Chapter 419: The Most Terrifying of Other People's Blades
Chapter 419: The Most Terrifying of Other People's Blades
Yang-seok was deeply shaken.
‘Father is considering that man as his successor?’
The sheer weight of the shock was compounded by a sharp sting of betrayal. Naturally, a single, haunting suspicion began to take root.
‘Is that why he called for him so often? It wasn't to receive reports about me?’
At that moment, Han Seol sent him another Voice Transmission.
―The Demonic Cult’s information might be wrong. You should look into it properly yourself.
Geom Mu-geuk had instructed her to say this. He told her not to attempt an outright deception, but to empathize and think alongside him. She didn't yet understand the strategy behind it, but she followed Geom Mu-geuk’s lead.
―The Demonic Cult’s information is likely not wrong.
Yang-seok knew all too well how formidable the Cult’s intelligence network was. His father had emphasized many times that the North Blood Sect needed an information organization on par with the Cult’s Tongcheon Pavilion.
Of course, there was one other possibility.
‘What if Han Seol is lying?’
But why? What would she gain by driving a wedge between him and Ha Gyeol?
Then there was a third possibility.
‘The Demonic Cult might have intentionally leaked false information to the Young Palace Master.’
He hoped for the latter. He wanted to believe that Han Seol wasn't truly on the Cult’s side.
From the terrifying assumption that the information might be true to these various doubts, nothing was certain, leaving Yang-seok in a state of total confusion.
‘Whatever the scheme or the reason, they’ve underestimated me. I won’t fall for such cheap tricks.’
Yang-seok’s gaze shifted toward Geom Mu-geuk and Ha Gyeol.
Just then, Geom Mu-geuk looked over and shouted loudly.
“This friend here is a fine fellow! Come, let us go together.”
Geom Mu-geuk led Ha Gyeol over to where Han Seol and Yang-seok were standing. Naturally, Yang-seok and Ha Gyeol found themselves face-to-face.
Looking at Ha Gyeol, Yang-seok’s heart grew heavy with a storm of complex emotions.
‘Is it really you? Did Father truly choose you as his successor?’
He wanted to grab the man by the collar and demand the truth, but he forced himself to suppress his agitation.
Ha Gyeol noticed that Yang-seok was staring at him with an unusual, piercing intensity. However, he couldn't have imagined in his wildest dreams that the cause was suspicion regarding the succession. Instead, he assumed it was resentment toward the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader, who was acting as he pleased. Furthermore, he knew Yang-seok had feelings for the Young Palace Master of the Ice Palace. He figured the situation was simply grating on the man's nerves.
Geom Mu-geuk, seemingly the only one in high spirits, raised his voice.
“Since we’ve all gathered like this, it must be fate. Let’s all have a drink together. I’d quit drinking for a while, but that ended when Elder Seo died. Come, let’s drink like wild colts and enjoy ourselves!”
What could Yang-seok say when the Young Cult Leader suggested a drink? He was a guest, after all, and hospitality was required. Even without the invitation, his mind was so troubled that he found himself craving the burn of alcohol.
“Very well. I shall have the drinks prepared.”
He summoned a maidservant and ordered her to set up the table in the guest hall.
However, Ha Gyeol politely declined.
“I am scheduled to meet with the Sect Leader, so I must decline. I shall take my leave now.”
If he sat down to drink with Geom Mu-geuk, his identity might be exposed. With their grand ambition only two days away, he had to be as cautious as if he were walking on thin ice—especially since his opponent was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
How could he not know that the man’s chatter, like that of a village gossip, was merely a mask?
Yang-seok watched coldly as Ha Gyeol withdrew.
When they had met earlier, Ha Gyeol said he was on his way back from meeting his father. They had been together ever since, yet now he claimed he had to go meet him again? Fine, he could lie to the Young Cult Leader. But wasn't he, Yang-seok, standing right here?
‘He’s leaving without even glancing at me for permission?’
Geom Mu-geuk began to fan the flames of the fire burning in Yang-seok’s heart.
“Didn't I tell you? He’s an interesting fellow. An escort warrior who leaves behind the person he’s supposed to protect? Please understand him, Young Master Yang. Didn't you say he was originally a ronin?”
Yang-seok actually spoke up in Ha Gyeol’s defense, though his voice was tight.
“In our sect, the Sect Leader’s orders are absolute.”
Though he maintained a smile on the outside, black smoke was beginning to billow within his heart.
‘Is he ignoring me because he truly believes he is the successor?’
Even under normal circumstances, Ha Gyeol was different from the other subordinates. He possessed a strange aura that made it difficult to treat him lightly. His father, too, treated him with a distinct level of respect.
‘Was all of that really because of the succession?’
If he hadn't killed his own brother with his own hands, he might not have been this suspicious. But because he had committed the unthinkable, he believed the unthinkable could easily happen to him.
There was only one way to confirm it quickly. He had to meet his father and see for himself.
But he hesitated.
What if the information the Demonic Cult found was true? How would his father react? His father hadn't even blinked when his second son died before his eyes; would he hesitate to kill his firstborn if he became an obstacle?
