Chapter 71: Plotting with Everyone
Chapter 71: Plotting with Everyone
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon came to see me.
He used to wait for me by thrusting his great blade into the ground near my quarters, but lately, he had been seeking me out directly. If I was at home, he came to my house; if I was in my office like today, he came to the office.
The notion that I should be the one visiting him because he was the elder—that kind of rigid authoritarianism simply didn't exist in the Blade Demon. He was the type of person who came when he pleased and left when he was finished.
"Have you heard the news? The third disciple of the Seohwan Formation has become the disciple of the Pungcheon Cult Leader."
"Yes, I have."
"This is your doing, isn't it?"
"Why is it that every time something happens, you assume I'm the one behind it?"
"So, it wasn't you?"
"Well... it was."
The Blade Demon raised his voice as if to say, I knew it.
"Just what kind of scheme are you plotting with the Pungcheon Cult Leader?"
"Why call it a scheme? That sounds so nefarious. I’m merely lending the man a hand."
"Are you truly intending to let the Pungcheon Cult advance into the Central Plains?"
"Is that not allowed?"
The Blade Demon’s expression turned grave. "Can you handle the consequences?"
"If you're referring to the Pungcheon Cult, don't I have you, Elder? Even if you won't fight a Demon Lord, surely you can handle the Pungcheon Cult Leader."
"Do not take that man lightly. He is only here at the Main Cult because he was practically dragged here, but he is the man who leads the Outer Rim Murim. If the Outer Rim Murim goes on a rampage, the Central Plains will become a sea of blood."
The Blade Demon was being sincere, and I took his advice to heart.
"I will keep that in mind."
Thinking of the Pungcheon Cult Leader as a formidable individual naturally brought the shackled man to mind—the one pulling the strings and leading that great cult leader.
"But why Cheong-seon?"
"She was the easiest to move."
"Do you think Cheong-seon can actually become a Demon Lord in the future?"
"In my eyes, the first disciple and the third disciple are much of a muchness. It will take quite a long time for either of them to truly embody the form of a Demon Lord."
The Blade Demon nodded, agreeing with that point at least.
"So, Elder, you should also make sure to raise Investigator Seo well."
"Tell him to keep dreaming."
"I'm the one doing the dreaming. Investigator Seo doesn't have such ambitions."
"Stop meddling in other people's business and mind your own."
As the Blade Demon prepared to stand up, he noticed the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread wrapped around my wrist. "What is that?"
"I'm wearing it for style."
"You got that from the Pungcheon Cult Leader, didn't you?"
The Blade Demon immediately recognized that it was no ordinary item.
"What makes you think that?"
"It's something I haven't seen before, and I know you wouldn't help the Pungcheon Cult Leader without a price."
"Isn't it a bit cold-hearted to expect a reward every time I help someone?"
"So? Did you take it or not?"
"I took it."
"You cold-hearted brat!"
I laughed, and the Blade Demon shook his head as if I were hopeless.
"This is the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread."
"Ah! So that's what it is."
"You recognize it, I see."
"It's my first time seeing it in person."
"Shall I cut some off for you?" I made a move to unwind the thread wrapped around my sword hilt.
"Forget it. Such a thing doesn't suit this old body."
"Shouldn't you wear it precisely because you have an old body?"
"I have no need for it."
He had no authoritarianism and no greed for material things. At times like this, I truly felt that his essence was that of a man who simply enjoyed poetry and paintings.
"Did you receive anything else besides that?"
"I also received a Blood God Pill."
I was honest with the Blade Demon. I had been so far, and I intended to continue that way whenever possible. I believed this honesty would be the key to fully opening the door to his heart.
"A Blood God Pill?"
Perhaps because I spoke of it so casually, it took the Blade Demon a moment to process the weight of those words.
His expression shifted rapidly: What was the Blood God Pill again? Blood God Pill? Wait... no way, that Blood God Pill? Are you insane?! The Blood God Pill?!
Startled, the Blade Demon bolted upright.
"The greatest elixir of the Outer Lands?"
"Yes."
"The Pungcheon Cult Leader gave that to you?"
