Pleasure to Meet You Again
Clad in an ominous crimson Saber Qi, the Heavenly Slayer Demonic Saber whipped through the air at a speed invisible to the naked eye, leaving only a trail of afterimages in its wake.
Truth be told, I had secretly hoped that even if I couldn't land a direct hit on Gwangheo Sanin, I might at least manage to nick his collar.
Ah... fell a bit short.
Before I knew it, Gwangheo Sanin had retreated just out of my blade's reach. The fierce wind whipped up by my Saber Qi did nothing more than ruffle his long, loose hair.
Yet, seeing the sheer perfection of that simple, concise, and lightning-fast strike, the easygoing composure Gwangheo Sanin had worn until now vanished instantly. His expression hardened.
"Astonishing. To have already reached the realm of Saber Qi at your age. And that crimson energy..."
Gwangheo Sanin trailed off, but I knew exactly what he was going to say.
When masters of exceptionally high internal cultivation manifest their Qi, it sometimes takes on unique elemental properties.
Thus, manifesting such distinct Saber Qi was proof of having reached at least the mid-stage of the First-class Realm—a level utterly impossible for a mere twelve-year-old boy to attain.
Two strikes left.
Without pausing, I continued to circulate the internal energy of the Dark Demonic Inward Heart Method through my body.
Whoosh.
The demonic Qi coursing through my meridians vibrated faintly as it passed through the acupoints of my Conception and Governing Vessels.
I could feel the limits of my current cultivation; as the final stage of the Dark Demonic Inward Heart Method, I had not yet achieved the realignment of my Conception and Governing Vessels.
But it was right before my eyes.
Through my training over the past year, I knew that this vibration was a precursor to the twisting and realigning of my acupoints.
Slash!
Unleashing the second strike, unlike the first, I swung vertically. The Saber Qi tore through the empty air once more.
Gwangheo Sanin, true to his reputation, twisted his body with profound footwork to evade it.
I seemed to have succeeded in severing a few strands of his hair, but I still hadn't managed to graze his clothes.
And then.
Thump, thump.
I felt several acupoints along my Conception Vessel twist.
Was it because of the extreme focus demanded by this life-or-death moment?
Or was it the influence of the Heavenly Killer Star, which was raging on the verge of explosion?
Either way, it meant my mastery of the Dark Demonic Inward Heart Method was experiencing a steep surge of growth in the brief span of these two swings.
"Haaap!"
With a sharp shout, I channeled every ounce of my internal energy and swung the saber a third time.
Shhhk!
The effect of those realigned acupoints manifested instantly.
With more perfect control over the demonic Qi through the newly aligned acupoints, the flow of energy circulating through my body grew noticeably more ferocious.
Slaaash!
Startled, Gwangheo Sanin gritted his teeth and tried to leap backward, but...
Following the diagonal slash of the Heavenly Slayer Demonic Saber, a burst of Saber Qi—far sharper and more refined than the first two strikes—erupted, outstripping his speed.
It was a difference of a mere split second.
The Saber Qi grazed past Gwangheo Sanin's left arm before he could fully pull back.
As the sound of rushing wind died down, a silence so profound fell over us that one might have heard a feather drop. Amidst the quiet, Gwangheo Sanin let out a soft sigh.
"My word..."
"Just a bit short. But you touched him! One more time. Let's kill him next time, okay?"
Wait.
"Wait for what? If not now, when...?"
He was staring down at his severed sleeve with an expression of utter disbelief.
And then.
"Ahahaha!"
I watched Gwangheo Sanin throw his head back and burst into wild, manic laughter once again, like a madman.
He had promised just moments ago that if I could even graze his sleeve within three exchanges, he would let us go. True to his word, I had sliced his sleeve within those three strikes.
But with a lunatic of his caliber, there was no guarantee he wouldn't shamelessly go back on his word and try to slaughter us all anyway.
Thump, thump.
My heart hammered against my ribs as if it might burst out. In that tense silence, Gwangheo Sanin—no, Yu Gwan-ji—moved.
Rustle.
"You truly exceed all expectations."
Suddenly, he swept his tattered robes back, dropped to one knee, and clasped his hands together in a formal martial salute.
