Chapter 7: I Will Survive No Matter What
[Let us try again. This time, draw out just a tiny bit of your true energy—about a tenth—and feed it into the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes. As slowly as possible.]
Running true energy was part of the Blood Spirit Demonic Binding Art, so there was no need to learn it separately.
Following Bongmareung's instructions, I channeled true energy into both eyes.
Suddenly, the colors around me shifted, and bits of trivial information popped up everywhere.
Proof that the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes was working properly.
[Achieving two stars right from the start...]
'Has that ever happened before?'
[No, not until you.]
An unprecedented feat, truly one for the history books.
After pondering long and hard, Bongmareung's conclusion was this:
[I haven't the foggiest. No clue at all.]
He was the demonic spirit who had absorbed the insights and divine arts of all the great Heavenly Demons.
Yet even he couldn't explain this phenomenon.
I was the owner of such astonishing talent.
[No, that cannot be right.]
'Just kidding.'
I chuckled.
No genius in demonic arts could pull this off.
As far as I knew, the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes was an extraordinarily special ocular technique.
It was the mysterious eye art that Yong Baekheon had trained in since age nine. At its core, it dealt with the Deep Eye and Heart Wall.
Opening the Deep Eye first granted the mystical power to pierce through phenomena and objects.
'Yong Baekheon could even see through the stuff I had tucked in my clothes.'
It was a bit clumsy, sure.
But if his realm had been higher, he would've instantly spotted The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon I was carrying.
Once he reached great completion at nine stars, just locking eyes would let him manipulate others' minds.
Meanwhile, the Heart Wall bolstered resistance against such supernatural powers, providing defense.
'Even basic mastery blocks most brainwashing or hypnosis cold.'
It let you see what others couldn't while hiding your own secrets.
No wonder any demon would drool over the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes.
But even in the Yong Demon Clan, few trained in it.
The problem was how insanely difficult and arcane the training was.
'No one but the creator, Luminous Heavenly Demon, ever reached great completion. And he's long been a ghost, so no one's left to explain the oral formulas.'
That was why Yong Baekheon had progressed so quickly.
And yet, a martial arts illiterate like me hit two stars in one go?
I couldn't even understand a single character of the White Dragon Soaring Sword formulas?
'What other reason could there be?'
It had to be tied to Yong Baekheon's memories I'd absorbed.
I hadn't consciously delved into them, but they'd influenced me somehow.
Bongmareung, however, was cautious.
[Any bad symptoms cropping up?]
'Bad symptoms? Like what?'
[Signs of qi deviation. Fire raging inside, unfamiliar lust surging...]
'None at all.'
[We will keep watching. Tell me immediately if anything feels off.]
I nodded.
Anyway, Bongmareung moved on to the next step.
[Now, prepare to learn an internal energy cultivation method.]
At those words, my body shivered faintly.
Thanks to the Blood Spirit Demonic Binding Art, I'd been operating demon origin energy like internal energy. But it wasn't true internal energy.
True internal energy—nurtured through special breathing and inhalation—was the hallmark of a martial artist.
Even talentless rich fools without a speck of it would summon masters just to gain a single strand.
Internal energy was that crucial.
[Let me see. You are a late starter but quick learner, with a calm disposition... Yes, the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art suits you best.]
Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art.
The name alone screamed power.
Of course, it was from The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon, packed with Heavenly Demons' insights—nothing ordinary about it.
'What kind of method is it?'
[One of the ancient breathing arts arranged by the Origin Heavenly Demon. It is rougher than modern refined ones, but its power is immense.]
Origin Heavenly Demon Hyeok Bangrok!
The first Grand Cult Leader who laid the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's foundation.
He lived long before the Yong family dominated.
[But to begin the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art, you need pure mystic energy.]
'Pure mystic energy?'
[Extremely refined natural qi. It pools deep in sacred mountains' valleys. You must start there.]
Like the deep valleys on White Dragon Peak.
I nodded.
'Sounds tricky.'
[Plenty of other methods exist. Crouching Tiger Heart Method, Dragon Peak Art, Blood God Demon Flower Art, Black Heaven Extreme Qi... All supreme arts from Heavenly Demons. But for you, the 'Immortal Path Among Demons' fits—the Extreme Heaven Nine-Ring Art.]
'Immortal Path Among Demons? What's that?'
[Cultivate like an immortal to find the demonic path.]
'...?'
Another cryptic phrase.
Bongmareung chuckled and explained plainly.
[Think of it as suppressing demonic bloodlust to the max. Perfect for a guy like you who skips the easy road.]
'Skips the easy road?'
I smirked.
He was poking at how I'd ignored Geumran and gone to the armory to absorb demon energy.
Cultivate like an immortal to find the demonic path...
'Sounds perfect, actually.'
If it suppressed demonic urges, nothing could be better.
Even a hint of bloodlust from demon energy would make me despise myself.
I'd learn demonic arts to survive, but I didn't want to become just another demon like them.
[As I said, find a place pooled with pure mystic energy. Then we will talk more.]
'Got it.'
Using my Young Cult Leader status made it no big deal.
Just then, Geumran's voice came from outside the training chamber.
"Young Cult Leader, the leader of the Blue Eagle Unit has arrived by carriage and requests an audience."
Her voice trembled slightly, treating me as Yong Baekheon.
News that the Blue Eagle Unit's leader—whom I'd royally screwed over earlier—had come personally.
