Chapter 337 : Because my sword might hurt less

Translator: FenrirTL

Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

Murim Term Consultant: Kopke

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Chapter 337: Because my sword might hurt less.

Wouldn't it be confusing for Woo Sochu?

There was only one reason he hesitated.

The very same doubt Gong Chan once had.

‘Could this person really be the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?’

Fine. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult really came alone. Let's even say their appearance is a complete mess.

But you’re saying the reason they came running like this… is to save a tavern owner and their family? That they themselves are standing while those lowly ones are seated? That they even brushed the snow off the shoulder of one of them?

Such things were utterly impossible in Woo Sochu’s understanding of the world.

‘He’s not the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. There's no way he is.’ 1

He was certain.

But he couldn’t refuse the other party’s request. The martial arts shown when subduing Gong Chan earlier were definitely not fake. He hadn’t seen it in detail from inside the building, but he had seen Gong Chan go down without so much as lifting a finger. That level of skill was far from ordinary.

“If the Young Cult Leader orders me to come down, then I must.”

Looking at the figure slowly walking down the stairs, Geom Mugeuk spoke coldly.

“You shouldn’t be coming down just because I told you to. You should be coming down because your subordinate’s life is on the line. Instead of taking your sweet time walking down, you should be leaping down to check on your man first.”

Woo Sochu was boiling with irritation.

Not just because of the command to come down earlier, but this statement now, which he couldn’t even rebut. It was humiliating. The escort warriors were watching, and even the villagers were witnessing this—it made his rage surge.

That was why the five people sitting behind Geom Mugeuk grated on his nerves even more.

‘Lowly scum!’ 2

He had never been so disgraced by inferiors like this before. Once this situation passed, he would never let them off.

Except for Jo Chunbae and Yang In, the remaining three couldn’t dare meet Woo Sochu’s eyes.

The one wielding the most power in this region was the leader of the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau, none other than him. And yet now, they were sitting while the bureau leader stood.

“It hurts.”

Yang In spoke to her younger sister. Woo Sochu’s glare was so terrifying that she’d clutched her sister’s hand too tightly.

“Sorry.”

“Seon, it’s okay now.”

Even knowing Woo Sochu was listening, Yang In spoke confidently. She might not have known before, but now that the person who had come was definitely the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, she truly believed everything would be fine.

Yang In glanced at Jo Chunbae, asking with her eyes.

‘Is it really okay?’

Jo Chunbae nodded vigorously, backing up his wife’s reassurance with strength.

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law.”

“Brother-in-law!”

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, so it’s okay to enjoy it.” 3

Jo Chunbae knew. He knew exactly what kind of person was standing before them now, blocking their way like a fortress. Even if the fortress collapsed, that back would never fall.

He was the one who made the Demon Supremes visit his humble Flowing Wind Tavern and leave inscriptions on the wall. He was the one who made the Heavenly Demon himself visit his tavern.

That was a strength entirely different from mere martial prowess. There had never been, and never would be, another Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult like him.

Because of that, Jo Chunbae found himself wanting to live a long life. What would it be like when the Young Cult Leader became the Heavenly Demon? What would the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult be like under his leadership? What would the martial world look like with him as the Heavenly Demon? He wanted to see it all.

Yang In quietly gazed at her husband.

He was a husband who never talked about tavern matters. How could she not know how hard it was to deal with drunken customers?

But ever since the Young Cult Leader came to the tavern, he had changed. Whenever Geom Mugeuk or the Demon Supremes visited, he would talk excitedly about what had happened that day, his eyes sparkling like stars. The way he looked at Geom Mugeuk now was that same look. Today was the brightest star of all.

Geom Mugeuk returned to a polite and calm demeanor. After all, the main goal here was to clear Jonghak’s name before any retribution.

“Now that you’re down here, let’s hear it together. Aren’t you curious, Leader? Why did Escort Captain Gong try to kill an innocent porter?”

Woo Sochu immediately retorted.

“I didn’t try to kill him—I was going to cut off the hands that stole. And what’s this about murder and extermination? Cutting off a wrist doesn’t mean he’d die, does it?”

Geom Mugeuk was certain that Gong Chan had tried to kill Jonghak.

“If both your hands were cut off here, do you think you could make it to a doctor alive? Let’s suppose I cut off both your hands. Do you think you could run to a physician without using lightness skill and survive? For someone without martial arts, the moment their hands are cut off, they’d faint instantly.” 4

Woo Sochu couldn’t argue back. The blood loss would be so severe that, without proper help, even he might not survive.

