Chapter 104

Watching the saber edge rushing at me, I had a leisurely thought.
That a lot of people must have lost their heads to this one move.
But ironically for Jang Seong-chan, our matchup is bad for him.
The Sword Eye I opened on the way back from the Central Plains to the Demon Cult.
Thanks to that, I could clearly see where his saber was headed.

Shupat!
I flicked my head to the right.
His saber split the air by a hair’s breadth.
A question flashed through Jang Seong-chan’s eyes.
He wouldn’t be able to believe I’d avoided his attack with such a simple motion.

He swiftly pulled back the missed saber and struck again.
Another attack aiming for my neck.
Just like before, I avoided it with a slight tilt of my head.
With a sneer, I said.

“Can’t you go any faster?”
“Haaap!”

A vein bulged on Jang Seong-chan’s forehead.
Saber Qi gathered along the blade, lengthening it by about an inch.
This time, it looked like he meant to chop my neck clean off for sure.
But like hell I’d let him.

Tat!
I pushed off the floor with my toes. The chair slid back with me still in it.
The saber split the spot where I’d been a moment ago.
If that so much as grazed me, my skin would tear like tofu.

“Chaat!”

Jang Seong-chan stepped on the table between us and sprang up.
Adding that momentum, he brought the saber down vertically, but I pushed off the floor and shifted left and right.
Jang Seong-chan’s face twisted like a demon.
After swinging at empty air again and again, he must’ve been furious.

‘Let’s end this.’

Through my senses, I felt the guards surrounding the reception room begin to stir.
They looked ready to rush in at any moment.
I only spun my body around.
After stepping behind the chair, I kicked it away.
The chair flew at Jang Seong-chan.

Jang Seong-chan swung his saber without hesitation.
The essence of fast saber arts lies in the first strike. That’s because you load everything into that one move.
But if you try to keep up that level of speed and power repeatedly, you’ll inevitably tire quickly. And that leads to openings.
That was exactly what Jang Seong-chan was like right now.

Seugeok.
As Jang Seong-chan split the chair in two, I closed in on him with Whirling Wind Fluttering Leaf Steps.
Maybe he was flustered by the sudden approach, because the saber he swung right away didn’t have the same force as before.
I lowered my upper body to avoid it, then burrowed into his range.
As his eyes widened, I poured out the full set of the Eight Wastes Shattering Mountain Fist.

“Keuk.”

The first strike hit the solar plexus.
His upper body reflexively bent.

“Keok.”

The second strike hit the face.
When my fist shot out, Jang Seong-chan’s head snapped back.
Third, fourth, fifth strike.
With momentum like I could break a mountain, I chained fist forms without pause.
Jang Seong-chan staggered backward like a drunk.
When I drove in the final eighth strike, he sprayed blood and dropped to his knees.

“Keoheok!”

The saber of the Silent-Killing Ghost Blade that had cut down countless martial artists never touched me even once.
Jang Seong-chan looked up at me with blank, stunned eyes.
I stepped on his left hand.
His face twisted, probably from the pain.

“Where are my guards?”
“……I can’t tell you.”
“I knew you’d answer like that.”

I put strength into my foot.
I felt the bones on the back of his hand crack, and Jang Seong-chan’s scream filled the reception room.

“Hall Chief!”
“Are you alright?!”

The martial artists gathered outside came rushing in.
When they saw the scene inside, they all drew their weapons at once.

“Stop, Seventh Young Lord!”
“You stop.”

I moved my foot to Jang Seong-chan’s right hand.
The guards who had been about to approach froze on the spot.

If I just applied force, he’d never be able to use fast saber arts for the rest of his life.
Bones shattered into dozens of pieces don’t mend well.
The guards knew that too, which was why they didn’t come any closer.

“Do I look like I’m joking right now?”

I pressed down firmly on Jang Seong-chan’s right hand.
Fear welled up in his expression.
Instinctively, he was weighing the value of giving up Im Yeon’s whereabouts against the value of his main hand.
Which choice would he make?

