After returning from the hunt, I entered the training hall and practiced the secret technique my father had taught me.
From practicing how to carry my energy on the wind to releasing several strands of energy at once.
Eating felt like a waste of time, so I made do with jerky, and I replaced sleep with circulating my qi and regulating my breath. The more I practiced, the more I realized how important this technique was. Detecting an enemy before they launched a surprise attack was the same as keeping an extra life in reserve.
I trained diligently the entire time. Because I had experienced countless times that if you did not walk today, you would have to run tomorrow.
After spending several days absorbed in training like that, I finally left the training hall. I could now freely carry my energy on the wind, and I had increased the number of strands to three or four.
Ian was waiting at the entrance to the training hall.
“Young Master, you should rest now and have a proper meal.”
“I told you to go about your business. Why are you here?”
“Protecting you is my duty.”
It seemed she had stood guard in front of the training hall the entire time I trained.
I thought a shock treatment would be necessary to change this stubborn girl’s mind.
“Do you really think guarding this door is something you’re doing for my sake?”
“What do you mean?”
“What will you do if someone ambushes me?”
“I’ll throw myself in the way and stop them.”
“If you get stabbed and die in my place while protecting me, how do you think I’ll feel? Will I be happy I survived? Should I dance in the middle of the training ground?”
“You wouldn’t, but… it would still be better than dying. And you’re not very good at dancing anyway.”
“That’s a selfish sacrifice that only values your own feelings.”
I did not want to attach a word like selfish to her noble spirit of sacrifice. But with her, I had to use shock treatment like this. The problem was that it did not work.
“Yes, yes. From now on, please call me a selfish bitch who only cares about her own feelings.”
“Ian, do you really want to protect me?”
“Yes.”
“Then train in martial arts from now on. And when the moment comes when you truly have to protect me, don’t just passively block the enemy. Kill them!”
If she became strong through that, that strength would become a foundation for her own happiness.
At those words, she did not respond with a joke and quietly nodded.
Just then, someone shouted from far away.
“Hey, lump of lard!”
When I turned around, three people were walking toward us. They were disciples of the Blood-Heaven Saber Demon.
“Has the Second Young Master still not come out today?”
Judging by their attitude, it seemed they had come looking for me several times while I was training.
But what? Lump of lard? Had those bastards lost their minds?
It seemed they could not see me because Ian’s large body was blocking me.
“How many times have you put up with this shit?”
“I’m fine. It’s nothing.”
“If this is nothing, then what in the world counts as something? Does your family have to be massacred by your enemy for it to count?”
“Young Master! I’m fine.”
Ian was worried that I might cause trouble. She would worry whether I got hurt or they got hurt.
“Ian. You don’t need to worry too much. I won’t go so berserk that I ruin my life because of you. Everyone in the world is like that. They all take care of themselves just fine.”
Meanwhile, they drew near, and Ian quickly said,
“Young Master, they do not seem to have come with good intentions. I think it would be best if you avoided them for now.”
“Of course I should avoid things. Hornets, dog shit, even Father’s thunderbolts from the blue. But not those things.”
By then, the three men had stopped in front of me.
“Oh? The Second Young Master was here too.”
The one who had sneered at Ian earlier was Liang Dong, the second disciple of the Blood-Heaven Saber Demon.
I knew very well what kind of man Liang Dong was. Birds of a feather flocked together; he was trash of a different sort from Gu Pyeongho, who had used Qi-Scattering Poison.
This bastard was infamous for looking down on people and tormenting them personally… Yes, that boy.
My gaze went to the handsome one among the disciples who had come with Liang Dong.
He was probably the youngest, wasn’t he? Among the Blood-Heaven Saber Demon’s disciples, he had been the most affectionate and kindhearted, but in the end, unable to endure Liang Dong’s vile torment, he had taken his own life. How unbearably must he have been bullied for a martial artist to kill himself?
Even now, the youngest disciple’s expression was not bright. He had probably been dragged here against his will today as well.
