By Zephyria Is this living? (5)
Georyang scoffed as if he found it ridiculous.
“What’s this? A rat-like bastard.”
“You’ll regret saying that.”
Seong Mu-yeon glared at the middle-aged man beside him.
“Chief Heo Ji-myeong, you know me, right?”
Chief Heo had maintained an indifferent expression throughout, but the moment he recognized Seong Mu-yeon’s face, his pupils contracted and his jaw dropped. The color rapidly drained from his face.
Chief Heo hurriedly bowed deeply.
“Y-Y-Y-Young master Seven!”
Seong Mu-yeon was relieved inside. He had been worried that Chief Heo wouldn’t recognize him. But outwardly, he maintained a cool demeanor. This Demonic Cult was a place where you’d get backstabbed the moment you looked weak.
Even with nothing, you had to reign.
Chief Heo turned pale and trembled so violently that he kicked Georyang in the shin.
“You bastard! Get that hideous thing out of here right now! How dare you point a weapon at Young master!”
Georyang didn’t seem to understand the situation, but he put away his weapon. Then, at Chief Heo’s roar, all the demonic cultists knelt.
“Y-Young master Seven! What is the meaning of this…! Why are you in such a dangerous place!”
“Why do you think? Your subordinate kidnapped me.”
“T-That can’t be! I’ll have their heads chopped off and present them as an apology!”
All eyes in the room were on Seong Mu-yeon. They were astonished that a young man who had suddenly appeared could control the Demonic Cult bastards, who were more terrifying than the Grim Reaper, all at once.
Namgung Cheon-chu was barely standing, struggling to stay upright. He gasped for breath and managed to utter a few words.
“…Y-You… You deceived me.”
Red blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and one eye was swollen shut.
Seong Mu-yeon glanced down at Namgung Cheon-chu for a moment, then turned away without a word. There was no point in saying anything now. Judging by his appearance, it was doubtful whether he would even remember properly.
He squatted down in front of the chief.
“Explain what’s going on here.”
The chief looked like he was about to faint.
“I-I deserve to die…”
“No, not an apology. Explain. What were you plotting by kidnapping innocent people?”
“…That’s…”
The chief obediently lowered his head but refused to answer.
This was where Seong Mu-yeon’s true nature was revealed.
Young master Seven was nothing more than a showy fraud. The thoroughly educated demonic cultist bowed to him, but harbored different thoughts inside.
Even though Seong Mu-yeon might be the highest-ranking person in this place, they never forgot that there were many more outstanding and ruthless individuals outside who were fit to be the ‘leader’ they served.
Irritation surged within him.
“Fine. Good. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”
“Th-Thank…”
“But you have to release the innocent people.”
“That’s not possible!”
Seong Mu-yeon’s face turned cold.
“Then explain why it’s not possible. Does the main branch know about what you’re doing? Do you even realize that this could shake the very foundation of the Demonic Cult?”
“……”
The chief was in a position where he had to do whatever Seong Mu-yeon told him to do, even if it meant dying. You had to be that prepared to rise to a high position.
But right now, they had someone else they served.
As Seong Mu-yeon’s gaze grew colder, the chief watched him carefully.
Finally, he opened his trembling lips.
“…T-The Third Young Master’s orders. Right now, he is coming here.”
Seong Mu-yeon inhaled sharply.
Third Young Master.
The Demonic Cult Leader’s third son.
To Seong Mu-yeon, he was the third older brother who would later surpass the first and second sons and ascend to the position of Cult Leader.
‘Come to think of it, Third Brother was in charge of managing the Honam branch.’
The brothers, except for Seong Mu-yeon, already each held a position in different regions.
But the Third Young Master was coming here?
Seong Mu-yeon had an ominous feeling. Whatever plan he had, it wouldn’t be good.
“But you know what?”
“Yes?”
Seong Mu-yeon pointed at someone. It was the man who had kicked him earlier.
“That bastard kicked my butt earlier.”
A frenzy of beating ensued.
“You son of a bitch! How dare you touch Young master Seven!”
“Stomp him! Today is your death anniversary!”
Seong Mu-yeon took advantage of the chaos to examine the altar in the center. It was covered in incomprehensible patterns that extended to the floor. In the center where the patterns converged, there was nothing.
‘…What is this?’
And many people… Several were supporting Namgung Cheon-chu. Their faces, having lost their last hope, were filled with deep despair.
“Ahahaha! Let’s go inside for now! There’s no need to stand here like this.”
The chief grabbed him and pulled him away.
