AR Chapter 52

The first place I visited was the inn in the village at the foot of Hongshan.

The inn was bustling with people, and the staff were frantically busy.

I stood at the entrance for a while, but no one came to greet me.

Then I noticed a small child carrying dishes between the kitchen and customers. Seeing that child brought a smile to my face.

In my previous life, when I came here to obtain the Sound Thunder Bell, that child had grown into an adult and greeted me. His face was exactly the same as when he was young.

The child, belatedly noticing me, scurried over to attend to me.

“Hello, warrior. As you can see, we have no seats available now.”

“Are there any rooms?”

“No, we’re out of rooms too. It’s because of the Blood God Festival, we’re swamped with guests.”

“When is the Blood God Festival held?”

“Exactly ten days from now. There’s another inn at the end of that street, but their situation is probably no different.”

The busy child left those words and ran off, called by another customer.

Ten days before the Blood God Festival – I had arrived at just the right time.

The Blood God Festival is the largest ceremony held once a year by the Heavenly Wind Cult to honor the Blood God.

This was also the reason why I needed two months for the third method to counter Soul-Seizing Demon’s dark arts.

The Blood God Festival.

Only on the day of this Blood God Festival could I obtain a method to subdue Soul-Seizing Demon. Fortunately, the festival was two months away; if the timing hadn’t matched, killing Soul-Seizing Demon might have been delayed by a year.

In the past, it took me several years to infiltrate the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s throne room where the Sound Thunder Bell was kept.

That was the time it took to discover the secret escape route used by the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader in emergencies.

Actually retrieving the sacred object once I infiltrated took less than half a quarter-hour, but it took that long to discover the secret passage.

Even after difficulty discovering the secret passage, stealing the Sound Thunder Bell was still not easy.

The problem was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

He spent most of his time in that place where his throne was.

He ate there, and even slept there. I couldn’t even use the short time when he relieved himself.

This was because an iron grate made of Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron descended over the place where sacred objects, including the Sound Thunder Bell, were kept.

Moreover, it wasn’t just the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader there; there was another person guarding the sacred objects.

He lived like an earthbound spirit^[1] around the Sound Thunder Bell, wearing shackles made of Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron. He was not only skilled in martial arts but also born with an exceptionally keen sense of smell. He could immediately detect if someone approached and warn the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

Therefore, it was impossible to steal the sacred object while evading the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s eyes.

In this situation, how could I have obtained the Sound Thunder Bell?

Once a year, there was a moment when the iron grate lifted and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader briefly left his seat.

That was on the day of the Blood God Festival.

On this day, according to established rituals, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader leaves his throne to perform ceremonies in the great martial arts arena.

At that time, the shackled master guarding the Sound Thunder Bell rings the bell thirty-six times according to custom. What I aimed for was precisely the moment he struck the thirty-sixth and final ring.

After the last bell ring, it takes the time to drink one cup of tea for the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader to return from the great martial arts arena to his throne room.

In that brief interval of drinking one cup of tea, I achieved a miracle.

I had practiced escaping dozens of times, so I was able to flee while evading the pursuit of the Heavenly Wind Cult disciples.

Investigating, infiltrating, recruiting, fighting, practicing… the numerous events from that time flashed through my mind like a kaleidoscope.

My current target was kept in the same place as the Sound Thunder Bell. It was an even simpler task than stealing the bulky Sound Thunder Bell, so this Heavenly Wind Cult mission could be seen as a gift from my past life of hardship.

I stood in front of the inn for a while, watching the passing crowds.

When the Blood God Festival is held, numerous allied sects send congratulatory envoys to the Heavenly Wind Cult, so not only the inns but also the streets were packed with people.

This was what I wanted. With so many people, no one would remember my existence. Of course, even in this situation, I wore a bamboo hat pulled low to thoroughly conceal my identity. I would arrive quietly and disappear without a sound.

I bought some items needed for camping, basic provisions, and a medicinal decoction pot for brewing medicine from various shops in the marketplace.

The last place I visited was an herb shop.

“You’re asking for Wondrous First Blossom^[2]?”

The old man at the herb shop looked at me with surprise.

“Wondrous First Blossom is expensive.”

Wondrous First Blossom was an herb that only grew in this area outside the borders and couldn’t be obtained in the Central Plains.

“How much is it per geun^[3]?”

“How much do you need?”

“I need two geun.”

“It’s eighty taels per geun. I don’t know if you’re aware, but it’s a very rare herb.”

“I understand. I’ll take two geun at that price.”

“But what are you going to use the Wondrous First Blossom for?”

Since Wondrous First Blossom wasn’t commonly used, the old man looked at me again.

However, I had been wearing my bamboo hat pulled low since entering, so he couldn’t see my face. I was also using a voice different from my own.

“I don’t know either. I’m just buying it because I was ordered to.”

The old man didn’t ask any more questions and brought the Wondrous First Blossom. After letting me check the herb, he packaged it carefully. I paid the old man and left.

After leaving the herb shop, I went to another herb shop far away. This time I looked for Cherry Plums and crystals.

After obtaining these two ingredients there, I went to a herb shop in another distant village to buy Moonflower and White Sandalwood.

The reason for buying herbs from several places was simple. It was to prevent others from knowing what I was making by combining these herbs. There probably wouldn’t be a problem if I bought everything in one place, but I was preparing for the worst-case scenario.

It never hurts to be careful. In life, inconvenience might result in financial loss, but in the martial world, inconvenience can cost you your life.

After obtaining all the necessary herbs, I headed straight up the mountain.

