Chapter 37: What Lies Beyond the Door
Chapter 37: What Lies Beyond the Door
“Training ends today.”
At Jang Ho’s words, the enforcement martial artists couldn't hide their regret. It had been a grueling regime—one where they had lost count of how many times they had cursed him under their breath—but they had gained much.
While their martial arts hadn't improved by leaps and bounds, their once-lax spirits had been sharpened to a razor’s edge.
For experts of their caliber, a difference in mental fortitude was as vital as a difference in skill.
Furthermore, Jang Ho had taken the time to observe each of them, correcting flawed postures and deep-seated bad habits. Thanks to his guidance, several among them had seen a tangible increase in their martial prowess.
Until the very last moment, Jang Ho went to each individual, advising them on how to refine their forms and what kind of training they should focus on in the future.
The enforcement martial artists, who had endured what felt like training from hell, likely never imagined they would ever say such a thing:
“Could you not train us just a little longer?”
That was when I, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped forward.
“That will be difficult. Captain Jang has been promoted to the position of Demon Monarch.”
The title 'Demon Monarch' sent a shockwave through the group. Having been confined to the training grounds, they hadn't yet heard the news from the outside world.
“Congratulations, sir!”
Cheers and applause erupted at someone’s congratulatory shout.
Jang Ho left them with a final farewell.
“I won't forget the time I spent with you all. I’ll see you around. Actually, wait—if I’m the one seeing you, it means you’re in deep trouble. Let’s make sure we never see each other again!”
After delivering a final greeting laced with a joke, Jang Ho departed.
I took his place on the platform. The gaze of the enforcement martial artists was vastly different from that of the first day.
“Listen up—the first and last warriors to ever be trained by a Demon Monarch!”
A few of them burst into laughter at my words.
“Now, if I order you to go and arrest my father, you’ll be able to go without fear, right?”
Laughter erupted once more from all sides.
After lightening the atmosphere, I conveyed the message I truly wanted them to hear.
“Martial arts are important, and fighting well is important. However, I believe the most vital thing for those who carry the name of an enforcement martial artist is pride. The pride of upholding the Cult’s laws and protecting its order. We walk our own path. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir!”
“You’ve worked hard during this training. I’ve prepared a banquet, so drink and rest to your heart's content today!”
A roar of joy, even louder than their previous spirited response, broke out.
* * *
The Blade Demon was waiting for me at our usual meeting spot.
“Seeing you standing tall here, you look like a guardian stone protecting me.”
“Are you mocking me by calling me a blockhead?”
“How could I?”
I expected him to be fuming with rage because I had dragged the One Flower Sword Venerable into our affairs, but he was unusually calm.
“Congratulations on seating Jang Ho as a Demon Monarch.”
“Thank you.”
I was more tense than ever. I had no idea what this old man might suddenly do.
However, the Blade Demon today was showing an unexpected side, much like Jang Ho had. He was incredibly composed. It was enough to make me wonder if this was the man's true nature all along.
This is why one should never judge a person by a single facet. One must not be deceived by the front they put up. I still did not know what the back of the Blade Demon looked like.
“How did you persuade the Sword Venerable?”
“If you promise not to get angry, I’ll tell you the truth.”
“I won’t get angry.”
“I pricked her pride by telling her that you were the true Demon Lord. I used you, Elder.”
The corners of the Blade Demon’s mouth curled upward.
“Then you were the one who was deceived. There’s no way that fox didn't see through your shallow tricks.”
He hated the One Flower Sword Venerable, but he certainly did not underestimate her.
The same went for the Sword Venerable. The fact that she had intervened in this matter meant she trusted the Blade Demon’s eye for people.
“That fox will surely try to play you. She’ll use the fact that she helped you as an excuse to keep you from meeting me. What will you do then?”
“You are my priority, Elder.”
“She’ll bring up the fact that she helped Jang Ho.”
“That’s fine, because you helped him first.”
“I wonder if you’ll say the same when she makes an offer you can’t refuse? Something like this.”
The Blade Demon pulled a small box from his robes and held it out.
“A promise is a promise.”
I took the box and opened it carefully.
A single pill, glowing with a faint blue light, emitted a divine spiritual qi that seemed to belong to another world.
The Blade Demon spoke with an expression that looked truly pained to let it go.
“It is the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill.”
In this moment, I didn't need to act surprised. I was genuinely shocked that he would hand over the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill so readily. I had expected him to make all sorts of excuses—like saying there were no good elixirs available—to avoid giving it up.
“Oh! Is this truly the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill? How did you obtain this?”
“I’ve had it in my possession for a long time. I’ve been saving it, never even using it myself.”
“Are you really giving this to me?”
“Should I take it back?”
“Of course not.”
The Blade Demon drank the wine in front of him as if his stomach were turning. Setting the cup down, he spoke.
“Second Young Master, I’m going to bet the rest of my life on you.”
The Blade Demon had played his strongest card.
I had told my father before that the Blade Demon had no value as a "collection." I would have to retract that statement now.
If you’re going to be this bold, then I, too, shall properly add you to my collection.
The fate of both myself and the Blade Demon shifted as the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill, which was meant for my brother, came to me instead. Because it was given "willingly" rather than by force, the change was even more profound.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
I gave him a respectful fist salute and then made a request.
