AR Chapter 72

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at where the divine artifacts were placed. He looked again and again, closed his eyes and opened them, but the spot where the Blood God Pill and the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread had been was empty.

“I hate looking at it. It’s like a perfect beauty with two front teeth missing.”

At the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s lament, the shackled man looked at the Sound Thunder Bell and said softly:

“There are still canines and molars. You can still bite your enemies, or clench your molars and steel your resolve.”

“Do you get excited every time a divine artifact disappears?”

“How did you know? If you unshackle me, I might even dance.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sighed.

“To be honest, I’m afraid.”

“What are you afraid of?”

“That all of this will turn out to be a vain dream. That when I wake up, nothing will be left. At that time, I’ll probably regret like this: What on earth was I bewitched by to give everything away?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at the shackled man. The shackled man raised his head and brushed back his long, flowing hair, revealing his face for the first time in a while.

“Why are you suddenly doing that?”

“I’m showing you what bewitched you to give everything away.”

“You crazy bastard.”

The man was right. Right now, he wasn’t bewitched by the Second Young Master. He was bewitched by that shackled man. By that man who boldly claimed to have bewitched him, smiling while saying he would destroy him.

“How can I make Cheong Seon a Demon Supreme?”

“You need to divide and conquer the Demon Supremes to draw them in. Persuade, convince, and recruit them. At least two divine artifacts will have to be used. If you’re unlucky, you might need one more.”

The shackled man seemed to have already finished his calculations, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s expression was deeply furrowed.

“You’re just telling me to invest in Second Young Master in a roundabout way, right? You’re Second Young Master to the end.”

“How long are you going to rely on the Second Young Master? Be a man and move and handle things directly. I’ll tell you the best way to approach the Demon Supremes.”

“Stop mocking me!”

“You’re right. Just do nothing and stay still.”

“Is that what a military advisor should say?”

As soon as the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s words fell, there was a clanking sound of chains.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader couldn’t say anything to this silent protest asking what kind of military advisor wears such shackles.

“I’m saying this because you think of me as a military advisor. Just stay still. Sometimes, doing nothing yields the best results.”

After a brief pause, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked:

“Is it really okay to do that?”

“Second Young Master will come.”

“And then?”

“He’ll probably demand a divine artifact in exchange for putting Cheong Seon in the Demon Supreme’s seat.”

“Is that possible even for Second Young Master?”

“We have to believe. We’ve already crossed a bridge we can’t return from.”

Just then, Cheong Seon, who was training in the courtyard, came with news.

“Second Young Master has come to visit.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was surprised and at the same time impressed. Things were moving exactly as the shackled man had predicted, making him feel as if he had the upper hand.

“He’s not fit to be a gentleman.”

“It’s because we’re always thinking and talking about Second Young Master.”

“Stop talking! Stop taking his side! I am your master, me!”

“That’s why I asked who told you to be the front waves of the Yangtze River?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s heart sank at the mention of the front waves of the Yangtze River. The shackled man probably said it without any particular meaning, but it hit hard for the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. He had been feeling like he was being pushed somewhere he didn’t want to go lately.

“Yeah, you’re lucky to be the latter waves of the Yangtze River.”

When he decided to go to the Central Plains, he never dreamed he would be having this kind of conversation with the shackled man.

‘Life is truly unpredictable.’

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader felt for the first time the unfamiliar tension that comes with an unpredictable life. In other words, he had lived such a predictable and smooth life until now.

***

When I went to see the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, Cheong Seon was there too.

She was in the middle of training in the courtyard, and when she recognized me, she greeted me politely.

“It’s an honor to see you, Second Young Master.”

When Soul-Seizing Demon was alive, our relationship was indifferent, like looking at chickens or dogs, but now the situation had changed. She needed external supporters to back her, and she needed to make a good impression on me, both as Second Young Master and as the Underworld Pavilion Master.

“I heard you became a disciple of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, Miss Cheong. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Second Young Master.”

She wouldn’t know. That things had flowed this way because I had leaked information to Sa Woo-jong.

“I came to bring news to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. Miss Cheong, please listen as well.”

As we went inside, the shackled man slightly raised his head, and our eyes met briefly. Since last time, we had been greeting each other in our own way.

“What’s the matter?”

“Demonic Monk is making moves.”

“Demonic Monk? How?”

“He’s persuading the Demon Supremes to make First Disciple Yang Do the next Soul-Seizing Demon.”

“Dammit! Some friend he is.”

“Now that Demonic Monk has started moving in earnest, it seems difficult for Miss Cheong here to become a Demon Supreme.”

Cheong Seon bit her lip hard. She had taken a big risk to become a Demon Supreme. If she couldn’t become one even after becoming the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s disciple, she might end up having to follow the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader into exile outside the Central Plains.

“Second Young Master. Is there no way to put this child in the Demon Supreme’s seat? As you know, I can’t move freely here in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

“There is a way, but it won’t be easy.”

“What way?”

“We need to move the Demon Supremes too. Fortunately, Blood Heavens Saber Demon and One-Flower Sword Supreme are favorable towards me. If I ask them, perhaps…”

“Please help us.”

“Please help us, Second Young Master.”

Cheong Seon was as desperate as the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“This isn’t as easy as it sounds.”

I exaggerated a bit, though it wasn’t entirely an act.

