite with your Cult Leader on Mount Hua. If I die then, I will give up the position as well. Before that, even if you covet the Right Envoy’s seat, don’t aim for it. You are not ready yet.”

Left Envoy Wi opened his mouth.

“Cult Leader, the Sect Leader’s jest is far too…”

The Cult Leader answered.

“It is a joke, so let it pass.”

“Yes.”

Left Envoy Wi spoke to me.

“Sect Leader, even jokes should be made with regard to the time and place.”

I glared at Left Envoy Wi. It seemed this bastard did not know me. If I could make a joke like this, then I was the sort of person who could also stake my life on it.

“Left Envoy Wi.”

“Speak.”

“You money-grubbing worm, greed plastered all over your face.”

“What?”

“All you care about is money, and when it comes to your sinister insides and skill at flattery, you must be the best under heaven. If you truly want to become Left Envoy, then it is only right that you settle matters with the former Left Envoy inside that ruined inn over there and then claim to be Left Envoy. The Bright Sword is also in the former Left Envoy’s possession, so how are you the Left Envoy? Have some shame.”

Left Envoy Wi pointed at me with one finger as if he were about to attack.

I looked at that finger and said,

“…From what I hear, you use the lives of cultists to increase your family’s wealth.”

Left Envoy Wi’s eyes immediately widened.

I continued speaking.

“You are a bastard who won’t die peacefully. Make sure you come up to Mount Hua too. Whether I kill you or Senior Cheonak kills you, I want to see you get beaten to death by someone. Got it? I will let you live today.”

Left Envoy Wi’s face turned bright red, as though he had taken a direct hit from the Flame Realm Great Hand Seal. Because the Cult Leader was silent beside him, he looked as if he could neither do this nor that.

But I laughed to myself.

The Cult Leader said to me,

“Sect Leader.”

“Speak.”

“Your mouth truly is unparalleled in the murim.”

I gave the Cult Leader a rough cupped-fist salute.

“You flatter me, you flatter me.”

Still not laughing?

Before my eyes, I witnessed the world’s greatest master at holding back laughter.

‘What an impressive man. His cultivation is deep.’

The Cult Leader activated his sowing of discord.

“Left Envoy Wi.”

“Yes.”

“If you do not like it, have a life-and-death duel here and now. Either fight the Sect Leader, or, as the Sect Leader said, fight the former Left Envoy inside. What will you do?”

Left Envoy Wi seemed to have a fairly quick-working mind, for he answered right away.

“…Cult Leader, I too will ascend Mount Hua.”

The Cult Leader wore a sneer, then tossed a single remark at Left Envoy Wi.

“I thought your composure was impressive as well, but it seems you cannot endure the Sect Leader’s jokes.”

Only then did Left Envoy Wi lower his head with an expression as though he had come to his senses.

“Yes. For a moment… I will keep it in mind.”

I asked the Cult Leader.

“Has the Third Young Master returned? It’s been a long time since I last saw him.”

“I heard he was putting his maternal family’s affairs in order.”

“He has a subordinate named Sambok beneath him. The man is quick-witted and has rendered many services.”

The Cult Leader answered.

“And what would you have me do?”

“This is what you call making a request. A subordinate of outstanding loyalty deserves praise, whether he belongs to an enemy or an ally. Just because someone earns you money doesn’t automatically make him a loyal retainer.”

I attacked Left Envoy Wi until the very end.

The Cult Leader nodded with a faint smile.

“You are right.”

From that subtle expression, I realized that the Cult Leader had never been especially fond of Left Envoy Wi to begin with. A man like the Cult Leader was surely capable of fully understanding and making use of his subordinates.

Since the atmosphere had grown rather awkward, I told the Cult Leader, in a serious tone, why I had followed him all the way here.

“……Though we met as enemies, thank you for sparing my young disciple. And for sparing Jang Deuksu, Junior Sister Hongshin, and the ordinary people of Ilyang County as well. Whatever the reason, today would not have been a strange day for Senior Sword Demon and me to die.”

I looked at the Cult Leader, then offered him courtesy in an even voice.

“Take care on your way. I’ll see you at Mount Hua.”

Showing courtesy to the Cult Leader was extremely difficult for me as well, but when I thought of Yoran and Brother Deuksu and his wife, I could have shown him even greater courtesy than this.

The Cult Leader looked at me, gave a slight nod, and climbed into the carriage.

“Let us go.”

The cultists all turned in unison, following the direction of the carriage. Not one of them showed me any courtesy, but since we were in a relationship where we killed and were killed by one another, it did not matter.

I watched the carriage depart, then stared for a long while at the forces moving after the Cult Leader.

Though we had not fought, each time I breathed, I thought several times of massacring every cultist there except the Cult Leader, and each time I held myself back well.

In the end, there was more I wanted to say, but because of the atmosphere I could not bring it up.

‘I should have talked more…….’

For some reason, the Cult Leader looked as though he had deliberately left because he did not want to listen to me for long.

By and large, he was a man with whom conversation did not go well.

First of all, I had not been able to tell him that if an all-out war broke out, regardless of what became of the Cult Leader’s martial might, every cultist here would have died at the hands of Eldest Brother and me.

