Chapter 36 - I Am Already Loyal to You

The Single Flower Sword Supreme was a beautiful woman. She looked to be in her twenties, but in reality she was more than twice that age. Hence a saying within the Cult:

The world may change, but the Sword Supreme never does.

If anything, she was growing younger with each passing year.

But anyone fooled by her delicate appearance into doing something foolish would have their tongue cut out and a cold iron sword driven into their heart. The red camellia engraved on the scabbard of her signature weapon, the Single Flower Sword, was as vivid as blood.

“It has been a long time, Elder.”

“I never get used to being called Elder. Why not call me Senior instead?”

She treated me courteously. Indeed, she was famous for speaking politely even to low-ranking martial artists, never neglecting the proprieties.

“Given the difference in our martial generations, I could not presume to do so.”

“You must respect someone because they are older? I do not agree. Respect should be given to those who deserve it, just as a young person who deserves respect should receive it.”

“Very well. I will do as you wish, Senior. In return, please feel free to call me Second Young Master.”

“I shall.”

I introduced Seo Daeryong to her.

“This is the special investigator who handled the case. I brought him to explain what happened.”

Seo Daeryong respectfully cupped his fist to the Single Flower Sword Supreme.

“I am Special Investigator Seo Daeryong. Allow me to report on the case.”

She raised a hand to stop him.

“That will not be necessary. If Yellow Springs Pavilion found him guilty, then he must have committed the crime. A man who raped a young maid deserved to die. Our sword house will not take issue with what occurred during the investigation.”

I signaled with my eyes for Seo Daeryong to withdraw, and he quietly left the cottage.

The Single Flower Sword Supreme gave me a faint smile. She had realized that my visit had another purpose.

“I hear your efforts have brought winds of change to the Cult of late, Second Young Master.”

“I have been running wild.”

“If it helps the Cult advance, how can that be called running wild?”

Of the Eight Demon Supremes, she was considered the least suited to the Demonic Cult. This humble cottage alone made that clear. Its tasteful simplicity suggested the retreat of an old master from a distinguished orthodox sect.

“You are doing admirable work.”

“It is only possible because I have your steadfast support, Senior.”

She shook her head.

“Do not waste your flattery on this wrinkled old face.”

That was plainly deliberate. She was fishing for this response:

“How can you say such a thing? You still look as though you are in your twenties, Senior.”

“My twenties! What utter nonsense!”

As she waved away the compliment, a smile she could not conceal blossomed on her face.

“I am quite content to remain in the background and seek enlightenment in the principles of martial arts.”

Yet the life she had lived belied those words.

After Father died at Hwa Mugi’s hands and the Cult was forced to seal its gates, an all-out struggle for power erupted within. Not only the Eight Demon Supremes but all the Cult’s renowned masters fought for the position of cult leader.

So who became the first cult leader?

Surprisingly, it was the woman before me—the Single Flower Sword Supreme. Hard as it might be to believe, given her gentle smile and composure now, she was the first to act and seize the position.

Blood flowed in the process. She was merciless. Blood continued to flow throughout her brief reign. It might have been some consolation had she governed well, but her ability to rule could not keep pace with her ambition.

She brought about every tragedy that follows when an incompetent person is consumed by ambition, and before three years were out, the next cult leader killed her. My opinion of her could hardly be generous.

“To be frank, I felt considerable pressure when this case arose.”

“Why was that?”

“As you must have heard, I have had numerous clashes with the Southern Saber Sect lately.”

I casually brought up the Blood Heaven Saber Demon’s Southern Saber Sect. Of the Eight Demon Supremes, these two were known to be on the worst terms. Their Saber Fiends and Demon Swords were consequently at each other’s throats as well.

“The Blood Heaven Saber Demon put tremendous pressure on me. And now I have found myself at odds with the sword house as well...”

“I am an entirely different person from the Saber Demon!”

Her voice rose, as though even being mentioned alongside him offended her.

“Of course. You most certainly are.”

“Since we are on the subject, I hear the Saber Demon recently recommended a man named Jang Ho from the Southern Saber Sect as Demon Army commander. What happened there?”

One might imagine her spending her days training alone in this cottage, but she kept abreast of everything happening within the Cult. It was almost as though she were demonstrating that her future seizure of power would be no accident.

“Jang Ho is both exceptionally capable and loyal.”

“What I am asking is why the Saber Demon wanted to make him Demon Army commander.”

“To be frank, Jang Ho is my man.”

She showed no surprise, perhaps because she already knew. What she wanted to know was this:

“How did you persuade the Saber Demon?”

“I appealed to his pride. I told him that, as a Demon Supreme, he ought to make a choice for the good of the Cult. That he should recommend someone with genuine ability, rather than choosing on the basis of personal ties or political power.”

“The Saber Demon would never be persuaded by a reason like that.”

“You are right. He probably did not want to lose me. In any event, he told me this: of all the Eight Demon Supremes, he cared the most for the Cult.”

Her face tightened into a deep frown, as though she found the claim preposterous, but I pretended not to notice and continued.

“Still, it seems even he is having difficulty securing Jang Ho’s appointment. The chief strategist suggested a way, but that is no easy matter either.”

“What did the strategist suggest?”

“He said it would be possible if another Demon Supreme joined in the recommendation. The problem is that there is no Demon Supreme willing to do so.”

“Why do you think there is no one?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you think the Saber Demon is the only Demon Supreme who cares for the Cult?”

“That is not what I meant.”

She questioned me with a cold look in her eyes.

“Did you not come here today to prod my pride as well, so that I would recommend Jang Ho alongside Senior Saber Demon?”

