Chapter 23 - They Lived Just Fine

'You must have attained complete mastery, Father. Why didn't the Heavenly Demon’s Body-Protection Art activate? Were you defeated even after it activated? Or was the battle so fierce that you had no internal energy left to activate it?'

The more I learned about Father's extraordinary martial prowess, the more questions I had about his death. Had Hwa Mugi truly defeated a man like him?

I wanted to ask Father.

What on earth happened that day?

But I couldn't. It hadn't even happened yet.

And I would never know, not even in the future.

Because it would never happen.

I gave Father a small smile.

“Now we have a secret between us. That makes me happier than learning the Heavenly Demon’s Body-Protection Art.”

Father frowned, perhaps irritated by the word “secret.” I quickly added one more thing and turned away.

“Even if you're annoyed, you won't be able to do anything to me. I'm still more familiar with the Wind God's Four Steps than you are.”

I used Swift Step to race out of there in an instant.

It happened just as I reached the end of the red carpet.

WHOOOOSH!

With a brisk rush of wind, I felt something sweep past me.

The next instant, I stopped using Swift Step.

Father was already blocking my way.

SMACK!

Then he mercilessly flicked my forehead. This wasn't a situation where I could dodge, and even if I'd tried, he moved too quickly for me to evade him.

“Ow!”

I clutched my forehead. I wasn't exaggerating. It hurt so much that a few stars flashed before my eyes.

“You were showing off so much, I thought you were faster than me.”

The next instant, Father vanished.

He disappeared from my sight using Dark Shadow Step, then used Swift Step to return to the grand chair where he'd been sitting. Watching him move, I once again felt how distinctly his interpretation of martial arts differed from mine.

I could tell. He hadn't come over to flick my forehead simply because I'd been irritating.

Father was deliberately showing me: this was his interpretation of the Wind God's Four Steps.

“You used the Wind God's Four Steps to go back. But what was that lightness art you used to fly over here?”

“The Heavenly Demon's Flight Art.”

The Heavenly Demon's Flight Art was Father's unique lightness art.

“Is it faster than Swift Step?”

“Of course it is, for now. I don't know how they'll compare once the Wind God's Four Steps reaches complete mastery.”

“Let's settle it the day I attain complete mastery.”

“I'll attain complete mastery first, so I'll already know the result.”

“You can't know that. I might attain complete mastery sooner. Surely a young mind works faster?”

“That clever head of yours is bleeding.”

A little blood was trickling down from the spot on my forehead he'd flicked.

“Aaah! I should have asked you to teach me the Diamond Invulnerability Art instead.”

I left Heavenly Demon Hall with a badge of honor on my forehead.

It was a wound no amount of money could buy.

I felt as though I'd taken another step closer to Father.

Of course, that was precisely when I needed to be careful.

In relationships, you always make mistakes when you let your guard down because you think you're close.

In any case, this exchange of martial arts had taken both Father and me a step forward. Hwa Mugi's arrival was a fixed point in the future, but the present kept changing.

* * *

“Who the hell was it? What insolent bastard dared lay a hand on you, Young Master?”

Yi An grew agitated at the sight of my bruised forehead. Right now, she was like a hotheaded older sister whose little brother had come home beaten up.

“What if you knew? Would you avenge me?”

“Of course. Just say the word! Who was it? I'll go right now and...”

“Father hit me.”

“...”

“Why aren't you going?”

Suddenly composed, Yi An took a step back.

“I'm a defender, not an attacker.”

I laughed at her firm declaration. It was fun trading jokes and teasing like this, something we hadn't been able to do before. I also enjoyed seeing her eyes disappear into the flesh of her cheeks when she smiled.

“Oh, and I've become Pavilion Master of Yellow Springs Pavilion. Once the official appointment comes through soon, I'll be moving there.”

Yi An looked beyond surprised—she was incredulous.

“You're announcing something as momentous as becoming Pavilion Master of Yellow Springs Pavilion that casually?”

“What's so special about it?”

“Good heavens! Do you have any idea how much authority Yellow Springs Pavilion has? You're its pavilion master! Even Demon Supremes get dragged there and punished if they commit a crime.”

How could I not know? That was exactly why Father was sending me there.

My appointment would probably send another great wave through the Cult.

“Congratulations. Truly, congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

“But why did the Cult Leader suddenly appoint you pavilion master?”

“Maybe he felt bad after hitting me.”

“Stop joking!”

“I told him the Cult needs to change. It needs to become a place where people don't have to learn martial arts that ruin their bodies just to protect someone.”

“!”

Yi An flinched and asked in a trembling voice,

“W-what do you mean?”

“I'll make the Cult a place where people don't have to spend their entire lives fat because of the Whole-Body Petrification Art's side effects.”

Yi An looked stunned. How long did she stand there in a daze?

“Don't tell me... you knew?”

“Yes.”

Then she grinned and spoke as if it were nothing.

“It was the path I chose.”

“It was simply a choice forced on you when you were young.”

“No.”

Yi An was adamant.

“I remember it clearly. They told me that day that learning the Whole-Body Petrification Art would have these side effects, and that the choice was mine. So I chose.”

That choice couldn't have been fair. They would have asked the little girl something like this:

You need to learn this martial art to protect the Young Master. Can you endure its side effects?

In other words, the choice had been forced upon her.

But I didn't tell her that. I didn't want to diminish her pride in having made her own choice.

