CDF Chapter 4

Three months later.

“Strange.”

The youth gazing languidly out the window had a faint smile on his face.

“Not three days, not a month. Three months have passed, yet there’s been no significant change?”

“…”

“His condition has even improved, I hear?”

“That is correct.”

The youth tilted his head.

“How can that be?”

“…”

“Didn’t you say it’s most fatal for those with strong traces of demonic arts?”

“Indeed, that is true.”

“Even if he lost his internal energy and his danjeon was destroyed, he’s still a demon. The traces of demonic energy should be firmly etched in his body. Shouldn’t he be in a wretched state then?”

“…”

“Anyway, he’s a curious one. Even in that condition, he’s showing results exceeding expectations.”

“…Young Master.”

“Hm?”

“There is one thing I’m curious about. May I ask?”

“Haha, go ahead.”

“Why are you so concerned about the Third Young Master?”

Quite a dangerous question. At least for someone in a subordinate position, it wasn’t something that could be easily asked.

The youth chuckled.

“Have you forgotten what I said a moment ago?”

“Pardon?”

“When that bastard fell into the Demonic Deviation, the Blood Soul Pavilion Master^[1] personally said it. The chances of his survival were close to zero. Even if he were lucky enough to wake up, he would suffer from paralysis or insanity. But what about him now?”

“…”

“It’s always been like that. That guy has always defied my expectations. Bluntly put, who knows if he’ll grow as much as before within a year.”

“That’s unlikely.”

“I know, me too. It’s not something that can be achieved through human effort. I know that, but… he keeps making me uneasy.”

“…”

“I’m not the only one. I’m sure most of those who have a grudge against him are feeling anxious. That guy, he’s always been exceptionally lucky.”

The youth’s smile remained, but his eyes were gradually growing colder and colder.

“When is Rin arriving?”

“We received word that she entered Guangdong this morning. She is expected to reach the main temple by noon tomorrow.”

“Her first return in half a year?”

“That’s right.”

“Tell her to stop by my room when she arrives.”

The youth’s smile deepened.

“I need to check if rust has formed on the renowned Flying Sword, or if it has broken.”

***

Fwoosh!

The rushing wind made the maidservant, Anghwa, squeeze her eyes shut.

Cheon Hajin furrowed his brows.

“Is this all I can do?”

The air pressure from the fist he thrust into the void was unsatisfactory. It was proof that he had yet to stretch his muscles and joints to his desired extent.

“Well, it’s still passable.”

For the past three months, he had gone to great lengths to restore this wretched body to normal.

Without the Boundless Energy, he would have been in big trouble.

Thanks to it, he had expelled not only the turbid energy in his body but also any lingering traces of demonic energy. It felt like scrubbing away a decade’s worth of grime.

‘The Supreme Recovery Decoction, was it? It helped a great deal too.’

They said it was a decoction permitted only to the top brass, and indeed, its medicinal properties were unparalleled.

After washing away a considerable amount of turbid energy and a large quantity of demonic energy, it vigorously invigorated his vitality as if on a mission.

He had been unable to perceive the medicinal power^[2] at first, but for the past couple of months, he could feel it.

The concentrated medicinal properties nourished his muscle fibers^[3] and activated the functions of his internal organs.

The most encouraging part was that it had healed most of his internal injuries. Now, he could say his body was in a state befitting his age.

‘Yes. It’s all good. Everything’s good, but…’

Cheon Hajin clutched his hair.

‘Aargh! I want to get out of here right now!’

He hadn’t just fixed his body over the past three months.

He had racked his brain, even sacrificing sleep, to find a way to escape this hellhole.

After hearing about Seo Ryang’s personality, he had boldly ventured into the front yard, strolling here and there. Thanks to that, he had firmly grasped the surrounding terrain.

And the conclusion he reached?

‘In this state, there’s no way I can leave.’

On the orders from above, there were over thirty demon disciples standing guard outside his quarters.

These guys weren’t mere escort warriors. They thoroughly screened the people coming and going and simultaneously kept watch over him, the Third Young Master.

Two months ago, when Cheon Hajin had steeled his resolve to leave, the escort warrior who stopped him had said:

– Until you have fully recovered, there are orders prohibiting your departure, Young Master. I apologize, but you cannot go any further.

Since then, he had attempted to go out more than ten times but failed each time. The stubbornness of these bastards was reminiscent of a rocky mountain without a single blade of grass.

