Chapter 55

“So what the Seventh Young Lord is saying is that diminishing the authority of the Cult was actually an act for the Cult’s sake?”

At Jo Yi-gyeong’s question, I frowned.

The nuance felt strangely off.

“There is room for misunderstanding there, so let me be clearer. I have never diminished the Cult’s authority.”

“Just now you said the Cult’s authority was not important.”

“That was a pure question. I was not denying it. Now, listen for a moment.”

I calmly began explaining to Jo Yi-gyeong.

Until now, the Heavenly Demon Cult had done nothing but destroy. How many people had died by our hands, and how many more now hated us for it.

“But still, what is every Heavenly Demon Cult member’s long-cherished wish? Conquering the Central Plains, right? Then we should be making even one more person stand on our side. Of course, I am not saying we ought to grovel. I am saying there are many ways to expand the Cult’s power without always spilling blood.”

I cut off even the rebuttals that might come from Jo Yi-gyeong in advance.

He asked.

“How long has it been since the Seventh Young Lord joined the Cult?”

“About two or three months.”

“For that, you know the circumstances of the Cult far too well.”

“Ah, because I studied.”

That was true.

It had been in my previous life though.

Jo Yi-gyeong did not reply, and silence once again filled the room.

What was he thinking?

My eyes had grown used to the dark, so I could see his outline clearly, but not his expression.

‘If I have judged Jo Yi-gyeong correctly, there will be no problem.’

To make me abandon the thought of escape, he had visited me and talked quite a lot.

From the ‘positive’ things, praising the Heavenly Demon Cult’s majesty and power, and the greatness of the Heavenly Demon.

To the negative things that poked at my inner anxiety and tried to fill me with guilt for supposedly betraying the grace I had received from the Heavenly Demon.

One day he even cast some complicated great spell whose name I could not remember and threatened to turn me into a puppet who would obey orders without any will of my own.

When none of it worked, Jo Yi-gyeong had let out a deep sigh.

– There is no way to hold on to someone whose heart has already left.

Then he told me something that had been rather shocking.

– In truth, there was a time when I too wanted to leave the Cult.

In the Demon Cult, the Heavenly Demon’s authority was absolute.

Now it was taken for granted, but it seemed there had been a time in the past when that was not so.

He said that when he was young, the tyranny of the Seven Demonic Houses and the high officials had reached its peak.

So he had wanted to leave, yet he could not bring himself to abandon the Demon Cult, and had instead decided to change it.

Since then he had fought many people and made many enemies.

– But my efforts are nothing. The Cult changed greatly after my Lord became Cult Leader. Have you looked around the streets? Most people have smiles on their faces.

That had certainly been true.

The Heavenly Demon had pushed most of the work onto the Grand Strategist, and perhaps that was why the Demon Cult ran more smoothly.

The Heavenly Demon seemed to have no talent for such things at all.

– This is also a place where people live.

But you cannot force affection onto others either. Escape or stay, do as you please. Only, keep it a secret from my Lord that I said these things.

Those had been the last honest words Jo Yi-gyeong had said.

Thanks to that, I could guess why he clung to doctrine.

It was because he cherished the Demon Cult so much, and because he had a desire to turn it into a better place.

Because of that, I was certain.

If I could convince him that what I did in Shufu had ultimately been for the Demon Cult, Jo Yi-gyeong would surely acknowledge me.

And in the many incidents to come, he would not misunderstand my intentions.

That alone would widen the scope of what I could do.

If I added just one more thing, that path would open even more easily.

“The Demonic Path branches in many directions. It is the same even at its highest level.”

In the darkness, Jo Yi-gyeong’s aura wavered.

“They say that was something the previous Cult Leader said. What do you think it means?”

“…On the demonic path there are many branches, and so its end is the same.”

I nodded broadly.

“Your demonic path and my demonic path are different. So do not judge mine rashly.”

“Ho.”

Jo Yi-gyeong let out a short exclamation.

Seeing that reaction, I finally relaxed.

Because that short sound carried both admiration and acceptance of my stance.

“There are few demonic practitioners who share the Seventh Young Lord’s view. Truly few.”

“So you recognize my sincerity?”

“To a degree. No matter how vast a great sea may be, if no new waves come it will eventually rot. The Seventh Young Lord may become such a new wave.”

Inwardly, I was pleased.

I had judged the man correctly.

“Then am I being released now?”

“You are. However.”

“However?”

“It does not change the fact that the Seventh Young Lord violated doctrine, so from now on you must pay attention to learning the doctrine.”

“Of course.”

I answered cheerfully.

Naturally, I had no intention of studying doctrine.

“The Seventh Young Lord will get on well with the Grand Strategist.”

I narrowed my brows at the sudden comment.

The Grand Strategist meant Gal So-ye, right?

“Come on, anyone can see we would not get along.”

Gal So-ye was a person in whom you could not find a speck of human warmth.

She was thorough and cold, and made decisions that killed countless people without blinking.

“The Grand Strategist also has a deep heart for the Cult. In a direction different from ours. If an opportunity arises, you should speak with her.”

