Translator: FenrirTL

Editor : TheBattleSage

Editor Notes/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis

Murim Term Consultant: Kopke

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< Chapter 67:That's just the age for it >

The next day, I went to see my father.

I wanted to report the recent events involving the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

Although my father might already be aware of the internal affairs of the cult, hearing it directly from me was different from receiving a report from Sima Myung.

My father was in the middle of training. While I waited outside, a message came inviting me in.

"Please come inside the training hall."

The voice from the void belonged to Hui, my father's bodyguard. It had been a while since I heard his voice.

"Long time no see, Uncle."

"Yes, Young Master."

A brief reply came. I remembered walking through the streets of Maga Village holding Hui's hand when I was younger. I think I pestered him to buy me street food. Anyway, the memory remained a good one for me even decades after. (EN: Awww, so cute~~)

"Uncle, let's meet up sometime. I'll treat you to a meal."

"Sure."

"Feel free to, Uncle."

I couldn't be sure how he felt about my offer or what he currently thought of me. While it was a pleasant memory for me, it could have been an unremarkable everyday event for him.

Still, I needed to maintain a good relationship with him. He was the person my father trusted the most.

I prepared myself and entered the training hall.

Sure enough, my father attacked me with the Underworld King Step.

I dodged using the Lightning Flash Step and parried my father's Heavenly Demon Sword with my Black Demon Sword. It was the first clash between the Black Demon Sword and the Heavenly Demon Sword, and it was a far more dangerous move than merely dodging. Naturally, my father immediately noticed the change in my level.

"Your skills have improved!"

My father had also attacked from a much higher level of Underworld King Step, and I had blocked it in a more dangerous way.

"Of course, I've been training martial arts more than anyone in the cult. Well, maybe the second most. Lee Ahn trains the most."

"Why don't you think it's the third most?"

From his words, I could infer how diligently my father had been practicing the Wind God's Four Steps.

'Father, you are doing well. You must achieve greatness. Absolutely!'

I walked out of the training hall with my father. We talked as we walked side by side.

"What brings you here?"

"The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader wants to join hands with me. I get the feeling there's a rift with the Eight Demon Supremes. Did you know about this?"

I deliberately didn't mention that he had taught me the Temporal and Spatial Transference Technique. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would also want to keep that information confidential.

My father saw the crux of this issue as follows.

"The fact that the Demon Supremes dragged the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader here was an arrogant act. They should have gone to him to resolve things, and if they intended to bring him over, everyone should have gone to ask him."

"They mishandled the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's pride."

There might be several reasons why he was pushing for an expansion into the Central Plains, but I thought that if we peeled back those reasons one by one, the deepest reason might be his wounded pride.

"The things we consider trivial often turn out to be the biggest problems. This incident is clearly the Demon Supremes' mistake."

I could see my father's anguish. If it were up to him, he would love to watch the Demon Supremes and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader fight, and then eliminate those with insufficient loyalty.

However, since they were the main force of the Cult, if they collapsed, it was obvious that the Murim Alliance would come charging in, making the Eight Demon Supremes a necessary evil for my father.

"Then why did the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader come to see me instead of you?"

My father was equally resolute in his answer this time.

"The first reason is that he finds me intimidating, and the second reason is that he thinks he can easily use you."

"What does he intend to do by using me?"

I asked as if I knew nothing.

"Ask your strategist that question."

"But I don't have a strategist, do I?"

"You need to find one."

"Where can I find someone as smart as Sima Myung?"

My father merely snorted.

"That's the luxury of those who have someone!"

Finding a strategist as smart as Sima Myung is indeed my top priority.

"Aren't you managing well enough without a strategist?"

"Thank you for saying that, but most of my successes are due to good luck."

I navigate situations based on my extensive experience from my previous life, but I am not a strategist type. I absolutely need a strategist with keen insight and wisdom to assist me.

"Please answer just this one question. What does the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader want?"

My father stopped walking and answered.

"His dream is to expand into the Central Plains."

"But isn't he someone who doesn't leave his seat to protect the Thunder Bell?"

"That's just his obsessive personality."

"So, his dream is to expand into the Central Plains, is that what you're saying."

In my previous life, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader did not manage to expand into the Central Plains. Because Hwa Moogi swept through Murim, he couldn't even set foot in the Central Plains and ended up living a lonely life outside the borders.

However, by my regression, his life was also changing. Originally, he wouldn't have come to the Central Plains, let alone visit our Cult directly.

"The Blood Cult outside the borders has always coveted the Central Plains. Although they've never succeeded, the desire to advance into the Central Plains runs in their blood."

"Now I understand why he came to see me."

Even though I already knew this without asking my father, I pretended to learn it from him. Sometimes, even if you know, you have to act as if you don't. It's not about deceit; it's about showing respect to my father.

Most parents in the world probably want their children to come and ask them questions like this. Why would my father be any different?

At least in this regard, he wasn't different. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said what he did.

As he was about to go inside, my father gruffly added, "Since you're here, stay for a meal."

"Yes!"

I loved it when my father told me to stay for a meal.

However, I didn't express my delight. If I did, he might never ask me to stay for a meal again.

My father was never easy to please.