Seong Mu-yeon’s eyes met Namgung Cheon-chu’s, who seemed confused, but he forced himself to turn away.
As he left the room, a long corridor stretched out. Two demonic cultist warriors thoroughly guarded the door.
The chief led him to a luxurious room.
“I heard that Young master Seven had left for the Central Plains for recuperation, but I never thought I would see you like this. You must have suffered a lot in the meantime…”
The chief scanned his appearance up and down with an awkward expression. Then he called for attendants.
Seong Mu-yeon received lavish service for the first time in a long while.
The attendants removed his cotton clothes and dressed him in soft silk robes. They washed his hair clean, applied hair oil, and neatly arranged it before placing a coronet on his head. The country bumpkin was gone, and the Demonic Cult’s Young master Seven revealed his true self.
“This is a disaster waiting to happen. Where are your escorts? How can you wander around alone? That’s why you’ve been through such hardships.”
‘…Who was it that put me through hardships?’
“It just happened that way. But when will Third Brother arrive?”
“It will take about three days.”
“Is that so? I’d like to greet Third Brother, but I have urgent business to attend to, so I must be going now.”
It didn’t seem like they were planning to do anything with the hostages right away. Right now, the Namgung Clan, who were searching for Namgung Cheon-chu, would be nearby.
First, he would go out and contact them, and then…
But Georyang blocked the door with his massive frame.
“Chief? What is the meaning of this?”
The chief smiled awkwardly.
“I apologize, Young master Seven. Third Young Master said he would like to see his younger brother. Please wait a moment and meet him before you leave.”
“I told you I have urgent business.”
“The business can wait. What could be more important than family? Besides, aren’t you hungry? I’ll have a meal prepared.”
The chief left the room with the attendants.
“……”
He was left alone in the spacious room with Georyang.
The chief’s attitude was strange. The Third Young Master had never shown any interest in him. He had only seen him in passing during important events, but they had never interacted personally.
So why did he think the Third Young Master would want to meet his younger brother?
He had escaped the cold prison, but this luxurious room he had been moved to was just another prison.
His instincts, honed from living as prey, were warning him.
‘I must not meet the Third Young Master.’
There were still three days left. So he had to come up with some other plan during that time.
A feast was served soon after. It was said that even a ghost who died eating looked good. First, he filled his stomach.
‘How can I get out of here?’
He glanced at Georyang, who was standing firmly in front of the door. He was twice the size of Seong Mu-yeon. There was no way he could defeat such a guy.
‘…If I can’t get out, I’ll have to call them in.’
“Chief!”
“Yes, you called?”
The chief appeared as soon as Seong Mu-yeon called.
“I need to borrow some men.”
“Yes…? For what reason…?”
Seong Mu-yeon sat back in his chair, trimming his nails. He truly looked like a Demonic Cult young master.
He smiled and said.
“There’s someone I need to repay a debt to.”
“A debt?”
“Well, it’s like this…”
After hearing the story, the chief flew into a rage.
“How dare those Hwasan Sect nobodies touch Young master Seven! We can’t let this go. We must show them the terror of the Demonic Cult.”
“That’s what I’m saying! So lend me some men.”
The chief’s expression darkened.
“But… You said it was Heartless Sword Baek Ryeo-il? He’s quite skilled. I’m worried that our branch won’t be able to handle him. How about waiting until the Third Young Master arrives? If the Third Young Master steps in, Heartless Sword will be nothing.”
“Listen here, Chief. Are you looking down on me right now?”
“Yes? How could I ever say such a thing!”
Seong Mu-yeon kicked the chair and stood up. He feigned anger, and the chief hurriedly lowered his head.
“Are you saying that just because I’m in this condition, I can’t handle that one guy?”
Seong Mu-yeon lowered his voice. Before he knew it, his tone had become overbearing.
“N-No… That’s not what I meant…”
“No what! All you do is talk about the Third Young Master, the Third Young Master… Do you think I’m a child who hides behind his brother and reads the room? How can I bother Third Brother with such a trivial matter!”
“Y-Young master Seven…”
The chief’s face turned pale. Seong Mu-yeon sat next to him and whispered sweetly.
“Chief, can you imagine how pleased Third Brother will be if we capture not only the Namgung Clan’s young master but also Hwasan Sect’s Baek Ryeo-il and present them to him when he arrives?”
The chief’s pupils trembled. He seemed to be imagining himself presenting Namgung Cheon-chu and Baek Ryeo-il at the same time, and a smile began to spread across his face.