I'll Wait
The day I would wait for always seemed hazy no matter when it came. One thing that was different was that Gang Soyeon's body had begun to swell in certain places, as if she were transitioning from a child into a young girl.
"It's cold..."
Huddled up with nowhere to go in that alley, she watched the people living normal lives beyond it. This was her daily routine. Sitting like this would usually draw pity from someone who might offer her food. That was how Gang Soyeon kept herself alive.
"Hmm?"
While she sat there in a daze, a boy's voice reached her. Hoping he might give her something to eat, she lifted her head with a spark of anticipation.
"Oh dear."
The boy looked a little older than her but still too young to be called an adult. He stood there with a sympathetic expression. The character for Martial (武) was visible on the chest of his clothes—the same uniform worn by the people who had recently settled in the area.
"Want to eat this, at least?"
The boy pulled a dumpling from his pocket and held it out to her. It was freshly made; she could feel the gentle warmth radiating from it.
"Thank you."
Gang Soyeon bowed her head carefully and studied his face. There were times when people pretended to be kind only to torment her later.
"Go ahead and eat it."
As if he understood her wariness, the boy answered in a soft, reassuring tone. Only then did the girl happily put the dumpling in her mouth.
"Haaap."
It was warm food—the first in who knew how long. It tasted so good that tears welled up in her eyes without her realizing.
"..."
The boy remained standing there quietly until she finished every last bite. It was only after she had eaten it all that Gang Soyeon understood his true intention. She glanced deeper into the alley, then bowed her head once more.
"Thank you."
"Yeah."
Once the boy left, the corners of Gang Soyeon's mouth lifted into a smile. It had been a very long time since she met someone that kind. He had stayed to protect her from other beggars who might try to snatch the dumpling away.
"A kind person..."
Thanks to the rare act of kindness, Gang Soyeon closed her eyes. She didn't want to lose this warm feeling.
"The Heavenly Guardian Sword Sovereign said that?"
"I heard it with my own two ears."
The Demon Subjugation Hall of the Heavenly Demon Sect. Normally the leader and elders would occupy this space, but today only Gang Soyeon and Muk Cheonwu, leader of the Black Moon Merchant Group, were present.
"Hmm..."
Gang Soyeon rested her chin on one hand, seemingly lost in thought. Muk Cheonwu kept his head bowed and remained silent.
'Beautiful?'
A flush of heat rose to her face. Gang Soyeon was certain. Jin Muhyeok was that boy from back then—the only ally who had given her dumplings and eventually risked his life to protect her.
'So that was the nature of our relationship...?'
Gang Soyeon quietly recalled the past. After that first dumpling, the boy had often brought her food. Sometimes they talked. And once, he had given her a bracelet.
She stroked the bracelet hidden beneath her black robe. It was a precious treasure she had rewoven again and again amid fierce battles where blood was washed away with more blood. She had heard that in the Central Plains, men presented gifts to women when confessing their feelings. Could this bracelet have carried that meaning?
'It's entirely possible.'
Otherwise, why would he have visited a beggar girl in the alleys so often? He had even fought demonic enemies for her at the risk of his own life.
'What did my face look like again?'
Since entering the Heavenly Demon Sect she had lived fiercely and never once bothered with her appearance. She had simply pressed forward so she would never have to bow her head again. Because she had made a promise to that boy at their final meeting.
"Sword Demon."
Dokgo Cheon, leader of the Blood Dragon Imperial Guard waiting outside the hall, rushed to her side like a bolt of lightning.
"By your command."
"Bring me a mirror."
"Understood!"
Suddenly she had grown curious about her own appearance. If Jin Muhyeok truly was that boy, then he had grown into quite a remarkable man. That was why she had left their last meeting in such a hurry. Maintaining the proper demeanor of the Heavenly Demon had been far too difficult.
'I had no room to worry about Dokgo Cheon.'
If she personally escorted the former Heavenly Demon's disciple back to the sect, he would be killed in front of everyone. The Council of Elders would never allow it.
"Huu."
Regardless, their plan had failed and she had returned safely. As a result, the Heavenly Demon Sect was currently undergoing a rapid shift in power.
"Kyaargh!"
"Just kill me already!"
Screams echoed all the way into the Demon Subjugation Hall, but Gang Soyeon remained unfazed. Such things were commonplace in the Heavenly Demon Sect. The only difference was that the ones screaming had, until recently, been at the very center of the sect's power structure.
"Leader, I have brought the mirror."
"Mm."
Gang Soyeon took the mirror from Dokgo Cheon and examined her reflection closely. Flawless, translucent skin. Crimson eyes. She wasn't unpleasant to look at.