Deep in the mountains, far from human habitation, the cave where I had stayed before was still there. I cleaned it thoroughly and started brewing the medicine.

Some ingredients had to be decocted separately, while others had to be brewed together. It would take at least a few days to brew.

This medicine was a secret drug that could numb the sense of smell of the shackled master. Since he had been captured since his youth and held for a lifetime, he would surely still be there. At the time, it had taken considerable time and expense to discover this secret method.

While brewing the medicine, I sat cross-legged and practiced the Heavenly Demonic Defense Art.

The Heavenly Demonic Defense Art, which nearly killed me when I first learned it, has now become an indispensable lifelong companion. The more I practice it, the more I feel its unique qualities.

Perhaps due to the nature of the Heavenly Demonic Defense Art? Because it awakens me in times of crisis and activates on its own, there are many times when the Heavenly Demonic Defense Art feels like a living martial art. I know it becomes even more powerful when combined with the Nine Calamities Demonic Arts, so I’m just looking forward to that day coming soon.

After practicing late into the night, I came out of the cave and looked up at the stars in the night sky.

I had stood here looking at the night sky in my previous life too, but there was one crucial difference in my feelings now.

Back then, I had only the thought of returning, but now that place of wanting to return has been replaced by longing for the people I want to see. In particular, I wondered if Seo Daeryong was learning martial arts well from Blood Heavens Saber Demon.

Those two who would both deny it, but are subtly similar.

‘They must be doing well?’

***

On the first day of training, Seo Daeryong was waiting for Blood Heavens Saber Demon in the courtyard.

He had arrived on time, but Blood Heavens Saber Demon had not yet come out.

Learning martial arts from Blood Heavens Saber Demon, he really felt like his heart was about to burst.

He tried swinging the sword by himself.

Without using inner energy, it was indeed too heavy.

Thinking he shouldn’t waste energy needlessly, he waited for Blood Heavens Saber Demon.

After waiting for a long time with no sign of him, Seo Daeryong cautiously approached Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s quarters.

As he was peeking inside through the gap in the closed window, he felt a cold presence beside him.

Startled, he turned to find Blood Heavens Saber Demon, who had appeared silently, also peering through the window.

“What are you peeking at so intently?”

“Ack!”

Startled Seo Daeryong let out a scream.

“I-I’m sorry! I was waiting and wondered if you might be inside.”

“I heard the Second Young Master has left the cult?”

“Yes.”

“It will take about two months?”

“You’ve heard.”

“Sufficient time for someone to go missing, or perhaps die in an accident.”

Seo Daeryong quickly said:

“Pavilion Master is such a brilliant person, he wouldn’t believe such a tragic event could occur in just two months.”

“A brilliant person would quickly forget even a tragedy that has already occurred.”

Blood Heavens Saber Demon made a gesture of gouging out eyeballs with his long, slender fingers.

“I will absolutely never peek again!”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“Ah, yes. I’m going!”

Seo Daeryong hurriedly ran to the center of the courtyard.

Blood Heavens Saber Demon showed Seo Daeryong how to grip and swing the sword.

Then, as he went inside, he said:

“A thousand times!”

Seo Daeryong was swinging the sword, his whole body drenched in sweat.

“Eight hundred fifty-three, eight hundred fifty-four…”

The sword felt as heavy as a thousand jin, and his arms felt like they would fall off.

‘Whew, I can’t do this anymore!’

Seo Daeryong collapsed flat on the ground. Even if Blood Heavens Saber Demon was watching, he couldn’t help it. He didn’t have the strength to move a finger.

Originally, this would have been the time he’d be lying on his bed reading a book while snacking at home.

‘Did I do something foolish?’

Now that his body was exhausted, regret washed over him.

‘No, no. I’ve already made up my mind!’

If he got kicked out for not completing his training on the first day, he wouldn’t be able to face Unrivaled Sword.

Seo Daeryong sprang up and swung the sword. He barely managed to complete a thousand swings.

“I did it!”

Sitting on the ground, Seo Daeryong looked down at the sword in his hand.

This cold, heavy feeling of the sword! Yes, if he followed this feeling, it would surely lead him to a better life than just rolling around aimlessly.

At that moment, the window opened and Blood Heavens Saber Demon appeared.

“If it’s too hard, quit. I won’t stop you.”

Seo Daeryong jumped to his feet. Though his arms felt like they would fall off, he spoke resolutely:

“I won’t quit.”

“Why?”

“Because an opportunity like this won’t come again in my lifetime.”

“I will never pass on my unique martial arts to you.”

“I don’t even hope for that. The opportunity I mentioned is the chance to learn martial arts from you, Demon Supreme. Later, when I have children, I’ll tell them. Your father, when he was young, learned martial arts from Blood Heavens Saber Demon. That’s enough. Living as a martial artist, having that kind of memory is sufficient.”

“So you’re thinking of marriage.”

“Yes, I want to.”

“Why?”

“I want to raise children. So I can give them the paternal love that my father never gave me even once.”

There was a story and sorrow felt in his words.

“What if your child hates you as much as you hate yourself?”

“Then… would you put my child through this training too?”

Blood Heavens Saber Demon smirked at Seo Daeryong’s words.

Thinking he had made Blood Heavens Saber Demon laugh, Seo Daeryong also smiled brightly, feeling oddly pleased.

As Blood Heavens Saber Demon closed the window, he said:

“A thousand more times!”

1. 지박령(地縛靈)[↩]
2. 기화초태(奇花初胎)[↩]
3. 600 grams[↩]