“I will consume the divine pill right here. Would you act as my guardian?”
The Blade Demon looked startled.
“You’re going to consume the pill in front of me?”
“Yes. Since you gave it to me, I believe it is only right to take it in your presence.”
Acting as a guardian while someone performs qi circulation carries a heavy symbolic meaning. It is the ultimate sign of trust for a martial artist.
“You trust me?”
“Would I be taking this Heavenly Outer Divine Pill if I didn't? If you had poisoned it, I would have to do whatever you say just to get the antidote.”
A flicker of interest crossed the Blade Demon’s eyes.
“And why do you believe I haven't poisoned it?”
“Because you aren't the type of person to choose such a despicable method.”
“I consider myself quite despicable, though?”
“There are many kinds of despicability. In my eyes, you aren't the type to flip the board and break a promise.”
“What if your intuition is wrong?”
“I’ll worry about that when the time comes. Now, please watch over me for a moment.”
In truth, it was a safe gamble. I knew that the Blade Demon loathed poison arts and evil sorcery to the point of revulsion.
I sat cross-legged on the spot and swallowed the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill without hesitation.
The Blade Demon stared at me with a stunned face. He clearly hadn't expected me to actually consume the elixir right in front of him.
The Heavenly Outer Divine Pill was an elixir I had never even seen in my life before the regression.
Divine pill, please dissolve well.
The medicinal effect of the pill melted in my mouth, passed down my throat, and began to spread throughout my body. It was a far greater energy than the Demon Essence Pill I had taken in the Small Heaven Cave.
My meridians, strengthened by the Thousand Meridian Strengthening Technique, opened wide and welcomed this massive energy. The meridians became a vast field, willingly receiving the energy of the pill as it galloped like a thousand-mile steed. The spiritual qi, racing like a gale, branched out into the fine capillaries of my entire body.
I focused all my efforts on qi circulation to perfectly refine this colossal energy into internal power.
After several cycles of meticulous qi circulation, I was able to store the divine energy of the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill within my dantian.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the Blade Demon standing a short distance away, watching me with his arms crossed.
“How did the pill taste?”
“It tasted like honey. I’ve never eaten anything so delicious in my life.”
“Damn it! Curse it all!”
He lamented the fact that he hadn't been the one to eat it.
“I am certain it was digested ten times more valuably than if you had taken it yourself.”
Now, even if I were to clash with the Blade Demon right this moment, I wouldn't hear that I lost because of a lack of internal energy. That was how much pure internal power was overflowing in my dantian.
The Blade Demon crouched down in front of me. Seeing him up close, he had more wrinkles than I thought.
“Listen, Second Young Master.”
“Yes, Elder.”
He looked into my eyes and asked.
“Who are you, really? What are you, to turn my heart upside down and make me spit out even the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill?”
I immediately drew upon my internal energy and emitted demonic energy. Like a volcano erupting with lava, the demonic energy burst forth. It was a cold, stern aura, different from anything I had shown him before.
“I am the one who will lead you in the future. That is, if you are still alive by then.”
Amidst the suffocating aura pressing down on him, various emotions flickered across the Blade Demon’s face. He might have been angry, but at the very least, he did not scoff.
As I withdrew the demonic energy, the frozen air around us thawed.
“I’ll grant you that you have plenty of guts.”
“I have one question for you as well.”
“Ask it.”
“What is it that you ultimately want, Elder?”
“What could an old man like me want? I just keep living as I always have, carried along by momentum.”
“Isn't that a bit too passionate for someone just drifting?”
“Me?”
“When you push me, you seem like a young man. I can feel a blazing fire within you.”
In that moment, I saw the flames in the Blade Demon’s eyes once more. He was still standing alone within the fire.
“Do I look that way?”
“Yes.”
On the other hand, he spoke as if he lacked confidence in himself.
“That’s a relief. Lately, I thought I had completely cooled down...”
I could guess what kind of feeling that was. No matter how much ambition, longing, and desire one stuffs into a basket, time has a heartless way of thinning it out.
“Give me some wine.”
“Wine? I lost the bet, didn't I?”
“The moment you gave me the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill without hesitation, you won the bet. I will accept your wine, Elder.”
“Are you serious?”
“Please lead me well from now on.”
If he was this difficult for me to handle, how hard would it be for my enemies? I intended to make the Blade Demon truly one of my people. I didn't know if that would be possible, though.
Moved, the Blade Demon poured a full cup of wine.
“Here, take it.”
I downed the wine the Blade Demon gave me in one go.
“Let’s make the best of it!”
“Yes. Even if you play tricks on me, please keep them within the limits of what I can handle.”
The Blade Demon flinched for a moment before bursting into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
Since becoming a Demon Lord, I was likely the first person to ever tell him to his face that he was playing tricks.
“Have another drink.”
“Gladly!”
I knew. Even though he was laughing brightly like that, he hadn't fully opened the door to his heart yet. The Blade Demon was not a man who could be judged solely by what was visible through a cracked-open door.
I did not know what lay beyond that door.
Just as my father said that one can never truly know a person's heart, I intended not to predict or define the man known as the Blade Demon. I would judge him exactly as he appeared.
And our relationship would be decided on the day that door swung wide open.
Whether I burn to death in your flames, or you die pierced by my sword, or we become eternal friends—it would all be decided on that day.