Bab 661: Alasan Dia Bertahan di Sisi Tuan Muda Kedua
"Master."
Mendengar panggilan dari Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, Jin Hagun dan para pendekar Demon-Slaying Brigade menyadarinya.
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme sebelumnya mengatakan bahwa dia terlambat karena harus bertemu seseorang yang penting—sekarang mereka tahu bahwa orang itu adalah Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult.
"Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult juga ikut datang?"
Terhadap pertanyaan terkejut Jin Hagun, Soul Reaper Demon Supreme menjawab,
"Pemimpin Jin, kamu tidak tahu seberapa besar perhatian Tuan Muda Kedua terhadapmu."
Dia tidak tahu seberapa besar perhatian Tuan Muda Kedua terhadapnya?
"Dengan orang-orang terhormat seperti ini datang jauh-jauh, bagaimana mungkin aku tidak tahu?"
Pada saat itu, para Waterfolk yang menjulurkan kepala dari air melihat kapal itu dan mengeluarkan teriakan aneh karena kegirangan. Lebih tepatnya, itu adalah jeritan liar yang ditujukan kepada Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult yang berdiri di haluan kapal.
Jin Hagun, yang melihatnya dari dekat, bisa merasakannya. Kegembiraan dan kemarahan itu lahir dari rasa takut. Bahkan para Waterfolk yang diciptakan di dalam Soul Reaping Art bisa merasakan kehadiran Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult.
Yang terulur dengan suara swish adalah sebuah pancing yang dipenuhi aura merah.
"Kalau begitu, bagaimana kalau aku sedikit pamer setelah sekian lama?"
Swaaaash—
Benang pancing yang memerah itu melesat lurus ke depan.
Pop! Plop! Plop-plop!
Di udara, para Waterfolk mengeluarkan suara aneh yang hampir lucu sebelum meledak menjadi tetesan air.
Swaaaash—
Benang pancing yang memerah itu membelah udara sekali lagi.
Mereka yang tertangkap di benang pancing Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult tidak membentuk kembali diri mereka seperti sebelumnya.
Bagi yang menonton, itu tampak seperti permainan anak-anak, tetapi para korban berteriak ketakutan dan menyelam kembali ke dalam air untuk bersembunyi.
"Dasar bajingan, mau ke mana kalian!"
Kali ini, Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult mengayunkan kedua tangannya lebar-lebar. Alih-alih pancing, sebuah jaring besar muncul di genggamannya. Jaring itu, yang berdenyut dengan aura merah, menyebar ke arah laut.
Dalam satu ayunan, jaring itu menangkap sekumpulan Waterfolk dan menariknya ke udara. Seolah-olah jaring itu sendiri menyedot mereka yang mencoba melarikan diri, menahan mereka erat-erat.
"Tangkapan penuh!"
Pop! Plop! Pop-pop-pop!
Jin Hagun dan para pendekar Demon-Slaying Brigade hampir tidak bisa mempercayainya. Siapa yang menyangka bahwa Waterfolk yang menakutkan itu akan lenyap seperti ini?
Setelah semua Waterfolk lenyap, Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult menatap Jin Hagun di bawah kapal dan bertanya dengan ceria,
Sebenarnya, Jin Hagun tidak tahu banyak tentang Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult. Namun, melalui Geom Mugeuk, dia telah cukup mendengar tentang pria itu untuk mengetahui karakternya. Jadi dia tersenyum dan menjawab,
"Itu mengesankan."
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme adalah orang pertama yang melompat ke udara dan berkata,
"Sekarang, semuanya, naiklah."
Mengikuti jejaknya, Jin Hagun dan para pendekar Demon-Slaying Brigade melompat ke arah geladak. Karena kapalnya tinggi, mereka yang kemampuan meringannya lemah tidak bisa melompat dalam satu kali lompatan—mereka harus mendorong lambung kapal di tengah jalan untuk mencapai puncak.
Jin Hagun terbang sambil membawa Gwak Ju, yang menjadi sandera. Selama pertempuran yang mengerikan itu, Gwak Ju tergerak oleh cara Jin Hagun terus menjaganya.
Ketika mereka mendarat di geladak, Gwak Ju terlambat mengungkapkan rasa terima kasihnya. Selama pertempuran, tidak ada kesempatan untuk mengatakannya dengan benar, dan dia merasa harus mengatakannya sekarang.
"Terima kasih banyak."
Terhadap ucapan terima kasihnya, Jin Hagun menjawab dengan tenang,
"Kamu harus berterima kasih pada kakakmu. Dialah yang mengirim kami ke sini."