"This humble disciple, Guardian Dharma King Yu Gwan-ji, pays his respects to the Young Sect Leader. Please forgive my insolence from moments ago."
What?
"What... what did you just say?"
"It is only natural that you are surprised. Your subordinate, Yu Gwan-ji, has been operating in the shadows of the Jianghu under the Sect Leader's orders, concealing my identity. I received a sectarian decree to escort the Young Sect Leader on his pilgrimage, which is why I have made this sudden appearance."
Astoundingly, after revealing his identity, Gwangheo Sanin's bloodthirsty, maniacal demeanor vanished without a trace. He remained kneeling before me, head bowed as he spoke.
No, wait a minute.
So, what he was saying was that this infamous Gwangheo Sanin was actually a member of our Sun and Moon Sect?
While everyone, myself included, stood frozen in sheer shock, Baek So-cheong was the first to regain her wits. She asked in a trembling voice:
"Did you say you are a Guardian Dharma King?"
"Indeed, Lady Baek. It has been over ten years since I last saw you from afar as a child. You have grown into a beautiful young lady."
"Then... are you truly Senior Yu Gwan-ji, the Purple Palace Dharma King?"
"I am indeed called by that title, despite my meager skills... Ah, Junior Yeongho, Junior Namgung, I hope you do not hold too much of a grudge over how harshly this senior treated you a moment ago."
Having thoroughly read all the records of the Sun and Moon Sect, I was well aware of the position of the Four Guardian Dharma Kings.
Operating in the shadows under the direct command of the Sect Leader, their true identities were known to almost no one else. They carried out secret, vital missions across the Jianghu, far from the Sun and Moon Sect Headquarters.
In terms of rank, they stood just below the Left and Right Guardians, but given the nature of their duties, their individual martial prowess was second to none.
But the more I thought about it, the more astonishing it was.
To think that the legendary Gwangheo Sanin of the Jianghu was actually Yu Gwan-ji, the Purple Palace Dharma King—one of the four great Guardian Dharma Kings of the Sun and Moon Sect!
"Then, is the reason Dharma King Yu appeared here today...?"
"I was waiting for the Young Sect Leader's party to pass by, but then I saw you being cornered and harassed by those Kunlun Sect disciples. I merely stepped in to offer a bit of assistance."
"But why... why...?"
Namgung Eon was stammering, repeating "why" over and over like a broken doll.
The fact that he knew the identities of Yeongho Bin and Namgung Eon, let alone myself and Baek So-cheong, proved beyond a doubt that his claims were genuine.
But if that was the case, why did he ask if we were of the Demonic Cult, and why did he threaten to kill us?
It was only natural to want to demand answers.
Gwangheo Sanin—no, Yu Gwan-ji—smiled calmly and replied.
"When I saw the Young Sect Leader fleeing without killing those Kunlun disciples, a doubt arose. It was, after all, rather uncharacteristic of a demonic practitioner. Thus, I wished to verify if you were truly the Young Sect Leader."
As Yu Gwan-ji offered a pleasant smile, a warm, friendly atmosphere should have settled over us... but of course, it didn't.
The air grew not just tense, but freezing cold.
Verify?
The attitude Yu Gwan-ji had displayed just moments ago, and the thick, suffocating bloodlust that accompanied it, were still vividly etched in my memory.
It was impossible to believe that all of it had been mere acting.
What if I had failed his test...?
Was it a wild stretch of the imagination to think that this man would have truly slaughtered me and everyone else right here?
As I scrutinized Yu Gwan-ji with deeply suspicious eyes, he slowly turned his head.
Our gazes met dead-on.
The moment I saw the way his eyes narrowed and the corners of his mouth curled upward, goosebumps erupted all over my body.
There was no mistake.
This bastard was absolutely capable of wiping us all out on the spot.
"Once again, I beg the Young Sect Leader's forgiveness for my insolence," Yu Gwan-ji said.
"This humble servant has dedicated his life to the Sect Leader and the Sun and Moon Sect. Therefore, it is only human nature to wish to know what kind of person will inherit that legacy. I wanted to see for myself if you were someone worthy of me risking my life for. To be quite frank, when the Young Sect Leader stepped forward to protect his subordinates and sister... I was rather disappointed."