The villagers watching turned to one another and murmured. They had been called out, thinking a thief was to have his hands cut off as punishment, but now the truth being revealed was entirely unexpected.

The escort warriors were already suspicious from the reactions of Gong Chan and Woo Sochu—they sensed some scheme behind all this. For now, they silently kept watching. After all, the one confronting them was an especially extraordinary demon.

Geom Mugeuk said to Gong Chan and Woo Sochu,

“You two not only tried to take this man’s life, but his honor as well.”

Jonghak let out a long sigh. When Geom Mugeuk spoke those words in front of everyone, it felt like something that had been blocking up his chest finally cleared. What tormented him most after almost causing his brother-in-law to lose his tongue, was being falsely accused of theft. He had never once coveted what belonged to others in his entire life—perhaps that’s what made it hurt even more.

Geom Mugeuk stepped forward and gently brushed the snow off Jonghak’s shoulder once more.

The old woman, Yoon silently watched this scene unfold, then quietly said to her eldest daughter,

“He’s young, but he feels like a true adult.”

There was something visible only to the eyes of someone who had weathered the storms of life.

In the meantime, Geom Mugeuk raised another question in front of Woo Sochu.

“Leader Woo. There’s something I’m curious about. Looking at this Escort Captain Gong, he’s clearly quick-tempered and cruel. So why didn’t he kill this man during the escort mission? His personality makes it very likely he would have.”

Gong Chan stood frozen with fear, his face shifting as he glanced between Geom Mugeuk and Woo Sochu.

Staring directly into Gong Chan’s eyes, Geom Mugeuk asked,

“Did you, by any chance, needed to return and report to someone?”

And who else could that someone be? Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned toward Woo Sochu.

“Was that person Leader Woo?”

Gong Chan didn’t answer. But that silence told them everything they needed to know.

“So you can’t even say ‘no’ right away.”

At that, Woo Sochu quickly cut in.

“And yet he hasn’t said ‘yes’ either. With you threatening to kill him, how could he possibly answer properly?”

But Geom Mugeuk could tell. The moment Gong Chan was about to speak, Woo Sochu had sent him a voice transmission.

“What did your leader whisper to you through transmission? Did he threaten your life? Promise you a fortune if you got through this? Offer to make you Escort Captain in return? Or was it all three?”

Gong Chan looked at Geom Mugeuk in shock.

‘Just what is this man…?’

Shockingly, it had been all three.

The one Gong Chan had reported to was Woo Sochu. This entire situation had unfolded under the strict orders of the bureau leader.

And it was also true that Woo Sochu had just sent him a voice transmission threatening that if he confessed, he would be killed by his hand. At the same time, he had dangled a fat reward and the position of Escort Captain like a carrot.

Of course, that kind of tactic was useless in front of someone like Geom Mugeuk.

“I’m sorry to say, but even if he offered you not ten million but a hundred million gold, it wouldn’t matter. If you don’t speak honestly right here and now, you’ll die by my hand.”

Then Woo Sochu tried to convince Gong Chan.

“If that man really is the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, then he absolutely cannot kill you. A demon killing an escort captain from a righteous faction? And the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, no less? If that happened, the entire martial world would erupt in chaos. Trust me.” 5

In the end, Gong Chan didn’t speak. If he could just get through this moment, he’d receive a massive sum of money and even the position of Head Escort Captain. Woo Sochu would save him—if only to protect himself.

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze turned cold as he released his demonic energy.

“Well, of course. If you were the kind of man who could be reasoned with, you wouldn’t have done something like this to begin with.”

The demonic energy didn’t target anyone else—it flew straight at Gong Chan.

Gong Chan looked around. He was standing in the middle of the sky. The thought that it was beautiful only lasted a second. Then, he started being dragged down under the water.

A pitch-black abyss awaited, and there was nothing he could see. It wasn’t an illusion. It really felt like he was drowning—he truly couldn’t breathe. How could mere intent make this happen?

It was excruciating. He wished he could lose consciousness, but Geom Mugeuk’s intent reflected his will exactly.

The torment continued relentlessly. Just before death, he’d be given a gasp of air, made to regain consciousness, then dragged back into the agony of suffocation. 6

‘Please! Please! Just kill me instead!’

The pain was so unbearable that rather than begging to live, his first thought was to ask for death.

Then Geom Mugeuk’s voice echoed.

—Do you want to live?

Will? Loyalty? If he could just breathe again, he’d even offer his soul.

‘Yes, please spare me!’

—Then speak the truth.

