After finishing my martial arts training and returning to my quarters, I found Gowol reading a book in his room, while Jeong Dae stood in the yard, looking up at the night sky.
His demeanor had noticeably changed since the first time I saw him. He had certainly become calmer in some indescribable way.
“When did you arrive?”
“I came to see your precious strategist advisor, so there’s no need to worry about me waiting too long.”
“Did you enjoy seeing my precious advisor?”
“He just scolded me.”
“Oh dear. That’s not good. How dare he scold a former Cult Leader? I’ll give that advisor a good scolding myself.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean. That kind of talk is even more annoying.”
I chuckled, and he also smiled pleasantly.
“I waited deliberately to see you.”“Is something the matter?”
“Geom Muyang came to see me. I wanted to personally tell you that I absolutely did not waver.”
“Oh, I’m truly moved.”
“Yes, you should be moved. The Eldest Young Master offered such great terms. I refused them all.”
“Thank you, Jeong Dae.”
I didn’t ask what conditions were proposed.
“Then I’ll be off. They say you shouldn’t dawdle at times like this, as it diminishes the impact.”
“Yes, that’s right. It would have been perfect if you hadn’t said anything at all.”
“Really?”
Jeong Dae laughed sheepishly. I felt a deep connection with this person. I had a feeling we would form an even deeper bond in the future.
Snap!
As I snapped my fingers, the former Cult Leader and I were standing in the middle of a green field.
Jeong Dae was startled.
“You’ve perfected the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique!”
The Cult Leader looked around. The tall, straight trees, the grass swaying in the wind, and the winding country road leading to the distant mountains.
“Perfect.”
“Thanks to your excellent martial arts instruction.”
“Perhaps since the creation of the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique, you’re the first to perfect it so quickly. You have no idea how many years I spent training to create this space…”
“I was lucky.”
“Don’t be humble. There’s no need to be humble about this achievement.”
Jeong Dae had shown his growth through the recent upheavals.
He grabbed my hand firmly.
“Congratulations.”
I sincerely conveyed my thanks in response to his heartfelt congratulations.
“Thank you. At least within this space, you are my master, former Cult Leader.”
“You really are…”
Jeong Dae couldn’t continue speaking.
“Ah, there’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“Is it possible to make time flow differently in the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique? Can time inside flow slower than in reality?”
The former Cult Leader widened his eyes and stared at me.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“In the past, I would have surely said, ‘You rascal, does that even make sense?’”
“And now?”
“‘You rascal, does that even make sense?’”
I laughed, and Jeong Dae laughed along with me as he spoke about it.
“In fact, I’ve had that thought before you. I even researched it. But it was impossible. I thought about it a few years after perfecting the space, yet you thought of it as soon as you perfected it.”
This meant there were no existing secrets passed down. To achieve this, I’d have to elevate my martial arts skills even further and then research and contemplate again.
“I understand. Then I’ll dissolve the space.”
“Wait a moment! Were you serious about what you said earlier? That you consider me your master within this space.”
“I was sincere.”
“Then open this space occasionally. When else will I get the chance to act as your master in life?”
“I will do that.”
Seeing Jeong Dae’s face brighten, I snapped my fingers, and we returned to reality.
“Take care.”
The former Cult Leader, who had walked a bit away, suddenly turned and shouted.
“I am going all the way, young master!”
Then, as if embarrassed, he hurriedly disappeared into the darkness, and I chuckled.
Who knew that Jeong Dae had such a cute side? Well, it was probably that kind of heart that allowed him to leave everything behind and come here.
* * *
The Demonic Buddha was furious.
He could understand that Geom Muyang went to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. After all, they had unresolved issues between them.
But he couldn’t tolerate him going to see the former Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult. He had seen clearly how the Cult Leader and he were at odds, yet he still sought him out.
“Eldest Young Master.”
“Yes, Elder.”
“You met with the former Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult?”
“Yes. I met him to bring him to our side.”
His response was so nonchalant that it was hard to get angry. Moreover, he had a clear reason.
“If we bring the former Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult to our side, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme will naturally follow. That’s why I met with him.”
