Chapter 302: Now Is the Time to Grow Stronger.
Chapter 302: Now Is the Time to Grow Stronger.
“Are you serious?”
My father’s short question carried a deeper weight: Are you truly going to make such an uncertain choice? There was a chance I might never form a connection with it, and even if I did, something completely useless might pop out.
“If it has no destiny with me... I’ll just use it to bash an enemy’s head in. Or I can melt it down and forge a sword. That’ll be the end of it.”
“Well, the choice is yours regardless.”
“I’ve shown you nothing but perfection so far, so I’m choosing this to show you that I can make mistakes too.”
I slowly reached out toward the Secret Casket. The moment my hand brushed against it—
“Ah!”
At my deep lament, my father asked, “What is it?”
“When I picked this up, I expected a sudden spark of electricity or some mysterious, echoing rumble that only I could hear...” I let out a sigh and added, “I feel absolutely nothing.”
My father shook his head.
“It was your choice. If you had looked between those Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginsengs, you would have found a bottle containing several drops of Sky Blue Stone Oil.”
“No way? Please tell me you’re joking!”
I rushed over to where the spirit medicines were kept. Sure enough, nestled between the elixirs and herbs was a bottle of Sky Blue Stone Oil. It felt as if it were mocking me: You didn't see me? This milky, radiant glow?
“You should have told me sooner!”
“Why would I tell you when I’d rather hide it from you?”
I looked at my father with a feigned expression of agony. “Don't tell me... is there something else?”
My father was thoroughly enjoying teasing me.
“This is the Main Cult’s treasure vault; do you think that’s all? There is also the Ice Extreme Snow Fruit.”
I walked up beside him and whispered, “Let me take back my choice.”
“Denied!”
Right, he wouldn't be my father if he let me take it back.
“Don’t use those! Keep them exactly where they are! You have to leave them for me until I become the Cult Leader! Father!”
I realized how impressive it was that my father kept these items stored away. It wasn't that he lacked greed; he was likely saving them for a decisive moment rather than using them now. As expected, my father was looking at the big picture.
I looked down at the Secret Casket and muttered, “You rascal, you better be more precious than Sky Blue Stone Oil!”
I played it off with a joke, but my instincts were still drawn to this casket. I didn't feel that sinking pit in my stomach that usually comes with making a wrong choice. Even if I were told to choose again, I felt I would still pick the Secret Casket. This wasn't just foolish stubbornness trying to deny a mistake.
This dull lump of iron was still pulling at me intensely.
My father was no different. On the surface, he looked amused by my antics, but I could see a glimmer of expectation in his eyes—a hope that I might solve the mystery he couldn't.
“It’ll open when the time is right. It’ll say, ‘O Fated One, you chose well! My pride was wounded when you compared me to mere Sky Blue Stone Oil!’ Something like that.”
“Sure, you have to live with that kind of hope, I suppose.”
Shouting “O Fated One!” once more, I tucked the Secret Casket into my robes.
Damn, why is this thing so heavy?
I left the Heavenly Demon Treasure Vault with my father. We talked as we retraced our steps. In truth, I had received a gift today far greater than the casket: the fact that my father had given me a congratulatory present at all. That was the greatest gift of all.
“What will you do now?”
“I have to train. When I get tired of training, I’ll play with the Demon Lords. Even if you ask if I’m playing again, I’ll play. Even if you ask if I’m not sick of it, I’ll still play.” I glanced at him and asked tentatively, “Should I call for you when we play, Father?”
My father snorted, but he didn't tell me not to.
“Father. I wasn't just saying it earlier when I said I wanted to go out with you. Let’s go out together soon. If Strategist Sama tries to stop us, we’ll just run away in the middle of the night. We’ll bolt using the Heavenly Demon Flight Technique and Rapid Speed Step.”
My father never did say "let's do that."
“Then, I shall take my leave. Thank you truly for the gift.”
I bowed politely and turned to leave when my father spoke.
“Let’s have a game of Go soon.”
I grinned widely.
“You’d better be on your guard. My strategist has started learning Go.”
*
As I stepped out of the Heavenly Demon Hall, the daytime guards, including Jeok-yeon, fell into line behind me. It was a silent greeting and a sign of their joy at my return.
“You’ve all been training hard.”
I could tell the results of their training just by their aura and the way they walked. It seemed they had undergone quite the blood-sweating effort.
Yes, let’s all get stronger. Now is the time for all of us to grow powerful.
I went straight to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Elder!”
I ran toward him happily as usual, but then I skidded to a halt. An unfamiliar sight greeted me. A flower garden had been created in the yard, and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was meticulously pruning branches with his massive Heaven Extermination Great Blade.
