Chapter 81 - Let’s Try Living a Different Life

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader showed no surprise at seeing Go Wol and me.

“May we join you?”

Despite having waited for us, he took a needless jab.

“Come to boast about your new recruit?”

“Isn’t that why you’re eating here? To give me the chance?”

Go Wol and I sat across from him.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader glanced at Go Wol. After several days of rest, Go Wol had put on weight and was looking healthier. The Cult Leader kept looking at him, apparently unable to get used to the change.

“Your new master seems to be treating you well.”

“I’m eating and sleeping well.”

“You don’t realize he’s fattening you up to eat you at a feast, do you?”

“Then I hope it’s a grand feast.”

I believed time would resolve their relationship, too.

Someday, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader would ask himself: Why was I so obsessed back then? Looking back, it was nothing much at all.

Or would this become a wound he could never forget, a lasting bitterness?

I had lived an entire lifetime, yet I still couldn’t be certain about things I had never experienced—or what lay in other people’s hearts.

In any event, I changed the subject before he could grow despondent.

“Have you met with my father?”

“I have.”

“Did you tell him you would make the new Soul-Seizing Demon stronger?”

“I did. He was pleased, just as you said.”

“Did he say anything else?”

“He did. He asked how long I intended to train Cheong Seon. He seemed to want me to return home soon.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“That I still had to recover my sacred relic, and that there was much left to teach her.”

“Well done.”

“What should I do now?”

“I’ll find a way.”

“You won’t demand another sacred relic in return, will you?”

“I’ll discuss that with my strategist.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s expression immediately hardened.

“Is that really something you should say to me now?”

I addressed him calmly.

“Cult Leader.”

“I’m listening.”

“You lost one person after coming to the Cult, but didn’t you gain another? If you spend your life looking backward like this, you’ll lose her, too.”

His expression hardened further, but he couldn’t lose his temper. Now that Cheong Seon was the Soul-Seizing Demon, she was not someone he could afford to neglect.

“Miss Cheong, whom you accepted as your disciple, is a woman of great ambition. Focus on her.”

Perhaps my advice had put him in a contrary mood, because he took it out on Go Wol.

“If the Second Young Master here is the hero of the ages you claim he is, countless people will gather around him. Plenty of them will be cleverer than you. You’ll be reduced to just another face in the crowd. Who was he again? Oh, the fellow in shackles! That’s all you’ll be.”

I could feel it. Those words were meant not for Go Wol, but for me. They were the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s warning not to treat Go Wol that way. This man genuinely cared about him.

Then Go Wol abruptly spoke.

“The Second Young Master gave me a million taels.”

I was inwardly startled. I had never imagined he would boast about the money to the Wind Heaven Cult Leader in a situation like this.

“You said the Second Young Master was putting on an act, didn’t you? If you’re going to put on an act, you ought to do it on this scale.”

Even I was surprised, so naturally the Wind Heaven Cult Leader was as well. His surprise, of course, turned to anger.

“Save your advice for that wonderful new master of yours!”

He sprang from his seat and stormed out.

Knowing Go Wol was not this rash, I asked him evenly,

“Why did you do that?”

Sure enough, he had acted with a purpose.

“I would like to make my first proposal as your strategist.”

“What is it?”

Go Wol looked straight at me.

“I would like to recruit the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.”

The unexpected suggestion startled me.

“Are you saying you want to bring the Wind Heaven Cult Leader over to our side?”

Go Wol nodded.

“Yes.”

“Is that possible?”

“I cannot be certain, but there is a chance.”

“Then why did you piss him off?”

“I have something in mind.”

Apparently, it was groundwork for drawing the Wind Heaven Cult Leader in.

“May I ask why you want to recruit him?”

After a pause, Go Wol answered. His reason was one I had not expected.

“Because I want to save his life.”

“He’ll die if he doesn’t join forces with me?”

“Yes. That is what I foresee.”

“What makes you think so?”

“The leader of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon.”

“My father? Why?”

Since he was speaking of the Heavenly Demon, Go Wol lowered his voice.

“There is too great a difference in the two leaders’ capacities. Your father possesses martial talent that ranks among the finest of all the Heavenly Demons, Young Master. His ambitions are great as well. In the end, the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon will swallow the Wind Heaven Cult whole.”