"Tolong, kamu harus menyelamatkannya. Aku harus bertemu dengan kakakku."
Dia sudah tahu bahwa dia diculik karena kakaknya, seorang pengrajin master dari Iron Workshop.
Dia tidak membencinya. Sebaliknya, dia khawatir betapa sedih dan bersalahnya kakaknya karena hal ini. Ketika dia bertemu dengannya, ada sesuatu yang akan dia katakan sebelum bahkan mengucapkan terima kasih karena telah menyelamatkannya—
Aku baik-baik saja. Ini bukan apa-apa.
"Kami akan memastikan untuk membawamu pulang."
Para pendekar Demon-Slaying Brigade semua mendarat di geladak di sekitar Jin Hagun.
Setelah bawahannya semua naik, Jin Hagun berjalan mendekati Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult.
"Pemimpin Sekte, terima kasih banyak telah menyelamatkan kami."
Bagaimanapun juga, mereka telah bertemu dengan Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult di gerbang neraka.
"Lalu, apa yang sedang dilakukan Tuan Muda Kedua, meninggalkan seorang teman dalam keadaan sulit tanpa bahkan menunjukkan wajahnya?"
Seperti yang diduga, kata-kata pertama Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult saat bertemu mereka adalah mengeluh tentang Geom Mugeuk.
"Yah, pria egois dan dingin itu memang selalu seperti itu. Membuat orang lain menderita tetapi tidak pernah datang sendiri."
Ketika Jin Hagun membela temannya, Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult menggelengkan kepalanya dengan tegas.
"Tidak mungkin! Siapa pun itu, yang menghadapi Tuan Muda Kedua pasti orang yang akan kesusahan."
Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult melirik ke belakangnya karena kebiasaan.
Biasanya, setiap kali dia mengutuk Tuan Muda Kedua, orang itu akan muncul tepat di belakangnya—tapi hari ini, dia tidak ada di sana. Untuk sesaat, jejak kekecewaan melintas di matanya.
"Jadi, apa yang telah diambil Tuan Muda Kedua darimu? Pedang berharga? Artefak berharga, mungkin? Ayolah, aku seperti kakak laki-lakimu, jadi bebaslah berbicara terus terang."
Jin Hagun terkejut—dia tidak menyangka akan mendapat pertanyaan seperti itu dalam situasi yang mendesak. Pemimpin Sekte, apakah kamu tidak melihat ombak yang menerjang ke arah kita?
"Tidak, tidak ada."
"Yah, pada awalnya aku juga malu dan menyembunyikannya. Nanti, kamu akan berbagi segalanya."
Setelah menyapa Jin Hagun, tatapan Pemimpin Sekte beralih ke muridnya.
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme menundukkan kepalanya, seolah malu.
"Maafkan aku. Seharusnya aku menyelesaikannya sendiri."
"Tidak. Kamu sudah bertarung dengan baik."
Dia menatap gelombang besar yang mendekat dan mengulurkan tangannya ke udara.
Flaash!
Dari kehampaan, aura biru mekar di ujung jarinya, seolah ditangkap dan ditarik dari udara.
"Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art yang tersebar di sini terlalu kuat. Ini pertama kalinya aku melihat Soul Strengthening Art sekuat ini. Mereka pasti mempersiapkannya untuk waktu yang sangat lama."
"Kamu melihat dengan benar. Rencana ini telah disusun selama puluhan tahun."
Orang yang merasakan kata-kata itu paling menyakitkan adalah Instruktur Agung Hwa Song. Dia telah menghabiskan semua tahun itu dengan Jin Hyeo sebagai teman, hampir seperti sahabat. Selama itu, dia telah ditipu.
Pada saat itu, gelombang telah mendekat.
Berdiri di puncak gelombang, Jin Hyeo sedang menatap Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.
Gelombang yang menerjang berhenti. Gelombang itu menggantung di udara seperti lukisan, dan Jin Hyeo mengangkatnya lebih tinggi sampai dia sejajar dengan mata Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult.
Dia mengenali lawannya.
"Jadi, wanita gila itu pergi memanggil gurunya."
Soul Reaper Demon Supreme merasa bersalah karena telah menyeret gurunya untuk dihina.
Pemimpin Sekte sama sekali tidak terganggu.
"Fakta bahwa mulut lawanmu begitu kotor hanya berarti kamu telah bertarung dengannya dengan baik."
Sambil meyakinkan muridnya, dia juga melontarkan serangan balik yang tajam kepada Jin Hyeo.
"Hanya aku yang boleh menghina muridku. Mengerti, kau bajingan tua pengecut!"
