Chapter 319: It Is Always Because of the Young Cult Leader
Chapter 319: It Is Always Because of the Young Cult Leader
That night, the Pungcheon Cult Leader paced the courtyard, sleep eluding him.
Geom Mu-geuk’s words—to look at others as they are, without the lens of prejudice—echoed relentlessly in his mind.
He realized he had failed to see his own disciple, So Baek-ta, with any semblance of objectivity. He had focused solely on their differences. Was he always this kind of person? I don't think he used to be like this.
He hadn't truly looked at the man; he had merely been swayed by his own turbulent emotions.
‘He changed the Cult Leader’s Palace that much? He wouldn't have done that if he had any respect for me.’
But thinking about it coldly, respect for a master and renovating a palace were two entirely separate matters. So Baek-ta might have made the decision casually, or perhaps there was another reason altogether.
Yes, Geom Mu-geuk was right. The answer didn't lie within his own heart, but within So Baek-ta himself. Instead of fixating on the altered palace, he should have looked into So Baek-ta’s eyes.
As he paced the front yard lost in these thoughts, the Demon Buddha walked out, his faint golden light cutting through the darkness.
“Which of the three leaders is keeping you awake?”
“Three leaders?”
“Is it our Young Cult Leader? Or the current leader of the Pungcheon Cult?”
“And the third?”
The Demon Buddha stared intently at the Pungcheon Cult Leader. Only then did the man realize that the final leader the Demon Buddha referred to was himself—the former leader.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader gave a self-deprecating laugh.
“The problem is always because of that last leader.”
The Demon Buddha offered a different perspective.
“No. The reason we cannot sleep is because of the Young Cult Leader.”
How could he not know?
If it weren't for the Young Cult Leader, this very moment wouldn't exist. So Baek-ta would still be stuck staring at the Cult Leader’s Palace, wondering, ‘When will I finally become the leader?’
Thinking about it sent a shiver down his spine.
Go Wol would still be bound to the palace. No—since he held the key to his own shackles, he might have simply vanished by now.
And he himself, without ever knowing what kind of person Go Wol truly was, would be fuming with rage while ordering his execution. The thought of living such a life was terrifying.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader sat on a rock to meet the Demon Buddha’s eyes.
If it weren't for the Young Cult Leader, the Demon Buddha would likely be living a very different life as well. If the current Young Cult Leader had been anyone else, would the First Young Master have ever become the successor?
Then, the Demon Buddha spoke unexpectedly.
“To be honest, I’ve been enjoying myself lately.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader was startled. The words ‘You’ve gone mad’ almost slipped out of his mouth.
To hear the word "enjoy" from the Demon Buddha’s lips... well, he was human, so he was capable of joy. But he hadn't expected the man to reveal such vulnerability to him.
“I enjoy this feeling of living a life that isn't mine. Was my life truly that tedious until now?”
A life where he had set aside power struggles, a life where he traveled all this way to help the Pungcheon Cult Leader, a life where he received papers filled with drawings of poisonous herbs—he was certainly living a life far removed from his past.
“I never once thought to ask, ‘What would it be like to live a different life?’”
Listening to him, the Pungcheon Cult Leader spoke up.
“Come to think of it, I don't think I’ve ever looked at you properly either.”
Not when they were like friends, not when they were hurling insults during the succession struggle, and not even until this very moment. He felt as though he had never truly seen the man behind the title.
The Demon Buddha wasn't offended. He understood the weight behind the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s words. Because of that, he reached a simple conclusion.
“So, the responsibility for all of this lies with the Young Cult Leader.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader nodded with a smile.
“Yes, it’s always because of the Young Cult Leader. It’s all because of our arrogant and clever Young Cult Leader, who won't even let his elders sleep.”
Lately, he found badmouthing the Demon Buddha and Geom Mu-geuk to be his greatest source of entertainment. He was always most animated when he was complaining about Geom Mu-geuk.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader looked up at the night sky. The moon of the Outer Lands looked desolate and lonely. Then, he suddenly caught himself.
‘I’m doing it again. I’m looking for the answer in my heart first.’
He looked up at the moon again. Looking at it once more, the moon of the Outer Lands was the same as the moon of the Central Plains. Yes, he would practice even while looking at the moon. The answer was in the moon itself, not his perception of it.
*
The next day, before heading to the welcome banquet, they held a strategy meeting.
“By now, the mastermind behind this will have lost contact with the woman from the Flower Garden,” Geom Mu-geuk said. “They will naturally assume we’ve dealt with her. There will be two reactions: they’ll either lay low or retaliate.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader and the Demon Buddha didn't look frightened. It was only natural; they couldn't imagine anyone daring to seek revenge against the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Demon Buddha, and the former Pungcheon Cult Leader all at once.
But Geom Mu-geuk knew better. The opponent was the Illusion King, who had just lost Hwan-yeo. No one knew how he would act. He sharpened their awareness.