Those few words from Yu Gwan-ji completely froze the already icy atmosphere.
His words were outrageously disrespectful, completely contradicting his polite tone and submissive posture.
This brief exchange clearly revealed what kind of person Guardian Dharma King Yu Gwan-ji was, and exactly what he was trying to convey to me.
He might be loyal to the Sect Leader and the Sect, but he does not yet accept me as his master.
Without letting any of my thoughts show on my face, I simply nodded.
"...I see. And now?"
Yu Gwan-ji offered a thin smile, lifting his severed sleeve and giving it a light shake.
"Let us just say... I have grown eager to observe the Young Sect Leader a few more times from up close."
To my ears, his words carried a silent, heavy warning:
'If you do not prove yourself worthy of being the Young Sect Leader, I will kill you at any moment for the sake of the Sect.'
'You barely passed this time, but do not let your guard down.'
Right then and there, I came to a firm conclusion.
Guardian Dharma King or not, this man was incredibly dangerous.
"There are likely remnants of the Kunlun Sect still lingering in the area," Yu Gwan-ji said, pushing himself up to his feet. He sheathed the long saber he had been holding.
"We should not tarry. Let us quicken our pace. From here to the sacred ground, this servant shall guide you."
"The sacred ground?"
"What are you talking about at a time like this...? Young Sect Leader! We must return to the headquarters immediately," Baek So-cheong urged.
The Kunlun Sect disciples, who had set up organized checkpoints, might realize something had gone wrong and pursue us.
Having nearly been abducted by the Kunlun Sect, there was no logical reason to persist with this pilgrimage.
Anyone in their right mind would think the same.
I, too, wanted nothing more than to throw this pilgrimage out the window and bolt straight back to the cozy comfort of my room at the headquarters.
However.
"We go."
"Young Sect Leader?"
"As the Young Sect Leader of the Sun and Moon Sect, should I cower in fear over a minor threat from those pests?"
"..."
"Even if Dharma King Yu had not appeared, those bastards would have died by my hand."
Though these words of grand authority slipped out more from habit than actual instinct...
This time, it wasn't just empty bluster.
"Hehe... Indeed, you must."
This Guardian Dharma King of the Demonic Cult was testing whether I possessed the qualities of a true leader.
If I were the person I was in my past life, I would have naturally retreated. But the current me had no intention of backing down.
"Dharma King Yu, I will say one last thing."
"Speak, My Lord."
I raised the Heavenly Slayer Demonic Saber, which I still held in my hand, and pressed the blade close to Yu Gwan-ji's neck.
I glared at him with cold, unyielding eyes, making no effort to hide the fury that had built up from being toyed with.
"As the Young Sect Leader of the great Sun and Moon Sect, I have no intention of tolerating a mere disciple daring to point a blade at me."
"...!!"
"Therefore, this is the first and last time I will overlook your insolence. Do you understand?"
My voice dripped with a bloodlust so thick it felt as though I might slice his throat open at any second.
Meeting that raw bloodlust, Yu Gwan-ji tilted his head slightly to the side.
His eyebrows twitched as if he had just heard something utterly unbelievable, and the internal energy he had suppressed began to flare up once more.
"Young Sect Leader, those words just now...?"
Baek So-cheong, Yeongho Bin, and Namgung Eon, who had briefly relaxed, immediately reached for their respective weapons.
The tension was a hair's breadth from exploding.
I let out a soft chuckle, the corners of my mouth curling upward.
"So, this is the kind of figure you wished to see. I understand perfectly."
Only then did I lower the Heavenly Slayer Demonic Saber and slide it back into the scabbard at my waist.
"Ha... Hahaha! Precisely, Young Sect Leader!"
Seeing this, Yu Gwan-ji threw his head back and let out another burst of wild laughter.
"As a mere disciple, this is exactly the side of the Young Sect Leader I hoped to see. I am deeply grateful for your understanding."
I shot Yu Gwan-ji one last meaningful look, then offered a brief, silent prayer for the souls of the Kunlun Sect disciples lying dead on the ground.
"Our journey is long. Lead the way, Dharma King Yu."
With that, we began to walk once more, following the direction Yu Gwan-ji led.