Even clumsy bribes and threats didn’t work on these cold-hearted bastards.

After wracking his brain and agonizing over it, Cheon Hajin reached one conclusion.

‘Let’s fix the body first.’

They said he couldn’t go out until his body had fully recovered? Then he just needed to achieve full recovery, right?

He couldn’t live with this body anyway. In that case, he might as well take this opportunity to fix it.

With a clear goal in mind, his recovery gained momentum. He also learned the lesson that life is all about perspective.

…If those bastards pull the same crap this time, he would have to smash their legs with a club.

‘Anyway, with this much, my body is almost fully healed. I should be able to casually step out for some fresh air.’

His fists clenched involuntarily.

‘As soon as I’m out, I’ll head to the nearest safe house in the south.’

Throughout the Central Plains, there were dozens of safe houses for the world’s greatest assassin.

Half of them were set up by the Righteous cult, but the other half were secretly established by him personally.

He had steadily built them over more than thirty years, preparing for the situation after his escape from the Righteous cult.

He had stashed away all sorts of elixirs, medicinal herbs, and various supplies. Once he got there, it was only a matter of time before he regained his former prowess.

‘I’ll liquidate the valuables and secure some seed money. Then I’ll flee to a place far from the Central Plains.’

It’s better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon. He would leave this damned martial arts world behind and live like a king without a care in the world.

Of course, the Demonic Cult would send trackers after him, but that didn’t matter.

No one knew about the existence of the safe houses, and once he regained his former abilities, evading the trackers would be a piece of cake.

He just needed to reach the safe house. His real life would begin from that moment on.

“Alright. No need to waste time.”

Cheon Hajin muttered solemnly and stripped off his clothes. He wanted to change into something more comfortable to move in.

“Gasp!”

Anghwa’s face turned red as she hurriedly left the room.

‘What’s with her?’

She had seen him for over three months to the point of becoming desensitized, so why the sudden reaction? Could it be that she left because she couldn’t stand the sight of him?

Well, that was possible.

In his excitement at the thought of leaving this place, he didn’t pay much heed to trivial matters.

Cheon Hajin hummed a tuneless melody as he changed into a plain martial arts uniform and stretched his body.

‘Alright, I’m leaving legally. Surely they won’t stop me again after I’ve healed to this extent.’

Cheon Hajin walked towards the door.

At that moment.

Flinch!

‘…?’

Cheon Hajin’s eyes darkened.

Even though he had expelled the turbid energy and healed his internal injuries, this was still an ordinary body.

He had created a new danjeon, but he hadn’t accumulated even a bean’s worth of internal energy.

Nevertheless, his senses had become terrifyingly sharp compared to before.

The abilities of the world’s greatest assassin hadn’t disappeared. Although he couldn’t use his superhuman senses yet, he was still far more sensitive than ordinary people.

A voice was heard shortly after.

“Is he inside?”

“What? Ah, yes! He… he is, but…”

“Move aside.”

“Well… I need to inform the Young Master first…”

Slap!

“Ah!”

Cheon Hajin frowned.

Did Anghwa just get slapped?

Creak!

The door opened roughly, and a woman entered.

Was she nearly twenty years old?

Her beauty was such that anyone, regardless of age or gender, would gasp in admiration.

Even her cold demeanor, which seemed unapproachable, felt more like her unique charm than a flaw.

There was a somewhat authoritative and languid air about her.

A voice that perfectly matched that atmosphere flowed out.

“It’s been a while.”

Who are you?

Cheon Hajin stared blankly at the woman. It felt awkward to greet someone he had no memory of, and it was even more awkward to tell her to leave.

The woman’s gaze deepened.

“You look better than I expected.”

“…Ah, well.”

“…”

“…”

“Are you going to keep me standing like this? I’d like to have a cup of tea.”

What’s with this bandit-like attitude? She barged in without permission and now demands tea.

Cheon Hajin waved his hand.

“Sorry, but come back later. I have somewhere to be right now.”

“…?”

“Please step aside for a moment.”

He didn’t know who she was, but now was not the time for idle chatter. His sole focus was on escaping from the Cult.

The woman’s face stiffened.

You’re telling me to step aside in your presence?

“Where are you trying to go?”

“I just have somewhere to be. Don’t block my way and move aside.”

“You’re not going to see the Cult Leader, are you?”

