The next day, I went to the Black Fist training ground.
Naturally, I had assumed the Black Fists, being the most skilled, would have the smallest numbers.
But when I arrived, the Black Fists were the most numerous. This was the result of the Fist Demon’s efforts. He had continuously unearthed those worthy of becoming Black Fists, forging them from the very basics.
These were ones who could truly be called iron fists. Capable individuals who could easily serve as squad leaders or commanders in the Main Sect’s elite organizations were visible everywhere.
The gazes directed at me were varied—from those looking on with curiosity to those showing hostility. The reason for the hostility was simple. These were Black Fists who had climbed up through training, ranging from as short as seven or eight years to as long as over ten.
And yet, I had broken through three ranks and reached Black Fist in just over ten days. How could they feel good about that? There were likely some among them thinking that the Second Young Master might be aiming to become the Fist Demon.
Among them, one person caught my eye.
A woman with her hair tied tight and bandages wrapped around her hands and wrists. A woman whose fierce, captivating gaze was her greatest charm.
I knew who she was.
Cheon Sohui.
She was the next Fist Demon.
With that slender frame and those small fists, she was the woman who would overcome the competition against every Black Fist here and inherit the seat of the Fist Demon.
After the Main Sect was sealed by Hwamugi, the Fist Demon would pass the Demon Seat to her and go into seclusion.
The Fist Demon ultimately failed to shatter the cliff. Though he had devoted his entire life to martial arts, he could not reach the realm of shattering the cliff with a single fist.
I thought that had he reached a realm capable of shattering the cliff, perhaps he would have gone to find Hwamugi for revenge. I had not known it then, but looking back now, I was certain of it.
Because I had regressed, everyone’s fate and relationships were changing.
Thus, I could not evaluate these people based on past standards. I had to see them through new eyes and new criteria.
That was true even for Hyeolcheon Doma and Geukak Soma. If I died at Hwamugi’s hands, would those two simply stand by? I had a premonition that they would not.
“I heard that the Second Young Master passed through the Red Fists with ease.”
The man who approached and spoke to me was Dogang. Just as I knew Cheon Sohui, I also knew this man.
Dogang was someone who had competed with Cheon Sohui over the position of successor until the very end, then left the sect after losing.
“May I ask one question on behalf of the Black Fists?”
“Ask as many as you wish.”
“Why have you come to the Eastern Fist Gate? Why do you wish to learn fist arts?”
“If you are worried that I might take the position you have devoted your lives to obtaining, you need not be. I have not come to become the Fist Demon.”
I spoke to them calmly.
“I am the one who will become your Heavenly Demon.”
Because of what I had accomplished since regressing, no one showed any sign of looking down on me. If they considered the possibility that I might become the Heavenly Demon, it would not be easy to speak carelessly.
But neither was there anyone who went out of their way to ingratiate themselves with me. For now, the Eastern Fist Gate was still a place that leaned toward the Eldest Successor.
“By the time I become the Heavenly Demon, one among you will have become the Fist Demon. I ask for your cooperation in advance.”
Then Dogang asked again.
“If you are to become the Heavenly Demon, why have you come here?”
“I have come because I wish to grow stronger. I intend to grow stronger by learning fist arts.”
It was also a statement that would bolster the pride of these iron fists, for I was saying I would grow stronger by learning the fist arts they studied.
Among the gazes fixed on me was Cheon Sohui’s. Her extraordinary presence was one thing, but I particularly liked the look in her eyes. Those eyes, filled with a will that seemed unwilling to yield once a goal was set, resembled the Fist Demon.
*I look forward to working with you, future Fist Demon!*
Just then, the Fist Demon appeared. As with the previous training sessions, he did not pay me any special attention.
“Let us begin.”
Training began at the Fist Demon’s word.
The Black Fists also trained centered on form training. The Fist Demon was someone who emphasized fundamentals, valuing the execution of precise forms above all else.
I examined the Black Fists’ movements in detail.
On the first day, I only observed. I could have demonstrated the forms if necessary, but I did not think that would be a very good choice for the Black Fists or for myself.
And so the first day, spent only observing, passed.
The next day as well, I only watched.
The Black Fists displayed an air of pride, as if to say, *See, we’re different from the Red Fists, aren’t we?*
The Fist Demon sent me a voice transmission.
*—You’ve already mastered them all, so why aren’t you following along?*
*—Even if that were true for the Red Fists, I must look after the Black Fists’ pride and morale.*
*—Since when do you concern yourself with such things?*
*—Because they are the people who will become my subordinates in the future. I must look after them.*
From afar, I saw the Fist Demon snort in amusement.