Gasping for breath, he jolted upright and shouted,

“The one who gave the order was Leader Woo!”

Woo Sochu was silent. It was as if he was admitting it.

But it wasn’t an admission. What had really happened was that Geom Mugeuk had secretly subdued his pressure and blood points—his Pressure Points and Devil's Hole.

Just like when Gong Chan had attempted to cut off Jonghak’s hand earlier, Geom Mugeuk made it appear as though he was admitting—this was the same situation again.

Woo Sochu was in shock. No matter how strong someone’s martial arts were, it should have been impossible to suppress his blood points without him noticing, and furthermore at range.

‘He really is the Young Cult Leader!’

Meanwhile, Geom Mugeuk continued questioning Gong Chan.

“Then who’s the man with the dot on his forehead?”

“I don’t know. The Leader told me to meet him. He told me where and when to receive the next package.”

“Do you know what the package is?”

“No, I don’t.”

“When were you supposed to receive the next one?”

“Three days from now, in the Clear Spring Forest.”

But Geom Mugeuk asked something even more important.

“Why did you try to cut off porter Jonghak’s hand?”

“When I reported that that lowly one saw our secret meeting, the Leader said we should deal with him by cutting off his hands.”

It was the moment Jonghak was completely cleared of all accusations.

The eyes of the escort warriors and the villagers all turned to the Leader. His face burning red, Woo Sochu was still unable to say a single word.

"Were the escort warriors involved in this incident?"

"It was just me. The others only acted on orders. No, I was the same. I only acted under the orders of the Leader."

He swiftly shifted all the blame onto the Leader.

"I’ve told you everything, so… you’ll let me live, right?"

Gong Chan wasn’t the only one tense with anticipation over the answer. Jo Chunbae’s family behind Geom Mugeuk was even more nervous.

Especially Jonghak, who prayed silently, ‘Please don’t let him live!’ He was terrified that if Gong Chan were spared, he might seek revenge on him later. 7

"Why would I?"

When Geom Mugeuk asked in return, Gong Chan raised his voice.

"Didn’t you say I’d live if I told the truth?"

"You didn’t speak when I asked, did you? You only talked after I pressured you with demonic energy, didn’t you? Isn’t that right?"

Gong Chan understood. Geom Mugeuk had never intended to let him live in the first place. Just as he was about to curse him, his Devil’s Hole had already been sealed. It was skill beyond comprehension—skill that would render even ghosts helpless once their inner energy and meridians were subdued.

Not even a single parting word like, ‘Be good in your next life’. Geom Mugeuk thoroughly rejected the worth of Gong Chan’s entire existence. 8

Whoooom!

Without mercy, Geom Mugeuk’s fist flew toward him.

KWAARRRRR!

A thunderclap boomed, as if divine punishment had descended.

THWACK.

With a single strike, Gong Chan’s ribs shattered, and his body was sent flying into the wall of a distant building. But he had already died before his body even struck the wall.

"You tried to cut off the hands of an innocent man—and even tried to cut out the tongue of my friend. You were already a dead man."

The words were for the villagers and escort warriors to hear. They needed to understand exactly what this death meant. Only then could Jonghak’s family continue living here.

The escort warriors and villagers watching all believed it was a just outcome.

Jonghak let out a sigh of relief.

Knowing how he must feel, Yang Seon embraced her husband tightly.

Yang In felt it too—when Geom Mugeuk called him a friend, she could feel her husband’s hand tighten around hers.

With a trembling voice, Jo Chunbae said,

"You’re far too good a friend for someone like me."

Then Geom Mugeuk turned and smiled at him.

"Of course. I’m going to become the Heavenly Demon, after all. I’m a friend too good for anyone."

The lighthearted jest from Geom Mugeuk eased Jo Chunbae’s heart.

"You have no idea how thankful I am."

Jo Chunbae would live the rest of his life with gratitude in his heart.

And then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

"I should be the one thanking you."

"What?"

"Rather, it was you, Tavern Master, who saved me."

Jo Chunbae widened his eyes, not understanding what Geom Mugeuk meant. Geom Mugeuk offered him a faint smile and then turned away.

Thank you for allowing me to protect my Demonic Path, Jo Chunbae.

Geom Mugeuk walked up to Woo Sochu.

"Fortunately, it seems we’ve sorted out what was right and wrong here."

That wasn’t the only thing that had been unraveled. Woo Sochu’s Pressure Points had also been released at some point.

"You! Do you even realize what you've done? You just killed the Escort Captain of the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau!"

