Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Demonic Cult
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It was no surprise that the Three-Eyed Man was locked up in the Thunder Prison. He belonged to the Demonic Cult, so it made sense that he’d end up there.
But the moment Dang Mujin laid eyes on Namgoong Myeong and Hong Geolgae, his heart raced.
“They must have come to rescue me and got caught. I need to get them out as fast as possible.”
Just then, Namgoong Myeong’s grumbling voice reached him.
“If you weren’t just some second-rate nobody and had broken through to the absolute peak like me, losing a few headcounts wouldn’t have been a big deal. None of those three were stronger than me.”
Hong Geolgae shot back indignantly.
“You think I’m stuck like this because I don’t want to break through to the absolute peak?”
“Breaking through to the absolute peak isn’t that impressive anyway. If you set your mind to it in the morning, you could do it by evening, right? Come to think of it, it’s weird. Why is everyone around me only second-rate? What are the odds?”
Dang Mujin changed his mind. They didn’t need rescuing right away.
“...Just showing my face briefly to put them at ease should be enough.”
As Dang Mujin started toward Namgoong Myeong and Hong Geolgae, Hong Geolgae’s voice drifted over.
“A sudden thought just hit me—did I really need to come all the way to Heavenly Mountain? Me, who’s always lived free as a bird, stuck in some godforsaken prison.”
“See? Told you. It’s their own fault for getting caught. If you get yourself thrown in on a whim, you get yourself out the same way. That’s how the world works. What they call reaping what you sow.”
“Hmm. You’re right.”
Dang Mujin changed his mind again. No need to even show his face.
Of course, it wasn’t that their whispering annoyed him. The real issue was that those two idiots would blab something thoughtless if he did.
Something like, “Dang Mujin! What are you doing here? Come to save us?”
The perfect way to ruin everything.
Dang Mujin shook off the burden and calmly reached a rational conclusion.
“I’ll head back today. I just came to scout the prison’s location.”
With light steps, Dang Mujin left the Thunder Prison.
*
When Dang Mujin returned to the Poison Blood lair, Mok Wan-ah approached him hesitantly.
“What’s wrong? Something happen?”
Mok Wan-ah glanced around cautiously before asking.
“Are you leaving?”
Dang Mujin hesitated for a moment. He still didn’t fully trust her.
Their relationship might be delicate, but Mok Wan-ah was a disciple of the Demonic Physician from the Martial Combat Faction.
And the cult leader was only masquerading as part of the Doctrine Faction—he actually had strong backing from the Martial Combat Faction. It wouldn’t be strange if she had some indirect connection to the leader.
Still, Dang Mujin trusted his judgment. Mok Wan-ah wasn’t the type to scheme slyly. If she’d planned to cause trouble, she wouldn’t have asked so directly.
“Not today. But I’ll be leaving soon.”
Hearing this, Mok Wan-ah pondered briefly before mustering her courage.
“Was... recent life here uncomfortable or something?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Then, how about staying in Heavenly Mountain? What’s wrong with living like this?”
She didn’t realize it herself, but Mok Wan-ah’s heart was pounding.
In all her life so far, Dang Mujin was the first person she could talk to so comfortably.
People always need someone to talk to. Mok Wan-ah wanted to hear stories and share her own.
Her emotions were deeply complex yet immature.
Like anyone’s, they couldn’t be pinned down neatly.
Simple interest in another person. Curiosity toward an outsider. Admiration for someone who’d lived a different life. The intimacy and friendship grown over recent days, and perhaps a touch of affection.
All tangled up in a mess.
Mok Wan-ah was unskilled at expressing emotions and had never had the chance to learn. She’d kept them bottled up tight, never sharing with anyone.
But emotions don’t vanish just because you suppress them alone. People need to vent them, and Dang Mujin was the first outlet she’d ever had—the only real channel for connection. It was natural that her tangled feelings projected onto him alone.
She might have endured if she’d never had a conversation partner in her life.
But now, the thought of that window slamming shut again choked her. She needed at least one person to be with. Nothing more.
Dang Mujin, however, wasn’t in a position to grant her wish, nor sharp enough to read her heart.
“No, I have to go back.”
From those simple words, Mok Wan-ah sensed the distance between them—their utterly different circumstances.
Dang Mujin belonged to the world beyond Heavenly Mountain, just passing through. She belonged to Heavenly Mountain.
Mok Wan-ah recalled the time she’d been slapped for not putting her lab tools back in place. The lesson that everything in the world must stay in its proper spot.
Dang Mujin asked.
“Why? Want to come with me?”
Mok Wan-ah thought long and hard, then shook her head slightly.
“No... I don’t know.”
The outside world still terrified her.
Even venturing to the village alone was daunting—how could she leave for some far-off place?
Dang Mujin replied.
“Yeah? Well, staying here is safer anyway. I don’t think I can slip out smoothly.”
Mok Wan-ah gave a bitter smile.
*
After that, Dang Mujin often slipped out of the Poison Blood lair. It was a simple plan, but there was much to prepare and scout.
In the meantime, while Dang Mujin was away, Mok Wan-ah heard a whistle from outside the cave.
It was the day for her regular delivery of rice cakes.
When Mok Wan-ah stepped out, a familiar man held out a box of rice cakes. She took it, and he asked.
