Chapter 435: The Person Who Awakened the Cult Leader's Dream
Chapter 435: The Person Who Awakened the Cult Leader's Dream
I had known for a long time that my father dreamed of unifying the Murim.
The only question was when he would choose to draw his blade—it was strictly a matter of timing.
If the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s suspicion was correct, that time was coming much sooner than I had anticipated.
“We haven’t even finished uprooting the secret organizations lurking within the various sects yet, have we?”
He was considering war in a situation like this?
I knew well that my father was not a man who handled such monumental affairs based on emotion. Nor was he the type to create another great enemy while already facing one.
How could the Blood Heaven Blade Demon not know that as well?
Despite their current estrangement, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been closer to my father than anyone else in their youth. Because of that, he knew my father better than anyone. The reason he reached such a conclusion despite that knowledge was as follows:
“As you know, the Murim has been at peace for a very long time. There hasn't been a fight worthy of the name. However, while dealing with those behind the recent incidents, the Demon Lords have awakened.”
He was right. All the Demon Lords had taken turns participating in the battles. By facing powerful enemies, they had gained true combat experience. For masters of the Demon Lord level, the chance to face an opponent of similar caliber was a fated encounter that might only happen a few times in a lifetime.
“By dealing with them, we naturally began preparing for war in earnest.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s most startling words came next.
“And above all, the Main Cult has gained a force more powerful than any other.”
“What do you mean by that?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared at me in silence.
“Are you... referring to me?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded.
It was true. My martial arts had grown the most during the process of dealing with those hidden forces.
“Because of you, the possibility of the Cult achieving the unification of the Murim has grown significantly.”
That was also true. If I achieved the Great Achievement of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art and joined forces with my father, it would be far easier to unify the Murim than if he were to do it alone.
Finally, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon added one more shocking thought.
“Perhaps the person who awakened the Cult Leader’s dream was you.”
“...!”
I couldn't refute those words. Whether it was true or not, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s argument was persuasive. After all, I was the one who had influenced my father the most recently.
“Of course, my guess could be wrong.”
My father had changed a lot lately, too. It could simply be that he was influenced by how I treated the Demon Lords and decided he should be closer to them as well. If that were the case, it would be wonderful.
If not that, he might just be soothing the Demon Lords to ensure they uproot the secret organizations. How great would it be if that were his only intention?
Truly, nothing is more difficult than reading my father’s inner thoughts.
The final reason for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s suspicion lay in the distant past.
“The Cult Leader has dreamed of unifying the Murim since he was young.”
“Did he ever speak to you about it?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s gaze deepened as he recalled the past.
“It was before he even ascended to the position of Heavenly Demon. At the time, the Cult Leader traveled across the Central Plains with the Fist Demon to fight. Just like you now, the two of them roamed around without any guards. Then one day, the Cult Leader returned to the Cult and spoke to me with a flushed face.”
In those days when everyone was young, what had my father said to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon?
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon relayed my father’s words exactly as they were spoken.
“‘I must have this Murim.’”
The moment I heard those words, I could picture my father in his youth.
The moment he first harbored the dream of unifying the Murim. What had triggered that dream? Had he seen the beauty of the Murim back then? Or had he seen its ugly underbelly?
“After that, the Cult Leader never brought it up again.”
“It was likely the first and last time. My father isn't the type to go around revealing such dreams to just anyone.”
When he felt a boiling passion in his heart and wanted to tell someone, the only person he could turn to was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Because of that shared past, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been able to say with confidence before that while he could give up on his two children, he would never give up on himself.
My heart grew heavy. Could I make my father give up on a dream he had held for so long?
“What about you, Elder?”
“What about me?”
“What will you do if my father orders you to strike the Murim Alliance?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon lowered his gaze to his book. The signs of conflict were clear on his face.
“Please, speak freely. I’m fully prepared to be disappointed!”
I spoke playfully, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon did not take it as a joke.
“I am not yet prepared to disappoint you. Nor your father.”
I could tell what was in his heart from those words. No matter how close he had become to me, and no matter how estranged he was from my father, disobeying the Cult Leader’s orders was never an easy task. Setting aside all personal feelings, they were bound by the relationship of Cult Leader and Demon Lord.
