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AR Chapter 73
The More Skilled, the Simpler the Answer
by BlossomTLAbsolute RegressionAfter leaving the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s quarters, I went to find Lee Ahn.
She was still immersed in training, and her Soaring Heaven Sword Arts had improved dramatically.
“Lee Ahn.”
“Yes.”
“After you receive the Body Poison Purification Technique, you can leave anytime you want.”
“What? Why are you suddenly saying this?”
As I left the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s quarters thinking that shackles didn’t suit the shackled man, I suddenly thought of Lee Ahn.
It occurred to me that she might have shackles on her ankles too.
Are there only visible shackles in this world?
Even my determination to kill Huawuqi had invisible shackles attached to it.
Between Blood Heavens Saber Demon and One-Flower Sword Supreme, there were also shackles of hatred that were difficult to break.
Then what about Father? Just like the shackled man in front of Sound Thunder Bell, I thought that perhaps Father might be bound to Grand Preceptor’s chair. Carrying the heavy responsibility of protecting the cult on his shoulders.
“I’m saying you can choose your own life. You don’t have to be the Demonic Shadow Corps Leader. Leave the cult and travel the Central Plains. You can live as a hidden master in some peaceful village. You’ve received martial arts training from me, so there’s no need to repay that kindness. You’ve already done enough for me, so you can choose freely with peace of mind.”
Lee Ahn listened quietly to my words and then said with a smile:
“I guess I’ll have to reveal another tail.”
“What do you mean?”
“Being by your side, Young Master, I’m happier and living a better life. Traveling is fine for a day or two, and being a hidden master is fine for a day or two. But I’m happy every day within your protection. I’m not a fool – if I really hated it, I would have risked my life to run away in the night. I don’t understand why you always see me as so kind.”
I looked at her and smirked.
“How many hidden tails do you have left?”
“Maybe about seven?”
“That’s enough. Now go back to training.”
As I turned to leave, unnecessary worry spurred me to add one more thing.
“Still, make sure to keep at least one tail hidden.”
In my experience, that was as important as having a secret technique in reserve.
Seeing her expression that said “I already know that without you telling me”, I left the place. Well, as long as she knows.
***
Demonic Monk came to see the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
He came with determination, so his eyes were different from the moment he entered.
“Did you just kill someone? There’s a bloodthirsty aura all over your body, even though you follow the dharma.”
“The Buddha I serve sometimes violates the precept against killing[1].”
“First he became a Colorful Buddha, then a Killing Buddha. What a busy figure.”
Demonic Monk didn’t sit down, but stood in place looking at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. He was almost at eye level with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who was sitting up straight. Given that he was sensitive about height, matching eye levels like this was a clear expression that he was very angry.
“Listen here, Heavenly Wind Cult Leader!”
“What is it?”
“How long have we known each other?”
“I don’t remember well.”
“That’s right. It’s been such a long relationship that we can’t even remember, yet how can you do this to me?”
“Sit down. Let’s talk sitting down.”
But he didn’t sit and glared at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. The golden light emanating from his body grew more intense.
“I didn’t know you would pull such a transparent trick!”
“A trick, you say?”
The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader frowned, but Demonic Monk had come prepared from the start.
One-Flower Sword Supreme and Blood Heavens Saber Demon had started moving to persuade other Demon Supremes. The Demon Supremes’ reactions were different when they met Demonic Monk and when they met Blood Heavens Saber Demon. They were all people who had lived their lives without caring about others’ opinions, so it was impossible to predict whose words they would listen to in the end.
That’s why Demonic Monk came to confront the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader directly.
“Seducing the young disciple of Soul-Seizing Demon to become your disciple? What kind of trick is this!”
“I didn’t seduce her. That child came to me on her own.”
“Then you should have sent her back! You, as the adult, should have sent her back!”
“Why should I have done that?”
“Why are you trying to become the master of a disciple from our cult?”
“Because the martial arts learned by the Demonic Sorcerers are demonic arts of the Blood Cult!”
“Are you saying you’re part of the Blood Cult now? Are you serious?”
Everyone knew that the Heavenly Wind Cult was the successor to the Blood Cult, but it shouldn’t be mentioned or connected to the Blood Cult. After all, the Blood Cult had a history of waging several wars against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He was invited solely because he was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
“Are you nitpicking my words now?”
“Even when you staged that fake theft of your divine artifact, I could understand to some extent. But this time, I simply can’t tolerate it.”
“Fake theft? Are you calling it a staged act to a friend who had his divine artifact stolen? I came here trusting only you and even had my divine artifact stolen. Instead of taking responsibility, you make such absurd accusations!”
“Did you think we would believe that? The Demon Supremes are not fools.”
“Looking at you, they don’t seem that smart either.”
“What?”
“You, how many times in your life have you been called smart? Be honest.”
