Chapter 618: I’m Worried He’ll Handle It Too Well
Chapter 618: I’m Worried He’ll Handle It Too Well
The Yueyang Branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was gripped by a state of constant, suffocating tension.
When the First Young Master first arrived leading the elites of the Changsha Branch, everyone assumed it was merely a passing breeze. Perhaps there was urgent business to attend to; in the life of a demonic practitioner, the wind was always blowing. One simply had to ensure they weren't swept away by the gale.
But the wind did not die down. It began to howl.
The following day, martial artists from the Pinggang Branch arrived. Being from a neighboring region, their circumstances were well known—these were the strongest warriors the Pinggang Branch had to offer. Furthermore, they had emptied their storehouses, arriving fully equipped in heavy body armor.
Starting with them, the elites of Hunan began to converge.
The warriors of the Yiyang Branch arrived, followed closely by those of the Hengshan Branch. A renowned rising star from Hengshan was among the ranks, and the face of a monstrous rookie who had recently joined the Yongxing Branch could be seen as well.
As elites from various branches and offices arrived one after another, the realization finally dawned on the locals: this was no mere breeze. It was a typhoon, and the Yueyang Branch was sitting right in the eye of the storm.
Finally, a single piece of news pierced through the tempest.
Ho-myeong walked briskly into Geom Mu-yang’s private quarters.
“Word has come from Tongcheon Pavilion. They have located the woman from the iron workshop—the one with the burn on the back of her hand.”
Even if the number of female blacksmiths was small, the Central Plains was vast. Nevertheless, Tongcheon Pavilion had produced a result. Geom Mu-yang did not doubt the finding for a second. If they said they had found her, they had found her.
Geom Mu-yang stood up abruptly. “Let’s go.”
Ho-myeong looked troubled by the First Young Master’s immediate impulse to hunt her down. “However, the place she belongs to is…” He paused, adding cautiously, “She is part of the iron workshop at the Murim Alliance Headquarters.”
“!”
Geom Mu-yang’s expression hardened. A name had surfaced that was notoriously difficult to deal with.
Ho-myeong continued, relaying the information sent by Tongcheon Pavilion. “The woman’s name is Gwak Yeong, age twenty-seven. She is one of the three masters of the Murim Alliance Headquarters’ iron workshop.”
“A master at twenty-seven?”
To reach such a rank at the Murim Alliance iron workshop at that age—and as a woman—meant that beyond mere talent, she possessed a terrifying level of dedication.
And yet she made a counterfeit?
She had even met Gu Yong in person to sell the item. There were pieces of this puzzle that simply didn't fit.
“It has been confirmed that she was absent from the workshop during the time she met Gu Yong,” Ho-myeong reported. “However, the problem is that we lost track of her movements after she returned to Wuhan. It is speculated that news of the Black Hand Society incident reached her ears.”
Judging by her movements, she was almost certainly the woman they were looking for.
“In the end, we must go to Wuhan,” Geom Mu-yang muttered.
Ho-myeong had no reply. Wuhan—the seat of the Murim Alliance Headquarters—was truly forbidden territory for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Even if they provided prior notice, entering Wuhan at the head of a contingent of Cult elites was impossible. The Murim Alliance would never permit such an operation.
“I will enter Wuhan alone,” Geom Mu-yang decided. He had his reasons. “With all the elites gathered here, they won’t expect me to slip into Wuhan by myself.”
At that, Ho-myeong spoke firmly. “Absolutely not.”
“Then is there another way?”
There wasn't. Even so, sending Geom Mu-yang into the lion's den alone was out of the question.
“Then please, at least allow me and my subordinates to accompany you.” Ho-myeong stared at Geom Mu-yang with a gaze that signaled he would not budge. “If you intend to go alone, you must cut us down first.”
Geom Mu-yang fell into thought, gazing out the window for a long moment. Finally, he nodded.
“Very well. We shall inform only the Branch Leader and slip out quietly.”
They would keep the other martial artists in the dark, but the Branch Leader had to know. If the First Young Master disappeared and a search party was mobilized, rumors would spread instantly.
“Understood. I will arrange a secret departure.”
Geom Mu-yang gestured for him to look out the window. Ho-myeong walked over and stood beside him. Below, a steady line of carriages and wagons delivering goods was arriving.
As the number of people staying at the branch increased, the logistical traffic naturally grew. To feed such a small army, vast amounts of ingredients had to be purchased, and more laborers were needed for maintenance. Consequently, wagons transported food and personnel several times a day.
Ho-myeong immediately grasped the intent. “I see. People don't pay much attention to outgoing wagons.”
While incoming carriages were searched thoroughly, empty outgoing carts were rarely inspected with the same rigor.
*
A few days later, a large carriage approached the gates of Wuhan.
“We will arrive in Wuhan shortly,” a voice whispered.
Packed into the rear cargo area were Geom Mu-yang, Ho-myeong, and the elites of the Changsha Branch. They had shed their martial robes for the drab clothes of ordinary laborers. Some were bare-chested to look the part, while others used disguises to appear as elderly men with wrinkles and gray beards. The carriage itself was disguised as a transport for workers headed to a construction site in the city.