"Aku sudah mendengar banyak rumor tentangmu. Mereka bilang kamu meninggalkan Heavenly Wind Cult dan bergantung pada Demonic Cult."
Tentu saja, Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult bukanlah tipe orang yang kalah dalam perang kata-kata di mana pun.
"Tepatnya, aku bergantung pada Tuan Muda Kedua."
Tepat ketika tampak mengejutkan bahwa dia akan mengakuinya dengan mudah, dia menambahkan—
Rrrrumble!
Seolah mencerminkan suasana hati Jin Hyeo, ombak di sekitarnya naik lebih tinggi dan awan hitam bergulung.
"Ya, aku tahu hari seperti ini akan datang cepat atau lambat."
Aura pembunuh melonjak dari tubuh Jin Hyeo, kehadirannya bahkan lebih mengesankan daripada saat dia bertarung dengan Soul Reaper Demon Supreme sebelumnya. Seolah-olah kekuatan yang dia sembunyikan bukanlah jumlah yang remeh—itu adalah sepertiga penuh dari kekuatannya, sekarang dilepaskan.
"Ketika aku muda, aku pernah mendengar rumor. Bahwa seseorang telah muncul di Central Plains dengan bakat alami untuk Soul Reaping Art."
Soul Reaping Art yang ditunjukkan Jin Hyeo sekarang berada di puncak penguasaan. Bakat lebih penting dalam Soul Reaping Art daripada seni bela diri lainnya—tanpa dilahirkan dengan itu, seseorang tidak akan pernah bisa mencapai alam seperti itu.
Bahkan dengan bantuan Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art, mengalahkan muridnya sendiri, Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, dengan Soul Reaping Art saja bukanlah tugas yang mudah. Pria ini pasti jenius yang sama yang pernah dibicarakan.
"Aku pernah mendengar kabar bahwa pria itu berhenti pada suatu titik, tetapi tampaknya bakat itu tidak mencakup penilaian."
Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult tahu saat itu bahwa firasatnya benar. Apa yang membuatnya melekat di ingatannya adalah kepribadiannya sendiri—dia tumbuh dengan mendengar bahwa dia juga diberkati dengan bakat alami, jadi ketika dia mendengar tentang seseorang seperti itu di Central Plains, dia menjadi iri, dendam, dan telah menjelek-jelekkan orang itu untuk waktu yang cukup lama.
"Dunia permainan hantu kecil ini benar-benar sempit."
Tatapan kedua pria itu saling terkunci di udara, laut yang bergolak di antara mereka.
Kemudian Jin Hyeo bertanya kepada Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult,
Itu adalah hal yang paling dia penasaran. Untuk turun dari kursi Pemimpin Sekte hanya untuk mengikuti Tuan Muda Kedua? Itu di luar pemahaman.
Pemimpin Heavenly Wind Cult menghela napas dan menambahkan,
"Aku diculik. Oleh Tuan Muda Kedua."
Dia mengerti mengapa pria itu mengatakannya sebagai diculik. Itu seperti mendengar Geom Mugeuk berbicara tepat di depannya—
Kau, aku menculikmu.
Ya, dia bisa sepenuhnya bersimpati.
Tentu saja, Jin Hyeo tidak memahami kata-kata itu atau berbagi perasaan itu.
Jin Hyeo mulai mengerahkan energi dalamnya ke titik ekstrem.
Aura biru meletus dari tubuhnya.
Sssaaaaaa—
Chapter 661: The Reason He Stayed by the Young Cult Leader’s Side
“Master.”
At the call of the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, Jin Hagun and the warriors of the Demon-Slaying Brigade realized it.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme had said earlier that she was delayed because she had to meet someone important—now they knew that it was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
“The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader has come as well?”
To Jin Hagun’s surprised question, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme replied,
“Leader Jin, you have no idea how much the Young Cult Leader has cared for you.”
He had no idea how much the Young Cult Leader had cared for him?
“With such esteemed figures coming all this way, how could I not know?”
At that moment, the Waterfolk poking their heads out of the water caught sight of the ship and let out strange cries in excitement. More precisely, it was a feral scream aimed at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader standing at the bow.
Jin Hagun, having seen it up close, could sense it. That excitement and fury were born from fear. Even the Waterfolk created within the Soul Reaping Art could feel the presence of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
What extended out with a swish was a fishing rod imbued with a red aura.
“Well then, how about I show off a little after so long?”
Swaaaash—
The red-tinged fishing line shot straight out.
Pop! Plop! Plop-plop!
Midair, the Waterfolk let out strange, almost cute sounds before bursting into water droplets.
Swaaaash—
The red-tinged fishing line sliced through the air once more.