“And what did the Cult Leader say?”
“He said he’d think about it.”
Geom Muyang didn’t speak any further about it.
Ma Bul pondered how to start the conversation without upsetting Geom Muyang while conveying his feelings. In the end, he conceded a bit and began with an apology.
“It was my mistake to call upon the Faceless Monsters.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think I was short-sighted. I shouldn’t have involved such people in your affairs.”
“I understand that it was out of concern for me.”
“Thank you for seeing it that way. As expected, the Eldest Young Master is broad-minded.”
“But there is one thing that needs to be corrected.”
“What do you mean?”
“You said you involved the Yunan Twin Freaks in my affairs, but strictly speaking, it was your matter, not mine.”
Geom Muyang drew a clear line. He was walking the path to become a successor and wanted no association, however slight, with scum like the Faceless Monsters.
The Demonic Buddha wondered if this was really necessary but hid his feelings.
“Oh, I misspoke for a moment. Yes, the Yunan Twin Freaks affair is entirely my matter.”
“Of course, I understand that you called them for my sake. So, don’t worry too much.”
Geom Muyang smiled first, and theDemonic Buddha followed with a smile.
Though the conversation ended with smiles, Ma Bul didn’t feel relieved. There was something wrong, but he couldn’t tell if it was his problem or Geom Muyang’s.
As the Demonic Buddha left Geom Muyang’s residence and returned to his own, someone was waiting for him.
Surprisingly, it was Geom Mugeuk.
“Second Young Master?”
“I was waiting because I wanted to see you.”
“Me? Why?”
The Demonic Buddha tensed inwardly. He wondered if Geom Mugeuk intended to kill him in this secluded place, and he discreetly gathered his inner strength. However, Geom Mugeuk’s reason for coming was totally unexpected.
“Would you like to have a drink with me at the marketplace?”
“A drink with me? At the marketplace?”
On any other day, he would have immediately refused, thinking it might cause rumors.
But today’s Ma Bul was different from his usual self.
“Sure, why not.”
If Geom Muyang could meet with Gu Cheonpa and the former Cult Leader, couldn’t he meet with Geom Mugeuk as well? In fact, he hoped this matter would reach Geom Muyang’s ears.
“Second Young Master, you are truly a fortunate person.”
To come on such a day.
“It’s the first time I’ve walked side by side with you like this.”
“Don’t pretend to be friendly with me.”
An ordinary person would have been too embarrassed to talk and would have walked quietly, but Geom Mugeuk did not.
“When else would I get a chance to walk with you, Senior? If I don’t act friendly now, when will I? Please understand my excited behavior just for today.”
“Did you entice the Blade Demon in this way too?”
“Yes, that’s right. I knocked endlessly on his door.”
“Door?”
“The door to his heart.”
The Demonic Buddha sneered but suddenly wondered if Geom Muyang had ever knocked on his own door. He quickly composed himself with cold rationality.
‘Second Young Master, no matter how much you try, I am not a monkey that falls from a tree just because you shake it like that idiot of Blade Demon.’
The place where the two arrived was the Flowing Wind Tavern in Maga Village.
Even without an introduction from Geom Mugeuk, Jo Chunbae recognized the Demonic Buddha at a glance.
He was not flustered. Ever since he had hosted the Heavenly Demon as a guest, he had changed. He had the confidence to welcome anyone, even if the leaders of the Martial Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance came together.
“Welcome, Second Young Master.”
“We have an esteemed guest, so please take good care of us today as well.”
“Yes, I will serve you wholeheartedly.”
Thus, Geom Mugeuk and the Demonic Buddha sat facing each other on the second floor.
“This is my regular spot.”
“I don’t care to know. Why did you want to see me?”
“There are many reasons, but you wouldn’t believe most of them. If I had to give a believable reason, it’s a kind of check.”
“Check?”
“My brother has started meeting my people. So, I wanted to show that I can meet his people too. You are the first.”
“Will anything change by meeting?”
“I know how steadfast your feelings are for my brother.”
“What do you know?”
