Chapter 132: Fulfilled
For a long while after hearing Yeom Yuhwa's words...
I couldn't even close my mouth.
I was the Heavenly Demon's one and only kindred spirit?
What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that?
What connection did I even have with the Heavenly Demon?
Until I fell from the waterfall in Falling Death Valley, I hadn't even properly seen Goeong's face.
No.
The Heavenly Demon's face.
And now, out of nowhere, I was supposedly the Cult Leader's only friend?
I immediately glared at Yeom Yuhwa.
“His one and only kindred spirit?”
“What exactly are you talking about?”
Yeom Yuhwa answered without the slightest hesitation.
“What do you mean?”
“I am simply telling you the truth exactly as it is.”
Then she turned her head to the side.
I followed her gaze.
Goeong was smiling brightly at me.
“Mujin, my friend.”
“Goeong is bored. Come play with me.”
I sighed and looked back at Yeom Yuhwa.
“Don't tell me this is seriously your reason.”
I pointed toward Goeong.
“You think I'm the kindred spirit in the Cult Leader's message just because Goeong calls me his friend?”
“Yes.”
Yeom Yuhwa answered immediately.
"..."
I was too dumbfounded to speak.
Suppressing my frustration, I tried again.
“Goeong... no, your Cult Leader isn't in his right mind.”
“Even if he calls me his friend in this state, how can you possibly know those words reflect what he truly feels?”
“No.”
Yeom Yuhwa's voice was firm.
“Although the Cult Leader's mind is currently unstable, he is not someone who speaks meaningless words.”
"..."
“If he calls you his friend...”
She looked directly at me.
“then that word undoubtedly carries the Cult Leader's true will.”
“Haa....”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
This was driving me insane.
The fanatical devotion of Demonic Cult followers was famous throughout the martial world.
I'd heard countless stories about how they treated every word of the Cult Leader as though it were the will of heaven itself.
But experiencing it firsthand was far worse than I'd imagined.
It was to the point where normal conversation was impossible.
I sighed and tried to persuade her one more time.
“Listen.”
“Until I fell from the waterfall in Falling Death Valley, I had never met a single member of the Demonic Cult.”
“How could someone like me possibly be the Heavenly Demon's friend?”
I frowned.
“Please come to your senses.”
But Yeom Yuhwa didn't budge.
If anything, her gaze became even firmer.
“Every word spoken by the Heavenly Demon, inheritor of the divine will, is itself the word of heaven.”
Her expression was completely serious.
“Therefore, the Heavenly Demon's will is flawless.”
It was maddening.
This woman really is a fanatic.
I couldn't understand how she could say something so absurd without even blinking.
No matter how many times I denied it...
Yeom Yuhwa had already decided on the answer.
She had no intention of listening to me from the beginning.
This isn't going to work.
I'd have to persuade her from a different angle.
“Fine.”
I raised one hand.
“Then answer this.”
I pointed toward the Sacred Flame Altar.
“If I truly am the person mentioned in the Cult Leader's message...”
“shouldn't the Sacred Flame have reignited already?”
The Sacred Flame Altar was still completely cold.
Not even the smallest ember remained.
“But look.”
I raised my voice.
“There's no Sacred Flame.”
“Not even a single spark!”
Yeom Yuhwa remained silent.
I pressed harder.
“Tell me honestly.”
“Do I look like someone capable of restoring your Sacred Flame?”
I pointed at myself.
“I'm not the kindred spirit in that message.”
“I'm just an ordinary martial artist.”
I deliberately made my voice rough, almost angry.
Perhaps surprised by my forceful reaction...
Yeom Yuhwa finally responded in a reluctant tone.
“There is only one thing I can tell you.”
I stared at her.
“The message left by the Heavenly Demon will inevitably come true.”
"..."
I was sick of hearing this.
I'd explained until my mouth hurt.
Yet all I got in return was the same answer.
The message would definitely come true.
The Heavenly Demon's will was perfect.
Again and again.
Eventually...
I lost my patience.
“Please come to your senses!”
My voice thundered through the Heavenly Demon Hall.
“I am not the kindred spirit from the message left by Goeong... no, by your Cult Leader!”
Only after the words left my mouth did I realize I'd shouted louder than intended.
Hmm... did I get too worked up?
Then—
“...What did you just say?”
A familiar voice reached my ears.
I slowly turned my head.
Goeong.
He was staring straight at me.
But something about his face was wrong.
Moments ago, he'd been smiling innocently.
Now...
the smile was completely gone.
His eyes were trembling.
“...Mujin isn't my friend?”
I couldn't answer immediately.
Goeong's lips began to shake.
“...Mujin said he was my friend.”
His voice quivered.
“Was that... a lie?”
Tremble.
Goeong's shoulders started shaking.
At the same time...
the stone floor beneath his feet began vibrating faintly.
A chill ran down my spine.
W-What the hell?
Why is this old man suddenly acting like this?
Sensing danger, I immediately waved my hands.
“G-Goeong! No!”
“I am your friend—”
“Mujin is bad!”
He shouted.
“Mujin lied!”
WHOOM!
An enormous aura erupted from Goeong's entire body.
“Kugh!”
The pressure forced me backward instinctively.
It was overwhelming.
Like an invisible mountain had suddenly begun pushing straight toward me.
“Goeong is angry!”
Black energy began spilling from his body as he took one step toward me.
“This is all because Mujin lied!”
Then he muttered in a low voice,
“People who lie need to be punished....”
If you only listened to the words...
it sounded like nothing more than a sulking old man throwing a childish tantrum.
Under normal circumstances...
I might've laughed.
But what if that old man was the Heavenly Demon?
