Chapter 109

Only then did I slump down.
To say he would reconsider his relationship with Geuk Mu-hyeok meant returning it to square one.
I’d finally heard the answer I wanted.

‘Ugh.’

My entire body screamed.
It was the aftermath of Revolving Annihilation.

‘Still, it’s better than before.’

When I used Revolving Annihilation for the first time, I’d been unconscious for days on end.
But now I was still conscious, and that alone was tremendous progress.
It was proof I’d grown while traveling to the Central Plains with the Heavenly Demon.

“Seventh Young Lord!”

The moment I sat down, Ju Ok-hwa ran over. Up until now, she’d been quietly watching the fight from a corner of the office.
Without warning, she grabbed my wrist and pushed her True Qi in.
The qi and blood that had been in turmoil from Revolving Annihilation gradually settled.

“Are you in your right mind? I told you not to do weird shit.”
“I’m alive, so it’s fine.”
“You’re only half alive. If you keep ignoring me, you’ll really end up crossing the Sanzu River.”

I answered with a weak smile.

“I have to live a long time, for the Hall Master’s sake too.”
“Don’t laugh. And don’t take my words lightly.”
“I’m not taking them lightly. If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t have done this.”

This was exactly why I brought Ju Ok-hwa along.
Fast emergency treatment.
Revolving Annihilation really was weird shit, like she said.
It puts an enormous burden on my insides. And since I hadn’t fully mastered it, I didn’t know what could happen.
But if Ju Ok-hwa, the Demonic Path’s foremost physician, was at my side, it was reassuring.

“Stay still.”

Patpatpat—
Ink needles were driven into my body in an instant.
There was a stench like an animal carcass rotting for ten days.
True to her epithet, Ten-Thousand Poison Immortal, it seemed she was treating me with poison.

“Done. This is enough to stabilize you for now. You’ll need treatment every day for a while. Don’t overdo it.”
“Yes.”

I slowly got to my feet.
Had she really only stabilized me?
It was a trivial movement, yet cold sweat broke out.
Du Jung-baek, who had been watching the treatment closely, spoke.

“How did the Ink-Needle Hall Master come to take on the Seventh Young Lord’s escort?”
“Pardon? Ink-Needle Hall Master?”

Ju Ok-hwa froze and played dumb.

“Did you think I wouldn’t recognize the Hall Master’s voice? And besides, there is no one but you who has reached the realm of Medicine-and-Poison Unity.”
“You made it too obvious, Hall Master.”
“Look at what happened because of you, Seventh Young Lord. Haa.”

Ju Ok-hwa sighed, then asked Du Jung-baek.

“I have my circumstances, so could you keep it secret from others?”
“As much as you like. However, the fact that the Ink-Needle Hall Master is close to the Seventh Young Lord is very interesting.”
“You won’t need to find it interesting. I think you’ll become like me soon, Court Master.”
“Like the Hall Master……?”

Du Jung-baek looked back and forth between Ju Ok-hwa and me with questioning eyes.
He looked like he’d keep doing it for a while, so I broke the silence.

“I have something I want to ask too.”
“What is it?”
“Will you return my guards now?”
“Hah. I’d forgotten something important.”

Du Jung-baek nodded readily.

“Let’s go to the prison.”
“You’re coming in person?”
“It seems there is still more to discuss with the Seventh Young Lord. And I have business at the prison as well.”
“Then let’s go together.”

We went outside the Court Master Hall.
Maybe because of the booming crashes, many people had gathered.
At the very front were the Right Protector and Escort Hall Chief Jang Seong-chan.
The bandage wrapped around his left hand stood out. It was the spot I’d stepped on.

“Hey, Escort Hall Chief. Your hand doing okay?”
“Ahem.”

Jang Seong-chan pretended not to hear and turned away from me.
The Right Protector asked Du Jung-baek.

“Court Master, are you unharmed?”
“Of course I’m unharmed.”
“And what is the meaning of the Court Master Hall being wrecked?”
“…….”

Du Jung-baek fell silent for a moment.
He looked at me once, then swept his gaze over the Guardian Court warriors standing there.

“It was a process of reclaiming the Guardian Court’s essence.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It means we will no longer be swayed by outside forces.”
“Then…… don’t tell me you mean to break the alliance with the First Young Lord?”

There was an edge to Jang Seong-chan’s voice as he asked.
He treated Geuk Mu-hyeok like a faith, so he couldn’t help reacting sharply.
Du Jung-baek nodded heavily.

