To compare, do this:
Geommugeuk and Sobaekta stood before the leader.
The hellish world of illusions, where blood was seething, disappeared in an instant.
Sobakta looked at Geommugeuk with a blank expression.
Just a moment ago, blood was coming out of my nose and mouth. Now, I was in despair, thinking I was really going to die.
‘Are we dead?’
But this moment was too vivid to think of him as dead.
Sobakta touched his own face and looked around again. He wasn’t dead. The swordsman standing calmly in front of him was definitely alive.
“… … How did this happen?”
When So Baek-ta had previously destroyed the space he had created with the Angcheon Blood Spirit Art and returned to the Kyojujeon, Geommu-geuk used the space-time transfer art to create a space similar to the place he had been before.
Since Sobakta didn’t know that Geommugeuk could perform space-time teleportation, he naturally thought that he had returned to the space he had created.
After the space-time transfer technique was performed, all of Geommu-geuk’s words and actions were an act.
It was just to find out one thing, and now I know who the King of Huan is.
Since he didn’t know the inside story, Sobakta couldn’t understand this situation at all.
“I’m asking what you did.”
The mission was not over yet. It was just as important to resolve the conflict between Sobaekta and the leader of the Pungcheon cult as it was to kill the King of Hwan. No, that was even more important to Geommu-geuk.
“I am the leader of the Cheonma Singyo cult.”
I didn’t tell the leader of the Fengchun Sect that I learned the art of time-space transfer. I already have a lot of resentment toward my master, so saying something like that would only hurt my feelings even more.
“You said you solved it?”
So Baek-ta didn’t care about what was said about Hwa-gong, because he didn’t know that the purpose of the sword dance was to reveal who Hwan-wang was. Now, So Baek-ta was curious about how he got out of that space.
“You said that we have been contentedly relying only on the Guhwamagong? Who on earth said that? The person who said that must have never met me or my father, or even been to our school. Why do you believe them?”
Because it was a statement that hit the nail on the head, Sobakta was unable to respond.
“Come with me for now.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“Isn’t there something you need to resolve by meeting your master?”
He was the one who poured out his feelings for his master while being immersed in blood.
But when he thought about meeting his master and saying those words, So Baek-ta felt suffocated. He said that about his master because he was about to die, and he did not have the confidence to meet him in person and reveal his feelings.
“I have nothing to loose with my master.”
I didn’t force him to do the sword dance. When the parties involved actually meet, their feelings will be different from what they are now. It was important to somehow get him there.
“Okay, I understand. It’s your business, so I won’t interfere. But let’s go anyway. I have something to tell you now that we’re all here.”
I nodded, still wondering how Sobakta escaped from the illusion.
“Let’s do that.”
So I went out to fight with Sobakta.
* * *
“This is the sword that your sect leader bought for you.”
The leader of the Pungcheon Church distributed the swords he had bought from Shinung Iron Shop to his guards. He didn’t show off. He had bought them for the sword dance that had come all the way here for him.
“Where is the little sect leader?”
“I’ll stop by the sect’s headquarters and come back. I told you to bring them to me first.”
The guards who had seen the sword were very happy. Since ancient times, what could be better than giving a weapon to a warrior? Moreover, the sword they had received as a gift was better than the sword they had.
“A famous sword or a treasured sword are both good, but it has been said since ancient times that the best weapon is the one that you are familiar with. The problem is that the best sword will break and you will have to fight with a different sword at some point in your life. So, until you can fight with a fallen branch like your junior sect leader, practice with various swords. A warrior is someone who prepares in advance. A warrior who worries a lot lives long.”
Although it was said as a proverb, it was a word filled with enlightenment from the leader of the Pungcheon sect.
The escorts all gave each other a round of applause and expressed their gratitude.
Leaving them behind, the leader of the Pungcheon sect entered the residence.
Mabul was drinking tea and looking at the picture of poisonous plants that the Poison King had given him.
“Are you seriously going to dig that up?”
“I plan to dig them up when I get back after finishing work here. There are quite a few things that I can’t dig up when the weather gets colder.”
Since the leader of the Pungcheon sect knew very well what kind of person Mabul was, he could not adapt to this.
“I didn’t know I was this close to the Poison King.”
“That’s not it.”
Mabul said something unexpected.
“Have you ever tried something new? Something completely new, other than the same old thing you did while living as the leader of the Pungcheon Church?”
Of course, there were. I personally hired people, bought secret documents, and traveled around the central plains to make the Go-wol and Eun-wol, and most of it was new work.
