[Chapter 38]
I trained in martial arts at the training ground until late.
Right now, the most important thing for me was training. The moment I lost to Hwa Moogi, all the effort and achievements I had accumulated would be in vain, no matter how valuable and excellent they were.
When training became too difficult, I often imagined a situation. I imagined that I was just one moment of training short of being killed by Hwa Moogi. Of course, realistically, such a thing wouldn't happen, but such despairing thoughts helped me break through laziness.
Fortunately, today's training was the most satisfying since my regression.
A serene yet powerful energy swirled in my dantian. The power of my moves increased, and their speed quickened.
My current internal energy had risen to a level where I could contend in a life-or-death battle with a Demon Supremes. Considering my age, it was an unbelievable amount of power.
"Not enough yet."
I needed to gather more. The more internal energy, the better.
With continuous training, the Wind God's Four Steps technique showed significant progress. There would come a moment when I'd hit a wall, but at the early stage of training, I felt my skills improving every time I performed it.
The more I executed the Wind God's Four Steps, the more I was engulfed by a desire to fight. The technique constantly stimulated my combat spirit.
"Hold on. The moment to reveal yourself to the world will come soon."
As I finished a round of the Wind God's Four Steps, someone spoke from behind me.
"Your energy has increased again."
Startled, I turned around to find my father standing there.
"You're really like a ghost."
He had approached without a sound and accurately sensed the increase in my internal energy just by watching my moves.
I spoke honestly.
"I obtained the Celestial Elixir from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon."
It was a significant event, yet my father didn't seem particularly surprised.
"Why aren't you surprised?"
"Didn't you say you had something to gain from him?"
"But that 'something' was the Celestial Elixir!"
"I knew the Blade Demon had the Celestial Elixir."
I was shocked. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon wouldn't have revealed this to anyone.
"How did you know?"
Then, an even more shocking fact emerged.
"Because I gave it to him a long time ago."
"Oh my god! You gave it to him?"
Suddenly, I recalled the Blood Heaven Blade Demon drawing a line on the ground, claiming to be closer to my father than I was. This confirmed that they were indeed very close at one point.
"What did you wager in the bet with him?"
"I wagered myself."
"The Blade Demon made a very bad deal."
"My real deal starts now. I'm planning to rip off the Eight Demon Supremes."
In the past, my father would have dismissed this as nonsense, but he remained silent.
"Why are you just listening?"
"Because I think you might actually be able to do it."
"Finally, you're recognizing my true worth."
"Why do you hate the Demon Supremes so much?"
"When I see them, I hear these hallucinations. 'Hey, don't you want to become the Heavenly Demon? But what can you do? You can only become the Heavenly Demon if we support you. Do you want me to back you? If so, show me you're worth it.'"
"Isn't that just a persecution complex?"
"Maybe. Either way, I don't like them."
I didn't plan to fight this battle alone. Since it was a battle I intended to fight alongside my father, I expressed my honest feelings, at least concerning the Eight Demon Supremes. Whatever my relationships with others might be, I couldn't afford any misunderstandings with my father.
"Keep training."
As my father turned to leave, I expressed my gratitude.
"Thank you for appointing Jangho as the Demonic Army Commander."
"It wasn't because of you. Two Demon Supremes recommended him."
I called out to my father once more.
"Father."
He didn't turn around but answered.
"What is it?"
"I will be happy."
For a moment, I sensed a slight tremor in my father's back. It must have been an unexpected statement.
"I believe that if I am happy, the people around me will be happy, and our cult will be happy too."
Before my father could respond, I spoke again.
"After all, it's just the kind of cheap sentimentality that's fit for dying, right ?"
"As long as you understand."
As my father was about to leave, he added one more thing.
"If you want to walk this path, forget about happiness."
Before he could close the door, I shouted loudly.
"No, I will be happy even while walking this path."
The door closed with a thud, as if to dismiss my words as a foolish dream.
I understood my father's aversion to the word 'happiness'. Both he and I had lived lives far removed from happiness.
We had considered happiness as a refuge for the defeated.
But Father, after living for a while, I realized that living while striving to achieve goals is just as hard as living while feeling happiness.
…No, perhaps it is even harder than just running towards success. Maybe we sought refuge in success, Father.
* * *
It was clear that the One-Slash Sword Supreme was different from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
She had helped appoint Jangho as the Demonic Army, yet she hadn't shown up to take any credit. There had been no word from her at all.
"She wants me to go to her."
This alone showed how much she valued her dignity and honor. On the other hand, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was a person who prioritized his emotions. When he was upset, he had to come over and shout to feel satisfied.
I bought a bottle of good liquor and went to visit the One-Slash Sword Supreme.
She was tending to the flower garden in the courtyard of her modest house.
"The flowers are very beautiful."
"They say flowers become beautiful as you grow older. Though that might be a far-off story for our Second Young Master."
She probably didn't know that as you get even older, it becomes a bother.
"Thank you sincerely for your help this time. I brought this liquor as a token of my gratitude."
"I appreciate the gift, but I don't drink. I quit a long time ago."
"Oh, really? I apologize."
"It's fine."
In fact, I knew that, but I bought the liquor on purpose. I wanted to avoid giving the impression that I knew her too well. It might seem unnecessary, but you have to do what you can. Small things add up to build relationships.
