Chapter 55
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: I Can't Stand Loose Ends (5)
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“...”
Hong Wi-mun’s expression hardened noticeably.
Seo Ryang shook the bottle.
“Finished the rest, this is all that's left. Come on, I'll pour you a glass. It's ridiculously good.”
“...”
“Not coming? I promise I won't bite.”
Hong Wi-mun glanced around.
Cultists passing by in the distance were stealing glances at the two of them. In the past, they would have rushed over and bowed their heads, but not now.
It was because of a rumor that had spread throughout the cult a few days ago.
That the Third Young Master, Seo Ryang, and the Fourth Young Master, Hong Wi-mun, had entered a power struggle.
Clench.
Unconsciously clenching his fist, Hong Wi-mun approached Seo Ryang with his characteristic leisurely stride.
Seo Ryang grinned.
“That’s right.”
Drip.
A thin, thread-like stream of blood trickled from his tightly clenched fist. He had squeezed so hard that his nails had dug into his palm.
‘No need to be so sensitive.’
He spouts such words when so many people are watching.
Normally, he would have scoffed and ignored it, but he kept finding himself reacting with a surge of anger. It meant he had lost that much of his mental composure.
Hong Wi-mun took a slow, deep breath.
‘He can't do anything rash, anyway.’
He's the one who readily agreed to the Head of the Hall of Punishments' mediation. I don't know if he was sincere, but at least he won't do anything provocative right now.
‘We may be far, but this is still the territory of the Hall of Punishments. He knows that.’
What if he tries to pull something right here, right now?
‘His life in the cult will get quite difficult from now on.’
I don't know about him, but I had no intention of yielding to the Head's threats. However, I needed to give it some time, at least to save face.
Hong Wi-mun knew very well how important face was. Considering that, a part of him even hoped Seo Ryang would act out.
As Hong Wi-mun reached him, Seo Ryang pointed to the ground with his chin.
“Your cup's over there. Don't step on it.”
Swoosh!
With a grand flourish of his robes, Hong Wi-mun sat on the ground.
The sudden gust of wind kicked up dust, which settled neatly into the cup.
Seo Ryang smiled.
“Honestly, this guy.”
It was like a much older person looking at a childish subordinate. He maintained his expression, but he couldn't help but feel annoyed.
“Have a drink.”
Hong Wi-mun silently held out his cup.
A refined fragrance rose from the poured wine.
The aroma alone proved it was a fine spirit. Even in his foul mood, he was inwardly impressed.
“Not bad, right?”
“It's good.”
“Let's drink.”
Seo Ryang held out his cup.
Hong Wi-mun stared at the cup for a moment before downing his own in one go.
“So petty.”
Seo Ryang chuckled and drained his cup as well.
Clench.
Inside his long, wide sleeve, Hong Wi-mun's fist tightened once more.
He couldn't understand why he was reacting so sensitively. He had always disliked the man, but never to this extent.
‘When did it start? The moment I started getting irritated just by hearing his voice.’
After a moment of thought, he easily recalled when it was.
‘It was then. When I met with the Lord of the Garden of Joy.’
Before that, he'd found him annoying, someone he could crush at any time, but also a curious fellow who showed unexpected sides. A vicious and strong, but not particularly bright man.
But when his guest, the Lord of the Garden of Joy, was stolen away, he felt a genuine rage toward Seo Ryang.
If he had been defeated in a martial arts duel, he would have been furious but would have gritted his teeth and borne it. But to have the Lord of the Garden of Joy taken from him without even a chance to act left him momentarily stunned.
And it wasn't as if Seo Ryang had captivated her with some grand display of eloquence.
‘Whatever the reason, then and now, he is nothing but prey for me to devour.’
Hong Wi-mun picked up the wine bottle and filled Seo Ryang's cup.
“Oh? What's this?”
“...”
“A man changes so suddenly, I don't know what to do with myself. Is this a toast to reconciliation?”
“Would you believe me if I said it was?”
“I would, if it's followed by a believable conversation.”
Hong Wi-mun filled his own cup and drained it. As Seo Ryang had said, the wine brewed by the Head of the Hall of Punishments was indeed excellent.
“Why did you call me here?”
“No particular reason. It just occurred to me that we've never really talked like this, just the two of us.”
Hong Wi-mun furrowed his brow.
“We've spoken many times. We used to, when we were children.”
“Did we? Well, let's say since we grew up, then. That's not what's important.”
True. That wasn't important.
But this time, Seo Ryang's words grated on his ears in a strange way.
‘What is it? Why?’
The feeling of a tiny insect squirming inside his ear, even after he'd cleaned it. A foul sensation that kept bothering him, even though he knew it wasn't real.
What is it? Why am I bothered by what he said?
“What are you planning to do?”
“About what?”
“Are you going to keep living like this, causing all that chaos?”
A rather direct question.
In the past, he would have been flustered, but having experienced this side of Seo Ryang several times now, Hong Wi-mun wasn't.
“Is that what you were curious about?”
“I thought you'd play dumb and ask what I meant, but you're being straightforward. Yes, that's what I was curious about.”
“What does that have to do with you, brother?”
“It has everything to do with me. If you cause that kind of chaos again, I'll surely be your first target. How can I not be concerned?”
“...”
“It seems you have no intention of stopping.”
“Of course.”
“Why do you insist on living so relentlessly?”
He wasn't being sarcastic. Seo Ryang's voice was as serious as his expression.
A spark ignited in Hong Wi-mun's eyes.
“You're not asking because you're genuinely curious, are you?”
“Don't answer a question with a question. Just tell me. Why do you live so relentlessly?”