The other fellow with them was the fourth disciple. I could not remember his name, but I did not remember him as a particularly good person either.
My gaze returned to Liang Dong.
“Looking down on my guard is the same as looking down on me.”
“My apologies. I did not see the Second Young Master. She is rather large, after all.”
“Whether I’m here or not has nothing to do with it, does it?”
“I said I did not see that the Second Young Master was with her.”
This ignorant bastard could not even grasp the point of the conversation.
The reason he could act like this was entirely Father’s fault. After Father announced within the cult that anyone could become the successor, the special status of being the Heavenly Demon’s son had faded considerably.
In the end, he was trying to seize this opportunity to earn himself the title of “one who doesn’t shrink even before the Heavenly Demon’s son.”
“I hear you came looking for me several times?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Are you asking because you truly don’t know? Junior Brother Gu can no longer learn martial arts.”
“So what do you want me to do about it? Nurse him back to health? Ian, go bring me a rag. Let’s go wipe that bastard’s sweat.”
“Second Young Master! Do I look as if I am joking right now?”
“We aren’t close enough to have a serious conversation.”
Perhaps he thought he had been disregarded, because Liang Dong’s aura turned vicious. For someone who tormented others to the point of death, it was laughable that he would get so offended by a few mocking words.
“If you turned a man into a cripple, you should take responsibility!”
“Did you hear that your junior brother used Qi-Scattering Poison?”
“Hmph! That must have been something you people fabricated.”
“Oh? So that’s how you’re going to insist on it?”
“No more excuses. Apologize publicly.”
I could guess why he had come to me demanding an apology.
The Blood-Heaven Saber Demon had not chosen a chief disciple. So his disciples tried in every way possible to curry favor with him. Liang Dong wanted to extract a public apology from me and claim credit for preserving the Blood-Heaven Saber Demon’s face.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I wonder if your master will truly make you his chief disciple just because you do this.”
“What nonsense! I came to see the Second Young Master for my junior brother’s sake. To clear away my junior brother’s grievance! Do you understand?”
“What grievance?”
“Though my junior brother’s attack may have been excessive, you intentionally crushed his arm.”
He had probably come because he thought he had something to argue with, but this was nothing more than a performance in the palm of Buddha’s hand.
“Then Father and the Eight Demon Venerables were the ones in the wrong?”
“What nonsense is that?”
At the sudden mention of Father and the Eight Demon Venerables, Liang Dong was startled.
“Isn’t that so? Father acknowledged my victory and asked what my wish was. Your master, during that process, did not raise a single objection either. Then what does that mean? Are you saying the Cult Leader and your master both lacked the judgment that you possess?”
Flustered, Liang Dong even began to stammer.
“W-what kind of sophistry is that? That is not what I said!”
“It is, isn’t it? Your words mean the Cult Leader ignored and covered up his own blood relative’s wrongdoing.”
Liang Dong’s face turned deathly pale.
“Do not speak such nonsense!”
How could he possibly defeat me with words?
“Or do you think he’s gone senile? Is that it?”
“Shut your mouth! How dare you be so insolent!”
Liang Dong looked back at his martial brothers, but they were just as flustered as he was.
If he made the slightest misstep, he would be branded guilty of criticizing the Heavenly Demon, so Liang Dong retreated as if he had no choice.
“I will withdraw for today, but this matter is not over.”
“Wait. You should apologize before you go.”
“What apology?”
“Apologize for speaking recklessly to my subordinate.”
Only then did their gazes turn to Ian. From the beginning, the Second Young Master’s fat subordinate had never even entered their eyes.
Of course, Ian wanted the matter to end here.
“I’m fine, Young Master.”
“I’m not fine. Now, since you dared run your mouth at my subordinate, kneel and apologize. Since any apology you give won’t be sincere anyway, show it through action at least. Let there at least be a rumor that you knelt.”
Liang Dong spoke with an expression of disbelief.
