The two auras were different.
If Father’s aura was one that made my body grow cold, my true qi slow, and seized me with the terror of suffocation, as though I were sinking into an endless abyss, then the aura of the Murim Alliance Leader, Jin Paecheon, was like a typhoon encountered upon a dark sea.
I stood firm against the Alliance Leader’s aura. The storm waves thrust me up into the air, then plunged me down to the depths of the sea, but I did not lose consciousness.
Reflexively, my martial arts began to react. When faced with a powerful foe, the Wind God Four Steps stirred me like this.
—Let’s fight. Let’s tear that aura to pieces! Let’s break through the typhoon and charge in!
Suppressing the temptation of that supreme martial art with great effort, I endured the Murim Alliance Leader’s aura to the end. Just as the spar with Father at the tavern had helped me greatly, merely enduring this aura would become a great lesson in itself.
When I withstood his aura, an emotion appeared on the Murim Alliance Leader’s face that seemed to say, “Well, look at this little bastard?”
At the same time, the pressure grew even fiercer. Now, lightning began to strike over the typhoon-lashed sea. Huge whirlwinds rose from all across the ocean, dragging seawater up with them. Truly, the Alliance Leader’s aura instilled overwhelming terror.
So the Murim Alliance Leader was this tyrannical a man. Perhaps the reason Father dreamed of unifying the murim was because of this very Murim Alliance Leader. There was no way the existence of such a powerful adversary had not provoked Father.
I had reached the limit of what I could endure. It was time to either collapse or flee.
And at that moment, I saw it again.
Two eyes.
Gigantic pupils staring at me.
Some immense being was looking down at me. I knew that it was the Heavenly Demon Soul I had once seen in the painting.
I had not even learned the Nine Transformations Demonic Art yet, so why did I keep seeing visions of the Heavenly Demon Soul?
The colossal Heavenly Demon Soul stood towering in the sea, blocking the oncoming typhoon as it looked down at me. Its gaze seemed to regard me as laughable, and yet it seemed to miss me, and also to pity me. Then again, it seemed to contain no emotion at all.
The vision of the Heavenly Demon Soul slowly disappeared.
The Murim Alliance Leader’s aura, which had surged toward me as if to kill me, had already vanished. Standing far away, the Murim Alliance Leader was astonished that I had endured to the very end.
I was on the verge of collapse. If the Heavenly Demon Soul had not blocked it at the final moment, I would have lost consciousness and fallen. The Heavenly Demon Soul, too, was likely an illusion created by my own mental strength, but it had been so vivid that it felt as if the real Heavenly Demon Soul had come and gone.
I repeated to the Alliance Leader what I had said before.
—Only I can save your granddaughter.
Now Jin Paecheon did not fly into blind rage. After all, these were the words of someone who had withstood his aura.
—What does that mean?
Meeting the Murim Alliance Leader and revealing my identity.
Originally, it was not a choice I would have made. Even so, the reason I ultimately chose it was because of the two weapons I possessed.
The first was that I trusted my experience. My experience from before the regression, and the experience I had accumulated dealing with the Demon Venerables after it. I trusted myself.
But if not for the second weapon, I would not have made the reckless choice of meeting the Murim Alliance Leader based on experience alone.
My second weapon was none other than his granddaughter, Jin Haryeong.
As long as she was deeply involved in this matter, I was certain that the Murim Alliance Leader would ultimately have no choice but to help me. I felt sorry for her, but I intended to use her completely. Since it was for her sake anyway, she would understand.
—Have you heard of the Cheonmyeong Society?
Jin Paecheon nodded. Recently, they had been committing all sorts of evil deeds while impersonating our sect, so naturally the Murim Alliance would know of it as well.
—I was tracking them under Father’s orders. But I obtained information that they were plotting something related to this Little Dragon Tournament.
—Your source?
—The Lord of Villains’ Valley.
Jin Paecheon was not surprised. Just as with the Cheonmyeong Society, he must have received information about the recent death of the Lord of Villains’ Valley. He simply did not yet know that the two incidents were connected.
—I heard that the master of Villains’ Valley had changed.
—He revealed it in order to survive, so the information is certain. That is why I had my subordinate enter the Little Dragon Tournament and came here to catch them.
—If such a thing had happened, you should have informed us.
—There are circumstances that prevented me from doing so.
—What circumstances?
—Because eliminating the leader of the Cheonmyeong Society is the successor’s trial that has been given to me.
