AR Chapter 34

Blood Heavens Saber Demon entered Heavenly Demon Pavilion.

He slowly walked along the blood-red path and stopped at the end of the carpet.

“Have you been well?”

Blood Heavens Saber Demon greeted Geom Woojin politely.

“I’ve been well, thanks to you. How about you?”

“I’ve been quite busy lately, thanks to your son.”

Geom Woojin smiled faintly.

“As my son’s head has grown, he’s become harder to control.”

“Hahaha. So even you, Cult Leader, have things that don’t go your way?”

“Isn’t it said that children are heaven’s way of showing us that life doesn’t always go according to our wishes? You’d understand if you had children of your own.”

“My child might be growing up somewhere out there.”

Geom Woojin laughed. He was softer and more friendly than when dealing with Geom Mugeuk. If Geom Mugeuk had seen this, he would have surely said, “Please smile like that to your son too!”

After exchanging light greetings, Blood Heavens Saber Demon casually mentioned Geom Mugeuk.

“Even if he doesn’t go according to your wishes, the young master has been standing out in the cult lately.”

“Isn’t that your handiwork?”

Indeed, it could be seen that way, as Geom Mugeuk had gained popularity while getting involved with Blood Heavens Saber Demon.

“The young master is your masterpiece, Cult Leader. I only realized how wonderful a creation he is this time.”

Geom Woojin didn’t deny it. Believing that he was behind his son’s achievements wasn’t a bad thing, in any sense.

“He’s still immature.”

“I sometimes think back to when I was his age. If he’s immature now, I must have been a worm back then.”

“You’re overestimating the immature too much.”

“You were the first to overestimate, Cult Leader.”

He was referring to entrusting the position of Underworld Pavilion Master to Geom Mugeuk. No matter the reason, it was a radical appointment.

“That’s why I’m saying this, but I’d like to make the young master an even better masterpiece.”

“If you step in, it could be a good opportunity for my second son.”

“You flatter me.”

“Do as you see fit.”

“Thank you.”

At the end of the conversation, Blood Heavens Saber Demon carefully brought up the purpose of his visit.

“Since you’ve granted permission, could you fully support it?”

“What do you mean?”

“For this Demonic Army Commander matter, please let it proceed according to my wishes.”

He was asking to make Jang Ho the Demonic Army Commander as per his recommendation.

A moment of silence passed. The two men looked at each other without any change in emotion. Geom Woojin was the first to break the silence.

“The Demonic Army Commander matter is difficult.”

“This is also what the young master wants.”

“As you said, I’ve pushed my second son enough. I need to consider my first son too.”

“There’s one thing I’ve learned while raising my disciples. When pushing someone, you need to push one person firmly. I’ve been criticized a lot for not doing that.”

“I’ll be fine. Unlike your generous self, I kill anyone who criticizes me.”

Their gazes intertwined in the air. They share years of being able to understand each other’s intentions just by looking at each other. The longer those years, the more awkward this moment of silence becomes.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

At the Heavenly Demon’s dismissal, Blood Heavens Saber Demon didn’t insist any further. He knew well that once a decision was made, it wouldn’t be easily changed. A different approach was needed.

“I’ll see you again next time.”

“Very well.”

Blood Heavens Saber Demon turned and left. His expression remained stiff as he walked out along the blood-red path.

‘What is this belated weighing of options? Once you’ve pushed someone, you should push them all the way. Tsk!’

***

“The Cult Leader seems to be thinking more about the First Young Master than you.”

As soon as he saw me, Blood Heavens Saber Demon started to drive a wedge between my father and me.

“He seems to be considering the First Young Master as his successor.”

When he has a weakness, he tries to shake up the other person first. This old man’s politicking is truly annoying.

“We seem to have met by mistake.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I’m losing to my brother, you should be filling in the gaps for me…”

“Are you saying I’m inadequate?”

“I’m saying you’re somewhat lacking.”

Instead of getting angry, Blood Heavens Saber Demon tried to pacify me.

“Listen, young master. Making Jang Ho the Demonic Army Commander was impossible from the start.”

“Have you already given up?”

“There’s no need to cling to something that can’t be done.”

“You acted so superior when you can’t even do this much?”

“This much? Acting superior?”

I started to provoke the agitated Blood Heavens Saber Demon even more.

“It was you who proposed to be my backing.”

“It was you who begged like a child for something impossible to be done.”

“Then you should have refused back then. You shouldn’t have recommended Jang Ho the next day. Did you perhaps do it out of a slim hope?”

I drew a long line at Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s feet.

“You said before, didn’t you? That this is how much the Cult Leader cares about you. I believed in this line…”

I drew another line, not even half as long.

“Was the actual line between father and you here?”

Blood Heavens Saber Demon couldn’t refute. If I hadn’t gone to father separately to make a request, what would have happened? Would father have really granted Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s request?

“If father refused, you should have insisted more. If it were me, I would have definitely succeeded.”

“Then why don’t you try?”

“Pardon?”

“Didn’t you mock me for not being able to do even this much? Then it should be easy for you.”

“What will you do if I easily achieve it by asking father myself?”

“Go ahead and try. It will probably backfire.”

He seemed certain that since he refused his request, he would definitely not grant his son’s request. At times like this, Blood Heavens Saber Demon knows father well.

“Are you suggesting a bet?”

“A bet? Good. Let’s do it. If you can’t do it either, then from that point on, become my water without complaint. Stop talking about side dishes too.”

“What if I succeed?”

“I’ll grant whatever you want.”

“No matter what I want?”

“Do you have something in mind?”

After pondering for a moment, I told him.

“Get me an elixir. At least something better than the Demonic Essence Pill.”