The fact that he was even agonizing over it showed how much he cherished me.
“I won't let you face a moment where you have to choose, Elder.”
The same went for the other Demon Lords, not just him. I would not let them fall into such a dilemma where they had to disobey my father’s orders for my sake. This matter was, first and foremost, between my father and me.
“How do you plan to do that?”
“You know what kind of Demonic Path I dream of, don't you? I’ll have to persuade my father somehow.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s gaze returned to the book. After staring blankly at the pages for a moment, he spoke softly.
“One cannot always live exactly as they wish.”
I couldn't tell if he was speaking to me, to my father, or perhaps to himself.
*
I told the Blood Heaven Blade Demon I’d bring pajamas and stay over next time, then left his residence. I felt he would want to be alone.
I decided to think about this matter positively.
I chose to see this as a moment where my relationship with my father, as well as with the Demon Lords, had reached a point where it needed to move to the next level. It’s easy to become close. The problem always starts after that.
We had now stepped onto a new testing ground for our relationships.
When I returned to my quarters, someone was practicing martial arts in the courtyard.
It was Jeok-yeon, the head of my guards. He must have heard the news of my return and was waiting at my residence until I arrived.
I watched him without interrupting his training. His skills had improved noticeably since I last saw him. It meant he had trained like a man possessed while I was away in the North Sea.
When his session ended, I revealed myself.
“Your skills have improved a lot, haven't they?”
At my appearance, Jeok-yeon bowed respectfully.
“Young Cult Leader! I have been eagerly awaiting your safe return.”
His face was full of delight.
“I was waiting after hearing you had returned. The other guards wanted to stay as well, but I sent them back to continue their training.”
Just hearing that allowed me to guess how hard they had been working. He wanted to ensure that not even a single day of their scheduled training was disrupted.
“Take off your eye patch first.”
“I am fine.”
“I tell you this every time, but I am not fine.”
Looking at his eyes reminded me of Lee An’s Full Body Petrification Art. Feeling the hearts of the guards who endured such pain to protect someone made me want to free them from that suffering as quickly as possible.
The moment he untied the patch, I was startled.
His eyes had returned to normal.
“You’ve reached the Great Achievement!”
As if he had intended to surprise me, Jeok-yeon finally broke into a smile.
“It is thanks to you, Young Cult Leader. Perhaps because you touched my eyes whenever you had the chance, I achieved rapid progress in my Ghost Eye Technique.”
I knew that wasn't the reason. He must have endured great pain and trained like a madman.
“But why are you still wearing the eye patch?”
“It felt awkward to suddenly take it off.”
“Take it off. If you leave it off, heroines will be following you everywhere.”
“Then I should definitely keep it on. I only intend to follow you, Young Cult Leader.”
Was it because the pain in his eyes was gone? He seemed much brighter than before. Still, he seemed embarrassed by the uncharacteristic joke and hurried to bid me farewell.
“Then, please rest.”
“Jeok-yeon.”
“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”
I couldn't just send away someone who had waited until late at night to see me.
“We should have a celebratory drink before you go.”
I shared drinks and stories with Jeok-yeon.
Just as I had reported what happened with my father, Jeok-yeon relayed everything that had happened within the Cult. It was information he had meticulously gathered, thinking it might be of help to me.
He also mentioned that the guards' skills had improved significantly and spoke of how much effort they were putting in.
“Perhaps because they yearn to accompany you, they are all training with their lives on the line.”
I had always told them: if they wanted to travel with me, they had to become stronger.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was right. The strength of the Main Cult was growing in every corner.
In particular, everyone connected to me was becoming stronger. Even the One Flower Sword Venerable, who hadn't fought the secret forces, had grown stronger through sparring with me.
Perhaps those words really were true.
That it was indeed because of me that my father’s dream had been awakened.
*
The next day, I went to Villain Valley to meet the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon.
In the Smiling Demon’s residence, both my bed and his were still there.
There was even a desk and chair that hadn't been there before.
The Smiling Demon was looking at something at the desk.
“I’m back.”
The eyes behind the Smiling Demon’s mask crinkled into a wide smile as he looked at me.
“You’ve arrived?”
The Smiling Demon welcomed me with his usual demeanor.
