Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 25
>Chapter Title: Branch Leader (4)
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“We greet the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons!”
“We greet the Heavenly Demon!”
The infirmary had been in an uproar because the Master had come to visit.
The physicians working in the infirmary were all shouting praises for the Master without exception.
And before long.
Srrk.
The door to the infirmary where I was staying slid open, and the Master entered.
“Enough. Stay seated.”
As Jin Ha-yeon, who had splints on both arms and bandages wrapped around them, tried to prostrate herself on the floor, the Master quickly stopped her.
Then the Master looked at me and asked.
“How is your body feeling?”
“Thanks to receiving swift treatment, there are no major issues.”
“That’s a relief. I’ve heard the story. When the eldest went berserk, it was thanks to your resolve that we minimized the damage.”
At the Master’s praise, I smiled faintly.
It wasn’t a smile of joy from receiving praise.
After risking my life to provoke that mad wild boar, one or two words of praise weren’t nearly enough.
“So, are you perhaps bestowing some kind of reward?”
As a child, I was taught that humility is a virtue, but after experiencing society, I learned otherwise.
If you endure while believing they’ll reward you someday, it’ll just be forgotten.
When you’ve done well, you have to demand the reward right then and there to receive proper compensation.
“Young Master! What are you saying to the exalted one!!”
Of course, Jin Ha-yeon at my side was uncharacteristically shocked, but that was none of my concern.
“Hmm. A reward, you say. Indeed, even the Hyeok-ryeon Clan has decided not to pursue the matter with the eldest any further thanks to you, so a reward is certainly in order.”
“You’ve also visited the Hyeok-ryeon Clan?”
The Master nodded.
“The girl herself admitted that the cause of the eldest’s rampage stemmed from her own words. On top of that, the testimonies of the escort and the girl matched. That you provoked the eldest and lured him away to save everyone there.”
It seemed the Master had been handling the aftermath of the eldest senior brother’s rampage while I was laid up.
“Then, what happened to Eldest Senior Brother?”
“For now, I’ve confined him to the Seclusion Cave as punishment. And to those injured this time, I’ve granted premium medicines and a bit of gold for their recovery, so it’s only right to reward you as well, who handled the biggest task.”
Oh ho.
Now, what reward would he bestow?
It was quite exciting, coming from the leader of this massive cult.
Then, after stroking his beard and pondering for a moment, the Master finally announced the reward he would grant me.
“This old man will personally examine your injuries once more with True Qi Diagnosis and Pushing Palaces and Passing Meridians. On top of that, I’ll increase the time spent overseeing your martial arts training for a while.”
“......”
What was that?
Wasn’t that just saying he’d work me even harder?
My facial muscles twitched involuntarily, but fortunately, I managed to regain control before my expression crumbled.
“The exalted one’s grace is truly as vast as the heavens!”
It was because Jin Ha-yeon beside me was shouting that with a face like she was about to shed tears.
Well, from the perspective of fanatics, what could be more gracious than spending more time with the cult leader?
Even for non-fanatics, for any martial artist, the chance to learn from someone like the Master was something they’d pay billions for.
The only problem was.
‘I don’t need any of that crap!!’
I wasn’t a fanatic, nor was I obsessed with martial arts yet.
But thanks to Jin Ha-yeon’s reaction, I realized.
As the disciple of a cult leader, this was a reward I had to be overjoyed about.
‘Damn it.’
“I am deeply grateful for Master’s grace.”
While pretending to be moved on the outside contrary to my true feelings, it felt like my mouth was about to cramp.
Fortunately, before my facial muscles could twist, the Master brought up another topic.
“Hm. The real reason this old man came here is to discuss something else.”
“Was there some kind of problem?”
“Not a problem, per se, but the eldest said this on his way into the Seclusion Cave. That he wanted to talk with you, Il-mok.”
“?!”
“The rules of the Seclusion Cave normally prohibit meeting or conversing with anyone, but since he’s just entered, it might be possible as a brief visit before the punishment truly begins. So, I came to ask your opinion first.”
It was unexpected news.
That mad wild boar wanted to see me the moment he came to his senses?