“Are you telling me to kneel to that pig bitch?”
“Yes. It would be even better if you pressed your forehead to the ground.”
“Second Young Master, are you insane? I would rather die than kneel.”
The answer I wanted came quickly.
“You’d rather die? How manly. Fine, I’ll grant your wish.”
Shing.
When I drew my sword, Liang Dong was shocked.
“You truly are insane.”
“If you leave like this, a rumor will spread throughout our cult.”
Liang Dong looked around to see if anyone was watching.
“Not there. Here.”
I stuck out my lips obnoxiously.
“This mouth will spread all the rumors. That the Blood-Heaven Saber Demon’s second disciple got scared of the Second Young Master and ran away. I don’t know about anything else, but your master probably won’t like that very much. And you’ll live the rest of your life wearing the label of a coward.”
Liang Dong’s expression hardened. He had come to impress his master, but now he was on the verge of earning his master’s displeasure instead.
“Kneel and apologize, or fight me. The choice is yours.”
“Why go this far?”
“You can come looking for me. You can tell me to bring your junior brother back. You can even swarm me in a pack and say you’ll take revenge. I understand all that. But why harass my subordinate? Why call her a lump of lard? Have you ever even bought her a meal? Huh?”
Far from reflecting on himself, Liang Dong’s expression grew even more unpleasant.
“So you truly mean to kill me for the sake of that fatty.”
“Correct.”
Liang Dong’s eyes narrowed viciously, and he moved exactly as I expected.
“Just what do you take me for!”
“My subordinate is a hundred times more precious than you. No, a thousand times. No…”
Before it could become ten thousand times, Liang Dong drew his saber.
Shing.
“Senior Brother, don’t!”
The fourth disciple behind him hurriedly tried to stop him, but Liang Dong’s eyes had already rolled back in rage.
“Second Young Master, you may be getting arrogant because you defeated Junior Brother Gu, but you will soon regret it. Since you are the Cult Leader’s son, I cannot kill you, but I will cut off one of your arms and avenge my junior brother.”
Liang Dong was confident he could defeat me.
I did not remember exactly, but it seemed my level around this time had been roughly similar to the disciples of the Blood-Heaven Saber Demon. This was all because of my elder brother. From childhood, he had tormented and restrained me, who possessed the Heavenly Martial Physique, so thoroughly that I had been unable to properly develop my martial arts.
“What a shame you don’t have Qi-Scattering Poison.”
“Don’t make me laugh! I am different from Junior Brother Gu!”
Liang Dong took the initiative and pressed me hard.
In my previous life, I had experienced many times that a martial artist’s character and martial prowess were not proportional.
Liang Dong was the same. Compared to his trash-like character, his saber art was excellent. He was skilled enough that he could have fully contested the me of that time.
Of course, to the current me, he was an opponent I could defeat in a single move, just like Gu Pyeongho.
But in order to avoid revealing my true ability, I dealt with him as if we were evenly matched.
Each time Liang Dong drove me back, his watching junior brothers cried out in admiration.
Conversely, Ian let out a short scream each time. Because it was a duel both sides had agreed to, she could not jump in, but there were several moments where she would have done so otherwise.
After more than twenty moves of such endurance, I unleashed the killing strike I had intended.
Until now, I had matched my opponent’s movements. Now, it was time to display the essence of the Flying Heaven Sword Art.
Like a willow leaf swaying in a gentle breeze, my sword lightly trembled.
Whirik!
Puuuk!
Red blood burst out as if scattered.
My sword had pierced through his mouth and emerged from the back of his head.
Drip, drip.
Amid the silence in which everyone stood frozen, only the blood at the tip of my sword fell.
Looking into his eyes as the life faded from them, I said,
“You died because of that mouth. That mouth insulted my subordinate, and that mouth refused to apologize.”
That mouth killed your kind junior brother, and it was a mouth that would kill many more people in the future, so this is as far as you go.
When I pulled out my sword, Liang Dong spewed blood from his mouth and toppled forward.
