Chapter 90 - A Relationship Worse Than Not Being Close

In truth, even when he had told Geom Mugeuk they would wait and see, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon had remained deeply skeptical.

Geom Muyang would visit him first? Before attending to the other Demon Supremes? Impossible.

Yet that very night, Geom Muyang came to see him, almost as though he had arranged it with Geom Mugeuk.

“What brings you here?”

Geom Muyang held up the bottle of liquor he had brought.

“I came because I wanted to share a drink with you, sir. If I remember correctly, you liked this liquor, didn’t you?”

“You remembered well. Come over here.”

Rather than invite him inside, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon sat facing him on a broad, flat rock in the courtyard.

“It’s cool out here. Let’s drink here.”

“That sounds good.”

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon had a maid bring cups and a few simple dishes to accompany the liquor.

They had met on the day Geom Muyang returned, but the circumstances then had not allowed them to take stock of each other.

Only now did the Blood Heaven Saber Demon calmly examine Geom Muyang’s qi presence. It was indeed different from when he had left.

“I hear you overcame the Nine Walls of the Demonic Path?”

“Thanks to your concern for me, I passed.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“The cult leader must have been pleased.”

“Yes.”

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon asked various questions about the Nine Walls of the Demonic Path, and Geom Muyang answered sincerely wherever he was permitted to. They had often discussed martial arts in the past, too.

Geom Muyang enjoyed talking about martial arts with the Blood Heaven Saber Demon. Somehow, the two of them understood each other well.

As the bottle was nearing empty, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon broached the subject first.

“I know you came with something you wanted to ask. Go ahead.”

“Then I’ll ask you plainly, like a man, without beating around the bush. Why did you choose my younger brother? There must have been a reason, or something that prompted it.”

“Of course there was.”

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon considered how to answer for a moment, then said,

“Your brother has the power to draw people’s hearts to him.”

Geom Muyang nodded silently.

“The power to draw people’s hearts...”

He had anticipated several answers, including something along these lines. Yet hearing it directly left him feeling both lost and hurt.

Never in his life had anyone told him that he was someone who drew people’s hearts.

“I’ve never felt that power from Mugeuk. Ah, I’m not saying this to belittle him. I’m curious what it feels like.”

“Of course you haven’t. The Second Young Master would have had no reason to win your heart, and you had no room to accept your brother’s affection, did you?”

“No, I didn’t.”

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon poured liquor for Geom Muyang, who had readily nodded in agreement.

“You are an excellent martial artist. You certainly have the qualities needed to become the Heavenly Demon.”

He sincerely believed that. Truly, if Geom Mugeuk had not risen through the ranks like a madman, he would have continued supporting Geom Muyang.

“And yet you chose my brother.”

“In life, there are times when a sudden wind sweeps you along.”

“I hope I stand where that wind is heading. I want to walk this path with you, sir.”

His eyes shone as he looked at the Blood Heaven Saber Demon. At least in this moment, Geom Muyang was speaking sincerely.

“There are plenty of other Demon Supremes, aren’t there?”

“No. I need you in particular.”

“Why?”

Though the Demonic Buddha followed him like a right-hand man, deep in his heart Geom Muyang preferred the Blood Heaven Saber Demon.

“Because... you are someone I truly need.”

He offered no other reason.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon thought that, had Geom Mugeuk not told him Geom Muyang would come, he might have been moved by this earnest appeal.

“May I make you a few offers, sir?”

“Go ahead.”

“When I become the Heavenly Demon, I will appoint you First Demon Supreme.”

“First Demon Supreme?”

“Yes. I will establish a position above all the other Demon Supremes, officially recognized by Heavenly Demon Hall. I will also expand the Southern Saber Sect to three times its present size. I’ll lift the limit on the number of Saber Fiends and greatly increase support for the Southern Saber Sect. Not only that, I will grant you special access to the Heavenly Demon Library. You may visit and read whenever you wish.”

