Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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Chapter 326: You Only Say That Because You Don’t Know Him.
So Baekta turned to look at Hwan Wang, ready to shout at him.
At the one who had toyed with his heart.
Get lost, asshole!
But before he could even speak, Hwan Wang cut in first, as if sensing what was coming.
“I already heard it, so don’t bother.” 1
Even with the sudden arrival of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, Hwan Wang showed no signs of being nervous. Of course, that didn’t mean he was being careless either. Holding So Baekta as a human shield, he spoke from behind him.
“Welcome, Cult Leader. I hope you’ll forgive the appearance of things.”
Cowardly though he appeared—using a disciple as a hostage—Jeong Dae could still feel the overwhelming strength radiating from Hwan Wang. It wasn’t just about power; this was a man who would do absolutely anything to accomplish his goal.
“It’s fine. That kind of fear... I’ll take it as you showing me some respect.”
Though they stood as mortal enemies, they addressed each other with civility. Or perhaps, it was because they were enemies that they could afford such courtesy. 2
Unlike with Geom Mugeuk or the Demonic Buddha, the path to this place had not been blocked for the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
As expected—this place had been prepared only for him.
“It’s always pride that gets masters killed. If the Young Cult Leader or the Demonic Buddha had come along, you would’ve been a tougher fight.”
“More people just make things noisy in a fight. You haven’t dealt with the Young Cult Leader, so you don’t know. You’d have blown a fuse before the fight even started and smashed your own head against the wall.” 3
Hands clasped behind his back, Jeong Dae casually glanced around.
“So this is what the Cult Leader’s Hall of the Blood Cult looked like. Huh, was this how the Blood Demon used to look?”
The image of the Blood Demon drawn on the wall looked quite different from the one passed down in the Heavenly Wind Cult.
“This is where the real members of the Blood Cult once lived.”
“How would you know if you’ve never lived it? Honestly, I bet it was even more of a mess than it is now. Wouldn’t this great hall have been crawling with bloodthirsty freaks back then?”
Hwan Wang’s brow furrowed slightly at that remark.
Noticing his reaction, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader tilted his head and asked casually,
“You’re one of them, aren’t you? The secret organization trying to resurrect the Blood Cult?”
“Calling it a secret organization makes it sound grander than it is. In the beginning, yes.”
“And now?”
“The Blood Cult’s revival isn’t my dream.”
At those words, Jeong Dae turned his gaze toward his disciple.
“That’s how it should be. Even a man like him chose to follow his own dream. You should do the same. That whole ‘conquering the Central Plains’ stuff you heard since you were a kid? Let it go just like that.”
So Baekta was still drowning in emotion as he looked at his master. He was afraid—terrified—that his master might die because of him. That fear consumed him.
“You alright, Baekta?”
Hearing his name, hearing that simple question—it nearly broke him. So many words he wanted to say swelled up in his chest, but he had no idea which ones to choose.
And so, he said the only thing he could think of.
“Please don’t surrender to this man because of me. I’m not worth it.”
Hwan Wang watched the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader with eyes full of interest, curious to see what kind of answer he would give.
“When we were about to enter the painting, I said it was dangerous and that I’d go alone. Do you know what the Young Cult Leader said?”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader brought up Geom Mugeuk.
“He said that was really just a way of asking us to come along. So if you’re worried about me, you should say the opposite. Say, ‘Please, save me. If you’re my master, you have to save me. Even if you die—save me, damn it!’ Say it like that. Then wouldn’t I be so annoyed that I’d live just to spite you?” 4
He said it playfully, but it struck a chord in So Baekta’s heart.
‘That’s right. The more composed I try to act, the more pressure I put on Master to save me.’
With that realization, So Baekta echoed his master’s exact words.
“Please save me. Even if you die, Master… please, save me.”
At that brazen request, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader nodded as if he’d been waiting to hear it.
“Alright, I’ll save you.”
So Baekta faltered—he hadn’t expected such a straightforward reply.
‘This… isn’t how it’s supposed to go, Master…’
The look in the cult leader’s eyes said everything.
