Chapter 160
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Return, and... (6)
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“What?”
Seo Ryang blinked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well… um.”
After a few dry coughs, he continued.
“The special protection subject wishes to see you, Young Master. However, the subject is currently unable to leave their residence… In any case, I was told to deliver the message…”
“Why are you mumbling?”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“Forget it. What is this ‘special protection subject’?”
Ma Dongpil straightened his back.
His posture was ramrod straight. In this moment, he was not Seo Ryang's personal guard but the proud Third Squad Leader of the Hall of Protectors.
“A special protection subject is, as the name implies…”
“Someone who needs special protection, I get it.”
“...”
“Am I wrong?”
“N-No, you are correct.”
“What I’m curious about is how significant this person who needs special protection is to our Cult.”
“The special protection subject is someone the Hall of Protectors must prioritize above all else.
Naturally, they are a great guest of the Cult. For this reason, high-level masters from the Hall of Protectors’ Inner Cabinet are sometimes mobilized to guard the subject.”
Seo Ryang tilted his head.
“What’s this Inner Cabinet? The Hall of Protectors has another organization like that?”
“Ah, you were not aware, Young Master.”
*It’s not that he didn’t know, but that he lost his memories.*
Ma Dongpil was no longer surprised by any of Seo Ryang’s words or actions, at least when it came to matters of the Cult.
“The Hall of Protectors’ Inner Cabinet refers to the hidden masters of the Hall.”
Ma Dongpil explained in detail about the Protectors who formed the Inner Cabinet, the masters of the previous generation.
Seo Ryang’s expression turned incredulous.
“Previous generation masters? You’re saying it includes not just former Protectors, but also former Demonic Lords and Demonic Generals?”
“That is correct.”
A subtle pride was visible on Ma Dongpil’s face as he answered.
It was understandable. If this was true, it meant the Hall of Protectors was the strongest organization within the Cult, teeming with monsters from the past.
Seo Ryang clicked his tongue.
‘This is insane. Instead of just retiring, they spend their final years as part of the Hall of Protectors’ Inner Cabinet?’
He was told they lived leisurely most of the time, but when a special mission came up, they would swarm out and resolve the situation.
It was a truly astounding organizational system.
Though they were seniors from the previous generation, they were normally in a state of retirement, so they couldn't interfere in the affairs of the current Lord of the Hall of Protectors, their junior.
So they just stayed quiet and acted as tools, used only when needed.
‘And they don’t do it because the Cult Leader orders them to, but because they choose to voluntarily?’
Where on earth does this kind of loyalty come from?
Seo Ryang nodded his head.
“So that’s why.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ve seen him a few times before, fleetingly. The Lord of the Hall of Protectors.”
“Ah, yes.”
“He was an incredible master. He wouldn’t be lacking even when compared to the Ten Great Masters of the World. In other words, he’s a master on the same level as the Nine Great Demonic Lords.”
“Of course. He is someone who does not usually reveal himself, but his martial arts were acknowledged even by the Cult Leader.”
“I thought it was an organization filled with powerful individuals but somehow lacking. I was wrong.
There was a reason for the large gap in martial skill between the Lord of the Hall and its members. To command such monsters, one must have the commensurate skill.”
“That is correct.”
A faint smile touched Ma Dongpil’s lips. He was pleased that the Young Master held the Lord of the Hall in high regard.
Seo Ryang shook his head.
“And here I thought the Divine Generals Division was the strongest group of masters in the Cult.”
If several former Demonic Lords were included, it meant the Hall of Protectors had a few more masters who had reached the state of Supreme Demon, besides its Lord.
No one was ignorant of how formidable a single absolute master could be.
A master of the Supreme Demon state was a true one-man army, capable of single-handedly dealing with ten thousand troops.
‘It wasn’t the Council of Elders, but the Hall of Protectors. The strongest organization in the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon, in name and reality, is the Hall of Protectors.’
Seo Ryang’s eyes sparkled.
‘So the Cult’s greatest shield was also its greatest spear.’
