Chapter 877: A Direct Subordinate of the Young Cult Leader?

When Tae Soo returned, his father’s reaction was unexpected.

He must have known that Tae Soo had interfered in the Treasure Map matter he had been told not to get involved in.

So he had expected a furious reprimand.

“Back?”

“Yes.”

Scrape, scrape.

His father sat with his back turned, tending to his equipment.

All the way home, Tae Soo had been thinking he should apologize first.

But seeing his father’s stubborn-looking back only made anger rise again. Shouldn’t he at least ask whether his son had been caught up in danger, or how he managed to get out? And yet, the only thing he said was,

“Have you eaten?”

“You think a thief goes around starving?”

Originally, he had planned to tell his father everything.

How he had met the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult while escaping with the Treasure Map, and all the unbelievable things that had happened beneath the pond of Heavenly Eye Mountain.

He had intended to tell him everything about that miraculous return alive, even after getting entangled with the Demonic Cult.

But instead of that, not even a simple “I’m sorry” left his lips.

As he was about to leave the room, his father suddenly spoke.

“There’s a job. It’ll take time to prepare……”

Lately, they had always worked together as a pair.

“No. I’ve got things to think about for a while.”

Tae Soo did not ask what the target was.

“I see.”

Even that calm acceptance irritated him.

“Make sure you eat properly.”

He left his father behind.

At the time, he did not know. He did not know how deeply he had wounded his father.

The wounds parents leave on their children at least leave scars behind. But the wounds children inflict upon their parents leave not even a trace.

Back then, he simply did not know.

After that, Tae Soo wandered aimlessly for a while.

He even considered just leaving for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Then suddenly, he recalled what the Young Cult Leader had said.

—Come find me when you’re ready to take responsibility for your own life.

He realized he wasn’t ready yet. How could he take responsibility for his life when he couldn’t even properly apologize to his father?

His father often left the house, and time kept passing.

Tae Soo came to realize that he was making excuses using his father again.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t go to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult because of his father.

He couldn’t go because he was afraid of life there.

The Young Cult Leader had said this when they parted.

—It may be possible for me to bring you into the main cult because of our connection, but once you’re inside, the life you lead will be your own, unrelated to me. You may never even see my face again. I can only serve as the catalyst. The one who must live that new life is you. Never forget this: even if your circumstances change, if you yourself do not change, then nothing will truly be different. As time passed, that part kept bothering him. You may not even get to see my face.

Without the Young Cult Leader by his side, could he really endure among those ruthless demonic practitioners?

No, he wasn’t confident. That was why he had been making excuses, saying he couldn’t go because he hadn’t reconciled with his father. In truth, he had been postponing that reconciliation.

‘I haven’t changed at all.’

Even when he had said those hurtful words to his father, it had just been an excuse.

—Are your principles for the sake of doing good? Or are they just to justify stealing?

He had never been genuinely interested in his father’s sense of morality. What he felt was frustration.

He had the ability to become the greatest thief under heaven and take whatever he wanted, so why steal only from villains? Why endure all that hardship, only to give everything away in the end?

Originally, he should have said, “I’m greedy.” And his father should have taught him, “No, my son, at the very least, one must live like this.” Instead, he had wounded his father.

‘Damn it.’

Time passed in a complete mess.

Yes, it was fine. He could say hurtful things to his father, shrink back from a chance to change his life, drink and wander a bit. He was still young.

But at the very least, there was one thing he should not have done. He should not have let his father go there alone.

---

Lim Ju, the Branch Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Sanyang Branch, stared silently at Tae Soo.

“You’re that man’s son?”

“Yes. I am Tae Soo, son of the Great Thief Tae Gon.”

Tae Soo looked terrible. His hair was disheveled, and a scruffy beard covered his face. Only his eyes shone like those of a wounded beast.

“What proof do you have that you’re Tae Gon’s son?”

At that, Tae Soo took out a money pouch containing vouchers from his clothes and set it down. Lim Ju’s eyes sharpened upon seeing it. It was his own pouch from the branch treasury.

He knew it would offend the Branch Leader, but there was no more certain way to prove he was Tae Gon’s son.

“Why did you come to me?”

Though he could guess, Lim Ju asked anyway. The expected answer came.

“Because of my father.”

Right now, the entire region was in an uproar because of Tae Gon.

The Great Thief Tae Gon had infiltrated the Blood Shadow Sect to steal, only to be captured. The fact that a man who had never once been caught had failed in theft sent shockwaves through the martial world.

The Blood Shadow Sect belonged to the Unorthodox Alliance and was notorious. They never allowed their sect to suffer losses in any matter, and they were ruthlessly cruel to those weaker than themselves. That was how they had expanded their power so quickly.