“I don’t know what the Demon Supremes who agree to vote will demand. Even if things go well, I’ll end up owing a big debt to the two elders, Saber Demon and Sword Supreme.”

“Aren’t my disciple and I receiving help? We will never forget that favor.”

“Alright, I’ll try my best.”

“Thank you. Could you wait a moment?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sent Cheong Seon out, apparently having something to say to me privately.

“You go out and train.”

“Yes, Master.”

Cheong Seon bowed to me before going outside. Her eyes were filled with desperation as she looked at me.

After she left, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked:

“What do you want this time? Another divine artifact, I suppose?”

“No.”

“No?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was surprised.

“The only thing more important than a divine artifact is my life, isn’t it?”

He said it like a joke, but it was his sincere words. To him, what came out of my mouth next was like a blessing.

“I don’t want anything this time.”

“Nothing?”

“Yes, nothing.”

“Really?”

I nodded firmly, and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s expression brightened.

“When the results come out, I’ll treat you to a drink.”

“A drink on top of that?”

“You gave me two precious divine artifacts, didn’t you? Win or lose, let’s have a drink.”

“Where?”

“We should drink here. If you leave your place while the divine artifacts are stolen, everyone will find it strange. I’ll bring the alcohol and food.”

Of course, that wasn’t the real reason. It was to drink in the place where the shackled man was.

“I’ll try my best to make it a victory drink rather than a consolation drink.”

After saying that, I stood up. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was delighted but also clearly flustered.

“Just in case, teach your disciple well. Miss Cheong might have to have a martial arts match with First Disciple Yang Do.”

“I’ve been keeping that in mind too.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

As I was about to leave, I turned back to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“Ah, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I’m trying to create a sky in the space made by the Space-Time Manipulation Technique, but the incantation doesn’t flow smoothly. Could I ask for another explanation about that?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was surprised. Even the seated shackled man flinched in surprise. He rarely showed emotion, but this time there was a reaction.

“To fill the space, you need to succeed in creating it within half an hour, don’t you?”

“I’ve already succeeded in creating it within half an hour.”

“What?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was astonished. Even when I said I could open it in two hours last time, he didn’t believe me. I said I would show him directly next time, but he was naturally surprised that I had already reduced it to half an hour.

“Show me. Then I’ll tell you.”

“Will you wait for half an hour?”

“I’ll wait.”

“Alright.”

I immediately started chanting the incantation and unfolding the Space-Time Manipulation Technique.

Half an hour later, we were in the space I had created. I intentionally brought the shackled man there as well.

Both the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the shackled man were surprised. The sky had spread out, but there were holes here and there, making it a strange sky.

After looking around for a moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked me:

“Why did you start with the sky?”

“I like looking at the sky. It feels like it clears my stuffy heart. Now, please explain.”

“I promised, so I’ll teach you.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader explained in detail about the part of filling the space in the Space-Time Manipulation Technique’s incantation.

In fact, I could create a perfect sky. But I pretended to not be able to make it properly to naturally show my skills in front of them.

After listening to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s explanation and another half hour later, I opened a new space with a vast blue sky spread out, surprising the two even more.

It wasn’t a trick I showed for the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. It was to directly show the shackled man what kind of talent I possessed.

Am I bragging? Yes. It’s intentional showing off.

In my past life, I felt that the most important virtue of a leader was strength. No matter what anyone said, it was strength. Someone strong enough that you could trust and entrust everything to them.

And I saw it. The face of the shackled man looking up at the sky. His clear yet lonely eyes.

I still don’t know what kind of person he is. But one thing was certain.

Although I call him the shackled man, he was a person with an appearance and atmosphere that didn’t suit shackles at all.

***

After Geom Mugeuk left, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the shackled man were silent for a while.

The first to speak was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“I saw a martial arts genius today.”

“He must have had a Heavenly Martial Body.”

“Heavenly Martial Body? Yes, otherwise he couldn’t have learned the Space-Time Manipulation Technique so quickly.”

“Do you still regret it?”

“What? Giving him the Space-Time Manipulation Technique? Of course I regret it. Isn’t this regret unrelated to the other person’s ability?”

“He might create some legend with the martial arts you’ve passed down.”

“As I always say, what use is that legend if it’s not about me?”

“Our Cult Leader, you’re a man who doesn’t know how to give up, aren’t you?”

“You’re mocking me again.”

“No, I think it’s good that you’re honest.”

“It’s because it’s you! I’m honest because I’m in front of you. I’m not such a soft person elsewhere.”

While he often revealed his inner thoughts like this, the shackled man never once revealed his. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader knew the reason for this better than anyone. Unless he removed those shackles, he would never be able to know his true heart.

But there would also never be a reason to remove those shackles.

‘I won’t let anyone take you away from me.’

Whether he knew such thoughts or not, the shackled man was just staring at the evil spirits engraved on the Sound Thunder Bell.

“Are the evil spirits talking to you again?”

“They ask why I live like this again.”

“Tell them everyone lives like this. You evil spirit, everyone lives like this, who do you think you are to ask such things?”

But the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader didn’t know. At this moment, the man was conveying completely different words to the evil spirits.

He was talking about the person who told him to stop taking sides and stop talking. The evil spirits, who seemed as tight-lipped as the Sound Thunder Bell, were just silently listening to his words.