In terms of troop numbers, the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon could hardly compare to the Alliance Fortress. The reason it was still considered one of the three great powers of the martial world was that it had a large concentration of such absolute masters.
“Ah, anyway, so?”
“Yes. So, that special protection subject wishes to see you, Young Master.”
Seo Ryang’s expression turned sullen.
“I don’t know who it is, but I’m not interested. I’m busy enough as it is. And who does he think he is, telling me to come and go? If he wants to see me, he should come and knock on my door himself.”
“Indeed. It is a rude way to act. However, he cannot move outside his residence…”
“Cannot move outside his residence?”
“When a special protection subject enters the Cult, they are forbidden from going outside to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.”
“Is there really a need to go that far? The moment they enter the Cult, their safety is guaranteed. What kind of audacious bastard would send a spy or an assassin into our Cult?”
As he said it, Seo Ryang felt an odd sense of unease. After all, he himself had almost been the assassin sent by that "audacious bastard."
“I think so too, but it seems our superiors think otherwise. In any case, there’s no harm in being fully prepared.”
“That’s true too.”
Seo Ryang drained his cold tea in one gulp and stood up.
“In any case, I’m not interested.”
“Ah, yes. I will relay that, then.”
“Do that. Oh, but how did you end up hearing that from this special protection subject or whatever?”
“I did not meet him directly. I heard it through the First Squad Leader of the Hall of Protectors.”
“I see.”
Seo Ryang rolled his shoulders.
“Anyway, hurry back. I have a gift for you too.”
“A gift, you say?”
“There’s something, you punk.”
***
Three days later.
While sweating it out in the training yard, Seo Ryang suddenly heard the sound of a carriage.
Seo Ryang sighed.
“Damn it, who is it now?”
He had just grasped the foundation of the Demonic Emperor's Reigning Steps and was about to begin in earnest. From the sound of the carriage, it was clearly headed this way.
Then again, his place was so isolated that any carriage sound was bound to be for him.
A moment later, there was a knock on the door.
“Third Young Master, I…”
“Come in. The door’s open.”
“Yes.”
*Creeak.*
The person who appeared through the open door was none other than So Yeonsim.
So Yeonsim bowed her head politely.
“The Lord of the Garden of Joy greets the Third Young Master.”
“It’s been a while.”
So Yeonsim graced him with her characteristically beautiful smile.
“I’m sorry, is my greeting too late?”
“I’m well aware of how busy you are. There’s no need to come all this way just because I’ve returned to the Cult.”
“That’s a rather disappointing thing to say… Hmm?”
“Is something wrong?”
“...”
“...?”
“Young Master.”
“Yes, please speak.”
A look of astonishment spread across So Yeonsim’s face.
“You’ve… changed a little.”
Seo Ryang let out a smirk.
“Yes. I have changed a little.”
“...How?”
It had been a long time since she had fought in a real battle, but her sharp senses as a transcendent master were still alive and well.
The moment So Yeonsim faced Seo Ryang, she noticed the change in him. At first, she thought he just seemed a bit unfamiliar since it had been a few months, but now she realized that wasn’t it.
‘Supreme Demon!’
Looking into Seo Ryang’s eyes, her hands tensed instinctively. The distinct black and white of his gaze was the same, but the leisure and dignity within it created a subtle tension.
“How long are you going to keep staring like that?”
“What? Ah, yes.”
So Yeonsim let out a soft sigh.
“The person I’m looking at right now really is the Third Young Master, correct?”
“Is there another person as handsome as me?”
“...”
“Still no reaction to my nonsense, I see.”
“How on earth did you reach the state of Supreme Demon?”
Seo Ryang tilted his head.
“It’s not a state that can be explained with words.”
“Of course, but still.”
“I was lucky.”
“That goes without saying.”
“I know what you want to hear, but I can’t really give you an answer either. You’ll just have to accept it as it is.”
It seemed that even after reaching a sublime state, his personality remained unchanged.
“But what brings you here?”
