Let's Not Meet Again
Gye Yeom-yeon's sword was a treasured blade and a demonic sword bearing the grandiose name of the Anti-Heaven Sword. That was why Bongmareung was screaming for him to take it.
It was deafening enough to make his ears ring, but there was no reason not to comply.
"I am Yong Baek-heon, a disciple of the Divine Cult."
He gave her a crisp formal salute, then poured on the flattery before she could hack off her own arm.
"It is my boundless joy to behold the esteemed face of the White Snow Lady Demon, Elder Gye Yeom-yeon, whom I have long admired. Please, withdraw your words from moments ago."
"Withdraw my words? Are you saying you won't exact the price for my interference in your duel?"
"Of course not. Our duel was begun by order of the Grand Cult Leader himself—a solemn event of the cult. No one had the right to intrude."
She was a great witch, but he had to say what needed saying. This was the place for it.
"And this matter cannot be settled by taking your arm. The scales wouldn't balance."
"If one arm isn't enough, I'll offer both."
"No...."
What a mad old hag. The crone was casually offering to chop off both her arms.
He sighed inwardly.
'Bong, why are all you demons like this? Why so damn extreme?'
[Demonic path cultivators are accustomed to walking extremes by nature. And Gye Yeom-yeon has little time left to live anyway—she's willing to sacrifice arms or legs to protect her great-granddaughter.]
'Even so.'
The Gye Clan members were frozen in shock, mouths agape. Gye Yeong-mu and Gye Cheon-bing included, all pale-faced and at a loss.
"G-Grandmother...."
"Stay out of it, all of you."
With the clan's eldest stepping up like this, they could only gape in stunned silence. Gye Cheon-bing at least managed a voice.
"No! You can't! Let me offer my neck instead!"
"Hmph! Don't spout nonsense. Do you truly not understand why I'm doing this?"
"But...!"
"Clan Leader, tend to Cheon-bing. She seems to have taken some internal injuries— she'll need treatment."
Even Snow Frost Blood Demon Gye Yeong-mu was dumbfounded, unworthy of his title. As he whipped his head toward him, about to speak—
He struck first.
"You're gravely mistaken. I have no intention of claiming blood debt, Elder."
He gathered his thoughts in that brief pause and cut to the chase, wielding his tongue like a blade.
"The more blood is spilled here, the more the Gye Clan will hate me. No matter that it was by cult law, today's events will be etched forever in the history of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult...."
His gaze shifted to the Gye women.
"Senior Gye Cheon-bing and Clan Leader Gye Yeong-mu will resent me for life. After all, I'd have crippled their Elder."
"This old body is soon returning to dust anyway."
"Which makes it all the more irreversible. The scales simply won't balance."
He stated it firmly.
Finally grasping his intent, Gye Yeom-yeon lowered the Anti-Heaven Sword.
"You don't wish to make enemies as the one who will lead the Divine Cult, but you must claim proper recompense? Is that what you're saying?"
"Yes, exactly."
In truth, he planned to escape the Hundred Thousand Mountains, so earning the grudge of a few demons was no big deal. But there was no need to draw an elder's blood.
And above all....
'If I can get something far better, of course I'd choose that.'
[Yes! Precisely! That's the wise choice of one who walks the virtuous demonic path!]
He chuckled inwardly. Virtuous demonic path, my ass.
'You just want the treasured sword, don't you?'
[Kehum!]
The key was finding a way to put that sword on the scales.
What excuse to use?
[Just say it outright? 'Elder? Hand over that sword and we're square. Simple as that.']
Idiot. He didn't bother replying.
The Anti-Heaven Sword was obviously a Gye Clan treasure. He needed a proper pretext, one that saved face, to claim it cleanly—without lingering resentment.
"Very well. What do you want from me?"
"Well...."
A scene flashed in his mind. A way to make Gye Yeom-yeon hand over the Anti-Heaven Sword naturally.
'Just show it right in front of her eyes?'
He briefly unleashed Hyeol-lyeong Gye-ma-sul on the sword in his left hand. A bit of pure demonic energy absorbed into his palm, and spiderweb cracks spidered across the blade.
He'd ruined an ordinary demonic sword in an instant.
Which let him segue perfectly.
"In clashing with Senior Gye Cheon-bing, my sword ended up like this. Might I have a fine blade in exchange? That would suffice."
He held it up innocently. Right on cue, cracks spiderwebbed further—half the blade snapped off with a crack and stabbed into the training ground dirt.
"Oh...."
White Snow Lady Demon gave a faint smile, glancing at Gye Cheon-bing with pride. Though her great-granddaughter had lost miserably, she'd unleashed attacks fierce enough to shatter the foe's sword. That was the takeaway.
[It'll look like you two were evenly matched—saving the Gye Clan's face too.]
'Yeah, something like that.'
Of course, he'd still pursue the Special Inspector role to avoid that. He had no intention of letting their bribed judge slide.
[As it should be.]
Bongmareung nodded in agreement.
Anyway, clutching his broken sword, he gazed at the Elder.
After studying his face a moment, the old woman slowly unbelted the sword from her waist.
Gye Yeong-mu gulped beside her but dared not stop the Elder.
