Chapter 66 - Win It All or Lose It All

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s face was full of regret.

Given the circumstances, the shackled man must have sent him a sound transmission telling him to give me the sacred relic I had chosen.

‘That man intervened in the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s decision at a moment this important?’

It was a truly unexpected turn of events.

“Do you even know what you’ve chosen?”

“Not really. It just caught my fancy.”

What I had chosen was a small, egg-shaped iron sphere.

Of course, I knew exactly what it was. It was neither a weapon nor a jewel. What mattered was what lay inside that egg-shaped object.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader lifted the sphere and touched its underside. The egg opened with a click.

A strong, heavy medicinal fragrance immediately wafted out. Inside was a red elixir pill.

The Blood God Pill.

It was reputed to be the finest elixir not only in the Wind Heaven Cult, but in all the lands beyond the frontiers.

“It’s called the Blood God Pill. Have you heard of it?”

“Yes. I understand it’s an exceedingly precious elixir.”

“Precious hardly begins to describe it.”

“Why haven’t you taken something so valuable?”

“I was saving it for the future.”

“It seems I was that future.”

He could hardly have expected me to choose this particular relic out of so many.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader looked at the shackled man again. Just then, I saw the faintest tremor in the bowed man’s shoulders. Thanks to the improved vision granted by the New Eye Procedure, I could confirm it with my own eyes.

‘He really is sending sound transmissions.’

In other words, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader was undoubtedly following that man’s instructions. No, at the very least, they were consulting each other.

‘Just who is he?’

My curiosity about the man was piqued, but I pretended not to notice. For now, the Blood God Pill mattered more.

To give them time, I turned away as though oblivious and browsed the other sacred relics. I spotted several things I wanted almost as much as the Blood God Pill. Whether I could acquire them would depend on the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s choices and actions from here on.

A short while later, having finished their discussion, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader made his difficult decision with a face that looked ten years older.

“Very well. I’ll give you the Blood God Pill.”

“Thank you.”

Still holding the Blood God Pill, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader asked me,

“I can’t give it to you first this time. Tell me how I can remain in the Divine Cult.”

Apparently, the Blood God Pill was the one thing he could not readily hand over.

“This is how.”

Before the Wind Heaven Cult Leader could stop me, I popped the Blood God Pill he was holding into my mouth. His eyes went wide; he had never imagined I would simply eat it.

“You! What do you think you’re doing?”

His furious shout came too late. I immediately sat down cross-legged.

“Please stand guard while I assimilate the medicine.”

Then I closed my eyes and began assimilating the Blood God Pill’s medicinal power. As a result, I did not see just how dumbfounded the Wind Heaven Cult Leader looked.

* * *

Geom Mugeuk had been engaged in qi-circulation meditation for a full double-hour.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader and the shackled man were conversing through sound transmissions.

The shackled man had calmed the cult leader down when he flew into a rage and threatened to kill Mugeuk on the spot. It was also the shackled man who insisted that they speak only through sound transmissions so as not to disturb his qi circulation.

“Hahahahaha.”

“Damn it! Fuck!”

The shackled man kept laughing through sound transmissions, while the Wind Heaven Cult Leader vented his anger without pause.

“Goddamn it! Should I just kill this bastard right now?”

“Go ahead. Kill him and have yourself a nice, full-blown war with the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon. I’d love to see the Heavenly Demon tear you to pieces.”

“Damn it! Fuck! What the hell is this?”

He truly had never imagined Mugeuk would eat it right before his eyes.

“The solution he intends to offer must be absurd. Isn’t that why he took the pill first?”

“Then kill him! Kill him! Smash his skull with a single palm strike.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader approached Geom Mugeuk and raised his hand high. But he could not bring himself to strike his head.

“Ugh, damn it!”

Lowering his hand, he returned to the Thunderous Sound Bell and slumped down beside it. The shackled man watched with evident amusement.

“Goddamn it!”

“It seems you won’t end up dying, Cult Leader.”

“Why? Because I’m a coward? Is that it?”

“No. The Second Young Master is far more astute than I thought.”

“What makes you say that?”

“He’s even certain you won’t be able to kill him. He’s already finished sizing you up. A man like that will give you a proper answer.”

