Chapter 240 - At Last, He Opened His Eyes

I opened my eyes.

Although I had woken in an unfamiliar place, I felt so refreshed that I stayed in bed for a while. Usually, a long sleep brought all manner of dreams, but this time I had slept soundly without dreaming at all.

How long had I slept?

A day? Two? Judging by how hungry I was, perhaps I had slept for ten days straight.

Then someone came to mind, and I bolted upright.

"Laughing Demon!"

Looking around, I realized this wasn't the infirmary.

It was an unfamiliar bedchamber I had never visited. The clean bedding smelled fragrant, and rather than looking worn, the bed and furniture had the dignity of fine antiques.

Then something caught my eye.

That thing hanging on the wall...!

To my astonishment, this was Father's bedchamber.

My last memory was of the infirmary. Why had I been sleeping here?

A clean martial outfit lay beside the bed. I changed into it and looked around the room, still bewildered. His own son, and this was my first time entering his room.

'Father gave me his room?'

I didn't know how it had happened, but that fact alone moved me deeply. I lay down on his bed again.

Knowing that Father slept here made me want to linger for no particular reason. I might never get another chance.

Then Father's voice came from outside the window.

"If you're awake, come out."

I sprang out of bed and went outside.

Father was sitting at a stone tea table in the courtyard, drinking tea.

"Normally, wouldn't you recognize the Heavenly Demon's bedchamber by the Heavenly Demon's Soul emblem or the Heavenly Demon Sword? But I recognized it by your floral pajamas!"

What I had seen hanging on the wall was none other than Father's floral pajamas.

At my banter, Father set down his cup.

"You must be feeling better now."

"I feel as though I could fly."

Indeed, my injuries had healed completely.

"Why am I in your bedchamber, Father?"

"Because I brought you here."

"You came to the infirmary?"

Father nodded at my startled question.

"I wasn't the only one. All those few connections of yours came, too."

I could more or less guess who had visited.

"But aren't each of those few worth a hundred men?"

Only a hundred? They were worth a thousand, even ten thousand apiece.

"How is the Laughing Demon?"

My heart fluttered with dread at what the answer might be. Father was perfectly capable of saying, "The Laughing Demon is dead," while calmly drinking his tea.

"The Demon Physician is still treating him."

I felt relieved. How much reassurance those two words, "Demon Physician," could offer.

Just then, the maids of Heavenly Demon Hall brought me porridge. Since this was my first meal after days without food, I was meant to eat something light. This was Father's thoughtfulness.

"Have you eaten?"

"I have. Go ahead."

"Then thank you for the meal."

Who knew porridge could taste so good? After scraping the bowl clean and drinking a cup of tea, I was still hungry, but I felt a little more human.

"Where did you get the ten-thousand-year snow ginseng?"

"Yelü Han brought it as a ninetieth-birthday gift for the Divine Sword of Five Thunders."

"And the aftermath of their deaths?"

"Bi Sain agreed to handle it."

"Can he manage it?"

"Yes. I believe he can."

"So you've chosen that boy as the next leader of the Unorthodox Alliance."

"I think he's a good choice."

Just then, a martial artist from Heavenly Demon Hall brought something, set it before me, and left.

"What is this?"

"Open it."

Inside the box was ten-thousand-year snow ginseng.

I was astonished.

"Where did this come from?"

"Why? Do you think I cut open the Laughing Demon's belly and took it out?"

He must have brought the elixir from the Heavenly Demon Treasury. Only the Heavenly Demon knew what lay inside, though I had a rough idea myself.

"You're giving this to me?"

"Yes."

"Why would you give me something so precious?"

"You willingly gave up ten-thousand-year snow ginseng for my Demon Supreme. Naturally, I should repay you."

He emphasized "my Demon Supreme." Meaning he wasn't mine yet.

"Are you afraid I'll steal the Wicked Laughing Demon from you?"

That brought out my favorite expression: his distinctive sneer, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"Don't want it? Then forget it."

"Of course I do!"

Before he could take it back, I quickly popped it into my mouth.

Sweet and pleasantly bitter, it was more fragrant and delicious than any elixir I had ever eaten.

I completed a full circulation of true qi, fully assimilating the snow ginseng's energy into my internal energy. When its power was added to my internal energy, which had already reached a new level, it became even purer and more profound.

While I circulated my qi, Father stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at distant Mount Daecheon.

I went over and stood beside him. Rather than thanking him, I apologized first.

"I'm sorry, Father."

A son who put himself in danger was, for that alone, an unfilial son.

"So long as you know."