While Yang-seok was lost in dark thoughts, Geom Mu-geuk sent a Voice Transmission to Han Seol.
―You did a wonderful job.
Han Seol had performed her task brilliantly. She had lied without batting an eye. While genuine human relationships were difficult for her, deceiving people was proving to be surprisingly easy.
―Are you sure I did well? I’m far too good at deceiving people.
―It’s not because you’re a wicked woman that you’re good at it; it’s because you’re smart.
―You really seem to have an answer ready for everything.
―That’s because I’m smart, too.
Geom Mu-geuk truly had a way of leaving her speechless.
In the meantime, the table was set in the guest hall. Fine liquor and delicacies were prepared, and the three of them sat down. As Yang-seok poured wine into Geom Mu-geuk’s cup, he thought to himself:
‘If that information is true, this man knows I can’t be the successor, yet he’s showing no sign of it. He’s certainly no pushover.’
Yang-seok drained two cups of wine in quick succession.
“Oh, Young Master Yang. You certainly can hold your liquor.”
Normally, Yang-seok wasn't a heavy drinker. But today, the alcohol went down like water.
After a few more rounds, Geom Mu-geuk and Han Seol began the conversation they had planned. Geom Mu-geuk emitted his qi to create a barrier, ensuring their conversation wouldn't leak outside. Now, it was time to begin.
“Young Cult Leader, when do you plan to return to the Divine Cult?”
“As you know, I’ve avenged Drunken Demon by killing Elder Seo, so our business here is finished. All that’s left is to return, but I’ve stayed because the Ice Palace Master asked me to look into the Extreme Cold Body.”
Geom Mu-geuk explained why he was speaking of such an important matter so casually.
“To be honest, I have no interest in the Extreme Cold Body.”
Geom Mu-geuk poured Yang-seok another drink and asked, “Young Master Yang, why don't you just tell me what you know about the Extreme Cold Body? Then I can report it to the Ice Palace Master and head back to the Cult. If you don't want to tell me, you can tell the Young Palace Master here.”
“I wish I knew something to tell you,” Yang-seok replied politely. Come to think of it, he really didn't know anything.
He and his brother had only been tasked with finding those with the Extreme Cold Body; he had no idea what the constitution was actually going to be used for.
Suddenly, he remembered what Han Seol had said earlier.
―I heard the purpose of seeking the Extreme Cold Body is also related to the successor.
‘I am the successor, yet I know nothing?’
‘Does that mean the Extreme Cold Body is related to Ha Gyeol?’
Geom Mu-geuk summarized the current events in the North Sea with a single sentence.
“In any case, the greed of old men is truly something.”
It was clear that by "old men," he meant Elder Seo and the North Blood Sect Leader. Even though it was an insult to his father, Yang-seok couldn't refute it. No, he didn't even feel like refuting it. His father was clearly harboring a greed that he hadn't shared even with his own son.
Until now, he had trusted his father and followed him without question. An unbearable sense of betrayal began to rear its head.
“Come, let’s drink.”
Geom Mu-geuk kept offering more wine. Before long, Yang-seok’s face was flushed with intoxication. The North Sea affair had begun with the matter of the Drunken Demon, but even at this moment, alcohol was playing a major role.
Geom Mu-geuk didn't care about the means. Since the opponent was coming at them with self-destruction arts, he had no intention of fighting fair.
Han Seol sent a Voice Transmission to Yang-seok.
―Ask the Young Cult Leader directly if that information is true.
―Won't that reveal that you were the one who told me?
―I don't mind. Since I brought it up in the first place, I should be prepared for that much. Are you really going to let the position of successor be handed over to a subordinate like this?
Yang-seok asked suspiciously.
―Why are you trying to help me?
Geom Mu-geuk had anticipated he would ask this. It was time for her to play her second most important role of the day. A short but powerful sentence.
―I want you to be the one who becomes the North Blood Sect Leader.
At those words, Yang-seok felt a surge of passion. Between his attraction to Han Seol and his intoxication, hearing those words gave him a thrill unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Geom Mu-geuk could tell what Han Seol had sent just by looking at Yang-seok’s expression. He pretended not to notice and kept drinking, until Yang-seok finally drew his blade.
“Young Cult Leader, I ask you as one martial artist to another.”
“Why so serious? You’re scaring me.”
“Did my father truly designate Ha Gyeol as his successor?”
The smile vanished from Geom Mu-geuk’s face. Instead of making an excuse, he looked at Han Seol with a cold gaze.
“It was you.”
Han Seol didn't deny it.
“That’s right. I happened to overhear the Young Cult Leader speaking with the Drunken Demon and informed this man.”
“You didn't 'happen' to overhear; you were eavesdropping.”
In truth, given their levels of martial arts, it would have been impossible for Han Seol to eavesdrop on their conversation. But Yang-seok didn't have accurate information about the martial prowess of the three people present, and even if he did, he wasn't in a state to judge things rationally. His entire focus was on whether it was true or not.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to help Young Master Yang.”
