Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: A Triumphant Return
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Un-pyo and Pa-sun traveled toward the Heavenly Mountains while I guided their training. The journey took two weeks, but to them, it felt like years.
“You cannot grow stronger by relying solely on your weapons. But you must not be lazy in their use either. From now on, you will train by dividing your practice into times when you use your weapons and times when you do not.”
“Yes!”
After such a journey, we finally arrived at the Heavenly Mountains. At the entrance, Baek Gun-hak, the Head of the Heavenly Dance Family, and Seo Deung, the Left Emissary of Light, were there to greet us.
I had planned to return to the Heavenly Dance Family immediately, unpack, and relieve some of the fatigue from our travels... But the Left Emissary of Light's presence meant I had to go to the Cult Leader's Hall without a moment's rest.
From a distance, the Family Head came out to greet my companions and me.
“Mu-heun. You've been through a lot.”
“Thank you, Father.”
It seemed my father had already heard what happened from the Left Emissary of Light.
“But, what's with this coffin?”
“I'll... tell you after I get back.”
I gave the coffin containing the Golden Fang Poison Claw to my father and offered a brief farewell. I had to go to the Cult Leader's Hall alone, so I sent Un-pyo and Pa-sun to follow my father.
“If you're done with your greetings, let's go.”
“Yes.”
Then, I immediately followed the Left Emissary of Light, Seo Deung, to the Cult Leader's Hall.
***
-The Cult Leader's Hall, Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
The place still exuded a profound and tranquil atmosphere.
Hundreds of flames brightly illuminated the hall, and in one corner, a waterwheel was turning. As the bamboo vessel filled with water, its weight caused it to tip toward the opening, spilling the water before returning to its original position.
Even though the sun had not yet set, the purple flames placed throughout the hall created an overall mysterious and subtle color palette.
“Cult Leader, I have brought Baek Mu-heun of the Heavenly Dance Family.”
“You've done well.”
“Loyalty.”
After escorting me to the Cult Leader, the Left Emissary of Light, Seo Deung, immediately withdrew. This meant I was now having my second private audience with the Cult Leader.
Facing the Cult Leader, I immediately dropped to one knee, cupped my fist, and spoke.
“I greet the sky of the Divine Cult.”
“Well done.”
It was just one phrase.
The Cult Leader offered a brief compliment,
and I, unfazed, delivered my prepared response.
“I have only done what was necessary.”
The Cult Leader gazed at me intently. He didn't move closer or release any particular energy, yet I felt as if my entire body was being pricked from all directions by an awl.
“You've grown in such a short time.”
“Thank you.”
‘I thought I had contained my energy...’
Even those stronger than me had never detected my energy when I'd contained it to this extent... It seems I'm still not skilled enough to fool the Cult Leader.
“The Blade Leaf Demon is a man of integrity. He was not suited for the current state of the Cult, which is why I sent him to Blade Leaf Valley, but it seems things have ended this way after all.”
“...”
I had heard a little about the relationship between the Cult Leader and the Blade Leaf Demon. They said the Blade Leaf Demon was someone the Cult Leader, Cheon Mu-jin, had taken in when he was still a candidate for the position.
After Cheon Mu-jin ascended to the throne of Cult Leader, the Blade Leaf Demon became entangled in political strife rather than combat missions, and he reportedly lost his daughter and son-in-law.
I heard that the Cult Leader, feeling pity for him, sent him to Blade Leaf Valley, gave him the title of Blade Leaf Demon, and had him manage the area.
However...
‘You, Cheon Mu-jin, are the one who created this Cult rampant with such political infighting.’
I swallowed the words that rose to the tip of my tongue and spoke.
“The Sichuan Tang Clan was involved.”
“I know. The Red Demon Pavilion Lord's contact with the Tang Clan has been exposed, and he is under investigation. You did well in that regard, too.”
“Thank you.”
The Cult Leader once again offered a brief compliment and lifted his teacup as he spoke.
“One month from now, the Divine Dragon Assembly will be held. You will participate and prove your strength to the Cult. On that day, I will declare you my sixth disciple.”
“...!”
“With this, even if you use the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon, no one will be able to openly challenge you, and it will become easier for you to gather your own faction. Until then, be careful with your actions.”
‘Why... why is he going this far...?’
“I... I will strive to meet your expectations.”
