There are many reasons as to why I suspect master Baek Wei as the Demonic Gentleman 1.
The first is because I have the Shadow Moon Martial arts as a gift. What is the intention of giving me an ice art as a gift when we met just once?
The intentions were clear.
The Demonic Gentleman probably investigated me before bringing the martial arts to Moyong Baek.
And what did he find when he investigated?
Most of them must have gotten the information after they mercilessly beat the leaders of the unorthodox sects to death. Be it any number of men. In particular I remember the leaders being brutally beaten to death.
So, I am definitely on his list.
Like the Butcher or Woodcutter.
Second, is the Shadow Moon Martial Arts normal?
No.
The Shadow Moon Martial Arts is a book which describes the method of using Yin energy and the uniqueness it holds to fight. In other words, it is a martial arts and an ice arts which kills people with the unique Yin energy. And Moyong Baek who had this, was in a state of burnout to the point where he seemed dead.
Just thinking about it, it seemed to be just before a major event. I still remember what Moyong Baek told me.
‘If the creator of this martial arts is alive, I want to find him and kill him.’
It was because the martial arts training method, which showed no mercy, was written there. So, this made Moyong Baek’s heart turn dark, and then he passed it to me.
However, there is one fact that Demonic Gentleman will never know about me. First of all, I have the Heavenly Pearl.
In other words, it means that there is no need to build up anything specific for my Yin energy to grow.
I wonder if he passed the martial arts onto me hoping I would turn into something of an evil being.
Like the Butcher.
Maybe I would have if I didn’t have the Heavenly Pearl.
If I was a guy who went crazy about killing, revenge or martial arts, I could have continued to kill after I got the martial arts.
Of course, due to my inclination, the blade would have headed for the unorthodox sects…
If I had killed people every other day, took their qi, and used it for my martial arts, I would have become a Crazy Demon extremely quickly.
It seems like that was his hidden intention.
So, all these thoughts from the start and how the Demonic Gentleman handed me the martial arts is clear.
‘For the simple reason to compete with myself?’
He isn’t such a simple guy. As I solidified that Baek Wei is the same Demonic Gentleman, several questions came to my mind.
How did he move from the Demonic Cult to the Orthodox?
And how did the identity of the Evil Emperor, which the Murim Alliance is looking for, go unnoticed?
Also, what was his intention of entering the Orthodox?
I’m losing it.
At this moment, the escort appears with alcohol and snacks that he bought. I was lost in thought up until now that I didn’t properly wipe the blood off. I glare at the guy.
“… you are back?”
“Yes, Sect Leader. I will put the drinks and snacks over here.”
“Fine.”
Lost in thought, I continue to glare at him.
‘How did he change from there?’
In an instant, I feel goosebumps rise and a low chuckle escapes my mouth. As I do that, the escort looks at me with surprised eyes.
“Why are you laughing so suddenly?”
“Because I felt that living Is fun.”
“I see.”
“What about you?”
“I don’t know since I don’t have much to laugh about.”
“I confirm.”
Because I knew what happened in my previous life, I know that the Butcher would’ve become a high-profile individual that the Murim Alliance would have had their eyes on.
But I didn’t know that the Butcher had such sahyungs. And assuming they are all alive, it wouldn’t have been easy to catch him even if the Murim Alliance came ahead.
If Butcher, Woodcutter, and the Fisherman joined forces then one of the top ten warriors in the alliance should lead the forces.
But what would happen if a personally brought warrior of enemies says they will commit to correcting themselves to the Murim Alliance?
What I mean is…
It can be said that one will be given the right to be enlisted in ranks if he had the merit of taking down several dangerous people.
The people of the world will see the achievement of Murim as a new hero who takes down others. The very few who don’t know the situation would consider him as an evil person who cut off the own disciple’s head to enter the Murim Alliance.
Of course, when things get to that point, those who know the truth will end up dead.
And right now, I am the only one who suspects master Baek Wei to have done that. Therefore, it is impossible to speak.
I have a feeling that I just witnessed something huge and bad in the form of something different from Demonic Cult. And curiously, my prediction is right. Master Baek Wei, who isn’t lacking anything, will reach that position.
Evil Emperor.
My mind and thoughts may be complicated, but fortunately there is alcohol in front of my eyes, and the escort laid them all down prettily.
“Sect Leader, please eat.”
I ask the escort.
“Poison?”
“None.”
“Why?”
“I am not that brave or reckless.”
I nod and tell him,
“Confirm it with your mouth.”
“I understand.”
The escort pulls out chopsticks and begins to examine the food and drinks which makes me think.
If there are too many evil people around, we end up suspecting everyone around us.
Like me.
It isn’t easy to stay on the sidelines peacefully without doubts. In a way, the reason why I had such thoughts could be because of the indirect influence of Master Baek Wei.
‘This jerk surely is making my life fun.’
I chuckle again to myself and get up to wash off. I couldn’t handle the smell of blood anymore, and now every corner of my body felt so sticky.
“I am going to wash.”
“Yes.”
I wash up the blood with a well behind the guest house. One can wash their body only when there is blood. Only by washing the body can the dirt on it be removed. In this way, there are many traces of blood on my body.
Blood from killing the enemies, and when the blood is being washed, it feels like peace is coming to me. I wash every corner of my body praying I won’t go insane by being chased by the Demonic Cult or tortured.
To be a prisoner with such a smell on me.
