Chapter 420: He's the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, So He Should Be Scary
As the drinking session was coming to an end, Geom Mugeuk was acting like an old friend to Yang Seok.
"Young Master Yang, come with me to the Central Plains."
"I would be glad to. Please broaden my narrow perspective."
A bit more drinking, and they'd be calling each other brothers.
Throughout the gathering, Han Seol tried her best to fulfill her role. She empathized with Yang Seok, occasionally took his side. Though her actions were meant to understand him, it ended up becoming an opportunity to understand herself.
So this is the kind of person I am.
Able to say things I don’t mean, lie without trembling, and all the while watching Geom Mugeuk to figure out what his intentions were behind those words. I thought I was a cold person, but it turned out I had other sides, too.
Until now, she had only looked into herself alone. Naturally, she had reached conclusions alone.
This is who I am.
But the conclusion she reached back then and the one she learned today were clearly different.
Perhaps truly knowing oneself doesn’t come from staring into a mirror alone. Maybe it comes from seeing how one exists among others—that’s when you truly discover who you are.
While she was deep in thought, Han Seol met eyes with Geom Mugeuk.
"You should head back now, Young Palace Master."
"And the Young Cult Leader?"
"I'll be drinking all night with Young Master Yang."
The moment he heard those words, Yang Seok was overwhelmed by Geom Mugeuk's presence.
‘He’s really no ordinary person.’
Sure, the Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace was here now, but what exactly was he relying on to drink here alone without a single subordinate? What if someone poisoned the drink? What if someone launched a surprise attack while he was drunk? Didn’t that mean he was confident he could handle all of it?
‘Yes, this is how it should be. You need to be at least this level to cut down everything with that sword.’
Yang Seok spoke with courtesy.
"I’ve had quite a bit tonight. How about we drink again another time?"
Even as he tried to pull back, Yang Seok was clearly drunk. He thought he wasn’t, but from Han Seol’s perspective, he was completely intoxicated. Excited by the fact that he was drinking with the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, he had no idea just how much he’d had.
"Another time? We're just getting started."
To Geom Mugeuk, who showed regret, Yang Seok wanted to shout. Are you the Great Drunken Demon or something?
"I’ll make arrangements for another gathering."
"Ah, what a shame. Very well, let’s see each other again soon."
As Geom Mugeuk turned back while preparing to leave, he said,
"Ah, and if you find someone with the Extreme Cold Constitution, be sure to contact me."
"Of course."
Geom Mugeuk exited the Northern Blood Gate with Han Seol.
The man who had laughed and bantered lightly at the drinking table had now returned to a calm demeanor, as if it had never happened.
"Did you really intend to drink all night?"
To Han Seol’s question, Geom Mugeuk shook his head.
"Would I really? Drinking is only enjoyable when it’s with the right person. I nearly suffocated from the frustration."
She had thought as much. She only asked because he acted so well.
"I had no intention of sending you off alone."
"Really?"
"How could I leave you alone when we don’t know how the other side will respond in this situation? From now on, you must never act alone. Even Lee Ahn at the Northern Sea Ice Palace was told to stay glued to the Great Drunken Demon."
Until this situation was resolved, Geom Mugeuk remained on alert. All the more so because their opponent was the Blood King.
"To think someone in the Northern Sea would worry about the daughter of the Northern Sea Ice Palace Master."
"The Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace even made her wear guard armor, didn’t she?"
There was nothing to argue back with on that point.
In any case, walking alongside Geom Mugeuk made her feel oddly reassured.
She had seen clearly today how Geom Mugeuk handled Yang Seok. The important thing wasn’t deceiving him. What mattered was making Yang Seok believe he was the one using Geom Mugeuk.
Han Seol came to a stop. Geom Mugeuk stopped with her.
Their eyes met under the moonlight.
"You’re terrifying—the more I see you."
It wasn’t a joke.
She never imagined she’d say something like that to anyone. Even if she had felt such fear before, she was the type to hide it instead.
She didn’t know why, but she felt honest around Geom Mugeuk.
With a smile, Geom Mugeuk replied,
"Of course I should be terrifying. I’m the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult."
As he saw a faint smile form on Han Seol’s lips, Geom Mugeuk continued,
"I have to be terrifying. Think about the enemies we’re up against. They gathered people, experimented on them, and killed them to find the body type they wanted. They use self-destructive techniques without hesitation and even kill their own blood relatives. How could we face people like that if we weren’t terrifying?"
Even while laughing, chatting, and drinking, this man had been thinking about such things. Realizing that made Han Seol feel once again that Geom Mugeuk was more frightening than the enemy. She’d rather deal with those enemies than with Geom Mugeuk.
"If we find someone with the Extreme Cold Constitution, do you think he’ll contact us?"
Geom Mugeuk shook his head.
"He absolutely won’t. He’ll believe that the Extreme Cold Constitution is the one last move that can protect him. He’s probably also hoping it might make him stronger."
"Then why do you keep bringing up the Extreme Cold Constitution?"
"Because it’s a crucial card for us, too."
