Chapter 63 - After Giving Exactly What You Should

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader came to see me again.

As on his first visit, he was waiting for me in the courtyard.

“Would you like to come inside?”

“No. Let us go to my side.”

Our surroundings darkened, then brightened again.

The space he had created was a desolate wasteland. I could see how to break out of it: a bluish glow surrounded a rock visible in the distance.

“Barren, isn't it? This is my homeland.”

“I like how quiet it is. Please invite me sometime.”

“I shall.”

After gazing at the scenery for a moment, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader spoke calmly.

“I thought it over after I returned, and you were right. I haven't done you a favor yet.”

He took something from inside his robe and showed it to me.

It was a secret manual.

The Art of Space-Time Transposition.

“This martial art allows you to create spaces like this one. In all of Murim, only those who have learned the authentic demonic arts of the Blood Cult can use it.”

“!”

“Now that the Soul-Seizing Demon is dead, I suppose I am the only person who can properly perform it.”

This was something I truly hadn't expected.

Personally, I disliked soul-seizing sorcery and sinister sorcery. But this one martial art struck me as immensely appealing.

“In a crisis, this space will save your life. Once you enter it, you have disappeared from the original world.”

As he said, the Art of Space-Time Transposition could serve many purposes. It could provide a private space, or a means of escape from danger at a critical moment. In that sense, learning it would be like acquiring another Heavenly Demon’s Body-Protection Art.

From obtaining the Thunderous Sound Bell, the first material for the Great Art of Regression, to Blood-Eye Purifying Water, and now this Art of Space-Time Transposition, I felt that fate had bound me to the Wind Heaven Cult Leader through a deep connection.

“Well? Would this be sufficient as a favor?”

“More than sufficient.”

I held out my hand without hesitation. But the Wind Heaven Cult Leader did not hand over the manual.

“If you expect something in return, it isn't a favor, is it?”

At my expression of disappointment, he replied,

“Isn't showing my hand first a favor in itself?”

He meant that offering this superb martial art without weighing every last consideration was itself a favor.

“What do you want?”

His gaze returned to the barren land. Watching the wind whip sand into the sky, he said,

“I no longer wish to breathe this dust.”

Those words could mean only one thing. Just as Father had said, he wanted to expand into the Central Plains.

“If you help me take the first step, the Art of Space-Time Transposition is yours.”

For a moment, excitement stirred in me, but I decisively withdrew my outstretched hand. Revealing your eagerness puts you at a disadvantage in any negotiation.

“Unfortunately, that isn't something I can decide.”

“I know. That is for your cult leader to decide.”

“It isn't just Father. The Demon Supremes will involve themselves as well.”

Anything concerning the Wind Heaven Cult was certain to draw their intervention.

“Precisely. That is why I intend to give you this manual.”

“What exactly do you want?”

“I have an audience with your cult leader in two days. I intend to settle the matter of our Cult's expansion into the Central Plains then. Join me and help persuade him. Promise me that, and I will give you this manual.”

He was offering me the manual regardless of the outcome. The terms were extraordinarily generous—closer to a gift than a bargain.

Even so, rather than snatching it up, I made a show of considering it carefully.

“You're going about this the wrong way.”

“What do you mean?”

“No matter how hard you and I try to persuade him, Father will never permit the Wind Heaven Cult to expand into the Central Plains.”

“Then what should I do?”

The Wind Heaven Cult's expansion into the Central Plains.

Unlike the Cult's policy of categorically forbidding it until now, I didn't consider it a bad idea.

Unless we intended to attack and destroy the Wind Heaven Cult, there was no reason to leave a potential enemy at our backs. As the old advice went, keep your enemies closer than your friends. I judged it better to keep the Wind Heaven Cult nearby and under control.

I said nothing.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader held out the manual.

“Will this buy me an answer?”

“It will.”

I accepted it.

I sensed that his boldness was far from ordinary. Offering it in gratitude after hearing my advice and offering it in advance were distinctly different things.

'He came determined to win me over.'

Instead of pressing me for an answer, he explained the manual. If he was going to give it to me anyway, he would make the experience as pleasant as possible. He knew how to conduct a bargain.

“Of course, I created this space so quickly because I have trained for many years. At first, you won't manage it even if you recite the incantation all day. Even someone exceptionally gifted in martial arts will need at least several days, or ten days or more if it takes longer. Those with dull senses may require months, or never manage to create one even once in their lives.”

“How long did it take you the first time?”

“Three days.”

Three days meant he possessed considerable talent.

“The time your first attempt takes is important. The shorter it is, the more dramatically the time required will decrease afterward. Unlike other martial arts, everything about the Art of Space-Time Transposition depends entirely on the practitioner's talent for and understanding of martial learning.”

How long would it take me, with my Heavenly Martial Physique and my present understanding of martial arts?

“How long can you sustain this space?”

“It depends on your internal energy, but at complete mastery, perhaps half a traditional double-hour if you push yourself? Even as we speak, my internal energy is rapidly being depleted.”

“Can this space be maintained permanently?”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader gave a dry chuckle at the word 'permanently.' It conveyed his disbelief that such a thing could be possible.

“If you recover more internal energy here than you expend maintaining it, couldn't you keep the space open permanently?”

“That is the very dream of those who learn the Art of Space-Time Transposition. None of the Blood Cult's past leaders has ever succeeded.”

“Then it is possible.”

“Perhaps, for a heaven-gifted martial genius with tremendous internal energy.”

That heaven-gifted martial genius with the Heavenly Martial Physique was none other than me.

