Chapter 520: The Man Who Lived with Misfortune
Chapter 520: The Man Who Lived with Misfortune
Geom Mu-geuk stared at Geom Wu-jin, his eyes wide and trembling.
The gaze Geom Wu-jin returned to his son was nothing but ice.
"…Why me?"
Thwack.
The blade sank even deeper into Geom Mu-geuk’s chest. Blood dripped steadily from the tip of the sword protruding through his back.
"If you had truly known my son," Geom Wu-jin said coldly, "that might have been a move I fell for."
Suddenly, a faint blue light began to seep from the wound where the blade was embedded. Then, the fracturing began.
Creeeeeak.
Cracks spiderwebbed across Geom Mu-geuk’s face. They spread rapidly, crawling down his neck, arms, and torso like a shattering porcelain doll.
Whoosh!
The moment blue light erupted from the fissures, a sharp ping echoed, and the cracked fragments fell away in a heap.
The man revealed inside was Gyo Cheon. Deep, weathered wrinkles now occupied the space where the web-like cracks had been.
Shhhhh.
Next, it was Geom Wu-jin who returned to his true form. The image of his younger self vanished, replaced by his original appearance. Even the sword piercing Gyo Cheon transformed back into the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Cough.
Gyo Cheon hacked up a spray of blood. At that moment, the surrounding trees vanished.
Cough, cough.
As he continued to cough, the rocks, the birds, and the sky disappeared. The version of Gyo Cheon from the past, who had been frozen mid-attack, also faded away. Then, Geom Wu-jin’s older brother began to dissolve.
Geom Wu-jin placed a palm against Gyo Cheon’s chest and injected a thread of internal energy. Gyo Cheon’s expression relaxed slightly, and the image of the brother stopped fading, standing still once more.
Geom Wu-jin stared at his brother in silence. Even if this was merely an illusion born of his and Gyo Cheon’s memories and hearts, he couldn't look away. Though he had already reverted from his youth to his current self, a look of lingering regret—the same one he’d worn back then—settled on Geom Wu-jin’s face.
"Gah… cough!"
As Gyo Cheon vomited the blood he had been holding back, the brother finally vanished. Geom Wu-jin watched him disappear with a profound, heavy gaze.
The illusion shattered completely, and everything around them vanished. Geom Wu-jin and Gyo Cheon were back where they had started. Standing in their original positions were Geom Mu-geuk, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and Hwi.
When Geom Wu-jin had suddenly vanished moments ago, they knew he had fallen into Gyo Cheon’s sorcery. Hwi had revealed himself in a panic, but Geom Wu-jin was already gone. No matter how much he trusted the Cult Leader’s strength, as a guard, he couldn't help but worry.
At that time, Geom Mu-geuk had told Hwi: "No one can harm my father as he is now."
Even so, knowing this was Gyo Cheon’s final gambit, the three of them had waited for him with bated breath. Of course, Geom Mu-geuk hadn't forgotten to crack a joke.
"Even if it's a secret trump card, would anyone really want to go to the afterlife alone with my father?"
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Hwi had offered faint smiles at that. And now, the Cult Leader had lived up to those expectations, reappearing with his usual dignity.
Blood gushed from Gyo Cheon’s mouth. "…How did you know it was me?"
He had believed that by disguising himself as Geom Mu-geuk in that situation, he would never be caught. The counter-dispelling method for this Illusion Heart Demon Art was Geom Mu-geuk himself. Moreover, the relationship was that of a son; he thought Wu-jin would never find the truth. Yet, the moment he prepared to strike from behind, Wu-jin had stabbed him first.
Geom Wu-jin spoke to him with a calm gaze. "Did I not tell you earlier that I knew what the Illusion Heart Demon Art was?"
It was a technique that killed by exploiting the person who occupied the largest and deepest part of one's heart.
"I thought… it was your brother," Gyo Cheon wheezed. He had assumed that Geom Wu-jin had buried his brother deepest in his heart.
Gyo Cheon’s gaze shifted toward Geom Mu-geuk. "…So the person who occupies the largest and deepest part of the Cult Leader’s heart was his son."
And above all, Geom Wu-jin knew that fact himself. That was why he could thrust his sword into his son’s chest with such absolute certainty.
Geom Mu-geuk’s eyes trembled the moment he heard Gyo Cheon’s words. Before he could feel moved, he was struck by a wave of shock and embarrassment.
The person who occupies the largest part of Father’s heart is me?
