I chose the path I knew.
Before the regression, I had chosen the mission on the right, and today, too, I chose the envelope on the right.
I can handle any mission now!
This was not the time to show such confidence. It was an opportunity to humbly make up for my past failure.
Inside the envelope was a single sheet of paper, and four characters were written on it.
Punishment of False Demons (僞魔懲罰).
It was the very order I had been given in the past.
Sima Ming sent me a voice transmission to explain. It was so that neither of us would know the other’s mission.
—Recently, a strange organization called the Tianming Society (天命會) has begun operating in the shadows of the murim. They have raised the banner of creating a new murim under Heaven’s mandate, but in truth they are people seeking private gain. Of late, they have caused several incidents while impersonating the Demon Venerables of our cult, and matters have reached a point where they can no longer be ignored. Second Young Master, find their society leader, execute him, and eliminate the Tianming Society.
In truth, when I heard this voice transmission before the regression, I looked down on them. Not because they had put their skills forward, but because they had gone around impersonating the Demon Venerables of our cult.
But now I took it differently. The fact that they dared impersonate Demon Venerables meant either that they were confident they could handle the consequences, or that some other scheme was hidden behind it. These bastards were not ordinary bastards.
“I shall obey the order.”
Once I accepted my mission, Geom Muyang chose the remaining envelope. Of course, I knew very well what mission was written inside that envelope.
After Sima Ming conveyed the basic information to Geom Muyang by voice transmission as well, he spoke to the two of us.
“You must resolve the mission alone. However, while the two of you are carrying out your missions, you may use all of the information networks of our cult’s Tongtian Pavilion, and you may call upon the Demon Army, the Four Greats of the Demonic Path, or one of the Eight Demon Venerables of your choosing, one time only.”
It meant that while we had to solve it alone, we could receive help from the cult when it came time to subjugate them.
When Sima Ming finished speaking, Father said,
“A frog in a well or a flower in a greenhouse cannot lead our cult. Resolve it properly and return!”
This was my father, who did not offer a single word of caution even while entrusting us with such dangerous missions. I smiled and eased the rigid atmosphere.
“Father, which one of us do you hope returns successful?”
At my question, the corners of Father’s mouth rose slightly. I could sense that he was forcibly holding back something he wanted to say.
In truth, Father’s gaze as he looked down at us was impartial. He did not send either me or my elder brother a personal look.
Before the regression, I had not been looking at Father in this moment. I had been thinking only of completing the mission somehow.
But now, I was looking at Father.
Father, don’t worry. I’ll resolve it safely and come back.
I conveyed that faith with my eyes. This, too, was an effort to become the successor. The more Father trusted me, the closer I would step toward the position of heir.
My gaze, which had been directed at Father, turned to Geom Muyang.
‘Brother, do well and come back like you did before. I’ll do well and come back too. Ah, and don’t look at me so coldly when you don’t even know how I feel.’
* * *
The next morning, as I was preparing to depart, Ian came to see me.
“You called for me?”
“I’ll be leaving the cult for a while and then returning.”
“Where are you going?”
“I can’t tell you.”
I raised a finger and pointed upward. Ian realized that I was leaving to carry out an order handed down from the Heavenly Demon Hall.
“Bring me back something tasty when you return!”
“I’m not going out to play. I’m going to handle something extremely dangerous.”
“I’m busy with martial arts training, so I’ll be going now.”
“Terrifying enemies are going to come pouring out.”
“Have a safe trip!”
Ian, who had run all the way to the door like that, let out a sigh and turned back.
“How nice would it be if I could really leave like this? How dangerous is it? I’ll go with you and help.”
She had changed from Ian joking around to Ian worrying about me day and night.
“It’s something I have to do alone. And I was joking too. You don’t need to worry.”
“Really?”
“Don’t worry for nothing. Just focus on your own work.”
“Actually, Lord Blue Mask came to see me not long ago.”
I had watched the two of them meet, but I pretended not to know.
“Did he say he’d become the squad leader?”
“No, he’s still thinking about it. He just asked me a few things and left.”
“What does your intuition say?”
“Half and half. To be honest, right now I desperately hope he comes, but if he really does, I think I might worry even more. Because he’d be living a new life because of me.”
