Chapter 303: Our Relationship is as Light as a Feather
Chapter 303: Our Relationship is as Light as a Feather
The Extreme Evil Smiling Demon and I stood atop a massive stone statue overlooking the Great Training Ground.
I sat perched on the tip of the statue’s outstretched finger, while the Smiling Demon stood tall beside me. From this height, the sprawling, magnificent night view of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult unfolded before my eyes.
I had suggested we stay up all night, but what exactly would we do for fun? For the Smiling Demon and me, simply being together like this was enough.
Suddenly, I recalled our first meeting.
I remembered how he had stood alone, blending into that stark white room, and the very first words I had ever spoken to him.
— What are you looking at?
To which the Smiling Demon had replied:
— I was looking at nothing.
Now, I asked him once again.
“What are you looking at?”
The Smiling Demon answered, “I’m watching someone slack off. Do you see that fellow with the torch under the western wall? He was supposed to be patrolling back and forth between those points, but he’s been crouching down to rest for a while now.”
I burst into laughter at the unexpected answer. I laughed because I was happy to see how much he had changed.
Thanks to my New Eye Technique, I could see the bored expression on the martial artist’s face, even though he looked as small as an ant from this distance. I sent a Voice Transmission his way. It was the Thousand-Li Voice Transmission, a technique I had mastered as my internal energy and martial arts reached their current heights.
— You should stop slacking off. Someone scary is watching you.
At my message, the man jumped to his feet and began moving immediately.
“He must have heard you, Smiling Demon. He has sharp ears.”
Despite my joke, the Smiling Demon couldn't hide his surprise. He realized I had used a Thousand-Li Voice Transmission. He was, after all, the person who knew my true strength best.
Our gaze returned to the man, who was now patrolling with rigid discipline. After the man had completed his circuit twice, the Smiling Demon spoke up abruptly.
“If it weren't for you, Young Cult Leader, I would have died back then.”
Indebting someone is a sure way to tilt a relationship in your favor. If that debt is a life, it goes without saying.
However, I didn't want that kind of relationship with the Smiling Demon. If anything, I felt this life debt was a hindrance to our bond.
“If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been in danger of dying in the first place.”
I stood up and looked the Smiling Demon in the eye, sharing my honest feelings.
“I don't want you to feel like you owe me your life.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it makes the relationship heavy. The moment you feel indebted to someone, the bond becomes distorted. You can't complain or curse at them when you want to, can you? But I want to be able to do that. If you're doing something wrong, I won't hesitate to tear into you. And I want the same from you. I want you to curse at me when I mess up. I don't want a relationship where we hold back what we really want to say just because one of us saved the other.”
Seeing the Smiling Demon’s gaze deepen, I continued.
“I believe the relationships that truly last are the ones as light as a feather. Like a feather that spins and flies into the air when the wind blows, and gently settles back down when the wind stops. I don't want to build an impregnable fortress with you. It might feel good at first, like the relationship is standing tall and strong. But eventually, the bricks used to build that fortress become a burden—the pressure of thinking, ‘What should I do to impress him this time?’ or the disappointment of thinking, ‘I thought we were this close, but is this all he thinks of me?’ I just want our relationship to be as light as a feather, so we can look at each other comfortably until the day we die.”
The Smiling Demon’s eyes shone with clarity.
Until the day we die.
I hoped he understood that those words were the core of my message. I wanted him to know that I viewed our bond as one I intended to maintain until the very end.
The Smiling Demon understood my sincerity perfectly.
“I almost died because of you, Young Cult Leader. Buy me a drink later.”
This was why I liked the Smiling Demon.
I replied with a broad smile, “That’s more like it. Let’s find some time to go see the Heavenly Flower Pavilion Master.”
That was the one place where the Smiling Demon could truly be himself and drink with a peaceful mind.
And so, we stood on the tip of the demon statue’s finger, watching the night deepen over the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
*
The next morning, the first place I visited was the Eastern Fist Sect. Since I had seen my father and met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, it was time to greet my Master.
“Master!”
At the Fist Demon’s residence, a scene as unexpected as the Blade Demon’s flower garden was unfolding.
The Fist Demon and Lee An were sparring.
He wasn't teaching her fist techniques. Instead, he was using his Thunder Asura Fist to counter Lee An’s Flying Heaven Sword Technique.
Could there be any training more helpful than actual combat against the Fist Demon? I felt she would achieve Great Achievement in the Flying Heaven Sword Technique faster than expected. Once she reached that level, no ordinary expert would be able to kill her, unless they were at the level of a Demon Lord.
Everyone I met was immersed in martial arts. I felt as though destiny itself was pushing us toward the center of a great conflict.
Since I knew both their martial arts well, watching the spar naturally led me to a hypothetical scenario.