“T-the Seventh Young Lord’s guards are imprisoned in Repentance Prison.”

His choice was preserving his right hand.
If he lost that, he’d lose everything, so it was the correct choice.

‘If it’s the Repentance Prison, that’s the aboveground prison.’

The Guardian Court had two prisons.
One was the underground prison that once held notorious criminals, and the other was the aboveground prison that held those with comparatively lighter offenses.
After their decline, they said they only operated the aboveground prison.

“What about Ak Mu-jin and Hwang Seung-jong?”
“Why are you asking that here?”

He looked like he truly had no idea.

“Wasn’t it the Guardian Court’s doing?”
“We can lure the Seventh Young Lord easily with Lady Im alone. Why would we entangle them as well and complicate things?”

True, like he said, there was no need to touch multiple people.
Then where on earth did they go?

‘Wait.’

A question suddenly occurred to me.
Without lifting my foot from the back of his hand, I asked another question.

“Why did you call her ‘Lady Im’ just now? Earlier you just said her name.”
“Because there are more eyes now—don’t tell me you don’t know Lady Im’s identity?”
“What status are you talking about?”
“It seems the Seventh Young Lord knew nothing. Then ask her yourself. Heh heh—kough!”

Jang Seong-chan let out a nasty laugh.

“I will.”

Ppak!
I smashed his temple with my fist.
He collapsed to the floor.
I controlled my strength, so he wouldn’t die.

‘Her identity.’

I didn’t know what it was, but it seemed Im Yeon had been hiding something.
No, rather, she simply hadn’t bothered to reveal it.
There was no need to dig it out.
If it was necessary, she would do it herself.

“Seventh Young Lord, we cannot tolerate this any further!”
“Even if you are a little demon, we cannot allow rampaging within the Guardian Court!”
“If you do not stop right now, we will subdue the Seventh Young Lord!”

I snorted.

“Do you have that ability?”

I strode toward the doorway.

“S-stop the Seventh Young Lord!”

At someone’s order, the martial artists charged.
Sseuk—I leaned my upper body back, grabbed the first man by the collar, and slammed him into the floor.
Sabers flew in from both sides.
On the left, they tried to cut my neck. On the right, they cut toward my waist.
As if it was nothing, I advanced forward, struck a throat, and punched a solar plexus.
Two collapsed, and other guards filled their spots again.
I jumped straight into the middle of them.

“C-careful!”
“Don’t swing carelessly!”

The space wasn’t wide to begin with.
They weren’t even able to swing their weapons freely.
Guards who filled the reception room without thinking about what came after. This was the Guardian Court’s reality.

“Keok!”
“Keuheuk!”
“Eoheok!”

Because I had opened Sword Eye, I didn’t feel even the slightest threat from them.
The efficiency the Heavenly Demon emphasized.
That, creating maximum effect with minimal internal energy and movement, was realized to near perfection.
As a result, before I knew it, the reception room floor was filled with guards groaning and sprawled about.
I calmly walked out of the reception room.
In the corridor, men who looked like higher-ups stood awkwardly.
I dropped them easily and went out into the courtyard.

“The Seventh Young Lord is out!”

Guardian Court guards had formed several layers near the entrance.
It looked like roughly fifty.
A middle-aged man at the front raised his eyes sharply.

“Cease all actions at once, Seventh Young Lord!”
“Who are you?”
“I am this Court’s Right Protector!”

I nodded slightly.
Roughly, early stage of the Transcendent Realm.
It was lacking to be called the Guardian Court’s backbone.
Well, he was stronger than me.

‘Shall I fire it now.’

I pulled a long item from inside my robe.
It was the signal flare that would guarantee my safety today.
Recognizing it, the Right Protector shouted loudly.

“Stop him!”

Too late.
I grabbed the string hanging down and gave it a light pull.
Ppeo-eong!
A red flare shot high into the sky.
This flare meant one thing.
Summon reinforcements.

