Chapter 70 - The Difference in Thoroughness

Cheong Seon performed the rite of nine bows and formally became the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s disciple.

The news spread in an instant, setting the entire Cult abuzz, including the Western Illusion Formation.

Unexpectedly, more people supported her decision as a wise choice than condemned her for it. They considered it wiser to learn properly from the Wind Heaven Cult Leader before becoming a Demon Supreme than to take the position with weak demonic arts merely to preserve propriety or save face. As ever, the Cult’s demonic martial artists valued practical benefits over appearances.

The Western Illusion Formation’s ghost sorcerers, who had been expected to object most fiercely, were particularly outspoken in her support.

This put the first disciple, Yang Do, in a difficult position. His plan to turn public opinion against Cheong Seon for accepting outside help had gone awry.

Now there was no telling who would become the successor.

“What do you think of her?”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader was asking about Cheong Seon.

“Aren’t you a good judge of character? Trust your own judgment.”

“She seems to have more backbone than her appearance suggests.”

“That was my impression as well.”

“She might be worth nurturing.”

He had not taken her as a disciple because he wanted one. She was meant to be his excuse to remain in the Central Plains, but once he met Cheong Seon, he found himself drawn to the peculiar malice she exuded.

“I suppose I can’t help being who I am. A wicked bitch catches my interest.”

“Be careful. I saw enough ambition in her to devour even her master.”

“That’s what I like about her.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader grinned, and the shackled man smiled faintly too.

“You seem to be in good spirits lately.”

“I do?”

“You hardly even curse anymore.”

More importantly, he had gone several days without asking him to open a new space with the Art of Space-Time Transposition.

“If you’re bored, shall I curse at you a little?”

“Not at all! I like things as they are.”

Yet deep down, a part of him missed the shackled man’s cursing.

“By the way, this Cult’s leader has been quiet.”

The Heavenly Demon seemed to be weighing on the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s mind.

“He will remain so.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because the Second Young Master will have met with his father and settled the matter.”

“Would he have thought that far ahead?”

“He will have. The difference between success and failure lies in thoroughness.”

“Why are you so well disposed toward the Second Young Master? You think so highly of him, too. Has he been slipping you money?”

The shackled man raised his head and looked at the Wind Heaven Cult Leader.

“Does that displease you?”

“It does.”

“Then let us return beyond the frontiers. If we go somewhere without the Second Young Master, I’ll have no occasion to favor him, will I?”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader was about to snap at him, but merely sighed. Annoying as the man was, he was not wrong. After all, he himself had insisted on bringing him all this way in clanking shackles.

“I told you, didn’t I? You aren’t blessed with enough good fortune to have everything.”

“Damn it. Enough of that! Why do you keep telling me I’m ill-fated?”

“Because you keep trying to turn down a truly ill-fated path.”

“You always have to have the last word.”

Just then, a subordinate arrived with a new report.

“Cooks came and prepared food for our warriors in the outer compound.”

“Cooks? Which cooks?”

“They say the Second Young Master sent them. They prepared a lavish feast with the finest ingredients before leaving.”

At that, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader looked at the shackled man and asked,

“Is this it? The difference in thoroughness you spoke of?”

The shackled man nodded.

“He truly is remarkable for someone so young. Even after saying that, I didn’t expect him to attend to things this carefully. Perhaps...”

“Perhaps?”

“We may be witnessing the emergence of a figure without equal in the Demonic Cult—no, in all of Murim. And we are sharing in that moment of history.”

“Just because he sent some cooks?”

“Yes. He sends a thief, a disciple, and cooks. I believe that’s exactly what this is. A moment of history.”

Unlike the impassioned shackled man, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader remained indifferent.

“And in this moment of history, I’m being stripped of all my sacred relics.”

As though he had known all along that this was the reason, the shackled man calmly consoled him.

“Try looking at it differently. Your sacred relics are being put to good use in accomplishing great things.”

“As I’ve said before, I’m not the central figure in those great things, am I? I have no desire to become a tool for someone else’s success.”

“To be the central figure, you must be as industrious as the Second Young Master. You must work as hard as he does, too.”

“I make an effort too, don’t I?”

“The effort of asking me about every little thing?”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader could not argue. Lately, he had left most matters to the shackled man.

Seeing that he still could not free himself from his inner turmoil, the shackled man changed his expression and tone.

“Listen, Cult Leader.”

At that moment, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader was delighted to hear him drop the formalities. He so enjoyed being addressed without deference that he had even begun to worry the man might never speak to him that way again.

“I know you’re making an effort, too.”

“What effort am I making? You’re right.”

“No. Giving away your sacred relics while holding your greed in check takes effort too. Gathering them took effort, and so did protecting them. I know well that even your greed is a form of effort. I know your struggle is every bit as hard as that of someone escaping a heaven-and-earth encirclement drenched in blood.”

Emotion welled up in the Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s chest. Only lately had he truly begun to appreciate how much comfort a person could take from having someone understand their heart.

Still, he did not want to show weakness to the shackled man. He forced himself to conceal his feelings and blustered instead.

“No! I don’t want to give away my sacred relics! That damned Second Young Master—just let him come. I’ll tell him to get lost at once. Get lost, Second Young Master! Cover your ears, or my shouting will burst your eardrums. Understood?”

Just then, a subordinate spoke from outside.

“The Second Young Master has arrived.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader shook his head in disbelief.

“That crazy Second Young Master! He really shows up at a moment like this?”

For the first time in a long while, the shackled man laughed aloud. Covering his ears, he said politely,

“There. I’m ready.”