Geom Mugeuk was already anticipating Yang Seok’s moves.
"His desire to survive will lead us to the Extreme Cold Constitution."
* * *
Early the next morning, Yang Seok headed to the Gate Master’s Hall.
Despite suffering from a hangover, the thought of meeting his father had him on edge.
‘I must secure the Extreme Cold Constitution no matter what.’
He didn’t know why his father so desperately wanted the Extreme Cold Constitution, but one thing was certain—he had to secure it no matter what. He couldn’t let it fall into Geom Mugeuk’s hands. The Extreme Cold Constitution would become his hidden trump card, a safeguard for himself.
Yang Seok stepped into the Gate Master’s Hall.
Up ahead, his father sat atop the Throne Mat.
His heart pounded with a tension he had never felt before. He had never entered this place with such feelings.
"Did you sleep well through the night?"
Yang Seok walked up to the base of the Throne Mat and offered a respectful greeting.
The moment he saw his father, countless thoughts surged through him, and his lips itched to speak.
‘Did you truly choose Ha Gyeol as your successor?’
He wanted to ask. What could possibly justify naming him the successor, even at the cost of abandoning your own son?
Ordinarily, this would be something worth questioning. At the very least, he should’ve been scolded—how could you misjudge me so? But...
But he and his father were not in a relationship where they could exchange such words.
Sometimes, a relationship doesn't break because of a specific incident. Perhaps it depends on what the relationship was like before the incident. At least in this case, that was certainly true.
"The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult and the Young Palace Master visited yesterday and drank until late."
Of course, the Northern Blood Gate Master already knew that.
To be honest, he wasn’t particularly pleased about Geom Mugeuk’s visit. The Extreme Cold Constitution would arrive at the Northern Blood Gate in just one day. After tomorrow, not just his own fate but that of the Northern Sea would change. After tomorrow.
"And? What did you think?"
"He was as extraordinary as the rumors said."
"What was the reason for his visit?"
Yang Seok didn’t tell the truth.
"He mentioned Elder Seo. He seemed suspicious, wondering if anything related to us might be involved."
The Northern Blood Gate Master had secretly welcomed Seo Nak’s death. The two who had allied with the Blood People were himself and Seo Nak. Now that Seo Nak was dead, his own importance had increased.
Just like the Wilderness outside Central Plains, the Northern Sea martial world was a deeply conservative place.
Establishing a new power without the support of existing factions was several times harder than in the Central Plains. Moreover, neither the Demonic Cult nor the Martial Alliance would quietly allow a new faction to rise. In that sense, Seo Nak’s death was an opportunity for the Northern Blood Gate Master.
Cautiously, Yang Seok asked his father,
"By the way, have you found the Extreme Cold Constitution?"
"Not yet."
In that moment, Yang Seok was gravely disappointed for two reasons.
First, because his father had lied. Yang Seok already knew that his father had located the Extreme Cold Constitution and was having it transported here.
Second, because the lie came out without the slightest hesitation. That was more disappointing than the lie itself.
‘Don’t blame me later for what I’ll do.’
At that moment, Yang Seok concluded that his father had abandoned him. It was the final piece in the tower of distrust Geom Mugeuk had built late into the night.
Thanks to that, Yang Seok actually felt relieved. No need for complicated thoughts—now all that remained was to fight and survive.
"Do your best not to get involved with the Young Cult Leader. Nothing good comes from being tangled up with him."
"I’ll keep that in mind."
Yang Seok bowed politely and turned to leave.
Today, his father should have been honest. He should have said, The Extreme Cold Constitution is on its way, so we must be fully prepared. I’m telling you now—it will be used for such and such purpose. I’m sorry for telling you so late.
‘You shouldn’t have treated me this way, Father.’
In that moment, Yang Seok quietly began stacking the justifications for the betrayal to come.
* * *
The next day, a single carriage was racing toward the Northern Blood Gate.
Around the carriage, which was driven by a coachman with cold eyes, two martial artists followed on horseback. They had been riding without rest, changing horses along the way. Now, less than a hundred li remained until they reached their destination: the Northern Blood Gate.
The carriage began to slow down. A fallen tree was blocking the road.
The carriage came to a halt, and the three martial artists—including the coachman—tensed as they scanned their surroundings.
The martial artist seated as the coachman and acting as leader of this escort warned the other two,
"Prepare for an ambush."
Swish! Swish!
At that very moment, an attack came flying in—one that couldn’t be avoided, even though they were on guard. A man who had been hiding behind a rock on the opposite side sprang up and launched a surprise attack.
The throwing weapons flew in swiftly. The two martial artists didn’t have time to dodge; they tumbled to the ground, hit.
The one who had ambushed them was none other than Yang Seok. In his hand was the Golden-dragon weapon, the Seven Steps Certain Death, a weapon forbidden in the martial world. It was said that if released within seven steps, it would absolutely kill its target.
Before anyone noticed, the martial artist acting as coachman charged at Yang Seok, swinging his sword.
Yang Seok, delayed in throwing the hidden weapon, countered with his own sword.