“Worrying about what comes after is disregarding Blue Mask’s own deliberation. At a glance, it may seem as though you have to take responsibility for him, but that isn’t the case at all.”
“It isn’t?”
“That’s right. Blue Mask will be coming after careful consideration as well. He’ll come because, after working the abacus hard, he judged that coming to you would be more beneficial. If he comes and decides it isn’t right, he’ll go back. So don’t feel burdened.”
At my words, Ian grinned.
“Become strong, Ian. Then nine out of ten problems you’re worrying over will resolve themselves.”
After parting with Ian, I left my residence.
Before leaving, I intended to stop by and see the Demon Venerables one by one. They were people I did not particularly need to look after, but this time, I wanted to see each of them before I went.
The first place I visited was the Extreme Evil Lesser Demon’s Valley of the Wicked.
He had always been in that white room, staring at the wall, but today Blue Mask informed me of his absence.
“The Demon Venerable left the cult several days ago.”
“Can you tell me where he went?”
“He left without telling even me.”
“When he returns, please tell him I stopped by.”
“Yes, I will.”
As I turned to leave, Blue Mask asked me,
“There is one thing I would like to ask.”
“Please speak.”
“You may find this question strange coming out of nowhere, but what kind of organization is the Ghost Shadow Unit to you, Second Young Master?”
Because I knew very well why he was asking this question, I answered honestly.
“It is the organization that will become my main force in the future. It is also the organization led by the person I cherish most. It will probably become the busiest organization in the murim. So much so that you’ll naturally find yourself saying that things were better under the Extreme Evil Lesser Demon.”
I could see the eyes behind Blue Mask’s mask smile.
“Thank you for telling me.”
Blue Mask bowed his head in greeting. I could have said a few words to him for Ian’s sake, but I did not. Only if he judged and decided for himself would even his regrets become worthwhile regrets.
Next, I stopped by the Ilhwa Sword Venerable.
After hearing from the Drunken Demon about what had happened in the past, I found myself thinking about her life at least once.
If things had truly worked out between her and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, would she have been happier than she was now?
“You seem to have grown even younger these days.”
“Don’t say such nonsense. I’ve been worried lately because I’ve gained so many wrinkles.”
Even as she said that, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable’s face brightened at the rare compliment on her appearance.
“I heard you drank with the Drunken Demon.”
“How did you know?”
“The Drunken Demon came by. He said he’d gotten some good liquor and gave me some. He did something he never usually does.”
“What did he say when he gave you the liquor?”
“He was so proud and pleased, saying that he and you had become sworn brothers.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing. If he and I are sworn brothers, the hierarchy of seniority gets all tangled.”
“Then be friends with me as well.”
“Please don’t say such things even as a joke. What I said back then was only a joke.”
The Drunken Demon probably had not come to boast about becoming sworn brothers with me. After confessing everything to me, he must have felt sorry toward her.
How the Drunken Demon would act from here on was something to be seen.
“As you know, the Drunken Demon and the Blade Demon are not on good terms. Will it be all right?”
“You have to help me, Senior.”
“How?”
“Even if you don’t feel inclined, please say good things about Elder Blade Demon too. I know. I know you are displeased with him. But I ask this of you for my sake.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable gave no answer. It seemed that even my face was not enough yet to erase her aversion toward the Blade Demon.
Still, I expected things to improve compared to before. If the Drunken Demon stopped speaking ill of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and began saying positive things, then her feelings toward the Blade Demon might slowly change as well.
Next, I stopped by the Drunken Demon.
But Yeo Bin gave me unexpected news.
“The Drunken Demon has entered closed-door training.”
Because it was so sudden, I was startled.
“Closed-door training all of a sudden?”
“He said he had drunk too much lately and needed to expel some of the wine qi.”
“That’s a good thing, right?”
“Yes. It was something I truly hoped for. Thank you, Second Young Master.”
“Not at all. He promised me that he’d cut down on drinking and eat plenty of food when he drinks, so please take good care of him, Martial Artist Yeo.”
“Yes, I will.”
I had felt it for a long time. This Yeo Bin liked the Drunken Demon. Did the Drunken Demon know of her feelings? I suspected that, like the sly old fox he was, he knew and was pretending not to.
