Chapter 87
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: To Grow (2)
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Lee Cheonsang's imposing presence was as formidable as ever as he sat in the pavilion, languidly tilting his cup.
The dragon robe casually draped over his shoulders, the loose-fitting top revealing a part of his chest, and his utterly indifferent expression.
Crucially, this indescribably overwhelming presence was still something he wasn't used to.
'As expected.'
Seo Ryang's eyes deepened as he looked up at him from below the pavilion.
'It's hitting me all over again. Just what a monstrous beast this man is.'
Having raised his martial arts to their current level, he could feel it even more viscerally.
Even without consciously emitting their energy, all masters naturally exude a sharp, underlying presence.
This was why people felt intimidated when facing a master.
Seo Ryang was different.
He came from a background as an assassin skilled at concealing his presence, and he had no desire to show off his power to anyone.
The dream he had chased his entire life spoke to his disposition, and in turn, it was reflected in his aura.
But what about Lee Cheonsang?
'This man has transcended even that. He's a powerhouse who exists on an entirely different plane.'
If he chose, he could reduce his presence to that of the air itself, or conversely, unleash a pressure that felt like the entire sky was collapsing.
Lee Cheonsang's current, tranquil presence was a reflection of his character.
An utterly indifferent transparency, a fortitude that wouldn't waver even in the face of cataclysm, and the languor and solitude of one who had achieved everything and thus felt little interest in anything.
All of these elements combined to complete the one and only absolute being.
“You’ve come.”
“…Yes.”
“Come up.”
Seo Ryang climbed the pavilion stairs.
Lee Cheonsang, who had been pouring himself a drink, suddenly looked at Seo Ryang as he ascended the steps.
Flash!
A glint in his eyes, unnoticed by anyone.
But it was only for a moment; his gaze quickly subsided.
Reaching a spot seven paces before Lee Cheonsang, Seo Ryang bowed his head.
“Greetings, Cult Leader.”
“Sit.”
The heavy, low voice seemed to make the air vibrate.
Seo Ryang sat down, his face expressionless.
“…”
A suffocating silence.
He maintained a blank expression, but inside, Seo Ryang was a mess.
'Damn it…'
A thick vein bulged on his jaw. Even so, he refrained from grinding his teeth, lest Lee Cheonsang hear.
'Why did he call me? Why? What could be the reason?'
He'd had many thoughts on his way here.
'Right, it was about time he called me. Huh? But why so early in the morning? Does this man not sleep? Ah! He's old enough that he probably doesn't sleep in.'
From lighthearted thoughts like this.
'It was about time, but why now of all times? Huh? Wait a minute. No matter how much authority the Grand Marshal has, there's no way the Cult Leader doesn't know the Heavenly Demon Armory was opened. Is he going to hold that against me?'
Past worried speculations like this.
'Shit… Did he really find out I left?!'
…to extremely serious worries like that.
In the sense that he constantly made people anxious, Lee Cheonsang was a truly exhausting person.
He was a man of few words, so conversations were short, and it was impossible to know what he was thinking.
He was the very embodiment of exhaustion, this man.
As Seo Ryang's mind was racing with all sorts of wild imaginings.
Slide.
An empty cup slid across the table toward Seo Ryang.
“Have a drink.”
Ah, yes.
Sipping alcohol first thing in the morning... it was truly baffling. He wondered how anyone could do this, no matter how much they loved to drink.
Seo Ryang politely picked up the cup.
Lee Cheonsang said as he poured wine into his cup.
“You seem to have trained hard.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes, I have.”
“I hear you dealt with the Fourth rather harshly?”
For a moment, his heart sank.
'Ugh.'
This man definitely had something that defied imagination. To suddenly bring up Hong Wi-mun, it felt like being struck on the back of the head.
He had worried about all sorts of things on the way here, but he hadn't thought about that bastard.
“Ye-es, well… that’s what happened.”
Lee Cheonsang nodded.
“Let’s drink.”
The two men drained their cups simultaneously.
It was a truly fine and delicious wine. He'd had it a few times before.
…The aroma that had been so pleasant back then felt like the scent of death today.
“Care for another?”
Huh?
Seo Ryang blinked. He was taken aback, as this wasn't the kind of reaction Lee Cheonsang had shown before.
“I-I’d love one.”
Glug, glug.
The cup was filled once more.
Lee Cheonsang spoke again.
“The Fourth’s King of Slaughter Demonic Art is a new demonic art he created based on the techniques of the Red Snake House.”
“…”
“He was a stubborn one. Talented, too. The idea of creating a new martial art at such a young age—not just anyone can do that.”
This is making my teeth ache.
“At first, it was substandard. But it gradually improved. After exactly three years, a rather outstanding demonic art emerged.”
This guy is surprisingly talkative today, isn't he?
But I don't know what he's trying to say. Does he mean that since I wrecked his precious Fourth, I deserve to be wrecked myself?
“But that was as far as it went.”
“…Pardon?”
“A scheme without the power to back it up might be called clever, but it can hardly be considered complete. His talent was outstanding, but the fool was letting it rot.”
Lee Cheonsang filled his own cup and drained it in one go.
“Those who don't know their own talent are foolish. I despise the foolish.”
“…”
“But those who know their talent yet choose to stagnate—I don't even consider them human.”
“…”
“That's why I was disappointed in the Fourth. He shouldn't have lived like that.”
Seo Ryang's eyes deepened.
