[Chapter 34]
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon entered the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.
He slowly walked along the Path of Blood and stopped at the end of the carpet.
"How have you been?"
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon greeted Geom Woojin respectfully.
"Thanks to you, I've been well. How about you?"
"I've been quite busy lately, thanks to your son."
Geom Woojin smiled faintly.
"Now that my child has grown up, he doesn't listen to me."
"Hahaha. Is there something even the Cult Leader can't handle?"
"Isn't it said that children are the heavens' way of showing that life doesn't go as planned? You'll understand when you have your own."
"For all I know, my child could be growing up somewhere right now."
Geom Woojin laughed. He seemed gentler and friendlier than when he faced Geom Mugeuk. If Geom Mugeuk had seen this, he would surely have said, 'Smile like this at your child!'
After a light greeting, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon subtly mentioned Geom Mugeuk.
"It may not go as you wish, but this young master is making a name for himself within the cult these days."
"Isn't that your doing?"
Considering how Geom Mugeuk gained popularity while getting entangled with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, it wasn't far from the truth.
"This young master is your creation, Cult Leader. I only realized recently how remarkable he is."
Geom Woojin did not deny it. Believing that his presence was behind his son's achievements wasn't a bad thing in any sense.
"He's still immature."
"Sometimes I recall my own days at this young master's age. If he is immature now, I must have been a worm."
"You're overestimating immaturity."
"The Cult Leader overestimated him first."
This was referring to Geom Woojin appointing Geom Mugeuk as the Underworld Pavilion Leader. Whatever the reason, it was a groundbreaking appointment.
"That's why I'm saying, I'd like to make this young master into an even better piece."
"If you're involved, it will be a great opportunity for my second child."
"You flatter me."
"Do as you wish."
"Thank you."
At the end of their conversation, the purpose of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's visit was cautiously brought up.
"Since you're allowing it, could you support me properly?"
"What do you mean?"
"For the appointment of the new Demonic Army Commander, let me proceed as I wish."
He was asking for his recommendation of Jangho to be appointed as Demonic Army Commander.
A moment of silence passed. Without any emotional fluctuations, the two men faced each other. Geom Woojin was the first to break the silence.
"The Demonic Army Commander matter is difficult."
"This is also something the Second Young Master wants."
"As you said, I've supported my second son enough. I have to consider my first son too."
"I've learned something while raising my disciples. When supporting someone, you should fully support just one person. Because I couldn't do that, I've faced a lot of criticism."
"I'm fine with it. Unlike you, who is generous, I kill anyone who criticizes me."
Their gazes entangled in the air. The years they've spent together allowed them to understand each other's intentions just by looking into each other's eyes. The longer those years, the more awkward the silence at this moment became.
"Do you have anything more to say?"
At the Heavenly Demon's command to dismiss, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn't insist further. He knew well that once a decision was made, it wasn't easily changed. Another approach was needed.
"I'll see you next time."
"Let's do that."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned and walked out. His expression remained hardened as he walked along the Path of Blood.
'What kind of belated weighing is this? Once you push, you should push until the end. Tsk!'
* * *
"The Cult Leader seems to think more highly of the eldest than of you."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon began to sow discord between my father and me the moment he saw me.
"It seems he considers the eldest as the successor."
When he had a weakness, he would rather shake his opponent first. Truly, the political maneuvers of this old man were annoying.
"It seems we had a wrong meeting."
"What do you mean?"
"If I lose to my brother, you, sir, should fill in the lacking parts…"
"Are you saying I'm lacking?"
"I mean it's somewhat disappointing."
Instead of getting angry, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon placated me.
"Listen, Second Young Master. Appointing Jangho as the Demonic Army Commander was impossible from the start."
"Have you already given up?"
"There's no need to cling to something that can't be done."
"Are you boasting without being able to handle even this?"
"Handle this? Boasting?"
I began to provoke the already irritated Blood Heaven Blade Demon even more.
"You were the one who offered to back me up."
"You were the one whining like a child to get it done."
"Then you should have refused back then. You shouldn't have recommended Jangho the next day. Didn't you have any hope at all?"
I drew a long line under the feet of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
"You said before, this is how much the Cult Leader cares for you. I believed in this line…."
I drew another line, shorter than half.
"Isn't this the actual relationship between my father and you?"
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon couldn't refute. What would have happened if I hadn't gone to my father and asked him separately? Would my father have accepted the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's request?
"If Father refused, you should have asked him again. If it were me, I would have made it happen no matter what."
"Then give it a try."
"Excuse me?"
"You mocked me for not being able to do even this, right? Then you should be able to do it easily."
"What will you do if I ask my father and succeed easily?"
"Go ahead and try. It will probably backfire."
He seemed certain that since he was refused, my father would never grant his son's request either. In moments like this, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon showed how well he knew my father.
"Are you suggesting a bet?"
"A bet? Fine. Let's do it. If you fail, you will stop complaining and follow my lead. No more whining about your place."
"And if I succeed?"
"I will grant what you want."
"Whatever I want?"
"Do you have something in mind?"
After a moment's thought, I told him.
"Get me an elixir. At least something better than the Demon Essence Elixir."