“Did you think I came into the Guardian Court without any preparation? Soon, several hundred of the top elites of the Demonic Path’s Seven Houses and armed organizations will come rushing here.”
“H-hah, a bluff! Do you take this Court for a joke?”
“Whether it’s a bluff or not, we’ll see.”

There were three places I visited yesterday.
Ink-Needle Hall, the Illusory Hwang Clan, and the Ghost-Face Unit.
Fortunately, I succeeded in securing cooperation from all of them.
They would wait near the Guardian Court, and surge in when the flare went up.
A force more than enough to contest the weakened Guardian Court.
But I still had no intention of starting a full-scale battle. This was only a measure to leave this place safely.

“T-this……!”

The Right Protector looked at a loss.
He didn’t know what decision to make.
The situation had changed from a moment ago.
Whether I saved Im Yeon or not, I would end up facing an uncomfortable situation.
On the other hand, if the Guardian Court tried to catch me, they’d have to fight the reinforcements. But if they let me go, after even the Escort Hall Chief had been beaten, the Guardian Court’s prestige would fall to the ground.
Whichever they chose, it would be humiliation for the Guardian Court.

I decided to use this situation to pressure the Right Protector.
To make them hand over Im Yeon and the others.
But it was the moment I was about to open my mouth.

“All of you, step back.”

A voice rang out, cracked but powerful.
The guards parted at once.
Between them, the Guardian Court Master appeared.

He looked to be in his mid-sixties.
An elderly man with a deeply furrowed expression and a gaunt frame.
Unlike how weak he looked, the aura pouring from his whole body was tremendous.
Just by appearing, he froze the entire area, and even made my breathing catch.
A supreme master at the Extreme Demon Realm who alone supported the crumbling Guardian Court.
A ruthless man who would do anything to revive the Guardian Court.
It was the Guardian Court Master, Du Jung-baek.
After regression, I’d seen him a few times at various events. He glared at me and said.

“Seventh Young Lord. What is this commotion?”
“You should ask your subordinates, not me.”
“Explain.”

The Vice Court Master bowed his head and briefly explained the situation.
A ridiculous account that I had shown up out of nowhere and caused trouble.

“So they say.”

Du Jung-baek was calm, as if he knew nothing.
It was funny inside to see him play dumb when he’d tried to offer me up whole to Geuk Mu-hyeok.

“That’s a bit different from what I experienced.”
“Regardless of what you experienced, the important fact is that this place is the Guardian Court. And that you caused a disturbance.”

The Guardian Court Lord’s gaze sank coldly.

“What’s important to me is that the Guardian Court committed a grave discourtesy against me. Hand over the guards you took without even following proper procedure.”
“Even if you are a Little Demon, you have no right to interfere with this Court’s affairs.”
“That’s your personal opinion, Court Master. Mine is different.”
“You’re as bold as I’d heard. Are you trying to oppose this Court’s will? That is why you fired the signal flare?”
“Yes. Because I want to live a long life.”
“The flare has nothing to do with your lifespan. I can cut your lifeline before those nuisances arrive. It is not difficult for me at all.”

That was true.
No matter what I did, I couldn’t stop an Extreme Demon master who was determined to kill me.

“I’ll make you bow that stiff head first.”

In that moment, an enormous killing intent washed over me.
It was hard for me to withstand, but I didn’t show it.
The Guardian Court was the Guardian Court Master.
If I shook him, the Guardian Court would shake.

“You will regret walking in here on your own feet.”

He raised his hand. Silver Aura Qi gathered.
I gave a meaningful smile and opened my mouth.