“What do you mean? I came to visit after hearing that you had returned to the Cult, Young Master.”
“Ah, so you just came to say hello?”
“That’s right?”
“You lie so naturally.”
“If I were truly trying to deceive you, even you wouldn’t be able to notice, Young Master.”
“I’ll give you that.”
Seo Ryang pointed towards his room.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll come in as soon as I finish what I was doing. It won’t take long.”
“Are you training?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm. May I watch?”
“Be my guest.”
She had thrown out the question as a joke, but his sincere response surprised So Yeonsim even more.
“You’re really letting me watch?”
“Why not?”
“No, but still…”
A martial artist does not show their training to others. It is because they worry that their weaknesses might be revealed to others.
It might seem overly cautious, but in the world of Murim, where a single sword strike could mean life or death, it was perfectly natural.
Whether Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic, all martial artists tacitly respected this unwritten rule.
Seo Ryang spoke indifferently.
“If you’re afraid of showing your weaknesses, you shouldn’t have picked up a sword and stepped out into the world in the first place. If you’re that worried, then don’t create any weaknesses.”
“That’s true, but…”
“In any case, please wait just a moment. I should be done within half an hour.”
“Ah, yes.”
As soon as So Yeonsim’s reply ended, Seo Ryang moved.
One step, then another, he moved smoothly. Instantly engrossed, Seo Ryang’s face became as serious and reverent as that of a seeker of truth.
So Yeonsim couldn’t help but be inwardly impressed.
‘He’s concentrating. Already.’
The ability to become completely absorbed in oneself before the time it takes to sip a cup of tea.
Such focus was not something anyone could possess. While a fierce personality could be innate, concentration was a skill developed over time.
Only now did So Yeonsim realize just how intense the Third Young Master’s thirst for martial arts was.
‘It must be because he built his foundation on such outstanding concentration that he could reach the state of Supreme Demon at his age.’
A subtle envy appeared on So Yeonsim’s face.
‘To become a master who can contend for supremacy under the heavens before even reaching thirty… It’s incredible.’
So Yeonsim did not know what great heights the First Young Master, still in seclusion, had reached.
But she was certain he could not have shown such explosive growth as the Third Young Master. The Third Young Master’s growth was so fast it made one doubt their own eyes.
‘And it’s only been two years since he lost his martial arts due to Demonic Deviation.’
Thinking that far, he was a monster among monsters.
‘Perhaps, he really…’
So Yeonsim’s eyes deepened.
‘Could he seize the next seat of power?’
Regardless of the great merits he had accumulated, the fact that he had reached the state of Supreme Demon before the age of thirty alone made the Third Young Master qualified.
The current Cult Leader, Lee Cheonsang, was known to have reached the state of Supreme Demon in his mid-twenties. Even so, Lee Cheonsang was considered one of the three greatest monsters in the history of the Demonic Path.
What kind of evaluation should the Third Young Master, who reached the Supreme Demon state ten years earlier than Lee Cheonsang, receive?
So Yeonsim was lost in thought when it happened.
*Rumble!*
She was startled by a sudden clap of thunder.
“Hoo.”
Seo Ryang, holding a fist-out posture, panted for breath. His body was already drenched in sweat.
“There. This should work.”
“Young Master.”
“Yes? Ah, yes.”
“Is that, by any chance…”
So Yeonsim swallowed hard.
“The Heavenly Demon's Thunderclap Fist?”
“Oh? You recognize it?”
“I couldn’t possibly not.”
A strange look was veiled within her surprise.
“My main martial art is the Thunderclap Fist.”
“…Huh?”
“...”
“You’ve mastered the Thunderclap Fist?”
“Yes.”
Seo Ryang blinked. Judging by her slender frame and flexible demonic energy, he had assumed her main weapon was a palm art excelling in linked forms.
To think she had mastered such a powerful and heavy fist art.
“Today’s conversation is going to be interesting in many ways.”
So Yeonsim’s eyes sparkled.
“After I explain the reason for my visit, would you care for a light round?”