Chapter 129: His True Name
“Mujin.”
With his mask removed, Goeong stood there blankly and smiled at me with complete innocence.
“What does ‘the Heavenly Demon descends’ mean?”
I couldn't answer.
No.
I simply couldn't.
Because my mind was completely filled with one thought.
Goeong... is the Heavenly Demon?
I couldn't believe it.
This old man?
This senile old man who wasn't even in his right mind?
The one who spent all day calling me his friend and laughing like a child whenever he got bored?
But refusing to believe it didn't change reality.
I only had to look around.
The Ten Demons, including Overlord Saber Ghost Demon Muk Jincheol.
Those absolute masters said to support the very heavens of the Demonic Cult were all kneeling before Goeong.
They had been radiating killing intent and threatening to cut off my head only moments ago.
Now...
none of them even dared to properly raise their heads.
The strangest part was that Goeong himself stood at the center of it all with no idea what was happening.
He tugged lightly on my sleeve again.
“Mujin. Why are those people bowing to me?”
My lips parted.
I was still wondering how I should answer when someone else spoke first.
“Cult Leader.”
It was Yeom Yuhwa.
Still kneeling, she lowered her head even further.
“These foolish followers are merely late in paying their respects.”
Goeong blinked.
“Respects? To me?”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
A brief silence followed.
The one who broke it was none other than Muk Jincheol.
“If I may speak...”
He kept his head lowered as he cautiously continued.
“We were under the impression that the Cult Leader remained within the Heavenly Forbidden Prison because of the restriction.”
Heavenly Forbidden Prison?
Was that the name of the stone chamber where Goeong had been confined?
I continued listening.
“If the Cult Leader has left the Heavenly Forbidden Prison...”
Muk Jincheol paused.
“does that mean you have regained your original power?”
Goeong stared blankly at him.
“Original power?”
He tilted his head.
“What's that?”
"..."
The instant that answer fell...
the atmosphere inside the chamber turned cold again.
Muk Jincheol's shoulders trembled faintly.
A moment later...
he slowly raised his head.
Confusion.
Disappointment.
And somewhere beneath them...
anger.
His gaze moved away from Goeong and settled on Yeom Yuhwa.
“Yeom Yuhwa.”
His eyes widened.
“Explain.”
His voice was packed with barely concealed fury.
“It appears the Cult Leader's restriction has not yet been lifted.”
“So why did you escort him outside the Heavenly Forbidden Prison?”
His expression darkened.
“Did you act on your own?”
Yeom Yuhwa immediately shot back.
“You are being disrespectful before the Cult Leader again.”
She remained kneeling...
but there wasn't the slightest tremor in her voice.
“Who beneath heaven would dare twist the Cult Leader's will as they pleased?”
Muk Jincheol's lips twitched.
Just as he seemed ready to explode...
Yeom Yuhwa spoke first.
“Everything was decided by the Cult Leader himself.”
Then she immediately turned toward Goeong.
“Cult Leader.”
With her head bowed, she spoke clearly.
“Please forgive the inadequacy of your followers.”
Then she continued,
“And I humbly ask that you order these disrespectful people to leave this sacred place before they commit any further offense.”
Goeong tilted his head again.
“Huh?”
“You want them to leave?”
His face made it obvious that he had no idea what she was talking about.
Then Yeom Yuhwa glanced toward me.
She didn't say a word.
But I immediately understood what she wanted.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
She's seriously dumping even this on me?
Still...
I had to resolve the situation somehow.
I quickly moved closer to Goeong.
Then whispered into his ear.
“Goeong.”
“Hm?”
“Those people are loud and annoying, right?”
He blinked.
“Yeah.”
“They've been acting weird for a while.”
I nodded.
“Then tell them to leave.”
Goeong seemed to think about it for a moment.
Then nodded vigorously.
“Okay!”
He turned toward the Ten Demons and shouted,
“You all leave! I don't want to look at you!”
His voice echoed through the chamber.
The expressions of the Ten Demons all changed at once.
They looked shaken.
But none of them moved immediately.
Then Yeom Yuhwa shouted sharply,
“What are you doing?!”
Her eyes swept across them.
“The Cult Leader has given an order!”
Even then...
the Ten Demons remained motionless.
Then—
Goeong frowned.
“Why haven't you left yet?”
His lips pushed out.
“Goeong doesn't like people who don't listen.”
At the same moment...
an overwhelming aura erupted from his entire body.
The pressure was so immense that for a moment, even breathing became difficult.
The Ten Demons lowered their gazes once again.
In the end...
Muk Jincheol was the first to rise.
He slowly stood.
Then bowed deeply toward Goeong and stepped back.
The other Ten Demons followed one by one.
But they didn't simply withdraw without a word.
Just before leaving the chamber...
Muk Jincheol stopped.
Then turned and glared at Yeom Yuhwa.
His eyes were filled with killing intent.
“I don't know what you're plotting while hiding behind the Cult Leader's trust.”
His voice was cold.
“But if even the slightest harm comes to the Cult Leader...”
His final words came like a warning.
“you will pay with your head.”
Yeom Yuhwa didn't waver.
“That will never happen.”
Still kneeling, she answered firmly.
“Everything will unfold according to the Cult Leader's will.”
Muk Jincheol's brow twitched.
But he said nothing more.
He looked at me once...
then at Yeom Yuhwa.
After that, he turned and left the chamber.
The remaining Ten Demons followed him out.
At last...
only three people remained inside the massive chamber.
Me.