* * *

After finishing the meal with my father and returning to the Underworld Pavilion, an unexpected visitor arrived. It was none other than the Demonic Buddha, Cheo Raban.

"Welcome, Elder."

"I meant to come sooner, but I'm late."

This was the first time I'd seen him up close. He was shorter than he appeared from a distance, and seeing his golden skin made me want to touch it.

Demonic Buddha.

He was, without a doubt, my brother's right-hand man.

"Please, have a seat."

"Indeed."

The Demonic Buddha sat down. He hated being looked down on. Even sitting, he kept his back straight for this reason.

"A dear friend had an important relic stolen; how could I remain idle? I came to check on the progress of the investigation."

"I am currently investigating the incident personally."

"Is it true that a thief broke in?"

"True? What do you mean by that?"

When I asked nonchalantly, he gave me a look as if questioning whether I really didn't know.

"How can anyone believe that a thief broke into our Cult's inner sanctum?"

"Isn't it even harder to believe that the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader staged the incident?"

From the start, we created a tense atmosphere.

His eyes had a subtle golden glow. This was a phenomenon that appeared only in those who had mastered the Golden Vajra Demonic Art.

How strong could Demonic Buddha's martial arts be? The Golden Vajra Demonic Art that Demonic Buddha had mastered was as challenging to confront as the Soul Reaper Demonic Art.

“If there really is a thief in the inner courtyard, it would greatly damage our Cult’s reputation.”

“Yes, it would.”

“Shouldn’t we handle this quietly?”

“What do you mean?”

“How about we send him back to the wilderness so he can't spread rumors? It’s not like he could catch the thief if he stayed anyway.”

It was clearly a probing statement. He was convinced it was a setup and believed I was helping with it.

“Would they listen to a mere branch leader like me?”

“I heard the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader came to see you?”

“He came for a courtesy visit.”

“The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader believes you will be the successor.”

“He didn’t show any signs of that. Why do you think so?”

“Otherwise, he wouldn’t seek someone out. He is used to people coming to him for greetings. If he sought you out, it’s because he saw the potential of a successor in you.”

As he spoke, he constantly observed my reactions, trying to read my true intentions. Unfortunately for him, even my father failed at that.

“Second Young Master, for the sake of our Cult, you must send him back.”

It was a statement aiming for a double effect.

If I sent him back, it would be good; if I refused, he could claim I wasn't acting in the Cult's best interest.

“No. We must not send him back.”

“What do you mean?”

“As you said, he will use this incident to tarnish our Cult’s reputation. So we must detain him. He won’t dare speak recklessly while he’s in our Cult. I will subtly tell him not to speak carelessly if he wants to find the sacred object. If we let him go, he’ll throw a ruckus as soon as he’s home.”

For a moment, the Demonic Buddha couldn't respond. But he wasn’t the type to back down so easily.

“The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader is a sly person. He surely has other intentions.”

“Then I will pretend to cooperate with him to uncover his true intentions.”

“You are so stubborn; you might become an excellent Underworld Pavilion Leader someday.”

“I am stubborn mainly in matters I believe are right.”

The Demonic Buddha took that as a rebuke, implying he wasn’t righteous.

Sensing an opportunity, the Demonic Buddha quickly formed a hand seal with his fingers.

Transforming Law Light Seal!

In an instant, golden light radiated from the Demonic Buddha's body.

The light, more intense than the sun, made it impossible for the opponent to open his eyes for a moment. To a master of the Demon Supreme level, this fleeting moment felt like an eternity. Should I stab him here to kill him, or there? No, let's stab both places.

I closed my eyes too.

However, before I closed my eyes, I realized that the light had almost no effect on my eyes. I could clearly see the golden light pouring from his body and the Demonic Buddha moving at its center.

The light I saw shining at this moment was not from the Golden Vajra Demonic Art but from my New Eye Technique.

Hence, I intentionally closed my eyes. There was no need to reveal my full capabilities to the Demonic Buddha.

When I opened my eyes again, the Demonic Buddha was right in front of me, his face close to mine.

His face, which looked both childlike and adult, felt unfamiliar.

The look in his eyes as he stared at me said it all.

If I had decided to kill you, you would already be dead!

He was someone who could afford to be confident. The Golden Vajra Demonic Art had five seals. I knew without experiencing it that the attacks that followed after blinding me would be terrifying.

I didn't say anything. Although it wasn't fear, I intentionally showed a reaction of surprise and apprehension.

Thinking this was enough of a warning, the Demonic Buddha stood up. He said the opposite of what the Blood Heaven Sword Demon had said when he first came to see me.

"I want to see you often. To have tea and talk like this. If you are with me, only good things will happen to you."

"Please share more with my brother."

Demonic Buddha laughed contentedly at my youthful arrogance.

"Yes, this is exactly your age. See you again."

"Take care."

When he left the room with quick steps, the stern expression I had intentionally put on relaxed, and the room, which had been bathed in golden light, returned to its original state.

Listen, Demonic Buddha. It's better if you don't see me often. There are only three types of Demon Supremes who are involved with me.

Those I've befriended, those I'm befriending, or those who are dead.

Which one do you think you are? Right now, it doesn't seem like we're going to become friends...

So, do you have the confidence to create a fourth category on your own?