A fierce clash unfolded between the two. The coachman was a skilled fighter, but he wasn’t strong enough to handle the successor of the Northern Blood Gate.
Barely twenty or so exchanges had passed when the martial artist realized he couldn’t win against Yang Seok. And without hesitation, he made his final decision.
The man’s face flushed red. Even in the middle of combat, he was preparing to use a self-destruct technique right in front of Yang Seok’s face, which left Yang Seok momentarily panicked.
Should I dodge? Should I block it? In that very instant—
Puk!
The martial artist’s face was crushed, and he collapsed instantly. Before he could unleash his self-destruct technique, someone had launched internal energy and killed him on the spot.
Startled, Yang Seok turned around—and there stood Ha Gyeol.
"You!"
Yang Seok flinched in shock. He hadn’t expected Ha Gyeol to appear here.
"Looks like I finally fulfilled my escort duties properly."
But Ha Gyeol hadn’t killed the subordinate attempting to use the self-destruct technique for Yang Seok’s sake. He hadn’t done it to protect him. It was simply because Yang Seok couldn’t be killed yet. If he wanted to keep using the Northern Blood Gate Master, he needed to keep the son—his weakness—alive.
"How did you get here?"
"Well, am I not your escort, Young Master Yang? Wherever you go, I should go."
"Don’t give me that nonsense!"
The smile disappeared from Ha Gyeol’s face.
"Young Master Yang, how did you know the carriage would be coming this way?"
"That’s something you should be answering."
Yang Seok quickly figured it out.
'The ones who died were his subordinates.'
If not, there would be no reason for Ha Gyeol to show up here. Using someone who practices the self-destruct technique as a subordinate? Who the hell are you?
Meanwhile, Ha Gyeol had his own doubts: how did Yang Seok figure out where the carriage would pass?
Upon receiving the urgent order to escort the discovered Extreme Cold Constitution, he had selected three people he fully trusted. They had carried out the task discreetly, so how had Yang Seok pinpointed the route and even the time?
Ha Gyeol suspected the presence of a traitor.
But Yang Seok had learned the route in an unexpected way.
"As you know, my younger brother and I were in charge of locating the Extreme Cold Constitution for a long time. During that time, our main task was to establish the most efficient transport routes from all across the Central Plains to the Northern Sea."
They had to bring people to the Northern Sea for experiments. Experiments were short—just a few days—but the transport time had always been the issue.
"This time, though you used your own men, you relied on the transport routes we developed. You used our path, switching horses at the stables we had prepared in various regions."
Then it clicked for Ha Gyeol. Through the horse replacement records, Yang Seok had traced the exact route being used. He had made the calculation in order to arrive ahead of time—but Ha Gyeol hadn’t expected him to notice that detail.
"Smarter than I gave you credit for."
"If I were really that smart, I would’ve gotten rid of you long ago."
Ha Gyeol let out a mocking laugh. Not even your father can do that.
"Because of this, Young Master Yang, you’ll receive serious punishment from the Gate Master."
Yang Seok raised his sword and said,
"The one responsible for this will be you."
He was almost relieved. If Ha Gyeol and the escort team ended up killing each other, it could all be blamed on a mutual clash. Of course, this was under the assumption that he still didn’t know Ha Gyeol’s hidden martial prowess.
"Before anything else, let’s see just who possesses the Extreme Cold Constitution."
As Yang Seok began to walk toward the carriage, Ha Gyeol gave a quiet warning.
"If you open that door, I’ll kill you."
A cold energy flowed out from Ha Gyeol’s body.
Yang Seok turned to him, raising his internal energy. As Ha Gyeol began to reveal his true face—one he had kept hidden—the power of his qi was overwhelming.
He hadn’t even released a quarter of it, yet Yang Seok was already suppressed by the pressure. Of course, if he were ordinary, his Father never would have chosen him.
Astonished by his strength, Yang Seok once again felt the sting of abandonment by his father.
‘This man must die by the Young Cult Leader’s hand.’
Should I throw down my sword now? Based on him saving me earlier, it didn’t seem like he intended to kill me.
As the two faced off—
A thick fog began to form around them. Yang Seok assumed it was just one of those early morning mists that appeared from time to time.
But Ha Gyeol sniffed the air within the fog.
"Liquor?"
Yang Seok, too, caught the scent of alcohol in the mist. Realizing it wasn’t just fog but Liquor Qi, Ha Gyeol shouted out,
"The Drunken Demon!"
Ha Gyeol's gaze shot toward the carriage. By then, the carriage was already wrapped in the fog.
"Protect the carriage!"
At Ha Gyeol’s cry, Yang Seok drew his sword and flung himself toward the carriage.
And then—
Whooooosh.
The fog that had enveloped the carriage scattered with the wind and vanished.
Yang Seok, sword raised cautiously, opened the carriage door. What he saw inside made his heart sink. One person was sitting back, leaning against the seat, and it was someone he never expected.
Geom Mugeuk looked straight at Yang Seok and said,
"I told you, didn’t I? If you found them, you should contact me."