Certainly, his father occupied the largest part of his own heart. However, he had never expected that he would hold the same weight in his father’s.
Father!
He had felt many emotions toward his father since his regression, but he had never been as happy as he was at this moment. On the other hand, his father was staring at Gyo Cheon without showing any emotion at all.
Thinking that things would get awkward if they stayed too serious, Geom Mu-geuk began to chatter playfully.
"Of course it's me! If you drew a map of Father’s heart, this second son would take up a bit more than half. In the remaining half, the Main Cult takes up half of that, and the rest is split between my brother, the Demon Lords, the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, Father’s dreams, and a little bit of fishing. That’s how it is."
A small smile played on Geom Wu-jin’s lips. Since his back was turned to Geom Mu-geuk, the boy couldn't see it.
Geom Wu-jin added, addressing Gyo Cheon, "If it had been the real him, he would have talked ten times more than you did. And he wouldn't have told me to draw my sword and kill the opponent to forget the past quickly. He probably would have had… something to say to my brother as well."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon could tell that the Cult Leader’s true feelings were embedded in those final words. Perhaps the Cult Leader had hoped his son would speak to his brother on his behalf—that the son could explain his feelings better than he ever could.
And perhaps he had hoped his son would tell him how he should finally let go of his brother. Because if it were him, he would have expected that much from Geom Mu-geuk.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon walked slowly toward Gyo Cheon. The old man was still standing in place, impaled by the sword. Since pulling the blade would mean instant death, Geom Wu-jin left it in place to give the Blood Heaven Blade Demon time to say goodbye.
"Master."
Gyo Cheon looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with eyes that were losing their light. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s gaze was filled with regret and sorrow. Through the previous conversation, he could guess what kind of illusion had been cast—a move that exploited the deep wounds of both the Cult Leader and himself.
"Since it was the final illusion you prepared, Master, it must have been terrifying. The reason it failed is likely because neither you nor I have ever raised a child."
Gyo Cheon’s deep wrinkles twitched feebly.
"Master, let us meet again in the next life under better circumstances," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon said, his voice thick with sincerity. Even though his master had committed a great wrong, he still wanted to meet him again. "In this life, I will forget you after today. So let us meet in the next. Let us meet as master and disciple in a small martial arts hall in some rural village, where there are no struggles for succession. I will serve you truly well then. We can even have children of our own and raise them well."
Gyo Cheon’s pupils trembled. Just as he had felt throughout this encounter, he could sense that this disciple was truly grieving his death.
Gyo Cheon left his final words after a fit of coughing up blood. "…Hypocrisy to the very end."
With those words, Gyo Cheon’s breath stopped, his eyes still wide. It was impossible to know what his master’s true feelings were in his final moments, but because he refused to acknowledge him until the end, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon actually felt more at peace.
"Now that it’s passed, it was all but a moment, wasn't it?"
With a trembling hand, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon closed his master’s eyes. "Lay down your old grudges and please, rest in eternal peace."
Geom Wu-jin slowly withdrew his sword, and Gyo Cheon collapsed backward, blood spraying. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon caught his body and laid him down gently. He fulfilled his duty until the very end, gathering firewood, piling it up, and cremating his master.
"Since this would only be a grave no one visits, you might as well fly freely into the sky."
Geom Mu-geuk and Geom Wu-jin stood side-by-side, watching the scene. Geom Mu-geuk could tell: even if it had been for his father’s sake, the act of betraying his master had remained a wound in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s heart his entire life.
A man who didn't use circumstances as an excuse but simply carved that wound into his own heart—this man who lived carrying his own misfortune was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
Through this incident, his father must have realized it too—just how deep that wound had remained. Their relationship would surely change again after today. He could feel that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had reached some level of closure.
Then what about his father? Geom Mu-geuk wasn't one to let things slide.
Bury the body, but never bury the wounds of the heart.
That was his conviction.
"Father, did you see my uncle in that illusion?"
Geom Wu-jin nodded silently.
"How was it?"
If he had asked this question when he first regressed, his father would never have answered. He would have turned away without a word, especially since it was a question about his brother. But things were different now. An unexpected response flowed from his father’s mouth.
"It was good to see him after so long."
In that moment, Geom Mu-geuk felt it—the deep longing his father felt. The reason his father wanted his children to have a succession struggle without bloodshed was likely because of this very regret. His father, too, had been missing his brother.
"My uncle probably enjoyed seeing you too, Father."