What if it were me?
I projected myself into the duel. I became Lee An swinging the sword, then the Fist Demon throwing a punch. My image overlapped with theirs. Sometimes my movements matched theirs, and sometimes I performed entirely different maneuvers.
At the end of that mental exercise, I even envisioned myself facing both of them at once. I fought the Fist Demon with the Flying Heaven Sword Technique and Lee An with fist techniques.
A fierce two-on-one battle.
When the fight ended, I gathered the insights I had gained. At my current realm, I could achieve martial progress simply by watching a spar, even without specific intent.
When I opened my eyes, the Fist Demon and Lee An had finished their spar and were looking at me. They probably thought I had closed my eyes to avoid watching their duel.
“Master.”
“You’ve come?”
After I greeted the Fist Demon, Lee An greeted me warmly.
“Young Master.”
“Lee An. You shouldn't go easy on him just because he's your father!”
At my joke, I could see Lee An wanted to fire back a witty retort. However, since she was in front of the Fist Demon, she was clearly trying her best to hold back.
If it had been just the two of us, she probably would have played along, saying something like, “Ah! Must I defy even the laws of heaven to become stronger?”
“My father is very envious of you, Master.”
“Of me?”
“Because you have a daughter now. Well, I can see why. Between me and my brother? Lee An is a hundred times better.”
Lee An’s face flushed slightly.
“Did the Cult Leader really say that?”
Ever since my father had allowed her to learn the Flying Heaven Sword Technique, he had become an absolute figure to her.
“He might even challenge you to a duel soon, Master. To claim his foster daughter as his own.”
The Fist Demon played along with my banter.
“Tell him not to covet my daughter.”
Since the Fist Demon wasn't the type to say such things, Lee An’s face turned even redder with emotion.
“Then, please go ahead and talk.”
Lee An excused herself.
The Fist Demon then led me out of the residence.
“There is somewhere I need to go with you for a moment.”
We arrived at the quarters where the martial artists of the Eastern Fist Sect were staying. When the Fist Demon and I made our unannounced visit, the cultists were startled.
Every martial artist passing by bowed respectfully and offered a fist salute.
“Tell everyone to come out.”
At the Fist Demon’s command, all the martial artists of the Eastern Fist Sect gathered at the training ground. From the White Fists to the Blue Fists, Red Fists, and the elite Black Fists, everyone assembled. Cheon So-hui was among them.
Since this was the first time the Fist Demon had ever called for such a gathering, the atmosphere was tense.
As the Fist Demon raised his aura, the surrounding air grew cold and heavy. He was emphasizing the importance of the announcement he was about to make. In that suffocating moment, a shocking declaration followed.
“From this hour forward, I take Cheon So-hui as my second disciple and appoint her as the next Fist Demon.”
Everyone was stunned.
Cheon So-hui was so shocked that her eyes went wide and her mouth hung open as she stood there dazed.
Finally coming to her senses, she knelt and showed her respect.
“I am unworthy of such a heavy responsibility. I will dedicate myself heart and soul to ensure I never disappoint you.”
Her voice trembled. She probably didn't even realize what she was saying in her state of shock.
After Lee An became his foster daughter, Cheon So-hui must have been the most disappointed person. She likely thought Lee An would become the Fist Demon’s successor. That was why her surprise was even greater.
“I believe you will do well.”
At those words, Cheon So-hui shed tears of emotion. I could feel the resolve hardening within her at that moment.
Everyone cheered and congratulated her. She was the most skilled person in the Eastern Fist Sect. The decision followed the natural order, and while some might have harbored secret dissatisfaction, they wouldn't dare show it.
“Congratulations, Junior Sister.”
My congratulations added great weight to the decision, as the future Cult Leader was acknowledging her.
“Thank you, Young Cult Leader.”
“You should call me Senior Brother now.”
“...Senior Brother.”
Having made the sudden announcement of his successor, the Fist Demon abruptly left. I followed him out.
“Why did you bring me along?”
“So that So-hui would think you had an influence on this decision.”
It was a gesture of consideration for me. He had brought me along to signal to the future Fist Demon that she should serve the future Cult Leader well.
“I didn't know my Master was such a meticulous person!”
Come to think of it, all the Demon Lords had their own unique brilliance and attention to detail. They were people who had put in effort incomparable to ordinary martial artists; one could never reach such a position with a careless personality.
“You did well. She will become a finer Fist Demon than anyone else.”
I imagined Cheon So-hui having inherited all of the Fist Demon’s martial arts. She would be truly magnificent. She was the person most suited for that position.
“The Cult Leader must have been pleased to see you back, wasn't he?”
“He even showed me the Heavenly Demon Treasure Vault.”
“He has recognized you as his true successor.”