Not a good sign.
"What's this about?"
"The Blue Eagle Leader says he must escort you to the Cult Leader's Palace immediately."
It was coming, right on cue.
But this fast?
[Demonic paths are all about swift action.]
'Damn demonic bastards.'
I could've stalled longer in the training chamber.
But it didn't feel smart.
I stood.
"Tell him I'll prepare and be out shortly."
First, fool the guy outside.
Time to test the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes I'd mastered.
* * *
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Cult Leader's Palace belonged to the Yong Demon Clan.
Yong Mugeuk held the throne as the era's Heavenly Demon, but his key aides were all Yong family too.
Not forced by the Grand Cult Leader—they'd seized positions through sheer skill.
'That's why I must watch the Yongs closer than anyone.'
Excluding Yong Mugeuk, the one I feared most was Blue Blood Demon Yong Jinseok, Yong Mugeuk's second son and Vice Cult Leader.
'Yong Baekheon's little uncle.'
The Blue Eagle Leader escorting me was Yong Jinseok's confidant, a collateral Yong blood relative.
"Blue Eagle Leader Yong Seungdon pays respects to the Young Cult Leader."
"It's been a while, Leader."
"...?"
I nodded casually at the balding middle-aged man.
But Geumran's face beside me twisted.
As her lips moved, a transmission slipped into my mind.
[The Blue Eagle Leader visited Yong Baekheon recently. Two days ago.]
Not a while, then.
I quickly added,
"After dying and coming back, everything looks new. Even your face seems unfamiliar."
"I see. I'm just relieved to see the Young Cult Leader's valiant form restored. The heavens must have looked favorably upon you."
"I think so too."
The young warriors from earlier stood by Yong Seungdon, faces subtly furious.
'Can't blame 'em after I humiliated them.'
Suddenly, Yong Seungdon's gaze pierced me.
His eyes, gleaming with that demonic glint, scanned my face rapidly.
Not scanned—more like impaled by his stare.
"... "
I fought not to swallow dryly.
The real Young Cult Leader wouldn't gulp before a collateral.
He'd have said something like,
"Wondering if I'm Yong Baekheon or Jang Hosam?"
"Pardon? Surely not."
"Well, you might wonder. I've toyed with that punk so much."
"Young Cult Leader, I..."
"Blue Eagle Leader, I'll let it slide once. I know my karma, no need to be stingy. But remember one thing."
"What is it?"
"I killed that worm myself when he crawled up once. Think I can't do it twice?"
"Pardon?"
"I could snap your neck right here."
Now.
I activated the Ghostly Azure Divine Eyes in a flash.
I felt chunks of true energy drain, and the bald man's eyes quivered slightly.
'Bong, it's working, right?'
[Can you not tell from your guard's eyes?]
Geumran looked like she'd seen a ghost, stunned.
My eyes emitted the blue glow symbolic of Yong Baekheon, confusing her.
I just gave a small smile.
'Geumran, snap out of it.'
Yong Seungdon took the smile differently.
"Forgive me. Please quell your anger and pardon my insolence."
The middle-aged man bowed deeply.
Sincerity radiated from his shiny scalp.
Even as the Vice Leader's man, he didn't want trouble with the future Heavenly Demon.
The Blue Eagle Leader was convinced I was Yong Baekheon.
I nearly sighed in relief.
'This works too? Guess I'm not doomed to die.'
[What wouldn't work? Inheriting The Chronicles of the Sealed Demon, you have Heavenly Demon potential. Have more confidence.]
I smirked at Bongmareung's encouragement.
'I'll build confidence after surviving. No rush.'
The real ones I had to fool, I hadn't even met.
Yong Mugeuk and the Yong Demon Clan's monsters.
To survive their presence, I had to impersonate Yong Baekheon perfectly.
No room for error.
'Yong Seungdon coming himself, huh?'
From the moment he arrived, something felt off.
Usually, one of the Grand Cult Leader's underlings fetched Yong Baekheon.
But the Vice Leader's confidant coming for me?
'Sign something big's brewing.'
Heading to the Cult Leader's Palace like this was like charging naked into enemy lines.
I needed an ace if things soured.
"Wait a moment. I left something in the training chamber."
"Understood."
Back inside, I tapped a corner of the wall.
Awakening a hidden mechanism.
'Yong Baekheon's secret drawer.'
My stuff was mixed in casually.
He never knew we shared it.
I grabbed a gray money pouch.
[What is that?]
"Blackmail material."
Weaknesses on elders, collected as insurance for body double gigs.
Bound to work.
[Hah! If your martial arts were strong, there would be no need for such petty tricks.]
'If I hadn't been kidnapped into this damn cult, I wouldn't need petty tricks. Fucking demonic bastards.'
[Kkhum. Quite sharp...]
Quieting Bongmareung, I stepped out and boarded the carriage.
I gazed silently at the scenery.
Mist swirled around peaks like a white dragon at play—the Hundred Thousand Mountains were breathtakingly beautiful.
'Can I make it out alive from here?'
Soon, the uncanny palace atop the ridge emerged.
The Cult Leader's Palace—maybe my hell, ready to devour me.
But I steeled myself.
I would survive and return.
"Safe travels, Young Cult Leader."
"Mm."
With Geumran's farewell behind me, I took a small deep breath.
Then, once more, I became Yong Baekheon—and stepped forward.