Chapter 131

“Sajae.”

It was an afternoon when I was absorbed in training.
Yuk Ja-heung’s voice dug into my ears.
I clicked my tongue.

‘He’s here again?’

It’d been two days since I visited the Illusory Hwang Family.
Visiting the Hidden Cloud Pavilion several times a day had become part of Yuk Ja-heung’s routine.
It wasn’t as if he had anything important to say.
Had I found any solid information? Had I come up with a decent plan? I wasn’t really going to abandon him, was I?
He kept pestering me with useless crap like that.

‘This can’t go on.’

Putting the screws to Yuk Ja-heung was already a foregone conclusion.
But before that, I wanted to get my own training to a certain point.
I was right on the verge of grasping the next stage of Lightning Step.

“Why are you here again?”

I snapped at him lightly.
Yuk Ja-heung replied as if making an excuse.

“Because I’m anxious. You won’t tell me what you found, and all you do is train all day.”
“What’s the rush? I’ll tell you when the time comes.”
“Damn it, my life is on the line! How could I not be in a hurry?”
“Fine. I’ll tell you.”

I told him exactly what Hwang Si-mong and I had discussed.
There were three routes inside the No-Return Cave, and somewhere along them was a space created by a flaw in its construction. If he stayed there, he should remain safe until the mechanical formations stopped ten days later.
Yuk Ja-heung’s face brightened.

“Whoa, damn. So I really might not die?”
“Not exactly.”
“What do you mean?”
“We don’t know which route has the safe zone. There might be one on all three routes, or there might only be one on a single route.”
“……!”

Yuk Ja-heung’s face instantly went pale.

“Th-then that means I’m more likely to die!”
“Pretty much. And even if all three routes have one, it doesn’t change much.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“How are you going to reach the safe zone?”
“……Huh?”
“It’s not going to be sitting right there as soon as you enter. We don’t even know how many trials you’ll have to pass first. Reaching it is the real problem.”
“…….”

Yuk Ja-heung’s eyes widened.
Apparently, he had never thought about it from that angle.
Well, he had only just heard about it.

“Hey, what the hell! You made me agree to some condition like you had a foolproof method, and this is all you’ve got?”
“The details changed a little, but as long as I keep you from dying, that’s all that matters, right?”
“How?”

Instead of answering, I planted a hand on Yuk Ja-heung’s shoulder.

“You’re a lot more capable than you think.”
“W-what are you talking about?”
“You’re at the late-Peak Realm at seventeen. That’s an incredible achievement.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Of course, a lot of it is thanks to your family. You’ve had bone-marrow cleansing since birth and grew up stuffing yourself with every kind of elixir. If you hadn’t made it this far, could you even call yourself human? You’d be a beast.”
“…….”
“Still, it is impressive. Since you’re from the direct line, you’ve learned both the Violet Lightning Yuk Family’s inherited martial arts and Master’s martial arts.”
“Right, right.”
“Do you get it now?”
“Get what?”
“You already possess what you need to make it through the No-Return Cave.”
“……!”

Yuk Ja-heung opened and closed his mouth soundlessly.
Looks like he had an idea what I was about to say.

“Th-that’s not happening!”
“Why?”
“It makes things more dangerous!”
“Why are you such a coward?”
“I’m not a coward, I’m wise. Even the best geniuses of the last generation and the one before that went in and most of their bodies were never even found. What am I supposed to do?”
“You’re a Little Demon.”
“Does death avoid Little Demons or something? I’m going to live a long, uneventful life. Until my eyebrows go past white and turn transparent.”

It was a realistic way of thinking.
There was no shortage of Demon Cult members willing to stake their lives on empty pride or a desire for glory.

‘The problem is, this guy has none of that.’

A little wouldn’t hurt.
Well, that would change soon.
If only because he wanted to survive.

“What stage is your Violet Lightning Descent Step at?”
“Why do you ask?”

