Chapter 766: You Are Not the Young Cult Leader
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was reading a book by the window of the guest room in the inn. Moonlight streamed through the open window. When it reflected on the edge of a sword, it was the coldest of lights, but as it illuminated the book in this moment, it was soft and serene.
“Are you not worried?”
The one who broke his deep contemplation was the One-Slash Sword Supreme, who sat at the table drinking tea.
It had already been seven days since Geom Mugeuk had not returned. He was someone for whom the saying “no news is good news” fit well, but after seven days of silence, even she had begun to feel uneasy.
To her concern, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon flipped a page with an indifferent expression and asked back,
“Who?”
It sounded as if he meant, ‘Who worries about whom?’
“That’s exactly why I’m worried. He isn’t someone who’d be this late.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon lifted his gaze and looked out the window. The night had deepened, and not a single passerby was on the street. In truth, though he didn’t show it outwardly, he too was worried inside.
Had he gone off to kill someone, he would not have felt such unease. Geom Mugeuk had stayed behind, saying he was going to search for the tombs of the former Unorthodox Alliance Leaders, but that brilliant man wouldn’t have taken this long to find them. By now, he would have either located them within a few days or already returned after giving up.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon closed his book.
“Would worrying make him return any faster? Let’s go get some air.”
The One-Slash Sword Supreme also set down her teacup and stood.
“I was feeling stifled anyway.”
The two left the guest room. Just then, Ji Han came out of the neighboring room.
“Do you need anything?”
Since the first day they had checked into the inn, he had been busy tending to the Demon Supremes and the Sword King. He had taken care of their meals with care, and whenever a drunkard began to raise his voice, he would quickly rush over and chase them away.
As the Blood Heaven Blade Demon passed him by, he suddenly turned back, as if something came to mind, and said,
“You don’t have to fuss over us this much.”
“Yes, sir!”
When they stepped out of the inn, the One-Slash Sword Supreme said quietly,
“You’ve changed a lot.”
With the look in his eyes that asked, ‘What is it now?’, she added,
“You even care for the subordinates now.”
“Care? Nonsense. It’s just bothersome to deal with things later.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon walked on indifferently.
Yet even from his steps, one could tell he had changed. He was matching her pace now. In the past, his stride had always been quick, as fiery as his temper.
“Am I the only one who’s changed?”
The One-Slash Sword Supreme had nothing to say to that. She too had changed—not only in mind but even in appearance.
“The Young Cult Leader cast a spell, turning our twilight into dawn.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon thought her metaphor could not have been more fitting. Especially now, after leaving the cult, he had felt the urge to start anew. Yes—one did not grow old because of age. One grew old the moment one stopped moving.
As they walked along, chatting about this and that, they saw the Sword King sitting alone on a rock ahead of them, drinking.
When the Sword King rose to greet them, the two returned his greeting with a light nod.
Ever since they had descended from Heavenly Eye Mountain seven days ago, things had been awkward between them. Back in the underground tomb of the mountain, at least they had shared a common enemy. But now, without Geom Mugeuk, sharing a meal or a drink felt uncomfortable, and they had been practically living as strangers.
It seemed they would simply pass by again in silence today—
“Got any liquor left?”
For some reason, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon expressed his intent to join him.
The Sword King took a drink first, then handed the bottle to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon—a gesture meant to show that the liquor was not poisoned.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took the bottle and drank deeply.
“I don’t doubt you.”
Of course, the reason was Geom Mugeuk.
“Because he trusts you.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon thus revealed his faith in Geom Mugeuk.
The Sword King was no different. Had it not been for Geom Mugeuk, even if these two Demon Supremes had stepped in for his sake, he would never have chosen to associate with them. In truth, without Geom Mugeuk, they never would have been sitting together like this.
“Mind if we sit for a while?”
To the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s question, the Sword King readily replied,
“Of course not.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme sat side by side on the rock where the Sword King had been seated.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took another sip, then handed the bottle back.
In truth, he had stopped walking for the One-Slash Sword Supreme’s sake. He knew that she had gained a great realization from her duel with Ak Gunhak.
She probably wanted to talk with the Sword King about it, but she might have been holding back out of concern for his reaction.
The One-Slash Sword Supreme spoke to the Sword King.
“I saw you training every night.”
Indeed, the Sword King had devoted himself to training each night. From his appearance and his calm demeanor, one would never have guessed him to be the sort who trained so earnestly. Yet he wielded his sword until dawn.
“It’s because of you, Sword Supreme.”
“Because of me?”
“Yes.”
The Sword King acknowledged and respected her swordsmanship.
At this rate, he thought, she would eventually catch up to him.