He shouted while turning to the escort warriors.

"This is a completely separate matter from Gong Chan's crimes! A demon just killed a righteous warrior! This is an attack by the Demonic Cult on the righteous factions!" 9

His cries echoed emptily. Not a single person supported his words. The moment it was revealed that he had ordered Jonghak’s wrists to be cut off under false evidence, the authority of the Yellow Dragon Escort Bureau’s Leader had collapsed. He was now no more than a hypocrite who tried to kill an innocent man for his own gain.

"If you lay a hand on me, a war between righteous and demonic factions will break out! Because of you, countless lives will be lost!"

Compared to his frenzy, Geom Mugeuk remained calm.

"You’ve already proven that you're someone who can’t understand reason or read the room, so I’ll continue doing things my way. Or rather—your way."

As Woo Sochu blinked in confusion at what that meant—

Sssrrk.

His left hand reached out on its own. Since his Devil's Hole had already been subdued, he couldn’t resist.

"What are you trying to do?"

"What you tried to do. Didn’t you gather all these people to show them what happens when someone commits a crime? To demonstrate punishment?"

As Geom Mugeuk extended his hand, the sword from Gong Chan’s corpse far off in the distance flew out from his waist. The blade cut through the air and landed in Geom Mugeuk’s grasp.

"My sword’s so sharp, I figured it might hurt less." 10

Realizing Geom Mugeuk’s intent, Woo Sochu was seized by terror.

"Stop! Don’t do it! Stop!"

"It’s fine. Didn’t you say it yourself? That cutting off a wrist doesn’t kill someone."

"Why are you doing this, Young Cult Leader? Young Cult Leader, please!"

"Alright then. I’ll give you a chance."

The words that came from Geom Mugeuk’s mouth were as terrifying as the cold gleam in his eyes.

"If you don’t answer by the count of three, I’ll cut off your left hand first, and ask again."

Lifting the sword as if to strike at any moment, Geom Mugeuk asked,

"Who is the man with the dot on his forehead? One, two……."

1 : See ? As soon as it doesn’t fit his mindset, he discards the notion entirely. People like that grow hostile when we try to show them how narrow minded their focus is, especially with legitimate and easy to understand proofs. And sadly, they are VERY common. Wizard’s First Rule !!!

2 : In what way are you superior exactly ? They showed loyalty, determination and courage. You, you showed resentment, arrogance and selfishness. I think we all know who are the better persons here.

3 : “Someone get me some cocktails here !!!” XDXDXD

4 : Both from the pain and blood loss.

5 : He already killed Yarhuyan, the master of the grandson of the Martial Alliance Leader, and multiple figures of the orthodox Murim who aligned themselves with the Heavenly Society. Compared to that, you are nothing.

6 : His control over his Intent is amazingly precise. You know what, I’ll put a remainder at the end of the chapter. *

7 : Yeah, he’s the type to do that. That’s why our Demonic Path always cull evil !!!

8 : In the first place, with Mugeuk, it’s more like, ‘Stay down in Hell, trash’.

9 : Say it again, but with more conviction. Righteous !!! XDXDXD

10: Shame it’s not rusty, a little bit of tetanos can’t hurt~~ ^^ Not that he’ll stay alive long enough anyways XDXDXD

* : Mugeuk’s Intent is separated into 3 parts. The sky and its reflection, the abyss, and the battlefield. He can partially unleash it, like now, to intimidate weaker peoples into submission.

The Intent is a faithful representation of Mugeuk psyche : he always longed for the sky and the freedom it seeked through it, as shown by the color of his inner energy. Furthermore, he uses his playful demeanor to mask the rest of his thought, like how the reflection masks his abyss.

The abyss is both a link to his father, and to the void, the depression in his life he felt after the fall of the cult. Depression he only managed to partially shake off after learning of the Great Regression Technique from Seo Jin.

As for the battlefield, it is the horror of that day where he lost everything, the people he killed to fulfill his obsession, and his crystallized motivation. After all, it is everything he desperately wishes to prevent, so it forever looms inside him, pushing him further and further into his training.

To finish, in chapter 314, Hwan Yeon used the Heart-Demon Soul Repression Art to see Mugeuk’s subconscious and latent traumas. It showed her an endless snowfield, with the traces of his footsteps, a representation of his lonely past life, his hardship, torment and loneliness blowing through the wind. This is a part of Mugeuk that himself doesn’t know, or doesn’t want to think about often. It is likely we won’t see it again, but if we do, it will probably be inserted between the abyss and the battlefield.