Han Seol lowered her head. She, too, was feeling a strange thrill. This was a dangerous mission that required her to wear the Heavenly Palace Protective Armor, yet surprisingly, she found this moment fun. She was amazed at how naturally she could pull off such an act.
Unaware of her true feelings, Yang-seok stepped in when she seemed cornered.
“Don't blame an innocent person. This is my problem, so deal with me.”
He held out his cup. His expression said they should talk man-to-man, martial artist to martial artist.
“Did my father really make Ha Gyeol the successor?”
Geom Mu-geuk glared at Yang-seok with a cold gaze. It was incomparably chillier than when he had been laughing and joking earlier. Han Seol could feel it—this contrasting reaction increased the credibility of whatever he was about to say. She realized that overwhelming and deceiving an opponent wasn't just about being a good talker. A single expression, a single look in the eyes, changed the entire atmosphere.
“You’ve learned a truth you weren't supposed to know.”
Because Geom Mu-geuk reacted this way, Yang-seok became convinced it was all true. He was being swept away by the atmosphere Geom Mu-geuk was creating.
“It is my business. It is a fact I ought to know. I ask again. Did he really choose Ha Gyeol as the successor?”
Looking as if he had no choice, Geom Mu-geuk answered calmly.
“He did.”
“Do you have proof?”
“We’ve poured all our intelligence resources into this matter. My word is the proof.”
With his serious expression, Geom Mu-geuk truly didn't look like a man who was lying. Yang-seok was in turmoil. Had his father really abandoned him?
“If your Sect Leader finds the Extreme Cold Body, you might find yourself in a difficult position.”
He used the word "difficult" because they were face-to-face, but the implication was that he could be eliminated. It was a calculated statement intended to prevent him from going to the North Blood Sect Leader to confirm the truth.
“That is why the Tongcheon Pavilion of our Cult is keeping a close eye on this. It is not common for someone to try to appoint another as successor even at the cost of eliminating their own flesh and blood.”
This time, he used the phrase "eliminating flesh and blood" directly. Every word was part of Geom Mu-geuk’s calculation.
Suddenly, Yang-seok thought about why his father had so easily permitted the elimination of his younger brother. Was it because we aren't the Extreme Cold Body, so we are useless?
The flames of suspicion in his heart began to give off black smoke.
“When someone seeks a unique constitution, isn't it usually to perform a Great Regression Art? It might be a ritual that should never see the light of day, so our Cult is on high alert for various reasons. It’s made things quite bothersome for me.”
His half-doubting heart tilted further. There was no reason for Geom Mu-geuk to lie about such a thing. Why would the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult bother staying in this freezing North Sea if he didn't have to?
“Now, since I’ve been honest, you should be honest about what you know regarding the Extreme Cold Body.”
Yang-seok hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
“I don't know exactly, either. Father only said it was an important matter that had to be handled secretly. Ah, he did say this: that the Extreme Cold Body would make our sect the number one power in the North Sea.”
A chill ran through Han Seol’s heart as she listened. Those words meant they intended to pull down the North Sea Ice Palace. Given what they had done so far, their methods would certainly not be honorable.
‘If that is your plan, you will be erased by our hands, not the Demonic Cult’s.’
Geom Mu-geuk casually suggested a solution.
“It’s a problem that can be easily solved if you find the Extreme Cold Body first.”
Geom Mu-geuk added nonchalantly, as if he still wasn't particularly interested.
“If you find out, be sure to contact me. Either me or the Young Palace Master here.”
“I will do that.”
The three of them resumed drinking. At this moment, Yang-seok was making a decision that would change his fate.
‘I will intercept the Extreme Cold Body and get rid of Ha Gyeol.’
If his father really intended to make the man the successor, he obviously had to die. And even if the information wasn't true, it didn't matter. It would just be the death of a subordinate who had been an eyesore. If the info was right, he was saving himself; if it was wrong, it was just one dead subordinate.
The problem was his father. If he found out that Yang-seok had intercepted the Extreme Cold Body and killed Ha Gyeol, he wouldn't just sit idly by. How could he avoid that responsibility?
Yang-seok looked up at Geom Mu-geuk.
‘What if the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader intercepts the Extreme Cold Body? What if Ha Gyeol dies at his hands?’
He intended to use Geom Mu-geuk as a "borrowed blade." He was the most terrifying and powerful weapon belonging to another in the entire Murim.
If that was his scheme, he was even entertaining a more terrifying thought that he should never have had.
‘What if Father also dies at the hands of the Young Cult Leader?’
The fire in his heart was now blazing fiercely. It was a conflagration of suspicion, rage, and desire.
‘Everything will be blamed on you. Yes, keep laughing like a fool.’
As if reading his mind, Geom Mu-geuk smiled brightly and held out his cup.
“Looking at you, it feels as if the gates of the North Blood Sect have swung wide open.”
Yang-seok didn't understand the hidden meaning behind those words, but Han Seol did. She had said that if Lee An could open the gates of hell, she would try to open the gates of the North Blood Sect.
And Geom Mu-geuk was now telling her that the gate had been opened.
“Come, a toast to the North Blood Sect!”
Amidst the collision of desire and mourning, a toast of admiration was added.