“Didn’t you show it on the day he returned? I felt your great concern for him then.”
When Geom Mugeuk tried to pour him a drink, the Demonic Buddha snatched the bottle and poured it himself.
“Don’t speak as if you know me.”
Ma Bul emptied his glass, and Geom Mugeuk followed suit.
Once again, Geom Mugeuk tried to pour him a drink, but the Demonic Buddha once again stubbornly filled his own glass.
“My brother can be selfish, and it must be hard for you sometimes. Please guide and take care of him.”
“You are truly a pretentious person. Did you think saying that would move me?”
“It’s not for that reason. I’m speaking ill of him behind his back, calling him selfish.”
The Demonic Buddha implied that flattery wouldn’t work on him and praised Geom Muyang.
“Your brother is a brilliant person.”
“He’s a bit lacking in humaneness.”
“That’s fine. Someone who is destined for great things shouldn’t be swayed by personal emotions.”
“Sometimes, he might disregard you.”
“That’s fine. He will become the Heavenly Demon someday. What does it matter if he disregards me?”
“He might break important promises.”
“The words and actions of the Heavenly Demon are law. Whether something is important or not, whether it is a promise or not, all of it is determined by the Heavenly Demon.”
“You are truly impregnable. I envy my brother for having someone like you on his side. I drink this in respect for you.”
Geom Mugeuk emptied his glass.
The Demonic Buddha sneered, curling one side of his mouth.
“I admit that the Second Young Master is good at handling people. But he won’t be able to win me over. I am different from Blade Demon or the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.”
“I understand. As I said earlier, I never intended to make you my person.”
“Then why do this?”
“I wanted to know what kind of person you are. I was curious about who is protecting my brother from his side. And I have reached a conclusion.”
“Which one?”
The Demonic Buddha was curious about how the Young Master evaluated him.
“If my brother hurts your feelings, he would be the biggest fool in our cult.”
Ma Bul snickered and emptied his glass.
Geom Mugeuk tried to pour him another drink. This time, the Demonic Buddha did not take the bottle away.
As he poured the drink, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“When I see you, I think of a ‘small giant.’ You are a person greater than anyone.”
The power of words is truly frightening. Even though he knew it was blatant flattery, he couldn’t help but feel pleased. The expression ‘small giant’ particularly resonated with him. He had thought of himself that way before, but no one had ever called him that.
Afraid his true feelings might be revealed, the Demonic Buddha glared at Geom Mugeuk with an even more displeased expression.
Whether he knew the Demonic Buddha’s feelings or not, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.
“Please take good care of my brother.”
“Take care of the Eldest Young Master? What do you mean by that?”
“I intend to end the tradition of heirs killing each other in this generation. To do that, we must not treat each other emotionally. My brother’s pride is strong, and it will be hard for him to control it. Please help him. If you are by his side, you can stop him even if he runs amok.”
The Demonic Buddha, who had been glaring at Geom Mugeuk, spoke coldly.
“You don’t know me at all. If the Eldest Young Master goes on a rampage, I will pour oil on the fire. A small explosion won’t make a successor; I will encourage him to blow everything away. So, if you are seeking a way to survive through me, let me tell you to wake up from that dream.”
The Demonic Buddha stood up. As he was about to leave, he added one last thing.
“If you believe a successor can be peacefully chosen, then you are either a fool or a madman.”
“Since everyone who knows me calls me a madman, I guess I must be one.”
Staring intently at Geom Mugeuk, Ma Bul spoke firmly.
“I don’t like madmen.”
The Demonic Buddha went straight down to the first floor.
Geom Mugeuk looked down at Jo Chunbae, who was sitting at the counter.
Not realizing the shock he would later feel, Jo Chunbae was nodding off even as Demonic Buddha passed by him. Well, even if the Demonic Buddha’s grandfather came, if one was tired, one couldn’t help but doze off.
Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted from Jo Chunbae to the outside of the tavern.
Far away, a golden light was walking towards the horizon. Though the figure’s height was half that of an average person, the shadow cast by the setting sun was large and long.
1: That’s how you realize that your opinion has never been valued.
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