If the Poison King had been looking up at a tree, the Demon Buddha was in the Dharma Hall, looking up at a fearsome golden Buddha statue.
Just then, a calm greeting came from behind.
“It has been a while.”
As Geom Mugeuk entered the Dharma Hall, the Demon Buddha asked without turning around.
“What brings you here?”
“I came because I wished to see you, Lord Demon Buddha. It has been quite a while since I last saw your face.”
Just seeing the back of the Demon Buddha’s ill-natured head made him feel so glad, he supposed it really had been a long time.
“Have you been well?”
The Demon Buddha turned from the statue to face Geom Mugeuk.
Behind the short Demon Buddha, the giant golden Buddha statue created a strange contrast.
He often felt it when looking at the Demon Buddha.
That what you see is not all there is.
For Geom Mugeuk knew well that the small giant, the Demon Buddha, was a far greater man than that golden Buddha statue.
“How do you find the work of an Acting Cult Master?”
“Sigh, please don't even ask.”
Geom Mugeuk waved his hands dismissively, feigning hardship.
“I thought my father had little interest in the sect's internal affairs. That he would make a decision on one or two important matters if they came up. But that was not the case. He managed every single troop movement.”
“The Cult Master looked after the sect’s affairs more meticulously than any Cult Master in history.”
Geom Mugeuk could tell that the Demon Buddha was well-informed about his father's work.
Since he had always been deeply interested in politics, he was likely the most knowledgeable about the situation in the Cult Master’s Hall.
“Do you know why the Cult Master pays such close attention? Because he has a meticulous personality? Not a chance.”
“Then why does he do this?”
Then, a surprising answer flowed from the Demon Buddha.
“For the unification of the Martial World.”
“The Cult Master believed that only when he could rule the sect with certainty could he also rule the world.”
Perhaps he had once heard his father speak of this.
His father showed different sides to each of the Demon Sovereigns.
That was why he felt that the facet of his father that each Demon Sovereign saw was different.
“In the end, five years from now, you will stand at the forefront of the unification of the Martial World.”
He had said the same before.
That his father would not yield to him.
There was a reason for the Demon Buddha's assertion.
A reason he had not shared back then.
“It is by no means because I disregard your will.”
If he had, he would not be standing face to face with him now, saying such things.
“Then what makes you so certain?”
The reason he held Geom Mugeuk in such high esteem, yet still believed he could not win, was this.
“Because thanks to you, the Cult Master is also awakening.”
The Demon Buddha stared intently at Geom Mugeuk and asked.
“Can you handle an awakened Cult Master?”
Geom Mugeuk could tell.
The awakening the Demon Buddha spoke of was not merely about the martial arts that would be strengthened through seclusion training.
It meant that the man Geom Woojin himself was growing stronger.
“Is that not why there are nine of us?”
To the joke that all Eight Demon Sovereigns were on his side.
“Last I saw, there were two of you.”
On the day they made their promise five years from now, the only Demon Sovereign left with Geom Mugeuk had been the Evil Heart Laughing Demon.
“Then I suppose I must try harder.”
With a look that said, ‘As if trying harder will be enough,’ the Demon Buddha walked out of the Dharma Hall.
Geom Mugeuk quietly followed him, walking through the temple grounds together.
The passing Mad Monks clasped their hands in prayer and bowed to them.
“Have you given up on making the stone statues?”
“I have.”
In a corner of the courtyard, the stone statues he had been making stood just as they were.
Seeing the dust-covered tools, it seemed some time had passed since he had last touched them.
He expected Geom Mugeuk to tease him for his lack of willpower.
“You did well to stop.”
“Did well to stop?”
“To be honest, it did not suit you, Lord Demon Buddha. Calming your mind by carving stone statues? You are not that kind of person, are you?”
The Demon Buddha stopped in his tracks and asked.
“Then what kind of person am I?”
“Lord Demon Buddha, you are the kind of person who moves among people, understands their hearts, persuades them with passion, and fights with all your might for a goal, are you not? Calming your mind is something you do when you take a brief rest after fighting to your heart's content with people.”
“Is that an insult? Or a compliment?”
“If you are offended, it is an insult. If you are pleased, it is a compliment.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled and added.
“Right now, I have simply told you the truth.”
With a look that said, ‘If only you couldn't speak,’ the Demon Buddha began to walk again.
“What brings you here? A busy man like you would not have come just to visit. Do you have an order for me as the Cult Master?”
“No. I came to report something you did not order.”
The Demon Buddha looked at Geom Mugeuk with an expression that asked what he meant.
Geom Mugeuk knew.
That giving an order for something not to be done was far more difficult than ordering something to be done.
Just as asking someone to return was far more difficult than asking them to come.
That was why this meeting with the Demon Buddha was more delicate than his meeting with the Poison King.
“When my brother left the sect, I secretly asked the Poison King for a favor. To protect my brother.”