The air was thick with tension. Though they were elites, none of them had experience conducting an operation right under the nose of the Murim Alliance Headquarters.
Instead of offering empty reassurances, Ho-myeong emphasized the gravity of the situation. “As you know, this operation is extremely dangerous.”
It was, quite literally, a suicide mission.
“We will face two types of enemies: those who manufactured the counterfeit, and the members of the Orthodox faction.”
In some ways, the masters of the Murim Alliance were more dangerous than the counterfeiters. How many Orthodox experts held a blood feud against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Crucially, since they hadn't informed the Alliance of their business, they would have no excuse if they were caught and killed. Moreover, they were protecting the First Young Master himself.
“Our mission is simple: follow the First Young Master’s orders and protect him at all costs.” Ho-myeong spoke forcefully, looking directly at Geom Mu-yang. “We will serve you well so that we may all return safely.”
He pointedly left out the phrase even if we all have to die. Ho-myeong’s loyalty was absolute.
Geom Mu-yang watched the walls of Wuhan draw nearer, his voice indifferent. “I do not intend to return along this road alone.”
*
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked up from his seat as something drifted through the air toward him. Startled, he saw a single book floating toward his face.
He caught it deftly. A glint of interest flashed in his eyes as he read the title, and he immediately began flipping through the pages.
“My, what if someone had smeared poison on the cover? How can you just grab it and start reading like that? You even wet your fingers with spit to turn the pages sometimes.”
The figure who emerged from the darkness, teasing him about his reading habits, was Geom Mu-geuk.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn't even look up as he turned a page. “Dying while reading a book wouldn't be a bad way to go.”
Geom Mu-geuk laughed happily and ran into the room. “Elder! I missed you!”
As Geom Mu-geuk rushed in for a hug, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood up and politely clasped his hands in a formal fist salute.
“I greet the Acting Cult Leader.”
Geom Mu-geuk stopped awkwardly mid-dash. “Why are you being like this? Between us?”
“Do you have any orders to bestow, Acting Cult Leader?”
“It’s me! Your handsome Young Cult Leader! Upon returning to the Cult, I brushed aside the other seven Demon Lords who were begging for a visit just to run and see you first. You’re really too much!”
Only then did the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s expression soften. He sat back down. “Too much? You’re the one who’s too much for only coming to say hello now.”
“That’s why I brought a gift, isn't it? It’s the book you wanted to read. It just happened to be sitting in the Heavenly Demon Library.”
The book was a collection of essays by an ancient master. The Elder had read every other volume by that author, but this specific one had eluded him for years.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon kept his eyes glued to the text. “Don't you know you’re not supposed to take books out of the library?”
“And yet you’re reading it quite diligently.”
The Elder quickly flipped another page. “Because this is my only chance to read it.”
“No, take your time. I’m giving it to you as a gift.”
“You’re giving this to me?”
“When you say things like that, you should at least look at me!”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s gaze remained fixed on the paper. “This is a book that cannot be given away without the Cult Leader’s permission.”
“Am I not the Cult Leader?”
“The Acting Cult Leader.”
“Then I’ll change the rules. Aren't temporary rules still rules? Besides, it’s disrespectful to my father. If there’s a book I want to read, I should be allowed to check it out. Why didn't you say anything when it wasn't even that hard to ask?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon read in silence. His special relationship with the Cult Leader was something that couldn't be easily explained in words.
“I heard you’ve been holed up in the Heavenly Demon Library lately?” the Elder asked.
“I’m reading with the mindset of 'if not now, then when?'”
“A good attitude.” A satisfied smile touched the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s lips.
“My decision to dive into books this time is entirely because of you, Elder.”
“Because of me?”
“Didn't I learn the joy of reading after meeting you?”
“You didn't even read that much,” the Elder countered. “You used to doze off after just a few pages.”
Geom Mu-geuk continued as if he hadn't heard. “I thought to myself, 'Our Elder is this strong because he reads so much. That’s why he’s so cool. If I read a lot too, maybe I can overcome the wall in my martial arts that’s currently blocking me.'”
Since Mu-geuk truly believed those words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded. “No matter how high the wall, if you stack books as stairs, you will eventually reach the top.”
He was telling him to step on those books and climb over.
“If you can't reach it, it’s because you haven't read enough.”
“I’m probably the first Young Cult Leader to try and reach the next realm of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art through literature.”
After a brief pause, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke. “That is likely why your Nine Calamities Demonic Art will be the strongest.”
When Geom Mu-geuk looked at the Elder, the old man was still engrossed in the book. When the Blood Heaven Blade Demon finally looked up, Geom Mu-geuk was busy scanning the bookshelves.
“There are many books here I haven't seen before,” Mu-geuk noted.
Whether the Elder took his words as flattery or a joke, his influence had indeed played a large part in Mu-geuk’s decision to enter the library. Geom Mu-geuk pulled various volumes from the shelves, examining them.
Time passed in comfortable silence.
“Take this book back,” the Elder said eventually.
