Chapter 23: The Impatient Demon Bastard
Morning sunlight streamed over the tables in Wayong Hall.
Sitting with my chair pulled out, I gripped my chopsticks and recalled the names I'd heard last night.
'Yarul Sa-ta, Gye Cheon-bing, Beom Se-un, Gyeon Mu-jin, Dokgo Hyeop.'
They were names from Yong Baek-heon's memories, but I knew them all too.
Aside from Gyeon Mu-jin of the Bok Clan Manor, the other four were all direct descendants of clan leaders.
[So they all hold succession rights to their clan leaderships?]
'It's a bit ambiguous... For now, Yarul Sa-ta is the third son of Clan Leader Yarul Geol-gi, Gye Cheon-bing is the eldest daughter of Clan Leader Gye Yeong-mu. Dokgo Hyeop and Beom Se-un are the heirs apparent.'
[Heirs are definite direct lines, but there's a third son and a daughter? Complicated.]
'It looks complicated if you think in terms of succession rights. But look at it another way, and it's dead simple.'
Just then, Ok Geum-ran set a bowl of noodles in front of me.
I scooped some broth with my spoon and reached my conclusion.
'They've all sent their strongest contenders from the same generation as me. On par with Gyeon Mu-jin.'
[Indeed.]
Bongmareung nodded in agreement.
I blew on the steaming broth and added,
'The Bok Clan Manor probably wanted to send a direct descendant challenger too. It's a no-lose gamble anyway. But with no one matching my generation, they went with Gyeon Mu-jin.'
[The other clans picked their best from those who match your generation.]
'Yeah. As direct descendants, they wouldn't have slacked on their martial arts training. Yong Baek-heon saw those four as real heavyweights too.'
Young demons who'd achieved enviable prowess.
It was safe to call them equals to the Young Cult Leader.
Of course, if Yong Baek-heon were the same age, that would've been a different story.
[So to you now, they're enemies you have almost no chance against.]
'Yeah. That's why I need to train like a maniac, prepare counters for each one, and figure out when and in what order the five will challenge me.'
[Lots of work ahead.]
'When hasn't there been?'
The noodles seemed cooled just right now.
Slurp!
"...!"
My mouth felt thick from the first bite of broth, and my eyes went wide.
What the hell? This is so salty!
"S-Sis?"
"Yeah?"
"Sorry, but could I get some water...?"
Did she boil these noodles in seawater or something?
I gulped down a glass of cold water and stared blankly at Ok Geum-ran.
She scratched her cheek.
"What's wrong? Not to your taste? I made it myself today."
"Uh..."
I scratched my cheek too.
The food had been fine up until yesterday. What turned it into saltwater soup overnight?
But as the freeloader, I couldn't complain about the grub.
I ventured carefully,
"Who made the food up until yesterday?"
"Servants from the Cult Leader's Palace whipped up ours too while they were at it. Now that Wayong Hall's repairs are mostly done, most of them pulled out, and we got cut off from breakfast too."
"What about a cook?"
"Sadly, no cook assigned to Wayong Hall. So I cooked myself."
"Ah..."
This is bad.
As I stared vacantly at the noodle bowl, Ok Geum-ran gave an awkward smile.
"Noodles no good, huh? I'll eat these and make fresh ones. What was missing? Spice it up next time?"
"No, it's not that."
"A bit tangy then?"
"Uh...!"
Ok Geum-ran took the bowl from in front of me and sipped some broth with a spoon.
Then spat it right out.
"Salty. Really salty."
"...Yeah."
We fell into quiet silence.
Now what?
That's when a shadow slipped quietly from a corner.
Gyeon So-hee.
"Is it edible? From the sidelines, it looked like the noodles came out too salty."
"Ahem!"
"...?"
Ok Geum-ran coughed awkwardly.
But she said it looked salty from the side?
I felt a flicker of puzzlement at her words, then caught on and chuckled.
The sound transmission I'd just learned came in handy.
-She guided your cooking like that?
-Yeah. Truth is, I've had zero talent for cooking since my Ami Mountain days...
That was why Ok Geum-ran, who had no confidence in cooking, had no choice but to step up.
Gyeon So-hee was practically a spy planted by the Dokgo Clan Manor, so handing her control of my food was too risky.
Knowing the backstory, it made sense.
'But she still needed to cook, so she got help from Gyeon So-hee on the side...'
[Ended up with noodles tossed in seawater. Gourmet seafood in these mountains—who needs more? Puahaha!]
I ignored Bongmareung cracking up in my head.
I waved off Gyeon So-hee.
"It's fine. Perfect for my taste. Don't worry about it."
"Not salty...?"
"I said it's good."
I lied to spare Ok Geum-ran embarrassment.
She gazed at me with touched eyes, while Gyeon So-hee tilted her head and left.
I dumped a glass of water into the noodle bowl.
The broth tasted weirder now, but the salt was about right.
"Sis, want me to request a cook from the Cult Leader's Palace? Pull some strings?"
"Should I?"
Ok Geum-ran glanced where Gyeon So-hee had gone, lost in thought for a moment.
Then she muttered,
"She seems like she can really cook. Got other talents too. Too bad to waste her as a Dokgo Clan Manor lackey..."
That sparked a new idea in my head.
