Chapter 136: I’m Not as Warm-Hearted as I Look.
Chapter 136: I’m Not as Warm-Hearted as I Look.
The following day, I entered closed-door seclusion for a period of ten days.
I left the affairs of the Huangquan Pavilion to Seo Dae-ryong and pushed all thoughts of the Demon Lords out of my mind.
This was an urgent session.
Everything has its catalyst and its timing. Just as one must seize the moment to strike during a duel, there is a right time for training. My catalyst was the spar with my father, which remained vivid in my mind. I had to integrate that experience into my very being before the memory faded.
I decided not to think about the Demon Lords.
The Drunken Demon might have come looking for me the next day, or the Demon Lords might have started fighting among themselves. They weren't people I could control at will anyway, so I immersed myself solely in what I had to do.
I mentally retraced the duel at the Pungryu Tavern, where I had fought in a total trance.
I reproduced every minute movement of the duel with my father. When I moved like this, Father moved like that. When I attacked like this, Father blocked like that. I compared and analyzed his movements against mine.
This sparring match was significant in many ways. I had fought without imposing limits on myself, yet I had faced the immense constraint of having to avoid damaging the surroundings amidst that intense pressure. Because of that, I felt a great deal and had much to learn.
It wasn't a training session to exhaust the body, but one of deep contemplation and reflection. I thought only of martial arts, falling deeper into the trance than ever before.
Ten days later, I emerged from the training ground with a thick, scruffy beard.
The moment I stepped out, the pungent scent of alcohol wafted toward me. I hoped it wasn't who I thought it was, but then that very person spoke from behind me.
"Just who are you working so hard to kill? Is it me? It’s not, right?"
Surprisingly, the Drunken Demon was waiting for me.
"What are you doing here?"
"Why else? I’ve been waiting for you to come out. I went looking for you the day after we drank at the Pungryu Tavern, only to hear you’d gone into closed-door training for ten days. I rushed back here the moment I heard."
"Don't tell me you've been waiting here the whole time?"
"Of course! I’ve been waiting since the first day."
I stared at him for a moment before smiling.
"You're lying. You probably told the female martial artist, 'Let me know when the Second Young Master finishes his seclusion in ten days.' Then you went off to drink and play to your heart's content, didn't you? When did you get here today? Just a moment ago?"
"Hmm. Has Yeo-bin defected to your side?"
I couldn't help but laugh at his honest confession.
The Drunken Demon asked with a suspicious glint in his eyes, "But you didn't enter seclusion just because I was annoying you, did you?"
"To be honest, I enjoy drinking and passing the time with you, Lord Drunken Demon. In fact, the problem is that it's too enjoyable."
"My heart nearly stopped when I heard you’d gone into seclusion. If you’d gone in for a hundred days, I would’ve turned into a stone statue waiting for you."
"Don't you have other drinking buddies?"
"Who?"
"You could drink with the Sword Venerable."
"After suffering such humiliation from that Smiling Demon fellow the other day, who would want to meet up for a drink? I have to give her time to let her anger simmer down."
Was that really the reason? This was a man who came all the way to the training ground to wait for me. Right now, his interest was piqued by me more than the Sword Venerable, so she simply wasn't on his mind.
"Isn't that exactly when one needs a friend?"
"Because we're friends, I'm staying out of her way."
That was also a valid point, so I couldn't refute it.
"Now, let’s go have a drink."
"Do you really enjoy drinking with me that much?"
"Didn't you say we can't call each other 'brother' after only drinking together twice?"
Those were the words I had said to him at the Pungryu Tavern. It seemed they had stuck with him.
"If we drink together about two hundred times, won't you let me?"
"If we've shared drinks two hundred times, wouldn't titles be meaningless anyway?"
"No, they're important. If we've had two hundred drinks and still can't call each other brother, isn't that a strange relationship?"
"I suppose so."
"If I asked you to have tea with me, I probably couldn't even manage five times, but for drinking, I can definitely hit two hundred."
"Why are you going to such lengths to be on brotherly terms with me?"
Then, an unexpected reason came out.
"It's simple. As of now, the chances of you becoming the Heavenly Demon are fifty-fifty, right? Isn't this a chance to have the Heavenly Demon as a younger brother with a fifty percent probability?"
"You're making one big mistake."
"What mistake?"
"If I become the Heavenly Demon, I won't treat you as an older brother. Those two hundred drinking sessions will vanish the moment I take the position."
"On the surface, perhaps?"
