Chapter 325: In Times Like These, This Is What You Say
Chapter 325: In Times Like These, This Is What You Say
Two men were depicted within the painting.
The figures in the artwork were the spitting image of their real-life counterparts, and their movements were uncannily vivid.
While the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s gaze was fixed on So Baek-ta, I focused on the Illusion King.
It was the same Illusion King I had known before my regression.
Illusion King. So, you were here during this time.
Inside the painting, the Illusion King led So Baek-ta through a door and vanished.
The Demon Buddha and I naturally turned our attention toward the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
The Cult Leader’s eyes darkened as he stared at the painting. He was likely sensing the ominous energy emanating from beyond that door.
“Impressive.”
It was a genuine admission of the Illusion King’s skill. And rightfully so. This was a world created by the Illusion King himself. He was a master far superior to Hwan-yeo. That was why he was the one who eventually carved his name into the world’s history.
“It’s dangerous. I shall go alone.”
At those words, I couldn't help but chuckle.
“I was wondering who your disciple took after. Now I know.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If you truly wanted to go alone, you wouldn't have mentioned how dangerous it is, would you?”
It was exactly like So Baek-ta shouting for us not to come while he was being dragged away. It was a statement more burdensome than a direct plea for rescue—claiming he would go alone simply because it was dangerous.
“Even if I told you to stay behind, you aren't the type to listen, are you?”
“We came together, so we should finish this together.”
I had no intention of letting the Pungcheon Cult Leader enter that painting by himself.
“Are you ready?”
“I am.”
The Demon Buddha nodded alongside me.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader began reciting an oral formula before the painting.
Whirrrrrrrr!
With a deep, vibrating resonance, the world shifted. Suddenly, we were standing before that very door.
We had entered the painting in an instant.
The feast of illusions, woven by a master who had reached the ultimate principle of his craft, was nothing short of a masterpiece.
Large beasts gathered from all directions, baring their fangs at us. However, they didn't dare attack, seemingly intimidated by the overwhelming aura the Pungcheon Cult Leader exuded.
On the other hand, they acted as if they would pounce on the Demon Buddha and me at any moment.
The Demon Buddha strode toward them. They snarled and snapped their teeth, but they couldn't bring themselves to leap at him either.
The Demon Buddha reached out and calmly stroked a beast’s head. Surprisingly, the creature remained perfectly still.
It was the moment I confirmed just how resistant the Demon Buddha was to illusions.
Meanwhile, the Pungcheon Cult Leader stood before the door. After closing his eyes for a moment to steady his mind, he placed his palm against the wood.
As he recited a formula and pushed slowly, the door began to creak open with a heavy, grinding sound.
We stepped inside, shoulder to shoulder.
Beyond the door lay a long corridor. It was an endless hallway that gave off the chilling sensation that once you passed through, there would be no turning back.
“When I saw that man’s face, he looked exactly like the woman from the Flower Garden. They must be siblings—twins, perhaps.”
As we walked, I informed the two that the Illusion King and Hwan-yeo were related by blood.
“Then this place will be even more dangerous,” the Demon Buddha remarked.
The Pungcheon Cult Leader nodded. He likely sensed it too. Since he was the one who had killed her, one of them would not be leaving this place alive.
“You don't seem nervous at all,” the Cult Leader noted, glancing at me.
“Why would I be nervous when I have the two of you with me?”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader then turned to the Demon Buddha. “And why aren't you nervous?”
“The two of you are here; I’m sure you’ll handle it.”
This time, I asked the question. “What about you, Cult Leader?”
“Me? Well… because I’m here. Dammit! I feel like I’m the only one getting the short end of the stick!”
I laughed at his joke. But I could feel it. The Pungcheon Cult Leader was definitely more tense than when he had faced Hwan-yeo. There seemed to be a specific type of energy that only masters of illusion could perceive.
We continued down the long corridor.
“This illusion technique is also a lost art of the Blood Cult.”
“I’ve felt this before, but you seem to have a deep knowledge of Blood Cult martial arts, Cult Leader.”
“Because we are the Blood Cult.”
The predecessor of the Pungcheon Cult was indeed the Blood Cult.
“Long ago, after losing the war against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the entire leadership of the Blood Cult was purged. The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult knew they couldn't completely eradicate the Blood Cult, as killing every member scattered across the Outer Lands would have required too great a sacrifice. So, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult wanted them to become a new Blood Cult.”
“And that is the Pungcheon Cult.”
