Chapter 7: The Reason You Die
Chapter 7: The Reason You Die
After returning from the hunt, I retreated to the training grounds to hone the secret techniques my father had taught me.
I practiced everything from infusing the wind with my energy to projecting multiple strands of qi simultaneously. I felt that even the time spent eating was a waste, so I made do with jerky and replaced sleep with meditative breathing.
The more I practiced, the more I realized how vital this technique was. Detecting an enemy attempting a sneak attack before they could strike was essentially like having an extra life. I poured everything into my training. I had experienced enough to know that in this life, if you don't walk today, you'll be forced to run tomorrow.
After several days of being immersed in my craft, I finally stepped out of the grounds. I could now freely infuse the wind with my energy and had increased the number of strands I could control to four.
Lee An was waiting for me at the entrance.
"Young Master, you must rest now and have a proper meal."
"I told you to attend to your own affairs. Why are you still here?"
"Protecting you is my business, Young Master."
It seemed she had been guarding the entrance the entire time I was inside. I realized that to change this stubborn girl’s mind, I needed to give her a bit of a wake-up call.
"Do you really think standing here by the door is for my sake?"
"What do you mean?"
"If someone ambushes me, what will you do?"
"I will throw my body in the way to block them," she said without hesitation.
"And if you die from a blade meant for me while trying to 'protect' me, how do you think I’ll feel? Will I be happy that I survived? Will I start dancing in the middle of the training grounds?"
"I don't suppose you would... but it’s better than you dying. Besides, you aren't very good at dancing."
"It’s a selfish sacrifice that only considers your own feelings."
I didn't actually want to label her noble spirit as 'selfish,' but I had to use this kind of shock therapy on her. The problem was whether it would actually work.
"Yes, yes. From now on, feel free to call me a selfish bitch who only cares about her own feelings."
"Lee An, do you truly want to protect me?"
"I do."
"Then start training your martial arts right now. That way, when the moment comes where you truly have to protect me, don't just passively block—kill the opponent!"
If she became stronger, that strength would serve as the foundation for her own happiness. She didn't treat my words as a joke and quietly nodded.
Right then, a voice shouted from a distance.
"Hey, you tub of lard!"
I turned to see three people walking toward us. They were the disciples of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
"Did Young Master Lee still not come out today?"
Judging by their tone, they must have come looking for me several times while I was training.
Wait, what? Tub of lard? Have these bastards lost their minds?
It seemed they couldn't see me because I was obscured by Lee An’s large frame.
"How many times have you put up with this bullshit?" I asked her quietly.
"I'm fine. It's no big deal."
"If this isn't a big deal, then what is? Does your entire family have to be slaughtered by an enemy for it to count?"
"Young Master! I really am fine."
Lee An was worried I might cause trouble. She was the type to worry whether I got hurt or they did, as both would lead to problems.
"Lee An, don't worry too much. I'm not so crazy that I'd ruin my life over you. Everyone in this world is the same—they all look out for themselves."
As they drew closer, Lee An whispered urgently. "Young Master, it doesn't look like they've come with good intentions. It might be best to avoid them for a moment."
"Sure, I avoid things. I avoid wasps, I avoid dog shit, and I avoid my father’s thunderous temper. But I’m not avoiding those things."
The three of them came to a halt in front of me.
"Oh? Young Master Lee was here too."
The one who had been sneering at Lee An was Yang Po, the second disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. I knew exactly what kind of man Yang Po was. Birds of a feather flock together; he was a different breed of trash compared to Gu Pyeong-ho, who had used Energy-Scattering Poison.
This guy was famous for looking down on others and psychologically tormenting them... Right, that kid.
My gaze shifted to the handsome one among the disciples who had come with Yang Po. He was the youngest, wasn't he? Among the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's disciples, he had the kindest personality, but he eventually committed suicide because of Yang Po’s relentless bullying. How horrific must the torment have been for a martial artist to take his own life?
Even now, the youngest disciple’s expression was grim. He had likely been dragged here against his will. The other one was the fourth disciple. I couldn't remember his name, but I didn't recall him being a particularly good person either.
My gaze returned to Yang Po. "Insulting my guard is the same as insulting me."
"My apologies, Young Master Lee. I didn't see you. She is quite... sizable, after all."
"Whether I was here or not shouldn't matter, should it?"
"I told you, I didn't see that you were with her."
This ignorant fool couldn't even grasp the core of the conversation. The fact that he felt bold enough to act like this was entirely my father's fault. Ever since he announced that anyone in the Cult could become the successor, the prestige of being the Heavenly Demon’s son had faded significantly.
Ultimately, he was trying to seize this opportunity to earn the reputation of being 'the man who doesn't back down even before the Heavenly Demon’s son.'
"You said you came looking for me several times?"
"I did."
"Why?"
"You're asking because you don't know? Junior Brother Gu's body has been ruined to the point where he can no longer practice martial arts."
"So what? Do you want me to nurse him back to health? Lee An, go get a rag. Let's go wipe his sweat."
"Young Master Lee! Do I look like I'm joking right now?"