Lee Cheonsang didn't deserve to be called a good teacher, not even as an empty compliment. His own abilities were exceptional, but his method of teaching his disciples was abysmal.
However, he was a god. He had no need to be anyone's teacher, nor was he in a position to be one.
'That's what makes him even more incredible.'
He answers to no one and takes orders from no one.
He simply stands alone, aloof and noble.
“And that Fourth was defeated at your hands.”
“…”
“It was unexpected.”
What does he mean by that?
“I knew of the Fourth's ambition. I also knew he would never be able to claim the throne. But I never imagined he would be eliminated from the succession battle so quickly.”
Lee Cheonsang's eyes flashed.
Seeing that gaze, Seo Ryang felt a chill run down his spine.
“The ones I despise are the foolish. On the other hand, do you know what kind of person I admire?”
“…I do not.”
“Those who defy my expectations.”
Seo Ryang, who had been watching Lee Cheonsang quietly, drained his cup.
Lee Cheonsang then refilled it, without even asking if he wanted another.
“You have defied my expectations. By a long shot.”
“…!”
“Therefore, I admire you.”
The goosebumps that had been rising on his back spread through his entire body.
Admiration was not an emotion one could feel easily. And yet, this incredible man was saying that he admired him.
There was no way to know if Lee Cheonsang was being sincere. But the very fact that such words came from the mouth of this absolute being was astonishing.
Squeeze.
He could feel sweat pooling in his tightly clenched fist. He tried to suppress it, but it was hard to contain the turmoil welling up from deep within his chest.
'The greatest demon under heaven admires me?'
He, who had been raised as a secret weapon of the Righteous Heaven Alliance and lived as the Alliance Leader's dog. He, who had lived a life too wretched to even be called wretched, was receiving such an evaluation from the Cult Leader of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon.
'…Damn it.'
A sense of pride born from the turmoil.
The emotion that followed that pride was self-loathing.
'Cast it aside. You can't feel this way over a few mere words. If you do…'
He was afraid he would stray from the freedom he had dreamed of his entire life. He thought that if he truly dreamed of freedom, he shouldn't feel pride at the Cult Leader's praise.
In the end, had I just set up a plausible but empty dream, deceiving myself as I ran blindly forward?
Swoosh.
His eyes grew deep and still. The wavering presence around him quickly settled into a heavy calm.
Seo Ryang let out a sigh.
'What is this ridiculous self-pity? A giant of this stature is acknowledging me. It's only natural to feel proud.'
It was an emotion anyone would have.
Emotions arise and fade naturally. There was no need for self-torment or anxiety just because he felt a certain way.
Why? Because in the end, even those emotions were all a part of who he was.
“Hoo.”
He, who had bowed his head, looked at Lee Cheonsang again.
Lee Cheonsang's eyes shone. He had noticed the subtle change in Seo Ryang.
“Look. Even in this very moment, you have defied my expectations.”
“…”
“You change and grow with every passing moment. That is what makes you remarkable.”
Watching Lee Cheonsang, Seo Ryang let out a smirk.
It wasn't a smile one should show before the great Lee Cheonsang. And yet, he smiled anyway.
Why? It just felt like it was okay to smile like this.
And it felt like it would be okay to say this, too.
“Hearing you say such things really doesn't suit you, Cult Leader.”
“…”
“I'm just an oddball, that's all.”
Lee Cheonsang, who had been watching him silently, picked up the wine bottle again.
As Seo Ryang emptied his cup, he refilled it.
“Last night, the Grand Marshal paid me a visit.”
“…”
“He said he opened the Heavenly Demon Armory.”
“…”
“Do the weapons you took suit your hands?”
“Yes. They fit like a glove.”
Lee Cheonsang nodded.
“Seven Nights is ferocious, and Meteor is sharp. You have a good eye.”
“I wouldn't have taken them if I didn't like them.”
“That's true of all weapons. If you had taken an ancestral relic that didn't even suit your hands, I would have been disappointed.”
Finding common ground in an unexpected place.
After draining his cup again, Lee Cheonsang turned his head to look at the pond.
It wasn't a particularly ornate pond, but when he looked at it, even the simple pond seemed dazzlingly beautiful.
“Those swords you liked—you haven't had a chance to wield them freely yet, have you?”
“That… is true.”
Swoosh.
Lee Cheonsang rose from his seat. Seo Ryang awkwardly followed suit.
“Come down.”
A moment later, the two stood in an open space.
Lee Cheonsang extended his right hand toward something.
Piiiiing!
In that instant, with a sound like a zither string snapping, four swords plunged into the ground in front of where Seo Ryang stood.
'…!!'
A divine technique of summoning objects from thin air. At this incredible move, Seo Ryang's jaw could only drop.
'I didn't feel any ripple of internal energy. And it wasn't like someone threw them either.'
Could he have brought the weapons from the entrance with his will alone? Really?
'This man is just…'
Lee Cheonsang's martial prowess, something he had never seen before.
It was just one move, but he felt a mind-numbing gap between them. It was a state of mastery so overwhelming that discussing the highs and lows of martial arts was utterly meaningless.
Lee Cheonsang spoke.
“This is a reward for the disciple who defied my expectations.”
“…Pardon?”
“Pick the one you like.”
“…!”
Lee Cheonsang held out his hand.
An ambiguous gesture, as if offering something, or perhaps demanding it.
“I shall bestow upon you a lesson.”
Clang!
Gripping one of the four swords, Seo Ryang swung it like a bolt of lightning.