“Yes. In the beginning, there was a fierce conflict between those who wanted to preserve the Blood Cult as it was and those who wanted to discard the name. But since the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult supported the faction trying to establish the Pungcheon Cult, it was eventually reborn. For a while, the Pungcheon Cult remained pro-Demonic Cult, but at some point, it drifted out of their sphere of influence.”
Throughout that long history, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult had also undergone many changes.
“This man is someone who has properly inherited the Blood Cult’s demonic arts. There is undoubtedly a faction trying to rebuild the Blood Cult.”
“Are you referring to a secret society?”
“It’s hardly a secret anymore. They’ve kidnapped the Pungcheon Cult Leader and even dragged in the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.”
While we spoke, we reached the end of the corridor.
Three doors awaited us.
The three doors, exuding a mysterious energy, seemed to speak to us: Your life or death will be decided by the door you choose.
“Which one should we enter?”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader’s gaze sharpened as he looked at the doors.
“It’s a trap. If we go in together, we’ll be scattered. We have to enter separately to meet.”
“Then let’s each go our own way.”
“I’ll take the center,” the Pungcheon Cult Leader declared.
He chose the middle door, while the Demon Buddha and I entered the left and right doors, respectively.
Upon opening the door and stepping inside, I found another corridor. When I looked back after walking a bit, the door I had entered through had vanished. There was no going back now.
When I finally exited through the door at the end of this corridor, neither the Pungcheon Cult Leader nor the Demon Buddha was in sight.
In that moment, I realized the Pungcheon Cult Leader had tricked us.
He intended to face the Illusion King alone. Those three doors were a message left by the Illusion King specifically for the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
Leave the other two behind and come alone.
This was a battle between the Pungcheon Cult Leader and the Illusion King. And the Cult Leader likely wanted to protect the Demon Buddha and me.
The place I had entered was a banquet hall. Dancers were performing, and musicians played upbeat melodies. Young women holding wine bottles beckoned me to come closer.
The atmosphere alone reinforced my previous suspicion.
You, stay here and rest.
I scanned the surroundings for an exit. However, the telltale bluish light of an exit was nowhere to be found. Since this space was also created by an illusion, there had to be a counter-dispelling method somewhere.
Just then, a man in the banquet hall walked up to me.
“Please, rest comfortably. If there is anything you desire, just say the word.”
“Where is the way out?”
“The door will only open when the time is right. It will not open before then.”
Swish! Slash!
I cut the man down with a single strike.
With a dull thud, the fallen man vanished into black smoke.
At that, the music stopped, and everyone froze, staring at me. Naturally, they weren't human. They were evil ghosts formed from ghostly qi.
I looked around at them and asked, “Raise your hand if you know how to get out of here!”
Instead of raising hands, they lunged at me from all sides.
*
In contrast to Geom Mu-geuk, who had entered a banquet hall, the place the Demon Buddha entered was grim.
Pitch-black darkness. It was a place where one couldn't see an inch ahead. Even the usual radiance of his body failed to illuminate the surroundings.
The Demon Buddha could feel it. There was something here.
He quickly formed a hand seal with his fingers.
Dharma Light Seal!
In an instant, a golden radiance erupted from the Demon Buddha’s body.
The room was revealed. Dozens of monsters were covering their eyes, flinching away from the light. Reacting to the brilliance, they let out a collective howl—a piercing, ear-splitting shriek.
The Demon Buddha formed a new seal.
Killing Art Repentance Seal!
In the next moment, golden gang qi swirled and erupted from his palms.
Swoooooooosh!
The massive wave of gang qi swept away all the monsters in the room.
Thud! Crack! Bam!
The monsters vanished into black smoke.
The Demon Buddha strode forward and opened the door to the next room. It was a plaza ten times larger than the previous room.
The evil ghosts filling the space all turned to look at the Demon Buddha at once. Blood-red eyes and torn mouths—it was a sight that would make anyone want to close the door immediately.
However, the Demon Buddha smirked and stepped inside. In fact, he slammed the door shut behind him, as if to ensure no one could leave.
The ghosts shrieked and charged at him from all directions, so many that they trampled over one another.
In the midst of that carnage, a new golden hand seal was being formed.
*
The Illusion King and So Baek-ta entered a large main hall.
Filled with stone statues, murals, a large tutor’s chair, and mysterious patterns, it was a place So Baek-ta had certainly never been to before. And yet, it felt familiar.
“Where is this?”
So Baek-ta addressed him calmly. Hurling insults or acting hostile wasn't a wise choice. He had to stay composed and find an opportunity.