If I could, I would like to be a clean, confident prisoner.
I wash myself lightly and then a thought crosses my mind.
When things get out of hand…
If a man called Crazy Demon visits the Murim Alliance and reveals the identity of the so-called Master Baek Wei as being the Evil Emperor, who will believe him?
No one.
However, if a man called the righteous swordsman does the same thing, the weight of their words will be so different.
Then why are the righteous swordsmen called strong?
Because they stick to the truth.
If the truth of his is stronger than a man called Crazy Demon. It means truth and righteousness is stronger than martial arts.
In that way, when I come to the conclusion that living a righteous life is needed to reveal a certain truth to the world which people do not want to believe, I feel goosebumps begin to rise.
I was crazy in the past life.
This time, I wondered if I went crazy and would turn into a righteous swordsman. I make up my mind not to do that, and while being vigilant, I wash the blood.
I am not a swordsman.
After all, swordsmen are people who are said to have accomplished things that most people would find difficult, find annoying, or just straight up ignore. It is something you do for the sake of others and not for oneself.
And if I think about it, there is no one crazier than them.
For the first time in my life, I came to respect those people. And not respect because they are strong but respect the fact that they are simply righteous and upright.
Changing into the clothes I brought, I joined Yukhap to drink. For a second, Yukhap takes out a silver needle and checks if the food and drinks are poisoned.
The three of us don’t seem to believe the poor escort.
There’s a difference between choosing not to kill someone and to trust them. People can believe only when they observe over time.
Anyway, each of us reviewed our fights and silently drank while eating the snacks. The reason why these two joined me at the guest house was because they thought I couldn’t deal with the master of the dead one coming back.
They can tell by watching the Woodcutter and Butcher.
So, because Pervert Demon and Ghost Demon didn’t want me to die from being attacked by someone, they came here.
And I have nothing to say since I know them. After a while, I tell the escort who came from taking out the body of Woodcutter,
“You too, stop cleaning and have this.”
“Yes. I will wash up and come back.”
After a while we sit around the table and drink in silence. A long silence as if Pervert Demon is curious about something.
“I wonder if I could have caught and chased after the Fisherman.”
Yukhap tilts his head.
“It would have been difficult. The Sect Leader could have caught up with his light footwork, but it would have been difficult to win in such a short time. And it is the sahyung of the Woodcutter. What more can you think?”
I nod.
“Right. Even if your footwork was fine, they had a head start.”
“They seem to have a master, what do you think?”
I only gave the needed information.
“The Butcher confessed to being tortured by his master before death. Since the disciples are all insane, so must be their master.”
Actually, Master Baek Wei isn’t the kind to rush in and take revenge just because a couple of his disciples died. My guess is he was busy reading things or in a secluded place doing tea ceremony or wandering for more disciples. Or like I knew in the past life, having a confrontation with his light footwork…
So, I wasn’t too interested in him, rather my interest lied in the Demon Cult.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“What is your name?”
At my question, Pervert Demon and Ghost Demon glare at the escort. Does the escort realize that his life is in danger because of these two and not me?
He politely says,
“I don’t have a family name, and I am called Sam and Bok, it means Sam Bok. The Third subordinate.”
“Why is the third one here without serving his young lord?”
“Didn’t he pass out after the Butcher talked, and then fainted?”
“But.”
“Must have thought he was dead. But he woke up, which must’ve been absurd to him too.”
When I nod, Pervert Demon speaks sarcastically.
“Such a great subordinate.”
Ghost Demon nods.
“He is one who hasn’t been hit.”
I pour Sam Bok a drink and ask for the story of the Demonic Cult.
“So, I want to listen to your opinion, to see who the sub–Cult Leader will be.”
Sam Bok replies, taking a sip.
“Yes. First, it is known that there are 3 sons to the Cult Leader.”
“But.”
“I don’t know how many. The Cult Leader has a very private life. And I heard he has more, but three people are the only ones mentioned to us. The lord and his family are fighting over not just the sub–Cult Leader position, but the vacant Left Hand too.”
“Third young lord.”
Sam Bok smiles.
“Tried to kill the great young lord and second young lord.”
“How?”
Sam Bok responds.
“I haven’t heard anything about that.”
“Why is he so anxious about not being able to catch up to his brothers?”
Sam Bok replies.
“… wouldn’t it be natural? He already had many step siblings die at the hands of the great young lord. It wasn’t the battle for succession but revenge between brothers. Of course, there is no evidence of the great young lord killing them. But everyone believed that. It will continue until there is just one person left because the Cult Leader will not involve himself in it.”
I sigh at his words and then pick up the bottle and pour alcohol for the three of them. Amidst that peaceful sound, alcohol was poured.
“Have this drink.”
I pour the alcohol down my throat and wipe my mouth.
Suddenly, I think how fortunate it is that these people are on my side. That is because I wasn’t sure I could handle it if they weren’t aware of the evils.
At this time, I hear a squeaking sound, and a man with alcohol on the side makes an appearance at the entrance of the guest house and looks around.
Fortunately, it is Sword Demon, it seems like he came to check up since Pervert Demon told him what happened.
I look at Sword Demon with a bit of a surprised expression.
“Senior, you came.”
“Master, you are here.”
Sword Demon approaches us with a calm look and tells me,
“Sect Leader, I came to see this new guest house you opened.”
I have no choice but to get up and greet our guest.
Editor’s Notes