Now was the time for honesty. Only when deception and truth were so thoroughly mixed that no one could tell what ingredients went into a scheme did it truly acquire flavor.

“You noticed?”

“Why go to such lengths?”

“To bring the Demon Army under my control. I want to use that influence to become the successor as soon as possible.”

She gazed at me in silence.

Why had that exacting old man, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon, chosen me? Why had he gone so far as to abandon my brother? Surely such questions were running through her mind.

“Now I understand exactly why the Cult Leader made you Pavilion Master of Yellow Springs Pavilion.”

“Why? I still do not quite understand Father’s intentions myself.”

She came closer and stared as though peering into my eyes.

“You have a curious way of stirring people’s hearts, Second Young Master.”

She laid bare what she felt, as though only someone brimming with confidence could express their emotions so candidly.

“I will take that as a compliment.”

After considering for a moment, she reached a decision.

“Very well. I will recommend Jang Ho too.”

“Truly?”

I put on a startled expression, but inwardly I had expected her to agree, at least to some extent. Precisely because of her peculiar relationship with the Saber Demon.

“May I ask why?”

“Let us say it is to show that the Saber Demon is not the only Demon Supreme who cares for the Cult.”

She turned away. Recognizing the unspoken dismissal, I respectfully bade her farewell.

“I will not forget your kindness in helping me.”

She gave no answer, but I knew exactly why.

Her involvement in this affair was entirely because of the Blood Heaven Saber Demon. She feared that I might have the makings of a successor and that he had recognized it first. If so, she did not want him to have me all to himself. She would not willingly give him even a pile of horse dung lying by the roadside.

Why?

Because she truly, utterly despised him.

When she became cult leader, the very first person she killed was the Blood Heaven Saber Demon.

* * *

The next day, the Single Flower Sword Supreme recommended Jang Ho for Demon Army commander.

The sudden news sent a stir through the Cult. Never before had a Demon Army squad leader been put forward as a candidate, nor had two Demon Supremes joined forces to recommend the same person.

And those two were the notoriously hostile Blood Heaven Saber Demon and Single Flower Sword Supreme. Naturally, Jang Ho became the center of attention.

In Heavenly Demon Hall, Cult Leader Geom Ujin and Chief Strategist Sima Myeong were also discussing the matter.

“I never imagined the Second Young Master would bring the Sword Supreme into this.”

“He must have exploited their animosity.”

“Everyone knows of their animosity, but no one else could have accomplished this so easily.”

Neither the Blood Heaven Saber Demon nor the Single Flower Sword Supreme was an easy person to handle. Trying to exploit a feud everyone knew about would ordinarily only backfire.

“What is this Jang Ho like? Can he be entrusted with the Demon Army?”

“His abilities are exceptional. However, he is very much a martial artist rather than a politician, so his political standing is weak. Choosing Squad Leader Jang in the first place was a very clever decision.”

“I doubt he sought out Jang Ho with that in mind from the outset.”

“What do you mean?”

“It was likely an emotional choice. The boy is more emotional than one might think.”

Sima Myeong found Geom Ujin’s words unfamiliar. He had never before shared his assessment of his children with him.

“Both a strength and a weakness, then.”

Geom Ujin answered firmly.

“A weakness.”

Sima Myeong merely smiled faintly and held his tongue. Everyone, not just him, could sense that the Cult Leader had recently begun opening his heart to Geom Mugeuk.

That did not mean he expected the Cult Leader to name Geom Mugeuk his successor, however. Geom Ujin often made decisions wholly at odds with what he showed outwardly. It was still too early to tell.

“How shall we settle the matter of the Demon Army commander?”

“If both of them have recommended him, we must accept. Their standing deserves consideration too.”

As though he had been waiting for the moment, Geom Ujin gave the order.

“Appoint Jang Ho as Demon Army commander.”

* * *

“I do not know how I can ever repay this kindness.”

Upon hearing that he had become Demon Army commander, Jang Ho came to see me before anyone else. His appointment filled him with both joy and apprehension.

“Knowing your temperament, Squad Leader Jang, I doubt you will be able to repay it.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“I had two reasons for making you Demon Army commander. First, I believed you were the person best suited to the position. Not for your sake or mine, but for the sake of the Demon Army and the Cult.”

“I hardly know what to say. You think far too highly of me.”

“My second reason was that I wanted the Demon Army to become a source of strength for me. But do those two reasons not conflict? An upright man like you will find it difficult to maintain a personal allegiance. Oh, and let me make this clear now: I have absolutely no intention of forcing a personal bond on you, so do not worry.”

Then Jang Ho said something unexpected.

“Do you remember when we first met? I submitted an anonymous complaint because of my friend’s death. I wanted revenge. I staked my life on it too. As you can see, I am an emotional man who values personal relationships above all else in life. If you thought I was someone who would abandon those relationships for an organization, you misjudged me. Had you not come then, Young Master, I probably would have died.”

That was indeed what had happened. Without my intervention, that incident had cost him his life.

“I want to be loyal to you, Young Master. No—I am already loyal to you. Of course, I will remain loyal to the Cult Leader and the Cult, and work hard for the Demon Army. But my greatest loyalty is to you.”

He meant every word. I could tell. I had gained a far better subordinate than I had imagined.

“I want to become someone like you, Young Master.”

“And what sort of person am I?”

“Someone who makes me feel that, with you at my side, I could accomplish anything, however difficult.”

“With flattery like that, I need not worry that a lack of political skills will hold you back.”

“Ha ha, I am not quite such a spotless fellow.”

“I will be counting on you from now on.”

“And I on you.”

I clasped his large hand firmly. I liked the unexpected sides to this big, rough man.