Chapter 61 - Will You Kill Me Too?

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader and the Demonic Buddha entered Heavenly Demon Hall.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader, Neung Paso, had an imposing build, a healthy complexion, and a gaze so fierce it seemed capable of piercing a wall. Having fully mastered the Heaven-Calamity Great Demonic Qi, reputed to be the foremost martial art beyond the frontiers, he was the absolute ruler of the frontier Murim.

There had been a time when the Blood Cult rivaled the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon in strength. Since becoming the Wind Heaven Cult, however, it had grown considerably weaker by comparison and could no longer measure up to the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon.

When he left the Wind Heaven Cult for this visit, he brought along its ten greatest masters, the Ten Great Demonic Masters, as well as a hundred elite soldiers of the Blood Nara Army.

Nor was that all. He had brought every sacred relic from his throne chamber, including the Thunderous Sound Bell and the Blood Buddha. One might think it safer simply to lock them behind bars of ten-thousand-year cold iron and have the masters he brought guard them, but he absolutely refused to be separated from his relics.

The man who guaranteed his safety within the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon was the Demonic Buddha, Jeo Raban, who had entered beside him. He stood only about half the height of an ordinary adult.

Yet it was not his height that made anyone in the world turn to look at him. It was the color of his skin.

Not only his face and hands, but his entire body was golden. He gave the impression of a small golden Buddha statue moving about, no larger than a child monk. This was known to be a result of the Golden Great All-Encompassing Demonic Art he practiced.

The two walked side by side along the Path of Blood until they reached the foot of the grand chair.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader bowed respectfully first.

“I greet the master of the Divine Cult and the supreme leader of all Murim. Thank you for inviting me.”

The Heavenly Demon, Geom Ujin, welcomed him with a smile.

“Welcome. How many years has it been?”

It was a calm greeting, yet every word flew straight into the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s ears as though embedding itself there. Though devoid of internal energy, the words struck more powerfully than speech imbued with it—a clear demonstration of just how high the Heavenly Demon’s realm was.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader could stand confidently before anyone in the world, but the Heavenly Demon alone intimidated him.

“It must have been a good ten years.”

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to your concern, I have been without trouble.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader had resolved not to yield an inch in their contest of wills when he met the Heavenly Demon. Yet at this moment, a thought occurred to him. A contest of wills—why bother with something so pointless?

Geom Ujin turned his gaze to the Demonic Buddha.

“You have worked hard, traveling so far.”

“It was a pleasant journey to visit a friend.”

The Demonic Buddha was about to add something, flaunting his friendship with the Wind Heaven Cult Leader, when Geom Ujin cut him off.

“It is late, and you must be tired from your journey. Go and rest for tonight. We shall meet again in daylight.”

“Yes. Then I shall take my leave.”

The greetings ended quickly, mere formalities.

The Heavenly Demon and the Wind Heaven Cult Leader had never been close. For generations, the Wind Heaven Cult had maintained strong ties not with Heavenly Demon Hall, but with the Eight Demon Supremes.

That was only natural. Historically, several wars had been fought between the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Cult. Their very origins prevented friendship, so it was no surprise that the Eight Demon Supremes, who stood in opposition to Heavenly Demon Hall, had joined hands with the Wind Heaven Cult.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader walked out of Heavenly Demon Hall with the Demonic Buddha.

“Even so, the supreme ruler of the frontiers has come to visit. He ought to have offered you at least a cup of tea. That was too much.”

“It is late at night.”

“Then he should have treated you all the better.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader responded to the Demonic Buddha’s complaints without much concern.

“You needn’t try to drive a wedge between us. I have no intention of becoming friends with your cult leader anyway. So stop.”

“Drive a wedge? This concerns your pride and honor.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader understood why the Heavenly Demon had cut him off. The Demonic Buddha often said things that touched a nerve. He had a nasty habit of making needless remarks to infuriate others.

“Let us go see the body first.”

“Won’t you wait until tomorrow? You must be tired. Get some sleep, and we can look tomorrow.”

“We can sleep when we’re dead.”

“Very well, then. Why is everyone so stubborn?”

The Demonic Buddha took him to where the body was kept. To prevent decay, the Soul-Seizing Demon’s corpse had been treated with chemicals and stored somewhere as cold as an icehouse.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader began examining it immediately, while the Demonic Buddha watched from beside him, his face full of curiosity.

With practiced hands, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader thoroughly examined the corpse’s interior. He felt each organ and blood vessel, sniffed them, and even injected internal energy into the cold body.