“Sounds like you are close with the Grand Strategist.”

“We share the same sense of crisis. If our Lord collapses, the Cult collapses. So we must dare to bear our Lord’s burdens together.”

I almost let out a hollow laugh without meaning to.

They were sharing the Lord’s burdens.

The Heavenly Demon only knew three things, training, tormenting his disciples, and drinking, so what burdens was he supposed to be carrying.

He had handed all the work over to the Grand Strategist as well.

And the Heavenly Demon would collapse.

That was impossible.

He did become a demonic being, but that was an incident ten years from now.

Right now there should not have been any sign of it.

‘Or is there something I do not know?’

Just in case, I asked.

“Nothing has happened to my master, has it?”

“That is something… we cannot know yet.”

“Yet? So does that mean we will know later?”

“That as well, I do not know.”

What was that even supposed to mean?

It felt pointlessly uneasy, since I did not think I would get an answer no matter how much I pressed.

‘I should pay closer attention to the Heavenly Demon.’

The unknown something Jo Yi-gyeong spoke of might affect the Heavenly Demon’s descent into madness.

I did not think it would, but still.

“Leave now.”

“I was waiting for those words.”

I jumped to my feet at once, then sat back down.

“What about Unit Leader Ak?”

“He is the head of a heretical cult that opposed the Cult. He cannot be released.”

“There is a deep story behind that. If you hear it, you might think differently.”

“Whatever the story, it is impossible.”

“Come on, there has to be some way. For example, if a special order from ‘our Lord’ were issued.”

Jo Yi-gyeong paused for a moment before answering.

“The Demon Inquisition Corps has its own authority, yet if our Lord commands it, we have no choice but to obey.”

As expected.

From the beginning, I had naturally been thinking of the Heavenly Demon. If not him, there was no one who could save him.

It was just that I had not had any excuse to bring it up to the Heavenly Demon yet.

This answer was perfect seasoning to sprinkle in the middle.

“I get the feeling I will see the Seventh Young Lord often.”

“I would rather that not be the case.”

I wondered why.

I had the feeling Jo Yi-gyeong, whose outline alone was visible, was faintly smiling.

“Take him away.”

Jo Yi-gyeong’s voice rang out loudly.

A few Demon Inquisition Corps warriors appeared at once.

Jo Yi-gyeong vanished as suddenly as he had come, and I left the Demon Inquisition Corps with the warriors.

As I stood there for a moment, Im Yeon and the other guards appeared.

As soon as she spotted me, Im Yeon ran over.

“Young Lord, you were already out here. Did you suffer any hardship?”

“Not really. What about you, Guard Im?”

“I was all right. We only wished for the Young Lord to return safely. The Demon Inquisition Corps is such a terrifying place…”

Im Yeon and the guards wore expressions of genuine relief.

I smiled faintly and looked up at the distant sky.

“The weather is nice.”

Once we stepped out of the Demon Inquisition Corps, the red sunset was already painting the sky.

Inside the Demon Inquisition Corps it had been as dark as night even at midday, yet out here it was incredibly clear.

I could understand, just a little, what the Eight Great Cult Leaders had felt when they put the Demon Cult in staggering debt just to keep this clear weather.

In the end, light was better than dark and gloomy.

“Shall we head to Hidden Cloud Pavilion?”

“No. Since I’m back from such a long journey, I should at least make a report.”

We headed for Ten Thousand Demons Hall.

---

The Heavenly Demon was in his private training ground.

He sat still with his eyes closed, in perfect silence without a sound or movement.

‘He must be cultivating in his mental realm.’

Mental-realm cultivation meant training only with one’s will in an independent world built within.

It was a miracle that only masters of the Extreme Demon realm or the Unrestrained Realm and above could wield, where they escaped the limits of the flesh and manifested their ideal realm in the pure domain of the mind.

Suddenly, I grew curious.

What was the ideal realm that the Heavenly Demon manifested in his mental world?

Would a day come when I could paint such a realm as well.

‘Stop thinking weak thoughts. Of course it will.’

No matter that I was a regressor, and that I had decided to stop the Heavenly Demon.

I could not help thinking weak thoughts at times.

The training ground was filled with Formless Qi that the Heavenly Demon had released.

When Hardened Qi condensed and condensed again until its shape vanished and it turned transparent, that energy held extreme destructive power.

That was Formless Qi.

That Formless Qi packed the wide training ground.

Even a master at the Extreme Demon realm would be turned to mush the moment they set foot inside.

‘I really need to step up.’

The Heavenly Demon was already a monster who had no equal in the entire world.

In the future, after absorbing that much more time, he could become an even more powerful monster.

Just as I had experienced in my previous life.

“What is it?”

The Heavenly Demon’s voice pierced my ears.

It seemed he had finished his mental-realm cultivation while I was lost in thought.

I walked over to the Heavenly Demon, putting on a joking tone.

“Wow, look how cold you are. Your favorite disciple risked his life and went on a long journey, don’t you have anything else to say?”

“No.”

A truly Heavenly Demon-like answer.

“Are you not curious what happened this time?”