“Anything special going on?”
Dang Mujin hadn’t mentioned it, but Mok Wan-ah had a small duty: report if Dang Mujin acted suspiciously.
It wasn’t suspicion of him specifically—outsiders always got watched.
Mok Wan-ah shook her head.
“Nothing in particular.”
“Nothing? You’ve been researching that poison bird for a while now. At least tell me how that’s going.”
“No real progress, it seems.”
“I see. Hmm...”
The man narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her.
“Keep a close watch so nothing slips. Once is forgivable, but twice? You won’t get off scot-free.”
“Yes.”
It was the day Dang Mujin killed the conical-hat man and the Three-Eyed Man clashed with the Grand Protector. Mok Wan-ah had received the Grand Protector’s warning through this man.
Getting off with just a warning was incredibly lucky. She’d failed to report Dang Mujin’s odd behavior, leading to an absolute peak expert’s death—harsh punishment should have followed.
She’d escaped it because they still needed her to watch Dang Mujin.
“Heard you’ve been getting along with him lately. Why not push it further? If he settles down here for good, it’s good for you and us. Right?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That’s all. Do well.”
The man patted her back and sent her off.
Mok Wan-ah returned to the Poison Blood lair, set down the rice cakes, and retreated to her small corner, crouching down.
In the past, she would have spilled everything upon hearing such words.
But now, she felt strangely detached, as if it wasn’t quite real.
She’d recently realized she had little to lose.
Mok Wan-ah knew her limits well. She wouldn’t leave a great mark on the world or survive alone out there.
She’d live a life much like now, without special events—no joy, no sorrow, just existing.
Breathing, alive, but not much different from being dead.
“If that’s the case, even death wouldn’t take much from me.”
No matter what came, she’d keep her mouth shut.
That was her greatest courtesy—and her greatest defiance.
*
Three days later, late at night.
The time for action had come. Dang Mujin woke from sleep and rose quietly. Beside him, Mok Wan-ah slumbered soundly.
Nothing special had happened. He’d mentioned leaving tomorrow, and she’d chatted until she claimed the spot next to him, saying she’d sleep after talking.
At first, she’d chattered away, and he’d worried she’d stay up all night, ruining her rest.
But it was unfounded. Her words tapered off quickly, she hesitated as if lost in thought, then turned over and slept. Thanks to that, Dang Mujin had gotten a deep sleep.
He spoke to the sleeping Mok Wan-ah.
“Take care.”
No response. When she woke, she’d face his empty spot.
Dang Mujin stretched, gathered his prepared items, and slipped out of the Poison Blood lair. His time in Heavenly Mountain was over.
He headed to the Thunder Prison site—a natural fortress ringed by dense rock pillars.
Fortunately, no outer guards patrolled. Guards suppressed internal resistance, not external threats.
Dang Mujin carefully climbed onto the Thunder Prison roof and set down his sack.
“Gotta hurry.”
He dashed straight for the cult leader’s quarters.
Lately, more people lurked around the cult leader’s quarters and the Demonic Cult’s main base. The starving poison birds were due to migrate soon, so they were scouting when they’d leave.
But even they avoided the cult leader’s quarters late at night. That’s why Dang Mujin chose this hour.
With a Poison Repellent Pill in his mouth, he leaped onto the cult leader’s quarters roof. The brooding poison bird snapped awake, eyes wide on Dang Mujin.
He poured venomous insects from a small sack into the bird’s food bowl, then nudged it aside—just far enough that it had to stand to eat.
“Go on, eat up.”
Surely it wouldn’t stay put just to brood.
Dang Mujin watched tensely.
*Caw—*
His worry was needless. The poison bird let out a crow-like cry, stood, and devoured the food ravenously.
Where it had sat was a nest with an egg the size of a human head.
“Got it.”
Dang Mujin quietly approached and lifted the entire nest with the egg.
He leaped down lightly, moving far away before the bird finished eating.
Just before leaving its sight, he hoisted the nest high.
“Hey! Your egg’s right here!”
The poison bird stared blankly at what he held, then settled back in its spot. But the feel beneath felt wrong—empty.
Only then did it realize what Dang Mujin held.
*Caw—*
The mother poison bird spread its wings for the first time in a year and took flight.
Its gaze met Dang Mujin’s. Eyes without visible whites, but he felt the blazing fury in them.
It soared up, then dove like snatching prey, targeting Dang Mujin. But he evaded easily. He hadn’t trained lightness skill and footwork to get caught by a bird.
Even with the Poison Repellent Pill, the venomous aura chasing his back sent chills. Yet excitement surged too. It felt good, somehow.
*Caw— Caw—*
Dang Mujin dodged claws by a hair, reaching the small basin with the Thunder Prison. With a final burst of lightness skill, he placed the nest and egg on the prison roof and fled.
The poison bird glared, eyes flashing. It wanted to kill the human now, but the egg came first.
It settled on the nest atop the Thunder Prison, brooding comfortably.
A sack full of food sat before it too.
Thanks to its bird-brained low intelligence, the poison bird forgot the incident in an instant.
All that mattered was the precious egg beneath and the plentiful food nearby.
As the poison bird ate, its venomous miasma spread through the dark basin.