Cheon Hajin involuntarily made a choking sound.

The Cult Leader? He’d rather bite a blade and collapse than go see the Cult Leader!

“No.”

“Then it’s fine. Let’s talk, you and me.”

“I told you I have somewhere to be.”

“If it’s not important enough to meet the Cult Leader, talking to me should take priority.”

“Look here.”

“If tea is a bit much, alcohol is fine too. Ah! But with your body in that state, alcohol might be too much, right?”

Cheon Hajin’s face contorted.

At this historic moment when his true life in this round was about to begin, where did this creature appear from?

“You don’t seem to understand.”

“…?”

“Whether it’s tea or alcohol, have it in your own quarters. Why are you making a fuss and disturbing others?”

“…What did you say?”

“I don’t want to waste words. Get out. If you really want to drink something, I’ll tell the maidservant to prepare it for you, so have it and leave.”

What was it?

She was now unsure if the Third Young Master in front of her was really the person she knew.

‘Did his mind become strange after falling into the Demonic Deviation?’

She remembered the previous Seo Ryang.

The eyes that blazed with undisguisable ambition above a confident expression.

Not to mention the unfounded composure and the utterly arrogant way of speaking.

There were many times she had felt uncomfortable with the beastly aspect of him leering at her with lustful eyes while pretending otherwise.

Where did that man go, the one who had been excessively indulgent in his desires while desperately trying to package it all as “ruthlessness”?

‘And what’s with those stupidly urgent eyes?’

The woman, who had been staring at him blankly, snapped her fingers.

Snap!

Cheon Hajin’s face contorted.

The sound of more footsteps coming from beyond the open door.

Soon, two burly warriors appeared. Even at a glance, they were first-rate experts.

The woman, keeping her gaze fixed on Cheon Hajin until the end, spoke.

“I’m going to have a deep conversation with the Third Young Master. I don’t know how long it will take, so block anyone who tries to approach.”

The two warriors bowed their heads.

“We hear and obey!”

Creak.

The door closed.

The woman sat on the chair in front of the table as if it were her own room.

Her posture, legs crossed and chin resting on her hand, was immensely alluring. She exuded the scent of a mature woman that no man could ignore.

“Let’s save the tea for later.”

“…”

“Sit down. Don’t we have something to discuss?”

At that moment.

Cheon Hajin’s eyes met the woman’s.

The corners of her lips curled up slightly. It was a relaxed smile that only someone with the upper hand in a relationship could show.

“Do you not want to talk to me?”

“…”

“But you have no choice. Because you broke the contract. Until now, I’ve invested in you…”

“What’s your name?”

“…?”

“I asked what your name is.”

“…Just in case, let me make it clear. I’m not in the mood for jokes right now.”

“Answer my question quickly. What’s your name?”

The woman’s face turned cold.

“It doesn’t seem like a joke, but you don’t seem to be in your right mind either. What kind of rudeness is this?”

“Rudeness?”

“No matter how much of a Third Young Master you are, such words to me…”

Ignoring her words, Cheon Hajin walked over and flung the door wide open.

Creak!

The warriors looked at him in surprise.

“Move aside.”

“…?!”

“If you don’t want to be beheaded for the crime of oppressing a disciple of the Cult Leader, you’d better step aside quickly.”

The warriors involuntarily swallowed. The woman’s brows twitched subtly.

“Hey, Third Young…”

“Move aside quickly.”

“…”

“Not moving?”

Cheon Hajin scoffed.

“Look at that loyalty. Alright, I’ll acknowledge what I should. I’ll give you a reward befitting that loyalty without leaving you wanting. Anghwa!”

“Yes, Young Master!”

Anghwa, who had been anxiously waiting on the side, quickly ran over. Her cheek was swollen red from being hit so harshly.

Cheon Hajin’s voice turned cold.

“Go out and spread the word that there are traitorous bastards oppressing, detaining, and even threatening the Third Young Master.”

“Ah, yes!”

“Additionally, inform them that there is an unknown bandit wench who laid hands on the Third Young Master’s maidservant without permission. Understood?”

“I… I hear and obey!”

Cheon Hajin grinned wickedly.

“As a reward for your loyalty, the price of your lives seems appropriate. How does that sound to you?”

1. 혈혼각주(血魂閣主[↩]
2. 약력(藥力)[↩]
3. 근질(筋質)[↩]