“I'll cure those side effects for you. Not now, but later.”

Yi An answered with a smile.

“They can't be cured.”

“I can cure them. Trust me.”

“Yes, I'll trust you.”

She took my words as a joke. Whoever had taught her the art had probably told her that its side effects could never be removed.

Perhaps she didn't want to discuss it any further, because she changed the subject.

“But if you become pavilion master, won't the current master object?”

“What can he do? It's the Cult Leader's order.”

In truth, I wasn't particularly worried about the current pavilion master. Judging by how he'd handled the previous Demon Army case, he had clearly either been bought off by the Demon Army or was being threatened. He would have had to step down anyway, which was probably why Father had appointed me. Sima Myeong would handle his resignation properly.

“I'm more worried about resistance from the martial artists who do the actual work. Wouldn't they resent having the Heavenly Demon's son suddenly dropped in as their pavilion master?”

“The person being dropped in is so wonderful and impressive that no one will mind.”

“Thanks for saying that, at least.”

“My opinion of the person who pays my salary is predetermined.”

Smiling at her recurring joke, I brought up the matter I'd been putting off.

“Speaking of salaries, Yi An, there's something I need to take care of while I have the chance. Listen carefully to what I'm about to say.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“Personal bodyguard Yi An, as of this moment, you are dismissed from your position as my personal bodyguard.”

Yi An's great bulk leaped into the air and landed with a thud. She was so startled that I felt guilty.

“What do you mean, all of a sudden?”

“You're dismissed as my personal bodyguard.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

She stared at me as though she'd lost everything in the world.

“Let me ask you once more. Are you serious?”

Her voice trembled pitifully, but I answered firmly.

“I am.”

“May I ask why?”

“Because you wouldn't avenge me against Father.”

She didn't laugh at my joke.

SHING.

She drew her sword and held it to her own throat.

“I'd rather die. I'll die as your personal bodyguard.”

Yi An, dying once is enough.

I quickly told her,

“I don't mean we're parting ways. You'll stay on as one of my martial artists.”

“Oh, goodness! You should have said that sooner. I nearly died! Please look at my neck. Did I cut myself?”

Only then did she sigh with relief. But that didn't mean all her worries had disappeared.

“Being a personal bodyguard is my calling, though. I've never even considered doing anything else. What on earth are you going to have me do?”

“Martial artist Yi An! I now grant you a new position.”

“Yes!”

“I appoint you leader of the Ghost Shadow Squad.”

She was as shocked as she had been when I'd dismissed her as my personal bodyguard.

“The Ghost Shadow Squad? Did the Cult have an organization like that?”

“No.”

“You're making me leader of an organization that doesn't exist?”

“I'm going to create it. It'll answer directly to me, and I'll pay your salary, not the Cult.”

“Ghost Shadow Squad... Does that mean a ghost's shadow?”

“Yes. If you want to give it a meaning, I'll be the ghost, and you'll all be my shadows.”

I'd deliberately included the word “shadow” in the name. She'd lived her entire life as my shadow, so it would feel more familiar to her.

“I like the name! But have you received the Cult Leader's permission?”

“Not yet.”

Creating private organizations within the Cult was strictly forbidden.

“I'll get his permission, no matter what.”

“You'll manage it, Young Master. I'm the problem.”

“Why you?”

“What do you mean, why? For starters, I don't have the skill to lead such an impressive organization.”

“Don't worry about that. I'll teach you martial arts worthy of the position.”

“Even if I become stronger... would I suit a position like that? No one will follow me.”

They would.

They would all follow her, won over by her character.

And one day, they'd learn that the squad leader they'd been following was the most beautiful woman under heaven. Yes, Murim would see the strongest organization in history, led by the most beautiful woman under heaven.

“Yi An, will you become the Ghost Shadow Squad's leader for me?”

Our gazes met.

Her confidence was at rock bottom, but once I'd said “for me,” there was only one answer she could give.

“Yes. I will obey your command.”

“Good. For now, you're a squad leader without a squad, but someday it'll be the strongest organization in Murim. And from now on, set aside your existing martial arts and focus entirely on training your internal energy and physical fitness. I'll teach you new martial arts when the time comes.”

“Understood.”

Though she answered spiritedly, Yi An looked bewildered, unsure whether she should be happy or worried.

“Then who will protect you from now on, Young Master?”

“Am I a child who needs protecting? A martial artist should protect himself.”

Her eyes, made small by the flesh surrounding them, held nothing but worry.

“I don't know what to say.”

“Just say thank you. I'll pay you the highest salary of any squad leader in the Cult, too.”

“But you don't have any money.”

“I'll earn it.”

“How?”

“I have ways to make money. If all else fails, I'll sweep the courtyard of Heavenly Demon Hall.”

“Young Master, I don't need money. I've saved everything I've earned so far.”

“You always need money. It's what you're paid, and a measure of your worth. I'm paying you because you deserve it, so don't feel burdened.”

“... Yes.”

“And once you start spending money, it goes in no time. Keep saving every bit you can. Life is long. If you're unlucky, you'll live to a hundred. You might even regain your youth and have to live another hundred years.”

Yi An laughed at my half-joking words.

My old self would have worried about her.

Could she accept this change? What if something went wrong?

But after living an entire lifetime, I'd learned that those worries were all pointless.

There was no need to worry. Everyone was smarter than I'd thought, better at looking after themselves, and lived just fine.