Chapter 240: Finally Opened His Eyes
Chapter 240: Finally Opened His Eyes
I opened my eyes.
Even though I had woken up in an unfamiliar place, my body felt so refreshed that I remained lying on the bed for a moment. Usually, when I slept for a long time, I would be plagued by all sorts of dreams, but this time, I had fallen into a deep, dreamless slumber.
How long had I been out?
A day? Two? Judging by how hollow my stomach felt, I might have slept for ten days straight.
Then, a certain person crossed my mind, and I bolted upright.
“Smiling Demon!”
Looking around, I realized this wasn't the infirmary.
It was an unfamiliar bedroom I had never stepped foot in before. The clean bedding gave off a fragrant scent, and the furniture didn't feel old; rather, it possessed the refined elegance of antique craftsmanship.
Then, something caught my eye.
That thing hanging on the wall...!
To my surprise, this was my father’s bedroom.
My last memory was being in the infirmary, so why was I sleeping here?
A set of clean martial robes lay beside the bed. After changing, I looked around the room with a dazed heart. Despite being his son, this was the first time I had ever entered this room.
Father gave his room to me?
I didn't know the full circumstances, but that fact alone moved me deeply. I lay back down on my father’s bed for a moment. Knowing that this was where he slept made me want to linger just a bit longer. An opportunity like this might never come again.
Just then, my father’s voice drifted in from outside the window.
“If you’re awake, come out.”
I sprang from the bed and headed outside. Father was sitting at a stone tea table in the courtyard, calmly sipping tea.
“Normally, one would recognize the Heavenly Demon’s quarters by the symbol of the Heavenly Demon Soul or the presence of the Heavenly Demon Sword. But I figured it out because of those floral pajamas!”
The item hanging on the wall was indeed my father’s floral pajamas.
At my banter, Father set down his teacup.
“I see you’re feeling well enough to joke.”
“I feel like I could fly.”
In truth, my body felt perfectly healed.
“Why am I in your quarters, Father?”
“Because I brought you here.”
“You came to the infirmary?”
At my startled question, Father nodded.
“I wasn't the only one. That meager social circle of yours all showed up.”
I could guess roughly who had come.
“Aren't those few people worth a hundred men each, after all?”
Actually, were they only worth a hundred? They were worth a thousand, ten thousand.
“What happened to the Smiling Demon?”
My heart raced with anxiety. Father was the type of person who could calmly sip tea while saying, 'The Smiling Demon is dead.'
“The Demon Doctor is still treating him.”
I felt a wave of relief. The name 'Demon Doctor' carried immense weight.
Just then, maidservants from the Heavenly Demon Hall arrived and brought me porridge. Since I was eating after several days of fasting, it was meant to be a light meal. This was Father’s consideration.
“Have you eaten, Father?”
“I have, so go ahead.”
“Yes, then I shall enjoy the meal.”
I never knew porridge could taste this good. After cleaning the bowl and finishing a cup of tea, I still felt hungry, but I felt like I could live again.
“Where did you get the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng?”
“Ya Yul-han brought it as a ninetieth birthday gift for the Five Thunders Divine Sword.”
“And the cleanup?”
“Bi Sa-in decided to handle it.”
“Can he do it?”
“Yes, I believe he can.”
“So you’ve tapped that child as the next leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance.”
“I believe it’s not a bad choice.”
At that moment, a warrior of the Heavenly Demon Hall brought something over and set it down in front of me.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
I opened the box to find another Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng inside. I was stunned.
“Where did this come from?”
“Why? Do you think I cut open the Smiling Demon’s stomach to take it back?”
He must have brought a spirit medicine from the Heavenly Demon Treasure Vault. Only the Heavenly Demon knows exactly what is inside, but I had a rough idea of its value.
“Are you giving this to me?”
“Yes.”
“Why are you giving me something so precious?”
“Since you so willingly sacrificed a Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng for my Demon Lord, it is only right that I repay the debt.”
He emphasized the words my Demon Lord. It was a reminder that the Smiling Demon wasn't my subordinate yet.
“Are you perhaps afraid I’ll steal the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon away from you?”
At that, he made my favorite expression—that characteristic smirk where the corner of his mouth curls up.
“Do you not want to eat it? If not, then forget it.”
“No way!”
As he moved to take it back, I quickly popped it into my mouth. It was sweet and bitter, more fragrant and delicious than any spirit medicine I had ever consumed.
I performed one complete circulation of my True Qi, fully dissolving the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng and converting it into internal energy. As the energy from the ginseng was added to my newly elevated realm, my internal energy became even more pure and profound.
While I was circulating my qi, Father stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant Daecheon Mountain. I went and stood beside him. Instead of a thank you, I offered an apology first.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
A son who puts himself in danger is, by that fact alone, unfilial.
