Chapter 275: I Told You Not to Choose the Cult
Chapter 275: I Told You Not to Choose the Cult
Naturally, the words were intended for the Sword Line’s ears.
Geom Mu-geuk rose from his seat and offered a respectful fist salute.
“I failed to greet you properly earlier. It is an honor to meet you.”
The Sword Line scrutinized Geom Mu-geuk with a piercing gaze. He had felt it during their initial encounter, but he found himself admiring the young man’s eyes and aura all over again.
To possess such clarity in his gaze despite practicing demonic arts? Truly remarkable.
The Sword Line’s eyes shifted to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon standing behind Geom Mu-geuk. He recalled the man's earlier words.
— It is possible to change.
When the Blade Demon spoke of his life changing, had he been referring to this Young Cult Leader?
The Sword Line spoke again, his tone low and solemn.
“Repeat what you said before.”
“I suspected you were unaware, Senior. Had you known, you never would have turned a blind eye to such depravity.”
The Sword Line had only accompanied the group at the request of Murim Alliance Leader Jin Pae-cheon to protect Jin Ha-gun; he had no idea what this business actually entailed. He hadn't been interested in the first place.
“Are you claiming that what you said is the truth?”
“It is. That man, Seo Cheong, murdered a passing traveler simply because he felt the urge to kill. He also murdered a warrior from our Cult. There are other victims as well. When I, who happened to be in Hunan, attempted to punish him, the Murim Alliance stepped in to obstruct me.”
The Sword Line turned a cold, sunken gaze toward Jin Ha-gun.
“Captain Jin, is this true?”
If he answered in the affirmative, the Sword Line’s temperament was such that a thunderous rebuke would follow—even if the offender was the Alliance Leader’s grandson, or the Alliance Leader himself.
Jin Ha-gun understood Geom Mu-geuk’s intention. He was being offered an exit strategy, using the Sword Line as his shield.
“It is true.”
In an instant, a wave of fury flared from the Sword Line.
Jin Ha-gun added quickly, “However, one fact has been omitted.” He looked at Seo Cheong as he spoke. “I was also planning to deliver a fitting punishment for Seo Cheong’s crimes.”
Jin Ha-gun knew this was the most natural way to wash his hands of the Heavenly Flower Sect.
“What kind of punishment?”
“I intended to imprison him in the dungeon. He would have remained there for the rest of his life.”
The Sword Line looked at Jin Ha-gun with suspicion. It was possible the boy was merely making excuses now that a master had intervened.
Jin Ha-gun met the Sword Line’s gaze boldly. In truth, he might have done it, or he might not have. He chose to believe in his own righteousness—that he would have punished the man eventually.
Finally, the Sword Line’s expression softened.
“Yes, I expected as much from you.”
Because he trusted Jin Ha-gun, the Sword Line lent him his support. He had watched the boy grow since childhood. He knew Jin Ha-gun had lived more diligently than anyone and was fundamentally upright.
“I believe you.”
“I will continue to improve so as not to disappoint you, Senior.”
Jin Ha-gun felt a wave of relief that the situation was no longer moving toward absorbing the Heavenly Flower Sect. Looking back, he realized he had been utterly blinded by greed.
Of course, that didn't mean the Sword Line’s anger had vanished. Its target had simply shifted.
The Sword Line’s gaze fell upon Seo Cheong. Normally, one would have the sense to rush over when a master of his caliber looked their way, but Seo Cheong stood frozen in terror.
Seo Baek-jung called out loudly.
“What are you doing? Get over here this instant!”
The Sword Line was already incensed. If they rubbed him the wrong way, they could lose their lives right here.
“I said, get over here!” Seo Baek-jung shouted, sending a frantic message via Voice Transmission.
— Do as the Sword Line says! Come here and beg for forgiveness until you're half-dead!
— Save me, Father! I can’t go to the dungeon! I’ll die if I go there!
— Shut up! This is no time for a tantrum!
Frightened by his father’s outburst, Seo Cheong stumbled toward the Sword Line, his face pale with dread.
Seo Baek-jung’s desperate Voice Transmission flew to Jin Ha-gun.
— Please, stop him!
— Now that the Sword Line has stepped in, there is nothing I can do. As you know, Sect Leader, the Sword Line is a close friend of the Alliance Leader and a man who has spent his life performing heroic deeds. Who can stop him?
— Are you really doing this? Do you think your master will let this slide?
Seo Baek-jung brought up Jin Ha-gun’s master. Certainly, his master was the factor that weighed most heavily on Jin Ha-gun’s mind. However, with the Sword Line involved and his own decision to cut ties with the Heavenly Flower Sect made, Jin Ha-gun believed his master would understand.
— Even he cannot go against the will of the Sword Line.
Meanwhile, Seo Cheong stood before the Sword Line.
The legendary master asked him with cold eyes, “Is what I heard from the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult true?”
