Chapter 253 - What Is Harder Than Holding Tight

Becoming young lord brought another change, too.

I moved to a new residence deep within the inner grounds. A large house, a large training ground, and even gardens and walking paths all around it—it was incomparably better than my old residence. The number of maids attending me increased considerably as well.

The first thing I did in my new residence was change the interior to suit my tastes.

I had camped so often even before my regression that I could sleep anywhere. But now, where I slept mattered.

I would be busy as young lord, and busy training. That made this space all the more precious. It would be my refuge amid all that activity.

I replaced the bed with a larger one and laid out soft, cozy, snow-white bedding.

By the window where sunlight streamed in, I placed a desk, along with a chair in which I could comfortably sit and read.

I filled the bookshelves with books I had bought on the Blood Heaven Saber Demon's recommendation. My goal was to finish them all this year, though I wasn't sure I would manage even half.

I took a book from the shelf and sat in the chair by the window.

Then I threw myself onto the bed, book in hand, and rolled around on the delightfully soft, white covers.

"Yes, this is it."

Then I lay there reading.

Did reading a collection of poems and paintings help with martial training? Of course it did. Up to a certain level, focusing solely on martial arts might help, but once you reached my level...

THUMP!

"Ow!"

I had dozed off, and the book had fallen onto my face. Right. I could dodge a master's sword, but not this.

I lay in bed a little longer, savoring this brief peace. Once I left it, I would have to train like mad and charge ahead. That made me truly grateful for this moment. Being grateful for the things you take for granted makes life happier.

My residence wasn't the only thing that changed.

As promised, I tore down the guards' cramped, dilapidated quarters and built them spacious new lodgings with an attached training ground. With all the guards pitching in to help the workers, construction was soon finished.

I also took care to furnish the rooms with the best beds and furniture I could. Naturally, everyone was pleased that I had attended to even those details.

"Thank you so much."

Their leader, Jeok Yeon, thanked me on everyone's behalf. By keeping my promise, I was introducing myself to them—showing them what sort of person I was.

"I'll be focusing on my own training for a while, too, so don't come looking for me unless it's important."

From there, I went straight to my private training hall.

I had two training areas: a large outdoor training ground and a smaller private hall indoors.

I trained in the indoor hall.

Though smaller than the outdoor grounds, it was larger than any other indoor training hall. Only Father's would be larger and better appointed.

One detail could tell you everything: the eighteen types of weapons arrayed against the wall were far too fine in quality for training weapons.

The walls, ceiling, and floor were also built solidly enough to withstand any impact. Truly, becoming young lord had changed everything.

Yes, new wine in new wineskins, and a new martial art in a new training hall!

My heart trembled as I prepared to begin training in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art in earnest.

The supreme demonic art against which neither unorthodox qi nor demonic qi could prevail.

At last, I was beginning the training I had longed for even in my dreams.

The Nine Calamities Demonic Art consisted of nine moves in all.

Six were used by the practitioner, and three by the Heavenly Demon's Soul. Complete mastery was possible even if one perfected only the practitioner's moves.

In that case, however, the Heavenly Demon's Soul could not execute its moves.

It was powerful in its own right, but even more powerful when using those moves.

Imagine that enormous being, like a demon king, executing moves as swiftly as a human attacking!

That was why I had to perfect all nine moves and achieve complete mastery.

The Nine Calamities Demonic Art was entirely different from the Heaven-Soaring Sword Art. The latter was swordsmanship; the former was a demonic art in the truest sense.

Each individual move consumed tremendous internal energy, and naturally, its power was beyond comparison.

I calmly began with the mental cultivation method.

This was the most crucial part of training in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

A single mistake here could send me into qi deviation, so I moved my true qi slowly and carefully.

Never in my life had I practiced a mental cultivation method with such caution and concentration.

Fortunately, I succeeded in circulating my true qi through one full circuit according to the formulas. Without the essential principles Father had taught me, I would have been stuck at the mental cultivation method itself.

I did not practice the moves yet. First, I would reach the point where I could comfortably circulate my qi using the mental cultivation method. Only then would I begin training in earnest.

I circulated my true qi through one circuit, then two, then three.

When I finally emerged from my absorption in circulating qi, more than three watches had already passed. I had been so engrossed in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art's mental cultivation method that I hadn't even noticed my hunger.

Each time I circulated qi, the internal energy in my dantian reacted differently. It felt as though that pure, mighty internal energy was slowly heating up.

