Chapter 178: Who is Third?
Chapter 178: Who is Third?
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was in the midst of his cultivation. Since he had entered seclusion long before I even began my latest trial, he had been immersed in a meditative state of constant practice for quite some time.
"Are you preparing for a war or something?" I asked.
He answered without even turning his head. "At my age, every day is a war."
"I'm back, Elder."
This time, I rushed forward and pulled the Blood Heaven Blade Demon into a sudden, tight embrace.
"What are you doing? How revolting!"
Startled, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shoved me off. To be honest, I wanted to hug my father like this, but I was too afraid of being thrashed by his Nine Calamities Demonic Art to even attempt it.
"I missed you, Elder."
"You're acting like someone who hasn't seen me in a decade."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon drove his Heaven Extermination Great Blade deep into the earth.
He leaned against the hilt. At times like this, the weapon looked like a dear friend to him—a sight I quite enjoyed.
"What of the Heavenly Mandate Society Leader?"
"He's dead."
"He must have had many protectors."
"I got a lot of blood on my hands this time," I admitted.
Perhaps sensing the bitterness in my reply, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon went inside his house, brought out some wine, and poured me a cup.
"What can you do? That is your fate. Drink up and shake it off."
I drained the cup in one refreshing gulp. It felt as if the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was washing the blood from my hands. At the very least, this was wine and comfort offered by a man who understood better than anyone what it meant to kill.
I didn't say thank you. As always, words were not enough to repay him.
"The First Young Master will never give up, so things won't be easy moving forward. Even if his ability or talent doesn't match yours, his obsession with becoming the Heavenly Demon is stronger than yours."
And it was because I intended to spare my brother that the path ahead would be difficult.
"By the way, have you met your disciple?"
"He stopped by earlier."
"You did well to choose him as your successor."
"We'll have to wait and see."
"He'll do better than anyone. Oh, you must have heard that he won the Young Dragon Tournament."
"He won?"
"You told him he’d die if he lost, so how could he fail? Even if it were the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament instead of the Young Dragon Tournament, he would have had to win. Besides, whose martial arts is he practicing? How could he lose?"
A flicker of joy crossed the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's face, as if he truly hadn't expected a victory. Seeing him like this, it was clear he held a genuine affection for Seo Dae-ryong.
"Goodness. Seeing as that chatterbox didn't brag about it, I can tell how much he fears you. Please, try to be a bit more approachable."
"If the relationship between master and disciple is too comfortable, trouble is bound to follow. Regardless, he's probably grown quite arrogant. He's due for some Hell Training."
Ah, Investigator Seo. I didn't see that coming. Sorry.
"Go on now. Don't you have to see the other Demon Lords?"
"No. I'll take my time seeing the others. Today, I only came to see you, Elder."
If you like someone, you should show it clearly. As the saying goes, a person who likes everyone is a person who likes no one—regardless of one's true intentions, that's how people perceive it. 'Oh, that person just likes everyone, right?' At the very least, I didn't want the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to have such a misunderstanding.
"Your flattery is as consistent as ever."
Despite his words, an irrepressible smile bloomed on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's lips. He secretly enjoyed this kind of thing.
"Go and greet the other Demon Lords. They all stepped up for your sake; it's only polite to pay your respects."
"Yes, I'll do that then."
"As if you weren't already planning to go."
"Just know that you are always my top priority, Elder."
Leaving the Blood Heaven Blade Demon behind as he resumed swinging his blade, I stepped out of his residence.
Before heading to Villain Valley, I stopped by my house to grab my white mask. When visiting Villain Valley, wasn't it only polite to wear the mask?
The white-masked Faceless Guests no longer watched me with the same scrutiny as before. The hostility in their eyes had vanished.
I could tell from their reactions that my bond with the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon was deepening. If they ever reached the point of greeting me with friendly eyes, it would mean we had become even closer.
Guided by a Faceless Guest, I entered the residence of the Master of Villain Valley.
Initially, I had viewed meeting these Demon Lords as a task as vital as my martial arts training, but now it had become a genuine relationship. Surprisingly, I was visiting because I truly wanted to see him.
The Smiling Demon was staring at a white wall again today. I wondered what on earth he thought about while staring at that blank surface.
"I'm here."
I slid the mask up over my forehead and greeted him brightly. The Smiling Demon turned toward me.
My eyes met his through the slits of his mask. To think the day would come when I felt so glad to meet the Smiling Demon's gaze.