“That’s right.”
“No!”

Jang Seong-chan stepped forward.
The composure I’d seen last time had vanished without a trace.

“What can this Court do without the First Young Lord’s help? In this situation where everyone looks down on us!”
“That is exactly the problem. Because we did not solve our problems ourselves and leaned on outsiders, no one respects us even more. Respect is not something others gift you. It is something we must seize.”
“Court Master! Come to your senses! I don’t know what that, that Seventh Young Lord said to beguile you, but the First Young Lord is practically the next Cult Leader! Standing with him is the Guardian Court’s only way to live!”

The warriors around us began to stir.
Some shook their heads, and some nodded.
Encouraged by the latter reaction, Jang Seong-chan’s tone grew even harsher.

“You said you would revive the Guardian Court, Court Master. What you are trying to do now isn’t reviving it. It’s killing it!”

Du Jung-baek didn’t waver.
He stared straight at Jang Seong-chan and spoke.

“I must ask one thing. Do you belong to the Guardian Court, or to the Demon Bell Geuk Clan?”
“……!”
“Choose.”

Jang Seong-chan’s body trembled quietly.
It wasn’t long, but everyone held their breath and waited for his answer.
His answer was far closer to the latter.

“……You will regret this, Court Master.”

Jang Seong-chan turned away.
When he nodded, some dozen warriors stepped to his side.
The Right Protector roared.

“You lot, are you betraying this Court?”
“It isn’t betrayal.”

Jang Seong-chan looked back at Du Jung-baek and me one last time.
His gaze was packed with displeasure.

“The Court Master has merely lost his way. If we correct you and you still insist on the wrong path, there is no other method. We must resort to the rod.”
“Wh-what?”

The Vice Court Master bristled.
Jang Seong-chan curled a sneer at the corner of his mouth.

“I will return shortly. I’m quite looking forward to what expression you will be wearing then.”

Leaving those words behind, Jang Seong-chan’s group departed.

‘Return shortly.’

I had a rough idea.
He was going to fetch someone who could pressure Du Jung-baek.

“Haa.”

I spoke to Du Jung-baek as he let out a bitter sigh.

“People who want to leave should leave quickly.”
“I agree, but…… let’s talk while we walk.”

On the way to Repentance Prison.
Du Jung-baek muttered lowly.

“My heart is uneasy. I don’t know if I made the right decision.”
“You did well.”
“I can’t be certain. It is no other matter than cutting ties with the First Young Lord.”
“Instead, you’ll take the hand of a rising star, me.”

Du Jung-baek looked into my eyes.

“……What is it you truly want? The successor seat, as expected?”
“Not at all.”
“Can you tell me what it is?”
“Mm, protecting. My life, and my master’s.”
“You are the first Divine Cult member who dares say he will protect the Cult Leader’s life.”

That would be so.
The Heavenly Demon was, in name and reality, the strongest under heaven.
No one worried about his safety.
They believed he could overcome anything alone, without difficulty.
But they didn’t know.
The future where the strongest under heaven, the Heavenly Demon, became a demonic fiend.
That was why I said this.

“There should be at least one person. Someone who truly worries about Master.”
“……!”

Du Jung-baek stopped walking.

“You have a knack for moving people out of nowhere.”

He fell silent for a moment, then continued.

“The person you wish to protect is the supreme lord of the Demonic Path. Can someone with no attachment to succession bear that weight?”
“You’re saying I should aim for the successor seat?”
“To fulfill your wish, wouldn’t you have to? The Guardian Court, too, needs a Little Demon who seriously aims for the next Cult Leader.”

Du Jung-baek’s expression was extremely serious.
He said he would reconsider his relationship with Geuk Mu-hyeok. Judging by how he dealt with Jang Seong-chan, he meant it.
But he still hadn’t said even once that he would stand with me.
Because there was no benefit to the Guardian Court in joining a Little Demon with no prospects.
Depending on my answer, he might even take another Little Demon’s hand.
It wouldn’t be welcome to me, though.

I met his gaze straight on and said.

“I’ll think it over carefully.”

That was the best answer I could give right now.
The Cult Leader was a painfully troublesome position.
Gal So-ye handled most things, but I couldn’t guarantee she’d still be there even after I became the Heavenly Demon.
Because many things would happen to her in the future too.

But even that answer seemed to satisfy Du Jung-baek.
Because at least on the surface, I was acting like I cared about his opinion.