Geom Muyang knew that the Blood Heaven Saber Demon loved books. The Heavenly Demon Library held more than martial arts manuals. It also contained many collections of poetry criticism and literary works that were difficult to obtain elsewhere, books the Blood Heaven Saber Demon would want to read.

Considering fairness toward the other Demon Supremes, it was an extraordinary offer.

Of course, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon was not naive enough to take every word at face value.

What could he do if, after becoming the Heavenly Demon, Geom Muyang said, “The other Demon Supremes are opposing this far more strongly than I expected. Please make some concessions”?

By then, he would be even older than he was now—a toothless tiger.

“The Demonic Buddha would be hurt to hear that, wouldn’t he? He must be certain he’ll become First Demon Supreme.”

As though he had naturally expected this response, Geom Muyang showed no sign of discomposure.

“That cannot be helped. I respect and like the Demonic Buddha, but I believe you are the one suited to that position, Saber Demon. You may repeat what I’ve just said to him.”

Apparently, he was confident the Blood Heaven Saber Demon would never tell the Demonic Buddha. Where did that confidence come from? Did he think him such a noble-minded man?

“I’ll consider your offer.”

“Thank you.”

They toasted with their last cups, and Geom Muyang rose.

As he was leaving, he added one final remark.

“Sir, I will be the one to become the Heavenly Demon. Without fail.”

After Geom Muyang disappeared, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon took something out of his mouth. It was the poison-warding pearl Geom Mugeuk had given him. He had not fully trusted Geom Muyang, who had brought the liquor.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon murmured to himself,

“... Yes, there was a time when I was certain of that, too.”

* * *

When Geom Muyang returned, the Demonic Buddha was waiting for him.

“Did you visit the Blood Heaven Saber Demon, by any chance?”

“The Cult hasn’t changed. There are no secrets here.”

“You went to see him openly in broad daylight. What is this talk of secrets? Why on earth did you go?”

“To win him over.”

“And?”

“He says he’ll think about it.”

“He is a traitor.”

The Demonic Buddha deliberately used the harsh word “traitor.”

“Someone who changes sides once will do so again. You know that, don’t you?”

Then Geom Muyang said something startling.

“He had a poison-warding pearl in his mouth while we drank.”

“That man must be out of his mind!”

In contrast to the Demonic Buddha’s furious outburst, Geom Muyang remained calm.

“He didn’t seem to be making any effort to hide it. ‘I don’t trust you.’ That was just like the Saber Demon.”

“Have nothing more to do with him.”

Something even more startling came from Geom Muyang’s lips.

“Oh, I offered the Saber Demon the position of First Demon Supreme.”

The Demonic Buddha was shocked. The words were so unexpected that he froze for a moment.

He had always thought that position would be his.

So he waited for the next words: “I only said it to win him over. Don’t concern yourself with it.”

But Geom Muyang said no such thing.

‘What does that mean, then? You really intend to give it to him?’

Without realizing it, the Demonic Buddha clenched his molars. If one watched someone closely, it was possible to tell when they clenched their teeth. How could an expert like Geom Muyang fail to notice? Yet he pretended not to see and gave no response.

All manner of thoughts crossed the Demonic Buddha’s mind.

Was it a mistake? Thoughtlessness? Or was he doing it deliberately, fully aware?

Perhaps this was punishment for bringing in the Twin Fiends of Yunnan.

Similar things had happened before. What made such moments most troubling was that Geom Muyang was more intelligent and perceptive than anyone.

That always left the Demonic Buddha confused, wondering whether the behavior was not merely a mistake, but carried some hidden intention.

And worst of all was this:

He could not voice these feelings.

With anyone else, he would already have asked bluntly.

Why are you doing this? Are you looking down on me? Stop it.

But those words did not come easily with Geom Muyang. Was it because their relationship had gotten off on the wrong foot? Or had Geom Muyang deliberately erected some invisible wall between them?