On the day we met again at Mount Hua…….

I also had not been able to tell him to fight to his heart’s content, even if only once in his life, beat down all those outstanding masters, and feel a bit of what happiness was. After all, I had no aversion at all to a martial artist facing another martial artist.

A person that dark had to experience happiness before he could change…….

He was a man firmly enclosed by a psychological wall of ten-thousand-year cold iron of his own making.

No one looked back at me, but I saw that strange religion off until all the cultists had disappeared.

Saying I would become the Brightness Right Preceptor was a joke, but.

My feelings about him having spared the weak, including Yoran, were no lie. Since this was the most important part of my inner world, it was only natural to convey it in words.

I turned around and looked at the Zaha Inn, which had gone under before it could even open for business.

‘Ruined again.’

Of course, it was not only the Zaha Inn that had been ruined.

Since I could have been ruined as well, I needed to spend the time that remained meaningfully.

I stood at the entrance of the Zaha Inn and looked at the Seven Killers of Yunnan. Even the somewhat cheeky Manbak Demon Lord had nothing to say. They looked like refugees left standing blankly in the place where a typhoon had passed.

I considered sending them back, but because of Eldest Brother’s meal, I left them as they were.

“……Let’s just eat.”

The one in charge of the Seven Killers of Yunnan’s meals answered in a quiet tone.

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

When I returned, Eldest Brother finally sat down at the table and said.

“Did you say everything you wanted to say?”

I sat opposite him and answered.

“I couldn’t. He’s a difficult man. Seems he doesn’t like listening.”

Eldest Brother snorted, then replied.

“Is that so. He probably left because he thought he would get swept up if he listened to you for too long.”

“Is he that quick on the uptake?”

Eldest Brother nodded.

“I have never seen a man talk as well as you do in front of the Cult Leader. In any case, when he said around ten people, it meant he wanted to watch other people’s martial contests as well. Since childhood, his only hobbies must have been fighting directly or watching others fight. In truth, the other cultists are not much different.”

I tilted my head.

“That’s a bit strange. In any case, other than the Cult Leader, I don’t think there’s any master capable of facing Senior Cheonak.”

“Someone like Left Envoy Wi could challenge me or Cheonak. Or they might face a master whose strength has been somewhat drained as a group. They would likely think that was, to some degree, balanced.”

“One sparring match, one life-and-death duel. Two in total, then. Let’s deal with that when we see the situation.”

We would only know the details once we went there.

Eldest Brother, who had stopped the cup he was bringing to his mouth, looked toward the entrance.

“…….”

When I turned around, the Lust Demon, looking as though he had become a branch chief of the Beggar Gang, was coming in while gasping for breath. His clothes were torn here and there, and his face and garments were covered in someone’s blood.

The Lust Demon came to the side of the table and said to Eldest Brother.

“Master, I’m here.”

Eldest Brother looked his disciple up and down and answered.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

To anyone’s eyes, he looked as though he had arrived after breaking through several battlefields like Zhao Zilong, but the little shit answered in a confident tone.

“Nothing happened.”

“You worked hard.”

When the Lust Demon took the seat to my right, Eldest Brother personally poured him wine. The Lust Demon swallowed it as though drinking water, then let out a long breath. At the same time, white steam was rising in wisps from the crown of the Lust Demon’s head.

The Lust Demon looked at me.

“Nothing happened here?”

I nodded.

“The Cult Leader came by.”

“I see…… what?”

“First of all, he took the First Killer from us, and after we reunite at Mount Hua, we’re going to fight.”

The Lust Demon nodded, then reported to Eldest Brother.

“Master, the Fist King and Yi Gunak were each injured. Their external wounds aren’t serious, but they inhaled poisonous mist, so they won’t be able to move easily for a while.”

According to the Cult Leader, the Fist King’s side had suffered the greatest damage, and it seemed that was because the Lust Demon had been mixed up in it.

I poured wine for the two of them.

While drinking, the Lust Demon suddenly turned his head and looked at the Seven Killers of Yunnan, who were cooking rice.

“What are you lot? You look like Unorthodox Faction bastards.”

I answered in their stead.

“They’re not Unorthodox Faction.”

The Lust Demon looked at me.

“Then?”

I looked at Manbak Demon Lord and said.

“The waiters and the cooks.”

The Lecher soon drew the attention of the Yunnan Seven Killers, then slipped a hand into his robe and pulled out a crumpled piece of cloth. He set it down on the table and spoke as he smoothed out the wrinkles with his hand.

“……Senior Fist King said he didn’t have anything like a flag, so he made this in a hurry before I came. In any case, he asked me to deliver it.”

Together with Eldest Brother, I looked at the crumpled flag the Fist King had sent.

In bold, vigorous strokes……

A single character was written there: Fist (拳).

For a moment, Eldest Brother and I met each other’s eyes, then laughed at the same time. The strategy had been seen through by the Cult Leader and was as good as a failure, but it felt as though we had received a gift.

I lifted the flag in my hands and admired it as though it were a work of art.

“A precious gift.”

This was a gift that seeped into my heart alone.