He was so shocked he was momentarily speechless.
"Where is it now?"
"It's in my stomach."
"Good heavens! Your internal energy must have surpassed mine by now."
I simply smiled. In truth, even before taking the Blood God Pill, my internal energy—bolstered by the Demon Essence Pill and the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill—was already enough to rival the Demon Lords. Now that I had consumed the Blood God Pill as well, I would likely overwhelm them in terms of raw power.
"Don't worry. Even so, you are still my left wing, Elder."
"Hmph! Now that you've received an elixir more potent than the Heavenly Outer Divine Pill and even the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread, you'll probably just tear off your left wing."
"My left wing is one with my body; it cannot be replaced. If I tear it off, I die."
"As I said before, if the body dies, the wing will find a new body and fly away."
"Then I shall pray it finds an even better body."
Though the words were exchanged like a joke, the Blade Demon's expression had softened before I knew it.
"You weren't just jealous, were you?"
"Jealous? Nonsense! It's a precaution. I have to make it clear that you can't covet my position just because you got your hands on a few sacred relics."
"Message received."
"I'm really leaving now. Get back to work."
The Blade Demon stood up. Just as he was about to leave, he spoke abruptly.
"I... wouldn't mind even if I were just one wing of a dragonfly."
He meant that it was fine if I attached multiple wings.
My heart swelled at those words. How could I ever treat the Blade Demon with anything less than total devotion when he possessed such broad-mindedness?
It was at that very moment, just as he was about to exit, that a subordinate entered to announce another visitor.
"The One Flower Sword Venerable has arrived."
The Blade Demon looked startled at the news of the Sword Venerable's arrival.
"Did you call her here to make us meet?"
"How can you say that when you're the one who showed up unannounced?"
Flustered, the Blade Demon opened the window. I stopped him as he tried to climb out.
"You're losing your dignity."
"She'll hate it if she sees me."
He was still awkward and uncomfortable when it came to his relationship with the One Flower Sword Venerable.
"What does it matter? Since when did you care so much about what others think?"
After standing by the window in hesitation for a moment, the Blade Demon returned to his seat.
In the meantime, the One Flower Sword Venerable stepped inside. Seeing the Blade Demon in the office, she was the one to be surprised this time.
"You? You didn't set this up on purpose, did you?"
I smiled and said to her, "How are you two so alike? How could I have known when you both would arrive? Both of you came without any prior notice. If you want to complain, complain to the one up there."
I gestured toward the sky outside the window.
Even without me explicitly saying, Isn't this all fate?, the two of them understood my meaning. I had wanted to create an opportunity for them to meet even if I had to force it, so seeing them meet naturally like this made me wonder if heaven itself was brokering their reconciliation.
"Now, please sit."
The One Flower Sword Venerable sat across from the Blade Demon.
"What brings you here, Senior?"
"I came to tell you something."
At that, the Blade Demon stood up. "I'll leave you to your conversation. I'm going."
"It's something you can hear as well," she said.
It must have been uncomfortable for her to be with the Blade Demon, so the fact that she held him back meant it was something that concerned all of us. Indeed, the information she revealed was vital.
"The Demon Buddha came to see me and made a request."
"What kind of request?"
"He asked me to support Yang Do, the first disciple, among the two disciples of the Soul-Seizing Demon Lord."
The matter of selecting a new Demon Lord was entirely the jurisdiction of the Eight Demon Lords. If a Demon Lord died without naming a successor, the remaining Demon Lords would make recommendations to decide the next one. Ultimately, one had to receive the support of more than half the Demon Lords to ascend.
"You said it before, didn't you? That as sparring friends, it would be good if I supported your person."
"You remembered."
On the other hand, the Blade Demon was curious about what we were talking about. "Sparring friends? What is that supposed to mean?"
"Something happened."
"It seems you're plotting with everyone except me."
"How could that be? You are my first wing, Elder."
This time, the One Flower Sword Venerable asked, "Wings?"
"The Elder is my left wing. And right now, I am desperately searching for a right wing."