“I’ll be counting on you, Seventh Young Lord.”
“Me too.”

Du Jung-baek smiled.

As we walked like that, we were already at Repentance Prison.
When Du Jung-baek nodded to the jailers, the door opened.
Inside Repentance Prison was dark, just like when I’d visited before.
But there was one thing different from then.

“Three hundred twenty-two, three hundred twenty-three…….”

Im Yeon’s voice, shouting while repeating squats.
Following her, the other guards were doing the same.
For a moment, I was at a loss for words.
Were they actually training?
In this cramped, dark space?

-This will be the last time I show weakness. With new resolve, I will become a guard who stands proudly before you!

Im Yeon’s voice came back to me.
A satisfied smile formed naturally.

‘Yeah. This is how it should be.’

I stepped further in and clapped.

“Guard Go, your form is bad. Do that and you’ll wreck your knees.”
“Huk, Young Lord?”
“Y-Young Lord!”
“What is this? You’re stopping already? You have to go to four hundred. Now, three hundred twenty-four!”
“Th-three hundred twenty-four.”
“Three hundred twenty-five!”
“……Three hundred twenty-five!”

I didn’t stop calling it out until we hit four hundred.
The guards were exhausted, gripping the bars or leaning on the wall.
Still, as squad leader, Im Yeon alone stood straight.
Im Yeon was the type who did what she said she would.
Even her eyes were different from before.

“Shall we do one hundred more?”
“N-no way!”

Was it similar to before?
She asked.

“What brings you here?”
“I came to retrieve you.”
“I-is that really true?”
“Of course it’s true. I told you I would.”
“Young Lord…….”

Im Yeon’s eyes reddened.
I spoke quickly.

“If you cry, I’m not taking you.”
“I-I’m not crying. Dust just got in my eyes…….”
“Same for you too, Guard Gu?”
“Yeees…….”

Not only Im Yeon, but the others were wiping their eyes too.
After long confinement, their emotions seemed to have surged up.

“Jailer, open it.”

The jailer opened the barred iron door with a key.
Im Yeon came out first, walked closer, and asked carefully.

“Um, did you perhaps assassinate the Court Master?”
“Do I look that strong?”
“Ah, your complexion looks pale, Young Lord, so I wondered if you’d fought. And you are someone who makes the impossible possible…….”
“I appreciate you thinking highly of me, but he’s alive and well.”
“Ah, that’s a relief.”

Im Yeon let out a small sigh of relief.
Was she worried I’d killed the head of her organization?

“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”

The guards answered energetically.
A thought suddenly came to me.
It must have been miserable, but maybe it hadn’t only been a bad time for them.
It was like they’d been tempered.

Once outside, the guards all raised their hands to shade their eyes.
It had been a long time since sunlight, so it was dazzling.
Then they froze in that posture.
Because they’d spotted Du Jung-baek.

“You’ve all suffered.”

The guards looked dazed.
They didn’t know why Du Jung-baek had been here waiting for them.
Du Jung-baek raised a fist-clasp salute toward them.

“I apologize for the hardships you endured. I will not spare support, so devote yourselves to the Seventh Young Lord’s escort duty.”

The best apology he could give as Guardian Court Master.
Im Yeon and the guards answered with things like, ‘No, sir!’ and ‘We will do our best!’

“So you won’t have us monitor him anymore, right?”
“Of course. In the first place, it began because of the Elder Council Lord, but now I must also sort out my relationship with him.”

Why was it?
Du Jung-baek’s gaze lingered on Im Yeon for an unusually long time.
Im Yeon was almost avoiding it, biting her lip.
It felt like there was a story there. Was it connected to Jang Seong-chan calling her Lady Im?

‘Hm. I don’t know.’

Like I’d vowed before, I wouldn’t dig into questions about Im Yeon until she revealed them herself.

‘Should we head back to Hidden Cloud Pavilion now?’

It was when I thought that.
Du Jung-baek’s complexion suddenly darkened.
And a moment later.

“How lovely. The Guardian Court Master and the Seventh Young Lord.”

My expression soured without me realizing it.
Because a face I’d hated since my past life had appeared.
That bastard with hair slicked back with camellia oil was Yeom Sang, the Demon Bell Geuk Clan’s Fifth Chief Steward.
The bastard who’d stuck to Geuk Mu-hyeok’s side and made me uncomfortable countless times had come with Jang Seong-chan.
Along with dozens of warriors from the Demon Bell Geuk Clan.