The Smiling Demon and I had fought two life-and-death battles together. The first was against the Sword Emperor, Baek Mang-gi, and the second was against the Smiling Demon's grand-uncle, Yang Cheo-gi.
Both battles were desperate struggles for survival, and because of that, there was a special bond between us—the camaraderie of comrades who had protected each other's lives on the battlefield.
"I heard the matter with the Heavenly Mandate Society was settled well."
"It was for your revenge, so how could I be negligent?"
In truth, this trial was also related to the Smiling Demon, as they had recruited his grand-uncle, Yang Cheo-gi.
The Smiling Demon spoke with a chuckle.
"As you know, I am very clear when it comes to gratitudes and grudges."
He was referencing the time he gave a Gratitude and Grudge Token to Chu Saeng of the Wolpyeong Sect. The Smiling Demon and a Gratitude and Grudge Token—it was a truly mismatched combination.
The Smiling Demon held out a small box.
"What is this?"
"Open it."
Inside the box was a single white elixir.
"It is the White Spirit Pill, a secret elixir passed down through my sect."
A sharp, potent fragrance immediately filled the room. I could tell its efficacy was extraordinary.
"My sect sent it to me. It seems peace has returned now that Grand-Uncle Yang Cheo-gi is dead."
It appeared they had sent it out of gratitude because I had returned the sect's warriors, who had come under the grand-uncle's orders, without harming a single one of them.
"I am giving this to you, Second Young Master."
"Why give such a precious thing to me?"
"Because I received it thanks to you."
It was a gift given out of genuine care for me. I was flustered by the unexpected gesture.
"No. You should have it, Lord Smiling Demon."
Then, the Smiling Demon said something unexpected.
"I'm giving this to you because I want to stay in your good graces as well, so stop refusing and take it."
"I want to stay in your good graces, too. Fine. Then how about this? Let's split it and take half each."
The Smiling Demon looked startled by my suggestion.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. I'm not usually the type to share elixirs because I'm greedy, but I want to make an exception this time. To commemorate the fact that we fought and survived together, let's each have half."
The Smiling Demon's eyes sparkled. It was the clearest gaze I had seen from him since we met. I could feel it—our relationship was passing another turning point.
"Very well. Let's do that."
I drew the Black Demonic Sword and split the White Spirit Pill exactly in half.
As if sharing a drink, we consumed them simultaneously.
I swallowed my half of the White Spirit Pill. A cool energy enveloped my mouth before melting and sliding down my throat.
It was an elixir of incredibly potent nature, but because my existing internal energy was already so profound, I absorbed the medicinal effects without any issues. Though it was only half, the amount of internal energy added to my dantian was significant.
My eyes glowed with a clear, deep light before returning to their normal state.
The Smiling Demon also finished his Qi circulation and stood up.
"It's delicious."
"It's more delicious than any elixir I've ever had."
No more words were needed. We simply laughed together.
"By the way, how can you just swallow it like that? What if it was poison? What if it was a fake White Spirit Pill?"
"That's why I shared it. So we could die together."
The Smiling Demon laughed out loud. To anyone else, his laughter might have seemed like a mere habit, but to me, it was filled with genuine emotion. I could feel his sincerity through that laugh.
"But is it really alright for you to keep staring at that wall?"
"Isn't it good? It makes me look like a madman. People don't usually mess with a madman. Why? Are you worried? Worried that I'll actually go insane?"
"A little."
At my honest answer, the Smiling Demon shared a surprising fact.
"Shall I tell you a secret? My sect's mental method actually improves more effectively when training while staring at a white wall."
"Ah, so that's why."
I hadn't realized the Smiling Demon was practicing his mental method while staring at the wall. Once again, I realized that while they might look unstable to my eyes, everyone was living their own lives just fine.
"Did you come here after seeing the Blade Demon?"
"Yes."
"It must be exhausting to take care of everyone individually."
"There are only four so far, aren't there?"
"You intend to take care of all eight, don't you?"
Surprisingly, his prediction was correct.
"Yes. Whether they are allies or enemies, I intend to manage and look after all eight."
"Can you handle it?"
Of course, it wouldn't be easy. These were relationships that could turn sour at any moment, no matter how much we laughed and got along now. If I took the Demon Lords lightly, I would eventually face disaster.
"I told my 'Pretty Heart' something once—that martial arts and life are connected. Does that only apply to her? If I can become a vessel large enough to embrace all Eight Demon Lords, then I will be able to overcome the walls of martial arts that stand in my way."
The Smiling Demon stared at me for a moment before sharing his thoughts.
