Chapter 311: That Bastard (3)

Heavenly Researcher.

In truth, there had been more than just one person in Murim history who carried that title.

It wasn’t uncommon for those who had made a name for themselves through their intellect to be called Heavenly Researcher, and at times, there had even been three or four in a single era.

However, the one this bastard was speaking of—there was only one such person.

The very one who, under the secret order of the previous Cult Leader, had brought forth Cheon Yura, Cheon Yujeong, and Ma Jinyoon into this world.

The one presumed to be the author of the Divine Demonic Physique Records.

And... presumably, the very same old man from the Hidden Shadow So Clan who had once given me unsolicited advice.

I realized my killing intent toward him had slightly weakened.

No matter how much I wanted to beat him to death, if it involved Yura, I could set aside any grudge.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly as I said. No hidden meaning. However…"

Han Mubaek shrugged as he glanced at the Jin Clan warriors surrounding us with grim expressions.

"This doesn't seem like the place for a discreet conversation. Would you perhaps offer me a cup of tea?"

“…….”

Was he being brazen? Or did he really have that much guts?

Either way, he was clearly on a different level than Lee Ryeong.

That was exactly why the urge to kill him while I still had the chance grew even stronger.

But the bait he had just thrown was simply too large to ignore.

“…‘Come in."

I stared at Han Mubaek, who sat across from me sipping tea.

‘It’s been a while since we’ve sat face to face like this.’

Truthfully, before his betrayal in my past life, Han Mubaek and I had been surprisingly close.

Back when the Heavenly Thunder Corps monopolized power within the Cult, both he, a political puppet, and I, a parachute appointee, had shared similar circumstances.

Our age gap wasn’t that wide either.

Among the Cult’s leadership, aside from Ma Chulsoo, we had been the youngest, which naturally made us cross paths more than once.

Of course, I had never made an effort to approach him directly.

Putting his teacup down, Han Mubaek finally spoke.

"How strange."

"What is?"

"Why you seem to hate me so much."

I scoffed, utterly dumbfounded.

"Isn’t it obvious? You’re—"

"Because I’m First Order of the Heaven-Defying Society and one of the Ten Heavenly Lords?"

“…….”

"But the hatred you show me seems to stem from something far more specific and personal. Yet, I have no idea what that could be…."

His half-lidded gaze was unnervingly sharp, enough to make my skin crawl.

We stared at each other in silence for a while.

Then, with a smirk, he lifted his teacup again.

"But I suppose it doesn’t really matter. After all, aren’t there no permanent allies or enemies in politics?"

"You think I’d ever join hands with you?"

"And why not? Granted, it feels like you might kill me on the spot right now…."

“…….”

"Still, I want you to know that digging up my past won’t be enough to get me expelled from the Cult."

"You sound awfully confident."

"Because I’ve already laid everything bare. The fact that I’m First Order of the Heaven-Defying Society, all the information I hold about them, and even every last card I had…."

He smiled faintly.

"Do you really think the Heavenly Thunder Corps Leader would have kept me around just because I handed over the Heavenly Illusion Clan’s operation?"

“…….”

Why had Cheon Jumyeong kept him around?

If I knew anything about Cheon Jumyeong, it would have been to keep him under surveillance.

But if that really was the case, it meant Cheon Jumyeong had sensed that Han Mubaek was dangerous enough to require close watch.

Just then, Han Mubaek spoke again.

"Do you really need to treat me as your enemy?"

"…What?"

"No matter what you sense in me, is there really a need to be so wary of a future that hasn’t even arrived yet?"

His words flowed out like nonsense, and I barely stopped myself from laughing in disbelief.

If those words had come from Cheon Jumyeong, perhaps I might have considered them.

‘But not from you.’

I had let him in out of curiosity about Heavenly Researcher, but now he was spewing complete nonsense.

"Wouldn’t it benefit you to have another card to check the Heavenly Thunder Corps?"

I flinched.

I had been ready to cut him down at any moment, but his words halted my movements.

"The greatest obstacle in the next Cult Leader’s reign will undoubtedly be the Heavenly Thunder Corps."

“……!”

It was a future no one had yet foreseen.

And Han Mubaek had just laid it bare.

"The Heavenly Thunder Corps is already preparing for the retirement of the old veterans who once supported the Young Cult Leader. The direct subordinates of the current Corps Leader are ready to take their place, spreading through the Nine Demon Halls and the Seventeen Parties."

I had thought there was still time… Had Cheon Jumyeong already gone that far?

"Once the generational shift in the Heavenly Thunder Corps is complete, it will become an entirely different organization—no longer the group created to support the Young Cult Leader."

‘So he knows that much, huh.’

“…‘You seem to know a lot."

"The old veterans of the Heavenly Thunder Corps seem to have held you in high regard."

It seemed even while I was away, the Chief Steward had made sure to send them gifts consistently.

Han Mubaek gave a sly smile.

"I can be of help to you."

The meaning behind those words was clear.

"You’re offering to become a double agent?"

"Exactly."

"And why should I trust you? More importantly, why would you betray Cheon Jumyeong to side with me?"

"The reason is simple."

Han Mubaek’s voice suddenly turned cold.