“Senior Brother!”
His junior brothers rushed over and examined Liang Dong, but he had already become a cold corpse. They were horrified. They had likely never imagined I would kill Liang Dong. Of course, Ian was staring at me in even greater shock.
The fourth disciple shouted as if accusing me.
“You killed Senior Brother? Second Young Master, you truly…”
“Then what did you expect?”
“Can you handle the consequences of this?”
Looking at him, I spoke coldly.
“Your mouth resembles your senior brother’s too.”
Perhaps he recalled what I had said earlier about dying because of one’s mouth, because he clamped his mouth shut like a clam.
“Report it exactly as it happened. If you add even a single word that wasn’t said, I’ll come find you at night.”
They carried Yang Po’s corpse and left the place. It was then that I saw it—the youngest disciple looking relieved. How terrible must it have been, for him to be unable to hide his joy even when someone had died?
Originally, he would have been tormented by Yang Po until he died. But now he had lived. The cook bastard who had mixed qi-dispersing poison into the food died as he was meant to, but the Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s youngest disciple, who originally should have died, had survived. Fate remains the same, and yet it also changes.
‘Good youngest disciple, hold on well and become the Saber Demon’s chief disciple someday!’
That was my hope, but from here on, it was something he would have to achieve through his own will and effort.
Meanwhile, Ian was looking at me with an expression as if she had lost the whole world.
“You said everyone takes care of their own business! You told me not to worry!”
“It wasn’t because of you, so fix your face!”
“……It was because of me, wasn’t it?”
“It wasn’t, so don’t get the wrong idea.”
“Then why did you cause such a huge incident?”
“What’s so huge about this? I only killed someone who deserved to die.”
“The Blood Heaven Saber Demon won’t just stay still.”
“He will. There’s nothing for him to gain by stepping forward.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Think about it. This fight started because his disciple insulted the Second Young Master’s guard. It was something that could have ended with an apology, but he kept being stubborn and died for it. What would the Blood Heaven Saber Demon gain by getting involved? He’d only be criticized for having raised his disciple poorly.”
“His pride might be hurt, couldn’t it?”
“The Blood Heaven Saber Demon doesn’t have that kind of pride.”
“How do you know?”
“I know. Your handsome young master knows everything.”
Only then did Ian seem to relax a little at my composure.
“If that’s true, then that’s a relief.”
“On the contrary, killing Yang Po benefits me. Everyone will be watching me now. If there are points needed to become the successor, then I’ve added one point to that score.”
I had crushed Gu Pyeongho in the duel, and now I had even killed Yang Po, so every eye within the cult would be on me.
“Don’t tell me you thought that far ahead?”
“Of course. This was killing the Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s disciple. Do you think I killed him just because I was in a bad mood?”
I had left a strong impression on Father during the hunt. I had to keep that momentum going.
“Ian, insulting you is the same as insulting me. So don’t say it’s all right in a situation like earlier.”
“I was shortsighted.”
“From now on, we’ll be worrying about far more important problems. Will the owner of the trash get angry because I cleaned up the trash? Today is the last day we waste time on such petty, useless concerns.”
A surge of emotion flashed through Ian’s eyes as she looked at me.
“You mean it. Young Master…… You really have changed.”
“That’s also why you need to change.”
The changes I had shown over the past few days were enough to draw out change in her.
Ian nodded.
“I’ll change too. I’ll become stronger!”
It would not be as easy as her words made it sound. She would agonize over it again and again, look back, and suffer. A person’s life changing was never an easy thing. Even my own change, which might appear effortless, had only been possible because I had lived an entire lifetime before.
“And Young Master, thank you for today. When you took my side earlier, I was so happy. Truly.”
“Of course you should be grateful. Don’t forget what happened today for the rest of your life!”
She laughed. It wasn’t just a smile, but a beaming grin that buried both her eyes completely in her cheeks.
Yes, laugh like that. Since I have returned, live on laughing like that from now on.