Thanks to yesterday's exchange with Paeng Bi-cheong.
-Can you betray the Changgonghoe?
-Even if it costs my head, I won't betray the Changgonghoe.
Paeng Bi-cheong was rock-solid loyal. That's why I trusted him enough to use as an info broker.
But Gyeon So-hee was the opposite.
The girl was under some Dokgo Clan curse controlling her actions.
I couldn't trust someone who couldn't betray the Dokgo Clan Manor.
But if I broke that chain?
'Might secure another trustworthy ally like Sis.'
I shared the idea with Ok Geum-ran, and she lit up, promising full cooperation.
One more plan added to the stack.
* * *
Whoosh!
My fist tore through the air.
"Hoo, huuu..."
Practicing Wall Mountain Fist alone, I mulled things over.
Truth was, my plan to turn Gyeon So-hee's Sim-se Seom-gam against them was simple.
'Temporarily mix a different energy type into Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong, tricking her into thinking my built-up internal energy is a totally different nature.'
In short, disguise the energy's nature to counterattack.
Possible thanks to the unique traits of my cultivation method, Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong.
[Geuk-cheon Gu-ryun-gong lets you circulate 'qi wheels' from your dantian as you advance stages.]
Qi wheels.
Literal wheels of energy.
[Reach great completion, and you roll a total of nine qi wheels. Hence the name.]
Right now, I only spun a puny, pathetic single wheel.
Small as a mung bean, but it clearly wheeled around my dantian.
'Get the second wheel, and I can layer on a new nature. Control and wield it as I please.'
In other words, the Dokgo Clan Manor's scheme to read my energy nature via Gyeon So-hee would backfire spectacularly.
Against Dokgo Hyeop, I'd wield a completely different energy type.
And freeing her from the Dokgo curse would save a life too.
[Foolish boy, helping others isn't child's play. Could lead to unforeseen consequences!]
Bongmareung had a point.
Might end up with unintended fallout.
Needed a solid approach.
Top priority: Figure out what curse bound Gyeon So-hee.
Ok Geum-ran went off with a resolute face to find a way.
'Wonder how it'll go.'
For now, I threw myself into mastering the fist technique I could.
"Lift while alternating strikes. Flip into Coiled Dragon Claw. Press down hard into Ferocious Claw Gouge."
Wall Mountain Fist's intermediate form flowed smoothly.
At some point, it had become fully mine.
I wiped sweat from my brow and rubbed away the training marks on the floor with my foot.
'Just the advanced form left.'
[Hold on. Didn't Ok say the advanced form comes with footwork?]
'Right. She'll teach all three together.'
Umhae Hwanjongbo.
Yeongwangpung.
Haegong Cheonbi.
[Exciting for once. Wonder what progress the demon brats made in the meantime? Heh heh...]
Bongmareung buzzed with excitement at new techniques, despite housing the Heavenly Demons' great insights—and still greedy for more.
But his greed went unsatisfied for long.
"Young Master Yong Baek-heon, step forward and receive the Grand Cult Leader's decree!"
"...?"
Warriors from the Cult Leader's Palace flung open Wayong Hall's main gate.
Five Protector Squad members bellowed for me.
I quickly clasped hands behind my back and turned to them.
"What decree? Bring it here."
"Young Master! This is a decree straight from the Grand Cult Leader himself! Show some respect as a cult disciple!"
I recognized the grim-faced middle-aged man at the front.
Top archer in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, one of the Three Great Protectors.
Infamous as the Dang-cheon Gung-ma, one Yo Wi-deok.
[Ah, the guy who lost his favorite concubine to that Jade Face Elder geezer?]
'Yup. That idiot.'
The moron who'd gotten outdone by pint-sized Gu Man-bong and stayed clueless amid his busy duties.
Of course, the Dang-cheon Gung-ma was a brutal demon himself—no pity there.
I stared him down, channeling Yong Baek-heon.
"Hmph! How much respect does Grandfather expect from a letter to his grandson? Bow or something?"
"Have you forgotten you're no longer Young Cult Leader?"
"Haven't forgotten. But I'm still the Grand Cult Leader's eldest grandson. Have you forgotten, Protector Yo?"
"Grr..."
My cool retort twisted the Dang-cheon Gung-ma's face like a rag.
Brat act: success.
"Out of my way."
I brushed past him and snatched the letter from one Protector's hands.
Unfurled it boldly for all to see.
But the moment I read the decree, my eyes nearly popped out.
Tomorrow morning, I will send the first challenger to Wayong Hall.
Prepare yourself.
This psycho!
Yong Mu-geuk was sending the first challenger tomorrow morning.
No hint who it even was.
My mouth went bone-dry in an instant.
[What an impatient demon bastard! Won't even send a cook for breakfast, and drops this bombshell!]
Bongmareung was ranting in my head too.
That shocking.
But as Yong Baek-heon, I played it nonchalant.
"Perfect timing—I was getting bored waiting. Tell Grandfather I've got it."
"Understood."
The sour-faced Dang-cheon Gung-ma and Protectors withdrew.
Then I started scheming.
Two questions came to mind.
First: obvious, who's the first challenger?
Second...
'How do I stop the bastard from showing up tomorrow?'
I had zero intention of facing a challenger tomorrow.
Planning to delay it by hook or by crook.