"Not in my heart, either. Not even behind closed doors. In fact, fearing such misunderstandings, I might treat you even more strictly."
The Drunken Demon looked at me with a peculiar gaze.
"I thought that even if you became the Heavenly Demon, you would show a candid side. I thought you’d break formality and live like brothers with the Demon Lords."
"That would be a prejudice you have about me. I'm a colder and more heartless person than I look. Perhaps I act more affectionate just to hide that. If I become the Heavenly Demon, I will draw a sharp line between public and private matters. If you were expecting us to casually call each other brother, it would be a better investment to spend the remaining one hundred and ninety-eight drinking sessions with my older brother."
At that, the Drunken Demon spoke in a meaningful tone.
"Your brother must not become the Cult Leader."
"Why?"
"I'll tell you over a drink."
The Drunken Demon hurried his pace. I walked in the opposite direction.
The Drunken Demon, who had gone a distance, came chasing after me.
"Good heavens, you're too much. Second Young Master, aren't you curious?"
"Not at all."
"It's the reason why your brother shouldn't become the Cult Leader, you know?"
"Yes."
"Why on earth not?"
This time, I spoke in a meaningful tone. "You're curious why I'm not curious, aren't you?"
"I am."
"I pretended not to be curious just so you would be. It's the same for you, isn't it? You're trying to bait me into drinking with you by making me curious for no real reason, aren't you?"
"A person loses their human touch when they're too smart!"
"I already told you I'm a heartless person."
As I strode away, the Drunken Demon followed me persistently.
"I waited for ten days. Second Young Master, are you really going to be like this?"
Well, I suppose I should acknowledge that level of effort.
"I give up. I'll wash up and rest for a bit, then I'll visit you at the Great Drunken Forest this evening."
Only then did the Drunken Demon's expression brighten.
"I'll be waiting. You must come."
"In exchange, you must tell me. The reason why my brother shouldn't become the Cult Leader."
"I thought you weren't curious?"
"How could I not be? I'll see you later, then."
I returned to my quarters, shaved, washed, and changed into fresh clothes. Then I stood before the bronze mirror.
The 'me' from ten days ago and the 'me' now were different once again. Through this seclusion, I had elevated the Wind God Four Steps to a new realm.
Wind God Four Steps, Eighth Stage.
I had anticipated this result when I entered seclusion. I had reached the Twelve-Star Great Achievement in the Flying Heaven Sword Technique and gained enlightenment from the inscription left by the Mansa Sect Leader. I had dueled Baek Mang-gi and later had the unique experience of reviewing that fight through the eyes of a third party in a dream.
On top of that, the sparring match with my father was the deciding factor. As if he had anticipated this outcome, Father had faced me using the Wind God Four Steps as his footwork throughout the entire duel.
Ah, there was one more thing. The desperation to achieve mastery in the Wind God Four Steps before I was eventually forced to learn the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.
As a result, I was able to achieve the feat of reaching the Eighth Stage of the Wind God Four Steps—a result that, in a way, was only natural.
As the Wind God Four Steps reached the Eighth Stage, the biggest change was an overwhelming desire to dash somewhere using the Rapid Speed Step. My body was itching so much that I barely suppressed the urge to run to the training ground right then and there. I would have to satisfy that urge properly later; a simple run wouldn't be enough.
First, I lay down on my bed and slept. Perhaps it was because I was in a good mood, but for the first time in a long while, I slept deeply without a single worry.
* * *
That evening, when I bought a bottle of wine and visited the Great Drunken Forest, the Drunken Demon was lying in a rowboat, drifting across the lake.
I took a boat provided by Yeo-bin and slowly approached the one the Drunken Demon was on. There was nothing on his boat but empty wine bottles.
"As I thought! You don't eat any snacks when I'm not around."
"If you drink with me every day, I'll eat snacks every day. Here, have a glass."
"I'll drink the wine I brought."
One of the things I liked about the Drunken Demon was that he never pressured anyone when it came to alcohol. He didn't care what you drank, or if you just took a sip and put it down. He never forced anyone to get drunk with him. I truly believed the Drunken Demon was someone who genuinely loved wine.
"I felt this the last time I came, but this lake is truly wonderful."
"There are even more magnificent places in the Great Drunken Forest. I'll take you there next time."
"Do you really think there's a 'next time' for us?"
"Why do you think there isn't?"
I drank instead of answering.