Violet Lightning Descent Step was an inherited footwork art of the Violet Lightning Yuk Family.
I had gained a certain insight recently.
Since it had been created to swiftly annihilate an enemy rather than evade them, it shared certain similarities with Death-Line Step.

“I’ve gained some major insights into footwork lately. I thought I’d graciously bestow some of that wisdom upon you.”

I couldn’t teach him Death-Line Step itself, but the insights I had gained from it were nothing to scoff at.
If I applied them to Violet Lightning Descent Step, I might be able to draw out a decent amount of progress from him.
If so, his chances of survival would rise considerably.

I spoke to Yuk Ja-heung, who was hesitating to answer.

“Trust me.”
“But…….”
“You don’t want to? Then die.”
“……I want that even less. Fourth stage.”

Right. I think he had been around the same level at this point before my regression.
It had taken him another five or six years just to reach the fifth stage.

“Good. Let’s register first, then we’ll start.”
“Register for what?”
“Registration to enter the No-Return Cave. I heard it starts today. Who knows? Maybe registering early will get us assigned to a better route.”
“……!”

I sauntered toward the main gate.
Rapid footsteps sounded behind me.

“Hey, wait for me!”

I smiled in satisfaction.

Registration to enter the No-Return Cave began roughly a month before its opening period.
Once opened, the No-Return Cave remained open for ten days.
That was because the list of entrants and their schedules had to be strictly managed in order to control what happened inside.

There was only one eligibility requirement: age.
The No-Return Cave had been built to cultivate talented members of the next generation.
In keeping with that purpose, only Demon Cult members twenty-five or younger were allowed to enter it.

Black Shadow Pavilion, that afternoon.
A large crowd had gathered at this place, which handled all manner of administrative affairs for the cult.
That was because the registration desk had been set up on the first floor of Black Shadow Pavilion.
On the approach where the desk was clearly visible, Yuk Ja-heung frowned.

“Damn, why are there so many people?”
“They probably came to see which idiots are volunteering to walk to their deaths this year.”

The people who spotted us began murmuring.

“It’s the Seventh Young Lord!”
“It really is the Seventh Young Lord!”

A stampede of people rushed toward me.

“Please do not crowd him!”
“Do not come any closer!”

Im Yeon and the guards suddenly found themselves busy.
They desperately formed a barrier between me and the crowd.
Meanwhile, Yuk Ja-heung was suffering, squeezed between the guards and the crowd.

“D-don’t push! I’m a Little Demon too!”

As always, this guy was being treated like an afterthought.

“Are you really entering the No-Return Cave, just like the rumors say?”
“You can’t go into the No-Return Cave! It’s too dangerous!”
“We admire your courage, Seventh Young Lord, but please reconsider!”

Listening to their cries made me feel immensely pleased.
Since when had I become someone so many people worried about?
I made my way toward Black Shadow Pavilion, gently expressing my gratitude with gestures and appreciative looks.

Once inside.
The first thing that caught my eye was a large notice posted on the wall.
It was packed with precautions for entrants, but one line immediately stood out.

[The cult assumes no responsibility for any accidents that occur after entry.]

A warning meant to make people think carefully before entering.
I chuckled.
Would anyone who had already come all the way to the registration desk change their mind after seeing that?
I doubted it.

“Hey.”
“What?”
“Should I just go back and think about it for a few more days?”

Of course, there were some people who would change their minds.
I frowned and asked.

“Will thinking for a few more days give you a way to avoid going in?”
“……No. Father would skin me alive.”
“Then stop talking nonsense and register.”

I pushed Yuk Ja-heung in the back and strode toward the room with the registration desk.
Unexpectedly, someone was already there.

“Well, look at that.”

It was someone I recognized, though I hadn’t seen him in quite a while.
Jin Si-myeong of the Radiant Moon Jin Family.
When I returned to the Demon Cult after my regression, the Elder Council Lord had held a banquet for me.
It was called a banquet, but in truth, the gathering had been arranged to humiliate me.
Jin Si-myeong had picked a fight with me there and ended up getting thoroughly put in his place instead.
I remembered he was a drug addict, so I lied that there was powder on his sleeve when there wasn’t any. Watching him turn deathly pale and suddenly obedient had been pretty funny.
What was he doing at the No-Return Cave registration desk?

