If the revival of the Blood Sect wasn't his goal, then what was?
So Baek-ta wondered about that.
"Why did that man encourage me to unify the Outlands?"
Not only So Baek-ta, but the Wind Heaven Sect Leader and the Demon Buddha also wore expressions of confusion.
Naturally, all eyes turned to Geom Mugeuk.
"Why are you looking at me?"
"Aren't you our Young Cult Master, who sees through all the secrets of the universe?"
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader was joking, thinking there was no way he would know this too, but Geom Mugeuk saw right through it.
"I have a guess."
He said it was a guess, but he was actually certain.
"It's because of the New Might Iron Workshop."
As everyone looked puzzled, So Baek-ta spoke to Geom Mugeuk.
"That's the place where the Main Sect had weapons secretly prepared."
"I know. I've already been there with your Master. We also discovered the large workshop in the basement."
So Baek-ta's face turned red.
The New Might Iron Workshop was also a decisive part of his shameful past.
"It seems he intended to use war to make the New Might Iron Workshop the number one iron workshop in the Outlands."
It was a guess based on the fact that in his life before regression, the New Might Iron Workshop had actually become the number one iron workshop in the Central Plains.
"The war probably would have lasted for quite a long time. Because the New Might Iron Workshop would have also secretly sold weapons to the forces opposing the Wind Heaven Sect."
After all, nothing brought greater wealth to an iron workshop than a long war.
"Investigate later. If you find any evidence of the New Might Iron Workshop contacting other forces in the Outlands, my guess will be proven true."
So Baek-ta had a feeling that he was right.
While encouraging him, the Illusion King had emphasized thorough war preparations through the New Might Iron Workshop and said he must be prepared for a long war.
In the end, he had been thoroughly used by that man.
"Speaking of the New Might Iron Workshop, there is one more thing to confirm."
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader guessed what Geom Mugeuk wanted to confirm and sent a telepathic message.
—I'll do it myself.
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader gazed into So Baek-ta's eyes and asked calmly.
"What happened to Elder Seong?"
At first, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader had been half in doubt, but now he believed that So Baek-ta hadn't killed him.
During the recent hostage situation, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader was able to recall why he had chosen So Baek-ta.
And so, he was certain.
Although he had been deceived by the Illusion King and dreamt a futile dream, he was not the kind of person to commit such an act.
"What are you talking about? Has something happened to Elder Seong?"
"He is currently missing."
Just by So Baek-ta's reaction, it was clear he hadn't killed Elder Seong.
"Don't tell me! Was it his doing?"
Geom Mugeuk was more relieved than the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
If So Baek-ta had killed him, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader would not have been able to forgive his disciple.
And no matter what punishment he gave his disciple, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader would have suffered an irreversible wound to his heart.
So Baek-ta blamed himself with a somber face.
"Ah! If something has happened to Elder Seong, it is because of me. If I hadn't gotten involved with that man in the first place, Elder Seong would not have left the sect. I didn't even know he was missing."
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader comforted his disciple.
"It's not yet known if he is alive or dead, so don't blame yourself too much."
The four of them left the Illusion King's residence.
Just as they were about to head to the Cult Master’s Hall, a martial artist came, delivered a dispatch, and left.
It was a dispatch from Go Wol.
The one to put the final touch on this incident was Go Wol.
"Grand Strategist Go has found out where Elder Seong is."
At those words, not only the Wind Heaven Sect Leader but also So Baek-ta was startled.
"Is he alive?"
"Yes, he is alive."
"Where is he?"
The same place was mentioned again from Geom Mugeuk's lips.
"The New Might Iron Workshop."
*
The Wind Heaven Sect Leader and So Baek-ta, along with the masters of the Wind Heaven Sect, wiped out the New Might Iron Workshop and safely rescued Elder Seong, who had been trapped in the basement.
In the process, all the masters related to the Illusion King lost their lives.
Those who had worked without knowing anything were not killed but all scattered.
Just as the Illusion King had vanished, the New Might Iron Workshop also disappeared from the martial world.
While the Wind Heaven Sect Leader and So Baek-ta were reuniting with Elder Seong, I was with the Demon Buddha, wandering a nameless mountain in the Outlands in search of poisonous herbs.
The affairs of the Wind Heaven Sect were now for them to resolve.
The herbs that grew in the Outlands were different from those in the Central Plains.
Even if it wasn't what he was looking for, the Demon Buddha would carefully examine any new herb he saw.
Just as the Poison King had organized, he too drew the herbs on paper and noted their characteristics.
It seemed like he was doing this because he truly enjoyed it, but on the other hand, it also felt like he might have immersed himself in herb gathering to protect himself, as if he couldn't bear it without focusing on something like this.