“Why? I told you it’s a gift.”
“It’s fine. I’ll ask the Cult Leader for it later.”
Geom Mu-geuk gave him a suspicious look. “You’ve already finished it, haven't you?”
Seeing the Blood Heaven Blade Demon flinch, Geom Mu-geuk pressed his advantage. “Of course you finished it! You were listening to me half-heartedly because you were speed-reading, weren't you? Exactly! You didn't even look at my face once! Was there no chapter in that book titled 'My Young Cult Leader, Whom I Ignored for a Book'?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon finally broke into a wide smile. It had been a long time since he’d read such a fine text, and exchanging banter with Geom Mu-geuk was a rare pleasure.
Just then, Jeok-yeon’s voice was heard from outside. “Strategist Sama requests to see you at Tongcheon Pavilion.”
Until now, news had been delivered directly to Mu-geuk. For the Strategist to request a meeting at Tongcheon Pavilion meant something significant had happened.
“Elder, I’m going. I’ll see you later.”
“Take the book!”
Geom Mu-geuk caught the book that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sent flying via Telekinesis, tucked it into his robes, and vanished.
After he left, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon went to sit back down, only to find a different book lying where Geom Mu-geuk had been standing. As if he had expected the Elder to refuse the first gift, Mu-geuk had prepared a backup, along with a note.
— The Cult won't collapse just because one collection of poems and paintings disappears from the Heavenly Demon Library.
That book was also one the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had been unable to find. It was a volume he had wanted even more than the one he just finished. Geom Mu-geuk had remembered this book, which the Elder had mentioned only in passing once, years ago.
“You’re the same even as the Acting Cult Leader,” the Elder whispered.
He probably wouldn't change even after becoming the Cult Leader.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat down with a deep smile and began to read. This time, he turned the pages very slowly. He even wet his finger with a bit of spit.
*
Geom Mu-geuk had already heard the news that his brother had headed for Wuhan. The reason Sama Myeong had called him today was because someone else was also converging on the city.
A flag was placed on the topographical map. The character written on it was 'Han' (寒), meaning cold. In Tongcheon Pavilion, a flag on the map represented an expert of formidable skill.
“Hanwolgaek is heading toward Wuhan.”
Hanwolgaek was an Orthodox master who had lost his family to demonic practitioners. Consequently, he harbored a deep-seated, murderous grudge against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Coincidentally, he departed for Wuhan right after the First Young Master left for the same destination.”
It could be a coincidence, or it could be a trap. If it were only this, Sama Myeong wouldn't have called for the Acting Cult Leader.
“Hanwolgaek is a person of interest, so we have always tracked his movements. However…”
A new flag was placed on the map. This one was 'Byeok' (碧), meaning jade-green.
“While investigating another matter, we discovered that the Byeoksan Sword is also heading for Wuhan.”
He was also a master significant enough to merit a flag. The problem was the timing. At the exact moment the First Young Master headed for Wuhan, two renowned Orthodox masters were doing the same.
Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze darkened. “If they are moving because of my brother, then there is someone behind this capable of manipulating at least two 'flags'.”
He didn't know how those two masters were connected to the mastermind, but regardless, they were experts representing the Orthodox faction. They weren't people who could simply be killed without consequence—especially not in Wuhan.
Sama Myeong spoke cautiously. “At least two.”
What if other masters whom Tongcheon Pavilion hadn't identified yet joined them?
“Please order the First Young Master’s return,” the Strategist advised. He likely said this because his intuition as a strategist was screaming of a trap.
“My brother will not return.”
Geom Mu-geuk stared at Sama Myeong. Even in this situation, Sama Myeong did not suggest sending Mu-geuk out. Indeed, the more dangerous the situation became, the more the Strategist would refuse to let the successor leave the safety of the Cult.
Even though Geom Mu-geuk hadn't asked to go, Sama Myeong spoke firmly. “You cannot go.”
Geom Mu-geuk nodded obediently. He knew Sama Myeong considered protecting the successor of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult a mission more important than any other.
In truth, even if Sama Myeong had asked him to go, it would have been a difficult decision. To go himself when the threat hadn't been clearly identified? That would be a reckless move. It would be a choice to save his brother’s life while ignoring his brother's pride and his own responsibilities.
Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze turned toward the green Demon Lord banner on the map. Sama Myeong’s eyes followed.
“Are you worried the Poison King won't be able to handle it?”
“No,” Mu-geuk replied. “I’m worried he’ll handle it too well.”
Sama Myeong understood immediately and nodded in silence.
What if the Poison King carried out a massacre in Wuhan? It would mean the most powerful war deterrent in the Murim was currently igniting a front-line conflict. Both the Poison King and his brother were uncompromising men. They were blades that would never bend. Someone was needed to act as a buffer.
“Please relay this situation to one person.”
The news was delivered as ordered. A short while later, the messenger returned to Tongcheon Pavilion.
He stepped up to the map and placed a new flag. It was the flag of the one his brother trusted most and understood best—a golden flag.
“The Demon Buddha has just left the Cult for Wuhan.”