“You have a desk now.”
Naturally, the desk and chair were painted pure white.
“It’s quite convenient to have.”
As he spoke, he held up what he had been looking at to show me. It was a ledger filled with numbers.
“I’ve been studying new things lately.”
Seeing that reminded me of when I followed him into the Central Plains. Back then, Blue Face had relayed the contents of ledgers to him via Voice Transmission, but now he was looking at them himself. He must have learned how to read ledgers in the meantime.
I thought it was a good sign. When masters of the Demon Lord level ascended to the next realm, they often found inspiration in completely unexpected places. That’s why they were terrifying—a Blood Heaven Blade Demon who reads books, and an Extreme Evil Smiling Demon who studies ledgers.
This was a change that had occurred since I brought the beds here. I could feel what was in the Smiling Demon’s heart as he placed that desk there.
In response to my wish for him to lie down and sleep comfortably, he was responding with an even greater change. He was showing me that he had changed like this because of me.
“How was the North Sea?”
“It was a magnificent and beautiful place. You’ve been there many times, haven't you?”
Since the Smiling Demon loved the color white, I assumed he must have visited often.
“I’ve only been once. I absolutely loathe the cold.”
I laughed out loud at the unexpected reason.
This time, the Smiling Demon asked a question.
“Then you must have visited the North Sea Ice Palace as well.”
“Visited? I stayed there for quite a while.”
“It’s known as a place that doesn't accept outsiders. As expected of you, Young Cult Leader.”
I sat on the edge of my bed and told him in detail about what happened in the North Sea. I shared everything about the Blood King and his subordinates without leaving anything out.
Repeating the story was sometimes tedious, but I didn't mind. I believed that a single small piece of information could one day become a valuable detail that saves a life.
After finishing the story about the North Sea, I brought up the most important reason for my visit today.
“I heard you met my father recently.”
“Yes, I did.”
“I’m curious about what you discussed with him that day.”
A flicker of doubt crossed the Smiling Demon’s eyes behind his mask. I was asking about a conversation between the Heavenly Demon and a Demon Lord. No matter how close we were, it wasn't something to be asked lightly.
“I know it’s an impertinent question.”
“I’m sure you have your reasons.”
I didn't hide the truth from him.
“I suspect my father has begun moving toward the unification of the Murim.”
At the mention of "unification of the Murim," the Smiling Demon’s eyes flashed intensely.
“I had that thought after seeing him sharing a drink with the Drunken Demon yesterday. I wondered if my father was finally preparing to draw his blade in earnest.”
Only then did the Smiling Demon’s gaze show he understood why I had asked.
“When he met me, he didn't say a single word regarding the unification of the Murim. It was just talk about internal Cult affairs and general conversation. He mostly talked about you, Young Cult Leader.”
“About me?”
“Yes. He asked me to look after you well in the future.”
My father met the Smiling Demon to ask him to look after me?
Since our relationship had improved lately, it was possible.
Yet, the unease in my heart did not vanish.
“Are you worried?”
“Honestly, I am. Enough to come here and commit such an impertinence.”
Setting aside their relationship with me, what were the Demon Lords thinking?
Since my regression, they had changed significantly from before. Their relationship with me had changed as well.
But had their perspective on the Murim or their inner hearts changed? For instance, if I were to ask this:
Would the Smiling Demon actually prefer a peaceful Murim? Or would he rather gallop through a battlefield, unleashing his demonic energy?
Could I be certain he preferred peace? Was the Smiling Demon before me that kind of person?
Then, the Smiling Demon spoke. It was as if he had read my mind.
“I can endure it.”
I knew exactly what he meant by those words. This was the Smiling Demon’s heart toward me.
“I don't want to make you live a life where you have to endure, Lord Smiling Demon.”
His eyes behind the mask asked if there was another way.
“I’ll have to find one from now on. I’ll make it so that both my father and the Demon Lords can say something other than the word 'endure.'”
I didn't yet know what word should take the place of "endure."
“Young Cult Leader.”
“Yes, Lord Smiling Demon.”
The Smiling Demon spoke softly, his gaze clear and deep.
“No matter what order is given, I will follow you. Your Demonic Path is my Demonic Path.”