Chapter 498: From Now On, I Am the Culprit
Chapter 498: From Now On, I Am the Culprit
Seo Dae-ryong rushed toward Geom Wu-jin and bowed deeply.
“I pay my respects to the Great Cult Leader.”
Geom Wu-jin acknowledged the greeting with a slight nod. “It has been a long time.”
Geom Mu-geuk’s father seemed slightly surprised by the man's sudden appearance. If it were just Seo Dae-ryong, the Huangquan Pavilion Master, it wouldn't be an issue. The problem was that he was the top disciple who had inherited the martial arts of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“I pay my respects to the Young Cult Leader.”
Since Geom Wu-jin was present, Seo Dae-ryong formally greeted Geom Mu-geuk as well. Normally, after such a long time apart, he would have rushed over shouting, ‘I missed you, Young Cult Leader!’
Under different circumstances, Geom Mu-geuk would have accepted the greeting with a joke, but now was not the time. Above all, he had to uphold the authority of the Huangquan Pavilion Master in front of his father. The joy of banter was fleeting, but this moment before the Heavenly Demon would influence the rest of Seo Dae-ryong’s life.
“What brings the Huangquan Pavilion Master here?”
Seo Dae-ryong could feel the weight of the atmosphere. Not only Geom Mu-geuk, but even Geom Wu-jin was surprised by his presence.
Seo Dae-ryong wanted to say with a tearful face: I’m not supposed to be here, am I?
However, he didn't dare speak so flippantly in front of the Cult Leader.
Geom Mu-geuk read Seo Dae-ryong’s thoughts from his expression. “We are currently in a situation where we shouldn't be meeting Pavilion Master Seo here.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Because right now, Father and I are looking for the culprit who annihilated Yumyeong Manor and the Daejeong Sect.”
Realizing that the 'culprit' referred to himself, Seo Dae-ryong’s eyes widened in shock. “Me?”
“Yes. You are currently the prime suspect.”
Then, words Geom Mu-geuk hadn't expected tumbled out of Seo Dae-ryong’s mouth.
“But how did you know? That I went there?”
This time, it was Geom Mu-geuk’s turn to be surprised. “You actually went there?”
“Yes, I did. I went to both places.”
It wasn't even just one. Unable to contain himself, Geom Mu-geuk shouted, “So Pavilion Master Seo really was the culprit!”
Seo Dae-ryong jumped at the accusation. “No, what on earth…!”
He was about to react with his usual frantic energy, but quickly caught himself and continued politely. “Me, the culprit? It wasn't me!”
Of course, Geom Mu-geuk was only joking. Seo Dae-ryong was not the kind of person to slaughter an entire family, regardless of the situation. The reports said that even the cooks who knew no martial arts and the servant women were all killed. He knew well that neither Seo Dae-ryong nor the Blood Heaven Blade Demon would ever commit such a cruel act.
Geom Mu-geuk asked again, his voice turning serious. “Why did you come to Chongqing?”
The answer he had hoped wouldn't come was spoken. He had wished the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was safely back at the Main Cult reading his books.
“I came to see my Master.”
Geom Wu-jin’s gaze sharpened. He had wondered why Seo Dae-ryong appeared so suddenly. If even the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was involved, this was no ordinary situation.
“Could it be? Is Elder Blade Demon here?”
Seo Dae-ryong nodded. “Yes, he is here.”
“Tell us in detail what happened.”
Seo Dae-ryong glanced at Geom Mu-geuk once and then began to recount the events in a trembling voice. Although he was speaking to Geom Mu-geuk, it was effectively a report to the Cult Leader.
“A while ago, Master left the Cult, saying he had business to attend to.”
“Without saying what it was?”
“Yes. He only said there was a place he needed to visit. However, he seemed… different than usual.”
“In what way?”
Because the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was so strict when teaching martial arts, it wasn't easy for Seo Dae-ryong to read his master’s emotions. However, their bond had deepened recently, and the master would occasionally even accept Seo Dae-ryong’s jokes. Thus, he could sense his master’s state of mind better than before.
“He appeared calm on the surface, but for some reason, his expression was dark.”
At those words, Geom Mu-geuk’s expression hardened. Seo Dae-ryong was quick-witted. If it was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon he was talking about, his observation must have been accurate. Had something happened to the Elder?
“But I couldn't ask him any further.”
That made sense. How could he persistently pry when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon himself said he had business and was leaving the Cult?
“A long time after he left, this arrived for me one day.”
Seo Dae-ryong pulled an object from his robe. It was a book.