His relationship with Geom Muyang was one in which he alone suffered in silence.

A relationship worse than simply not being close...

In the end, the Demonic Buddha settled it in his mind as he always did.

‘Yes, these things happen. He is still young.’

As the older man, he had to be patient. After all, the task he had taken upon himself was to make a hot-blooded young man into the Heavenly Demon.

“You must attend to the people on our side, too. They are all watching.”

You ought to understand how many thoughts I went through before saying that!

Had Geom Muyang read the Demonic Buddha’s inner feelings?

“I don’t feel much affection for the other Demon Supremes.”

“What do you mean?”

“You and the Saber Demon openly declare whom you support, don’t you? But the remaining Demon Supremes do nothing but watch which way the wind blows. They’ll join whichever side has the advantage later? How shallow.”

If only he had left the Blood Heaven Saber Demon out of that remark. No, if he really intended to deceive him, he would have deliberately left him out. Speaking so honestly must be a sign of respect.

“Even so, you need them.”

“I’m placing my trust in you alone, sir.”

The Demonic Buddha and Geom Muyang smiled at each other.

The Demonic Buddha felt somewhat better, but the knot in his heart remained.

‘So who are you going to make First Demon Supreme?’

Yet in the end, neither Geom Muyang nor the Demonic Buddha brought it up.

* * *

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon came to see me, looking newly astonished.

“You were right. The First Young Master really did come to see me. How on earth did you know?”

“This is a secret, but... I have the ability to see the future.”

“You’re still a madman, so I see no one has stolen your mind with soul-seizing sorcery.”

I laughed at the Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s joke and said,

“Didn’t I tell you? That’s the sort of person my brother has always been.”

“This visit brought something home to me.”

He hesitated for a moment over what he was about to say. But he had raised the subject intending to say it anyway. Given his temperament, it was indeed the sort of remark he would hesitate over.

“It made me realize anew what you mean to me.”

!

I tensed. This was the first time the Blood Heaven Saber Demon had spoken about me in this way.

“What do you mean?”

“No matter what temptations the First Young Master offered, none of them reached me. As you said, he made some extraordinary offers. But I wasn’t moved at all.”

I could hear the door to his heart opening a little wider.

I was grateful to the Blood Heaven Saber Demon. So grateful that he had told me this.

Yes, you only know when someone tells you like this. Everyone acts as though everyone else already knows, but without words, you don’t.

I immediately drew the Black Demon Sword and traced a long line on the ground. Then I made a mark a little farther to the right than the one the Blood Heaven Saber Demon had made before.

“Has your affection for me reached about here now?”

He did not deny it, but he did not forget to warn me, either.

“You know what will happen if you get full of yourself over this, don’t you?”

“What will happen?”

“You’ll pay a harsh price. Among all the goods that come at a price, arrogance sits right at the front of the display.”

Perhaps because he read so much, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon sometimes used expressions that seemed out of character for him. I truly liked that side of him.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“If you’re right, the First Young Master will visit the Wind Heaven Cult Leader, too. Can we leave that alone?”

“We should.”

“Will he be as steadfast as I am?”

“But there are two people on that side, aren’t there?”

“Two? Who? Go Wol?”

“The Wind Heaven Cult Leader will certainly discuss it with Go Wol.”

“Do you trust Go Wol?”

“Yes.”

“You mustn’t trust people so easily.”

I thought the Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s wariness contained a little jealousy. I had no intention of using that jealousy to secure his affection, so I readily accepted his advice.

“Yes, I’ll always remain on my guard. Please keep a careful eye on him as well, sir.”

“I will. But with the First Young Master stirring things up like this, do you intend to do nothing?”

“He’s returned after a long absence, so I should let him have the first move at least once. Let’s see what he does.”

I thought this was rather a good thing. My brother would put us all to the test.

“Let’s see whether the ground firms up after the rain, or whether we end up rolling naked in the mud.”