“I'm grateful for that, but...”
I paused for a moment. I had something to say to the Fist Demon regarding the Treasure Vault. It was something I wanted to say to him specifically, rather than any other Demon Lord.
“Seeing the elixirs prepared in the vault, I could tell my father is preparing for war.”
The Fist Demon said nothing. As someone who enjoyed my father’s trust, how could he not know? If war broke out, the Fist Demon would be the vanguard.
“I have a favor to ask, Master. It might be a very difficult request.”
“Speak.”
“If my father decides to crush the Murim Alliance and the Unorthodox Path Alliance, he will reveal his intentions to you first among the Demon Lords.”
The Fist Demon listened in silence.
“I wouldn't dare ask you to defy my father’s will. Even if I did, you aren't the type to bend your principles.”
“Then what is the favor?”
“Please let me know. I will be the one to persuade and stop my father, so just let me know.”
Even this was an incredibly burdensome request. It meant leaking vital information to me. Furthermore, it was unclear how I would even stop my father.
Nevertheless, the Fist Demon accepted.
“I will tell you.”
He said nothing else. He didn't boast about how difficult this was. This was the true nature of the man known as the Fist Demon.
“Thank you.”
I didn't say anything else either and bowed respectfully.
As I parted ways with the Fist Demon and left the Eastern Fist Sect, Lee An was waiting for me at the entrance.
“I couldn't ask you comfortably earlier because my father was there. Did you handle the business at the Jiangxi Branch well?”
I walked up to her, looked her straight in the face, and asked, “Honestly, you weren't worried about me at all, were you?”
“Ah! Was I supposed to be?”
She responded jokingly, but I could feel that she truly hadn't been worried.
“I miss the days when you used to pace around worrying only about me.”
“Did I do that? I don't recall.”
She took my banter in stride.
“What I vaguely remember is someone telling me, ‘Find the happiness in your life!’”
“I don't know who that was, but they probably didn't mean for you to be this happy.”
Knowing it was a compliment on how well she was doing, Lee An smiled brightly.
“How does it feel to have a father?”
“It’s surreal. I think I need your advice, Young Master.”
“I’ve never been a parent myself, so...”
But if the relationship between parent and child is ultimately a relationship between people, I wanted to tell her this:
“If you try too hard to be perfect, it will be a burden for Master as well. Think about it. He took you as his daughter because he liked you. But if you're constantly trying too hard, walking on eggshells, and acting stiff, would he like that? Or would he prefer you to be bright and cheerful? Someone who makes him laugh just by being there. Someone who makes mistakes sometimes. It’s okay. Why? Because you're his child. So, don't miss a chance to be funny. Make your father laugh. I think you'll find the answer to your relationship there.”
Lee An looked at me with a suspicious glint in her eyes.
“You have children, don't you? You have about five kids hidden away somewhere, right?”
“Imagine five kids like me growing up? Ugh, how terrifying.”
“Why terrifying? I think it would be very reassuring.”
Lee An’s face flushed as she spoke without thinking. She must have momentarily imagined those children as ours.
She quickly changed the subject.
“About the Ghost Shadow 2nd Team Leader... I’m thinking of bringing in Gwi Ryeongja’s younger sister, whom we met before.”
“Do as you see fit.”
The moment for Seo Jin to enter my life had finally arrived. Whether she would actually come depended on Lee An.
As I left the Eastern Fist Sect after parting with Lee An, someone spoke from atop a roof.
“You’re so busy, I wonder when you’ll ever come to see me?”
It was the voice of the Drunken Demon.
I kept walking without looking up.
“Get in line.”
I could feel the Drunken Demon walking along the rooftops, following me.
“The line is too long. Where are you going now? The Poison King? The Sword Venerable? The First Young Master? The Demon Buddha? The Huangquan Pavilion Master? The Demon Monarch?”
He didn't mention the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the Fist Demon, or the Extreme Evil Smiling Demon. He already knew I had met them.
“Were you hurt? Because I didn't visit my brother first?”
“Hurt? No. You should take care of the elders first.”
“Right, I would have come if you’d just waited. Why were you in such a hurry to come here?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had told me that the Drunken Demon was waiting for me. That was why he had told me to look after him. For him to go this far, he clearly had something to discuss. I threw a joke that only I could make to the Drunken Demon.
“What is it? Did you make some kind of mistake while sober?”
The Drunken Demon gave a faint smile.
Just as he was about to say something, he looked behind me and spoke.
“The line really is long. I’ll see you later.”
I turned around to see someone I hadn't expected walking toward me. It was someone the Drunken Demon hadn't even mentioned. It was none other than the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord, Cheong-seon.
She walked up to me slowly, her expression grave.
“Young Cult Leader, I have something urgent to discuss with you.”