"It's not like we're on the kind of terms where we'd have a serious conversation."
Feeling insulted, Yang Po’s aura turned fierce. It was laughable that a man who tormented others to the point of death would get so upset over a few words of mockery.
"If you've turned a man into a cripple, you should take responsibility!"
"Did you hear that your junior brother used Energy-Scattering Poison?"
"Hmph! That was surely a scheme cooked up by your side."
"Oho, so that's the story you're sticking with?"
"No more talk. Make an official apology."
I could guess why he had come to demand an apology. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had not yet chosen a primary disciple. His disciples were all desperate to get into his good graces. Yang Po was trying to earn credit by extracting an official apology from me, thereby restoring the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's pride.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm just wondering if doing this will actually make your master choose you as his successor."
"What are you talking about! I came here for my junior brother’s sake. To resolve his grievances! Do you understand?"
"What grievances?"
"Even if my junior brother’s attack was excessive, you intentionally crushed his arm."
He probably thought he had a valid point, but he was merely a clown performing in the palm of my hand.
"Then my father and the elders of the Eight Demon Lords must have been wrong."
"What nonsense is this?" Yang Po flinched at the sudden mention of the Heavenly Demon and the Eight Demon Lords.
"Isn't it? My father acknowledged my victory and asked what my wish was. Your master didn't utter a single word of protest during the process either. So what does that mean? Are you saying the Cult Leader and your own master lack the basic judgment that even you possess?"
Yang Po was so flustered he began to stutter. "W-what kind of sophistry is this? That's not it!"
"But it is. You're saying the Cult Leader turned a blind eye to his own kin's wrongdoing."
Yang Po’s face turned deathly pale. "Don't talk such nonsense!"
How could he possibly win against me in a war of words?
"Or do you think he’s gone senile? Is that it?"
"Shut up! How dare you be so impious!"
Yang Po looked back at his fellow disciples, but they were just as panicked. If he wasn't careful, he’d be framed for the crime of insulting the Heavenly Demon. Yang Po backed down, feigning reluctance.
"I'll leave for today, but this isn't over."
"Wait! You have to apologize before you go."
"What apology?"
"Apologize for the way you spoke to my subordinate."
Only then did their eyes turn toward Lee An. From the beginning, the Young Master’s "fat subordinate" hadn't even been in their sights. Naturally, Lee An wanted the matter to end there.
"I'm fine, Young Master."
"Well, I'm not. Now, since you dared to run your mouth off at my subordinate, get on your knees and apologize. I know you won't mean it even if you do, so at least show it through your actions. Let the rumors spread that you knelt."
Yang Po spoke with an expression of utter disbelief. "Are you telling me to kneel to that pig of a woman right now?"
"Yeah. It’d be even better if you slammed your forehead on the ground."
"Young Master Lee, have you lost your mind? I’d rather die than kneel."
The answer I wanted came out immediately.
"You'd rather die? How manly. Fine, I'll grant your wish."
Clang.
Yang Po was startled when I drew my sword.
"You really have gone mad."
"If you leave like this, rumors will spread throughout the Cult."
Yang Po looked around to see if anyone was watching.
"Not over there. Right here." I pointed mockingly at my own mouth. "This mouth is going to spread all the rumors. That the second disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon got scared of Young Master Lee and ran away. I don't know much, but I doubt your master will be very pleased. You'll live the rest of your life with the tag of a coward."
Yang Po’s expression hardened. He had come to get into his master’s good graces, but now he was about to be blacklisted.
"Kneel and apologize, or fight me. The choice is yours."
"Why are you going this far?"
"You can come looking for me. You can demand I fix your junior brother. You can even come in a mob to seek revenge. I understand all of that. But why harass my subordinate? Why bring up 'tub of lard'? Have you ever even bought her a meal? Have you?"
Instead of reflecting, Yang Po’s expression grew even more foul. "So you're really saying you'll kill me for the sake of that fatty."
"Bingo."
Yang Po’s eyes narrowed fiercely, and he moved exactly as I expected.
"Just who do you think I am!"
"My subordinate is a person a hundred times more precious than you. No, a thousand times... no..."
Before I could reach ten thousand, Yang Po drew his blade.
Clang.
"Senior Brother, you mustn't!" The fourth disciple behind him hurriedly tried to stop him, but Yang Po’s eyes had already flipped.
"Young Master Lee, you might be acting high and mighty because you beat Junior Brother Gu, but you'll regret this soon enough. Since you're the Cult Leader’s child, I won't kill you, but I'll cut off one of your arms to avenge my junior brother."
Yang Po was confident he could beat me. I didn't remember exactly, but around this time, my skills were likely on par with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's disciples. It was all because of my older brother. He had harassed and suppressed me so much since I was young—despite my Heavenly Martial Physique—that I hadn't been able to properly develop my martial arts.
"What a shame you don't have any Energy-Scattering Poison."
"Don't make me laugh! I am different from Junior Brother Gu!"
Yang Po launched the first attack, pressing me hard. In my past life, I had experienced many times that a martial artist’s character and their skill were not always proportional.