Jin Paecheon’s eyes grew cold and deep, and he emitted his aura again. This aura was different from the typhoon-lashed sea he had shown before. It was a gentle aura that wrapped around my body like a spring breeze, trying to read the changes in my emotions, an attempt to confirm whether my words were true.
—Tell me about Haryeong.
—I am certain that the Cheonmyeong Society is targeting Miss Jin.
—Why are you certain?
—I learned that the Cheonmyeong Society is plotting something related to the Little Dragon Tournament. But when I arrived, I found that Miss Jin had entered this very tournament, and she is even a strong contender for victory. You think that is a coincidence? Absolutely not. They will undoubtedly target Miss Jin. No, they devised this plan from the beginning knowing that Miss Jin would participate.
—Even if that is true, it would be enough for me to step in and resolve it myself. Why would I entrust my granddaughter’s affairs to you?
—Because if anyone other than me intervenes right now, Miss Jin will be put in danger.
The aura that had been gently surrounding me turned cold in an instant. Even the mere mention of his granddaughter’s danger caused his aura to spew killing intent.
—The Cheonmyeong Society is a far larger and more powerful organization than we originally thought. Perhaps there are already people among the upper ranks of our sect, the Murim Alliance, or the Evil Dao Alliance who have been recruited by them. That is also why we must be speaking through voice transmission right now.
I told him that the Lord of Villains’ Valley and the martial uncle of the Extreme Evil Lesser Demon had already been recruited by them. If figures of that caliber had been won over, this was not something to take lightly.
—If you investigate, you will learn that my words are true. Fortunately, they still do not know that I have come all the way here to track them. If you trust me, I will root them out completely.
Jin Paecheon stared at me without a word. Normally, he would have regarded it as a scheme by our sect and never believed me. But because Jin Haryeong was involved, he could not dismiss it easily.
Right now, I am the only one who can save your granddaughter.
My persuasion, with my strongest weapon placed at the forefront, continued.
—I believe you must have heard various pieces of information about me. I do not know what kind of information it was, but this much is certain. I am working to establish a demonic path different from the one before. At the very least, I do not scheme by using the young granddaughter of an opposing faction.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, the Murim Alliance, and the Evil Dao Alliance all send countless spies to one another. Because of that, they all know the basic information. I assume they have also grasped, to some extent, what I have done as the Pavilion Master of the Yellow Springs Pavilion.
—Do you know why I resolved that I must save your granddaughter?
—Why?
—Because she is the Murim Alliance Leader’s granddaughter, yet she is someone who would even offer marriage in order to protect the life of a mere attendant. You raised her truly splendidly.
It was both sincerity and the Flattery Divine Art.
Jin Paecheon strode toward me.
In a flash, Jin Paecheon’s sword was pointed at my neck.
“Go back and wait. I will give you an answer soon.”
“Yes, I will wait.”
I bowed politely to him and turned around.
The gaze I felt on my back was powerful enough to pierce through me.
It was only natural that he would suspect me, but even so, I could only hope that he would make a wise judgment.
* * *
When I returned to the inn, Seo Daeryong had packed everything so that we could leave at any moment.
“Ah! You’ve returned!”
“What is all this?”
“What else? I packed so we can run if things go south.”
“What about me?”
“Don’t worry. I packed your luggage too, Pavilion Master.”
“No. If something happens, that means something happened to me, doesn’t it?”
“That doesn’t mean I have to get caught too, does it?”
“……”
“……”
“Ah! You have no idea how much I wanted to hear these chilly jokes of yours.”
“It wasn’t a joke. Anyway, how was it? You met the Murim Alliance Leader, didn’t you?”
“I thought I was going to die.”
“He’s strong, as expected?”
I nodded.
“You did well to come back.”
Seo Daeryong began unpacking again. His face, now free of mischief, was full of relief.
By now, I knew Seo Daeryong well enough. It was not a joke; if something went wrong with me, he would run away at once. He was not the type to charge in emotionally, saying he would take revenge.
Only after he returned and reported the entire situation would his revenge truly begin. Just as he had memorized the personal details of all the Demon Lords for the sake of avenging his senior of the Yellow Springs Pavilion, he might memorize every single warrior of the Murim Alliance. Whether it took ten years or a hundred, he would dream of revenge until the day he died. That was the kind of person Seo Daeryong was.
“What about your identity, Pavilion Master?”
“He knows it’s me now.”
“Then he knows about me too.”
“That’s right.”
“And I’m still allowed to win?”
His expression was far too serious for me to ask, Can you even do it?
“Now you absolutely have to.”
“Why?”