Demonic Monk’s expression hardened for a moment. He knew well that he wasn’t a particularly smart person.
Lashing out at others with harsh words was also a means to suppress the other person’s momentum and lead the conversation advantageously.
When the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader struck at his inferiority complex, Demonic Monk chose to play his trump card.
“Listen, friend. Where you are now is not the outside world.”
“Are you threatening me now?”
“It’s not a threat, I’m telling you the reality. I’ve been friends with you for a long time, but other Demon Supremes think differently. I can’t predict how they will act.”
“With your meager imagination, what could there be? You’ll probably try to kill me using you as a front.”
“If only it were that simple, we could at least say our farewells.”
A tense atmosphere hung between the two.
“Don’t underestimate the Demon Supremes. They’ll try to deal with you in a much more miserable way than that.”
“Why do you look down on me so much while telling me not to underestimate you?”
“I’m not looking down on you. You just have a fatal weakness.”
“Weakness?”
“If the Demon Supremes decide to eliminate you, they won’t make the foolish choice of attacking you directly. Instead, they’ll drive a wedge between you and the Divine Cult Leader to make him get rid of you. Can you handle that? Our very own Divine Cult Leader.”
When threatened about Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader couldn’t say anything. Heavenly Demon, who hated the Blood Cult, was indeed a clear weakness of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.
“Pretend to look for the divine artifact for a few days and then leave. Expel your disciple. I’ll speak well to the Demon Supremes.”
“What if I refuse?”
Instead of answering, Demonic Monk just smirked and left. Perhaps because that was more annoying, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader didn’t say anything for a while.
Finally, he opened his mouth.
“I just made a decision.”
Looking at the shackled man in front of the Sound Thunder Bell, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gritted his teeth.
“To definitely make the Second Young Master the Heavenly Demon.”
***
“What brings you here, Second Young Master?”
As always, Chief Strategist Sima Myeong was buried in work.
“I wanted to play with you, Chief. If you have time, let’s go to Demonic Family Village for fun.”
Sima Myeong was surprised by my proposal.
“To Demonic Family Village?”
“You’re the most important person in our cult, but the cult won’t collapse if you play hooky for one day.”
“The sad secret is that it wouldn’t collapse even if I played hooky for a year.”
“Then let’s go play for just two hours so the secret doesn’t get out?”
“Alright.”
Sima Myeong stood up without hesitation, closing his documents. He probably guessed that I didn’t come just to play.
“If you’re not here, the Martial Righteous Alliance will attack immediately.”
“You don’t know Heavenly Communication Pavilion well to say that. There’s a line of smart military officers waiting for me to step down.”
“They’ve chosen a really difficult path.”
We left his office laughing.
The place I took him was the Flowing Wind Tavern.
“So it was this place after all.”
It meant he knew about the Flowing Wind Tavern well. Well, since he knows everything about me in detail, of course he would know about the Flowing Wind Tavern too.
“Are you disappointed? Did you expect we’d go to the best brothel in Demonic Family Village?”
It was a bit of an excessive joke, but Sima Myeong laughed and played along.
“I was hoping I could pretend to give in and follow you there.”
“This is why prejudices are scary. Next time we play hooky, I’ll make a reservation right away!”
“Hahaha.”
I sat across from Sima Myeong at the usual second-floor seat in the Flowing Wind Tavern.
I introduced Sima Myeong to Jo Chun-bae, who came to take our order.
“This is our cult’s Chief Strategist. Greet him.”
“Uh-huk!”
Jo Chun-bae bowed to Sima Myeong with a face like he was about to faint. He had been overwhelmed lately with visits from high-ranking people. From Heavenly Wind Cult Leader to Demon Supremes, and now the Chief Strategist. Especially the title of Chief Strategist carried more weight than any other person.
“I’ve always respected you. You’re the person I respect the most.”
“So the person you respect the most isn’t my father?”
Jo Chun-bae was startled by my teasing.
“How could that be! I respect the Chief Strategist second most.”
“Ah, I thought I was second.”
“That’s not it, actually Cult Leader is first…”
He played along, pretending to be flustered.
“I’m joking. Please bring us some alcohol first and make the food delicious today.”
“Yes!”
After Jo Chun-bae brought the alcohol and ran to the kitchen, I poured a drink for Sima Myeong.
“This is the first time drinking alone with you like this, right Chief?”
“That’s right.”
“I should have invited you earlier. I was late in doing so.”
“Not at all. You’ve been very busy lately, haven’t you?”
“If anyone’s busy, it’s you, Chief. I’m always slacking off.”
“If you say that, what are the real slackers supposed to do?”
He knew best how diligently I had been moving around lately.
We drank while chatting about various everyday matters. Sima Myeong could hold his liquor better than I had thought.
“You drink well.”