I couldn't tell what was on his mind.
"Could this be the herb?"
At my shout, the Demon Buddha came over to check.
"It's identical. We finally found it! Poison King, just you wait! I'm returning with the herb I found! The one I found, not the Demon Buddha!"
The Demon Buddha had memorized all the herbs in the drawings, so I was the one comparing them with the paper.
The Demon Buddha compared the poisonous herb on the paper in my hand with the one I had found.
"It looks similar, but this isn't it."
"Jealousy, obstruction, it won't work on me. Get away from the poisonous herb!"
"It's supposed to have five leaves, but this one has six, doesn't it? Look here. He even wrote it down specifically, didn't he? That the six-leaved ones are commonly found."
"Even this 'commonly found' one was hard to find! Isn't it too difficult to look for? We haven't found a single one for hours now."
"If it were that easy to find, he wouldn't have asked."
"Oh, my back."
The Demon Buddha bent his back again, examining the grasses, and said.
"Stop whining. That's the same back that was fine even after being beaten with the Iron Blood Heaven-Shattering Art."
"Is a working back the same as a fighting back? I can't look anymore! I can't do it!"
Geom Mugeuk plopped down on a rock.
"A fine thing to do while an adult is working."
"Looking up at the sky from here is nice. You should lie down for a bit."
The drifting clouds were peaceful.
This brief rest felt so precious.
Of course, I couldn't just rest alone while the Demon Buddha was working.
I jumped up and spread the papers with drawings of poisonous herbs around.
"I've never seen anything that looks like these in my entire life. This is the Poison King trying to mess with us! I'll bet my wrist that no such poisonous herb exists."
Just then, as if it were a lie, the Demon Buddha triumphantly held up a poisonous herb.
"I found it!"
Comparing the poisonous herb the Demon Buddha brought with the one in the drawing, they were identical.
"It really did exist."
"Which wrist was it?"
"I'll have to make bets with you, Demon Buddha, after I've achieved Diamond Indestructibility."
The Demon Buddha placed the poisonous herb on the rock and ran off to dig for more.
"You've dug one up, take a break before digging for more!"
Pretending not to hear me, the Demon Buddha diligently scanned his surroundings.
Sitting on the rock, I silently watched him dig for herbs.
Come to think of it, the Demon Buddha was a person who was always moving busily on those short legs of his.
It was the same when he was trying to make his brother the successor, and it was the same now as he dug for poisonous herbs.
He was a naturally diligent person.
"I found another one!"
The Demon Buddha came back with another poisonous herb.
It was also one from the papers.
"You planned this, didn't you? You hid the poisonous herbs here beforehand and planned this, right? You were after my wrist!"
It was astonishing how well he could find these poisonous herbs.
"Isn't that why the Poison King asked me?"
As he was about to go digging again, this time I forcibly held him back to make him rest.
The Demon Buddha reluctantly brushed the dirt off his hands and sat on the edge of the rock to rest for a moment.
"Your coming with me this time has been a great help."
"Me? I was just a folding screen."
"A folding screen that protected our lives."
After a brief pause, the Demon Buddha asked.
"Say, Young Cult Master."
"Yes."
"Who are the ones behind this incident?"
Earlier, when speaking to So Baek-ta, the Demon Buddha had heard that in the Main Sect, it was the Soul-Devouring Demon Sovereign, and in the Martial Alliance, it was the Alliance Leader's grandson who was targeted.
"A certain organization is secretly working to take root in the important organizations of the martial world. I don't know which organization it is yet."
"Does the Cult Master know?"
Go Wol was sharing all information with the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion.
Naturally, he knew that a certain organization was working in the shadows.
"Since the Grand Strategist knows, my father must know as well."
At that, the Demon Buddha nodded with a relaxed expression.
This must be the Demon Sovereigns' faith in his father.
"They are the ones who roped in someone who has mastered the Blood Sect's Illusion Arts. Be careful from now on."
"Are you worried about me?"
"You have to protect the Main Sect well for me to be able to live this kind of life, don't you?"
I shouted at the Demon Buddha, who was setting out to find more poisonous herbs after a short break.
"Please let me say I found just one of these! That way I can go and brag too! Please!"
The Demon Buddha pretended not to hear and bent his back, going deeper into the thicket.
*
When I returned after digging up the poisonous herbs, So Baek-ta was waiting for me in the Cult Master’s Hall.
"I asked for you because I have something to tell you, Young Cult Master."
With even Elder Seong having returned safely, his expression was bright.
Compared to when I first met him, his vibe was so different that one could say he was a different person.
This must be his true self.
So Baek-ta slowly looked around the Cult Master’s Hall.