“Strive to meet my expectations... As expected, you're not surprised in the slightest.”
‘Damn it, is he going to find fault no matter what I do?’
“I-I am merely following the Cult Leader's will.”
“Less than three years remain until the final competition with the other disciples. It will be difficult for you unless you at least win the Divine Dragon Assembly.”
He plans to have me participate in the contest for the next Cult Leader? So this was why he wanted me to win... If so, does that mean the things I thought were him finding fault were actually meant to help me? What in the world is he thinking?
I pushed aside my complicated thoughts and replied concisely.
“I will prove it.”
The Divine Dragon Assembly.
A competition to select the hidden dragons of the Divine Cult, where young martial artists within the Cult who have not yet reached the age of thirty participate to determine their superiority.
In line with the Cult's principle of survival of the fittest, the positions one holds in the future depend on their performance in the competition.
Furthermore, since the performance of a faction's successor reflects the prestige of that faction, every participant is desperate.
“Can you win?”
“...”
He's going to reveal me as his sixth disciple at such a competition and asks if I can win?
Easier said than done...
But.
‘This is what I've been waiting for.’
To change the Divine Cult, I must become the Cult Leader.
An opportunity to showcase my talent in martial arts and ignite a power struggle. The Divine Dragon Assembly, observed by the Cult Leader himself, is more than enough.
However, I didn't answer right away. This was tantamount to the Cult Leader telling me what he wanted from me.
I was not meeting the Cult Leader as the fourth young master of the Heavenly Dance Family. Although it was still unofficial, my current position was the Cult Leader's sixth disciple, so the situation was different than before.
In that case, it's worth a shot.
I had to create an opportunity to take charge of the conflict between the Divine Cult and the Tang Clan.
“Cult Leader, if this disciple were to participate in the Divine Dragon Assembly and win, may I make one request?”
“...”
The Cult Leader was silent for a moment.
‘...Was that too soon?’
His lack of response made me anxious.
Just then.
“Very well.”
A short, firm reply.
But,
upon hearing it, I lowered my head and smiled.
“I will prove myself.”
The chances of me not winning?
They were overwhelming.
It hasn't even been a year since I started learning martial arts.
Among the young successors of the Cult under thirty, there must be countless geniuses of martial arts. Could I defeat them all?
It was impossible.
Ordinarily, that is.
But I was going to overturn all common sense. How could I, who had once mastered the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon, not be able to defeat these successors? I will defy all odds and win without fail.
The impression I will leave on this Cult is this:
A rising star.
The sixth disciple of the Cult Leader.
And a strong contender in the competition for the Cult Leader's throne three years from now.
To leave such a fiercely powerful impression, I'll need to hide my claws until the Divine Dragon Assembly.
The Cult Leader looked at my bowed head and spoke.
“You may go.”
“Loyalty!”
Once again, I gained much from my private audience with the Cult Leader.
***
I returned to the Heavenly Dance Family for the first time in a while.
However, the atmosphere was quite different from before.
My father and older brothers had prepared a banquet for me.
That's right.
The good-for-nothing fourth young master of the Heavenly Dance Family was no more.
“Well done. Truly, well done.”
“Kwahahaha! I can't believe you did something like that.”
“Haha, can a person really change so suddenly?”
“You did wonderfully. You must have gone through so much.”
It was because the Cult Leader had sent a personal letter praising my achievements and a great deal of wealth to the Heavenly Dance Family. The Cult Leader himself had vouched for the deeds I accomplished in Blade Leaf Valley.
Without a shadow of a doubt,
it was, quite literally, a triumphant return.
‘What an unnecessary gesture...’
The entire family considered it a great honor and rejoiced, chattering everywhere about how the fourth young master had changed, how he was different now.
However, I don't know if it was this body that felt awkward,
or if it was me who felt awkward...
In any case, it was awkward.
I stepped onto the platform prepared by my father and addressed the family members.
“Thank you, everyone. I will now show you a better side of myself, enough to make up for all the worry I've caused.”
A thunderous cheer and applause erupted.
Watching them, I thought.
‘I suppose one day is fine.’
And so, I enjoyed the feast, eating delicious food and drinking fine wine. Being so warmly welcomed by my father, brothers, and the people of the family, I was suddenly reminded of this body's original owner.
‘Yes... looking after the Heavenly Dance Family as Baek Mu-heun is also my duty.’