'I seem more beautiful than the previous Heavenly Demon's wives, who were said to be peerless beauties.'
The corners of her mouth curved upward. She had heard that men lost their minds at a woman's smile. Colorful Demon, one of the sect elders, had told her that.
'What is this?'
She frowned at the awkward expression reflected in the mirror. She used to smile easily, yet attempting one now after so long felt incredibly unnatural.
"Hmm..."
Gang Soyeon set the mirror aside and looked at Muk Cheonwu. The rights she had conceded to the Martial Alliance could be easily reclaimed by squeezing the Council of Elders, so there was no real loss. What mattered more was—
"Muk Cheonwu."
"By your command!"
"Gather every piece of information you can find on the Heavenly Guardian Sword Sovereign."
The Black Moon Merchant Group was not merely responsible for the Heavenly Demon Sect's finances. It also served as the sect's eyes and ears in the outside world. Gang Soyeon was curious how that boy from the alley had become the leader of the Martial Alliance and what journey had brought him there.
"Ten thousand years! Ten thousand years! Ten thousand times ten thousand years! This servant shall obey the great Demon Sovereign's command!"
Once Muk Cheonwu left the hall, Dokgo Cheon, who had been standing guard nearby, spoke cautiously.
"Does the Heavenly Guardian Sword Sovereign concern you?"
"Do not presume to guess your master's thoughts."
"By your command."
She had overlooked Dokgo Cheon's mistake in the Martial Alliance. Warriors with such loyalty were rare even within the sect. But precisely because of that loyalty, Gang Soyeon hid her true feelings. What the demonic practitioners followed was not Gang Soyeon, but the Heavenly Demon.
I had slipped into the escort procession transporting Dokgo Cheon, disciple of the former Heavenly Demon. Officially, I was a new recruit in the Azure Sky Sword Group.
"Captain. This speed is far too slow."
I offered sincere advice to the person in charge of the escort. I wanted to see Gang Soyeon as soon as possible. In response—
"...This pace will not disrupt the scheduled itinerary."
Namgung Hyeon answered in a slightly trembling voice, refusing to meet my eyes as he stared straight ahead.
Ha. So that's how you're going to play it?
If this speed was enough to burden them, they had no right to call themselves an elite force of the Martial Alliance.
"...All members, increase speed!"
"Understood!"
Once the entire escort procession—including the carriage carrying Dokgo Cheon—picked up the pace, I finally allowed myself a satisfied smile. That was when Namgung Hyeon's voice transmission reached me.
It seemed Namgung Hyeon thought I had joined because I didn't trust him.
Even though I had sneaked in, it would look suspicious if an obvious outsider was traveling with the Azure Sky Sword Group. So while the rest of the members remained unaware, I had revealed the truth to their captain, Namgung Hyeon. Of course, my face was currently disguised using face-altering arts.
"Hey, youngest."
One of the lowest-ranking members of the Azure Sky Sword Group—who had finally escaped the title of youngest thanks to my arrival—spoke to me.
"Yes?"
"There's a proper chain of command, so next time report to me first."
"Yes, sir."
Since he wasn't wrong, I answered quietly. I could see sweat forming on Namgung Hyeon's temples, but I pretended not to notice. That guy still thought of me as a good-for-nothing.
'Tsk.'
Since we've met like this, it must be fate. Might as well tease Namgung Hyeon after so long. Just as I was thinking that, another voice transmission arrived.
The unexpectedly humble tone made me tilt my head in confusion. Namgung Hyeon sent another transmission.
"Haha."
My sudden laughter drew puzzled looks from the Azure Sky Sword Group warriors, but I paid them no mind. Namgung Hyeon's intention pleased me.
'If he's the man I chose as my rival, he should at least show this much spirit.'
With a pleased smile, I circulated my inner energy and sent a voice transmission back.
This was enough. We had spent many long years aware of each other as we grew stronger. The seat of the absolute was bountiful, but lonely. That might be why Namgung Hyeon's attitude pleased me even more.
"..."
We continued toward the Heavenly Demon Sect for some time when suspicious presences began to surround us. The forces targeting Dokgo Cheon had finally revealed themselves. It was something I had expected.
"Hmm?"
But their identity was different from what the Martial Alliance had predicted.
"Why is the Blood Sect here?"
The Blood Sect, which had vanished after their defeat in the previous war, had appeared to rescue Dokgo Cheon.
'Is the Heavenly Demon Sect's Council of Elders connected to the Blood Sect?'
The group that had infiltrated the Martial Alliance to rescue Dokgo Cheon had definitely been sent by the Council of Elders. And now the Blood Sect had shown up. It seemed the peace that had come to the Jianghu was only temporary.