“Well, look who it is. Isn’t that Martial Artist Jin of the Radiant Moon Jin Family?”
“Well now. To think I would meet Seventh Young Lord here.”
“What are you doing here? Registering to enter?”
“That is correct. I have a fondness for challenges.”
“These people too?”

Jin Si-myeong had several members of the Radiant Moon Jin Family with him.

“These friends also enjoy a challenge.”

He looked strangely full of confidence.
He couldn’t have forgotten what happened before. So what was this?
Jin Si-myeong grinned.

“Thank you, Seventh Young Lord. My life has changed greatly because of you.”
“How?”
“The elders of my family began treating me like trash. After all, I suddenly started groveling before Seventh Young Lord. Thanks to that, I found a reason to open my eyes every morning. Every day has become fulfilling.”

So he was saying he’d been training hard every day to get revenge on me?

‘Looks like it.’

The faint killing intent rising from him made it obvious.
Killing intent directed at a Little Demon, huh.
That was awfully insolent.
I ostentatiously looked over his sleeves.

“Your sleeves are clean. I guess you’ve been taking better care of yourself lately?”
“…….”

Jin Si-myeong’s face stiffened.
Why act up when one mention of ‘sleeves’ was enough to make him behave?

Surprisingly, however, he quickly recovered his smile.
Then he stepped closer and whispered into my ear.

“I shall eagerly await the day we enter. If we meet inside, I will be sure to greet you warmly.”
“Warmly? No, before that, there shouldn’t be any reason for us to meet inside.”
“One never knows how things will turn out. Hehehehe.”

Jin Si-myeong let out an unpleasant laugh.
I found myself puzzled.
What the hell was this guy talking about?
Did he know something I didn’t?

“Oh, right. Ja-heung.”

Jin Si-myeong turned his gaze toward Yuk Ja-heung.
Unlike with me, he spoke down to him.
Since their families were both part of the Seven Demonic Houses, they seemed to know each other already.
Judging by the look on Yuk Ja-heung’s face, as though he had bitten into dirt, it didn’t seem to be a friendly acquaintance.

Jin Si-myeong moved his lips soundlessly.
He was sending a voice transmission.
But Yuk Ja-heung’s face visibly brightened.
His gaze flicked toward me for a moment, then quickly turned away.
As if he were checking something.

Wearing a broad smirk, Jin Si-myeong leisurely strolled out of Black Shadow Pavilion.
I asked Yuk Ja-heung.

“What did he say?”
“Huh? N-nothing important.”

Yuk Ja-heung avoided my gaze.
Normally, he would have complained about every little detail, but now he clamped his mouth shut.

‘Something’s going on.’

Jin Si-myeong’s composure and Yuk Ja-heung’s brightened face.
There was clearly a reason behind both.
It might even be the same reason.
I would have to find out what it was from here.

‘First, let’s register.’

I headed toward the registration desk.
After confirming our identities, the registration clerk explained the entry procedure in detail.

“After hearing all of that, do you still intend to enter?”
“Yes.”
“Me too.”

Yuk Ja-heung answered without hesitation.
Until a moment ago, he had wanted to avoid entering by any means possible, yet his attitude had suddenly changed.

“Please sign here.”

I scribbled my signature on the document the clerk handed me.
He asked.

“Is there anything in particular you would like to ask?”
“Yes. Have any regulations or facilities changed starting this year?”
“……Regulations or facilities?”

His reaction was subtly awkward.
I asked more specifically.

“I feel like there might be something I should know in advance. Something about the routes inside, for example.”

Earlier, Jin Si-myeong had spoken as though we were certain to meet inside.
In that case, there had to be something involving the routes.

“That is, well…….”
“Did someone higher up order you to keep quiet? Tell you not to reveal anything to the Seventh Young Lord?”

The clerk’s shoulders flinched.