I was delighted to have a martial art I could immerse myself in like this, yet part of me was afraid. I sensed just how far I still had to go.

"I'm hungry. Let's eat first."

Today, I cooked for myself.

I split firewood, lit a fire, and prepared the meat.

I couldn't fall into the habit of grabbing any old bite just to hurry back to training. The more important the training, the better I needed to eat and rest, striving to keep both body and mind in peak condition.

I grilled plenty of meat and invited the guards to share it.

They were surprised that I had cooked myself, and surprised that I had invited them to eat with me like this. They were even more surprised that the food actually tasted decent.

"I'll cook for you again. Look forward to it."

Before they returned to their quarters, I called their leader, Jeok Yeon, aside.

"How's the training?"

"Everyone is doing their best."

"Tell them to work even harder. I'll take a look at their progress soon."

"They'll all be delighted."

"Wait. Let me see your eye."

"I'm all right."

"I'm not."

Jeok Yeon removed his eye patch.

His eye was redder than the last time I had seen it. The pain must have been considerable.

"Keep putting up with pain, and it'll sour your temper."

I placed my palm over his eye and channeled internal energy into it to soothe it. I could have taught him how, but his martial skill wasn't yet sufficient to produce this effect. An eye required extremely delicate handling.

"It feels more comfortable than when you treated it before."

Perhaps it was. Learning the Nine Calamities Demonic Art might have brought about some difference I hadn't noticed myself.

Jeok Yeon bowed his head.

"Thank you, young lord."

It was a trivial bit of skill to me, but not to him.

"I used to tell my former bodyguard—the one I've since dismissed—that building affection with your guards is just earning points so they'll die in your place. That it's a despicable thing to do."

I said it because I was curious how he would answer.

Covering his eye with the patch again, Jeok Yeon said,

"Affection or no affection, I simply fulfill my duty."

It sounded cold, but I understood. He protected someone not so much because he liked them, but because he liked being someone who protected others. Yes, that made sense. Yi An had been special.

"The meat was delicious."

Jeok Yeon bowed and turned away.

He seemed taciturn and devoted to his work, but I still didn't know what sort of person he was.

You had to look closely at people. Closely enough to take off their eye patches.

* * *

That evening, I practiced the Secret Art of Heavenly Time.

That art was the problem. With the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, I felt I was somehow advancing one step at a time, but with the Secret Art of Heavenly Time, I was utterly in the dark.

I tried this approach, then that one. I kept attempting all sorts of things. If even I found it this difficult, no wonder the Wind Heaven Cult Leader had shaken his head and insisted it was impossible.

All I needed was someone to say, "Oh, that means this!" Just those few words. Then again, perhaps no one had succeeded yet precisely because no one had heard them.

Still, I didn't give up. To attain twelfth-level complete mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, I absolutely had to learn the Secret Art of Heavenly Time—and to a level that would create a definite difference in the passage of time.

"Ugh, I have no idea either!"

SNAP!

With a snap of my fingers, I opened my favorite space.

A crystal-clear sea and snow-white beach, a blue sky and a broad-leaved tree, a comfortable chair beneath it, and even a crab crawling nearby.

"Lovely. Just lovely!"

I flopped down there. I didn't know why I loved this place so much.

Lying here with my eyes closed felt wonderful. The gently blowing breeze lulled me toward sleep.

Still, there was one hopeful sign: since I had begun learning the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, the daunting mystery of the Secret Art of Heavenly Time had started to feel a little less difficult.

And Jeok Yeon had said his eye felt more comfortable, too. Was the Nine Calamities Demonic Art having some effect without my realizing it?

* * *

Jeok Yeon came to Geom Mugeuk's residence.

"Young lord!"

Geom Mugeuk's answer came from inside the training hall.

"Come in."

When Jeok Yeon entered, Geom Mugeuk was nowhere to be seen. Instead, incense was burning in the center of the hall.

'I distinctly heard his voice from in here, didn't I?'

Just then, Geom Mugeuk suddenly appeared behind him, holding a stick of incense.

"Where were you?"

Jeok Yeon wondered whether he had been practicing concealment, but Geom Mugeuk gave an incomprehensible answer.

"I hoped I'd been in a different time from you."

"Pardon?"

Geom Mugeuk walked over and compared the incense in the hall with the stick he was holding. Seeing that they were the same length, he sighed. His attempts at the Secret Art of Heavenly Time were one failure after another.