“I used to dig for herbs. The joy I felt when I found the herbs I was looking for was something I had never felt before.”
Also, the Poison King was really happy because of the poison he had. Has anyone ever been this happy because of his actions?
Surprisingly, that was the first time. I had never seen it before, not even with my family, and not even when I was living unmanned. It was the same when I became a demon. Could there have been anyone who would have been so happy because of me?
“I’ve lived my whole life making people afraid… … .”
So I didn’t know. What it felt like to make someone happy. That you feel more joy from someone else’s happiness than from the joy of getting something yourself.
For a moment, the two were lost in their own thoughts. The leader of the Fengchun sect thought that he was the one who could best understand Mabul’s feelings.
“How was your trip?”
The leader of the Pungcheon sect told Mabul what had happened at Shinungcheolbang.
“Your disciple has been quite busy lately.”
“Who is to blame?”
“Aren’t you the kind of person who always blames others?”
“That’s right. You were the kind of person who used to say such mean things.”
The two people looked at each other and smiled. Now, such caustic remarks are strange. If only one person had changed, they wouldn’t be able to laugh like this. But both of them had changed, and both of them were satisfied with the change.
The person who had the decisive influence on the change of both people was the same person.
“The leader of the cult?”
The leader of the Pungcheon Church looked out the window at the distant church building and answered.
——————
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“He went to see his disciple. He went there with a strong determination, so he must be looking into the dark hole in his heart by now.”
* * *
Geommugeuk and Sobaekta entered the residence.
When the disciple came with him, the Fengchun Sect leader intuitively felt that Geommu-geuk had figured out something.
“Master.”
“Welcome, Master.”
Unlike the last time they met, So Baek-ta was acting awkwardly towards him. The leader of the Pungcheon Church felt that something had definitely happened, so he sent a message to Geommu-geuk.
-Did you find out the secret that the disciple was hiding?
-We even found out who was behind it.
He really is a cult leader. I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. After all, he himself was helpless, so how could his disciple handle it?
-Why did you bring that disciple?
―I think there is something I need to resolve with the leader. But he won’t be able to open up easily.
Mabul tried to give up his seat.
“I’ll be out for a bit.”
Then the swordmaster said to him,
“Your Ma-bul-nim, please join us too.”
Now, Sobakta was hoping that someone would understand the pain he had suffered. He had already told her, so he thought that having Mabul would help him open his mouth. Sometimes, a third party who watches over him is more necessary than the person himself.
So Geommugeuk, So Baekta, Pungcheongyoju, and Mabul sat around the table.
“What on earth are you trying to say by bringing me here?”
“I think you should tell Master what you said to me first.”
Sobakta’s expression immediately hardened.
“I clearly told you that I have nothing to resolve with Master.”
“Then your master will live his whole life without knowing what is in your heart. Is that what you want?”
Of course, that wasn’t what Sobaekta wanted. But that didn’t mean he wanted to tell his master about his feelings at that time. He didn’t want to look like a child who was throwing tantrums at his master, and he didn’t want to look good anymore.
At that time, the leader of the Pungcheon sect opened his mouth first.
“Do you resent me?”
“No. I don’t blame you. What is there to blame you for? Rather, I should be thankful that you chose me as your leader.”
Everyone could feel that Sobakta’s words were filled with deep resentment. Now he was saying this.
I’ve always resented my master.
The sword dance was curious. How would the leader of the Fengchun Religion react?
The leader of the Fengchun Church was determined not to forgive his disciple if he had killed Elder Sung. In this situation where he does not know whether Elder Sung is alive or dead, can he really treat him gently?
The leader of the Pungcheon sect, who had been staring at Sobakta in silence for a long time, spoke softly.
“I’m sorry, disciple.”
The leader of the Pungcheon sect sincerely apologized.
However, Sobakta was rather embarrassed. He had not expected his master to apologize like this.
“Why are you apologizing? I told you that I don’t resent you, Master.”
The leader of the Pungcheon sect looked at him without saying a word.
The moment their eyes met, So Baek-ta felt a surge of emotion. That look in his eyes that seemed to know everything about her! That kind of look is what makes people angry.
“Isn’t each of us living our own lives?”
In the past, the leader of the Pungcheon sect would have been furious. He would have yelled, “Where did you get such pitiful complaints? What you have received is the highest position in the world! It is not a position that can be obtained so easily without any pain or sacrifice.”
But the leader of the Pungcheon cult apologized again.