‘It’s fine. Leave the rest to me now, my disciple.’
And so, So Baekta couldn’t just stay still.
He spun around quickly, trying to land a slap across Hwan Wang’s face.
But Hwan Wang caught his hand, stopping him.
So Baekta glared and made one final attempt.
“You bastard, you don’t have to get lost. Just kill me and fight my master fair and square. You’re not going to be able to go all out while you’re distracted by me. I’m a hostage tying you down. So kill me—and pour everything you’ve got into the fight.” 5
Hwan Wang silently stared at So Baekta for a moment, then looked past him and spoke to Jeong Dae
“He’s hard to ignore, isn’t he?”
The cult leader nodded. There was no need to hide his feelings from someone like Hwan Wang, who had seen every kind of battlefield.
“When we were always together, nothing like this ever happened. But now that we’ve been apart, these moments finally come.”
And that’s the terrifying thing about moments.
Meeting Geom Mugeuk had been a turning point that upended his life. His relationship with Gowol changed, and eventually, so did the path of his entire life.
Coming to the outer world this time had also caused a profound shift in his bond with his disciple.
Sometimes, in human relationships, it’s not effort but timing that comes first. Just like how he and Hwan Wang had become enemies.
“I’ve heard… that you killed my sister.”
“I did.”
“How did she die?”
“She died when the Soul-Sealing Seal was extracted.”
Understanding the situation, the cult leader silently nodded.
“Originally, I was supposed to go to the Demon Cult, and my sister was meant to come here. But she insisted. I guess the mission in the Demon Cult looked more important. She was always like that—trying to beat me at everything. Never managed to, though.”
There was no grief or mourning to be felt from Hwan Wang. But the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader understood. This monster lived only for himself.
“If I kill your disciple, things will be even.”
“Even if you try to shake my composure, it’s no use. I’ve already sensed that you're not foolish enough to do something like that.”
Though the words were meant to imply that one couldn't defeat him through a straightforward fight, Hwan Wang was equally unshaken.
“A disciple who'd throw away his life for his master... You must save him.”
“I shall try.”
In that moment, So Baekta didn’t let go of the rope of hope. He was only waiting for the opportunity. Even if he had to cling to the hem of the enemy’s pants for the sake of his master, he would do it. As long as he could save his master, he was willing to die.
And if, by some miracle, he survived—he would live the rest of his life for his master.
It was just then.
Shwae-ae-ek!
Thud!
Jeong Dae swung his hand toward the empty air on his left.
From the empty space, where there had been nothing, copious blood began to gush.
A corpse collapsed with a thud, his life fleeing him from its torn throat. It had been one of Hwan Wang’s subordinates, approaching while concealed, trying to launch a surprise attack during their conversation.
Wiping the blood on his hand against the corpse’s clothes, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked,
“By the way, why did you instill the wind of Unified Wilderness in my disciple?”
“Well, for your disciple’s dream, of course.”
So Baekta flinched slightly at that, but as if to signal that this was the proper way to handle things in a situation like this, Jeong Dae replied calmly.
“Thanks to you, my disciple’s found his true dream. I should be grateful, actually.”
If it had been his old self, he wouldn't have handled things this smoothly. After meeting Geom Mugeuk, seeing a new side of Gowol, suffering and struggling—through it all, he’d constantly grown.
In a flash, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader vanished, then reappeared.
Thud!
A bloodied hand burst forth from the empty air.
Another hidden enemy had been caught. Instead of criticizing the sneak attack—
“I’ve lost weight recently, so my movements have gotten faster.”
Even to Hwan Wang, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader boasted about his weight loss. 6
Looking around for any more hidden enemies, he began walking toward Hwan Wang, as if ready to truly begin the battle. But before that, he asked about Geom Mugeuk.
“What about the Young Cult Leader?”
“He’ll be fine.”
“No, I’m asking if you’ve locked him up properly.”
“He’s trapped somewhere he can’t escape from. And even if he breaks through that, there are three more gates that are absolutely impassable.”
