Chapter 68 - The Second Young Master to the Very End

“The Soul-Seizing Demon had five disciples in all, but in terms of age and ability, the leading contenders in the succession struggle are the first disciple, Yang Do, and the third disciple, Cheong Seon. For reference, Cheong Seon is a woman.”

I asked Seo Daeryong about his report.

“What are their reputations within the Western Illusion Formation?”

“Given his age, Yang Do has the advantage in experience and martial skill, but Cheong Seon is more popular within the Western Illusion Formation. Unlike the young and beautiful Cheong Seon, Yang Do has a vicious temper. Several ghost sorcerers have already been injured by him. Some have even died. Despite that, the late Soul-Seizing Demon favored him, so he was likely to become the successor. But things have changed now.”

“Investigate both of them thoroughly. Their martial arts, wealth, abilities, hobbies, even their personal relationships. Leave nothing out.”

“Understood.”

“Who will the Wind Heaven Cult Leader choose, I wonder?”

Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened at my question.

“The Wind Heaven Cult Leader is choosing one of them?”

“Yes. That’s why I sent him information on the Soul-Seizing Demon’s disciples.”

“Why?”

“Because I told him to enter the Western Illusion Formation’s succession struggle.”

“Good heavens! What are you plotting this time? Don’t tell me...”

Seized by some thought, Seo Daeryong sent me a sound transmission.

“Are you going to kill the Wind Heaven Cult Leader too? Or Yang Do? Even Cheong Seon?”

“What am I, a serial killer? Why would I kill them all?”

Only then did Seo Daeryong relax.

“That’s a relief.”

“So this is how people see me these days. Everyone’s worried I’m going to kill someone.”

“Who else was worried? My master?”

“Your master?”

“Ah! The venerable Blood Heaven Saber Demon.”

“You don’t call him Master to his face yet, do you?”

“No. He hasn’t given me permission.”

Still, Seo Daeryong seemed to regard him as his master, judging by how the word had slipped out without his realizing it.

I could feel him growing increasingly captivated by the Saber Demon. Then again, the sight of the Blood Heaven Saber Demon reading a book had probably already made him fall head over heels.

“So, who will the Wind Heaven Cult Leader choose?”

“How would I know?”

“If a genius who ranked first in the entrance exams doesn’t know, how am I supposed to?”

“I ranked first because I studied hard, not because I’m a genius.”

“You said you were a genius, didn’t you?”

“You were the one who said that, Pavilion Master.”

“And you nodded all smugly, didn’t you?”

“I admit it. There’s a streak of vanity in me that even I can’t control. So please downgrade me from a genius to a fellow who’s good at practical work. In return, I’ll make sure I investigate those two thoroughly.”

Seo Daeryong bowed and left the office.

* * *

“So, whom should we support?”

At the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s question, the shackled man merely stared at the Thunderous Sound Bell.

“Why do you keep staring at that bell? Does the evil spirit carved into it talk to you or something?”

The shackled man suddenly spoke.

“How did you know?”

“Why are you trying to frighten me?”

“It speaks to me from time to time.”

“What does it say?”

Staring blankly at the evil spirit, the shackled man said,

“Why do you live like that?”

A brief silence fell.

“And how did you answer?”

“I used to tell it that I lived this way because of one petty, greedy man.”

“And now?”

“I told it that perhaps... it wasn’t entirely that man’s fault.”

“What did it say to that?”

The shackled man said nothing. When pressed again, he gave the Wind Heaven Cult Leader a look of contempt.

“Why do you keep asking? How could a carving say anything? Have you gone mad?”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader looked dumbfounded.

“Of course. It would be stranger if I didn’t go mad. Soon I’ll be sitting there talking to that carved evil spirit. ‘Why do you live with so much disrespect?’ Why do you think, you damned evil spirit? You’ve been watching the whole time. You know!”

“Cheong Seon.”

“You startled me! At least take a ready stance before you thrust!”