For a moment, Blood Heavens Saber Demon was startled. I knew exactly the nature of this surprise.

“Do you know how difficult it is to obtain an elixir better than the Demonic Essence Pill?”

“Because I know, I’m making it a condition. Since we’re in the same boat, wouldn’t making me stronger be the same as making you stronger?”

There was a reason I asked Blood Heavens Saber Demon for an elixir.

I knew he had one.

He has the Heavenly Transcendent Divine Pill^[1], a legendary elixir that can provide more internal energy than the Demonic Essence Pill.

In the past, Blood Heavens Saber Demon officially joined hands with my brother and gifted him the Heavenly Transcendent Divine Pill. It was then revealed that he had been keeping the Heavenly Transcendent Divine Pill without consuming it for many years.

The purpose of inducing this bet was precisely for this Heavenly Transcendent Divine Pill.

“You can’t make Jang Ho the Demonic Army Commander, you can’t get me an elixir, I don’t see why I should join hands with you.”

“Alright, if you can make Jang Ho the Demonic Army Commander, I’ll get you an elixir.”

“Is this a promise?”

I drew my Dark Demonic Sword and held it out. Blood Heavens Saber Demon struck my sword with his Heaven-Destroying Great Saber as if deflecting it.

Clang!

This clear sound was our promise. This promise made with unique weapons has a much stronger binding power than words.

As always, Blood Heavens Saber Demon leapt up and disappeared into the distance.

If I win the bet, he will keep his promise. The Heavenly Transcendent Divine Pill was what he had prepared for the successor.

If I can consume the Heavenly Transcendent Divine Pill in addition to the Demonic Essence Pill I’ve already taken, I won’t lose in fights against the Supreme Demons due to lack of internal energy.

And I knew how to win this bet.

***

The place I visited was the office of Sima Myeong, the Chief Strategist.

Heavenly Communication Pavilion, where he stays, is the place that acts as the head of the cult. All information from the martial arts world is gathered and classified here. Only a tiny fraction of this information, passing through Sima Myeong, reaches father.

I don’t know for sure, but I probably account for a significant portion of the information being passed from Heavenly Communication Pavilion to Heavenly Demon these days.

From the entrance of Heavenly Communication Pavilion to Sima Myeong’s office, there was strict security, even more so than at Heavenly Demon. This showed how important Heavenly Communication Pavilion’s role was in the cult, and also that the place where the strategists gathered needed to be more thoroughly protected.

When I entered the Chief Strategist’s office, Sima Myeong was working amidst piles of documents. The documents piled on his desk were so numerous that they almost hid his face.

It might seem like he just needs to give a few words of advice next to father, but in reality, the Chief Strategist’s job is a battle with documents. He spends his entire day reading and re-reading hundreds of messages flying in from all over the Central Plains each day, distinguishing between information that should be discarded and information that should be kept.

Knowing this well, I could be Underworld Pavilion Master, but I couldn’t be Heavenly Communication Pavilion Master.

Sima Myeong got up from his desk and greeted me warmly.

“What brings you here? Come, sit over here.”

I sat across from him at the table. Soon after, as if waiting, a subordinate brought tea.

“I’m not sure if it will suit your taste. We only have one type of tea here.”

“The aroma is very nice.”

As I took a sip of tea, I looked around. Befitting the workplace of the cult’s greatest intellect, books of all kinds were shelved all around.

“I hear that these days, when the cult’s warriors gather, they only talk about Underworld Pavilion.”

“Aren’t they busy cursing it?”

“Not at all. I heard it’s all praise.”

I know the public opinion about Underworld Pavilion better. As much as there were people excited about the fair enforcement of laws, there were also those who were rebelling.

Having lived freely until now, they must be feeling unnecessary anxiety. What if I get caught too? That’s probably their worry. Before this atmosphere expands, I need to firmly establish discipline.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I have something to ask you, Chief Strategist.”

“Go ahead.”

“What do you think about Jang Ho?”

“I think he’s a good warrior. He’s the right material to lead the Demonic Army excellently.”

Sima Myeong would already know. That I’m behind this recommendation. That I’m trying to put Jang Ho in the position of Demonic Army Commander.

“Then what are the chances of Jang Ho becoming the Demonic Army Commander?”

“To be honest, it’s not even ten percent.”

“Even with Saber Demon’s recommendation?”

“The Cult Leader has rejected that recommendation.”

That’s probably why the figure of ten percent came up. Originally, the answer would have been impossible, but out of courtesy, it became ten percent.

“What if father changes his mind?”

“Then of course it’s possible. But it won’t be easy. As you know, the Cult Leader is not someone who changes his decisions without any justification.”

“I know that well.”

It was a decision made at my request in the first place. I have no intention of asking father to change his decision again without any justification.

I need to provide a justification to change the decision. This is what I had prepared.

“How about this? What if he receives another Supreme Demon’s recommendation in addition to Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s?”

“Two Supreme Demons recommending the same person simultaneously? It’s unprecedented, but… if that happens, there’s a good chance Jang Ho could become the Demonic Army Commander. It would give the Cult Leader a justification to change his mind. But is that possible?”

Making another Supreme Demon step forward and recommend Jang Ho in a situation where Blood Heavens Saber Demon had already stepped up was by no means an easy task.

“We have to try. Sometimes, dealing with two tigers at once might be easier than dealing with one, don’t you think?”

“I think it would be more difficult.”

That’s why this prerequisite is necessary. To prevent the unfortunate incident of having all four limbs torn off simultaneously.

“What if those two tigers deeply hate each other?”

1. 천외신단(天外神丹)[↩]