“As long as you know.”
“I will not forget the grace of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng.”
He wouldn't have given me something this precious just because I yielded the other one to the Smiling Demon. There was another meaning behind Father granting me the ginseng. And that meaning was exactly what I suspected.
“You said it, didn't you? That you would engage in a succession struggle without shedding blood.”
“Yes.”
“Do you still feel the same way?”
“I do.”
Father said nothing more.
I could tell. Soon, Father would decide on a successor. The Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng was a gift given with the intent for me to wrap up that succession struggle well. Because I suspected as much, every time I chewed the ginseng, I seemed to hear his voice in my ear:
Eat this and do a good job!
If Father was going to make a decision, then I, too, had to settle things with my brother one way or another.
“I will come to see you soon, hand-in-hand with my brother.”
This was what Father wanted. The final test of the successor selection.
Knowing my brother’s personality, I felt this task might be even harder than killing Ya Yul-han. Because he was no longer a match for me in martial arts, and because most of the Demon Lords had become my people, it was actually more difficult. There was no telling what desperate measures my brother might take when cornered.
“If you’re done eating, leave.”
“Can I go back into the room, put on your pajamas, and sleep for just one more hour before I go? They're so soft that I don't want to leave.”
Just as Father was about to snap at me, a warrior from the Heavenly Demon Hall arrived to report.
“The Poison King has returned.”
As soon as I heard that, I gave a deep bow and ran off.
“Then I’ll be going!”
I could feel Father’s gaze on the back of my head, likely looking at me with an exasperated expression.
I understand, Father. I’ll end the succession struggle this time. I have a long road ahead of me, too.
*
The carriage carrying the Poison King and the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master entered the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
“Look over there!”
Where Seo Dae-ryong pointed, a massive statue of an evil ghost stood.
“Look at the other side.”
On the opposite side, statues were also pointing swords and blades at each other. There were statues recreating past Heavenly Demons and others in the form of the Heavenly Demon Soul.
“It’s incredible,” she answered in admiration, but the statues weren't truly entering the Pavilion Master’s sight right now.
Her heart was pounding wildly. Soon, she would hear news of the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon. No news of him had reached them during the journey, so she did not know if he was alive or dead.
The Poison King had not breathed a word regarding the Smiling Demon’s condition. He hadn't even offered words of comfort. From that behavior, Seo Dae-ryong felt that the Poison King was a very different person than he appeared. He was not a man to be judged by that youthful, fresh appearance. Seeing him absentmindedly staring at poisonous herbs or digging in the dirt was only a fraction of who he was.
Under heavy guard, the carriage passed through the Outer Court and entered the Inner Court. The security became several times tighter. The group finally stepped out of the carriage.
The Pavilion Master looked around, her gaze stopping abruptly on one spot. In the distance, Geom Mu-geuk was walking toward them.
In that moment, her heart felt like it would burst. She wondered what news he would deliver. She prayed the Smiling Demon was safe.
As he drew near, Geom Mu-geuk spoke to her.
“The Smiling Demon is still undergoing treatment.”
He spoke to her honestly.
“I have done everything I could. The Divine Doctor of our Cult has also done his best. Now, it is up to the Smiling Demon.”
At that, the Pavilion Master beamed.
“Then there’s no need to worry.”
She was someone who trusted the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon implicitly. Hearing it from Geom Mu-geuk, of all people, put her at ease. If Geom Mu-geuk said he had done his best, then he truly had.
“You must be tired from the long journey. Please rest for now. You will be treated as honored guests of the Cult until the Smiling Demon wakes.”
The Pavilion Master bowed her head in gratitude. The maidservants who had accompanied her guided her to a guest house.
Once she left, Seo Dae-ryong ran forward and tried to hug Mu-geuk.
“What are you doing? This is gross.”
“I’m just happy to see you! Why are you using footwork to dodge me? Would you have done this if that martial artist had run to you?”
Seo Dae-ryong lunged again. This time, Mu-geuk didn't dodge and let himself be hugged.
“I was really worried this time.”
“Then you should have run to help back then. When Ya Yul-han surrounded me with his clones, you should have come and taken care of three of them.”
“Gasp! That guy used clones too?”
“That wasn't all. Sword qi in the shape of evil ghosts lunged at me as if to devour me.”
Seo Dae-ryong quietly took a step back.
“As you know, I am a man suited for being an investigator. Don't waste my top-of-the-class graduation on the wrong things!”
If you’re going to say that, your eyes shouldn't be burning with such intensity.
“I’m going to go pay my respects to my master.”
Once Seo Dae-ryong had left, the only one remaining was the Poison King. He had intentionally stayed back, wanting the two of them to speak privately.