Yang Po was the same. His blade technique was excellent, incomparable to his trashy personality. He had enough skill to put up a decent fight against the 'me' of this time period. Of course, to the current me, he was just a one-hit opponent, much like Gu Pyeong-ho.
However, to avoid revealing my true strength, I engaged him as if we were evenly matched. Every time Yang Po pushed me back, his fellow disciples let out exclamations of awe. Conversely, Lee An let out a short scream every time. She didn't jump in only because it was a mutually agreed-upon duel; otherwise, she would have intervened several times already.
After about twenty exchanges of patient combat, I unleashed my intended killing move. Until now, I had been matching his movements, but now it was time to demonstrate the essence of the Flying Heaven Sword Technique.
Like a willow leaf swaying in a gentle breeze, my sword flickered lightly.
Whish!
Stab!
Red blood sprayed out. My sword had pierced through his mouth and come out the back of his head.
Drip. Drip.
In the frozen silence, only the sound of blood dripping from the tip of my sword could be heard. I looked into his eyes as the life faded from them and spoke.
"You're dying because of that mouth. It was that mouth that insulted my subordinate, and it was that mouth that refused to apologize."
With that mouth, you killed your kind junior brother, and you would have killed many more in the future. So, this is where you end.
When I pulled the sword out, Yang Po collapsed forward, coughing up blood.
"Senior Brother!"
The disciples rushed over to check on Yang Po, but he was already a cold corpse. They were horrified. They surely hadn't expected me to actually kill him. Lee An, of course, was looking at me with even greater shock.
The fourth disciple shouted accusingly. "You killed our Senior Brother? Young Master Lee, you really..."
"What did you expect?"
"Do you think you can handle the consequences of this?"
I looked at him and said coldly, "Your mouth is starting to look like your Senior Brother's."
Perhaps remembering my earlier words about dying because of one's mouth, the guy clamped his mouth shut like a clam.
"Report exactly what happened. If you add even a single word that wasn't said, I'll come looking for you tonight."
They picked up Yang Po’s body and hurried away. In that moment, I saw it—the youngest disciple looking relieved. How terrible must it have been for him to be unable to hide his joy at someone’s death?
In the original timeline, he would have died after being tormented by Yang Po, but now he was alive. The cook who put poison in the food died as he was meant to, but the youngest disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who was supposed to die, was now alive. Fate stays the same, yet it also changes.
Kind youngest disciple, hang in there and become the Blade Demon’s primary disciple later!
That was my wish for him, but achieving it would depend on his own will and effort. Meanwhile, Lee An was looking at me with an expression as if the world had ended.
"Didn't you say everyone looks out for themselves? Didn't you tell me not to worry?"
"It wasn't because of you, so fix your face!"
"...It was because of me, wasn't it?"
"It wasn't, so don't flatter yourself."
"Then why did you cause such a huge incident?"
"What’s so 'huge' about this? I just killed someone who deserved to die."
"Lord Blade Demon won't just let this go."
"He will. Because there’s nothing to be gained by stepping forward."
"Will he really?"
"Think about it. This fight started because his disciple insulted Young Master Lee’s guard. He died because he refused to apologize for something that could have been settled easily. What would the Blood Heaven Blade Demon gain by getting involved? He’d only be criticized for raising his disciples poorly."
"But his pride might be hurt."
"The Blood Heaven Blade Demon doesn't have that kind of pride."
"How do you know that?"
"I just do. Your handsome Young Master knows everything."
At my relaxed demeanor, Lee An finally seemed to lose some of her tension. "Well, if that's the case, then I'm glad."
"On the contrary, killing Yang Po benefits me. Everyone will take notice of me now. If there are points needed to become the successor, I’ve just added one to my score."
I had crushed Gu Pyeong-ho in a duel, and now I had killed Yang Po. All eyes in the Cult would be on me.
"Did you... did you really think that far ahead?"
"Of course. I was killing a disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Do you think I’d do that just because I was in a bad mood?"
I had left a strong impression on my father during the hunt. I had to keep that momentum going.
"Lee An, insulting you is insulting me. So, in situations like that, don't say you're fine."
"I was short-sighted."
"We’re going to be worrying about much more important matters from now on. 'Will the owner of the trash get angry because I cleared it away?' We’re done with such trivial and useless worries as of today."
A surge of emotion flickered in Lee An’s eyes as she looked at me. "You're serious. Young Master... you've truly changed."
"Which is also why you need to change."
My transformation over the past few days was enough to trigger a change in her. Lee An nodded.
"I will change too. I will become strong!"
It wouldn't be as easy as it sounded. She would worry, look back, and struggle many times. Changing a person's life is never easy. Even my seemingly effortless change was only possible because of an entire previous lifetime.
"And Young Master, thank you for today. When you took my side earlier, I was so happy. Truly."
"Of course you should be thankful. Don't you ever forget today!"
She laughed. It wasn't just a smile; it was a beaming grin that made her eyes disappear into her cheeks.
Yes, laugh like that. Since I’ve regressed, live your life laughing like that.