When the Ilhwa Sword Venerable stepped out from her thatched hut, I was crouching and watching the flowers growing in a corner of the courtyard.
“Amazing, isn’t it?”
“They’ve grown so much already.”
“This is the joy of raising them.”
“I should try growing some myself next time.”
“You are busy, so it won’t be easy.”
“It would become a patch of weeds, wouldn’t it? I should stick to what I’m good at.”
I, who had been crouching, rose to my feet.
“Today, I have come as your sparring friend.”
“Welcome.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable’s expression brightened brilliantly. She truly looked as if she had been waiting for this day for a long time.
“Thank you so much for all your help as of late.”
“What help is there to speak of?”
Whether it was leaking information to Saujong, Cheongseon becoming a Demon Lord, or going to meet the Pungcheon Cult Leader. She claimed to be only half-convinced, but her actions had been those of someone fully committed—if not more.
“This is a gift from the heart, to express my gratitude.”
“What need is there for a gift?”
“It is a token of my sincerity, so please accept it.”
She opened the small box I handed her. Inside was a Nightshining Pearl. It was one of the Nightshining Pearls I had obtained from the Golden Palm Lord, Geum Asu.
“Something this precious?”
“It is different from what I gave Elder Doma.”
I had given Doma Blood Poison Wine. When I emphasized that, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable laughed, as though she found it amusing. This was how I tore down the dam of ill feelings I had built up with Blood Sky Doma. If I removed the stones one by one, someday the other side would come into view.
“Truly beautiful.”
“If I may boast a little, it is a top-grade Nightshining Pearl. It is not something easily obtained even with money.”
“It is more than enough to boast about.”
“Even so, it cannot compare to your beauty, Senior.”
“You lay the gold on this old woman too thick.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable waved her hands in refusal, but her face was beaming. Though she was changing in many ways from before, this weakness to compliments about her appearance was one thing that would never change.
“You have more than enough in you to become a rogue later on.”
“I intend to live that way. I’m going to travel around and meet all the great beauties of the Central Plains.”
“If you could live such a life, it would be good, but…”
The words “once you become the Heavenly Demon, that will be impossible” were left unsaid. Because wandering around now and wandering around as the Heavenly Demon were as different as heaven and earth.
Indeed, it wasn’t as if Father stayed at the main cult because he had no frustrations. With the fate of the martial world hanging upon his every step, it was only natural for him to be cautious.
“You had better enjoy yourself now. Later will be difficult.”
“I will.”
“Now then, shall we loosen up after so long?”
“It is a moment I have long awaited.”
The person I had originally wanted to tend to next after Father was Blood Sky Doma.
But after sparring with Father, my body itched for more. Wanting to continue with another round, I had sought her out first.
It was definitely different from our last spar.
Her minute movements were felt more clearly. Before I could sense them through intuition, my eyes simply saw them.
Just as Father had done to me, I pressed her more fiercely than before. It was possible because I had the confidence that I could control my sword. She fought desperately, and I too gave my all.
When the spar ended, the Ilhwa Sword Venerable breathed roughly, surprise plain upon her face. Save for her final hidden move, she had poured her entire strength into it, yet she had been unable to subdue me.
“You’ve grown stronger than before!”
“I learned something in the interim.”
“Truly amazing. Truly amazing.”
She was happy, yet at the same time regretful.
“If you grow this quickly, soon I won’t be a match for you.”
“I gave my all for the sake of our next spar, Senior.”
The Ilhwa Sword Venerable understood my meaning and nodded.
“It is the hope that this old senior will grow too, is it not?”
“Audacious as it is, yes. I wish to be sparring friends with you for a lifetime, Senior.”
At my honest words, an uncontainable surge of emotion flickered in her eyes.
It was also part of my effort to make her my right wing.
Before I left, we exchanged various stories about sparring.
Though my skills were clearly ahead, it was not as if there was nothing to learn from her. There was a learning of a different nature from what I gained from my father.
Starting with martial arts, we shared stories of life. It was such a pleasant time that when we bid farewell, she was left quite reluctant to part.
Next, I went to Blood Sky Doma’s abode. But he was not home.
After waiting for a long time and returning empty-handed, I found Blood Sky Doma waiting in front of my house.
“Where have you been wandering around in the dead of night? Hiding some woman somewhere?”
It seemed our paths had crossed.
“If you were here, why not wait inside? Advisor Go is in there.”
“Forget it.”
“We are family now. Why stand on ceremony?”
“What family? Family are the worst enemies.”
He still seemed awkward with Gowol. Well, he had only grown comfortable with me; this prickly old man had never liked interacting with people.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to deliver some news.”
“What news?”
Blood Sky Doma spoke with a serious face.
“Mabul has left to fetch the Eldest Young Master.”
I was not surprised. It was an expected move. The news that the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s advisor had come to me would have reached the Demon Lords supporting my brother. They must have decided they could no longer simply stand by.
Coincidentally, even in my previous life, my brother had returned to the main cult around this time. What is meant to happen happens all the same.
“Mabul is always busy. Fetching the Pungcheon Cult Leader, fetching my brother.”
“That little human is incredibly, enormously diligent. What on earth is your brother doing in the frontier?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
Of course, I knew. My brother was currently passing through the gateway that would change his life. That fact was only revealed after he arrived, and afterward, he completely consolidated his position as successor.
“Are you alright, Elder?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were supporting my brother before coming to me. He may resent you.”
“Let him if he wants.”
In such matters, Blood Sky Doma held clear values.
“If there is a better option, you choose it. Anyone who badmouths you over personal ties is someone utterly useless in life.”