I agreed with Go Wol. Without even him left, there was no telling what calamity the Wind Heaven Cult might face if it failed to find a suitable new strategist.

“And so you want to save the Wind Heaven Cult Leader?”

“Yes. If he becomes one of your people, he should be able to escape that calamity.”

Gain the Wind Heaven Cult Leader? That would cause all sorts of problems, but I thought the choice offered as much to gain as to lose. Above all...

“It’s my strategist’s first proposal. I ought to accept it. Very well. Let’s bring the Wind Heaven Cult Leader over to our side.”

“Thank you.”

Go Wol bowed his head respectfully.

I intended to treat him properly as my strategist, just as Father treated Sima Myeong.

“Aren’t you worried I’ll ruin things?”

“Ruin what?”

“You know how deeply the Wind Heaven Cult Leader and I are entangled emotionally. If I handle him badly, the Wind Heaven Cult could become our enemy.”

“Well, that could happen.”

“Then why did you agree?”

“Would turning your backs on each other make things better? I think resentment and hatred only grow when people don’t see each other. Better to hash things out with the Wind Heaven Cult Leader and settle it. Whether he becomes our ally or our enemy, let’s reach some sort of conclusion.”

Just as with the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and the Single Flower Sword Supreme. Go Wol’s expression brightened at my words.

I held out my hand.

“Let’s shake on it.”

Taking my hand, Go Wol said,

“This hand is stronger than shackles.”

“Do you mean a hand that can break ten-thousand-year cold iron? Or a hand that will hold you like shackles?”

“Which is it?”

“I think it’s both.”

“I like both.”

We clasped hands firmly.

At last, I had a strategist.

* * *

The next day, I visited the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

“This is a fine tea grown in the Central Plains.”

Instead of thanking me, he scoffed.

“Come to boast about giving your strategist a million taels? It must be nice to have so much money.”

“I simply wanted to see you. Besides, don’t you have a hundred times more money than I do?”

“A hundred? More like a thousand.”

“Of course. I know better than to overreach. Why would I boast about money in front of you?”

“Then why are you here?”

“I thought we might chat over a cup of tea.”

He gave me a suspicious look. It was only natural: the grievances he had accumulated because of me were piled higher than the sacred relics behind him.

“Actually, I have a concern about Go Wol.”

“What concern?”

“You saw him yesterday, didn’t you? Boasting so frivolously about money in front of you.”

“Are you saying you were disappointed?”

I said nothing, but let a hint of disappointment show. Of course, Go Wol had instructed me to do this. He had boasted about the money yesterday to set up this very situation.

“I don’t know Go Wol very well.”

“Then why did you go to such lengths for him?”

“I’ve given that some serious thought...”

“And?”

“Perhaps his role was to serve as a stepping stone, bringing you and me together.”

“Does he know you’re stabbing him in the back like this?”

“It’s neither slander nor betrayal. It’s simply the truth.”

“So what are you trying to say?”

“I want to know whether Go Wol can be trusted.”

Displeasure flickered across the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s face.

“Listen, Second Young Master.”

“Yes?”

“Leave for today, while I’m still asking nicely.”

At that icy dismissal, I merely offered my farewell and rose.

“Then I’ll see you another time.”

Go Wol had predicted this dismissal as well.

* * *

The following day, Go Wol visited the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

“You bastards! What game are you playing?”

Even so, he was happier to see Go Wol than he had been to see Geom Mugeuk.

“I’ve come as a guest. Please show me the proper courtesy.”

“What bullshit.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader turned sideways in his seat.

Go Wol went to the table at the side and prepared the tea himself. Since the Cult Leader rarely allowed maids into his quarters and the two were usually alone, it had generally been the Cult Leader who made the tea.

“Planning to slip in some poison?”

“What would I gain by poisoning you?”

“You could live happily with the Second Young Master in a world without me.”

“You need to be alive for me to boast to you. Like I did about the money yesterday.”

“You mad bastard.”

Go Wol brought over the tea.

“Please, have some. Come to think of it, this is the first tea I’ve made for you with my own hands.”

Though he looked displeased, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader blew on his tea and drank.

“How is it?”

“Awful.”

“I’ll leave after one cup.”

“Suit yourself.”

The two drank in silence. Then the Wind Heaven Cult Leader abruptly spoke.