I intentionally stared straight at the One Flower Sword Venerable. Reading my desire for her to become my right wing, she quickly changed the subject.
"So? Who are you supporting?"
"Cheong-seon."
"I had a feeling it would be her. I figured your interests wouldn't align with the Demon Buddha's. Fine, I shall support Cheong-seon as well."
Setting aside her relationship with the Demon Buddha, going against the request of another Demon Lord was a significant burden. Yet, she was willing to support me without hesitation.
She was also being considerate of me. I could tell just by the fact that she asked the Blade Demon to listen in. This was a matter that required the help of both of them.
"Thank you."
I was truly grateful to her. Just as I was for her help regarding Sa U-jong last time.
Very well, Senior. Let us be sparring friends for life.
She didn't even ask why it had to be Cheong-seon. That was how much she trusted me.
Then, the Blade Demon asked me, "But even so, isn't that only two votes? Have you secured the votes of the other Demon Lords?"
To place Cheong-seon in the position of Demon Lord, four votes out of the seven were needed.
"Not yet."
"What do you plan to do?"
I spoke politely to the two of them. "I ask that each of you persuade just one other person. I'm counting on you."
"What do we gain if Cheong-seon becomes a Demon Lord?"
To the Blade Demon's question, I replied cheekily, "I gain more than either of you."
"I should be the one to gain!"
"What's good for me is good for you, Elder."
Of course, the Blade Demon was just being playful, even though he intended to grant the request.
On the other hand, the One Flower Sword Venerable readily accepted my plea. "I will try to persuade the other Demon Lords for your sake. If things go well, at least one person will cast their vote for Cheong-seon."
It suddenly occurred to me that her favor might not be solely because of our sparring. She was showing me far too much kindness for that to be the only reason.
Looking at her, the Blade Demon said with a grumpy face, "When you act like that, it makes me look bad, doesn't it?"
He had intended it as a way to break the awkward atmosphere, but the One Flower Sword Venerable shot back with a straight face.
"Weren't you always a man with nothing to show for himself?"
The Blade Demon's expression instantly hardened. The pleasant atmosphere cooled in a heartbeat.
Their gazes collided in midair. They fought with their eyes, neither backing down an inch. I didn't intervene, giving them enough time to vent their emotions. This process had to be repeated. They weren't going to kill each other, anyway.
The first to look away was the Blade Demon. The winner of the staring contest, the One Flower Sword Venerable, let out a snort. Fortunately, the time it took for their conflicts to resolve was gradually getting shorter.
I smiled at the One Flower Sword Venerable and expressed my gratitude.
"Thank you for informing me about the Demon Buddha. And I am even more grateful that you're willing to persuade the other Demon Lords. I will never forget this kindness, Senior."
"Kindness? Don't mention it. I'll see you next time."
The One Flower Sword Venerable replied with a smile and was the first to leave the office. Shortly after she left, the Blade Demon also stood up.
"I'll be going too."
Whether it was me receiving a sacred relic from the Pungcheon Cult Leader or being "sparring friends" with the Sword Venerable, it wouldn't have been strange for him to feel slighted, but the Blade Demon didn't show it at all.
"You are always my top priority, Elder."
"You certainly have a silver tongue."
When I laughed sheepishly, the Blade Demon let out a chuckle as well.
"Even if the Sword Venerable left with such confidence, persuading the other Demon Lords won't be easy. The Demon Buddha's side will be moving busily as well."
"Please help me, Elder."
"Will it work when I'm being ostracized by the other Demon Lords?"
He said that, but his back looked more dependable than anyone else's.
If each of them could persuade just one person, we could secure four votes. I couldn't predict what the outcome would be, but I decided to simply trust the two of them. Both the Blade Demon and the Sword Venerable had lived as Demon Lords for decades. I trusted the lives they had lived.
In any case, since the two of them were doing something difficult for my sake, I couldn't just hand over the fruits of this labor to the Pungcheon Cult Leader for nothing.
I headed toward the Pungcheon Cult Leader's quarters. However, my goal this time was not a sacred relic. I intended to lay the first stone to obtain something far more precious than any artifact.