“Isn't this the place you stay every day?”
“No way. The Cult Leader’s Hall?”
It was different from the current Cult Leader’s Hall, and different from the one during his master’s time.
“This is the Great Hall of the Blood Cult.”
“Yes. This is the true Cult Leader’s Hall.”
The Illusion King’s eyes were filled with emotion as he looked around. He truly respected and loved this place.
“This is where the true demonic practitioners of the Outer Lands lived. Not a pathetic brat like you.”
The word 'brat' stung. But now was not the time to act like one.
“Why did you bring me here?”
“To use you as a hostage.”
So Baek-ta’s heart sank, but he spoke as if it were nothing.
“That’s a remarkably uncool thing to say.”
“Your master isn't someone I can afford to be 'cool' with.”
So Baek-ta could tell. The Illusion King genuinely acknowledged his master. He had insulted him so much when they were alone, but thinking back, those insults were ultimately directed at So Baek-ta himself.
“Master won't come.”
“He will.”
“He doesn't cherish me that much.”
“If that were true, he wouldn't have rushed all the way to the Outer Lands. The Young Cult Leader came to kill me, but your master came to save you.”
After a moment of stunned silence, So Baek-ta blurted out, “Come to think of it, I think my life is better than yours.”
The Illusion King stared at him silently as he suddenly changed his tune.
“You’re cowardly, you have no pride, and you’re even despicable. You’re probably just a loyal son of a bitch who follows someone else’s orders.”
So Baek-ta lunged forward fearlessly.
“You were always groveling to me. 'Cult Leader, have you arrived? Did something good happen today? You are the one to lead the new Murim, Cult Leader.' Cult Leader, Cult Leader. You licked my boots yesterday and today. If I told you to, you probably would have licked the soles of my feet.”
The Illusion King reached out, and So Baek-ta was sent flying.
His internal energy already suppressed, So Baek-ta was helplessly caught in the man’s grasp. His only weapon left was his mouth.
“What are you so afraid of that you suppressed my internal energy? Didn't you say this was your hell? You coward! Go lick my ass!”
Despite the pouring mockery, the Illusion King didn't get angry; instead, he laughed.
“How unexpected. To care for your master this much.”
The Illusion King saw right through So Baek-ta’s heart. He realized the boy was trying to provoke him into killing him.
“If you want to die that badly, go ahead and bash your head against the horn of that statue. I wonder if you actually have the courage to do it.”
The Illusion King threw So Baek-ta toward a statue.
So Baek-ta stared at the statue with trembling eyes. The horn on the beast’s forehead was as sharp as a spear. Staring at the sharp horn, he felt death approaching.
Then, like a revolving lantern, memories of his childhood with his master flashed through his mind.
Thinking back, his master had cherished him exceptionally. He had acknowledged So Baek-ta’s innate talent and praised him in front of his peers, telling them to follow his example. On days he was praised, So Baek-ta had been so happy he couldn't sleep.
On the days of the Blood God Festival, his master would call him to strike the Sound Thunder Bell together. And his master would stroke his head and say, “You will be the one to inherit my position.”
I resented and denied my master just because he failed me once after being good to me ten times. You stupid, foolish brat! If someone is good to you ten times and fails you once, they are still someone who was good to you nine times.
Blaming himself, So Baek-ta squeezed his eyes shut.
I can’t be a burden to Master any longer.
He threw his face toward the horn with all his might.
Thud!
He thought he would die, but the statue’s horn crumbled like soft mud.
From a distance, the Illusion King laughed and clapped. He had changed the horn with an illusion.
“This is why I can’t kill you. How could I kill such a precious hostage who thinks of his master this much?”
So Baek-ta threw himself toward the wall. But before his head could hit the stone, he was pulled back into the Illusion King’s grasp.
The man gripped So Baek-ta and looked down at him.
“If your master dies, he dies because of you.”
The mere thought was horrifying. He tried to bite his tongue, but his jaw wouldn't move.
“…Please, just kill me.”
It was then. Someone stepped into the hall and spoke in a sharp, clear voice.
“In times like these, instead of asking to be killed, this is what you say.”
The person who strode inside was none other than the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
“If my master dies, he dies because of himself. If my master dies, it’s because his martial arts were too weak. My master’s death has nothing to do with me. And to bastards like this who try to play with people’s hearts, you say this: 'Piss off, you son of a bitch!'”
The Pungcheon Cult Leader spoke calmly to So Baek-ta, who was staring at him with eyes full of emotion.
“From now on, I’ll teach you everything again, one by one.”