“Only three?” 7
“Only?”
“You say that because you don’t really know the man.”
Jeong Dae opened up his meridians.
Swaaahhhh—
A fierce demonic aura unlike anything So Baekta ever experienced burst out in all directions, and blue flames began to blaze from both of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s hands.
“Then I’d better hurry. I want to look cool when the Young Cult Leader shows up.”
* * *
"Ah! This won't do."
I flung the door open with confidence—then shut it just as fast.
After taking down all the ghost souls in the banquet hall and uncovering the countermeasure method, I had found the next door.
Where was the countermeasure method hidden, you ask? Under the geomungo the evil musician had been playing. Thankfully, I’d uncovered hidden countermeasures several times before, or else it would’ve been nearly impossible for a first-timer to find. 8
The real problem was the next room.
When I opened the door just moments ago, I saw a chamber the size of a plaza—with a giant snake coiled in its center.
Blood Poison Great Python.
It was the Blood Poison Great Python, known as the king of venomous snakes. Swarming around it were thousands of venomous snakes.
Just that brief opening of the door had released a stench of blood and venom so intense it was suffocating. The venomous energy was so severe that any average martial artist would've been poisoned just from the exposure and would’ve had to circulate their energy to neutralize it. And me? I absolutely despised snakes.
“Cult Leader, fight well. I’ll be heading back now.”
Of course, that wasn’t an option. If it were just about catching Hwan Wang, I could trust the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. But now, So Baekta was in the mix. That man's affection for his disciple could lead to unforeseen complications.
I had to move quickly and become the unforeseen variable—the unpredictable Geom Mugeuk.
Suddenly, I remembered when Jeong Dae had come to save me from the illusion arts. The hellscape that had unfolded beyond the opened door came vividly to mind. He had torn through that path to rescue me.
Yes, even if every snake in the Central Plains stood in my way—I would break through.
I drew my Black Demon Sword and opened the door again.
The venomous snakes nearby lunged at me.
Shwik! Shiiik!
I swung the Black Demon Sword, slashing them down. As the snakes burst, venomous qi spewed into the air.
The rest of the snakes began to move all at once. They weren’t ordinary snakes. They sprang into the air, launching themselves at me.
And in the very next moment—
One of my techniques activated.
Nine Calamities Demon Art, Third Form: Great Demon Wall.
A massive wall of energy erected itself in front of me.
Thud! Thud! Thwack! Whack!
Snakes slammed into the wall and exploded. A thick cloud of venomous qi filled the air. That qi agitated every venomous snake in the room.
The Blood Poison Great Python raised its monstrous body and lunged at me.
Boom!
With an explosion, the Great Demon Wall trembled. The python's massive form writhed as wounds opened along its body from the energy clash. In the chaos, smaller snakes were crushed to death beneath it.
The Blood Poison Great Python spewed venom.
Chiiiiiiiiik!
This heinous poison could melt through anything it touched. The venomous mist billowed thickly. Without my Complete Poison Immunity, survival would've been impossible.
The venom began to corrode the Great Demon Wall.
Maintaining the wall consumed a tremendous amount of internal energy.
And it was in this very battle—I made my first attempt at something new.
While maintaining the Great Demon Wall, I activated another technique.
A Demonic Fiend appeared in front of the Great Demon Wall—I had used the Second Form: Great Annihilation Form.
Shssssssssss.
The Demonic Fiend split into six. With recent progress in my martial cultivation, the number I could divide into had increased from four to six.
“Let’s go!”
Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
The six Demonic Fiends stormed forward, slicing through the snakes in their path.
Puh puh puh puh puh puh puh puh puh!
All the snakes in their path were shredded to pieces.
Their target was the Blood Poison Great Python ahead.
Could they take it down?
As the python continued melting the Great Demon Wall, it spewed venom toward the Demonic Fiends too. Even drenched in venom, the ghosts pressed forward.
Kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa kwa!
Fwaaaaaaaash!
I saw it—six Demonic Fiends severing the Blood Poison Great Python's body.
The split halves—the head and tail—began to thrash in agony. In its frenzy, the surrounding snakes were crushed and died.