“As you saw through the woman from the Flower Garden, these are people who use the lost demonic arts of the Blood Cult. We don't know what might come at us, so you must not let your guard down.”
The mention of the Blood Cult had an immediate effect on the Pungcheon Cult Leader. The moment he heard the name, his eyes grew intense. He was a man who firmly believed in the conspiracies of those seeking to revive the fallen Blood Cult.
“Cult Leader, please keep a close eye on the attendees at today’s banquet to see if anyone has fallen victim to Soul-Seizing Techniques.”
He gave a different request to the Demon Buddha.
“They might try to catch us off guard by approaching you instead of me or the Cult Leader. Please be mindful of that and watch for any suspicious individuals.”
Geom Mu-geuk stood up, his voice firm.
“Now, let us go. The war begins now.”
He left the guest hall with the two men. The Pungcheon Cult Leader and the Demon Buddha walked on either side of Geom Mu-geuk. Here in the Outer Lands, they were his wings.
*
The five great elders of the Pungcheon Cult, as well as all the major masters, were gathered at the welcome banquet.
Not everyone in the Pungcheon Cult was a master of illusion. There were also pure martial artists who eschewed the mystic arts. Elder Hu Yang, who was currently greeting the Pungcheon Cult Leader warmly, was one such person. He was a master of swordsmanship belonging to the Three Great Swordsmen of the Outer Regions.
“It has been a long time.”
Since he could no longer use the title "Cult Leader," Hu Yang felt awkward about how to address the former leader.
“Have you been well?”
“I have been well, thanks to you. It seems you’ve lost a lot of weight.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader gave a satisfied smile. That was the phrase he enjoyed hearing most these days.
“Your face looks at peace as well.”
“Thank you. You look very well yourself.”
In the past, he would have naturally thought: We had a good relationship before, so of course he’s still favorable toward me.
But now, the Pungcheon Cult Leader gazed at him calmly. Is that really the case?
Now, this question felt heavy. This was what Geom Mu-geuk meant. Don't judge based on past relationships, personality, reputation, pleasant words, or even slips of the tongue. Look and listen directly to the eyes, expressions, and words directed at you right now.
“I’m sorry I couldn't appoint you to a more significant position,” the former leader said.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I respected you as a pure martial artist. I was grateful that you dedicated yourself to our Cult. I intended to give you better treatment, but I kept putting it off and missed the opportunity. I am sorry.”
He apologized. Offering such apologies was another change that had occurred after meeting Geom Mu-geuk. He had apologized to Go Wol, to the Demon Buddha, and now to Hu Yang. Yes, he would apologize to them all.
He could feel Hu Yang’s fluster. The man couldn't hide his confusion over what the former leader’s intentions might be.
Yes, this was the true extent of his relationship with Hu Yang. A distance where a sudden act of kindness sparked bewilderment and suspicion. This was the gap between them. The vague sense of closeness he had felt before was merely an emotion that existed in his own heart.
As he made an effort to look closely, he saw things he hadn't noticed before.
“I just told you because I might not have another chance to say it.”
“I am grateful that you thought of me that way.”
Starting with Hu Yang, the other elders also came to greet the Pungcheon Cult Leader. After greeting each of them, the Pungcheon Cult Leader asked, “I don't see Elder Seong, however.”
Hu Yang spoke cautiously. “Elder Seong has stepped down from his position as an elder.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader was shocked. Elder Seong, a man named Seong Ya, was the Chief Elder of the five great elders. He was also the person the leader had cherished most.
“What was the reason for his resignation?”
“He said he simply wished to rest now.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader recalled what Elder Seong had said when he was stepping down from the position of Cult Leader to leave.
— I will serve the new Cult Leader until my life ends.
— I’m leaving, trusting only in you.
That was the kind of man he was, yet he resigned because he wanted to rest? That couldn't be right. If he had stepped down, there had to be a reason.
Meanwhile, people were also coming to greet Geom Mu-geuk. The chance to meet the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult in person was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Everyone introduced themselves, trying to make an impression.
Then, one woman offered a bold greeting.
“If I had known the Young Cult Leader was this handsome, I would have escaped the Outer Lands long ago.”
She was a middle-aged woman with a pleasant impression. Unlike the people of the Pungcheon Cult, who often gave off a coarse or sinister aura, she had kind eyes.
“I am Gu Suk.”
“I am Geom Mu-geuk.”
Geom Mu-geuk knew who she was. She was one of the five great elders and a woman who had been fiercely loyal to the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader walked over and spoke.
“If you fall for the Young Cult Leader, you really will end up attempting an escape.”
Gu Suk laughed brightly and greeted the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
“Just like my older brother?”
“Older brother?”
At the word "older brother," not only the Pungcheon Cult Leader but everyone around them was startled.
“Now that you’ve stepped down as Cult Leader, I should call you 'older brother.' Don't you remember? I said I’d call you that once you stepped down.”