As if revealing his emotional turmoil, the golden light from the Demon Buddha’s body shone a little more intensely.
“Why are you reporting that to me?”
“Because I felt I had to let you know, Lord Demon Buddha.”
After a brief pause, the Demon Buddha asked.
“Why the Poison King of all people?”
“The counterfeit hidden weapons my brother is investigating this time were coated in an extreme poison. I was worried there might be someone who handles poison, so I asked the Poison King for help.”
“And the reason you are telling me this is?”
“In case you might misunderstand later. In case you might think my brother took the Poison King with him at his own request.”
In other words, it was because he was worried a misunderstanding would arise between Geom Muyang and the Demon Buddha.
His brother was not the type to make excuses one way or another.
Nor was the Poison King the type to explain things in detail.
“So what if there is a little misunderstanding?”
“What do you mean, what? It would be disappointing. If it were me, I would be so disappointed I would probably curse. ‘I cherished you so much, yet you take the Poison King and leave me behind?’”
“Only a narrow-minded person like you would curse. I would not.”
“You should. If you do not curse, this time it will be my brother who is disappointed.”
Finally, the Demon Buddha burst into laughter.
“Do you really live your life worrying about every single trivial matter like that?”
“Because I believe it is because of such trivial matters that people grow distant and come to hate one another. Does not a grand dream like the unification of the Martial World ultimately begin from these small considerations of the heart?”
Geom Mugeuk’s heartfelt words continued.
“So please, do not step back. Instead, step forward even more actively. Even if it is not about the successor trial, are there not one or two things within the Main Sect that require your help, Lord Demon Buddha? Please act for the sake of the Main Sect.”
As a golden light flashed in the Demon Buddha’s eyes as he looked at Geom Mugeuk, the once intense golden radiance soon softened.
The Demon Buddha had recently been feeling a sense of helplessness, for which he had no answer.
That was why he had been carving stone statues.
But not to retreat, but to advance, to confront things in his own way.
Perhaps Geom Mugeuk’s words were the way to overcome this helplessness, he thought.
“I refuse. I shall go back to carving my stone statues.”
“Then even if you carve stone statues, sell them. Carve statues that you can sell. I will be your first customer.”
The meaning was not to sink, no matter what he did.
At that moment, the Demon Buddha thought of something he wanted to say to Geom Woojin.
‘If you wish to defeat your son, you will have to awaken properly.’
Geom Mugeuk bowed politely and turned away.
“Sigh, I am so busy, I do not know when I will be able to visit again.”
As Geom Mugeuk turned to leave, the Demon Buddha spoke from behind him.
“Your brother is a strong man.”
The Demon Buddha was someone who believed in his brother more than anyone.
He was also a man who had staked his life on him.
“So you do not need to worry too much. Because the same blood that flows in your father and you flows in the First Young Master’s body.”
Looking at the brightly shining golden light, Geom Mugeuk bowed his head politely.
“Yes, I believe so as well.”
However, Geom Mugeuk’s words and actions were different.
Belief was belief, and worry was worry.
‘There are also parts I am more worried about precisely because we share the same blood.’
After leaving the Demon Buddha's residence, he spoke to Jeok-yeon who was escorting him.
“Contact Silver Moon and tell them to focus all available intelligence networks on my brother and the Poison King. And one more thing.”
Geom Mugeuk added another order to Silver Moon that he had been putting off.
A few days had passed since Geom Muyang left the sect.
During those few days, the speed at which Geom Mugeuk handled his work grew faster and faster.
And today, his speed was even faster.
It was not just that he had become more proficient at his work.
As if he had something urgent to attend to, he handled his work with particular haste today.
Usually, Geom Mugeuk would make a silly joke after finishing a task, but today he did not say a single word.
“Is there something going on today?”
“It is good to finish early, is it not? We get more time to rest.”
But today, there was another reason.
Having finished his work earlier than usual, Geom Mugeuk followed Sama Myeong out.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“No, since work ended early, I thought I would take a look around the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion for the first time in a while. Would that be alright?”
Whose word would make it not alright?
“Yes, let us go.”
Thus, Geom Mugeuk followed Sama Myeong into the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion.
Passing through an area with even stricter security than the Heavenly Demon Hall, they entered a vast space where numerous Heaven-Reaching Pavilion soldiers could be seen.
The place was busy.
It was so busy that it felt like if one wanted to best express the word ‘busy,’ one could simply show them this place.
Swish, swoosh, swish!
From a hole installed in one wall, cylinders containing dispatches continuously arrived.
The soldiers sorted the arriving dispatches according to their importance.
Depending on the content of the dispatches, flags pinned on the Map of the Central Plains were moved to different locations.
Sama Myeong could tell.
Geom Mugeuk had come here because he was curious about news of Geom Muyang.