‘No way he’s trying to kill me?’
That thought flashed first, but killing me while locked in the Seclusion Cave would be difficult.
It felt more like an opportunity.
If things dragged on like this, I risked becoming mortal enemies with Eldest Senior Brother.
It was his fault for flipping out first, but from his perspective, my “idiot” remarks would have twisted his guts.
Wouldn’t it be better to clear up the misunderstanding with him now, while he was safely locked away?
‘If it works, great; if not, no loss.’
Having thought that far, I replied to the Master.
“Are the doors to the Seclusion Cave sturdy?”
Of course, my safety was the top priority.
* * *
Il-mok and the Heavenly Demon entered the interior of the Seclusion Cave.
“This is the place.”
The Heavenly Demon, guiding Il-mok, pointed to the iron door visible beyond the torchlight.
“This old man will wait here, so go and have your talk.”
It meant he wouldn’t intrude on a conversation between disciples.
Il-mok hesitated for a moment but approached the iron door, thinking it should be safe enough.
“Eldest Senior Brother. Are you there?”
“It’s the youngest junior brother.”
At Il-mok’s question, Wi Jin-hak’s voice came from beyond the iron door.
“I heard you were looking for me.”
“Hahaha. I called you to apologize. I still lack training and couldn’t control my anger.”
Wi Jin-hak’s hearty laughter echoed through the cave like an echo off the iron door.
Completely different from his crazed state—back to his usual foolish tone.
At this point, Il-mok wondered if he wasn’t a Branch Leader but had split personality.
‘At least it doesn’t seem like we’re on bad terms.’
Il-mok let out a quiet sigh of relief inwardly.
But just leaving like this felt somehow empty.
“I came to apologize as well. Given the situation, I had no choice to prevent others from dying, but I’m truly sorry for saying the words you hate most, Eldest Senior Brother.”
“Uhahaha. Now that my head’s clear, I know why you said it, junior brother. It’s just this senior brother’s brain that’s the problem.”
Wi Jin-hak was laying another landmine again.
Il-mok considered replying appropriately, like “Eldest Senior Brother isn’t an idiot,” just as he’d soothed Seo Wan-pyeong in the middle of the night.
But somehow, it felt like that wouldn’t suit Eldest Senior Brother.
His symptoms weren’t delusions of persecution but Branch Leader mania.
And considering he wore the word “idiot” on his sleeve yet flipped out when others said it, it seemed like some kind of inferiority complex.
Of course, Il-mok was a former civil servant, not a psychiatrist, so he wasn’t exactly an expert.
‘With the iron door guarding me, a little should be fine.’
Reminded of his safety, Il-mok cautiously opened his mouth.
“Eldest Senior Brother. Do you remember when I recommended Third Captain for deputy branch leader?”
“…You did.”
At Wi Jin-hak’s unexpectedly calm tone, Il-mok swallowed once and continued.
“It wasn’t because I was looking down on you. Recall the adage ‘the more, the better.’ Han Xin told Emperor Gaozu of Han that he only had talent to command a mere hundred thousand troops. But he himself said more soldiers were better. Instead, Han Xin said that Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang had the talent to command generals like him.”
Of course, a few years later, Han Xin got purged by Liu Bang. It was part of eliminating founding merits for imperial stability, but there was also a joke that he was killed because he got offended by the incident.
“Also, in Shu Han, the smartest was Zhuge Liang, but the emperor was Liu Bei. Like that, what matters for a leader isn’t brains. It’s the charisma to draw people in and the ability to place talent in the right spots. And you, Eldest Senior Brother, are the Heavenly Demon’s firstborn disciple and the future leader of the Divine Cult.”
While Il-mok spun his lengthy explanation, for some reason, Wi Jin-hak beyond the iron door didn’t utter a single word.
‘Did I say something unnecessary?’
As Il-mok trembled with a bad feeling, like he’d tried to clear a misunderstanding only to make it worse.
“Let’s go now.”
The Heavenly Demon, who had approached unnoticed, snapped Il-mok out of it.
“Yes….”
As Il-mok trudged out with slumped shoulders, thinking he’d failed.
“You did very well.”