"I was taught that if you receive help, you should repay it. Is there anything you desire?"
Still tending to the flowers, she spoke softly.
"It would be best if you severed ties with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon."
As expected, just as the Blade Demon had anticipated, she made this demand in return.
"May I ask why?"
"The Blade Demon is someone who is far from the ideals you pursue."
"Forgive my presumptuous question, but do you know what my ideals are?"
"You said you want to reform the sect into one with strict order and discipline, right? The Blade Demon despises being bound by rules more than anyone. There will be many clashes between you two."
She probably thought her persuasion would work. She had an abundance of pride, especially in how she saw herself as vastly superior to the Blade Demon.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot follow your advice."
For a moment, her body flinched.
"Why not?"
"Because the Blade Demon has given me an invaluable gift."
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have mentioned the gift. However, I intended to let her know that I had received the Celestial Elixir.
I planned to make both the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One-Slash Sword Supreme my people.
Given that the two had a notoriously bad relationship, it might actually make it easier to manage them. More importantly, since their emotions would explode one way or another, I would quickly and surely learn what kind of people they truly were.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon would be the Left Envoy, and the One-Slash Sword Supreme the Right Envoy.
They would be the most powerful Left and Right Envoys in the history of the martial arts world, becoming the Left Blade and Right Sword. With these two by my sides, I intended to seize the Eight Demon Supremes by the hair and shake them.
"What kind of gift is it?"
"It's a personal gift, so it's difficult to say."
"I thought our relationship was close enough to discuss such matters. Was I mistaken?"
"Ah, this is tricky."
I pretended to hesitate for a moment, then spoke to her as if I had no choice.
"Since the Sword Supreme has bestowed such a great favor upon me, I'll tell you. He gave me the Celestial Elixir."
"What did you say?"
She stopped tending to the flowers and turned to face me. The calm and noble demeanor she had a moment ago shattered in an instant.
"Are you saying he really gave the Celestial Elixir to you?"
The One-Slash Sword Supreme found it incredibly hard to believe that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had given me the Celestial Elixir. She was more surprised than I had anticipated.
"Where is the elixir now?"
"I've already consumed it. But why are you so surprised?"
"The Blade Demon is inherently greedy, so how can I not be surprised that he gave you such a precious item?"
"He must have judged me to be more valuable than the elixir."
Although I said it jokingly, the One-Slash Sword Supreme did not laugh. She must have thought it was true.
"Thank you for your help this time. If you ever need my assistance, please let me know. I'll see you next time."
I bowed politely and was about to leave when the Sword Supreme called me softly.
"Second Young Master."
I turned back to her, and the One-Slash Sword Supreme spoke.
"What kind of person do you think the Blade Demon is?"
"He's eccentric, violent, and self-centered. I didn't like him at first, but the more I met him, the more he grew on me."
"Is it not because he gave you the Celestial Elixir?"
"I can't deny that. Who wouldn't like it? It's the Celestial Elixir."
"It's just a mere elixir."
"That 'mere elixir' was essential for me."
She was doing everything she could to sever the relationship between the Blade Demon and me.
"If you want my help in the future, you need to sever ties with the Blade Demon. He is not the right person."
"Then prove it."
"Prove what?"
I stared at her for a moment before speaking.
"Prove that you are more beneficial to me than the Blade Demon."
The One-Slash Sword Supreme's expression hardened slightly.
"Wasn't your talk about establishing order and justice within the sect just nonsense?"
"The Blade Demon gave me the Celestial Elixir. If I am to sever ties with him, I need a good reason."
"Isn't the ideal of benefiting the sect enough of a reason?"
I scoffed openly.
"Dreams, ideals, loyalty… People who try to gain the loyalty of their subordinates and juniors for free with such things, I despise them."
At that moment, she became angry, and I saw her true nature.
Her expression turned cold, and a barren look appeared in her eyes.
Her eyes felt like a desolate desert.
While the Blade Demon's eyes burned with raging flames, the One-Slash Sword Supreme's eyes exuded a profound thirst. The stark contrast from her previously gentle demeanor made this barrenness even more striking.
In retrospect, I finally understood.
Why she had been the first to act after I was sealed by Hwa Moogi. Why her ambition was more urgent than that of the other Eight Demon Supremes. She had to fill that barrenness with something.
Normally, I would have put away the whip and offered a carrot, but I didn't.
"I don't know what you think of me, but I am preparing for a grand endeavor. I will have to meet many people and make many decisions. I cannot always be confident in judging what is right or wrong. So show me something I can easily judge."
I then extended my hand to her.
"Place something more precious than the Celestial Elixir given by the Blade Demon into my hand."
Not the Blade Demon? Nonsense. It has to be the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. That's why you are so shaken. That's why you are asking these questions.
"Young Master, what do you want?"
I closed the palm I had extended to her. I hadn't asked her to help me. It wasn't the right time yet.
"No, there's nothing I need now."
To her, it would sound like this:
I already have the Blade Demon, so I'm fine.
By saying I didn't want anything, she would become even more anxious. If I had demanded something, she might have responded rationally.
"Then, I will see you next time. I will not forget the favor you did for me."
I bowed politely and left her courtyard.
After walking for a while, I looked back. She was still standing there, watching me.
Towards her freezing gaze, I bowed once more and continued walking.
Yes, let that anger boil over.
The water has to boil before the cooking begins.