* * *

“Welcome, Second Young Master.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader greeted me with a cheerful expression.

Whenever the day came to hand over a sacred relic, I could see his hands trembling, but he looked a little more at ease today. Had he discovered the truth that giving up brought peace?

A short while later, a subordinate brought out a table set with drinks.

“Let’s have a drink together today.”

“Gladly.”

“Let me pour you a cup.”

I accepted the drink.

“Now, let’s drink.”

We shared a cheerful toast, and I drank. Of course, I had a poison-warding pearl in my mouth.

“It pleases me to see you trust me.”

I saw no need to spit out the poison-warding pearl and spoil his mood.

It happened right then.

“Do you happen to have a poison-warding pearl in your mouth?”

I could tell that the shackled man had informed him through a sound transmission. He was indeed no ordinary man.

“Yes, I do.”

I spat the poison-warding pearl out of my mouth.

“Good heavens! When did you put that in?”

“When the drinks were brought out.”

“I couldn’t tell at all.”

“I’ve practiced a great deal.”

“A poison-warding pearl for a drink I poured you... That really is too much.”

“Didn’t I tell you before? There is no bond between us yet. ‘The bond between you and me’ is a phrase that has no place in this world.”

“You say that even after coming here today to take another of my precious sacred relics?”

“In the midst of this chaos, whether we forge a bond won’t be decided by how many sacred relics I take.”

“Just as the only thing between us right now is that lonely poison-warding pearl?”

“A clear relationship in which we each give and receive what is due is better than a flimsy bond that might change with circumstances.”

“I really can’t win an argument against you. Just like someone else.”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind.”

I guessed he meant the shackled man.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader rose.

“Well, I’ve lost my taste for drinking. Let’s choose a sacred relic instead. Go on, choose.”

“Thank you.”

Before choosing a sacred relic, I went over to the Thunderous Sound Bell.

“I’d like another look at the Thunderous Sound Bell. No matter how often I see it, it’s magnificent.”

In truth, I wanted another close look at the shackled man.

While examining the bell, I glanced at him. He sat with his head bowed, still as a fossil.

‘Why are you helping me?’

He could have sent me a sound transmission, but I liked that he refrained. He was not a frivolous man.

Would the day ever come when I could converse with him? How far did the threads of our fates intertwine?

I moved on to where the sacred relics were displayed. I pretended to browse through them, but I had already decided what to take.

“I’ll choose this one.”

The sacred relic I chose this time was a thick roll of bandages.

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader’s expression hardened. Instead of words, his face delivered the curses.

Damn it! Fuck! How do you keep picking out only the most precious things?

“Did you choose it knowing what it is?”

Of course, I knew all too well.

“I don’t know. Something about that roll of cloth looked mysterious.”

“That is...”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader took a deep breath. After laboriously suppressing his rising anger, he explained.

“It is supreme-grade heavenly silkworm silk. A peerless treasure said to withstand a sword strike without being cut, and even block sword qi or sword force when wrapped in several layers. You can wrap it around an arm or leg, or around your heart to protect it. And that isn’t all. It keeps out the cold and will not burn in fire. You could count on one hand the weapons in Murim capable of cutting this supreme-grade heavenly silkworm silk without sword qi or sword force.”

The Black Demon Sword at my side was among that handful of weapons.

“My knowledge is limited, so I failed to recognize how precious it was.”

“If you didn’t recognize it, why did you choose this of all things? Why?”

“I’m sorry.”

The Wind Heaven Cult Leader could not conceal his reluctance to part with it. After sighing several times, he handed it to me. His hand trembled.

“Please put it to good use.”

“I will. Thank you.”

He would not let go, so taking it was almost like wresting it from him.

I felt grateful to the Wind Heaven Cult Leader. Though it must have pained him inwardly, he always kept his promises and gave me his sacred relics generously.

The rewards exceeded what I had done for him, but I accepted them so freely because I intended to fulfill his dream.

“I will never forget your generosity.”

It would have been nice if he could show some magnanimity at a time like this, but the Wind Heaven Cult Leader could not hide his lingering regret.

Over his shoulder, the shackled man was watching me. Given how loath the cult leader was to part with his relics, he could not have handed them over willingly on his own. That went for the Blood God Pill before, and for this supreme-grade heavenly silkworm silk as well. There was no doubt I had received them so smoothly thanks to the shackled man.

This was the sentiment I conveyed through my gaze:

Thank you. I won’t forget.

As though he understood, the shackled man slowly lowered his head and became a fossil once more.

* * *

Back at my quarters, I took out the supreme-grade heavenly silkworm silk. I unrolled enough to wrap around my wrist roughly three times and cut it with the Black Demon Sword.

It would have cut without assistance, but I infused the blade with internal energy and sliced carefully to make a clean cut.

Before peerless treasured swords like Father’s Heavenly Demon Sword or my Black Demon Sword, it was merely cloth. To other weapons, however, it was a monster.

I wrapped it around my left wrist in three layers.

Whatever happened, as long as I wore this, an opponent’s attack would never sever my hand. For now, wrapping only my left wrist was enough. The Black Demon Sword would protect my right hand. Being able to concentrate its protection precisely where I needed it made it better than any protective garment or defensive accessory.

I wrapped the remaining supreme-grade heavenly silkworm silk around the Black Demon Sword’s hilt. I would use it the next time I needed it.

I could only hope I would never have to wrap it all around my body and plunge somewhere. Hell would unfold there. Or perhaps the place would be hell to begin with.