“???”
What exactly had he done well?
Il-mok wanted to ask, but for some reason, the Heavenly Demon’s gaze was fixed not on him but on the iron door.
‘It wasn’t intentional, but it was perfectly timed.’
The Heavenly Demon had noticed the change occurring inside the Seclusion Cave beyond the door.
‘They say heaven sends destined fates, and this child is the heavenly fortune bestowed upon our Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.’
It was something that couldn’t be forced, yet he’d succeeded, so there was no other explanation.
“For accomplishing such a feat, I shall grant you another reward.”
“???”
“Hm. But this time, rather than this old man stepping in, it’s best left to the eldest.”
Il-mok’s confusion only grew at the incomprehensible words.
‘Leaving the reward to Eldest Senior Brother? Is he handing over my head?’
* * *
Meanwhile.
Inside the iron door. In the dark cave illuminated only by the faint glow of a single night-lamp.
There, Wi Jin-hak sat cross-legged, immersed in meditation.
More precisely, he was battling the demonic qi burrowing into his mind and the deep recesses of his mental world.
But the dynamics of this battle differed from usual.
Unlike before, where he’d fiercely clash with the demonic qi of the Explosive Demon Net Sword Art while suppressing rising fury, he was simply observing.
-Kill that bastard right now!!
-How dare he mock me as an idiot!!!
Even as he heard the demonic qi’s rage commanding him to kill the youngest junior brother, Wi Jin-hak’s mind remained utterly serene.
Thanks to the youngest junior brother’s words, he’d realized he didn’t need to care about being called an idiot.
If it had been consoling words like “You’re not an idiot,” he might have gotten angry instead.
But those words had shown him—at least he didn’t need to mind them.
As the Heavenly Demon’s chief disciple, destined to be the leader.
Of course, others had said similar things before.
And most of them died by his hand, or barely escaped thanks to the Master appearing just before he could kill them.
As the Heavenly Demon thought, attaining enlightenment through advice required heavenly fortune.
Only when that advice hit at the perfect special moment or situation did it have meaning.
Because Wi Jin-hak had already neared the Transcending Demon realm. And because he’d already rampaged once yesterday, venting the anger that had built up bit by bit.
He had been ready to hear the youngest junior brother’s advice.
Even the Heavenly Demon, who had taught and watched Wi Jin-hak for decades, hadn’t anticipated that flawless moment—when Il-mok coincidentally offered exactly that advice.
-Kill him!
-Kill all who look down on me!
-Burn this unreasonable world to ashes!!
Another self screaming in fury.
The demonic qi raced through his meridians per the Explosive Demon Net Sword Art’s essentials, pounding his brain.
But unlike usual, Wi Jin-hak maintained a crystal-clear mind, simply accepting and observing it all.
Boom!!!
At one point, unable to withstand the demonic qi’s assault, a thunderous roar exploded in his mind, breaking through the blocked path.
Then, the demonic qi, endlessly condensed by the blocked meridians, surged through his entire body’s channels.
That immense power swept away the stagnant impurities blocking his meridians and even twisted his muscles and joints.
Amid that wave of intense pain, Wi Jin-hak simply observed himself, forgetting the world to focus on enlightenment.
At one point, the bodily contortions stopped, and the demonic qi that had raged as if to burn the world settled, returning to his dantian.
Pop!
Wi Jin-hak, having fully absorbed the enlightenment, opened his eyes.
It was the moment he surpassed the final barrier and entered the Transcending Demon realm.
“The stench is awful.”
Frowning slightly at the smell of the impurities and filth expelled from his body, Wi Jin-hak drew up the inner energy of the Explosive Demon Net Sword Art, and scorching heat emanated from his hands.
It was a bizarre sight.
Even as flames clung to and burned the stagnant impurities on his body, not a single burn marred his skin.
Now able to perfectly control the Explosive Demon Net Sword Art’s demonic qi, Wi Jin-hak scratched his jaw and thought.
‘Gathering talent and placing them where they fit best, huh.’
Naturally, someone’s face came to mind.
“The youngest junior brother needs to grow quickly. He’ll have to be my brains in the future.”