***
The day after the banquet ended.
I studied the family's medical arts, acupuncture, formations, and spiritual arts.
“The Heart-Severing Soul-Stealing Secret Art... I've heard of it before, but this is the first time I'm seeing it in a book. A technique powerful enough to separate a person's soul and spirit... I might be able to use it if I utilize the fruit of the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree.”
Researching and verifying things is my specialty, so I'll have to practice it later.
“The manifestation of a technique using a circular dance... This could also be quite useful.”
The books of the Heavenly Dance Family were like a treasure trove to me. They were filled with knowledge of techniques and formations I had never seen in the Central Plains.
“The Heavenly Fragrance Owl... To think such a spiritual creature lives in the Heavenly Mountains...!”
A spiritual owl that commands a thousand scents... It's the spiritual creature with the best compatibility for someone who has assimilated the fruit of the Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree. It's said to be fond of a unique fragrance that humans cannot perceive, so I'll have to try luring it out from time to time.
I absorbed the family's knowledge and found areas in their formations to improve upon.
Comparing it with the knowledge from my past life, there were parts that supplemented my own knowledge and many areas I could supplement for them, so I checked everything from the basics, one by one.
First, I visited the Hall of Medicine.
“The foundation of pill concoction lies in the ratio of herbs and controlling the fire's temperature. If the temperature isn't precise, the medicine won't fuse properly, so always be careful to maintain the correct temperature.”
“In pharmacology and prescription, you must not be negligent in measuring precise weights. Inspect all the scales in the family, and if any are inaccurate, discard or repair them immediately.”
“The basis of acupuncture is to stimulate and unblock clogged meridians. The goal is to ensure there are no blockages in the body's entire meridian system. If a specific organ or area is unwell, you must stimulate and clear the meridians flowing to that area.”
“Simply taking medicine is not the only answer. Smooth circulation and energy flow will enhance the body's natural healing abilities, leading to a natural recovery.”
“W-We will keep that in mind. Thank you.”
After I went to the Hall of Medicine, pointed out areas for improvement, the hall master, perhaps on a whim, asked me something he was curious about, and I answered in detail.
The hall master was filled with admiration and offered his thanks.
Next, I visited the Formation Research Institute.
“The foundation of formations lies in intent.”
“Intent is imbued in words and characters. You must not be careless when writing or speaking the words.”
“When constructing a formation, you must always purify your mind so that not a single stray thought interferes.”
The master of the Formation Hall also jotted down every word I said.
I also visited the Hall of Spiritual Arts, right next to the Formation Institute.
“The foundation of soul and spiritual arts lies in the conscious and subconscious. Beyond superficial emotions and thoughts, you must be able to interfere with fundamental emotions and thoughts—that is, the realm of the subconscious.”
“Yes, yes! Thank you!”
And with the Hall of Spiritual Arts, I had offered my help in every field.
Seeing me like this, all the members of the family truly realized that the genius fourth young master, famous in his childhood, had been resurrected.
Except for one place.
The Azure Dragon Unit.
As a family that had been in charge of the Divine Cult's rituals for generations, the Heavenly Dance Family had no real need to practice martial arts.
For that reason, troops under the Cult Leader's command were permanently stationed to protect the Heavenly Dance Family. Those troops were the Azure Dragon Unit.
And there was a man who led this Azure Dragon Unit.
The Azure Dragon Unit Commander, Cheon Ga-rak.
“These scholars just love to exaggerate everything.”
He was suspicious of the fourth young master's martial prowess.
He knew that the young master had been dispatched from the Heavenly Dance Family on a mission to Blade Leaf Valley and returned with achievements.
But he couldn't believe the story about him cooperating with the Blade Leaf Demon to kill a supreme master from the Tang Clan.
He acknowledged that, being a genius from a young age, it was plausible for him to once again show prominence in academics, medicine, and formations.
‘However, martial arts are different from scholarly pursuits.’
No matter how much of a genius one is, they can't be a genius in every field. How strong could a brat barely past his coming-of-age ceremony be, even if he started practicing martial arts?
Talent is important in martial arts, but ultimately, proficiency depends on the length of one's training.
“A man who has swung a spear a thousand times cannot be the same as one who has swung it ten thousand times.”
I could feel Cheon Ga-rak's gaze on me.
‘This stare is quite sharp...?’