"I won't forget your generosity in giving me the ten-thousand-year snow ginseng."

Surely he hadn't given me something so precious merely because I had yielded mine to the Wicked Laughing Demon. Father had another purpose in bestowing it on me, and it was just what I had suspected.

"You said you would keep the struggle for succession bloodless."

"Yes."

"Do you still intend to do so?"

"I do."

Father said nothing more.

I could tell. Father would soon choose his successor. The ten-thousand-year snow ginseng was a gift meant to help me bring the succession struggle to a successful close. Because I had sensed that, with every bite of the ginseng, I had heard these words in my ears:

'Eat this and do it properly!'

If Father was going to make his decision, I, too, would have to settle things with my brother one way or another.

"My brother and I will come to see you soon, hand in hand."

This was what Father wanted. The final test in choosing his successor.

Knowing my brother's temperament, I thought this might prove harder than killing Yelü Han.

He was no longer a match for me in martial arts, and most of the Demon Supremes had become my people. That made it all the harder, since there was no telling what reckless move he might try.

"If you've finished eating, be on your way."

"Could I go back into your bedchamber, put on your pajamas, and sleep for just one more watch? It's so soft and comfortable that I don't want to leave."

Just as Father was about to say something, a martial artist from Heavenly Demon Hall arrived with a report.

"The Poison King has returned."

The instant I heard that, I bowed deeply and hurried away.

"Then I'll be going."

I could feel Father's gaze on the back of my head. He must have been staring at me in disbelief.

I understand, Father. I'll put an end to the succession struggle this time. I still have a long road ahead of me, too.

* * *

The carriage carrying the Poison King and the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion entered the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon.

"Look over there!"

An enormous statue of a malevolent demon stood where Seo Daeryong pointed.

"Look on the other side."

On that side, too, stone statues aimed swords and sabers at one another. Some depicted past Heavenly Demons, while others took the form of the Heavenly Demon's Soul.

"How magnificent."

Though her answer sounded admiring, the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion wasn't really seeing the statues.

Her heart was pounding. Soon, she would hear news of the Wicked Laughing Demon.

No news of him had reached them on the journey here. She therefore didn't know whether he was alive or dead.

The Poison King had said nothing at all about whether the Wicked Laughing Demon would live. Nor had he comforted her by saying he would be all right.

Watching him, Seo Daeryong sensed how different he was from his appearance.

He was not someone to judge by that fresh, youthful face. Staring vacantly at poisonous herbs or digging in the dirt was only one part of him.

The carriage passed through the heavily guarded outer grounds and entered the inner grounds, where security grew several times tighter.

Everyone got out of the carriage.

As the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion looked around, her gaze suddenly stopped on one spot.

In the distance, Geom Mugeuk was walking toward them.

At that moment, her heart pounded as though it might burst. What news would he bring? Please, let the Wicked Laughing Demon be safe.

Geom Mugeuk approached and spoke to her.

"The Laughing Demon is still receiving treatment."

He told her honestly,

"I've done everything I can. The Cult's Divine Physician has done his utmost as well. Now it's up to the Laughing Demon."

At that, she smiled brightly.

"Then there's nothing to worry about."

Her faith in the Wicked Laughing Demon was as unwavering as her faith in heaven.

And hearing it from Geom Mugeuk, rather than anyone else, reassured her. If he said he had done his utmost, then he truly had.

"You must be tired after your long journey. Please rest first. Until the Laughing Demon awakens, you will be an honored guest of the Cult."

She bowed her head in thanks. The maids who had come along led her to a separate residence.

Once she left, Seo Daeryong ran over to hug Geom Mugeuk.

"What's gotten into you? That's creepy."

"I'm just glad to see you! Is that really worth using footwork to dodge me? Would you have done that if Warrior Yi had run over?"

Seo Daeryong lunged at him again. This time, Geom Mugeuk didn't dodge and let himself be hugged.

"I was really worried this time."

"Then you should have come running back then. When Yelü Han surrounded me with his doubles, you should have taken on three of them."

"What! He could make doubles, too?"

"That wasn't all. Sword qi shaped like malevolent demons came charging at me as though to devour me."

Seo Daeryong quietly took a step back.

"As you know, I'm better suited to being an investigator. Don't put my top entrance-exam ranking to the wrong use!"

If he was going to say that, his eyes shouldn't have been blazing so fiercely.

"I'll go pay my respects to my master."

Once Seo Daeryong had left as well, only the Poison King remained. He had deliberately held back because he wanted to speak with Geom Mugeuk alone.

"Thank you for all your hard work, Poison King."

"What hardship did I endure? You two were the ones who suffered."