"Right, I know what you mean. Because the Blood Heaven Blade Demon hates me so much." He also took a drink. "Then again, is it just me he hates? Are you really planning to gain the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and lose the three of us? Isn't that a losing bargain? That man is someone who would go to the First Young Master at any moment if the conditions were right."
The Drunken Demon slowly began to sow discord, trying to push the Blade Demon away.
"Didn't I tell you that day? I'm going to gain all three of you. That's why I'm here today."
"If you can't distinguish between ideals and reality like this, the First Young Master will eventually become the successor. The successor who will become the Heavenly Demon isn't decided simply by who has better martial arts or who is smarter."
"Then what is it decided by?"
"Think about it. Choosing a successor isn't about choosing the greatest demonic blade under heaven. It's about choosing the person who will lead the Main Cult well. A Cult Leader who knows when to compromise and how to harmonize with the Eight Demon Lords. If not, the Cult will fracture and eventually be devoured by the Murim Alliance. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I didn't know you were someone who thought so rationally about the Cult's future, Lord Drunken Demon."
"I am a prime victim of misunderstanding and prejudice."
"If you dislike that, why don't you quit drinking?"
"A Drunken Demon who quit drinking? The entire Murim would laugh at me."
With that, the Drunken Demon took another drink.
"May I ask you one thing? I've wanted to ask for a while."
"What is it?"
After a brief pause, I asked him, "Do you drink to forget? Or do you drink so you won't forget?"
"…!"
The Drunken Demon flinched for a moment, then stared at me before answering that it was neither.
"To enjoy it. I drink simply because I like wine. Thinking there must be some tragic story behind it is just another prejudice."
The Drunken Demon drank again. I couldn't tell if he was being sincere or just making excuses. As long as he was drinking, it wasn't easy to see the truth in him.
I also drank the wine I had brought. Being with him made me keep drinking. When I used to drink heavily, there was definitely a reason. Was the 'me' back then drinking to forget? Or was I drinking so I wouldn't forget?
"If that's the case, shouldn't you support my brother as the successor? My brother wouldn't say something as ridiculous as needing to reconcile with the Elder Blade Demon like I do."
Then, the Drunken Demon said something unexpected.
"The First Young Master must not become the successor."
He repeated what he had said in front of the training ground. The fact that he brought it up himself meant it wasn't just something he said to lure me into a drinking session. Perhaps this was the reason he had approached me? While talking about being brothers.
"The First Young Master… likes the Cult Leader too much."
"…!"
Words I never expected came from the Drunken Demon.
"I like my father too, but..."
"He likes him in a way that can't be compared to you."
I couldn't deny that. Whether it was out of genuine affection, being suppressed by Father's authority, or to become the successor, my brother was someone who would do anything Father said.
"I admit you're superior to the First Young Master. But even so, I can't be certain you'll become the successor yet."
I agreed with that as well. Father was the kind of person who could spar with me today and then bluntly announce tomorrow that my brother was the successor.
"Fine. Let's say that's true. Why is my brother liking Father a reason he shouldn't be the successor?"
"Because the First Young Master will be unable to defy the Cult Leader's will."
"What will?"
Once again, startling words flowed from the Drunken Demon.
"The will for the Unification of the Murim."
The Drunken Demon knew. He knew that Father harbored the ambition to unify the martial world. I recalled the conversation I’d had with Father regarding the Pungcheon Cult Leader.
—The time has not yet come. Just know that much.
At that time, I had suspected Father might be dreaming of the Unification of the Murim. The Drunken Demon had sensed that ambition. Perhaps not just him, but some of the other Demon Lords knew as well. The Demon Lords had strictly avoided mentioning anything related to Father.
"The First Young Master will become the successor and faithfully follow the Cult Leader's orders. He will undoubtedly become the vanguard and set out to conquer the Murim. But you? You would stop the Cult Leader. From what I've seen of you so far, you aren't someone who favors war."
"That's right. I do not want war."
"Then you must become the successor and stop the Cult Leader."
I never dreamed the Drunken Demon had chosen me for such a reason. He chose me to prevent a future war? This Drunken Demon who was always intoxicated? This man, who seemed the most thoughtless among the Eight Demon Lords?
I brought my face close to his.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to see how much is truth and how much is a lie."
"Everything I say is the truth."
"You, the Drunken Demon, who does nothing but drink, chose me for the sake of the peace of the Murim? You expect me to believe that?"
"Call it my final prejudice."
Looking at me with drunken eyes, the Drunken Demon revealed the truth as if making a confession.
"That is exactly why I sent the broken wine bottle to the First Young Master."