“You speak rightly.”
“What’s right? The same applies to when I cast you aside.”
I truly liked this frankness of his.
“Are you alright?”
“What do you mean?”
After a brief pause, Blood Sky Doma spoke.
“What will you do if the time comes when you must kill your brother?”
“If he does something deserving death, I must kill him.”
“Putting on a brave face.”
I smirked. Yes, it was a brave face. Killing one’s own blood was never easy.
It was not a matter of whether my martial arts were stronger than my brother’s. A fight with my brother was one that demanded every ounce of mental strength. The words Blood Sky Doma had spoken jokingly earlier were correct. Family are the worst enemies.
“That’s right. Of course I’m not alright. I am not a cold-blooded man; how could killing my brother be alright? And he is not one to die easily.”
I turned and shouted into the house.
“Advisor Go, come out.”
Gowol came out of the house.
“Welcome back?”
After greeting me, Gowol politely greeted Blood Sky Doma as well.
“Mabul has gone to retrieve my brother. What do you think?”
Gowol could not answer easily. Perhaps for another enemy, but when the elder brother of the leader he served became the enemy, an advisor could not help but be cautious.
After pondering briefly, he spoke carefully.
“The Eldest Young Master’s life or death is not a matter for the young lord to decide. The Eldest Young Master will decide for himself.”
In the end, it meant my brother’s fate would be determined by what kind of person he turned out to be.
I nodded, but Blood Sky Doma still did not trust him.
“I helped because you wanted to recruit him, but…”
Blood Sky Doma slowly approached and stood before Gowol. Staring into his eyes, he said:
“Is there any guarantee that this one won’t betray us?”
The word *us* reached my ears. It was the first time Blood Sky Doma had used that expression with me. It was likely said without thought, but it meant a great deal to me. The man who had poked and threatened me until my sides bruised had now become *us*.
Even under Blood Sky Doma’s pressure, Gowol showed no fear.
“What about you, Demon Lord? Is there any guarantee that you will not betray the young lord?”
At the question of whether he too could betray, the corners of Blood Sky Doma’s lips curled up.
“There is no guarantee. I’ll betray whenever I feel like it.”
“That is why I am here—to prevent that.”
“Then who will stop you?”
“I will not betray.”
“How am I to believe that?”
“You need only trust the young lord.”
“Do not forget that I am watching you.”
I did not stop their war of nerves. Was that not my life philosophy? Not to let wounds and conflicts fester, but to bring them out, dig them up, and fight to resolve them.
Blood Sky Doma spoke to me with a hesitant expression, unsure whether he should say what was on his mind.
“The Cult Leader will not wish for you and the Eldest Young Master to fight. He does not wish for the death of the Eldest Young Master, nor yours.”
I could tell once again that Blood Sky Doma knew my father well. To be confident enough to draw a line on the ground and say that Father thought this much of me, he must have shared a special relationship with him.
“I had felt it too.”
After my regression, when I went hunting with Father, he had casually asked if I couldn’t embrace my brother and go with him. There had been true feeling contained in that question.
“The Cult Leader is a man who never looks back. The one thing such a man regrets is this.”
Even in a heart of eternal ice, wounds remain.
“You said you knew the Cult Leader’s heart?”
“Yes.”
“Then that is enough.”
*Then that is enough*—those were the words Father had spoken to me after sparring. Both Father’s words and Blood Sky Doma’s words now strangely gave me strength.
“Is there anything I should prepare?”
“My request to you is always the same.”
“What is it?”
“That you reconcile.”
“What reconciliation? Surely you don’t mean…?”
Blood Sky Doma realized I meant a reconciliation between him and the Ilhwa Sword Venerable.
“The Eldest Young Master is coming, and you speak of reconciliation. You are truly a madman, without a doubt.”
How exasperated must he have been to seek agreement from Gowol?
“Your master is this kind of madman.”
Then Gowol answered:
“I am not normal either.”
Blood Sky Doma shook his head, saying we were a pair of madmen.
I tried to persuade him again.
“When my brother returns, the other Demon Lords will move in earnest as well. You cannot fight with only one wing, can you?”
“I would like that too, but haven’t you seen enough? The Sword Venerable snaps at me viciously the moment she sees me.”
“Yes, I have seen enough. Her fierceness has been subsiding as time goes on. The gaze with which she glares at you has been gradually softening.”
Still, Blood Sky Doma shook his head.
“Our reconciliation is a more difficult task than unifying the martial world. I’m going.”
I shouted after him as he turned to leave.
“You need not unify the martial world, but you must reconcile.”
Without answering, Blood Sky Doma slowly walked and disappeared into the darkness.
I immediately looked after Gowol.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I am fine.”
“Don’t pay it too much mind. He is an old man with an innately foul temper.”
“I must pay mind. He is your left wing, young lord. Please do not worry about me. As you know, I have not lived an easy life.”
But I know. Even such a person is not immune to being hurt.
“I understand. Still, if you have something to say to me, please do. If I have something troubling me, I will speak to you as well.”
“Yes. I shall.”
“By the way, my candidate for the right wing is the Ilhwa Sword Venerable. Keep that in mind.”
“Understood. Then please rest well.”
That day, I could not fall asleep until late.
There was no need to think about how my brother had turned out in my previous life.
When my brother returned, I would see him. In my previous life, I had not seen anyone properly; now, I would see him clearly.
I would see with my own eyes what kind of person he was. I would clearly see what the substance of all those things in my memory had been.
As always, at times like these, the Hwamugi helped.
If I were a vessel unable to overcome my brother, I would die to the Hwamugi anyway.