For a moment, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon flinched. I knew exactly what this reaction meant.
"Do you know how difficult it is to find an elixir better than the Demon Essence Elixir?"
"That's why I'm setting it as the condition. Since we're in this together, my strength is your strength, isn't it?"
There was a reason I asked the Blood Heaven Blade Demon for an elixir.
I knew he had it.
He possessed a rare elixir, the Celestial Elixir, which could grant more inner power than the Demon Essence Elixir.
In the past, when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had formally allied with my brother, he had gifted him the Celestial Elixir. It was then revealed that he had kept it without consuming it for many years.
The purpose of inducing this bet was precisely for obtaining this Celestial Elixir.
"If you can't make Jangho the Demonic Army Commander and you can't get me the elixir, I don't see why I should ally with you."
"Fine, if you can make Jangho the new Demonic Army Commander, I will get you the elixir."
"Do you promise?"
I drew the Black Demon Sword and thrust it forward. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon struck my sword with his Heaven-Extinguishing Saber, making it bounce back.
*Clang!*
The clear sound was our promise. This pledge made with our unique weapons held much more binding force than mere words.
As always, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon soared and disappeared into the distance.
If I won the bet, he would keep his promise. The Celestial Elixir was something he had prepared for the successor.
If I could consume the Celestial Elixir following the Demon Essence Elixir I had taken earlier, there would be no lack of inner power in my fight against a Demon Supreme.
And I knew how to win this bet.
—
The place I visited was the office of the Strategist Advisor, Sima Myung.
This place where he resided, the Heavenly Communication Pavilion, served as the brain of our cult. All information from the martial world was gathered here and sorted. Only a very small portion of this information passed through Sima Myung and reached my father.
Recently, a significant portion of the information being transmitted from the Heavenly Communication Pavilion to the Heavenly Demon Pavilion would likely have been about me.
The security from the entrance of the Heavenly Communication Pavilion to Sima Myung's office was stringent, even more so than at the Heavenly Demon Pavilion. This indicated how important the Heavenly Communication Pavilion's role was within our cult, and because it was a place where the military strategists gathered, it needed to be more thoroughly protected.
When I entered the Strategist Advisor's office, Sima Myung was working amidst a pile of documents. There were so many documents stacked on his desk that they obscured his face.
One might think that offering a few pieces of advice next to my father would be sufficient, but the actual job of the Strategist Advisor was a battle with documents. He spent his days reading and sorting through hundreds of letters arriving from all over the Central Plains, distinguishing between information that should be discarded and that which should be retained.
Knowing this, I could see why being the Heavenly Communication Pavilion Lord was a tougher job than being the Underworld Pavilion Lord.
Sima Myung greeted me warmly as he rose from his desk.
"What brings you here? Please, have a seat."
We sat across from each other at a table. Shortly after, as if on cue, a subordinate brought tea.
"I hope it suits your taste. There's only one kind of tea here."
"The aroma is wonderful."
As I took a sip of the tea, I looked around. As expected of the place where the cult's greatest intellect worked, the room was filled with all kinds of books.
"I hear that whenever the cult's martial artists gather these days, all they talk about is the Underworld Pavilion."
"Aren't they busy criticizing it?"
"No way. I hear it's all praise."
I knew the public opinion about the Underworld Pavilion better than anyone. For as many people who were enthusiastic about the promise of impartial law enforcement, there were just as many who opposed it.
Having lived recklessly up to now, they were probably feeling unnecessary anxiety. What if I get caught too? These were their concerns. I had to firmly establish discipline before this atmosphere expanded.
"But what brings you here?"
"I have something to ask you, Strategist."
"Go ahead."
"What do you think of Jangho?"
"I think he's a good martial artist. He's a talent who could excellently lead the Demonic Army."
Sima Myung probably already knew. He knew I was behind this recommendation and that I intended to place Jangho in the position of Demonic Army Commander.
"So, what are the chances of Jangho becoming the Demonic Army Commander?"
"To be honest, not even one-tenth."
"Even if the Blood Heaven Blade Demon recommended him?"
"The Cult Leader has already rejected that recommendation."
Hence, the one-tenth estimate. Originally, the answer would have been impossible, but out of courtesy, it became one-tenth.
"What if my father changes his mind?"
"Then, of course, it would be possible. But it won't be easy. As you know, the Cult Leader doesn't change a decision once made without a solid reason."
"I'm well aware of that."
From the start, it was a decision made at my request. I had no intention of asking my father to change his decision without a reason.
I had to provide a reason for him to change his mind. This was what I had prepared.
"What if we get another recommendation from a different Demon Supreme in addition to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon?"
"Two Demon Supremes recommending the same person simultaneously? It's unprecedented… but if that happens, Jangho's chances of becoming the Demonic Army Commander would significantly increase. It would give the Cult Leader a solid reason to change his mind. But can it be done?"
Getting another Demon Supreme to recommend Jangho, especially when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was already involved, was no easy task.
"I'll have to try. Sometimes it might be easier to face two tigers at once than one."
"I think it would be more difficult."
So, there had to be a precondition. To avoid the disaster of being torn apart.
"What if those two tigers were extremely hostile towards each other?"