Though he acted nonchalant on the outside, he was very worried about his brother.
“Since you are here, why not hear some news of your brother before you go.”
Sama Myeong said to a subordinate soldier.
“Bring the latest information regarding the First Young Master.”
The soldier immediately brought a document and reported.
“The First Young Master has currently arrived at his destination, Changsha. During that time, he has only stopped at two inns, and aside from eating and sleeping, he headed to his destination without rest.”
How could he not worry?
Brother, I told you not to take the incident where you almost killed me to heart! I wouldn't have died even if you hit me!
“If I stay here, I suppose I could even find out what my brother ate for his meals.”
At that, the soldier flipped through the document he had brought.
“It says here what he ate at the inn. Shall I tell you?”
“That is alright.”
He could truly see how closely the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion was monitoring his brother.
The role of Silver Moon, who was cooperating with them, was likely significant as well.
“My brother might have a hidden woman in the Central Plains. This might be the chance to find out.”
To Geom Mugeuk's silly remark, Sama Myeong asked casually.
“Are you worried about your brother?”
Geom Mugeuk smiled and replied.
“You know how ill-natured my brother is. I am more worried for the Martial World.”
But contrary to his words, Geom Mugeuk’s gaze was fixed on the flag marked ‘Muyang.’ The flag was placed in the Changsha area, and next to his brother’s flag, a flag for the Changsha Escort Agency was placed alongside it.
And a little distance away from the two flags, a splendid green flag was pinned.
Geom Muyang was striding through the marketplace of Changsha.
He passed by all the various taverns and sights he would have stopped at if he had come with Geom Mugeuk.
He had rushed here with only his goal in mind.
Only after he captured the one who made the counterfeit hidden weapons that almost made him kill his brother, that almost made him commit an irreversible mistake, would he be able to enjoy the leisure of this long-awaited trip outside the sect.
Of course, that did not mean he acted recklessly.
Geom Muyang knew exactly how to handle such matters.
He did not thoughtlessly reveal his identity as the First Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect or use force to resolve this matter.
He was not a person who would rush the process just because he felt impatient.
In front of the Changsha Escort Agency, a middle-aged martial artist was waiting for him.
He was Ho Myeong, the Changsha Division Lord of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, who had come out after being contacted in advance.
“It is an honor to see you, First Young Master.”
“Division Lord Ho, thank you for coming out.”
“The elites of the Division are all on standby nearby.”
Ho Myeong was truly surprised when he received the First Young Master’s message.
No matter how much he had lost in the succession dispute, his opponent was the eldest son of the Heavenly Demon.
One wrong word and his head could fly.
“Just give the order, and we can bring everyone in the Changsha Escort Agency to their knees within half an hour.”
“There is no need for that. Let us meet the Escort Master, just the two of us. Do not reveal my identity.”
“Yes! Please wait a moment.”
Ho Myeong spoke a few words to the martial artist guarding the entrance of the Changsha Escort Agency.
The martial artist’s face turned pale as he ran inside, and another martial artist guided Geom Muyang and Ho Myeong in.
As they waited in the great hall, the Escort Master, Ji Dae-hyeong, appeared, leading his Escort Leaders.
One of the Escort Leaders recognized Ho Myeong’s face and sent a telepathic message to Ji Dae-hyeong confirming that he was indeed the Division Lord.
Geom Muyang had used the Changsha Division Lord to meet the Escort Master as quickly as possible.
It was not a case of a fox borrowing the tiger’s might, but rather a tiger borrowing the fox’s might.
“What brings the Division Lord of the Divine Sect to our Escort Agency?”
Ji Dae-hyeong’s eyes saw only Ho Myeong.
The visit from the Changsha Division Lord of the Demon Sect, with whom he had no usual dealings, was a grave matter indeed.
“We have come to ask about the escorted goods you delivered to the Black Hand Sect a while ago.”
At Ho Myeong’s words, Ji Dae-hyeong’s expression instantly hardened.
“We do not disclose information about escorted goods to outsiders.”
At that, Division Lord Ho Myeong revealed a cold demonic energy.
The Escort Leaders, too, were not easily intimidated.
They raised their inner energy, ready to draw their swords at any moment.
This was what they believed in.
“No matter who you are, if you touch us, the Central Plains Escort Agency Alliance will not stand by idly.”
They were one of the largest interest groups in the Martial World, so even the Righteous, Demonic, and Unorthodox Sects did not treat them lightly.
“The items you delivered were counterfeits of our sect’s weapons.”
For a moment, Ji Dae-hyeong was startled.
Judging by his expression, it seemed he had been completely unaware of this fact.
“It is unlikely that a large escort agency like the Changsha Escort Agency would deliver goods to the dark factions without confirming their contents.”
Geom Muyang looked around at the Escort Leaders who had come with him with cold eyes and asked.
“Who is the one who deceived the Escort Master?”