“The Murim Alliance Leader now knows of the Cheonmyeong Society’s existence, doesn’t he? Then do you think he would want his own granddaughter to win and become their target?”
“He’ll want me to win and become their target instead.”
“That’s right.”
“Ah, how is a person without a grandfather supposed to live, feeling this wronged? Grandfather! Are you watching?”
At Seo Daeryong’s joke, I laughed and said,
“Think positively. This is the moment in your life when you receive the Murim Alliance Leader’s support.”
“Ah! You’re right. I’ve gained another thing to brag about at drinking gatherings. But is it all right to reveal everything like this to the Murim Alliance Leader?”
“I should abandon the idea that I can accomplish something while deceiving the Murim Alliance Leader. I will continue to deal with him honestly. I’ll show him ninety-nine truths.”
“Then what is the remaining one lie?”
“Why do you think it’s a lie?”
“Pardon?”
“It could be a truth I simply haven’t told him yet.”
“What truth?”
I looked at the Murim Alliance buildings visible far beyond the window and said,
“You will find out later. Much, much later.”
* * *
At dawn the next day, I woke from sleep.
The Heavenly Demon Body Protection Art had awakened me.
When I left the guest room and went down to the first floor, someone was sitting alone in the closed inn. He revealed no aura at all, but even his silhouette in the darkness exuded presence. Merely seeing him seated with his back turned was enough to make me tense. It was none other than the Murim Alliance Leader, Jin Paecheon.
“You have come?”
I sat across from him. The Heavenly Dragon Little Tiger Unit was nowhere to be seen nearby. But they were surely not far away, concealed in various places and guarding the surroundings like an iron wall.
Jin Paecheon abruptly brought up Father.
“I met your father about twice in my life.”
I quietly listened to him.
“Each time I met him, he was someone who made me think I had to work harder. The one who kept me from stopping was your father.”
I felt as though I understood the Alliance Leader’s heart. Father was a man who yearned to become stronger more than anyone else.
“I had forgotten that for a while, but yesterday, you rekindled the dying ember in my heart.”
It meant that I, who had withstood his aura, had left that strong an impression on him. If I was already like this while young, what would I be like later? He must have felt that sense of crisis.
“Very well. I will entrust this matter to you.”
He must have agonized greatly before arriving at this decision. Just who had he consulted? Who was the person he trusted most?
“However, I have one condition.”
“Please speak.”
“I must know the entire course of events from here on. From this moment, one of my people will be attached to you. That person will watch your every move.”
Even now, I sensed that someone was hidden around us. He was as skilled in concealment as Hwi, Father’s guard. Of course, I did not reveal that I had detected him.
The Murim Alliance Leader was not entrusting this matter to me solely because there might be a traitor.
He also intended to test me. It stemmed from a desire to see what kind of person I was, someone who might become the next cult leader. In the end, I had ended up taking a test from both the Demonic Cult Leader and the Murim Alliance Leader.
“In that case, I also have a condition.”
“What is it?”
“We will deal with the leader of the Cheonmyeong Society on our side. In return, we will handle it as discreetly as possible and leave.”
Jin Paecheon nodded and rose from his seat.
“Do only what you came to do and leave.”
I could understand what Jin Paecheon was worried about. He meant not to shake Jin Haryeong’s heart.
“The subordinate who came with me teases me. He says the end of fated love is always tragedy. But young people these days do not like tragedies. I am sure that is true not only for me, but for your granddaughter as well.”
I knew very well why Jin Paecheon was so worried. Because his son had met a tragic end together with his daughter-in-law, he wished for his granddaughter, at least, not to be swept up in a tragedy caused by matters between men and women.
“Sometimes, tragedy may be close at hand.”
“What do you mean?”
“The reason your granddaughter said in front of all those people that she was dating me was probably not merely because of affection or goodwill toward me.”
“You mean because of the man who says he will kill you?”
“Miss Jin resembles you, Alliance Leader. She is someone who can never tolerate injustice.”
“That is why I worry all the more at times.”
“Then find out who that person is, and how he is pressuring your granddaughter. That single investigation will do more to improve your relationship with her than a hundred worries.”
Jin Paecheon stared at me for a moment as if glaring, then left with a single parting remark.
“Don’t concern yourself with needless worries. Just do the job entrusted to you properly.”
I watched the Alliance Leader’s back disappear into the distance, then went up to the second-floor guest room. Before entering my room, I spoke into the empty air.
“When I sleep, please sleep as well. If I go anywhere, I will tell you.”
Even at my needless attempt to act friendly, the person in hiding gave no answer.