The Poison King asked him,

"Did you gain what you hoped to gain from this fight?"

After a brief pause, Geom Mugeuk replied,

"Yes, I believe I did."

The Poison King gazed steadily into Geom Mugeuk's eyes, which had grown still deeper, then turned toward Thousand-Poison Forest.

"Come visit Thousand-Poison Forest when you have time."

As he walked away, the gloves made of poison-repelling heavenly silkworm silk that Geom Mugeuk had given him swung from his waist.

* * *

At last, the Wicked Laughing Demon opened his eyes.

The distinctive, pungent scent of medicine told him he was lying in the infirmary.

His last memory was of Geom Mugeuk's back. He had fallen asleep wondering why his body felt so comfortable when they were racing along at such terrifying speed.

He examined himself internally. What had been a battlefield inside his body was now peaceful. The war wasn't over, but there was at least a ceasefire.

His condition told him that they had reached the Cult safely and that the Demon Physician had treated him. No one else could have healed his body in that state.

He slowly sat up. Perched on the edge of the bed, he looked into a bronze mirror. His white mask still bore the blood from the battle. Even during treatment, no one had touched it.

A particular moment suddenly came back to him.

When he had sensed death approaching and tried to remove his mask, Geom Mugeuk had caught his arm.

["I won't look at your face! You might be better-looking than me!"]

Beneath the mask, a smile touched his lips.

Just then, someone entered the room and spoke.

"You're awake?"

It was the Demon Physician.

Although the Wicked Laughing Demon knew the physician had saved him, he skipped the greeting and asked about Geom Mugeuk first.

"What happened to the Second Young Master?"

"In all my years as a physician, I'd never seen anyone so exhausted. And in that state, he carried you here..."

A trace of worry crossed the Wicked Laughing Demon's eyes.

But the Demon Physician soon smiled.

"You needn't worry. He could carry you back along the same road even faster now."

Only then did the Wicked Laughing Demon relax.

"I hear the Second Young Master did nothing but sleep for several days, too. Well, he arrived before the messenger bird, so no wonder he was tired."

Faster than the messenger bird? Yes, he remembered how desperately Geom Mugeuk had run. Even then, he had spared some qi to keep the Wicked Laughing Demon's body comfortable. The Wicked Laughing Demon knew very well how draining that was, both mentally and physically.

Only after hearing news of Geom Mugeuk did he respectfully thank the Demon Physician.

"Thank you for saving my life. Forgive me for thanking you so late."

The Demon Physician shook his head.

"I'm the one who should thank you."

He bowed his head respectfully.

"Thank you for resolving the anguish I carried all my life."

The son who lived in the Demon Physician's heart had now begun to grow older.

"Now, first assimilate the energy of the ten-thousand-year snow ginseng in your body. If the Second Young Master hadn't given it to you, you wouldn't still be alive."

This time, the Wicked Laughing Demon remembered Geom Mugeuk feeding him the snow ginseng. He also recalled how Geom Mugeuk had sobbed in fear that he would die.

Feeling how much he had to thank Geom Mugeuk for, he closed his eyes and began assimilating the snow ginseng's energy.

While the Wicked Laughing Demon circulated his qi, the Demon Physician sent someone to inform Geom Mugeuk that he had awakened.

When he had fully assimilated the internal energy, the gaze behind his mask grew colder and deeper.

A little later, Geom Mugeuk, who had been waiting outside, entered.

He spoke to the masked Wicked Laughing Demon.

"Your complexion looks especially healthy today."

How he had longed to hear Geom Mugeuk's banter again. Looking at the blood on the mask, Geom Mugeuk added,

"You even have a rosy blush."

The Wicked Laughing Demon laughed aloud.

Neither needed to say how grateful they were to the other. This one remark from the Wicked Laughing Demon, who had only just returned from death's door, was enough.

"Let's go fight again sometime."

"I'd like that."

No more words were needed.

"Oh, we have an honored guest at the Cult."

Geom Mugeuk opened the door, and the person waiting outside entered.

It was the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion. She had been so worried about the Wicked Laughing Demon that she had come all the way to the headquarters of the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon, but ever since arriving, she had fretted that she might have come somewhere she shouldn't.

But the moment she saw the Wicked Laughing Demon, all those feelings vanished. She realized there had never been any need to agonize over it.

Seeing him made her this happy.

What other reason did she need? Nothing else mattered. Even if he grew angry, she would still be glad she had come.

And the Wicked Laughing Demon answered her feelings perfectly.

"You've been saying for ages that you wanted to see my room, haven't you?"