“I won’t ask who’s behind this. Just answer what I asked.”
“…….”
“Well, if you don’t want to answer me, you can answer at the Disciplinary Court instead. No, wait. In this case, you tried to deceive a Little Demon who is still in the running to become the next Cult Leader. Maybe I should send you to the Demon Inquisition Court?”
“Huk!”

The clerk gasped.
The Demon Inquisition Court was a symbol of terror to every member of the cult.
He certainly wouldn’t want to end up there.
As though he had no choice, he spoke quietly.

“A-actually, until last year, we operated three routes for various reasons. Starting this year, however, they have been consolidated into one for efficiency.”

‘Consolidated into one?’

Ah, so that was it.
At last, I understood what was going on.
First, the Heavenly Demon and Hwang Si-mong.
The Heavenly Demon had said there were three zones, while Hwang Si-mong had said there were three routes.
Now I saw that neither of them had been wrong.
Originally, everyone entered through the same entrance before the path split into three routes.
But now those routes had been combined into one, turning the three routes into three zones.

What would happen as a result?
The number of trials one had to pass would triple, and every entrant would share the same passage.
That meant there was a chance they would encounter one another.

‘And then there’s Jin Si-myeong.’

He had moved quickly and registered on the very first day.
And he hadn’t come alone. He had brought several people with him.
Obviously, he hadn’t just happened to stop by and suddenly decided to enter. He had come here intending to register from the start.
That meant he had known in advance that the routes would be consolidated.

‘Someone’s been scheming behind the scenes.’

They were almost certainly targeting me.
Jin Si-myeong was small fry. There had to be someone with real power above him. The consolidation of the routes itself might even have been that person’s doing.
Nine times out of ten, it was someone I knew.

‘So that means the Heavenly Demon knew all of this, didn’t he?’

Of course he did.
He believed that one had to undergo trials in order to grow, so perhaps he considered this part of my training as well.
Still, that was too much.
What if I went in without knowing and something happened?

‘So, you’re determined to kill me this time, are you?’

Those who saw me as a thorn in their side were probably thrilled.
They must believe this was their chance to dispose of me without anyone knowing.
A foolish thought.
Inside a cave filled with murderous traps, we still didn’t know who would be the one to die.

“Hey, let’s go. We need to train.”

I said it while looking at Yuk Ja-heung.
The guy, who had been lost in deep thought until now, hurriedly shook his head.

“Ah, I-I’m feeling a little chilly.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Y-yeah. S-see you later.”

Yuk Ja-heung disappeared before I could even respond.
It wasn’t hard to guess why.
Jin Si-myeong must have told him something tempting through voice transmission.

“Tsk, tsk.”

Senior Brother or not, he was completely useless.
He had clung to me for days, only to abandon me the moment he saw a way to survive.
I knew better than to expect anything from him, but I couldn’t help feeling bitter.

‘Right. Why am I sticking my nose into his business anyway? I should worry about keeping myself alive.’

Suppressing the bitterness, I headed toward the Ten Thousand Demons Hall.
For once, the training-obsessed Heavenly Demon stopped his training and turned his head toward me.

“What is it?”
“I have something to ask.”

Looking into his indifferent eyes, I continued.

“To ask directly, if I were attacked by a group inside the No-Return Cave, could I handle it with Death-Line Step and Lightning Step at the third stage?”

A trace of interest appeared in his indifferent eyes.

“You could. If you gave up an arm or a leg.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“One more stage in each should be enough.”

In other words, I had to reach the fourth stage.
A small sigh escaped me.
It was only one stage above my original goal of the third stage, but it was an incredibly daunting target.
Even setting aside how difficult the two footwork arts were to train, I simply didn’t have enough time.
Still, I had something I could rely on.

I looked at the Heavenly Demon and spoke.

“Master, I have a favor.”
“What is it?”
“Work me twice as hard as you do now.”

A strange gleam appeared in the Heavenly Demon’s eyes.

“I will work you ten times harder.”

……Ten times is a bit…