The Blood Shadow Sect had announced that they would publicly execute Tae Gon before a gathered crowd.

“The execution is in two days, was it?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Why did you come to me?”

Tae Soo only learned that his father had been captured after the public execution was announced. And even then, he found out days late, having drowned himself in alcohol.

‘It’s because of me.’

He believed his father had been captured because he had been unable to focus due to him.

He tried everything to save his father.

He attempted to infiltrate the Blood Shadow Sect, but ultimately failed. Anticipating that someone might come to rescue him after announcing the public execution, they had set up an ironclad defense.

That was when he came up with the idea of asking the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult for help.

“I am close with the Young Cult Leader.”

It was a gamble with his life on the line. To dare bring up the Young Cult Leader’s name was enough to get him cut down on the spot.

Fortunately, Lim Ju was not so rash.

“You’re close with the Young Cult Leader?”

“Yes.”

His father had always said:

—To become the greatest thief, you must know how to steal people’s hearts as well.

If he wanted to save his father, he had to steal the heart of the Branch Leader before him.

“I am planning to enter under the Young Cult Leader.”

“Planning?”

Lim Ju found it absurd how to take this. The son of a thief who would be executed tomorrow suddenly appeared, claiming to be close with the Young Cult Leader?

“He said he would take me as his direct subordinate.”

Perhaps the Young Cult Leader had already forgotten him?

Watching Tae Soo stare straight ahead without flinching, Lim Ju frowned.

What kind of lunatic would come to a branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and try to scam them by mentioning the Young Cult Leader?

It wasn’t a scam. If it were, he would have fabricated some convincing proof, like claiming to already be a direct subordinate. But he said he was “planning” to enter? It was absurd. Still, it seemed certain that he at least had some acquaintance with the Young Cult Leader.

“So? What is it you want?”

“Please save my father.”

Lim Ju stared at Tae Soo.

“Why not ask the Young Cult Leader directly for help?”

“It happened too suddenly. There was no time to inform him. If you help me, the Young Cult Leader will surely reward you greatly later.”

Before he even finished speaking, Lim Ju replied coldly.

“You’re insane.”

Tae Soo flinched.

“If I act against the Blood Shadow Sect based only on your words, what happens if the Young Cult Leader later says he doesn’t know you?”

“That won’t happen. He truly knows me. If my words are false, I will accept death as punishment.”

“Of course you would. The problem is, it wouldn’t end with just your death.”

Even so, the reason he didn’t immediately throw him out and instead hesitated was not because he feared future repercussions if the man truly had ties with the Young Cult Leader.

It was the opposite.

Because of a certain man from the rumors.

Kang Dal, the Branch Leader of the Jeongan Branch.

The dream and hope of all branch leaders of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

His rise to the main division through his connection with the Young Cult Leader was a legend among all branch leaders.

‘Has such fortune come to me? Or is this the temptation of terrible misfortune?’

After carefully weighing it, the conclusion he reached was refusal.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”

If later it turned out that Tae Soo was lying, at least his position would be safe. But if the man truly had no real connection to the Young Cult Leader, he would be driven out to tend horses in some remote countryside stable.

For now, the legend among branch leaders remained solely Kang Dal’s.

---

The next day, a large stage was erected in the open space before the main gate of the Blood Shadow Sect.

A massive crowd gathered.

They had come to see the legendary thief, Tae Gon.

With his Devil’s Hole and Pressure Point restrained, Tae Gon was dragged onto the stage. Judging by his condition, he had clearly been through severe torment.

“You son of a thief!”

“Kill him!”

Some shouted curses, while others looked at him with pity. After all, no matter what anyone said, he was a man who stole from the wicked to help the poor.

Tae Gon looked over the gathered crowd.

Some cursed him, some laughed at him, and some watched with sorrow. There were all kinds of reactions. Most of them, however, looked at him with pity.

Then his eyes met someone’s gaze, and his heart sank.

Right in the front row, as if deliberately making himself visible, stood his son, Tae Soo.

‘Soo.’

At that final moment, he felt relieved to see his son.

At the same time, fear crept into his heart.

‘You’re not here to do something foolish, are you?’

He was a smart boy. He wouldn’t do something like that. No matter how fast his movement technique was, there was no way he could break through the countless Blood Shadow Sect warriors gathered here and save him.

At that moment, a middle-aged man stepped onto the stage. With a cold and ruthless expression, he was none other than Geobaek, the Sect Leader of the Blood Shadow Sect. He was infamous for his cruel and merciless nature.

Geobaek looked over the crowd. No one met his gaze, and not even a breath could be heard around them.