“The Second Young Master doesn’t fully trust you.”

He had originally intended never to tell him. Let Geom Mugeuk learn a painful lesson—that was how he honestly felt. But now that he was face-to-face with Go Wol, he couldn’t quite do it.

“Are you trying to drive a wedge between us?”

He had gone to the trouble of telling him, and this was the response? About to flare up, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader instead scoffed.

“Think what you like.”

Only then did Go Wol smile.

“I’m touched. To think you would tell me something like that.”

“Didn’t you say I was trying to drive a wedge between you?”

“I know you aren’t.”

“How?”

“Because it’s a scheme.”

The word startled the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

“A scheme? What scheme?”

“A scheme to recruit you. The Second Young Master casts suspicion on me and backs me into a corner, and we exploit your soft heart to draw you over to our side.”

“What?”

After sitting dumbfounded for a moment, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader raised his voice.

“You think I’d fall for such a pathetic scheme?”

“If I were backed into a corner, would you just stand by and watch?”

“Of course! You’ve already left. What’s it to me?”

“Then why are you getting worked up?”

“I’m not worked up. I said I’m not!”

But he clearly was.

“Then why are you telling me?”

“Because I don’t want to trick you into coming with us.”

“!”

As the Wind Heaven Cult Leader hesitated, unsure what to say, Go Wol spoke again.

“Even telling you this is part of the scheme. It’s meant to make you trust me more.”

“What the hell are you talking about? You haunt me like a ghost even after leaving! Shoo! Begone!”

“Now you sound like yourself.”

“So shouting my head off is what makes me myself? Are you mocking me? Fine! I’ll shout to your heart’s content, so mock me all you like!”

After a bout of shouting, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader felt a weight lift from his chest.

“Why go to such lengths to bring me along?”

“Because at this rate, I think the leader of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon will destroy you.”

Go Wol was honest with him from beginning to end.

“He won’t! I’ll find a new strategist as soon as I return.”

“I have a fair idea who in the Wind Heaven Cult would take my place. They aren’t up to it.”

“Then I’ll find someone. Just as I found you.”

“Will you be that lucky twice?”

“Damn it! Fuck! You insolent bastard!”

“I’ve laid all my cards on the table. Now it’s your turn.”

“... You already know every card I hold.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader let out a long sigh.

“The Second Young Master will strip me of everything.”

“Then each time, get everything you want from him in return. Whenever you lose something, gain something else to fill its place.”

“I’m not clever enough for that, am I?”

“I’ll help you.”

“Go help yourself. Don’t end up with fuck-all over there and get put back in shackles. However kind or brilliant people pretend to be, they’re all much the same.”

“Exactly. We’re all much the same, so let’s spend our lives together.”

“Can I really trust you?”

“Are you nervous?”

“Wouldn’t you be?”

Then Go Wol’s expression changed, and he abruptly dropped his formal tone.

“Hey, Cult Leader.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader looked at him with both pleasure and surprise.

“Don’t lie. You’ve never been nervous in your life. Not once, have you? Nothing ever threatened you. You say just thinking about entering the Central Plains makes you nervous? Don’t lie. You’ve gone on and on about entering the Central Plains, but you’ve never seriously considered it, have you? What it means, what consequences it would bring. Honestly, it was just a nuisance to you, wasn’t it?”

“!”

He couldn’t deny it. It had been his grandfather’s cherished ambition and his father’s, and so it had become his own. He had wanted to enter the Central Plains only because rejecting that ambition felt like making himself a traitor to the Wind Heaven Cult.

“A life where you can have someone killed with a word, hold every kind of beautiful woman in your arms, and feast on delicacies every day is a fine life. It’s the life everyone dreams of. But you’ve had your fill of it, haven’t you? There’s no excitement or happiness left in that life now, is there? Come on, my friend. Let’s try living a different life. One that makes us tense, exhilarated, that sends our hearts plunging into our stomachs. Your martial arts are rusting away in the desert winds. It’s time to show the world what a real bloodstorm looks like. A life where, if our luck turns bad, we might die with one last squawk. Fortunately, we each have someone to bring a flower to our grave, don’t we?”

Their gazes met in the air. At last, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader spoke quietly.

“Send for the Second Young Master.”