"What exactly are you looking at? Sometimes, I get the feeling that what you're aiming for isn't just becoming the successor, or just becoming the Heavenly Demon, but something else beyond that."
Was it because we were in a relationship where we only looked into each other's eyes? He was seeing the 'beyond' that I was looking at. The Smiling Demon sensed something that even those closer to me hadn't noticed.
The day would come when I would tell him. About my great enemy. And so, the moment might come again where we stand back-to-back, crossing the threshold of life and death.
"If it's you, Lord Smiling Demon, and not someone else, I don't think that moment would be so bad."
I spoke without context, but the Smiling Demon didn't ask what I meant.
"I will look forward to that moment."
"Then, I'll see you again."
I bid him farewell and left Villain Valley. My reunion with him was as clean and crisp as his white mask.
*
I was able to see the One Flower Sword Venerable and the Drunken Demon in one place because they were drinking together. The two friends often drank together, and today was no exception.
"Welcome, Young Master Lee!"
Both the One Flower Sword Venerable and the Drunken Demon were intoxicated. It was my first time seeing the Sword Venerable so drunk.
"You've fallen into the temptation of evil," I teased.
"Then hurry up and rescue me," the One Flower Sword Venerable replied as he poured me a cup of wine.
"Thank you for your help with the Villain Valley matter last time."
"What did we even do? We just flocked there in a group."
Then, the Drunken Demon asked me with a disgruntled face, "You've already met the Blade Demon and the Smiling Demon, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Why are we last? Why are we third and fourth? You could have come to see us first!"
The One Flower Sword Venerable joined in the complaint. As they glared at me with faces flushed from alcohol, I asked with a smile, "So, which of you is third?"
The two of them readily accepted this blatant attempt to sow discord.
"Me," the One Flower Sword Venerable said confidently.
The Drunken Demon shook his head as if pitying his friend. "My friend, I'm sorry, but it's me. The Second Young Master and I are on 'brotherly' terms."
"Look here, friend. If it were true brotherhood, you wouldn't be fighting over whether you're third or fourth."
"We're the kind of friends who drink and go swimming together!"
"I wasn't going to say this, but we even sparred under the moonlight."
The two bickering men turned to look at me. They wanted me to choose. Who was third, and who was fourth? The Drunken Demon asked with a desperate gaze, "Little brother. I'm not last, am I?"
"You're not last."
"Right?"
Just as he broke into a wide grin, I added, "You're right in the middle. Fourth out of the eight Demon Lords."
The One Flower Sword Venerable took a victory drink. "Friend, just because you're brothers doesn't mean you're the closest, right?"
The Drunken Demon pouted and took a drink.
I was so grateful to the two of them. Were these the kind of people who usually accepted such treatment? Were they the kind of people who would normally care about being third or fourth? They were putting up with it for my sake. They were willingly playing along with this 'third vs. fourth' squabble.
"Let me tell you both clearly today. You know the two who came before you, right? They're difficult, stubborn, and eccentric. On the other hand, what about you two? Aren't you the most broad-minded among the Demon Lords?"
"Is it because we're broad-minded? Or because we're easy targets?"
When I made a mock-startled expression at the Drunken Demon's question, the two of them roared with laughter.
The three of us toasted and drained our cups.
Setting down his glass, the Drunken Demon shared some rather surprising news.
"A while ago, the Blade Demon, the Sword Venerable here, and I—the three of us had a drink together."
It was hard to imagine the three of them drinking together.
"How was it? Was it good?"
"Do you think it was good?" The Drunken Demon sighed.
"No blades were drawn, I hope?"
"It almost came to that."
"Then it's fine."
The One Flower Sword Venerable chimed in. "Fine? What do you mean, fine? Don't you ever invite me to a gathering like that again!"
Well, if people who had a falling out could reconcile so easily, why would there be conflict in the world?
Regardless, it was meaningful. The Drunken Demon was making an effort to reconcile the two.
I raised my glass and spoke with my eyes.
You worked hard, Brother.
The Drunken Demon smiled and raised his glass. Sometimes, acknowledging someone's hard work once is better than saying a hundred nice words.
"Now that I've paid my respects, I'll be going."
I bid them farewell and stood up. I had to force myself to leave, even as the Drunken Demon grabbed my pant leg, begging me to drink more.
I could hang out with the Demon Lords anytime, but the chance to go hunting with my father didn't come often.
At dawn the next day, I shouldered a leather pouch even larger than before and made my way toward the Heavenly Demon Hall for my second hunting trip with my father.