“My goodness! I thought I was visiting the Southern Blade Sect, but I’ve ended up at the Northern Heavenly Sword House. It’s been a while, Sword Venerable. Why have you become so ugly in the meantime?”
“Stop talking nonsense and go water those plants over there.”
“Yes, sir.”
It seemed he had been getting along well with the One Flower Sword Venerable lately and had learned how to grow flowers from her. On the surface, it didn't suit him at all, but I knew better. Tending a garden actually suited the book-loving Blood Heaven Blade Demon quite well. There was a softness to the Blade Demon that existed behind that rugged exterior.
“If you give one spot too much water, it’ll die. Spread it evenly.”
I watered the other areas as the Blade Demon instructed.
“You seem to be getting along well with Senior Sword Venerable these days.”
“She’s busy being obsessed with her martial arts training lately. She won't even meet me because she doesn't want to be seen without her makeup.”
It seemed she had been focusing entirely on her training since our last duel. For the makeup-loving Sword Venerable to go without it meant she was truly serious.
“It’s because of you, isn't it?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Like hell it isn't. I don't know what kind of competitive streak has bitten her at her age.”
It’s because there are things you only realize when you’re older. Things you thought were nothing when you were young look different now, don't they? You’re the same, Elder. Giving a blade to a disciple and growing flowers in your yard? Would that have even been conceivable in the past?
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon added one more thing.
“Don’t just look after the masked one; look after the drunkard too.”
“You mean Brother Drunken Demon?”
“He was waiting for you on the roof, drinking, the day I returned.”
“Ugh, that pathetic brother of mine. He must have been acting all melancholy while drunk again.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon said nothing more about the Drunken Demon. In fact, the mere fact that he had mentioned looking after him was a significant change.
“Alright, that’s enough. That’s it for today.”
The Blade Demon stopped pruning and headed inside. When I tried to follow him, he tried to shoo me away.
“I’ve seen your face, so that’s enough. You don't need to worry about me.”
“I feel most comfortable and happy here.”
“Well, I’m uncomfortable. I prefer being alone.”
I quickly darted inside and threw myself onto the bed, but I was frozen mid-air by the Blade Demon’s Telekinesis.
“I’m the Young Cult Leader! The Young Cult Leader!”
My body was slowly floated toward the window seat.
“I wouldn't care if you were the Cult Leader! Wash up and change your clothes before you lie down.”
While the Blade Demon was changing, I sat by the window. A book he had been reading was lying on the table. It was a book on how to tend a garden. It was a book unrelated to blade techniques, but I believed his Heaven Extermination Great Blade would only become more powerful and terrifying because of it. Sometimes, one gains more enlightenment from pruning a branch than from severing an enemy’s neck.
Furthermore, if the One Flower Sword Venerable was sprinting ahead with her training, there was no way the already diligent Blade Demon would just sit idly by. He would run alongside her, if only to not lose to her. Though it wasn't my intention, everyone was getting stronger together.
“Elder. Do you know what this is?”
I pulled the Secret Casket from my robes and showed it to him. I expected him to show curiosity, but he continued changing his clothes and spoke nonchalantly.
“It’s the Secret Casket.”
“How do you know?”
“How could I not? Back in our younger days, the Cult Leader made such a fuss trying to solve its secret.”
It was another confirmation that the young Blood Heaven Blade Demon and my father had once been close. Though they seemed a bit distant these days compared to back then. By the way, if my father had made such a fuss over it himself, he could have at least warned me before I chose it. It was very much like him.
“How did that end up in your hands?”
“I received it as a gift for becoming the Young Cult Leader. Or rather, I chose it.”
“Of all things, why that?”
“How could I resist after hearing it only opens for the one it’s destined for? You would have chosen it too, Elder.”
“I wouldn't have. There’s no way an unlucky person like me would have a destiny with a treasure.”
That was what the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said when we first met—that his life had been one accompanied by misfortune. I stared at him intently and asked, “That’s not the case anymore, is it?”
The Blade Demon gave a faint smile and nodded. “Perhaps I might choose it now.”
Of course you would, and you should. If only for the sake of me, who ran straight to see you right after seeing my father. My gaze turned toward the Secret Casket.
“One day, it’ll just go click and open. I’m going to tell it to open every single day until it does. It’ll open just because it’s sick of hearing me.”
After tucking the casket away, I stood up.
“I’ll be going now. Don't forget—I came to see you first, Elder.”
“Look at you, fishing for credit.”
Despite his words, I knew the Blade Demon was pleased deep down. After leaving his residence, I returned to my own. I had planned to see the Fist Demon as well, but I postponed it until tomorrow. I didn't tell the guards to rest. It was my first day back; how much must they have wanted to escort me?
“I’m counting on you!”
“Don’t worry and get some rest, sir!”