“sorry.”
The sword dance drama could feel that the leader of the Pungcheon sect had grown. So Baek-ta didn’t know. At this moment, it was difficult to apologize like this. Regardless of the result of how he treated Elder Seong, what he had to apologize for was to apologize.
“Why do you keep saying sorry? I said I’m fine!”
Sobakta suddenly got up and tried to leave.
At that time, the leader of the Pungcheon sect said:
“I had no intention of advancing to the central region. I liked Sae-oe.”
“Why did you say that about advancing into the Central Plains?”
“Yes, I sang the song of advancing to the Central Plains. That’s because my heart and my mouth were playing separately.”
The leader of the Fengchun sect sighed.
“I, like you, only heard those words and lived my life. My master and his master’s master, they all lived their lives with the words that advancing to the Central Plains was their wish. So it ended up becoming a wish that wasn’t a wish.”
“Is that the end? It’s always like that. Master is a person who only thinks about himself. After leaving for the Central Plains, you said that Sae-oe was good? Is that what you’re saying now?”
Geommu-geuk felt that at this moment, Sobaek-ta was thinking of Hwan-wang. That he was comparing him to his master.
Now was the time for him to step forward. If he did not know the truth about the King Huan, this reconciliation would never be possible.
“That painter is the one who deliberately approached the cult leader.”
So Baek-ta was startled by Geommu-geuk’s words. But soon he responded coldly.
“Stop talking nonsense.”
The sword dance did not try to convince him emotionally. It told him the facts.
“Not only you, but the interest has also infiltrated our school and the Murim Alliance.”
“!”
Sobakta was shocked by the shocking words.
“It is something that can be confirmed because it already happened.”
“I can’t believe it.”
“Our side is after the Demon Lord Seophon, and the Murim Alliance is after the leader’s grandson. I will officially relay the truth through our school’s Tongcheon Pavilion.”
When the specific details were mentioned, Sobakta was embarrassed.
“Why do you think I came here? As you said, the leader or sub-leader of the Cheonmasingyo did not officially visit the Pungcheongyo, so why did they come all this way in person?”
At the end of the continuing truth, Geommu-geuk asked.
“Has the cult leader ever doubted him even once?”
Of course not. My heart sank for a moment. Now that I think about it, I never doubted him even once. I got to know him naturally and came to trust him, and that’s how I got to where I am today.
Sobakta tried hard to deny Geommugeuk’s words.
“What are you trying to do now?”
Even though I was the one who was suspicious from the beginning, why didn’t he have any doubts?
“He did it himself. He dug into your resentment toward the Master to win your heart. If what I said is false, I will allow you to unite with the Heavenly Demon Sect through my authority as the leader of the sect. No, we will support your uniting with the Heavenly Demon Sect.”
Sobakta was surprised.
“Are you serious?”
“exactly.”
The sword dance drama revealed its honest feelings.
“Do you know why I make things so difficult for you? I can just press the transfusion button and put you to sleep while I deal with him.”
That was right. His internal energy was still suppressed. If he were to put himself to sleep and the three of them gathered here, he wouldn’t be able to handle them.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Your master said that even if he went back in time, he would choose you as his successor. There is no one else but you.”
“!”
“Not for you. I want to prove to him that he chose his disciple well. I don’t want him to be hurt by this for a long time. I can endure even greater trouble for him.”
The leader of the Fengchun clan was inwardly moved by Geommu-geuk’s words. It was more touching than anything Geommu-geuk had ever said to him. It was the moment when the distance between the two of them became one step closer.
Sobakta looked at the leader of Pungcheon with a subtle and complicated mind.
“You said that person told you how to live and how great a person you are?”
Geommugeuk remembered exactly what he had said within the space-time teleportation technique.
“You shouldn’t compare him to your master like that. It’s not hard to be a hero when you need someone to rely on. If you want to compare, compare what he can give up for you. Your master gave up his position as the leader. He came all the way here because he knew you were in danger. Now, what can he give up? What can he do for you? Test it yourself.”
Now, So Baek-ta could understand the intention of the sword dance. It meant to reveal the man’s identity directly. It was in the hope that he would reconcile with his master.
“What if I pretend to test him and tell him all this through telegram?”
Then you will die by my hand along with that villain.
Instead of conveying the cold reality, Geommugeuk looked at the leader of the Pungcheon cult and spoke calmly.
“I believe in your master, not you. At least he wouldn’t have handed over the position of leader to a fool until the end.”