Geom Wu-jin looked at his son.
"He probably wanted to tell you this: 'Brother, you're doing so well. I'm glad you're the one leading the Cult.' How do I know? You can tell just by looking at his nephew, right? Your eldest son. Where else would the bloodline of such magnificent eldest sons come from? Ah, I should have gone into the illusion with you. I had so much to tell my uncle."
Yes, if it were this fellow, he would have been just as talkative even there. How could anyone have mimicked this chatter?
"Oh, by the way, did you return to your youth, Father?"
When Geom Wu-jin nodded, Geom Mu-geuk looked even more regretful.
"Ah! It was a golden opportunity to see you in your prime. I should have had a head-to-head beauty contest with my handsome face against your younger self. Even if I lose in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, I should have won that!"
Wu-jin realized it then as well. He could imagine just how much the real son would have prattled on about his father’s youthful appearance.
Watching them, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon felt a pang of envy once again. Geom Mu-geuk didn't miss it.
"You're jealous, aren't you? You wish you had a son like me, right?"
How was he so quick-witted? But it wasn't just that. Earlier, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had unconsciously told his master that they should have children and live well. If he had been alone with Geom Mu-geuk, he would have countered by saying he wasn't jealous at all or that family is a curse. But he couldn't bring himself to say such things in front of the Cult Leader.
"Don't be envious. You have another child, don't you, Elder?"
"Another child?"
Geom Mu-geuk whistled, infusing it with internal energy. Then, someone came sprinting toward them like the wind from afar. The person who arrived in a single breath was Seo Dae-ryong. He had been hiding and waiting in the distance.
"I greet the Cult Leader."
After bowing politely to Geom Wu-jin, Seo Dae-ryong looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Today, he was more nervous looking at his master than the Cult Leader. His face already betrayed everything in his heart.
"…Master."
The trembling voice calling out to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon revealed just how much he had worried and how much he had missed him.
"Do you not resent me for dragging you into such an affair?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked. Though he had been forced to call him while being entangled in the business with his own master, he had intended to protect him no matter what.
Seo Dae-ryong answered immediately. "How could this be something you dragged me into, Master? It's because of those people. And aren't you disappointed, Master? Having a disciple who comes and solves everything perfectly… Master, it's all over. I'm just a timid and cowardly disciple, not a capable one like that."
Their gazes met. Geom Mu-geuk felt it—these two, who were completely different, were strangely alike in some ways.
"Pavilion Master Seo, you probably didn't hear it." Since he was in front of his father, Mu-geuk addressed Seo Dae-ryong by his title.
"Hear what?"
"Lord Blade Demon made a declaration. He said, 'From now on, I have only one master-disciple relationship.'"
Seo Dae-ryong’s face flushed instantly. Conversely, Mu-geuk also relayed Seo Dae-ryong’s deeds to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
"When we met earlier, Pavilion Master Seo said he would gladly give his life for you, Master. He even willingly acted as dangerous bait."
Seo Dae-ryong hung his head low, his face turning even redder. This was why he liked Geom Mu-geuk; he always delivered the words that absolutely needed to be said. His stoic master might not say anything in return, but it was enough that his feelings had been conveyed.
Then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke. "If there is anything dangerous in the future, make the Young Cult Leader do it."
Startled, Seo Dae-ryong snapped his head up. Sensing the affection hidden in his master’s joke, Seo Dae-ryong felt like he was walking on air.
"Did you hear that? You definitely heard it, right? It's an official order from the Elder," Geom Mu-geuk spoke as if tattling to his father. "Father, you heard it too, right? Then you should say something. 'What kind of thing is that to say to my child? From now on, you and your disciple handle all the dangerous work!'"
A smirk formed on Geom Wu-jin’s lips. That smirk, which always carried multiple meanings, was saying this today:
You worked hard too.
It was the most magnificent smile to conclude the day’s events.
His father began to walk away, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon followed behind him. Both his father’s and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s steps looked light.
Geom Mu-geuk stood for a moment, watching their retreating backs. Originally, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon always walked a step behind, but his father slowed his pace to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with him. As they walked, the two of them shared a conversation. Perhaps they were finally talking about that day—something they hadn't discussed for all those years.
Watching them, Mu-geuk suddenly remembered the line the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had drawn when they first met after his regression. The line of nine-to-one, saying that was the extent to which the Cult Leader cherished him.
Back then, the Elder’s line was exactly right.