Chapter 50 - When the Rain Stops, the Birds Will Fly

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon swept his gaze over the people at the table. His disapproving eyes said it all.

'You expect me to sit among these nobodies?'

Before he could say it aloud, I greeted him warmly.

"Welcome, venerable sir. Here, please sit down."

Everyone rose and greeted him respectfully, and he took his seat with a show of reluctance.

"Why did you call me here?"

He must have expected me to be alone, just as the Sword Supreme had before.

In truth, who was drinking with us was a secondary concern for the Blood Heaven Saber Demon. Gatherings like this were themselves unfamiliar and uncomfortable for him. As when I had given him his birthday present, he wasn't used to this sort of personal atmosphere.

"Why else would I invite you to a tavern? To have a drink together, of course."

I poured him some wine. Despite his unenthusiastic expression, he accepted it.

"Spending time with young people keeps you young."

"What good would that do me?"

"Even being a day younger is a good thing. What use is martial mastery or power? Everyone has to kneel before time."

"You're barely more than a boy. What do you know about the passage of time?"

The others listened to our conversation in astonishment. They couldn't have expected the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and me to speak so comfortably.

"I'm saying we should enjoy the moment. What do people regret when they're dying? Not learning more martial arts? Not building up more internal energy? Not defeating some sword fiend living out there somewhere? I don't think it's any of those things."

"That's why everyone puts themselves through all this before they die. So they don't die nursing those fucking stupid regrets."

"You'll be different, sir."

"What makes me so special?"

"You're young at heart and open-minded for your age, aren't you?"

After all, wasn't praise best delivered in front of others?

"Hmph!"

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon snorted and drank, but he didn't look entirely displeased.

Seo Daeryong had worn a very complicated expression ever since the old man arrived. His thoroughly drunken eyes seemed to be saying:

—No, I don't want this! You can't! This isn't happening, right? You're joking, aren't you?

I was sorry to say it to someone gripped by shock and terror, but yes, it was happening. I intended to make the Blood Heaven Saber Demon his master.

Jang Ho offered the Blood Heaven Saber Demon a drink.

"Thank you very much for recommending me the other day. I'm sorry it's taken me this long to thank you."

"It wasn't my idea. It was because of the Second Young Master here, so thank him instead."

"He's thanked me quite enough. Please accept his thanks as well, sir. It wouldn't have been possible without you."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon looked at Jang Ho.

"I recommended you because I thought you were more than capable of handling the position. Don't concern yourself with it."

"Thank you."

Jang Ho's face brightened at his first-ever praise from a Demon Supreme.

A person's nature might not change easily, but their attitude could change with the circumstances. The Blood Heaven Saber Demon sitting here was very different from the man I had first met. Different enough that I could make a request like this.

"I have a favor to ask of you, sir."

"What is it?"

I looked at Seo Daeryong. Unable to hold out against the liquor any longer, he had bowed his head with his eyes closed.

"Please teach this friend of mine some martial arts."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon looked startled, apparently caught off guard.

"Who is this little runt?"

Just as I was about to introduce him, Seo Daeryong jerked his head up and shouted, his tongue thick with drink.

"I'm Seo Daeryong, a ruthless seeker of power, but a real man who loves only one woman! A rebel who raises his hand alone when everyone else stays silent, a pacifist, and the Pavilion Master's right arm! And I'm not a runt!"

Having poured all that out, he dropped his head again. We could all tell: Seo Daeryong was completely drunk.

"Hahaha."

I laughed aloud, while Yi An lowered her head to suppress her laughter. Jang Ho chuckled and drank.

Remembering exactly what I'd said even while this drunk made him a genius when it came to memory.

"What is wrong with that bizarre lunatic?"

"He's very drunk. Please forgive him."

"Teach him martial arts? You should count yourself lucky I haven't killed him out of regard for you."

"He's someone we absolutely need."

"No."

"Sir!"

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon gave me a look bordering on a glare.

"Why me, anyway?"

"Because you're the best. I want him to learn from the most skilled person there is."

"How can I pass on my martial arts to someone who isn't my disciple?"

"Then take him as your disciple."

"What?"

"I don't think any of your current disciples are fit to inherit your position. Your youngest disciple is kind, at least, but with that temperament, he'll have a hard time becoming your successor. What about this fellow?"

"No!"

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon rejected the idea outright.

"You've spent your whole life doing only what you wanted, haven't you? Try doing something you don't want to do for a change."

"I said no."

"Why not? There must be a reason."

"I simply don't want to. Why should I need a reason?"

That was when it happened.

"I don't want to either!"

Everyone turned toward the voice. It belonged to Seo Daeryong, whose drunkenness had him risking his life.

"Do you think I'm happy about this?"

A startled Yi An tried to stop him, but he was already throwing down the gauntlet at the Blood Heaven Saber Demon with bleary eyes.

"Venerable Saber Demon!"

Thankfully, he hadn't just called him "Hey, Saber Demon."

"I clearly said I don't want to! So don't even dream of teaching me! Ab! So! Lute! Ly! Not!"

He pronounced his refusal one syllable at a time. With each one, everyone tensed, afraid the Blood Heaven Saber Demon would strike.

After raising his voice, Seo Daeryong turned to me. His eyes had lost all focus. Of course, he couldn't have acted that way toward the Blood Heaven Saber Demon if he'd been in his right mind. Ah, this was the last flare of life before death.

"Our esteemed Pavilion Master! Let me ask you something!"

"Since I suspect you're about to be murdered, I'll answer as sincerely as I can."

"Why are you throwing me to that ruthless, heartless man? Boo-hoo-hoo, you're breaking my heart."

