Chapter 31: The Crazy One is You
Chapter 31: The Crazy One is You
The cup I was raising to my lips stopped dead in midair.
He wanted me to be his "water"? Surely he didn't mean...?
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"I am asking you to become my man."
I hadn't expected the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to make such a move. He was publicly known as a staunch supporter of my older brother. Yet, here he was, offering to abandon my brother and choose me? Truly, this was the most unexpected development since I had first met him.
"Young Master Lee."
"Yes."
"Do you wish to become the Heavenly Demon?"
"I do," I answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Then drink that wine. I shall become your benefactor."
"But Elder, do you not support my brother?"
"That was my choice back when I didn't realize what a madman you were."
"First a dragon, now a madman. I’m certainly keeping busy."
You're the crazy one.
I had killed his brother, crippled his disciple, and currently had his subordinates locked away. Despite all that, this old man was offering to back me. He was the type of person who would sell anything for the sake of his own ambition.
"I killed your brother, Elder."
"Once they leave the nest, kin are no better than strangers. Do you think I feel some gut-wrenching agony just because a blood relative died? Don't make me laugh. To a human, a tiny thorn under their own fingernail hurts far more than someone else's death."
This old man... everything he was spitting out right now was the cold truth.
"I never officially joined hands with the First Young Master anyway... and even if I had, a man's heart can change at any time."
"Gaining your support would be like gaining an army of thousands. However..."
"Why do you hesitate?"
"I'm not sure if I can trust you, Elder. Just as you are abandoning my brother now, you could very well abandon me later."
"If the situation calls for it, of course I would. Do you think I'm doing this because I trust you? I have never trusted anyone in my entire life."
"Then why choose me?"
"Because I felt that with the kind of madness you possess—pushing forward so fearlessly—I could bet my destiny on it."
"So, in the end, you chose me because I'm a madman."
"Use that madness to devour everything."
If I were truly a young man of this age, I might have been flattered into believing the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's words completely. But I knew all too well the petty tricks elders used to exploit the youth.
Do you wish to become the Heavenly Demon?
His earlier question was exactly that. It was designed to create the illusion that holding his hand was the only key to the throne. The question he was posing now carried the same ulterior motive.
"If you become the Heavenly Demon, what kind of ruler will you be?"
"At the very least, in the Cult I rule, no Demon Lord will be able to step forward and exert outside pressure on the Huangquan Pavilion Master."
"Hahaha. My eyes were sharp after all."
Even that sly, snake-like attitude—never showing his true feelings no matter how foul they might be—was part of the old man's high-level play to lead my decision astray.
For now, I politely declined. In the push and pull of human relationships, if you let yourself be pulled the moment someone tugs, you become nothing more than unappealing prey.
"I am grateful that you think so highly of me, but I believe now is the time for me to focus on my duties. What would my father think? He entrusted me with a heavy responsibility, only for me to neglect my work and play politics instead."
"Hiding behind the Cult Leader... is that truly a wise choice?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Huangquan Pavilion Master? What happens if you do that job well? What if the Cult Leader keeps you in that position indefinitely? Do you plan to rot away as the Pavilion Master for the rest of your life? This job is merely a stepping stone. There is only ever one path you must choose: the crossroads of whether or not to become the successor. The moment you lose sight of that, you will lose your way and wander forever in the gilded forest called the Huangquan Pavilion."
He concluded his persuasion by dragging my father into it.
"On the contrary, the Cult Leader will take note of you joining hands with me. The mere fact that I chose you will increase your stature and make you stand out to everyone."
However, there was one thing the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was overlooking: my will to establish discipline within the Cult. This wasn't just my desire; it was my father's intent as well.
"Please give me time to think. I will drink this wine once I have made my decision."
I set the cup back down on the table. Despite my delay, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon gave a satisfied smile.
"Indeed. That is how it should be. You shouldn't just drink because someone tells you to like some idiot."
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stood up and drew the Heaven Extermination Great Blade he had thrust into the ground. With the same momentum he used to pull the blade from the earth, he swung it toward me.
I didn't dodge. I drew the Black Demonic Sword and blocked the incoming strike.
Clang!
An explosive sound of clashing metal erupted. From across the crossed blades, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke.
"I shall hear your answer tomorrow."
"I will give it to you in five days."
The tense battle of wills as we glared at each other lasted only a moment.
"I'll see you in three days."
Without waiting for a reply, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon soared into the sky and vanished over the wall. It was a magnificent movement technique, swift and without a single wasted motion.
I sheathed the Black Demonic Sword and rotated my wrist.
"Damn old man. That hurts like hell."
It wasn't a full-powered attack, but the internal power infused into the strike was no joke. My wrist throbbed.
This old man... he secretly enjoys inflicting pain on others.
He was reminding me that his martial arts were superior. One could dismiss it as an old man's pride or a twisted hobby, but I believed there was a clear intention behind his actions. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon would poke and prod at one's ribs until they bruised, or, like today, inflict pain that would leave an arm numb for days.
This pain plants an unconscious fear in the opponent. This physical violence plays a significant role in manipulating others to his will.
The more I dealt with him, the more I realized he was no easy old man. At the same time, I understood why my father was using me as a blade to perform this "sword dance."