Among all the people he had met, she was the only one who gave him that feeling—except, of course, for Geom Mugeuk.
Instead of saying he would be overtaken, the Sword King put it differently.
“If we fight again, I think I’ll lose.”
The One-Slash Sword Supreme knew. In their previous match, he had let her take one move.
“I wanted to prove the result you mentioned, but if you keep training every day like that, it might be difficult.”
“You were out training yourself when you saw me, weren’t you?”
Because of the mutual respect they shared, their gazes toward each other were gentle.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon listened silently to their exchange. In the past, he would have been displeased seeing the One-Slash Sword Supreme speak so freely with another man—especially someone like the Sword King, a supreme master.
He would have been possessive, and he would have been jealous.
But now he understood.
To win someone’s heart, one shouldn’t try to possess them—but rather, become someone with whom they could rest comfortably.
If one’s sincerity was genuine, it would be understood.
And if it wasn’t, then that person had never truly been theirs to begin with.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked up at the moon. In the distance, the howl of a wolf and the call of an owl echoed through the night. The sound of the two sharing their reflections on their recent battles and swordsmanship flowed naturally, and he found it pleasant to listen to.
How long had they been sitting there?
From far down the road came a familiar voice.
“Hey now, isn’t the atmosphere way too good without me? You were supposed to be fighting and causing chaos! You should’ve been desperately longing for my return!”
Smiles appeared simultaneously on all three of their faces.
The One-Slash Sword Supreme turned to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“You were right! Who worries about whom?”
Just as Geom Mugeuk was walking closer—
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon flinched and raised his blade toward him.
“Wait!”
At his sharp warning, Geom Mugeuk stopped in his tracks.
“What’s wrong? Did you get seduced while I was gone?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s tone turned cold.
“Who are you?”
He was the first to notice something off about Geom Mugeuk.
Naturally so—he had seen him far more often than the Sword King or the One-Slash Sword Supreme had.
Following the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s warning, the other two also sensed that something about Geom Mugeuk had changed.
“Elder, it’s me.”
Under the moonlight, Geom Mugeuk’s face came fully into view.
“No—you’re not the Young Cult Leader.”
It was undoubtedly Geom Mugeuk, yet there was an uncanny dissonance. Something about him felt distinctly different.
“It’s me! The very same man who, after leaving the cult, tossed away the drunkard, the poison addict, and that mask-wearing lunatic just to rush straight to you first! The one and only companion of Sword Supreme’s sparring matches, and the one who sincerely admires Brother Ak’s bare feet and ponytail style—that’s me!”
All three fixed their eyes on him.
His speech was the same, but he was undeniably different.
Had he gotten taller? Or had his shoulders broadened?
The three most noticeable changes were his skin, his gaze, and the scent emanating from him.
His skin looked clear and smooth, like polished jade, and a faint, pleasant fragrance drifted from his body.
His eyes—already bright and profound—now seemed as though they could peer straight into the deepest abyss and their souls. The scent around him carried a warmth that made one wish to stay by his side.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took several steps toward him.
As he quietly observed Geom Mugeuk, his eyes gradually widened.
“Don’t tell me… you’ve undergone a complete transformation?”
At his trembling question, both the Sword King and the One-Slash Sword Supreme were startled. It was truly an unexpected statement.
Geom Mugeuk did not deny it. No—he couldn’t have hidden it even if he wanted to.
“As expected! Elder, you recognized it right away.”
Geom Mugeuk exaggeratedly groaned.
“My bones were grinding, my flesh tearing apart—honestly, I thought I was going to die from the pain.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon glanced at the One-Slash Sword Supreme and the Sword King. A voice transmission from the One-Slash Sword Supreme reached him.
―We might be witnessing one of the most important moments in the entire history of the martial world.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon completely agreed with her.
The Sword King, too, could not hide his astonishment. He had seen with his own eyes that Geom Mugeuk bore the destiny of being absorbed by the Secret Box, but still—reborn through complete transformation?
It was such an extraordinary encounter of fate that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke for them all.
“I wonder what task the heavens intend to give you, for the martial world to bless you like this.”
Only Geom Mugeuk himself knew the will of heaven.
Smiling, he spoke about the life he would live after fulfilling that will.
“Has there ever been a Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult whose goal in life was to eat and play? I think it’s about time one showed up.”
“How grandly do you plan on playing?”
“You’ll be playing with me later anyway. You’ll see then.”
The One-Slash Sword Supreme joined in with a laugh.
“Young Cult Leader, will you include me in that too?”
“Of course.”
“You promised. Don’t you dare ignore me just because I’ve gotten older.”