"Because the Heavenly Thunder Corps Leader will never agree to kill Heavenly Researcher."

"He won’t cooperate?"

"As I mentioned earlier—if Heavenly Researcher isn’t killed, the Young Cult Leader will eventually be devoured by the Grand Heavenly Lord."

Of course. That was exactly why I hadn’t killed him yet.

"And when that happens, who do you think will seize control of the Cult, plunged into chaos?"

“…….”

Crack!

I couldn’t answer right away.

Cheon Yura… devoured by the Grand Heavenly Lord?

Just imagining such a future was unbearable.

If that day ever came, I would probably throw away all power, status, and everything else just to find a way to save Cheon Yura.

As I struggled to maintain my composure, forcing a blank expression to hide my agitation, Han Mubaek kept flicking his tongue like a snake.

"No matter how skilled, virtuous, or well-connected you are, there’s an undeniable limit. After all, you’re not a member of the Cheon Clan. But the Heavenly Thunder Corps Leader is different. He can swallow the Cult whole, completely legally."

Knowing Cheon Jumyeong’s ambition from my past life, it wouldn’t have surprised me if things actually turned out that way.

However…

There was one subtle inconsistency hidden in that truth.

‘Cheon Jumyeong, as I knew him, never truly betrayed the Cult in the end.’

Even though he had opposed me in my past life and turned me into his puppet, Cheon Jumyeong had never crossed the final line.

Choosing to reserve my judgment on that, I changed the subject.

"First, let’s talk about Heavenly Researcher. For now, you haven’t given me enough reason to trust you."

“…‘Alright."

Hadn’t he said killing that person was his true reason for infiltrating the Cult?

"The reason I want to kill Heavenly Researcher is simple. Someday, I too am destined to become a sacrifice for the resurrection of Heavenly Evil through him."

“……!”

Han Mubaek let out a bitter laugh.

"You may not know this, but I was born a little… special compared to the other Lords."

It wasn’t arrogance in his tone.

"But that so-called special nature… isn’t a good thing."

I silently listened to his words.

"I am the only Joint Successor of the Ten Heavenly Lords. Do you know what that means?"

"Well… not really."

Even though I could guess the reason, I deliberately shook my head.

"It means I am a vessel capable of containing the essence of all Ten Heavenly Lords."

The truth about First Order began to spill from his lips.

"And once all that essence is fused into a single being, the Heaven-Defying Society calls that entity Heavenly Evil."

"So what?"

"However, I’m nothing more than a backup candidate prepared just in case. The real host chosen to become Heavenly Evil is none other than…"

He spoke each word with force.

"The Young Cult Leader, Cheon Yura."

“…….”

"In other words, the moment Cheon Yura is devoured by the Grand Heavenly Lord and becomes Heavenly Evil, I am destined to die along with her."

At that moment, I instinctively knew Han Mubaek was telling the truth.

‘Could it be… the reason he poisoned Cheon Yura in my past life….’

Thump!

"All I want is to survive. Nothing more."

Suddenly, he bowed his head to the ground right in front of me and shouted.

"Once this is all over, I will leave Murim quietly and never set foot here again. Please… join hands with me!"

I stood outside, letting the night breeze wash over me as I stared blankly at the sky.

My thoughts had grown so tangled that my mind actually felt numb.

"So you let him go after all."

At some point, Byeok Jisang, the Chief Steward, had approached me.

I shrugged lightly.

"My mind feels… a bit complicated."

"May I offer you some advice?"

"Of course."

Advice from someone who had seen every political twist and turn was always welcome.

Byeok Jisang spoke in a low voice.

"If someone you were prepared to kill at any cost walks away alive, it means they brought an offer you simply couldn’t refuse."

I nodded bitterly.

“…‘I can’t deny that."

"But please, remember this."

His eyes grew slightly colder.

"No matter what offer he made, the fact that someone under the protection of the Heavenly Thunder Corps so easily switched sides means he’s looking down on you. He believes he can use you."

"Well, I suppose that’s true."

I had survived five years in the political arena.

No matter what expression Han Mubaek wore, no matter what he proposed…

The core of who he was hadn’t changed.

"I know. Even if he spoke only the truth…"

My expression turned icy.

"People are most easily deceived by the truth."

Hearing that, Byeok Jisang gave a small smile.

"As long as you’re aware of that, I’m relieved."

"Someone like him is more than capable of hiding his real motives behind the truth."

I was certain Han Mubaek hadn’t revealed everything.

He claimed to want nothing but survival.

But in other words, if survival were guaranteed, there was no telling what else he might scheme.

‘I still don’t even know if Heavenly Researcher is truly an ally or an enemy…’

It seemed best to bring this matter to the Cult Leader.

"Oh, by the way."

Byeok Jisang pulled a letter from his robe.

“While you were meeting with that man, a letter arrived from Lesser Demon Hall.”

“…Oh!”

Delighted, I quickly opened the letter Byeok Jisang handed me and read it.

Before long…

“…Verification?”

“What does it say?”

Byeok Jisang asked, curiosity in his voice.

I let out a bitter chuckle as I replied.

“It seems the Cheon Clan is opposing my appointment as the Demonic Faction Lord.”

"…What?"

“They’re demanding to verify my qualifications, of all things.”

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