There wasn't just one person like the Blood Heaven Blade Demon; there were eight. If they were tightly united under the name of the Eight Demon Lords, even my father would find them difficult to handle. They might bicker, gossip, and fight among themselves, but they became one whenever they faced the Heavenly Demon Hall.
Furthermore, they were the main strength of the Cult. If he were to eliminate them simply because he didn't like them, the Murim Alliance or the Unorthodox Path Alliance would invade immediately.
You like me because I'm a madman? You only say that because you don't know just how crazy I can get.
Before heading to my quarters, I stopped by Lee An's private training ground. She was so focused on her training that she didn't even notice I had arrived. She was working on the basic physical conditioning I had ordered.
Though she was gasping for breath as if her lungs might burst, she endured and pushed through.
Why you?
Because you are a fool who follows my orders to the point of stubbornness. You aren't naturally a fool, but you willingly become one for my sake.
After watching her train for a while, I returned to my room. I brought out some liquor and sat by the window to relax. When I thought of Hwa Mu-gi, I felt like I couldn't rest for even a moment, but I wouldn't just blindly rush forward. If I lost the composure to look around me, I would inevitably miss something.
With the bright, shimmering moon as my companion, I enjoyed a few drinks for the first time in a long while. I thought of my father, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, and the other Demon Lords. I also thought about my life after I finally killed Hwa Mu-gi.
*
Even the next day, Yang Tae's spirit remained unbroken.
"Hmph! Pavilion Master, you've messed with the wrong person. Do you not realize that touching me is the same as touching the entire Southern Blade Sect?"
He tried to threaten me by using the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's name.
"Just let me go, and we'll act as if this never happened. I will personally speak to the Demon Lord so that his wrath does not fall upon you, Pavilion Master."
Then he tried to bribe me.
He had never experienced such a desperate situation in his life. Looking at his records, his life had been one of constant success, starting as a Blade Ghost, moving through the Ten Blade Ghosts, and finally becoming a White Blade Ghost. He had never suffered, and no one had ever dared to challenge him.
Therefore, he didn't know how to behave. Instead of sincerely apologizing and seeking forgiveness, he merely resorted to the same threats and bribes he had used his whole life.
Unlike yesterday, I dealt with Yang Tae calmly.
"Martial Artist Yang. Have a seat. Today, the Southern Blade Sect officially announced their regret regarding this incident."
At that, Yang Tae's face lit up with joy.
"I told you. The Demon Lord would never abandon me. Now, release me at once."
Thinking he was about to be freed, Yang Tae's expression softened.
"Let us forget everything that happened in the past."
At his attitude—as if he were the one graciously forgiving me—I asked calmly, "Do you know why I am treating you with such courtesy right now?"
"Isn't it because you want to wrap this up on good terms?"
"No. It's because this is the last time I'll be seeing you."
"That's what I just said, isn't it? Once I leave, there will be no reason for us to meet again."
Yang Tae's face was full of delight. It was time to help him find the expression his face truly deserved.
"I think you're mistaken about something."
"Mistaken?"
"The Southern Blade Sect didn't express regret to us. They expressed it toward you. They said they regret that you tarnished the honor of the Southern Blade Sect."
"...What?"
"Furthermore, they officially apologized for the fact that a martial artist of the Southern Blade Sect caused such a disgraceful incident. They apologized to the victim and promised compensation. They even vowed that such a thing would never happen again."
"What kind of... bullshit is that? The Southern Blade Sect has never officially apologized for anything! No matter what happened!"
Yang Tae's voice was trembling.
"You should be honored. You are the one who finally forced the Southern Blade Sect to change its ways."
"Don't lie to me!"
"Well then, I hope you enjoy your life in the dungeon."
I stood up. Belatedly, Yang Tae began to scream and throw a tantrum. I told the guards to leave him be. This fit of madness would be his last. Instead, he would have to take responsibility for his actions—actions that, until the very end, showed not a single shred of sincere reflection.
I gave instructions to Seo Dae-ryong, who was waiting outside the door.
"Contact the dungeon and send him to the harshest sector."
"Understood."
The Cult's dungeon is hell even in the "comfortable" areas. The saying that it's better to be executed than sent to the dungeon didn't come from nowhere. With his personality, he wouldn't last long. His son would be the same.
I felt no sympathy for them. If I hadn't intervened, they would have lived in luxury for the rest of their lives, while the victim, Gwak Su, and his family would have lived in misery. There were surely other "Gwak Sus" before this, and there would have been many more in the future. The investigator, Jong Hwa, who had been threatened, would have had his life completely ruined as well.
I had not a single ounce of sympathy or regret.
"What on earth happened?" Seo Dae-ryong asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Why did the Southern Blade Sect issue an apology? This is unprecedented."
"Go ask them yourself."
"I would if I could. If I went to the Southern Blade Sect in this atmosphere, I probably wouldn't make it out on my own two feet."
"No. Right now is the one time you could probably dance in the Southern Blade Sect's training ground and still walk out safely."
Leaving the bewildered Seo Dae-ryong behind, I strode down the hallway and added:
"At least for the next two days."