At last, after quite some time, the examination ended.

“The eight extraordinary meridians were damaged, and the heart was placed under tremendous strain. This happened as he unleashed soul-seizing sorcery repeatedly.”

“Are you saying it was qi deviation or not?”

“Qi deviation was indeed the cause of death. But it is certain that the Soul-Seizing Demon died fighting someone in the world he opened.”

The Demonic Buddha’s expression hardened.

“So someone did kill him after all.”

“Certainly. The troubling point is that he died despite using soul-seizing sorcery.”

The Demonic Buddha shook his head.

“It is hard to believe. Who could be skilled enough to infiltrate the Western Illusion Formation, kill the Soul-Seizing Demon, and escape?”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader pointed a finger toward the sky, asking whether the Heavenly Demon might have killed him.

The Demonic Buddha shook his head.

“We concluded otherwise. The Soul-Seizing Demon was our greatest asset against those orthodox faction bastards. The cult leader never disliked him, either. There is no way he killed him.”

Unlike the cautious Wind Heaven Cult Leader, the Demonic Buddha spoke freely of the cult leader. He was certain the man was not responsible.

“Then is there anyone else you suspect?”

“There is one person.”

“Who?”

“The cult leader’s second son.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s expression stiffened. He had never imagined they suspected the cult leader’s son.

Yet, looked at another way, perhaps it took someone like the cult leader’s son to be capable of such a deed.

Not a word about this throughout the entire journey. Though he seethed at being dragged into such a dangerous situation, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader betrayed no change in emotion.

If someone tripped him, he was the sort to pick up a hefty stone before getting back on his feet—and to keep smiling until he smashed it against their skull.

“Let us see the Second Young Master first thing tomorrow.”

* * *

Seo Daeryong finished his morning report and was about to turn away when he spoke to me.

“Are you all right?”

“What do you mean?”

“Now even the frontiers are coming after you, Pavilion Master.”

“Tell them all to come at me.”

“I will. As long as I’m not there when the fighting starts.”

“Sorry, but isn’t always being there what makes you my right-hand man?”

Seo Daeryong clutched his head, making a show of anguish.

“You said learning martial arts would make you gloomy, but you’re still cheerful, aren’t you?”

“Well... I thought I would become gloomy too, but to be honest, I enjoy learning martial arts.”

“Are you sure it’s learning martial arts you like, and not the Blood Heaven Saber Demon?”

After a pause, Seo Daeryong answered.

“... I don’t dislike him. So far.”

“So far? Sounds like a warning that you’ll like him more and more.”

“If that happens... you may have to cut off your right arm and find someone gloomy to replace it.”

“Where would I find someone as gloomy, contrary, and entertaining as you? Don’t even dream of running away from me.”

“Well, that suits me just fine.”

Just then, a subordinate from Yellow Springs Pavilion reported.

“The Wind Heaven Cult Leader is here.”

“Show him in.”

Seo Daeryong hurried out of the office, calling back,

“Don’t lose!”

“Stay here with me.”

“In life, it’s every man for himself!”

“That sounds awfully familiar! Are you taking after him already?”

Seo Daeryong left without looking back.

A moment later, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader entered.

“I greet the supreme ruler of the frontiers.”

He smiled at my respectful greeting.

“Second Young Master, it has been a long time. You were a child when I last saw you, and now you’re a grown man.”

“You are as hale as ever, Cult Leader.”

Though he wore a genial smile, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader had been probing me from the moment he entered.

“I heard you had arrived. Your schedule must be busy. What brings you to see me?”

“I have ears even from afar. Of late, your reputation has reached my Cult.”

“It is nothing but an empty reputation.”

“And modest, too.”

After exchanging these formal greetings, we sat facing each other.

“The cult leader seemed deeply saddened by the Soul-Seizing Demon’s death.”

He casually brought up Father to broach the subject of the Soul-Seizing Demon. He would be trying to glean something from every word of my reply.

“He was one of the Demon Supremes Father cherished most.”

“Who on earth could have killed him?”

“He was murdered? I heard he died from qi deviation.”

Just then, a strand of qi flowed from the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s eyes. Normally, it would have been a covert emission that left no visible sign, but I could see it.

In that instant, I realized I had gained a special ability.

Formless qi was visible to my eyes. What I would ordinarily only have sensed now appeared like a heat haze.

It was not solely because of the New Eye Procedure, nor solely because of the Blood-Eye Purifying Water. The two had combined to grant me a new ability. I did not yet know whether it worked only on Blood Cult martial arts or on the qi of other martial artists as well.