Those caught on the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s line did not re-form as they had before.
To those watching, it looked almost like a child’s game, but the victims screamed in terror and dove back into the water to hide.
“You bastards, where do you think you’re going!”
This time, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader swept both hands wide. Instead of a fishing rod, an enormous net appeared in his grasp. The net, pulsing with a red aura, spread out toward the sea.
In one sweep, the net caught a mass of Waterfolk and hauled them into the air. It was as if the net itself sucked in those trying to flee, holding them tight.
“A full catch!”
Pop! Plop! Pop-pop-pop!
Jin Hagun and the warriors of the Demon-Slaying Brigade could hardly believe it. Who would have imagined that those terrifying Waterfolk would vanish like this?
Once all the Waterfolk had vanished, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult looked down at Jin Hagun below the ship and cheerfully asked,
In truth, Jin Hagun did not know much about the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult. However, through Geom Mugeuk, he had heard enough about the man to have an idea of his character. So he smiled and replied,
“It was impressive.”
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme was the first to leap into the air and spoke,
“Now, everyone, get aboard.”
Following his lead, Jin Hagun and the warriors of the Demon-Slaying Brigade all leapt toward the deck. Because the ship was tall, those with weaker lightness skills could not make it in one jump—they had to push off the hull midway to reach the top.
Jin Hagun flew up carrying Gwak Ju, who had been a hostage. Throughout the terrifying battle, Gwak Ju had been moved by how Jin Hagun kept looking out for him.
When they landed on deck, Gwak Ju belatedly expressed his gratitude. During the entire battle, there had been no chance to properly say it, and he felt he must speak now.
“Thank you very much.”
To his thanks, Jin Hagun replied quietly,
“You should thank your elder sister. She’s the one who sent us here.”
“Please, you must save her. I have to meet my sister.”
He already knew that he had been kidnapped because of his sister, a master artisan of the Iron Workshop.
He did not resent her. Rather, he worried over how upset and guilty she must have felt because of it. When he met her, there was something he would tell her before even saying thank you for saving him—
I’m fine. It’s nothing.
“We will make sure to take you home.”
The warriors of the Demon-Slaying Brigade all landed on deck around Jin Hagun.
Once his subordinates were all aboard, Jin Hagun walked over to the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.
“Cult Leader, thank you very much for rescuing us.”
They had, after all, met the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult at the very gates of hell.
“And what is the Young Cult Leader doing, leaving a friend in dire straits without even showing his face?”
As expected, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult’s first words upon meeting them were to complain about Geom Mugeuk.
“Well, that selfish and cold fellow has always been like that. Makes others suffer but never comes in person.”
When Jin Hagun defended his friend, the Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult firmly shook his head.
“No way! Whoever it is, the one facing the Young Cult Leader must be the one in trouble.”
The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult glanced behind him out of habit.
Normally, whenever he cursed the Young Cult Leader, that fellow would appear right behind him—but today, he wasn’t there. For just a fleeting moment, a trace of disappointment crossed his eyes.
“So, what has the Young Cult Leader taken from you? A treasured sword? A precious artifact, perhaps? Come on, I’m like an older brother to you, so feel free to speak openly.”
Jin Hagun was caught off guard—he hadn’t expected such a question in such an urgent situation. Cult Leader, do you not see the waves surging toward us?
“No, nothing.”
“Well, in the beginning I was embarrassed and kept it hidden too. Later, you’ll end up sharing everything.”
After greeting Jin Hagun, the Cult Leader’s gaze shifted to his disciple.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme lowered her head, as if ashamed.
“I’m sorry. I should have finished it myself.”
“No. You fought well enough.”
He looked toward the great wave approaching and extended a hand into the air.
Flaash!
From the void, a blue aura bloomed at his fingertip, as if caught and pulled from the air.
“The Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art spread here is far too strong. This is the first time I’ve seen such a powerful Soul Strengthening Art. They must have prepared this for a very long time.”
“You saw correctly. This scheme has been in the making for decades.”
The one who felt those words most painfully was the Grand Instructor Hwa Song. He had spent all those years with Jin Hyeo as a companion, almost like a friend. All that time, he had been deceived.
By then, the wave had drawn near.
Standing atop the wave, Jin Hyeo was staring at the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme.
The surging wave came to a stop. It hung suspended in the air like a painting, and Jin Hyeo raised it higher until he was at eye level with the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.
He recognized his opponent.
“So, the crazy woman went and called for her master.”
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme felt a pang of guilt for dragging her master into being insulted.
The Cult Leader was entirely unbothered.