"I felt my Master was flustered when he first saw this place. He must have been surprised since I renovated everything. Actually, I was aiming for that. It was when I resented my Master. Still, I don't plan on changing this Cult Master's Hall. The old one, honestly, was very outdated."
He had properly accepted his master's advice to live for himself.
"I plan to live diligently here."
"I believe you will do well, Cult Master."
"Thank you so much for your help this time. If I get the chance, I will surely repay this favor."
"I did it for your Master. You don't need to thank me."
"That's why I'm even more grateful."
Because it wasn't just Geom Mugeuk who had grown closer to the Wind Heaven Sect Leader through this incident.
"In that spirit, I would like to give you a gift, Young Cult Master."
When So Baek-ta operated the Grand Advisor's seat, the walls on all sides rose, revealing the divine relics.
"Choose one of the Main Sect's divine relics."
"Are you serious?"
"I am."
What were divine relics? He had saved his life and even restored his relationship with his Master.
Nevertheless, Geom Mugeuk found this offer of a divine relic from So Baek-ta unexpected.
"May I really choose?"
"Of course. But not the Thunder Bell."
"I know that much. But does your Master know?"
"Why? Do I need to get my Master's permission?"
"Not really. But don't regret it. I'm not one to refuse a gift."
"Hurry and choose what you want before I change my mind."
Geom Mugeuk looked around at the divine relics.
He first went to the Thunder Bell and greeted the evil spirits.
'I'll be leaving soon, so I won't be seeing you guys anymore.'
The evil spirits of the Thunder Bell now felt like friends, just as much as the evil spirits of the Nine Calamities Demon Art.
'I'll return with Go Wol next time.'
Geom Mugeuk looked at the divine relics one by one.
In truth, they were all divine relics he had seen before when he received the Blood God Pill or the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread from the Wind Heaven Sect Leader.
If he had to choose another divine relic, the first to catch his eye was the Blood Dragon Divine Robe, a protective armor that could be worn like a cloak and was impervious to blades.
If not that, there was also the Fire-Burn Pill, which was less effective than the Blood God Pill but could still provide a great boost to his inner energy.
Geom Mugeuk walked slowly, looking over the divine relics once more.
As he circled the walls of the Cult Master’s Hall, he felt a faint vibration in his chest.
Voom!
To his surprise, the Secret Vessel tucked in his robes had vibrated slightly.
This was the first time it had reacted like this since he obtained it.
Geom Mugeuk could tell.
The Secret Vessel was reacting to the divine relic right in front of him.
To be certain, he stepped away and then came back.
Again, it vibrated faintly in front of that divine relic.
The divine relic the Secret Vessel reacted to was a black iron orb, slightly smaller than a fist.
"What kind of divine relic is this?"
"It's called the Black Eye because it looks like a black eyeball."
"What is it used for?"
"I don't know. It has been passed down in the Main Sect for a long time."
He had seen it before but had just passed it by.
Only by being close with the Secret Vessel could he know that these two items were related.
What if this Black Eye was the key to unlocking the secret of the Secret Vessel?
If so, it made sense why the secret hadn't been unlocked until now.
None of the past Cult Masters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect would have come near the Black Eye while possessing the Secret Vessel.
The hope that he might be able to unlock the secret of the Secret Vessel made his heart race.
"I'll choose this one."
"Are you sure you're okay with that? The previous Cult Masters researched it extensively but concluded it was nothing more than an iron orb."
"But it was still placed among the divine relics, wasn't it? That's why it seems even more amazing."
"I didn't expect you to interpret it that way."
"I'll take this one."
Geom Mugeuk took the Black Eye in his hand.
As if to confirm this was right, the Secret Vessel in his robes vibrated once more.
"Thank you for the precious gift."
Geom Mugeuk accepted this as fate.
Obtaining the Secret Vessel, coming to the Outlands, and receiving a divine relic from him.
If he hadn't been able to save him, he would not have obtained the Black Eye.
Just then, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader entered.
"What is that?"
Geom Mugeuk quickly put the Black Eye into his robes.
"Don't tell me? You didn't swindle a divine relic from my disciple, did you?"
"I didn't swindle it, the Cult Master gave it to me as a gift."
"By whose authority!"
"Not the retired Cult Master's authority, but the current Cult Master's, of course!"
Geom Mugeuk quickly dashed away, saying.
"From now on, when you curse me, this incident will be included!"
Sure enough, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader immediately shouted.
"Stop! You shameless Young Cult Master, robbing both master and disciple!"
Of course, Geom Mugeuk left the Cult Master’s Hall without a backward glance.
Left alone with his disciple, the Wind Heaven Sect Leader's irate expression softened into a gentle one.
"Thank you for granting my request."