“Why are you smiling?”

“It feels good to see you after so long.”

“I feel the same.”

Even as we spoke, his qi examined every corner of my body. After inspecting all of me, it examined my eyes last, checking whether I had put sacred water such as Blood-Eye Purifying Water into them.

But it was impossible to discover anything in my eyes, transformed as they were by the New Eye Procedure.

The qi he had emitted returned to his eyes. Seeing it rather than merely sensing it was truly wondrous.

“I should be going.”

“What a pity. Please stay a little longer.”

“I’ve seen your face. That is enough. I shouldn’t keep a busy man.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader rose.

“I shall see you again. Thank you for coming.”

Thank you for the ability I gained thanks to you.

From before my regression right up to the present, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader had given to me unstintingly. Of course, none of it was given willingly, but somehow fate kept bringing me things from him. That was why I did not entirely dislike him.

* * *

The Demonic Buddha was waiting when the Wind Heaven Cult Leader emerged from Geom Mugeuk’s office.

“How was it?”

“The Second Young Master had no connection whatsoever to soul-seizing sorcery. To overcome the Soul-Seizing Demon within a space he created, one would need to cultivate Buddhist or Taoist martial arts to their utmost limits, or practice an evil art of a similar level. There was no trace of anything like that.”

“Are you saying Geom Mugeuk is not the killer?”

“Precisely.”

“Are you certain?”

“If you cannot trust me, why did you summon me all this way?”

“It is an important matter, so I was merely confirming it again. Please don’t take offense.”

Despite his words, the Demonic Buddha did not appear fully convinced.

“I am certain.”

“Let us go. I will convene the seven Demon Supremes. Tell them yourself.”

“No need. Go and convey my words. They will be the same either way.”

“Would that be all right?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

The Demonic Buddha knew the Wind Heaven Cult Leader had many grievances about this trip to the Central Plains, so he did not press him further.

“Very well.”

He said his farewells and left.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader watched him go with a hostile look in his eyes.

There was another reason he had refused to attend the gathering of the seven Demon Supremes. He would have to lie before seven people, not merely the Demonic Buddha.

Looking back toward Geom Mugeuk’s quarters, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader murmured,

“Second Young Master, just how did you kill the Soul-Seizing Demon?”

Astonishingly, he had realized that Geom Mugeuk had killed the Soul-Seizing Demon.

Yet, for reasons of his own, he had not told the Demonic Buddha the truth. This choice clearly served some other purpose, beyond merely making them pay a small price for dragging him here against his will.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader set off in the opposite direction from the one in which the Demonic Buddha had disappeared.

* * *

That night, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon came to see me, heading straight here after the gathering of the seven Demon Supremes.

“For now, you have been cleared of suspicion in the Soul-Seizing Demon’s death.”

He looked at me in astonishment.

“How on earth did you evade the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s scrutiny?”

“Wasn’t I drinking with you all that night, sir? It wasn’t my doing.”

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon shook his head.

“Honestly, you... You must have been born with the destiny of a dragon ascending to heaven. Otherwise, none of this would be possible.”

“I’m still a long way from being a dragon. I’ve only gone from a loach to a snake.”

“Then what sort of dragon will you become, if you’re already this formidable as a snake?”

I chuckled, and the Blood Heaven Saber Demon spoke in warning.

“But it is too early to relax. Some of the seven Demon Supremes don’t believe the Wind Heaven Cult Leader. In particular, the Demonic Buddha, supposedly his closest friend, seemed the least convinced of all. He ought to stop calling himself a friend.”

“Sir.”

“What?”

“If you ever have a change of heart like the Demonic Buddha, please tell me.”

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s expression stiffened slightly.

“Why would you say that?”

“I was just thinking how painful it would be if we went from smiling together like this, with goodwill between us, to pointing blades at each other. So if there is anything you dislike, or anything you feel is wrong, please tell me at once. Don’t hold it in and let resentment build. From what you’ve seen so far, haven’t I handled my shortcomings fairly wisely? Never assume you know how I’ll respond. Please be sure to tell me.”

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon stared at me for a moment before speaking.

“Second Young Master.”

“Yes.”

Then words I had never expected came from his mouth.

“What if the opposite happens? What if you find me utterly unsatisfactory and wanting? What if I am someone who does not belong on this new Demonic Path of yours? What if I seem fine and likable now, but the more you see of me, the more I feel like someone old, hidebound, and tiresome? What will you do when I have lost all my appeal?”

With a burning gaze, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon added one more question.

“Will you eliminate me too?”