“Could this be…?”
“That’s right. It’s the collection of poems and paintings that Master enjoyed reading.”
This collection definitely belonged to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. On the front page was a note Geom Mu-geuk had left when he returned the book after borrowing it.
—If you hadn't become a martial artist, Elder, you would have become a poet.
“This was sent to you?” Geom Mu-geuk’s expression turned grave.
“And this was tucked between the pages.” Seo Dae-ryong handed over another piece of paper.
—A certain day of a certain month, Yumyeong Manor in Chongqing.
It was a message to meet at the now-annihilated Yumyeong Manor.
Geom Mu-geuk looked at his father in surprise. This was ominous. If there was a message to be sent to Seo Dae-ryong, a simple missive would have sufficed; there was no reason to go through the trouble of sending a personal book. Indeed, his father’s eyes had sunk into a cold chill.
“Is it the Elder’s handwriting?”
“To be honest, I wasn't sure myself. It seemed similar, yet also different. I was going to have the handwriting experts at our pavilion investigate it, but I changed my mind and set out immediately.”
“Why did you leave without seeing the results?”
“When I thought about it, there was no need to check. If it was Master’s handwriting, I obviously had to go. And if it wasn't, I had to get there even faster.”
If someone else had written it, it meant the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was in danger.
“I would have consulted with you if you were there, Young Cult Leader.”
But Geom Mu-geuk hadn't been there, and neither was Lee An. Even Jang Ho had left the Cult with the Demon Army at that time. In the end, Seo Dae-ryong had come to Chongqing alone.
Geom Mu-geuk realized the truth. This was a conspiracy by someone who knew Seo Dae-ryong would definitely come to Chongqing. The culprit was someone well-acquainted with the affairs of the Main Cult and the habits of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“I went to Yumyeong Manor on the day written there, but Master wasn't there. I didn't know if the date or the place was written incorrectly. I couldn't just go back, so I waited at a nearby inn. I had a bad feeling, so I immediately relayed the situation to the Chief Strategist through Tongcheon Pavilion.”
“You did well.”
As expected, Seo Dae-ryong was sharp.
“While I was waiting, someone sent a letter to my room that night.”
Geom Mu-geuk guessed the contents of the letter exactly. “Was it a message to meet at the Daejeong Sect?”
“That’s right. Since I had already made a fruitless trip before, I had to go. But it was a wild goose chase this time as well. And then, those incidents broke out one after another the next day.”
By the time they had turned their carriage around, Seo Dae-ryong was already here and had become entangled in these events.
“Chongqing was sealed off due to the Yumyeong Manor and Daejeong Sect incidents. I could have escaped if I really wanted to, but I couldn't go back without confirming Master’s safety. That’s when a message came from Tongcheon Pavilion. They told me the Cult Leader and the Young Cult Leader were at the safe house and to head there.”
Unless the Chief Strategist had given special permission, even the Huangquan Pavilion Master could not enter a safe house reserved for the Heavenly Demon. In this urgent situation, Strategist Sama had made the wisest choice.
Seo Dae-ryong asked Geom Mu-geuk, “But what did you mean by what you said earlier? Why am I the culprit? Is it because I visited those places?”
However, Geom Mu-geuk had brought up the culprit before Seo Dae-ryong even mentioned visiting them.
Geom Mu-geuk told him the reason. “The martial art used to kill the Daejeong Sect Leader was the Heaven Extermination Demonic Blade Form.”
Startled, Seo Dae-ryong’s eyes snapped open. “That’s impossible!”
That was the clincher. Geom Mu-geuk turned to his father. “Whoever it is, they’ve crafted a fairly plausible conspiracy.”
He could feel his father’s simmering rage. His father wouldn't have been this angry if they had challenged him directly. But they had insulted the Demonic Path by leaving the words 'Demonic Path Under Heaven,' and now they had targeted his father’s Demon Lord.
‘Before he is my Elder Blade Demon, the Blade Demon is my father’s Demon Lord.’
Geom Mu-geuk knew his father would never forgive the mastermind behind this.
Eventually, Geom Wu-jin spoke in a low, resonant voice. “He is not a man who would be defeated easily. There is no need to worry about him.”
It was a statement of absolute trust in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. After saying that, his father entered the building. His father’s back said everything: Find out where he is immediately.
Geom Mu-geuk called out loudly to his father. “I will find the Elder.”