“The fact that your opponent’s mouth is that foul just means you fought him well.”
While reassuring his disciple, he also threw a sharp retort at Jin Hyeo.
“I’m the only one allowed to insult my disciple. Got that, you cowardly old man!”
“I’ve heard plenty of rumors about you. They say you abandoned the Heavenly Wind Cult and clung to the Demonic Cult.”
Of course, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult was not the sort to lose a war of words anywhere.
“To be precise, I clung to the Young Cult Leader.”
Just when it seemed surprising that he would admit it so easily, he added—
Rrrrumble!
As if reflecting Jin Hyeo’s mood, the surrounding waves rose higher and black clouds rolled in.
“Yes, I knew a day like this would come sooner or later.”
A murderous aura surged from Jin Hyeo’s body, his presence even more formidable than when he had fought the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme earlier. It was as if the strength he had hidden wasn’t just a trifling amount—it was a full third of his power, now unleashed.
“When I was young, I once heard a rumor. That someone had appeared in the Central Plains with a natural-born talent for the Soul Reaping Art.”
The Soul Reaping Art Jin Hyeo displayed now was at the pinnacle of mastery. Talent mattered more in the Soul Reaping Art than in any other martial art—without being born with it, one could never reach such a realm.
Even with the aid of the Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art, defeating his own disciple, the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, with Soul Reaping Art alone was no easy feat. This man had to be the same genius once spoken of.
“I’d heard the news of that man stopped at some point, but it seems that talent didn’t extend to judgment.”
The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult knew then that his hunch had been right. What made it stick in his memory was his own personality—he had grown up hearing he, too, was gifted with natural talent, so when he heard of someone like that in the Central Plains, he’d grown jealous, resentful, and had badmouthed him for quite some time.
“This little ghost-playing world really is small.”
The two men’s gazes tangled in midair, the churning sea between them.
Then Jin Hyeo asked the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult,
It was what he was most curious about. To step down from the seat of Cult Leader just to follow the Young Cult Leader? It was beyond comprehension.
The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult sighed and added,
“I was kidnapped. By the Young Cult Leader.”
He understood why the man phrased it as being kidnapped. It was like hearing Geom Mugeuk speak right in front of him—
You, I’ve kidnapped you.
Yes, he could fully sympathize.
Of course, Jin Hyeo neither understood those words nor shared that feeling.
Jin Hyeo began drawing his inner energy to the extreme.
A blue aura erupted from his body.
Sssaaaaaa—
The fierce wind whipped at the clothes of those aboard the ship. The wind steadily grew stronger.
Kwaaaaaah!
And it wasn’t just one whirlpool. Multiple whirlpools began appearing all around the ship. One by one they increased until there were over a dozen. It was a terrifying sight just to behold.
The whirlpools generated beneath the surface grew larger, their rotation faster.
It looked as if they meant to smash the ship apart—but that wasn’t it.
Puaang! Puaang! Puang!
What burst out were enormous tentacles. He had used tentacles sprouting from his back when fighting the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme earlier, but these were different—these were massive, like the arms of a giant octopus from the depths of the sea.
Kwaaaaaah!
From every direction, tentacles whipped toward the warriors. Jin Hagun and the Demon-Slaying Brigade all drew their swords and leapt into action.
One massive tentacle slammed down onto the ship, causing it to lurch violently.
The warriors of the Demon-Slaying Brigade spread, sending arcs of sword energy flying.
The blades cut into the tentacles, leaving wounds.
Puaaaak!
When that blood splashed onto the deck—
Chiiiiiiik!
It corroded the wood, sending up plumes of blue smoke.
Jin Hagun sent a wave of palm force to blow the smoke away and shouted,
Now that the tentacles couldn’t be cut carelessly, the Demon-Slaying Brigade’s situation grew even worse.
The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult still stood at the ship’s bow, arms folded.
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme, standing nearby, drew up the last of her internal energy and thrust her hand toward it.
Fwoooosh!
The oncoming tentacle burst into flames.
With a shriek, the tentacle withdrew into the water. When it rose again, it no longer attacked the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult.
Jin Hagun leapt up and swung his sword.
Shhhhk—
The cut severed the tentacle, forcing it to release the man. Jin Hagun caught him in midair, pulling him free through the spray of blood.
Watching calmly, the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Wind Cult turned to the Soul Reaper Demon Supreme and asked,
“We need to find the method to break it.”
“Find it.”
The Soul Reaper Demon Supreme first looked toward Jin Hyeo. He still stood atop the wave with his eyes closed, controlling the tentacles. Three or four tentacles hovered protectively around him.
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