"What brings you here?"

Jeok Yeon, who had been staring at the incense and wondering what was going on, quickly delivered his report.

"Word has come from Villains' Valley. The mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion is leaving today."

* * *

When I arrived at Villains' Valley, the Faceless Wanderers who would escort the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion were preparing a carriage in the courtyard.

"Have I asked you to come when you're busy?"

"Of course I should come say goodbye when the mistress is leaving."

She had not come out yet; only the Wicked Laughing Demon was in the courtyard.

"Aren't you sad to see her go?"

"I am."

I was startled. I had expected the Laughing Demon to say something like, "I've recovered now. It's time we each got on with our own lives."

"Then why let her leave? Why not ask her to stay longer?"

"She's a woman with great ambitions. I believe watching over her from a step away is the best thing I can do for her."

I hadn't known the Wicked Laughing Demon thought that way.

"You're truly remarkable."

Just as the Wicked Laughing Demon was about to say something, the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion emerged from the building.

She had put on lovely makeup and beautiful clothes, wanting to leave him with the best possible final glimpse of her before she departed.

"Thank you for taking such good care of me."

As she said her farewells, I put on a regretful expression.

"Your presence made our gloomy Cult shine brightly. Now it'll be plunged into darkness again."

She beamed at my words.

"I know it isn't true, yet it still makes me happy. I must be getting older."

"Stay and enjoy yourself a little longer."

She stole a glance at the Wicked Laughing Demon as she answered.

"My dear brother has fully recovered, and he must be busy with work. It's time I left."

Her eyes sought his response.

This was another test!

And the Wicked Laughing Demon avoided the many wrong answers and chose the right one.

"Stay a little longer. Work can wait."

A smile spread over her face.

"If you'd said you were busy, I would have unpacked again."

She gazed at the Wicked Laughing Demon, conveying her sadness at parting.

The two looked at each other without a word.

That made their farewell all the more tender.

She said goodbye to me as well.

"Second Young Master, you'll make an excellent young lord."

"Can you see my future, by any chance?"

She shook her head.

"You're not keeping it to yourself because it's too dreadful to tell me, are you?"

"Then I'd have all the more reason to tell you. You're my benefactor."

The moment I had saved the Wicked Laughing Demon, I had become her benefactor.

"I cannot see the futures of those whose destinies are too great. Yours is a destiny beyond my ability to bear, young lord."

She added one last thing.

"Please take good care of my dear brother."

As always, I answered with the same farewell.

"That's what I should be asking you!"

And so the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion left.

Having come here for the first time in a while, I didn't want to leave right away, so I walked through Villains' Valley with the Wicked Laughing Demon.

I aired my troubles to him.

"My martial training has hit a wall lately."

"If even you are stumped, young lord, it must be an extraordinary art."

He probably thought I meant the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, but the problem was the Secret Art of Heavenly Time.

After walking silently for a while, the Wicked Laughing Demon suddenly brought up the mistress of Thousand Flowers Pavilion.

"Earlier, you said my feelings for her were remarkable."

"Watching over someone with that kind of heart isn't easy."

"It isn't so difficult, either. We aren't holding each other tight."

We naturally came to a stop. I didn't understand what he meant.

"I first met her for my own benefit. I wanted to obtain information through the pleasure houses. It's no different now. If she gains control over every pleasure house under heaven, all that information will be mine. I have a selfish motive."

"By that reasoning, the same goes for her."

It wasn't something she could easily accomplish without the Wicked Laughing Demon's backing.

Perhaps, in some respects, theirs was an ideal relationship. They had feelings for each other, while also knowing exactly what they wanted in business.

"The mistress and I stand a step apart. That lets us see each other better than if we were holding each other tight."

With clear eyes, the Wicked Laughing Demon said to me,

"Try taking a step back from that martial art for a moment, young lord. Just one step."

The moment I heard those words, I realized it. In my impatience, I had been clutching the Secret Art of Heavenly Time to me. I had thought I could obtain it only by embracing it so tightly that it couldn't breathe.

"Taking a step away may actually be harder than holding tight."

He and I stood facing each other now, a step apart. Perhaps that was why I could see him so clearly—not only the clear eyes behind his mask, but even the Laughing Demon's desire to help me however he could.

With my gratitude written all over my face, I told him,

"See? I told you I'm the one she should be asking you to take care of."