“Of course. I used to be able to drink straight liquor in my younger days.”
“That’s unexpected.”
I couldn’t quite imagine a young Sima Myeong who was good at drinking.
“So, what’s the matter?”
Sima Myeong knew I hadn’t come just to play. I also didn’t beat around the bush and got to the point.
“There’s one thing I’d like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“What makes a good military officer?”
Surprised by the unexpected question, Sima Myeong looked at me with wide eyes. Then his gaze turned to the wine cup.
“When I was young, I used to ask myself this question a lot, but I’ve forgotten about it for a while.”
Originally, these kinds of questions are difficult. If someone asked me what makes a good martial artist, what should I say?
But Sima Myeong’s answer came immediately.
“In my opinion, a good military officer is one who is smarter than the opposing military officer. There’s no profound meaning, just literally smarter than the enemy officer. That’s my answer. It’s okay if there are people smarter than me in our cult. It’s okay if there are smarter people here in this tavern. It’s okay if you, Second Young Master, are smarter than me. But…”
After a brief pause, Sima Myeong continued.
“I must be smarter than the Martial Righteous Alliance’s military officers. I must be smarter than the Unorthodox Alliance‘s military officers. That’s enough.”
It was a really unexpected answer. As if anticipating my reaction, Sima Myeong smiled and asked.
“Is it a bland answer?”
“That’s why it hit home.”
“When I was younger, I probably had too many thoughts and came up with a different answer. It might have been a more pedantic answer.”
I could imagine how he felt. As one gets older and becomes more skilled, the answers tend to become simpler.
“Martial artists working in the field can use improvisation. They can change tactics according to the situation. But a military officer can’t do that. If you make one wrong strategy, it’s total annihilation. If you die by your own choice, you might regret it less. But how frustrating would it be to die because of a wrong judgment from above? That’s why I always tell my junior officers: ‘Desperately become smarter! Everything depends on that.'”
I learned for the first time that Sima Myeong had been thinking like this. Just as I learned for the first time that he was good at drinking.
Sima Myeong filled my empty cup and said:
“Now it’s my turn to ask a question.”
In fact, I didn’t come to hear the answer about what makes a good military officer. Today’s meeting with him was to hear this question.
“Why did you ask such a question?”
Navigate to Other Chapters
Regular Chapters
Batch 1: AR Chapter 1 - AR Chapter 25
- AR Chapter 1 - Send Me to the Past
- AR Chapter 2 - Did You Push Me?
- AR Chapter 3 - What's Your Wish?
- AR Chapter 4 - How Many Decades Since I've Had Noodles Soup?
- AR Chapter 5 - A Beast Doesn't Hide Its Claws
- AR Chapter 6 - If I Become the Heavenly Demon
- AR Chapter 7 - The Reason You Die Is...
- AR Chapter 8 - When the Blade Gleams in Moonlight
- AR Chapter 9 - The Demonic Path I Envision
- AR Chapter 10 - Getting Heated Means Losing
- AR Chapter 11 - One Day is Enough
- AR Chapter 12 - I'll Dance with My Sword Once
- AR Chapter 13 - My Temper is Even Worse
- AR Chapter 14 - These Days, the Educated are More Courageous
- AR Chapter 15 - They All Look Similarly Ugly
- AR Chapter 16 - The Answer Has Already Been Heard
- AR Chapter 17 - The Wicked Don't Get Excited
- AR Chapter 18 - Not Everyone Lives a Life of Revenge
- AR Chapter 19 - This Summer, We...
- AR Chapter 20 - We are Demons After All
- AR Chapter 21 - Four Steps are Enough
- AR Chapter 22 - Just Teach Me Secretly
- AR Chapter 23 - They Managed to Live Well Enough
- AR Chapter 24 - What Will Happen, Will Happen
- AR Chapter 25 - You've Come to the Right Place
Batch 2: AR Chapter 26 - AR Chapter 50
- AR Chapter 26 - The More You Take, The Deeper the Connection
- AR Chapter 27 - I Heard It
- AR Chapter 28 - Hold on Tight, We're Taking Off
- AR Chapter 29 - What Should We Fear
- AR Chapter 30 - Why the Sword Cries
- AR Chapter 31 - You're the Crazy One
- AR Chapter 32 - I Need Some Dishes
- AR Chapter 33 - Is That a New Protective Armor
- AR Chapter 34 - Than Facing a Single Tiger
- AR Chapter 35 - Rather, Don't Forget
- AR Chapter 36 - I am Already Loyal
- AR Chapter 37 - What Lies Beyond the Door
- AR Chapter 38 - I Will Overcharge Them
- AR Chapter 39 - This is How You Do in These Situations
- AR Chapter 40 - Become Strong! Lee Ahn!