“You’ve worked hard, Poison King.”
“What hard work did I do? You guys are the ones who suffered.” The Poison King asked Mu-geuk, “Did you obtain what you sought from this fight?”
After a brief pause, Mu-geuk replied, “Yes, I believe I did.”
The Poison King stared intently into Mu-geuk’s deepened gaze before turning toward the Thousand Poison Forest.
“Come visit the Thousand Poison Forest when you have time.”
Dangling from his waist as he walked away were the Poison-Avoiding Heavenly Silkworm Thread Gloves that Mu-geuk had given him as a gift.
*
Finally, the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon opened his eyes.
The characteristic scent of medicine stinging his nose told him he was lying in the infirmary. His last memory was of Geom Mu-geuk’s back. He remembered falling asleep while thinking about how comfortable his body felt despite how terrifyingly fast Mu-geuk was running.
Checking his internal state, he found that his body, which had been like a battlefield, was now peaceful. It wasn't a total end to the war, but it was at least a ceasefire.
He could tell by his condition. He had arrived safely at the Main Cult, and the Demon Doctor had treated him. The Demon Doctor was the only one capable of healing such a body.
The Smiling Demon slowly sat up. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he looked into a bronze mirror. The blood from the battle was still smeared on his white mask. They hadn't even touched the mask while treating him.
The Smiling Demon suddenly recalled a moment. The moment when he had sensed death and tried to remove his mask, only for Geom Mu-geuk to grab his arm.
— I’m not looking at your face because I’m afraid you’ll turn out to be more handsome than me!
A smile formed on the Smiling Demon’s lips beneath the mask. Just then, someone entered the room.
“Are you awake?”
The person who entered was the Demon Doctor. Even though he knew this man had saved him, the Smiling Demon skipped the greetings and asked about Geom Mu-geuk first.
“What happened to the Second Young Master?”
“In all my years as a physician, I have never seen someone in such a state of exhaustion. To think he carried a Demon Lord here in that condition...”
A flicker of worry crossed the Smiling Demon’s eyes.
But the Demon Doctor soon smiled. “You needn't worry. Right now, he’d probably run back the way he came even faster with a Demon Lord on his back.”
Only then did the Smiling Demon feel relieved.
“I heard the Second Young Master also slept for several days straight. Well, he arrived even before the missive did, so it’s no wonder he was exhausted.”
Faster than a missive? Yes, he remembered. How desperately Mu-geuk had run. Even in that state, he had shared his energy to keep the Smiling Demon’s body stable. The Smiling Demon knew well how much mental and physical strength that required.
Only after hearing news of Mu-geuk did the Smiling Demon express his sincere gratitude.
“Thank you for saving my life. I apologize for the late greeting.”
The Demon Doctor shook his head and bowed deeply.
“I am the one who should express gratitude. Thank you for resolving the lifelong grudge in my heart.”
The son in the Demon Doctor’s heart had finally begun to age.
“Now, first, dissolve the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng in your body. If the Second Young Master hadn't administered it, you wouldn't be alive right now, Demon Lord.”
This time, the Smiling Demon remembered the moment Mu-geuk had fed him the ginseng. He also recalled the image of Mu-geuk sobbing, terrified that he might die.
Feeling that he owed Mu-geuk far too much, the Smiling Demon closed his eyes and began to dissolve the energy of the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng. While he was circulating his qi, the Demon Doctor sent someone to inform Mu-geuk that he had awakened.
By the time the Smiling Demon had fully absorbed the internal energy, his gaze behind the mask had grown even colder and deeper. A moment later, Mu-geuk, who had been waiting outside, entered.
Mu-geuk spoke to the masked Smiling Demon.
“Your complexion looks exceptionally good today.”
How much had he missed Mu-geuk’s banter? Seeing the blood on the mask, Mu-geuk added, “You even have a rosy glow on your face.”
The Smiling Demon laughed out loud. They didn't need to say how grateful they were to each other. This one sentence from the Smiling Demon, who had just come back from the brink of death, was enough.
“Let’s go fight again later.”
“Sounds good.”
No more words were necessary.
“By the way, a precious guest has arrived at the Cult.”
When Mu-geuk opened the door, the person waiting outside entered. It was the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master. She had come all the way to the Demonic Cult headquarters out of worry, but she had been anxious the entire time, wondering if she had overstepped.
But the moment she saw the Smiling Demon, all those feelings vanished. She realized there had been no need to worry in the first place. She was this happy just to see him. What other reason did she need? Nothing else mattered. Even if the Smiling Demon got angry, she felt she had done right by coming.
And the Smiling Demon met her heart perfectly.
“You’ve been saying for a long time that you wanted to see my room, haven't you?”