One Question
Training began immediately. Controlling Jerdin's psychological state was an urgent matter. Just because he'd held out so far didn't mean he could suppress his killing intent today. So Cael started teaching him martial arts right away.
"Urgh…!"
A groan of agony leaked from between Jerdin's clenched lips. The heavy chaos qi flowing in through Cael's fingertips mercilessly tore through his sealed meridians. It was pain that would have knocked out any ordinary human long ago. But Jerdin, sweat beading thick on his forehead, bit his lip hard and didn't scream even once. Compared to the destructive impulses and murderous whispers that had gnawed at his mind all this time, physical pain was nothing—a display of ruthless endurance.
Cael inwardly admired him as he fine-tuned the flow of chaos qi even more delicately. The ferocious energy of the Heavenly Slaughter Star that had clung to his meridians, threatening to rampage, began to be slowly pushed toward his dantian under the overwhelming pressure of the chaos qi.
"Don't let your breathing falter. From now on, you must perfectly memorize the path of the energy I'm pushing into your body."
"Hah… hah… Yes, brother…!"
What Cael was imparting was the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Art, the sole martial art said to have been used by the Blood Heaven Slaughterer of old to contain the uncontrollable killing intent of the Heavenly Slaughter Star.
"Swallowing killing intent will eventually turn you into a monster. Don't swallow it—hone it to a razor's edge. And when the moment comes to unleash it… let it explode all at once. That killing intent will become your greatest weapon."
Cael's low voice echoed in Jerdin's ears. Jerdin squeezed his eyes shut, desperately following the path of the energy Cael guided. The killing intent of the Heavenly Slaughter Star, which had thrashed wildly at first, began to intertwine strangely with the profound heart method of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Art, as if finding its perfect match.
And from that moment, Cael witnessed a sight that made him doubt his own eyes.
Shoooo—
In just a few breath cycles, Jerdin's breathing stabilized perfectly. A beginner who should have been focused on opening his meridians had instinctively grasped the heart method after Cael cleared the path once, and now circulated the energy on his own. Even when Cael slightly withdrew his hand, the energy in Jerdin's dantian didn't scatter—it rotated independently, compressing the killing intent.
This wasn't just a matter of being smart. This was the demonic martial arts aptitude of the Heavenly Slaughter Star, a heaven-sent calamity that left all warriors aghast.
A smile deeper than mere interest crept across Cael's lips.
This mad bastard. Grasping the essence of an inner art's heart method just from tasting the energy flow once. Even a Heavenly Martial Body couldn't match this speed.
To control the devilish voice that had whispered endlessly in his mind, Jerdin absorbed Cael's teachings like a sponge.
"Good. You've mastered the basics of the heart method in one go, so now I'll teach you the trajectory for projecting killing intent. Get up and grab that dagger on the wall."
Jerdin staggered to his feet and gripped the dagger. Cael stood beside him, demonstrating personally: how to hold the dagger, the wrist snap, and the first killing move of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Art—erasing one's presence in the darkness and slipping into the enemy's blind spot. With a light extension of his hand, the room's candle flames flickered out and reignited, leaving a chilling trajectory in the air.
"This is the First Form: Heavenly Slaughter Soul Chase. Try it."
Jerdin swept back his sweat-matted bangs and regripped the dagger. His violet eyes sank into a terrifying depth.
Slash—!
A movement without the slightest hesitation. The dagger's trajectory matched Cael's demonstration perfectly, slicing through the air. And at its tip, the compressed killing intent of the Heavenly Slaughter Star oozed out in that brief instant.
Cael nearly let out a hollow laugh.
Absurd learning speed. Mastering the basics of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Art in a single day—no, mere hours.
Cael had encountered countless geniuses and prodigies over centuries in the martial world. But the instinctive talent for slaughter this frail half-brother displayed surpassed them all combined. It was enough to ignite a master's passion deep within him.
"Heh, excellent. Then how about this? A killer's trajectory can't be limited to one. I'll teach you the Second and Third Forms."