Leaving the guard duty to them, I entered my house. Even though I had been away for a long time, it had been cleaned spotlessly.
“Home really is the best.”
I lay down on the bed and went straight to sleep. Since leaving the Cult, I hadn't had a single day of deep sleep. I had replaced sleep with Qi circulation and poured all my remaining time into martial arts training. Today, I intended to sleep deeply and recover from the fatigue of my travels. No matter how much of a master one is, a long-distance carriage journey is exhausting.
*
When I woke up, it was already night. I had slept soundly without a single dream. The refreshment of a good sleep put me in a great mood. Lying there, I stared out the window at the night sky for a moment. Come to think of it, the view from this bed was quite nice.
After rolling around on the bed for a while, I stepped outside. The guards had been swapped for the night shift.
“Are you awake, sir?”
The one leading the night shift today was No. 3.
“I’m hungry. I want to eat some of that home-cooked food your mother makes.”
A smile naturally formed on No. 3’s face. “We prepared a light meal, thinking you might be hungry when you woke up.”
Another guard brought the prepared food into the room.
“Let’s all go in and eat together.”
“We have already eaten, sir.”
“How do you handle your meals?”
“We eat before the night duty starts, and we take turns eating at dawn.”
“Your schedule is flipped, so don't just eat whatever. Eat properly, or you’ll ruin your stomach.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
“Don’t just say thank you. Make sure you do it!”
I went into the room and ate. They called it a light meal, but it was a full spread. Since they didn't know when I would wake up, they had prepared dishes that were fine even if they went cold. After eating, I had a cup of warm tea. Sitting by the window and sipping tea, my mind grew calm.
It was a joy of daily life that I hadn't felt in a very long time. There is the joy of being with people, but there is also the happiness of being quiet and alone like this. The more I play the clown when I’m with others, the more precious my time alone becomes.
Then, I thought back to my life before the regression. Back then, I was sick and tired of being alone. Humans are such fickle creatures.
After finishing my tea, I took the Secret Casket out and placed it on my palm. I examined it carefully. What could this be? If it’s a box, what’s inside? I shook the casket. It felt like a solid lump of iron; it didn't feel like a box at all.
My father and the previous Heavenly Demons must have tried everything. Injecting internal energy, soaking it in water, applying heat. So, I decided to do nothing. They said it opens if there is a destiny, not that it opens if you solve a secret.
“Fine, if you don't want to open now, open whenever you feel like it.”
As I was staring at the casket, No. 3 spoke from outside. “The Smiling Demon has come to see you.”
When I went out, the Smiling Demon, wearing his white mask, was indeed standing there under the moonlight.
“Lord Smiling Demon!”
“Young Cult Leader!”
“I was going to visit you tomorrow. What brings you here?”
I tensed up, wondering if something had happened, but the reason he had come was something I truly hadn't expected.
“I came because I wanted to see you.”
“...!”
“Haven't you always been the one to visit me, Young Cult Leader? It’s only right that I visit you sometimes as well.”
Hearing those words, I felt a surge of emotion. He was a man who always stood facing a white wall whenever I visited. No matter how much that helped with his martial arts training, it always weighed on my heart to see him alone in a room with nothing in it.
But he had come out of that room of his own accord to find me. Today, my father had stepped down from his Grand Tutor’s chair, and the Smiling Demon had stepped out of his white room. The expressions of the guards on duty around the residence were full of shock. They probably never dreamed the terrifying Smiling Demon would say such a thing.
“How was your time away from the Cult?”
“Thanks to your concern, it went well.”
The Smiling Demon’s gaze was deeper than before.
“Somehow, you feel different, Lord Smiling Demon.”
“Thanks to the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng you gave me, I’ve made achievements in my martial arts. I am truly grateful.”
“How could that be due to a mere piece of ginseng? It’s thanks to your own efforts.”
The Smiling Demon laughed out loud, as if the expression "mere piece of ginseng" was amusing.
“Now that I’ve seen your face, that is enough.”
The Smiling Demon immediately bid farewell, as if he truly had come for no other reason than to see me. There are times when a single action is more moving than a hundred kind words. This was one of those times. I walked alongside the Smiling Demon as he turned to leave.
“What do you mean, ‘that’s enough’? We haven't seen each other in so long; we can't part like this. I’m going to play with you all night. I’ve already declared to my father that I’m going to play.”
After a brief pause, the Smiling Demon spoke. “Based on what I’ve seen so far, I’m not sure if the fate of the Murim will allow you to play, Young Cult Leader.”
Even if it didn't go as far as grand "fate," I probably wouldn't be able to just play because of my own urgency. Of course, today was an exception.
“Then I’d better hurry. Before that fellow called Fate tries to interfere.”