Chapter 618: If There Is Such a Thing as Destiny

“Does everything I say and do look like an act to you?”

“Spare me the bullshit and get up. I have no intention of letting you guilt-trip me.”

The First Apostle shivered at the frost in those words. He had been about to kowtow and worship his Supreme Lord, but stopped dead mid-motion.

“...Why?” He looked up at Baek Suryong, incomprehension written all over his face. Moments later, however, agony spread across his face, and he began to plead desperately. “You already possess every qualification. You have reached the pinnacle of martial arts. You are cunning enough to have deceived the entire world. You understand our cult’s martial arts and principles better than anyone else.”

Back then, Number 27 had taught the Apostles much more than just martial arts. They learned everything fundamentally important about the Blood Cult from him. Years later, when they resurrected the shattered cult, that knowledge became the roots from which the new Blood Cult sprouted.

Because only then will my life finally mean something.

“Master! The Blood Demon Divine Cult of today is undoubtedly your legacy.”

“......”

“If not you, then who in this world could possibly be the Supreme Lord’s rightful successor?”

The hatred and ecstasy of religious fanaticism coursed through the First Apostle’s eyes.

THUD!

The man who had reigned as the Blood Demon’s proxy for decades knelt down and bowed his head in total submission. “Please don’t abandon us a second time,” he pleaded again, his voice quivering with desperation. “Please... become my Supreme Lord.”

He raised his head slightly, revealing a scarred face marred by fear.

Baek Suryong was suddenly reminded of the day they had first met. Although he knew this was all an act, he couldn’t tear his eyes away from his former trainee’s face.

He silently clenched his teeth, his expression growing colder.

“Don’t make me say it twice,” he growled. “Drop the pathetic charade. Who do you think taught you how to manipulate people?”

“Does everything I say and do look like an act to you?”

“......”

Baek Suryong stared at the First Apostle, his resolve unwavering. Before meeting Sagon, those words would have shaken him to his core. Now that he knew what kind of man the gentle, dull-witted Number Four had become, however, he could evaluate his other former trainees more objectively. After all, he had already seen a boy in his memories change and grow, surpassing everything his teacher had ever expected of him.

Laughing weakly, he clicked his tongue. “Your little scheme is so obvious it’s making me yawn.”

“I heard you had gone soft... but not as soft as I was told, apparently.”

All traces of the man who had been begging just moments before vanished. The First Apostle’s face went blank as he dropped the act. Rising to his feet, he sat down across from Baek Suryong once more. “Do you think you can defy destiny?”

VWOOONG!

The Blood Demon Sword vibrated and emitted a loud buzz. Crimson energy seeped off the blade and filled the room. The Blood Cult’s sacred treasure was calling for its master.

Baek Suryong suppressed the urge to reach for the sword. “If my destiny is to bring down the Blood Cult and wipe out the Blood Demon, then I have no interest in defying it whatsoever.”

His expression was relaxed, and his answer was unhurried, but the First Apostle did not take his former master’s words at face value. They were both masters of lies and deception, carefully balancing the conversation on a knife’s edge as they sized each other up with every syllable.

“Now, I finally understand the Supreme Lord’s grand design. You are the vessel he arranged.”

The First Apostle gazed deeply into Baek Suryong’s eyes. Buried deep within them, a crimson light stirred. No matter how Baek Suryong tried to hide it, he could not conceal the aura of the Heaven-Defying Divine Art from him, who had spent decades studying the art and searching for the Blood Demon.

“I will return.”

“Until I return, you will prepare for what is to come.”

Those words had been the purpose of his life, sustaining him for decades. The First Apostle smiled, his teeth flashing white. His faith had not been misplaced after all.

“To reincarnate the very man who betrayed our cult and brought it to ruin, and then use him as the vessel of its revival... How bizarre. How magnificent. Truly a plan worthy of the Supreme Lord.”

“Didn’t you know? The Heaven Defying Divine Art grants the power to defy fate. The Blood Demon may have arranged my reincarnation, but his plan will fail.” Baek Suryong’s mouth slowly curved into a smirk. As if reading a verdict, he continued, “Don’t get your hopes up. I will never become the Blood Demon.”

“That’s a lot of bluster for someone whose eyes look so unstable.”

“I’m the one who taught you how to tell confidence apart from bluster. It seems you’ve forgotten.”

“I remember how to tell the difference. You cherish those Azure Dragon Academy disciples of yours, don’t you?”

“Do you think I’ve made no preparations at all?”

“We’ll find out soon enough. It wouldn’t be difficult.”

“I’d advise caution. It was the elders’ recklessness that got them killed by my hand.”

The two of them provoked and hurt each other with words. Tension mounted with every exchange, and the air in the room quietly came to a boil.

Despite the fact that one wrong step from either man would trigger disaster, the First Apostle chuckled. “Sitting like this brings back old memories.”

“I doubt they’re fond ones.”

“Yes, they’re all vicious and horrific.”

“......”

“......”

The two men glared at each other for a moment.

FWABABAK!

Both pairs of hands reached for the table at the same time, attempting to seize the Blood Demon Sword. Their fingers traced the same arc and collided in midair, warping the air around them.

“The Heavenly Martial Festival ends in two days. There will be time for us to meet and talk again soon enough. Please, just go back for tonight.”

Neither man emerged victorious, and they touched the hilt simultaneously.

Ironically, the results could not have been more different. The energy pouring off the blade repelled the First Apostle’s hand. Meanwhile, Baek Suryong’s fingers closed around the hilt, and the Blood Demon Sword came alive.

WHOOOOSH!