“Do you have any idea what it might be?”

“I didn’t before, but after seeing him eat the Blood God Pill, I think I know what he’ll propose.”

“What is it?”

“Hear it from him yourself when he finishes his meditation.”

“Tell me!”

“I can’t, Cult Leader. It would show on your face.”

“I never lost at gambling in my younger days!”

“Because no gambler would dare show his true skill against the heir to the Wind Heaven Cult.”

“Hmph!”

Still, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader felt somewhat reassured.

The shackled man addressed him casually, as though speaking to a friend.

“Hey, Cult Leader.”

“Ugh, here we go again. Am I your friend?”

“Just give him everything. You can afford to give it all.”

“Are you serious?”

“Until now, I judged the Second Young Master solely on the information coming in. But seeing him in person today, I can tell those reports underestimated him.”

“You can see that?”

“I can.”

“Then why can’t I?”

“Because you’re too greedy.”

“Damn it! Fine, let’s say you’re right. Let’s say my greed has blinded me completely. Then what? If I give him everything, what happens to me?”

“You get to live in the Central Plains. Wasn’t that your dream?”

“Did he say he’d let me live in the Central Plains?”

“He intends to, which is why he’s so readily gobbling up what you give him.”

“And if he breaks his promise? We’ll be wandering around begging with a cracked gourd bowl.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll provide for you.”

“What?”

“I’ll drag these clanking shackles around and sell medicine if I have to.”

“...”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader sighed.

“What if the Second Young Master loses the succession struggle and dies?”

“Isn’t that what it means to stake your fate on someone? Win it all or lose it all.”

“You’re doing this to ruin me, aren’t you?”

“You only just figured that out?”

The shackled man wore a strange smile. It was hard to tell whether he was serious or joking.

“Hey, Cult Leader.”

“Stop speaking to me so casually. You passed your five times for today ages ago.”

“I understand you.”

“...”

“You have to let go to gain something. Neither you nor I are blessed enough to have it all without giving anything up. That kind of fortune belongs to someone like the Second Young Master sitting over there.”

“... Damn it.”

At last, Geom Mugeuk finished his qi-circulation meditation.

His expression was bright when he opened his eyes. His already clear eyes had gained such depth that it was difficult to gauge how much internal energy he possessed.

But a moment later, those deep eyes changed to look like an ordinary person’s. The Wind Heaven Cult Leader started at the sight of him altering his gaze.

‘Just how profound must his internal energy be?’

Geom Mugeuk concealed nothing in front of him. It was as though he were saying:

I am this strong, so trust me and follow my lead.

Despite the power he displayed, Geom Mugeuk was courteous. He bowed his head and cupped his fist in salute to express his gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“You certainly have nerve. Stealing an elixir and then meditating right in front of its owner!”

“Stealing an elixir? I received it as payment.”

“Payment? What do you mean?”

“Didn’t I tell you before I took the Blood God Pill? The way for you to remain here was for me to eat it.”

“What does that mean?”

“Come to Yellow Springs Pavilion tomorrow and file a report. Say your elixir was stolen.”

“!”

“You should be able to stay here until it’s found.”

Only then did the Wind Heaven Cult Leader realize what Geom Mugeuk intended.

“But an investigation might reveal that no thief broke in.”

“The body conducting that investigation will be Yellow Springs Pavilion, which I lead. We’ll proceed as slowly as possible until you achieve your goal.”

“Ah!”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s face lit up.

A thief had broken into the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon’s inner compound, giving him a justification for not leaving.

Furthermore, with Geom Mugeuk handling the investigation, there was no danger of the staged theft being exposed, nor would there be any unnecessary friction in the search for the culprit.

“You and I will also decide when you return home.”

“Ah! So that was what you meant.”

“Then I’ll take my leave. Thank you again for the Blood God Pill.”

Once Geom Mugeuk had left, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader asked the shackled man,

“Did you know?”

“I knew the moment the Second Young Master ate the Blood God Pill.”

The shackled man’s manner had become respectful again.

Looking down at the empty shell that had held the Blood God Pill, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader said,

“But did the Second Young Master know beforehand that this was the Blood God Pill?”