- AR Chapter 41 - Elegant Yet Terrifying
- AR Chapter 42 - I've Faced Misfortune as Well
- AR Chapter 43 - My Sword is Faster than Her Eyes
- AR Chapter 44 - With a More Comfortable Face than the First Day
- AR Chapter 45 - Habits are Frightening
- AR Chapter 46 - Those Who Bewitch People
- AR Chapter 47 - You Fill the Void
- AR Chapter 48 - What's Lonely about Living Alone
- AR Chapter 49 - If You Don't Allow It, I'll Cling onto Your Leg's Trousers
- AR Chapter 50 - When the Rain Stops, the Birds Fly
Batch 3: AR Chapter 51 - AR Chapter 75
- AR Chapter 51 - That's All There is to It
- AR Chapter 52 - If They Hate You as Much as You Hate Yourself
- AR Chapter 53 - No Variables Allowed
- AR Chapter 54 - You're Not So Mysterious when You're Flustered
- AR Chapter 55 - I Know You
- AR Chapter 56 - Live Long Then
- AR Chapter 57 - Hoping No Other Monsters Emerge
- AR Chapter 58 - Don't Kill Anyone for a While
- AR Chapter 59 - Sometime the Shell is More Important than What's Inside
- AR Chapter 60 - I Have Many Hidden Tails
- AR Chapter 61 - Will You Eliminate Me Too?
- AR Chapter 62 - Give Me What You Don't Want to Give
- AR Chapter 63 - After Giving Away Something Valuable
- AR Chapter 64 - Come When Called, Go When Sent
- AR Chapter 65 - If You Refuse, You'll Be Dragged to Outer Regions
- AR Chapter 66 - All or Nothing
- AR Chapter 67 - This is the Age for Such Things
- AR Chapter 68 - Second Young Master until the End
- AR Chapter 69 - Petty Methods are Effective
- AR Chapter 70 - The Difference in Thoroughness
- AR Chapter 71 - Conspiring with Everyone
- AR Chapter 72 - You're Lucky to be the Latter Waves
- AR Chapter 73 - The More Skilled, the Simpler the Answer
- AR Chapter 74 - Trust Your Instinct
- AR Chapter 75 - I'll Have a Drink
Batch 4: AR Chapter 76 - AR Chapter 76
Advanced Chapters
Batch 1: AR Chapter 77 - AR Chapter 101
- 🔒50AR Chapter 77 - What if Someone Tries to Take that Position
- 🔒60AR Chapter 78 - They're All Crazy as a Group
- 🔒60AR Chapter 79 - I'm the Same
- 🔒60AR Chapter 80 - Even if I Become Predictable Someday
- 🔒60AR Chapter 81 - Let's Live Another Life
- 🔒60AR Chapter 82 - That Shackle Then, That Cult Leader Then
- 🔒60AR Chapter 83 - Like Two Meteors Meeting
- 🔒60AR Chapter 84 - That is My Regular Place
- 🔒60AR Chapter 85 - Family is the Greatest Enemy
- 🔒60AR Chapter 86 - Long Time No See, Brother
- 🔒60AR Chapter 87 - Blood Rains from the Sky
- 🔒60AR Chapter 88 - From the Moment the Umbilical Cord is Cut
- 🔒60AR Chapter 89 - I am Not a Caught Fish
- 🔒60AR Chapter 90 - A Relationship Worse Than Not Being Close
- 🔒60AR Chapter 91 - Is It Really That Obvious?
- 🔒60AR Chapter 92 - The Frightening Power of Words
- 🔒60AR Chapter 93 - Because Villains Understand Each Other Well
- 🔒60AR Chapter 94 - We Fight Because We Know Each Other
- 🔒60AR Chapter 95 - Then That's Good
- 🔒60AR Chapter 96 - There Was Nothing at the End of Your Life
- 🔒60AR Chapter 97 - Why Are You Obsessed with My Mask?
- 🔒60AR Chapter 98 - My World Will Be Boring
- 🔒60AR Chapter 99 - When We Return from This Journey
- 🔒60AR Chapter 100 - The Martial World Never Sleeps
- 🔒60AR Chapter 101 - Only My Eyes Can See It
Batch 2: AR Chapter 102 - AR Chapter 109
- 🔒60AR Chapter 102 - Its Better If You Survive
- 🔒60AR Chapter 103 - Everyone Has a Story or Two
- 🔒60AR Chapter 104 - Even If It's a Bit Frivolous
- 🔒60AR Chapter 105 - It's Not Easy
- 🔒60AR Chapter 106 - When the Sleeping Gambling God Awakens
- 🔒60AR Chapter 107 - Despite Being Ugly
- 🔒60AR Chapter 108 - If You Lose, You Have to Do What You Don't Want to Do
- 🔒60AR Chapter 109 - Is It You?
- 살계(殺戒)[↩]