“That’s what I should be saying. You can’t claim you’re too busy training to play! And besides, Sword Supreme, you still look young enough to pass as one of us.”
Those words, pleasant to hear no matter the time, were soon followed by ones directed toward the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Just look at Elder’s face—no more wrinkles! I should call you Brother Blade Demom now. Brother Blade Demon!”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head with an expression that clearly said, “Nonsense.” Then he asked,
“How did your mission go?”
“It went well.”
He didn’t even need to say it—his gleaming skin already spoke for itself.
“Let’s head back to the cult early tomorrow.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme both nodded. The journey that had begun when the three rode out together in a carriage was finally drawing to a close.
Geom Mugeuk suddenly darted up to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, thrusting his face forward.
“Come on now, you don’t get to see this often. Look at these cheeks! Soft as a baby’s. Go on, give them a pinch!”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon grimaced and stood up.
“Let’s finish our walk.”
“Yes.”
The One-Slash Sword Supreme rose as well.
“Hey, where are you going! I’m telling you, they’re smooth—really smooth! This is your only chance to pull the Young Cult Leader’s cheeks! At least congratulate me before you go—say it: congratulations! You endured well! You’re going to be a legend of the martial world!”
But the two Demon Supremes ignored him, walking even faster.
Once they were far enough away, the One-Slash Sword Supreme finally let her astonishment and admiration show.
“I thought nothing else on this journey could surprise me. But rebirth through transformation? I didn’t think it was truly possible.”
It was truly one of the greatest fortunes in the entire history of the martial world—a miracle said to have been granted to only a handful of people throughout time.
Even seeing it with their own eyes, they could hardly believe it.
Had it been anyone other than Geom Mugeuk, they might have thought it was some elaborate deception.
“He’s insane. Or the heavens have lost their mind.”
“Both are insane.”
Considering everything Geom Mugeuk had done until now, there was no better way to describe it.
Though they spoke that way, the two Demon Supremes were inwardly overjoyed.
Geom Mugeuk was, now and forever, the one person they would stake their lives to protect.
For someone like him to grow even stronger—it was what they desired more than anything.
“The ones pulling the strings behind all this… they’ve picked the wrong opponent.”
He had already mastered the Nine Calamities Demon Art at such a young age, and now, he had even undergone complete transformation.
Who in the world could possibly stand against Geom Mugeuk now?
To her words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon offered a different thought.
“Perhaps the heavens granted him such a fate for another reason…”
He couldn’t imagine anyone capable of defeating Geom Mugeuk.
So then—was there a deeper purpose behind this miraculous blessing?
“Maybe the Cult Leader really intends to push for unification of the martial world.”
The only being that Geom Mugeuk could not defeat—
The Cult Leader himself.
Perhaps the heavens had granted Geom Mugeuk this power because he stood in the destined path of opposing the Cult Leader’s ambition.
The One-Slash Sword Supreme also knew full well that the Cult Leader would not easily abandon his dream.
“If that’s the case, then the Young Cult Leader’s fight will be an even harder one.”
She added with quiet worry,
“When that time comes… whose side will we stand on?”
* * *
Geom Mugeuk looked toward the two Demon Supremes walking away in the distance.
Unlike their worries, he wasn’t thinking about his father at all at this moment.
The Twelve Zodiac Kings were all dead, after all.
“Now the real one will appear.”
Unaware of Hwa Moogi’s existence, the Sword King believed “the real one” referred to the Dark Palace Master.
But could that man, after losing all his subordinates, truly stand against Geom Mugeuk?
“Brother Ak.”
The Sword King turned to look at him.
“Even if you plan to leave someday, stay at the cult for a while and enjoy yourself first.”
“Why do you assume I’m leaving?”
“Because anyone who asks that question always ends up leaving. Don’t give me false hope. It hurts.”
Geom Mugeuk wanted to keep him close somehow.
But even more than that, he wanted the Sword King to live the life he desired.
“I won’t stop you from leaving. Just… leave later—far later. Stay and have fun with me for a long time.
Only when you think, ‘I’ve had enough of this guy. I’m sick of these demonic cult bastards,’ then you can go.”
Instead of replying, the Sword King looked up at the moonlit night sky.
‘If I’m to leave when being with you stops being fun… then I’ll never leave.’
In truth, the Sword King’s heart was divided.
Part of him wished to go far away, to live quietly among people who didn’t know him.
But another part longed to stay—to witness what kind of life Geom Mugeuk would live, now that he had been granted such an extraordinary fate.
“Whether I leave or stay, first things first—”
He added, pretending not to know exactly what Geom Mugeuk was thinking.
“Let’s go see for ourselves how beautiful that woman you mentioned really is.”