“Of course.”

“He knew?”

“Surely you don’t think he picked it up because the container looked pretty? Did you really believe that?”

“No.”

Yet for a moment, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader had believed exactly that. He had thought there was no way the Second Young Master could know his sacred relics so thoroughly.

“How did he know?”

“It is precisely because he is a man of this caliber that you’re giving him gifts.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader nodded. He was glad, at least, to have the shackled man there. At the same time, he resented him, since all of this was happening because of him.

“... Still, the Blood God Pill is such a waste.”

He had begun lamenting its loss all over again. There would be no sleep for him tonight.

“For the hundredth time, you didn’t give it to him in exchange for a solution.”

“If things don’t work out after I’ve handed over all this, you’re dead, and so am I.”

The man grinned through his long, dangling hair.

“You’ve promised to die after killing me, then.”

“Shut up!”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader gazed at the empty container, and the shackled man at the Thunderous Sound Bell. Each sank into his own troubled thoughts.

* * *

The next day, shocking news swept through the Cult.

A thief had broken into the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s quarters and stolen a sacred relic.

Everyone who met spoke of it. A theft in the inner compound was surprising enough, but what everyone wanted to know was which sacred relic had been stolen. Its identity, however, was not disclosed.

Though the incident had the Cult in an uproar, the atmosphere in Heavenly Demon Hall remained calm.

Chief Strategist Sima Myeong had seen through the situation.

“It appears the Wind Heaven Cult Leader has staged the theft. According to our pavilion’s surveillance network, no one entered his residence. Moreover, stealing a sacred relic would require at least the skill of a Demon Supreme, and as far as I can determine, no one of that caliber currently has reason to covet his relics.”

The Heavenly Demon, Geom Ujin, believed every word of Sima Myeong’s report.

“Why stage a theft?”

“Presumably, to stay in the Cult longer. He will insist that he cannot return until his sacred relic is found.”

“Why is he so determined not to leave? Is it because of that matter?”

“Yes. It seems he wants to use this opportunity to settle the question of the Wind Heaven Cult’s expansion into the Central Plains.”

“My second son is involved, isn’t he?”

“Yes. It seems the Wind Heaven Cult Leader asked the Second Young Master for a way to remain. Since Yellow Springs Pavilion will investigate this incident, he should be able to stay in the Cult for some time.”

“A rather clever little scheme.”

A faint smile formed on Geom Ujin’s lips.

“How are the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s relations with the Demon Supremes?”

“Not particularly good. Since their first meeting after his arrival, they have not met even once. His only other meeting was with the Demonic Buddha, who is supposedly on closer terms with him.”

“What do you suggest we do about this?”

Sima Myeong answered calmly.

“I believe it would be best to watch for now and pretend we know nothing.”

Geom Ujin considered the matter for a moment, while Sima Myeong waited for his decision.

Sima Myeong could guess what was on his mind.

The decision was not immediate precisely because this concerned the Wind Heaven Cult. The cult leader disapproved of its expansion into the Central Plains. Even so, he was likely giving it such thought because the Second Young Master was involved.

At last, Geom Ujin made his decision.

“Let us do that.”

“Yes.”

Sima Myeong bowed respectfully and was about to turn and leave when he spoke to Geom Ujin again.

“If the Wind Heaven Cult Leader and the Second Young Master join forces, the Demonic Buddha will not stand idle. He will likely begin drawing the First Young Master fully into the struggle.”

In Sima Myeong’s judgment, the First Young Master had tolerated the Second Young Master’s recent rise partly out of deference to the cult leader, but chiefly because he was still certain he would become the successor.

But if Geom Mugeuk allied himself with the Wind Heaven Cult Leader, on top of the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Single Flower Sword Supreme, the First Young Master would no longer be able to simply watch.

Geom Ujin nodded silently, his expression showing that he understood.

Leaving Geom Ujin alone with his thoughts, Sima Myeong slowly walked out along the Path of Blood.

He wondered.

What decision would the cult leader make? Would he truly allow the First Young Master to return and enter the fray? Or would he somehow stop the brothers from fighting?

Everything depended on the Heavenly Demon’s will.