Soon, he spoke.

“Where is the cheer you bought with the money you stole? You claim you only stole from the wicked? Then where are those who fed on that rotten flesh? Where is the guard that should protect this so-called righteous thief?”

Only silence flowed.

Geobaek’s gaze turned to Tae Gon.

“I hear you have a son. They say you went around stealing together?”

His voice rang loudly.

“Where is your son?”

Tae Soo simply stood in place without a word. Afraid that meeting his son’s eyes might expose him, Tae Gon deliberately looked elsewhere.

“He’s probably hiding somewhere here like a rat, watching his father die. If you were truly a man of courage, you would have stepped forward and saved your father. But you won’t, will you? Because you’re nothing but trash thieves.”

Despite the provocation, Tae Soo did not move.

Tae Gon’s expression brightened.

‘Good, my son.’

Forget revenge. Don’t steal anymore. Live the life you want.

As if intending to kill him personally, Geobaek drew his sword.

Tae Gon closed his eyes without looking at his son. If their eyes met, it would only hurt him more.

At that very moment,

“Stop.”

The voice that rang out belonged to Tae Soo.

Tae Gon’s face stiffened.

‘No!’

But Tae Soo was already walking forward, climbing onto the stage.

“I am that man’s son.”

Gasps and sighs erupted from all around. Some cheered and clapped, while others let out sorrowful breaths.

“Though you carry a thief’s blood, your filial piety runs deep?”

He had agonized all night. Should he throw a smoke bomb and escape in the chaos? Should he bribe one of their experts? Should he disguise himself as one of their subordinates?

But there was no method he could accomplish in a single day. The Blood Shadow Sect had far too many experts.

The final method Tae Soo chose was this.

“I am a direct subordinate of the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

Before the Branch Leader, he had been someone who would become a direct subordinate. Now, he declared himself as one.

I’m sorry, Young Cult Leader. This is the only way I can do this.

Geobaek’s face twitched.

“You claim to be a subordinate of the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?”

“That’s right.”

Geobaek hadn’t even considered that possibility.

He burst out laughing. His subordinates on the stage laughed as well, and laughter spread throughout the crowd.

Meanwhile, those who had felt pity grew even more sorrowful. They understood his heart. Who wouldn’t understand trying to save his father, even in such a way?

Yet one thing was the same.

Whether laughing or pitying, not a single person believed his words.

At a signal from Geobaek, the experts on the stage rushed in and forced Tae Soo to his knees.

“There is no greater punishment than watching your child die before you.”

With his Pressure Point restrained, Tae Gon struggled desperately. It was a plea to be allowed to speak. At Geobaek’s gesture, one martial artist released his Pressure Point.

“Please spare my son. Please, I beg you! I am the one who stole! If you spare my son, I will do anything you ask!”

Geobaek, who had been looking at him with mockery, made an unexpected proposal.

“If I spare your son, can you steal from the good as well? Can you strip kind and decent people of all their possessions?”

Tae Gon’s eyes wavered. The words that he could not say.

“So you choose your pride over your son.”

At that moment, Tae Soo spoke the words he had never said.

“I’m sorry, Father. What I said back then wasn’t from my heart. I like you because you’re not someone who steals just anything.”

Even if he was to die, he had to say this.

Upset, Tae Gon shouted.

“Why did you come? Why! What does that matter? Why does it matter! What does this old father matter!”

At that moment, Tae Soo saw it.

Tears flowing from his father’s eyes.

Streaming down.

It was the first time he had ever seen his father cry.

Seeing those tears, Tae Soo’s vision blurred.

Yes, he could have let his father go alone.

But perhaps he shouldn’t have stepped forward at this moment. Seeing those tears made him think that.

‘But I couldn’t send you off without even trying.’

Geobaek grabbed Tae Soo by the collar and yanked him up.

“And someone like you, crying like this, claims to be a direct subordinate of the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?”

Tears flowed from Tae Soo’s eyes as well.

“Yes… I am… the Young Cult Leader’s direct subordinate… so release my father.”

Some laughed at the pitiful sight, but most could only watch in silence. They wanted to step forward and protect him, yet they could not. They hoped someone would rise to the occasion, but no one did.

“If you’re the Young Cult Leader’s lackey, then I’m the Demonic Cult Leader!”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out from somewhere.

“Father!”

It cut through the noise of the crowd, filled with powerful internal energy, striking everyone’s ears.

“Father!”

At the second shout, all eyes turned toward the source.

Pushing through the crowd, a man stepped forward.

It was Geom Mugeuk.

Looking at Geobaek, Geom Mugeuk spoke.

“Huh? You’re not my father?”