“Isn't it obvious? We seven brothers are destined to fight one day. No, the moment we became the Cult Leader's disciples, we gained our closest, yet most fatal, enemies.”
“...”
“Our battle began right then. Isn't it strange for you to say such things, knowing that?”
“A fight is one thing, but there's no need to kill each other.”
“Do you wish to keep toying with me?”
“No, I just want to hear your honest answer. At least for this moment.”
Seo Ryang filled his cup. Hong Wi-mun drained it coolly.
“Look at the imperial family of this nation. The fate of princes who fail to become emperor is nothing short of miserable. So much so that death would be a mercy.”
“That's true.”
“If you think we are any different, brother, you are truly a fool. We are like the imperial family. If we don't want to be miserable, we must become the emperor, even if it means killing our brothers. In fact, killing them now, while they know nothing, might be the most merciful thing to do.”
Seo Ryang smiled.
“Is that what you think?”
“Isn't it obvious? Then, what kind of peaceful thoughts have you been indulging in, brother?”
“I do wish for a peaceful life, but my environment is anything but peaceful.”
“For us, true peace begins only after we seize supreme power.”
“Wrong.”
“...?”
“Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts, brief as it was. Yes, I can see that. But I want to tell you that the idea of a peaceful life beginning after you seize supreme power is mistaken.”
Hong Wi-mun laughed coldly.
“Are you trying to teach me the ways of Confucius and Mencius?”
“Confucius and Mencius? Why would I drone on about the teachings of sages to someone who wouldn't listen anyway?”
“...”
“You're from the Red Snake House, aren't you?”
“So?”
“You've never lived a day in your life satisfied with anything, have you?”
“...”
“You think seizing supreme power will let you live peacefully? That's ridiculous. It only looks that way because the Cult Leader's martial arts are so incredible. Nothing changes just by sitting in that seat.”
“That is the most absurd and trash-like thing I've heard recently.”
“That's why I'm telling you this based on experience, not some Confucian doctrine. If I started quoting Confucius and Mencius, would you even be sitting there now?”
“...”
“Are you scared?”
In that instant, killing intent flared in Hong Wi-mun's eyes.
“Did you call me here just to insult me?”
“How is asking if you're scared an insult?”
“You're ruining the taste of the wine.”
“Do you want to seize supreme power? Or are you trying to kill first because you don't want to die?”
“Why do you keep asking such pathetic questions?”
“Just answer. Which one is it?”
“The former, obviously.”
“You want to be the best?”
“Of course.”
“I see.”
With that, Seo Ryang fell silent. He simply continued to fill his cup and empty it.
Staring blankly at Seo Ryang, Hong Wi-mun finally spoke.
“What about you, brother?”
“Me? What about me?”
“Don't you want to be the best?”
“Are you kidding me? You're asking a ridiculous question.”
Hong Wi-mun scoffed.
“So you also think...”
“Of course I have no interest in that crap.”
Hong Wi-mun's eyes widened.
“No interest?”
“Think about it. Once you seize power and stand at the pinnacle of the cult, what then? You'll have to manage this, manage that, and when trouble breaks out, you'll have to run around until your feet sweat. And you'll be stuck in all those exhausting meetings, one after another, right?”
“...?!”
“Why would anyone want such a tiring position? Frankly, I understand you even less.”
“But you'd be able to wield absolute power.”
“Power. Can you eat it?”
“...”
“I can't even take responsibility for myself, so who am I supposed to control with power? Power is nothing but an invisible illusion in the end.”
“An illusion everyone believes in.”
“That's why both the powerful and the idiots who blindly follow them meet miserable ends. Because they're bewitched by a non-existent illusion and forced to live an unhappy life.”
Shaking the bottle, Seo Ryang filled his own cup and then Hong Wi-mun's.
“It's empty.”
“...”
“We've finished the wine, I've heard your thoughts, so now there's just one more thing to confirm.”
Despite having filled the cup, Seo Ryang didn't raise it.
“What I said in front of the Head of the Hall of Punishments was sincere. I have no desire to grab others by the collar and roll around in the mud. I don't plan on forgiving anyone who messes with me, but even that I might just let slide depending on my mood at the time. I'm quite capricious, you see.”
“...”
“So what will it be? Are you going to try and attack me from behind again?”
“And what if I say yes?”
“I'll leave it to my whims. At the very least, it won't play out like some beautiful story from a novel.”
“I see.”
“So, your answer?”
Hong Wi-mun's eyes grew deep and dark.
The corners of his lips crept up slightly. A leisurely smile, the kind he usually showed his followers, appeared.
“You wouldn't believe me no matter what I said, would you?”
“...”
“If deceiving you is pointless, then I'll answer you this way. One day, I will kill you without fail.”
“Is that so?”
“Is that answer enough for you?”
Seo Ryang lowered his head for a moment, lost in thought.
Then, he smiled and nodded.
“More than enough.”
Hong Wi-mun nodded back.
“Let's finish this last cup and go our separate ways—”
BOOOOOOOM!!
A tremendous explosion echoed out, shaking an area dozens of yards wide.
And the one who had created that explosion was rolling his neck back and forth in front of a tree shattered by the shockwave.
“Go where?”
“Kuh!”
Forced back fifty feet, Hong Wi-mun's hands were glowing red.
Seo Ryang smiled.
It was the complete opposite of his previous relaxed and serious expression—a true smile of death.
“I really thought it over, and you know what? I just can't stand leaving loose ends.”
Crack! Craaack!
Cracking all his knuckles, he unleashed the Dark Shadow True Demonic Arts.
“I'm going to rip you out by the roots, then go on my merry way!”