Unpredictable as the shackled man was, he was invaluable because he supplied answers like this when they were needed.

“Why Cheong Seon? From what I can see, Yang Do looks likely to become the successor.”

“Then choose him.”

The shackled man closed his mouth as though he had nothing more to say.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader sidled over to him.

“I’m asking why Cheong Seon.”

“Just follow your convictions and choose Yang Do. You’re a cult leader. How long will you keep doing what other people tell you?”

“Very well. I’ll follow my convictions and choose Cheong Seon.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader trusted the shackled man implicitly. He needed no explanation. The man’s past record spoke for itself.

“Cheong Seon, then? How can I make her my disciple?”

“That, I don’t know.”

“What am I supposed to do if you don’t know?”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger if I knew even that while tied up here like this?”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Even so, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader did not offer to remove his shackles. They had discussed all manner of things over the years, but he had never said those words.

If he removed the shackles, the man would leave him without a backward glance. Who in the world would stay out of affection for the person who had reduced him to this state? The moment he freed him, it would be over. That was why any mention of removing the shackles was an absolute taboo for the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

“Should I go see Cheong Seon?”

“And what would you say?”

“Become my disciple. Is that too overbearing? I shall permit you to become my disciple. How’s that?”

“Oh, that will certainly make her your disciple.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Put yourself in her position. An old man from beyond the frontiers, whose intentions you can’t fathom, suddenly turns up and tells you to become his disciple. Would you fall for that?”

“Not a chance.”

“Neither would anyone else. It won’t happen just because you ask.”

“Don’t tell me you mean I have to pay a price?”

The shackled man nodded.

“Even though I’ll become her master and teach her martial arts? If anyone should pay a price, it’s her.”

“That’s outdated thinking. Whoever wants it more pays the price.”

“No. I want to receive now, not give. I’ve always preferred receiving by far! Tell her to bring armfuls of things to replenish my sacred relics if she wants to learn! Tell her to kneel in the courtyard all day and beg!”

The shackled man had told him to give everything, but that was easier said than done.

“If you must pay a price anyway, you shouldn’t pay it to Cheong Seon.”

“Then to whom?”

“The Second Young Master will want more of the sacred relics here. When he looked them over last time, a few caught his eye.”

“Damn it!”

“The Second Young Master will bring an answer this time too.”

“The Second Young Master again?”

The shackled man calmly answered the sighing Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

“It will be the Second Young Master to the very end.”

* * *

True to his boast, Seo Daeryong was certainly good at practical work, at least.

He had investigated Yang Do and Cheong Seon in exhaustive detail. Not only their families and backgrounds, but their martial skill, personalities, personal relationships, and even their favorite foods.

“However, I discovered something odd while investigating Cheong Seon.”

“What was it?”

“Cheong Seon has met Sa Ujong several times.”

“Sa Ujong?”

It was a name I hadn’t expected to hear.

“Yes. They don’t seem to have any connection, so I thought I should mention it, just in case.”

Seo Daeryong knew I had established ties with the Single Flower Sword Supreme as well, which was why he was reporting this separately.

I recalled Sa Ujong’s end.

Under the influence of soul-seizing sorcery, he had tried to kill the Single Flower Sword Supreme, only to be killed himself. It had never been established whose sorcery caused his death.

‘Ah! So it was Cheong Seon’s soul-seizing sorcery!’

One conclusion followed naturally.

“Those two are romantically involved!”

Seo Daeryong was startled by my words—not by the fact that they were involved, but by my figuring it out on the spot.

“How did you know?”

Sa Ujong had feelings for the Single Flower Sword Supreme. What if Cheong Seon had discovered that while they were dating? His death must have been the result of her jealousy and anger. Cheong Seon was young, too. If her man loved an older woman, the wound to her pride would run deep enough to pierce her through.

That wasn’t my only reason for concluding that they were involved.