* * *
On the third day, after training finished and everyone had dispersed, Cheon Sohui approached Geom Mugeuk.
When Geom Mugeuk had said on the first day that he would become their Heavenly Demon, something had welled up in her chest.
She had staked her life on martial arts and abandoned romantic affairs entirely. Thus, it was not affection between man and woman. There was some other fateful pull. She had come to find Geom Mugeuk to confirm what it was.
“I am Cheon Sohui.”
“It is a pleasure.”
“I heard that you mastered the Red Fists’ forms merely by watching their training.”
“That is correct.”
“You won’t be able to learn the Black Fists’ forms through observation alone.”
“They are certainly difficult beyond comparison.”
“Then why don’t you ask to be taught?”
To that, Geom Mugeuk gave an unexpected answer.
“I have already learned them all.”
He might not have said so to another, but he spoke honestly to Cheon Sohui. It was because he wished to share a different kind of connection with her.
Cheon Sohui started in surprise, but soon a faint sneer crossed her lips. She was absolutely convinced that they could not be mastered by sight alone.
The words, *Needless pride only makes a person look small,* nearly slipped out.
“I’m curious. Whether you truly have such keen eyes, or if you are merely putting on airs.”
She had phrased it kindly. After all, if he was putting on airs, such advice would not get through, and if by chance she was wrong, it would be her own mistake.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
She had walked a few steps when Geom Mugeuk called out from behind.
“If my words are true, grant me one request.”
She turned around and asked.
“And if it is a bluff?”
“Then I shall grant yours.”
“Very well.”
Seeing that the word *very well* came without hesitation, she was clearly convinced it was empty boasting.
Cheon Sohui left, pondering what request to make. At the same time, she walked away disappointed that it was not some fated pull after all.
* * *
Her disappointment lasted but a day.
The next day, I demonstrated the forms the Black Fists had learned right before everyone’s eyes. When I executed the forms precisely, all were astonished. Cheon Sohui’s surprise was the greatest of all.
*—You... did you really learn them just by watching?*
Her voice transmission, incredulous, flew to me.
*—Did I not tell you so?*
Her pupils trembled. How could she know? That I was someone who had passed the Lesser Heavenly Cave—a feat that took an average of three years, and even her father two months—in a single day. It was not even the Fist Demon’s secret arts; fist arts of the level the Black Fists learned, I could execute merely by watching.
*—Do not forget, you must grant my request.*
*—Of course. I always keep my promises.*
The Fist Demon called me forward.
“Step forward.”
For the first time, the Fist Demon stood me before the iron fists.
“Do you know why I permitted you to train?”
“What is the reason?”
At that, the Fist Demon’s gaze turned toward the Black Fists.
“These children have never fought a true master. Would you show them what the martial world is like?”
Surprisingly, he was asking me to let them experience real combat.
Of course, being Black Fists, they would have had various experiences. Like the other Demon Seats, the Fist Demon would have tasks to perform for the sect, so these Black Fists would mainly have been sent to the Central Plains to handle matters. In that process, they would have experienced real combat several times.
But they had likely never met a true master.
My eyes met the Fist Demon’s. He was sincerely looking out for his subordinates. That assessment was correct. The Fist Demon was smarter than he appeared. The Fist Demon was someone purely obsessed with martial arts.
“They still don’t know to fear the blade.”
It was a difficult thing to hear from the undefeated Fist Demon, but they were words for subordinates swollen with pride. For him to show this much concern…
“Then I shall enlighten them.”
When I readily agreed, the Fist Demon’s expression brightened.
“Shall I select some twenty of them? Or ten?”
He seemed sorry to ask me to let all dozens of them have that experience. This was indeed a difficult request to make lightly, and it would greatly exhaust the stamina of the one accepting it.
“No. Since I am doing this anyway, I will face them all.”
Joy and gratitude flickered across the face of that fearsome Fist Demon. They were emotions that truly did not suit him and looked awkward; it was a sight rarely seen. The tuition fee was more than paid by witnessing that precious expression.
When I looked around at the Black Fists, my presence had already grown cold.
“There are several types of experts. Adequate experts, strong experts, and true experts. Let us start with what it’s like to face an adequate expert. Now, come out one by one.”
The Black Fists came forward one by one. Their faces were filled with confidence. Though they might not defeat me, there was a will not to lose easily.
I sent a voice transmission to the Fist Demon.
*—They are ones you have taught. Is this alright?*
*—I shall make them into a rabble. That was my intention in creating this gathering today.*
I faced them one by one.
“The opponent you just faced possessed the skill to defeat you in thirty moves.”
The opposing Black Fist revealed a resolve that said, *As if that is for you to decide.* He likely wanted to teach me a lesson. He would have wanted to show this uninvited guest the taste of a proper fist, and to do so before the Fist Demon himself.