Among the Demon Venerables, the last place I stopped by was the residence of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
“Elder, your blade is becoming even fiercer.”
Today, too, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was immersed in training.
“The more you grow, the fiercer your enemies will become.”
“Are you truly training in order to face my enemies? Do you intend to clash with the Demon Venerables who support my brother?”
“It is not only because of the successor struggle.”
“Then why?”
“Do you remember what I told you before? That when a dragon ascends to the heavens, it brings wind and rain with it.”
“Of course. You said that my people were being swept away by that wind and rain.”
“That’s right. You said you were just a loach stirring up muddy water, but I believe that those waves will awaken the sleeping dragons of the murim.”
“Aren’t you overestimating me too much?”
“Judging by what you have shown so far, even this is an underestimate. Be careful even after you leave. It may seem as though our cult, the Murim Alliance, and the Evil Path Alliance have divided and seized control of the murim, but compared to all martial artists, our numbers are only a small fraction. We do not know where people stronger than us may spring out from. Do not forget. The jianghu is a place where eccentrics and hidden masters are as numerous as grains of sand.”
“I will always judge carefully and move with caution.”
“And, wait a moment.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon went into his room and came out carrying a small box. When I opened it, there was a single medicinal pill inside.
“It is a Swift Recovery Pill (速功丹). Use it if you ever find yourself in urgent need.”
The Swift Recovery Pill was a medicinal pill that, when taken after one’s internal energy had been exhausted, allowed one to recover internal energy two or three times faster than usual.
Because it had no side effects, it could only be obtained by paying an enormous sum, and even then, it was so uncommon that it was not easy to find.
“Please keep it and use it yourself, Elder.”
“Are you planning to work this old man so hard that you’ll even make me eat a Swift Recovery Pill? You take it and use it.”
He forced the Swift Recovery Pill into my hand. Feeling his concern and hidden affection for me, my heart swelled.
Elder, don’t worry. I’ll be careful and return safely.
Since I was accepting it anyway, I accepted it in a cheerful mood.
“Is there nothing else you can give me? Please go inside and look for more.”
“There isn’t! There’s nothing left!”
“Seeing how strongly you deny it, there must be something. I’ll look forward to next time.”
I greeted him with a laugh and was about to turn away when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked,
“What happened with that sinister fellow?”
“We agreed to be sworn brothers from now on.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon first looked dumbfounded, then impressed.
“If you were a loach, you would never have been able to become sworn brothers with that sinister fellow.”
It meant that though he might not like the Drunken Demon, becoming sworn brothers with him was an impressive feat.
“I am doing as I please because I trust you, Elder.”
“And that is why this old body is swinging this heavy blade, is it not?”
After leaving the Blood Heaven Blade Demon’s residence, I left the cult.
Once I reached a deserted place, I began to run in earnest. These days, I had grown to prefer moving alone, if only because of Swift Step.
But even while running, when it was time to rest, I rested properly. My every movement on this mission would be reported to the Heavenly Demon Hall. There was no need to inform everyone that I could run at an unbelievable speed.
I ran while pushing Swift Step to its limit, and once I arrived at a predetermined point, I spent the remaining time there practicing the rest of the Wind God’s Four Steps.
Dark Shadow Step became even more stealthy, Flicker Step became even faster, and Underworld King Step became even more savage. I trained and trained again. I poured in all my effort and concentration. For the time being, my martial arts goal was unconditionally the complete mastery of the Wind God’s Four Steps.
According to the materials sent by the Tongtian Pavilion, the Tianming Society had caused several incidents throughout Hunan.
The two places where recent incidents had occurred were Yongxing (永興) and Dongkou (洞口).
In the past, I had gone to Yongxing and investigated the incident there while tracking the Tianming Society. But in the end, the Yongxing incident turned out not to be the work of the Tianming Society. It had been committed by people imitating the Tianming Society.
Because of that, I wasted a great deal of time in the past, and only belatedly went to Dongkou to follow their traces. As a result, my mind grew impatient, I missed clues I should have found, and in the end I failed the mission.
Of course, this time I made the proper choice.
After arriving in Dongkou, I went straight to Yuefeng Sect (月風門), where the incident had occurred.