It had to have been Cheong Seon who told him where the bodies used in the Heart-Soul Great Art were buried, and who stole Neung Hyu’s fan and planted it there. No one but a disciple of the Soul-Seizing Demon could have learned that information or accomplished those things. Besides, she would never have leaked such important information unless she was romantically involved with Sa Ujong.

Everything fell into place, but I couldn’t tell Seo Daeryong any of this.

I sprang to my feet.

“You’ve thought of another way to turn the situation around.”

“How did you know?”

“The look in your eyes changed. Pavilion Master, why are you looking for a genius? You’re a genius yourself.”

“I’m no genius. I’m just crafty and try not to miss out on anything that benefits me. I need someone who can think on a grand scale, not the way I do. Having someone like that in an organization makes an enormous difference.”

“I wouldn’t know, but you’re impressive all the same.”

“What do you mean, you wouldn’t know? I figured this out thanks to your investigation. Even if I find a genius, I won’t trade you for them.”

“Of course you won’t. You’ll have both of us anyway. But where are you going?”

I was already walking out of the office.

‘To earn a sacred relic!’

That was another thing I couldn’t tell him.

* * *

I went straight to see the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

His residence was a crime scene, and as the Pavilion Master of Yellow Springs Pavilion, I had an official reason to come and go whenever I pleased.

“Welcome.”

“Have you been well?”

“I read the information you sent. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

As we exchanged greetings, I glanced at the shackled man.

He kept his head lowered and didn’t look at me, but whenever I saw him, I had the feeling ours would not be a passing acquaintance.

I turned my gaze back to the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

“Have you found a way to enter the Western Illusion Formation’s succession struggle?”

“Not yet.”

“You’ll have to hurry. The Demon Supremes will soon intervene and select a successor.”

“As you know, I’m shackled here, just like that man. Even meeting the candidates for the Western Illusion Formation’s succession is no easy task.”

I nodded as though I understood.

“Which candidate would you like me to take as my disciple?”

“Cheong Seon.”

His lack of surprise suggested that he and the shackled man had already reached the same conclusion. Sure enough, they had.

“We judged Cheong Seon to be suitable as well.”

My choice was because of Sa Ujong, but why had the shackled man chosen Cheong Seon?

“However, I have no way to persuade her.”

“What if I could make Cheong Seon come to you herself?”

“And once she comes?”

“She’ll ask to become your disciple. I’ll cook the rice and spoon-feed it to you.”

“If you could do that, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“In return, give me one sacred relic.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s expression, which had brightened, darkened again.

“You really are shameless.”

“It isn’t shameless. It’s only fair. Making people work without proper compensation by appealing to friendship or loyalty only worked in my father’s day.”

“I’m a man of that era myself.”

“You have to accept that times have changed—and that the man sitting before you belongs to the current generation. If you don’t like that, you’ll have to harden into a fossil and spend your life looking only at what pleases you.”

Naturally, that wasn’t the life the Wind Heaven Cult Leader wanted, so his expression hardened.

I persuaded him in a gentler tone.

“This involves dealing with someone young, so leave it to me. I’ll deliver results worth your sacred relic.”

“Let me think for a moment.”

“Of course.”

Feigning ignorance, I browsed the sacred relics to give the shackled man and the Wind Heaven Cult Leader time to exchange sound transmissions.

Eventually, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader spoke to me.

“Very well. I accept your proposal.”

He still looked thoroughly displeased, but the shackled man had apparently persuaded him in the end.

“My part ends when she comes here and asks you to accept her as your disciple. Raising her to the position of Demon Supreme will depend on your own abilities.”

“And if I need help then, you’ll come back and demand another sacred relic. You might as well just take them all now!”

“I hope I’m capable of doing that. For my sake, and for yours.”

I rose from my seat. I gave the Wind Heaven Cult Leader a respectful farewell and the shackled man a fleeting nod before leaving.

From there, I went to see one person.

The person who held the key to this affair: Sa Ujong.