“I hear the Guardian Court is in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if it vanished at any time.”
“You heard nonsense somewhere.”
“Internal inspection authority was taken by the Disciplinary Court, and the authority to judge doctrinal violations was taken by the Demon Inquisition Court. Even the Little Demon’s guard detail has become meaningless. Everyone but me refuses the Guardian Court’s escort and takes their clan’s escort instead. Is that still nonsense?”
“…….”
“I know why you joined hands with Geuk Mu-hyeok. Because of the promise to revive the Guardian Court. But does Geuk Mu-hyeok really want that? Isn’t he just using you?”
“The Seventh Young Lord knows many things.”
“I do.”
“But that is a great leap. What you pick up in stories and reality are clearly different.”

Du Jung-baek’s voice was cold and firm.
But the fact he kept answering at all was proof he was shaken.

“Did you endure in the Guardian Court for all these years just to become Geuk Mu-hyeok’s limbs?”

Du Jung-baek’s hand, with Aura Qi gathered, trembled faintly.
Because I’d hit the nerve.

“…….”
“What are you trying to protect? The Guardian Court, or Geuk Mu-hyeok?”
“……You ask what I am trying to protect?”

Du Jung-baek’s gaze went distant.
That gaze groped for somewhere other than here.
For example, something like memories of the past.

That day, more than forty years ago, cherry blossoms fell like spring rain.
A mission to escort the Guardian Court Master was assigned to Du Jung-baek, who had only just shed his fledgling air.
At the time, two of the Demonic Path’s Seven Houses were in conflict.
Eventually it escalated to the point the patriarchs were about to fight a life-and-death duel, and the Guardian Court Master jumped between the two as killing moves flew.
With his right hand he seized a saber blade, and with his left he seized a sword blade, ending the conflict by sheer force.
On the way back to the Guardian Court, the Guardian Court Master asked.

“Jung-baek, what did you see today?”
“I saw you force two powerful men into submission, Court Master.”
“Wrong. What you saw was the Guardian Court itself. The cult’s security, balance, rules, people…… we are the ones who protect all of it.”
“……!”
“To do that, strength is required. Do not forget my words, and always devote yourself to training.”

Du Jung-baek vowed that he would.
From that day on, he saved even his sleep and devoted himself to training.
On hot summer nights, he drenched his entire body in sweat, yet didn’t rest a single day.
He wanted to become like the Court Master who had stood proudly even before two patriarchs of the Demonic Path’s Seven Houses.

Time passed.
Like falling leaves, the Guardian Court gradually began to decline.
Its authorities were taken one by one as if its limbs were being torn off, and the truly necessary talents left this place.
Du Jung-baek struggled alone.
To make the Guardian Court great again, and to grow the power that could protect everything, he fought desperately.
But just as you can’t stop leaves from coloring, falling, and branches from becoming bare, the Guardian Court’s decline could not be stopped either.

It was winter.
In the end, Du Jung-baek bowed his head to Geuk Mu-hyeok.
Before the sweet promise, “I will revive the Guardian Court,” he knelt.
Du Jung-baek knew.
That after winter, spring comes.
But he feared it might not be spring, and that he might be trapped in winter forever.
The former Guardian Court Master who appeared in his dreams every night lately. The reason he asked him again and again must be because of that fear.
What should I do? How can I save the Guardian Court?
He gave no answer.
He only stared at him with the same dignified look he’d always shown.
And yet.

‘The Seventh Young Lord…….’

He saw the same light in Baek Su-gyeong’s eyes.
Eyes with not a shred of fear, thinking only of what he had to protect.
Perhaps his own eyes had been like this too.
In the distant past, when he was still pure.

‘So it wasn’t for nothing that the Lord took him as a disciple.’

Each Little Demon had something exceptional about them, but he still believed there was no little demon who could follow after Geuk Mu-hyeok.
But for the first time, a crack began to form in that belief.

“…….”

Du Jung-baek slowly lowered his hand.
The silver Aura Qi scattered softly like spring snow.
The guards around them murmured, and the Vice Court Master looked at him with a bewildered expression.

‘What am I trying to protect?’

Du Jung-baek closed his eyes.
In the darkness, the cherry blossoms from that day forty years ago fell like spring rain.