Because I understood that feeling, I faced him without crushing his pride. Even in victory, I tried not to trample his self-respect.
The first Black Fist charged swiftly, throwing his fists forward. His fundamentals were solid and his confidence high. His footwork was especially good. Martial artists who trained in fist arts were naturally supposed to excel in footwork.
After exactly thirty moves, the first Black Fist bled from his side. It was not a deep cut—just light enough to draw blood.
“I have learned well.”
He cupped his fists respectfully and withdrew. Though he had bled, his expression was one of satisfaction at real combat after so long. Given who his opponent was, how could the exchange not feel substantial?
The second Black Fist was cut in the side after exactly thirty moves as well. The third was the same.
At that, the waiting Black Fists murmured and grew agitated.
They had resolved to endure somehow, but they could not last past thirty moves, nor could they evade the sword flying toward their flanks.
Having seen their comrades fall before them, they should have prepared. But they could not.
It was not that I suddenly raised my strength on the thirtieth move to cut them. I faced them with the same speed and power from the beginning, yet without fail, when the thirtieth move came, their flanks were exposed. That was why they were astonished.
A single emotion dominated them all.
How can this be?
Only one person—Cheon Sohui, who came out last—barely evaded it, and on the thirty-first move, she was cut in the thigh rather than the flank. As expected, she possessed the most remarkable skill among them.
The look in their eyes had already changed. No longer a challenge of *Let me see what you’ve got*, but a question of *What will you show us next?*
“Until now, I was an expert of thirty-move caliber. Now, I am an expert who can kill you in ten techniques.”
The Black Fists came out one by one with even firmer resolve. This time, I faced them much faster than before.
“This is what a ten-technique expert feels like.”
I pressed them fiercely and relentlessly. One might think there would be little difference between thirty moves and ten, but the feeling on the receiving end was on another dimension entirely.
Everyone was shocked and bewildered.
They had been confident that with their skill, they could beat down just about anyone...
After ten moves passed in a daze, the sword would already be aimed at their throats. In an instant, the blade would be pricking their hearts. The chillingly sharp sword would be tapping against their arms. Had I shown no mercy in my hands, their necks would have been severed, their hearts pierced, and their arms cut off.
None of their initial confidence or arrogance could be found in them now. This was surely the very feeling the Fist Demon had wanted his subordinates to experience. Not to swagger about just because they were Black Fists. To know that there were masters who could rip apart those black martial robes they had earned through hardship in a single breath.
In that way, I gave them all the shock of a ten-move adversary.
It was not only the swordsmanship that astonished them. I had been facing this many people one after another, yet not even my breathing had grown rough.
Now it was time to bring things to a close.
“Now, this is a single-move master. They may be difficult to encounter, but such people most certainly exist in this jianghu.”
At the words single-move, everyone tensed.
They were about to come forward one by one again, but this time I changed the way I dealt with them.
I released my presence completely. My aura seized control of the space and plunged the Black Fists into the depths of a deep sea. Even the Black Fist who had been stepping forward felt his breath being choked off and, without realizing it, retreated several steps.
Srrrk.
The Black Demon Sword drew itself from its sheath.
Chwararararararak.
And then, before my chest, it began to split apart.
The Black Fists were horrified by the sword qi that, in an instant, divided into twenty. It was the first time they had seen it: a sword splitting into sword-shaped sword qi.
Shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik-shwik!
The sword qi shot out in every direction, swift as light.
Screams burst out from all sides.
The sword-shaped sword qi had stopped before the faces of the Black Fists standing in front. They had flown too quickly for anyone to even attempt to dodge. None among them could block my Yucheonsik, which had reached full mastery at the twelve-star level.
Everyone stared in astonishment at the sword-shaped sword qi hovering before their eyes.
They would not know. That stopping them all simultaneously before their faces like this was a far more difficult, higher-level technique than piercing them all at once with sword qi. At this moment, the only one thinking that far was surely the Fist Demon.
Sssssss.
As the brilliant clusters of light scattered, all the sword qi before their eyes disappeared.
The true Black Demon Sword, which had been floating in midair, was in front of Cheon Sohui. To her, the strongest among the Black Fists, I had sent the real sword. It was consideration and respect for her. And into the sword, I placed my heart.
What you are seeing now is reality. The sword that flies toward you in the future will never vanish before your eyes. Please, do not forget this moment.
The Black Demon Sword that had been hovering before her crossed the air and returned to me. The Black Demon Sword sheathed itself.
Listening to the clear metallic click, I spoke calmly to the Black Fists.
“You all just died.”