Cael was starting to find this situation insanely enjoyable. Watching Jerdin absorb not just what he taught, but more—honing his killing intent to perfection—felt like sculpting a once-in-a-lifetime work of art.
Cael drilled Jerdin through dawn, pouring out the Five Essences of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Art without restraint. Jerdin, gasping as if on the verge of collapse, never let go of the dagger. Each time he executed the techniques and controlled his energy, the hellish whispers in his head grew fainter, clearer.
The voices are fading!
To survive and preserve his sanity, Jerdin clung to the martial arts. But as he swung the dagger through ragged breaths until dawn, he suddenly froze in place. His hands trembled as they clutched his ears.
"Hm? Jerdin?"
As Cael looked on puzzled, Jerdin slowly raised his head. Thick teardrops streamed endlessly down his pale cheeks.
"B-Brother…"
His voice cracked with sobs.
"The v-voices…! I can't hear the voices anymore…!"
The cursed devil's voice that had circled his ears his whole life, thirsting for blood and whispering slaughter—the horrific auditory hallucination of destructive impulse—had vanished from his mind like a lie.
Gazing at the sobbing Jerdin, Cael smiled softly.
"That's a relief. Let's call it here for today."
He tossed Jerdin a nearby towel and spoke lowly.
"Remember this. Knowing how to hold a monster's leash doesn't mean you can let your guard down. If any strange thoughts or feelings arise, come straight to me without delay. Got it?"
Jerdin caught the towel, roughly wiping his tears with his sleeve, and bowed at a perfect ninety degrees.
"Yes! Understood, brother!"
His voice brimmed with blind loyalty and sky-piercing respect. To Jerdin, Cael was more than a family brother—the sole savior who had pulled him from lifelong hell.
As Jerdin rose, bowed once more, and turned to leave, he hesitated, stopping and looking back.
"Something else to say?"
At Cael's question, Jerdin flushed, asking timidly in a small voice.
"Um… could I move my quarters closer to yours?"
It was his way of expressing the desire to stay near his brother, leaving the secluded hideout he'd endured. Partly to quell the anxiety of his energy rampaging again, but mostly the burning wish to master the martial art his brother had bestowed and become useful as soon as possible.
Cael nodded readily, pleased.
"That sounds good. I'll tell Ella, so pack your things and move. Plenty of empty rooms."
"Thank you! I'll go pack right now!"
Jerdin's footsteps were lighter and more buoyant than ever as he left the room.
Gazing at the closed door, Cael lifted his teacup.
An assassin with the Heavenly Slaughter Star. Wonder what he'll become once complete…
He was certain no more than three in the entire martial world could block that perfected assassin.
Not sure about this place, though.
In this continent teeming with non-humans, who knew. Somehow, the events unfolding in this ducal house felt more thrilling than ruling the Demonic Cult from Shipman Mountain Range.
Hm, it's late. Time for a short rest?
Cael didn't need sleep to function, but at his current level, an hour or two was wise.
The moment he headed for bed—
Knock knock—
The air in the room warped oddly, followed by a small knock at the door. No footsteps, no presence, not even breathing. Only an suffocating, overwhelming aura emanated from beyond the door.
Didn't expect this tonight…
Cael's ash-gray eyes cooled sharply. He opened the door himself, speaking flatly.
"What brings you here at this hour?"
The figure matched the presence perfectly.
"Too many eyes during the day, so I passed. But damn, curiosity's killing me."
The master of the grand ducal house, visiting his son's room in the dead of night without a single guard knight. Arjen's red eyes sharply scanned the room and Cael.
"Someone was just here. Who? One of your underlings?"
Cael turned slowly, meeting Arjen's gaze. He didn't mention Jerdin.
"What could possibly interest you now in this eldest son you never cared about?"
A thick smile curled Arjen's lips. He stepped forward slowly toward Cael, his voice heavy.
"Did you think you could fool my eyes? How did a bedridden wretch get this strong?"
"……."
"One question."
"Ask away."
And from Arjen's mouth came a question that pierced Cael's core.
"Are you… really Cael?"