“I am not curious.”

“Really? So you already received all the reports. Hearing it directly from the person involved feels completely different though.”

The Heavenly Demon did not even answer.

“I will just tell you on my own then.”

There was no way I would shut my mouth here.

I chattered in detail about everything that had happened over the forty-some days from Shufu until I reached the Demon Cult.

“So that is why I came to see you as soon as I left the Demon Inquisition Corps. How is it? Much better than just getting a report, right?”

“I said I was not curious.”

“For someone who is not, you listened very quietly.”

“……”

The Heavenly Demon was silent for a moment.

“Um, are you angry by any chance?”

“In what way?”

“Well, first of all, about Heuk… no, about Fourth Sahyung.”

“You mean cutting off his arm.”

“Yes. I had no choice. If I had not done at least that, from now on he would have–”

“Do not make excuses.”

The Heavenly Demon cut me off firmly.

So he had been angry after all.

No matter how cold he was, Heuk Un-hwi was still his disciple.

So I was wondering if I should start by apologizing for causing trouble.

When something unexpected came from the Heavenly Demon’s mouth.

“If it were me, I would have killed him.”

“…Pardon?”

“I would kill the one targeting me, kill his companions, and wipe out his clan. When you aim for another’s life, you must be prepared to lose everything yourself.”

As expected of the Heavenly Demon, it was a frightening way of thinking.

Either way, I was relieved.

It seemed he had not taken the Heuk Un-hwi matter too seriously.

Suddenly I grew curious.

If I really had killed Heuk Un-hwi, how would the Heavenly Demon have reacted? Would he have said to eradicate his companions and clan as well, like now.

‘For some reason I don’t think so.’

It was only a feeling though.

“What do you think about Unit Leader Ak. I was being held in the Demon Inquisition Corps until just now because of that.”

“Jo Yi-gyeong had something to say. That you might get along with the Grand Strategist.”

“So you were curious after all. Since you already know what I talked about with the Deputy Corps Leader.”

“A report simply came up.”

Sure, of course it did.

I held back the laugh that was about to slip out.

Seeing me like that, the Heavenly Demon spoke.

“Ak Mu-jin abandoned the Cult and formed the Longevity Cult. He called himself Cult Leader and led many astray.”

It was a list of facts devoid of emotion.

“I was going to ask a favor about that anyway.”

The Heavenly Demon looked at me quietly.

It meant, speak.

“The Deputy Corps Leader of the Demon Inquisition Corps is willing to release Unit Leader Ak. He said all he needs is your permission.”

“It is not that. You mentioned me to Jo Yi-gyeong first.”

“What does it matter who mentioned whom first? It all comes to the same thing.”

I spoke shamelessly.

The Heavenly Demon shook his head slightly, as if he found me ridiculous.

“Do not thrash about needlessly. Will you keep throwing bait to those who are sharpening their knives for you?”

“There is actually poison on that bait. They will all leap at it because it looks so tasty and then fall ill.”

“Do not be so full of yourself. There is not a single one you can afford to take lightly.”

“That is actually why I am asking. I need Unit Leader Ak.”

Talking to the Heavenly Demon about the Demon Cult’s finances or how I had done some great service.

No matter how much I babbled that sort of thing, it would not get through.

It was far better to act weak and pitiful.

Surely the Heavenly Demon felt a little sorry for his youngest disciple.

I was counting on that.

“Like you said, there are many people who are not easy to deal with. And more than a few who are hostile to me. Just because I am Master’s disciple.”

The Heavenly Demon’s brow wrinkled ever so slightly.

As if my trying to get my way by calling him master bothered him.

I went on without caring.

“But all those people have something behind them. The Seven Demonic Houses, or huge organizations. I, on the other hand, have nothing.”

“……”

“So I need someone to help me. And Unit Leader Ak is perfect.”

The Heavenly Demon did not answer.

“I am not saying you absolutely have to grant my request, so do not feel pressured. I just feel uneasy that if things go on like this I might die a sudden death any day…”

I acted completely pitiful.

The Heavenly Demon still did not give any definite answer, but that was fine.

I had never expected it to work on the first try anyway.

I would come and talk to him every chance I got.

“I have said everything I wanted, so I will go now.”

“Go.”

“Um, Master.”

Just before I left the training ground.

I looked at the Heavenly Demon and asked.

“There really is nothing going on, right?”

“With me, you mean?”

“Yes.”

The Heavenly Demon’s brow twitched slightly, as if he did not know what I was talking about.

He tossed out a short line.

“Worry about what will happen to you from now on.”

“…Right.”

I almost clicked my tongue in front of the Heavenly Demon.

He really had a way of speaking you could never grow attached to.

‘Time to get some rest now.’

Yawning, I left Ten Thousand Demons Hall.

Time go to Hidden Cloud Pavilion and lay my tired body down.

---

After Baek Su-gyeong left.

The Heavenly Demon quietly sank into thought.

He remembered the words his last disciple had said.

– I, on the other hand, have nothing.

That single line circled in the Heavenly Demon’s mind for a very long time.