Seo Cheong hesitated, his mind racing. His gaze drifted back to Seo Baek-jung.
If he were innocent, he would have denied it and pleaded his case. This behavior alone was as good as a full confession.
Seo Baek-jung stepped in on his behalf.
“The matter is still under investigation, and the truth has not yet been fully revealed.”
He tried to evade the moment by any means necessary, hoping Jin Ha-gun would back him up out of a sense of lingering guilt.
But the Sword Line turned back to Geom Mu-geuk.
“Young Cult Leader, is what this man says true?”
“It is not. All his atrocities have already been brought to light.”
The Sword Line then rebuked Seo Baek-jung with a chilling glare.
“Do you dare lie to me?”
The Sword Line wasn't even satisfied with mere imprisonment. His life’s creed was to execute those who killed the innocent, regardless of their status.
Seo Baek-jung bowed his head as if in apology while sending another Voice Transmission to his son.
— Kneel and beg, now!
Only then did Seo Cheong drop to his knees. He was consumed by dread.
Not the dungeon! Anything but that!
Seo Cheong pleaded with the Sword Line.
“I… I made a mistake because I was drunk. I don’t remember what happened that day. Please, forgive me.”
The Sword Line’s expression grew even colder. Instead of an admission of guilt, the boy had called it a "mistake." And he had the audacity to blame the alcohol?
One could judge the whole by a single part; the Sword Line instantly grasped what kind of person Seo Cheong was.
“A mistake?”
“Yes, it was a mistake.”
“Then why did you kill the others?”
“That’s…”
He couldn't think of an excuse. He looked up, pleading.
“Please, just this once, forgive me.”
“I am asking you why you killed them.”
Under the frost-like interrogation, Seo Cheong’s mind went blank. In that hollow, white-out state, an emotion surged from deep within him. It was the one he had used most against others throughout his life: rage.
Seo Cheong was angry. No one had ever pushed him this far before.
In the next moment, he screamed.
“Because I wanted to kill them!”
Silence fell over the area.
“Because it felt thrilling when I killed them!” Seo Cheong looked up and scanned his surroundings, shouting even louder. “You all know that feeling! You’ve killed far more people than I have! Why are you only picking on me?!”
Everyone present merely stared at him with icy eyes.
It was Seo Baek-jung who rushed to him.
Slap!
Seo Baek-jung struck Seo Cheong’s cheek without mercy.
“Shut up!”
“Why are you hitting me? Did I say anything wrong?!”
He should have realized his father was hitting him to save him, but in his agitated state, Seo Cheong was blind to everything.
“Why is that old man trying to punish me? This isn't Murim Alliance territory, it’s Demonic Cult territory! If I’m to be punished, it should be by those people!”
Slap! Slap!
Seo Baek-jung beat Seo Cheong relentlessly.
Whom could he blame? It was his own fault for raising his child this way.
Seo Baek-jung could feel it—the Sword Line’s fury had reached its peak. He feared the Sword Line might kill Seo Cheong right then and there. He quickly sent a Voice Transmission to Bi Sa-in.
— We will align ourselves with the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
Bi Sa-in did not respond immediately to the desperate message. The hilt of the sword was now in his hands.
Bi Sa-in marveled at Geom Mu-geuk. To drag the Sword Line into this and steer the situation like this? In hindsight, it seemed like something anyone could think of, but it was a feat few could actually pull off.
While Seo Baek-jung was busy trying to pull the Unorthodox Path Alliance to his side via Voice Transmission, Seo Cheong, unable to contain himself, caused another disaster.
He was furious with his father. He misunderstood his father’s silence as an attempt to save himself while leaving his son to rot. And his father had even dared to hit him. Since there had never been affection or trust between the kin, only extreme thoughts emerged in this extreme situation.
Driven by the misconception that his father had abandoned him and fueled by terror, Seo Cheong spat out words that should never have been said.
“You killed people too, Father!”
A panicked Seo Baek-jung quickly spoke to the Sword Line.
“He’s terrified and just babbling nonsense. Please, pay him no mind.”
Seo Baek-jung turned to Seo Cheong, his face contorted.
— Shut up! Do you really want to kill your own father too?
He had spoken out of desperation, but it was a slip of the tongue. Seo Cheong interpreted those words as: If you're going to die, die alone!
Seo Cheong screamed as if in a fit.
“You poisoned the Evil Poison Sword and buried him in the bamboo grove on the back hill! You killed the Three Wolves of Hunan, and you killed the Extermination Sword too!”
A sudden silence followed.
Names that should never have been mentioned had come out. While the Three Wolves of Hunan and the Extermination Sword were figures caught between the Orthodox and Unorthodox paths, the Evil Poison Sword was a warrior belonging to the Unorthodox Path Alliance.
Seo Baek-jung looked at Bi Sa-in with a face full of dismay.
— So, the missing Evil Poison Sword was buried on your back hill, Sect Leader Seo.