To be honest, he didn't remember. Since she wouldn't make up such a thing, he realized once again how poorly he had listened to others.
“I thought you were joking.”
“I have never once told a joke.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader just blinked as he listened, but Geom Mu-geuk could feel it. She truly respected the former leader.
“Young Cult Leader, I hope I have the chance to treat you to a drink before you return.”
“I would be happy to, anytime,” Geom Mu-geuk replied. “How could I miss the chance to learn about wine and life from a beautiful older sister who has seen it all?”
At Geom Mu-geuk’s playful remark, Gu Suk laughed heartily and teased the Pungcheon Cult Leader, telling him he should try to be even half as charming as the Young Cult Leader.
While there were elders with such refreshing personalities, there were also those like Wang Hyo, who only offered a brief greeting before quietly observing from the shadows.
Laughter erupted from the side. Geom Mu-geuk turned to see the Demon Buddha sitting on a table, effortlessly chatting with the guests. Having met many people in his life, he had a natural talent for leading a conversation.
Then, the Cult Leader, So Baek-ta, entered the banquet hall.
As he entered, the warriors of the Pungcheon Cult stood in unison to show their respect. The pattern from yesterday had been completely erased from So Baek-ta’s face. Perhaps because of that, the sinister atmosphere felt pure today.
So Baek-ta attended to Geom Mu-geuk first.
“Today is for you, Young Cult Leader, so please eat and drink to your heart’s content.”
“I only realized today how delicious the wine of the Outer Lands is.”
“It is a special wine prepared for an honored guest.”
Next, he greeted the Demon Buddha, and finally, he attended to the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
“Master, did you sleep well?”
“I slept comfortably, thanks to our Cult Leader’s concern.”
He deliberately used the term "our Cult Leader" so everyone could hear. Regardless of where or how the mastermind had infiltrated, the Pungcheon Cult Leader felt a responsibility to protect So Baek-ta and the Pungcheon Cult.
“Cult Leader.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Returning to the Cult after so long, I suddenly find myself wanting to see the Sound Thunder Bell. May I see it?”
“Of course. I will escort you.”
He said it partly because he wanted to be alone with So Baek-ta, but he also truly wanted to see the Sound Thunder Bell. Leaving the banquet hall, So Baek-ta led the Pungcheon Cult Leader toward the Cult Leader’s Palace.
‘The Sound Thunder Bell wasn't in the place we went yesterday.’
Though he was curious, the Pungcheon Cult Leader followed silently behind So Baek-ta. Entering the Cult Leader’s Palace, So Baek-ta sat on the Grand Tutor’s Chair and injected internal energy into the armrest.
At that, the walls on all sides began to rise.
Rumble.
Behind the walls were display cases where the sacred relics of the Pungcheon Cult were kept.
“Since I was changing the interior anyway, I changed the storage of the relics as well.”
“It’s a very sophisticated mechanism. Impressive.”
Of course, it didn't suit the Pungcheon Cult Leader, who had lived for the simple pleasure of looking at the relics. He walked slowly, admiring the treasures. Seeing them after so long brought back a flood of memories. He had taken all of these with him when he went to the Divine Cult.
The Sound Thunder Bell was placed in the center, directly behind the Grand Tutor’s Chair.
“It has been a long time indeed.”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader’s gaze deepened as he looked at the bell. It had been so long since he had seen the evil ghost engraved upon its surface.
‘Go Wol says hello.’
So Baek-ta, standing beside him, spoke softly.
“Do you remember what you said to me when you left the Cult?”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader flinched. ‘What did I say when I left?’
He had been so distracted back then. His only thought had been to finish the job quickly and return to Go Wol. But even so, how could he not remember his own words?
Just like how he had forgotten what Gu Suk had said to him. This wasn't a matter of having a good or bad memory. It was a matter of his attitude toward life. It was the habit of being intoxicated by his own emotions, not looking at others properly, and not listening to their words. That was why he forgot everything.
To him, reality... must have been a world lesser than the one inside an illusion.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader, who had been staring at the Sound Thunder Bell, turned his head to look at So Baek-ta.
So Baek-ta calmly repeated the words the Pungcheon Cult Leader had said that day.
“‘I did not achieve my dream, but you must make sure to achieve yours.’”
Hearing those words, he remembered. Yes, he had said that. What else would a departing man say? He had said it with the hope that So Baek-ta would remain for a long time and die as the Cult Leader.
So Baek-ta also turned his head to look at the Pungcheon Cult Leader. Their gazes met across the evil ghost of the Sound Thunder Bell.
“I intend to achieve that dream.”
“What is your dream, Cult Leader?”
He felt as though words that shouldn't be spoken were about to be uttered. And his intuition was correct.
“Unification of the Murim.”
“!”
Well, that much was still acceptable. It was a dream a leader with the vast power of the Pungcheon Cult might harbor at least once.
The problem was what came next.
“I believe it is time to take the first step.”