How long would my first attempt take? Could I someday maintain this space permanently?

“What if I simply take this manual and don't give you a proper solution?”

“Then, of all the cult leaders in history, you would have the worst relationship with our Cult and the Eight Demon Supremes. Ah, no—you wouldn't become cult leader at all.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader gave me the manual.

“Destroy it once you've learned it.”

He was trying hard to conceal his reluctance, but he clearly hated parting with it.

“I will. But please explain the mnemonic verses to me once.”

“You want me to explain them?”

“This manual isn't the original, is it?”

“Of course not.”

“If you copied even one character incorrectly, that could cause problems.”

“Surely you aren't doubting me? That would never happen!”

“If you explain them yourself, I'll be able to grasp their true meaning.”

A flicker of displeasure crossed his face. But he soon agreed readily to my request.

“Very well. I'll explain the verses, so listen carefully. This is an extremely difficult martial art. You'll need to pay close attention.”

His attitude told me what he was thinking.

'He doesn't believe I can learn this art properly.'

It was indeed that difficult.

But as I listened to his explanation of the verses, I grasped the precise subtleties of the Art of Space-Time Transposition. He would never imagine how deeply I had understood it from that single explanation.

And so he passed the Art of Space-Time Transposition on to me. It was also the moment we became temporary allies.

“Now give me your answer.”

“If the Wind Heaven Cult wishes to expand into the Central Plains...”

Looking at him, I calmly added,

“Intervene in the succession struggle at the Western Illusion Formation.”

* * *

“Having something of mine taken away is fucking exhausting.”

Back in his quarters, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader slumped into his seat. He was mentally exhausted. He had been forced to preserve his dignity as cult leader while giving away something he didn't want to part with.

Despite his arrival, the shackled man offered no greeting and merely stared blankly at the Thunderous Sound Bell.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader stole a glance at him, gauging his mood.

“I passed the Art of Space-Time Transposition on to the Second Young Master, as you told me to. I don't know whether that was wise.”

The shackled man answered without looking back.

“You did well.”

The polite reply made the Wind Heaven Cult Leader flinch. The man usually began with an insult. When he started off this politely, he was in a bad mood.

'I'd better be careful.'

On days like this, all the insults invariably burst out at the end. The Wind Heaven Cult Leader was only human; sometimes, listening to that torrent of abuse made him want to kill the man with a single palm strike.

That must never happen. He couldn't imagine life without the shackled man. Apart from the man's role as his adviser, losing the companion he spoke with every day would leave an emptiness he couldn't bear.

“Do you even know what he proposed?”

He had naturally assumed the man didn't, but Geom Mugeuk's words were reproduced from the shackled man's mouth.

“He must have told you to intervene in the Western Illusion Formation's succession struggle.”

He spoke as though he had been there, startling the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

“How did you know?”

“Because it's the best approach available right now.”

“You knew? What the—so you already knew! Damn it! If you knew the solution, why did I have to waste the Art of Space-Time Transposition on the Second Young Master?”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said.

[“Unless the late Soul-Seizing Demon's disciples inherited all of their master's true teachings, they will need your help. You must make someone who trusts you and is willing to learn your martial arts the successor. If you can become the next Soul-Seizing Demon's master, you will have taken your first step into the Central Plains.”]

It had sounded convincing. He had marveled at the discovery of such an approach.

But if the shackled man had known it too?

“Why did I have to give away that precious manual?”

He had acted generous in front of Geom Mugeuk, but parting with it had nearly killed him.

“Tell me! Come on, explain yourself!”

He went over to the shackled man and shouted at him.

The man looked at him in annoyance.

“What? What are you going to do, looking at me like that? I'm the cult leader. The cult leader! Do you want to die today?”

Despite his bluster, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader inwardly braced himself. This was when the insults would erupt.

But the shackled man remained calm.

“We didn't buy that solution. Nor was that what the Second Young Master sold.”

“What?”

“What you bought was an opportunity.”

“What opportunity?”

“The opportunity to bring the Second Young Master onto your side. Though who knows how many more purchases you'll need to make before you become firm allies.”

“Are you truly certain the Second Young Master is that remarkable? Are you certain he'll be the next Heavenly Demon?”

“I don't know.”

“What?”

“How could anyone know the future?”

“What an irresponsible thing to say!”

“You gave exactly what you should. Why regret it now?”

“Because I hate parting with it! That's why!”

With the shackled man, he discarded his dignity as cult leader and laid bare even his innermost feelings. He had often wanted to kill him, but that also meant he had confided in him just as often.

“What should I do now?”

“Befriend the Second Young Master. Do as he tells you.”

“I should be doing as you tell me. We don't know what hidden motives the Second Young Master has...”

“Enough!”

Just as the Wind Heaven Cult Leader had feared, the shackled man finally exploded, and the insults came all at once.

“You pathetic bastard! If you've given a gift to join forces with someone who's gaining momentum, you should be thinking about riding that momentum, not fucking doubting him! Harboring other ideas like an idiot is what gets you killed. Do you know what all the fools who die pointless deaths in Murim have in common? They don't use their brains when they should, and they do when they shouldn't! When they should trust someone, they refuse to, but when they should be suspicious, they suddenly fucking trust them. That's why they die. Aren't you going to fold those fingers? Before I chop them off! No counting today! And no more questions! Unless you're really going to kill me, don't open your mouth!”

Pouting, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader folded all his fingers, and a new space opened.

Gazing at the green field and clear, cloudless sky stretching before him, the shackled man spoke politely.

“What would you like to know, Cult Leader? You need only ask.”