The writhing Blood Poison Great Python, now twice smaller, hurled itself at the Great Demon Wall.
Kraaaash!
The wall shook violently, but a severed body was not enough to breach it.
Thud!
The python collapsed to the ground, gave one last twitch—and then, with a boom, released a wave of intense venomous qi before it vanished. And with its disappearance, the other venomous snakes also began to vanish.
Puh puh puh puh puh puh puh!
Normally, even after defeating them, this venom-filled room would’ve been impossible to pass through.
But I strode straight across and opened the door behind where the Blood Poison Great Python had been. 9
To my surprise, beyond the door was the Cult Leader’s Hall.
And the moment I saw the scene inside—I froze.
The hall was in ruins, ravaged by a brutal battle. Corpses were strewn everywhere.
My eyes landed far ahead—on the Wind Spirit Throne.
There, someone familiar sat slumped.
To my shock, it was Jeong Dae. Blood-soaked, his head was bowed.
And the corpse lying at the foot of the Wind Spirit Throne was none other than So Baekta. In the end, he hadn’t been able to protect his disciple.
The thought that the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader might be dead made my heart pound wildly.
I launched myself toward them. Had I ever been this shaken?
I landed before the Wind Spirit Throne and called out.
“Cult Leader.”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader didn’t move.
“Cult Leader.”
Only then did he slowly open his eyes with great effort and looked at me.
“...I couldn’t kill the bastard.”
“Cult Leader.”
“...I’m sorry.” 10
Life drained from his eyes, and he began to lower his head again.
“Cult Leader!”
Just as I rushed to support him—
Shhhhk!
Thunk!
Jeong Dae’s hand, extended to suppress my Devil’s Hole, stopped just in front of my chest.
In contrast, my Millennium Cold-Iron Dagger was embedded in his heart.
Black energy swirled in his eyes, and a pitch-black demonic aura began to seep out.
“...How did you know?”
He was a fake—an impostor posing as the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
“The Cult Leader I know wouldn’t have ended with an apology. He’d have said: ‘I’m dying because of you. Hand over my sacred item, Young Cult Leader! Try living well without me and Gowol!’ That’s who he is.”
The moment my conviction was delivered, the fake’s body puff—dispersed into black smoke.
Even So Baekta’s corpse, which had been lying on the ground, began to vanish in a puff of smoke.
I believed.
“That man—he might die getting stabbed while drinking in Maga Village. But he wouldn’t die inside an illusion. This place—this is his world.”
I strode toward the door behind the Wind Spirit Throne.
Just moments ago, I had felt what it would be like if the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader were to die. Even though a great part of me had suspected it was a trap, my heart had pounded like it would explode. I could never allow what I saw here to become reality. 11
Drawing my Black Demon Sword, I threw the door open and charged in.
I didn’t care what lay beyond that door. Just as you came to save me—
‘This time, I’m coming for you!’
1 : Awww, poor So Baekta got his lines stolen XDXDXD
2 : Also the fact that their opponent is so powerful that they can’t afford to be reckless, so delaying the fight with a conversation to understand more of the opponent and come up with a plan is a good idea.
3 : Not wrong, I can totally see Mugeuk opponeents committing ‘suicide by frustration‘ lol
4 : The Dao of Spite and Pettiness is the greatest power in the multiverse. Or at least, it’s on par with the Dao of Hope, Love and Friendship XDXDXD
5 : Quite courageous.
6 : Can’t say he’s not consistent ^^
7 : Lol, I had the same reaction XDXDXD
8 : I looked up what a geomungo is and apparently it’s the Korean version of the Chinese zither. Basically, it’s a plank with strings, I don’t think the Occident has instruments that come close to it.
9 : Very tempted to replace strode by waddled XDXDXD
10 : That’s a fake. He would have tried to joke around and not burden Mugeuk with his failure. Also, he would have a lot more energy in him. That’s Jeong Dae after all ^^
11 : Like with Soma, it’s by fighting side-by-side that you strengthen your ties.