Gye Yeom-yeon extended the Anti-Heaven Sword to him.
"Take it."
"Pardon? No, that's...."
He feigned shock, putting on a show. A token refusal wouldn't make her snatch it back.
"This is the Anti-Heaven Sword I cherished like my life. A gift from your great-grandfather long ago."
Heaven-Flipping Demon Yong Ryeong-mo. Former Grand Cult Leader, dead before Yong Baek-heon was born.
That was why Bongmareung had yelled so insistently earlier.
[It's a Heavenly Demon's possession returning to the Young Cult Leader—perfectly natural. Of course!]
Especially loud this time.
'Is this sword that amazing?'
[The Anti-Heaven Sword is a famed blade forged from millennium cold iron. Don't absorb it—make it your main weapon. It's worth it.]
A rambling explanation followed about how it dwarfed the sword from the Doggo Clan.
Anyway, with no intent to refuse, he accepted with a contrite expression.
"Thank you. I'll treasure it like my life."
"I'm the grateful one. A single sword saved Cheon-bing."
Now empty-handed, Gye Yeom-yeon glanced once at her bowed clansmen, then wordlessly turned and departed.
Suddenly, he recalled after the first bout: Beom Sang-gun slapping Beom Se-un's cheek, snapping him out of it.
This was similar, in a way.
'Sacrificing her arm to save her great-granddaughter, while using desperate measures to rebuke the clan head for rigged schemes.'
In truth, the Gye Cheon-bing he'd faced was a decent martial artist. If she hadn't dabbled in Yao Demon Threaded Silk Art, stuck to her Silver Rainbow Divine Demon Art, and ignored his taunts?
[She might've had a shot then. Those silly inner energy seals and 100-exchange limits actually hurt her more without them.]
'My thoughts exactly.'
The final verdict rang out.
"Young Master Yong Baek-heon wins the third bout. By two-to-one, I declare Young Master Yong the overall victor."
Giant Sword Fierce Demon's face was stiff. Having fulfilled his judge's duty, he sidled up, gauging his mood.
"Something to say, Gold Protector?"
"Well, Young Cult Leader...."
"Suddenly so formal. And I'm no Young Cult Leader right now. If you have words for him, visit the Young Cult Leader's Palace."
"Y-Yes...."
With the wall slammed down openly, the protector backed off quietly. He'd realized more talk would only hurt.
[Tell him to rot in the Law Enforcement Hall awaiting punishment. What a non-demonic scum. Calling that one of the Twelve Law Demons.... Tsk tsk tsk!]
Next approached Gye Cheon-bing. Her face was a mess of blood and dirt, but still beautiful.
No pity or lingering affection stirred in him, though.
So he said it clean.
"Good work. Let's not meet again."
"W-Wait! Just a moment!"
As he turned to leave, she grabbed his sleeve.
He scowled Yong Baek-heon-style and faced her.
Tears welled in her eyes, brimming to spill, as she stared.
Her trembling lips parted.
"C-Can't you... hold me just once? Just one last time."
"...."
Hold her once?
The utterly unexpected plea left him blank for a moment.
Watching Bongmareung shook his head with a hollow chuckle.
[Refuse her. No need to cling to a woman from the past. Who knows? She might ambush you under the guise of a hug. Could end with a hole by your navel.]
'Doubt it....'
Gye Cheon-bing in Yong Baek-heon's memories—and his own experience—was brutally honest.
From the duel announcement, she'd stormed Wayong Hall declaring she'd kill him.
'A woman so artless she couldn't hide her killing intent if she tried.'
But now, not a shred of malice.
Her eyes shone with genuine longing—for her old lover.
Gye Cheon-bing harbored fierce love-hate for Yong Baek-heon, unable to forget him.
'Just hug her once and be done. Rejecting might leave messy loose ends.'
[Fine, do it. But if she tries anything, I'll unleash Hyeol-lyeong Gye-ma-sul and devour her on the spot.]
'Got it.'
With safeguards in place, why not.
He strode forward and enveloped her petite frame in a tight embrace.
A heartrending sob burst from her.
He couldn't comprehend it, of course.
"Take care."
"Goodbye...."
Knowing the lovers had used casual speech back then, he mimicked it roughly.
No mishap as Bongmareung feared.
He confirmed she crossed the barrier, then turned away.
[Fine haul from this duel. Anti-Heaven Sword! Kuhuhu....]
'That incredible, huh? Can't wait to swing it.'
Grinning at the hefty weight in his hand, he walked on.
Then he felt scorching glares from the main hall entrance.
Ok Geum-ran, Gyeon So-hee, Tae Sa-rok.
"....?"
The three glowered, faces crumpled in their own ways.
Oddly, Tae Sa-rok's was the most crushed.
'What's his deal?'
[You've got two women here, and now you hug Gye Cheon-bing? He thinks you're the world's biggest playboy.]
'Nah, no way.'
Chuckling inwardly, he beckoned Tae Sa-rok.
"Come here a sec, Senior Tae Sa."
He had business with him anyway—something to handle after the second bout.
Tae Sa-rok schooled his expression and followed.
"What is it?"
"You got connections in the Changgonghoe?"
"....!"
Time to squeeze Changgonghoe Leader Yu Jin-bong.