A vein bulged on the Blood Heaven Saber Demon's forehead. I gave him a smile that pleaded for understanding.

"Why else? So you can learn martial arts."

"But why?"

"To improve your self-esteem."

I didn't say it here, but it was to make him the next Pavilion Master of Yellow Springs Pavilion. Learning martial arts from the Blood Heaven Saber Demon would give him a more powerful backer than anyone else could offer.

"Ah, yes. My self-esteem is rather low."

His head drooped again. Yi Yeon, beside him, caught him to keep him steady.

"You've had far too much to drink. I'll take him back ahead of you."

When she tried to help him to his feet, Seo Daeryong refused her hand.

"I'm not drunk, our dear heart."

"Heart?"

"Yes. I'm an arm. You're the heart, Lady Yi An. Our dear heart, more precious than an arm. An arm can be cut off, but the heart mustn't be hurt."

Yi An would think he was spouting drunken nonsense.

The jealous fellow was clever enough to remember everything worth remembering, even in this state.

I respectfully asked the Blood Heaven Saber Demon once more.

"Please teach him for just half a traditional hour after work. A few days or a few years, either is fine. If you don't like him, you can stop after a single day. Just give him a chance."

"You really trust that drunkard."

"It's you I trust, sir."

There was something alike about the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and Seo Daeryong. Both stood a little apart from the mainstream, yet had more passion than anyone within it.

Just as the Blood Heaven Saber Demon was about to say no:

"I said I don't want to!"

Seo Daeryong beat him to it.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon frowned. That was when I saw the emotion in his eyes.

'Shall I show you what it really means to hate something? Put you through sheer fucking hell?'

Oblivious, Seo Daeryong pouted at him and shook his head, his eyes almost closed. Had he stuck out his tongue as well, it would certainly have been cut off.

Fortunately, before the Blood Heaven Saber Demon's saber came flying at him, Seo Daeryong dropped his head onto the table with a thud and fell asleep. A glorious fall in battle. It would be the bravest drunken escapade of his entire life, past and future alike.

It was also the drunken escapade that changed his life.

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon asked me,

"If I teach that damned fool martial arts, what will you do for me?"

My prepared answer came readily.

"I'll help you resolve the feelings you've harbored for so long."

"!"

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon would know what I meant.

A brief silence passed, and we resumed drinking. We no longer discussed teaching martial arts. We simply drank quietly, talking about this and that.

By the time we had emptied two more bottles, Yi An had passed out. Jang Ho stayed until the end, keeping the Blood Heaven Saber Demon and me company over our drinks.

Partway through, I stepped outside the tavern for a moment.

As I stood taking in the air, the Blood Heaven Saber Demon came to stand beside me.

"What you said earlier wasn't a joke, was it?"

"No. I can't have him learn your martial arts for nothing."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon remained silent for some time.

Did he truly want to reconcile with the Single Flower Sword Supreme?

Looking across the street, he abruptly asked,

"Is that branch over there having any effect?"

"It's running smoothly."

"No, I asked whether it's having any effect. Is it helping your reputation?"

Apparently, he thought I'd established it to increase my popularity.

"Yes. It's helping a great deal."

I didn't bother trying to convince him that I had established it for the residents of Demon Family Village. He wouldn't understand that helping them was just as important as killing the Soul-Seizing Demon.

"Please take good care of Investigator Seo."

"I really am doing all sorts of things now. What are you going to do while you leave that fledgling with me?"

"I'll be busy."

"Busy with what?"

"Every day, I have to work out how to kill things that can barely be called human. I have to run here and there to secure my right wing. And I have to flatter Father."

He realized that the right wing was the Single Flower Sword Supreme.

"Then... am I your left wing?"

"Yes. If you'd prefer the right, I can switch you."

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon shook his head in disbelief.

"You really are a lunatic. To think of putting the Sword Supreme and me together as your wings."

"You told me at the beginning that my madness might be worth staking your fate on. That we should devour them all with madness. Have you forgotten already?"

"I didn't know you were this mad."

"Let's go mad together. How many years do you have left to live that you can afford to hesitate?"

"Is that any way to speak to an elder?"

"I'm a lunatic, remember?"

The Blood Heaven Saber Demon smiled faintly.

"I'll be leaving the Cult soon and will be away for a couple of months. Please look after my people while I'm gone."

"Understood."

He asked nothing. That single, brief word sounded so reassuring.

I could feel that tonight's gathering had opened his door a little further. Yet I still couldn't be sure what lay behind it.

To open that door wide, I needed the other wing. Only when the two wings faced each other, flapping and quarreling, would I understand why this wing moved the way it did.

"The rain will stop soon. The birds will be flying, too."

I was on my way home with Yi An after the gathering.

"I made another mistake tonight."

"What mistake? After drinking that much, of course you'd fall asleep."

"Falling asleep is a drunken habit, too."

"You wouldn't drink that much unless I was there anyway, would you?"

"That's true, but..."

"Then it isn't a drunken habit. It's rest."

Yi An smiled at my words.

"How many times am I allowed to ask the same question?"

"Depends on the question."

"For example... why are you so good to me?"

That was a question I was willing to hear all my life.

"About five times?"

"Starting now?"

"Yes, starting now."

"Why are you so good to me?"

"So I can work you to the bone for the rest of your life. Why are you so curious about an answer you hear all the time?"

Yi An gave a soft smile.

"I'm going to ask again."

"Four left."

And so we walked together in the gentle moonlight. As though something had suddenly occurred to her, Yi An asked,

"Oh, what about Investigator Seo? He was very drunk earlier. Did he leave first?"

"His master took him away before you woke up."

"His master?"

Yi An's eyes widened in surprise.

"No way! They left together?"