— It’s a misunderstanding.
— No need for excuses. The Evil Poison Sword wasn't one of my people anyway.
— Then… will you still take our hand?
— I’m afraid that would be difficult. Even for the Unorthodox Faction, we have our pride.
He couldn't accept them knowing they had killed an Unorthodox warrior. There were too many eyes watching. Geom Mu-geuk had rolled a golden opportunity right to him, but it had rolled right past his grasp.
In the end, Seo Baek-jung clung to the rope furthest from him.
“We will join hands with the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Please, accept us.”
Seo Baek-jung didn't even use Voice Transmission. He didn't have the luxury to coordinate the situation privately anymore. Not only his son, but his own life was now at stake. The only place left to turn was the Demonic Cult.
Seeing this, Bi Sa-in sighed inwardly, realizing it had come to this. When Geom Mu-geuk had jokingly told them not to choose the Cult at the beginning, Bi Sa-in had a premonition that this might be the eventual outcome.
And it had actually happened.
“I believe I clearly stated that I wasn't interested,” Geom Mu-geuk said. “I told you not to choose the Cult.”
“Please, I beg of you, accept us.”
“I said no. Go to your beloved Murim Alliance over there.”
“Please!”
“The Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Path over there might look scary, but he’s a good man. Go to him.”
“Please let us join the Divine Cult! I am begging you!” Seo Baek-jung grabbed the hem of Geom Mu-geuk’s robes and pleaded.
“This is quite troublesome.”
It played out exactly as Bi Sa-in had expected. Finally, as if giving in, Geom Mu-geuk spoke tentatively.
“Fine. But there is one condition.”
“Name it.”
“Your son goes to the dungeon. As long as the Heavenly Flower Sect’s loyalty does not waver, I will postpone his execution.”
It wasn't a pardon. Life in the Demonic Cult’s dungeon would bring pain far greater than death.
At those words, Seo Cheong was horrified and began to thrash again.
“Save me! Why me?! Just because I killed a few insignificant nobodies, why me?! Father, save me!”
He had lived his entire life with utter arrogance, but now he was finally tasting the true terror of the world.
“You hypocrites! You kill whenever you want, so why can’t I?!”
Seo Baek-jung let out a sigh. His son looked as if he were screaming whatever the Grim Reaper whispered in his ear. Eventually, Seo Cheong even hurled curses at Seo Baek-jung.
“What kind of father abandons his own child?! How can a man like that lead a sect?! You bastard!”
It was the moment the bond between the two was completely severed.
Seo Baek-jung thought that for the sake of the Heavenly Flower Sect, this might be the better path. The sect would continue to function, and his son was alive, at least. That would have to be enough.
Seo Baek-jung tried to settle his mind with that thought. Then, Gwang Seom, who hadn't said a single word until now, strode forward and called out to him.
“Sect Leader Seo.”
The moment Seo Baek-jung reflexively turned toward him—
Swaaaaak!
Slice.
Gwang Seom cut him down with a single strike. His blade was so fast it was invisible.
No one had expected him to kill Seo Baek-jung, so everyone was stunned. His son, Seo Cheong, was especially shell-shocked. He collapsed on the spot, his face turning ashen with the fear that he would be next.
Gwang Seom bowed to Bi Sa-in and spoke briefly.
“The Evil Poison Sword was my sworn younger brother. I will gladly accept any punishment for acting without orders.”
Even Geom Mu-geuk hadn't known that fact. When the indifferent heavens take an interest in the world, they leave no room for escape.
Watching this, the Sword Line sent a Voice Transmission to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
— Did you orchestrate this situation?
He assumed the Blade Demon had been sending Voice Transmissions and planning the strategy throughout the meeting. That was how the Sword Line remembered him.
— I wish I could say I did, but…
The Blade Demon was not the type to lie about such things. The Sword Line’s gaze shifted to Geom Mu-geuk.
— I suppose I’ll have to live a long life.
He realized belatedly that even he had moved according to Geom Mu-geuk’s design.
— If you meddle that much, you won't hear anything good from the younger generation.
— That’s fine.
And so, the Heavenly Flower Sect was settled.
With Seo Baek-jung dead and Seo Cheong imprisoned in the dungeon, a new leader who followed the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would now rise to lead the sect.
Everyone’s attention naturally focused on Geom Mu-geuk.
Today, he had achieved everything. He had absorbed the Heavenly Flower Sect and ensured Seo Cheong paid for his crimes. Standing there with a faint, relaxed smile, he now felt like a completely different person.
If someone were to say that nine out of ten rumors are exaggerated, at least those present here would shake their heads and say: Geom Mu-geuk is that remaining one.
Jin Ha-gun and Bi Sa-in slowly walked toward Geom Mu-geuk, standing in a circle to face him.
Just as their meeting had been, the first parting of the three successors—an unprecedented event in the history of the Murim—was about to begin.