Once Geom Wu-jin entered his quarters, only Geom Mu-geuk and Seo Dae-ryong remained in the courtyard. Only then did Seo Dae-ryong let out a long sigh of relief. He had been incredibly tense in front of the Heavenly Demon. He had tried hard not to show it, but his legs had been trembling.
“I was terrified the Cult Leader would interrogate me, asking if it was my doing!”
The two of them finally began to converse comfortably.
“How could that be? Father knows well enough that you aren't the kind of person to do such a thing.”
“He knows about me?”
Geom Mu-geuk nodded. “Do you think he would have just handed over the position of Huangquan Pavilion Master just because I recommended you? The Chief Strategist likely reported everything about the man named Seo Dae-ryong.”
“Then he must know all about my timidness as well.”
Regardless of the gravity of the situation, it was good to see Seo Dae-ryong. A loyal friend was always a welcome sight.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes, I’ve been well.” Seo Dae-ryong paused. You wouldn't know, Young Cult Leader. How much I missed you. I checked every day to see if you had returned. “Did you handle the business you went for?”
Geom Mu-geuk nodded. “Well, of course. Who went? How could it not have ended well?”
Seo Dae-ryong would have trusted Geom Mu-geuk even if he had gone alone, but since even the Cult Leader went with him...
“When I was handling things there, I didn't know a real problem was waiting for us here in Chongqing.”
Seo Dae-ryong asked cautiously, “Master will be alright, won't he?” He looked down at the collection of poems and paintings and shook his head. “There’s no way he’s alright if this is in our hands.”
He despaired for a moment, then suddenly startled himself and shouted, “What nonsense am I saying! Even the Cult Leader said it, didn't he? Our Master isn't someone who would be easily defeated. He’ll be fine.”
As affection grows deeper, so do the worries. He had managed to hold it together while he was alone, but seeing Geom Mu-geuk caused his suppressed anxiety to burst forth. Seo Dae-ryong hadn't been able to sleep properly since this incident broke out.
Geom Mu-geuk reassured him. “The Elder will be fine.”
“He really will be, right?”
“When have I ever been wrong?”
“Of course, you’ve never been wrong!”
Geom Mu-geuk thought of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The image he recalled wasn't of him swinging a massive blade, nor his uncompromising gaze, nor his prickly personality. The image he recalled was of him sitting quietly, reading a book.
That was why he believed. He wouldn't be easily defeated by anyone, anywhere. Because a Demon Lord who reads books was nowhere else to be found.
Geom Mu-geuk tucked the book into his robe. He was certain this book would protect the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Since it’s the Elder’s business, you and I should be the ones to solve it, right?”
A fire ignited in Seo Dae-ryong’s eyes. “What should I do? Just give me the word.”
“They tried to make you the culprit of this incident. People who witnessed you will likely come forward.”
A person who had mastered the martial art that killed the Daejeong Sect Leader had visited the scene beforehand? It was a trap with almost no way out. In that case?
“Let’s move according to their intentions.”
“How?”
“When else in your life will you get to be such a villain?”
He wanted Seo Dae-ryong to play the role of the villain who slaughtered the Daejeong Sect. He thought Seo Dae-ryong might try to back out, but the man answered readily.
“From now on, I am the culprit! Watch out, I’m a ruthless and terrifying guy!”
“You’ll do it? If things go wrong, you could be branded as a monster by the Murim and the matter could end there. Aren't you scared?”
“I’m scared,” Seo Dae-ryong spoke honestly. “You know, don't you? How cowardly and timid I am. How much I look out for myself. And how much I care about what others think.”
But the reason he could overcome all of that was simple.
“But I have to do it. It’s my Master’s business. Even if I die, I have to do it.”
Seo Dae-ryong remembered the moment he first met Geom Mu-geuk. His dark, depressed, and timid self back then. He also remembered when he first met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon—the day he had grabbed the man's pant leg while drunk. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had let such a person sleep in his bed despite his fastidious nature.
Thinking of those times, why would he hesitate?
“It’s a shame. That I can only play the role of bait.”
How could Geom Mu-geuk not know his heart? His desire to resolve this matter with a brilliant performance and earn the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s recognition. But it was still too much for him. The mastermind behind this was no ordinary foe. Even playing the role of bait was no easy task.
“You’re bait, but you’re bait to catch a monster. The pinnacle of bait, the brilliant bait who graduated at the top of his class, the greatest bait in the Murim.”
Seo Dae-ryong smiled faintly. If it weren't for the Young Cult Leader before him, he would have fainted several times by now. But instead of running away, he stood his ground.
“Even if that bait is swallowed into the monster’s belly, you must make sure to pull me out!”