Chapter 83 - Like Two Meteors Meeting

Two days later, the Wind Heaven Cult Leader left the Divine Cult of the Heavenly Demon with all the subordinates he had brought along.

He bade farewell to the Heavenly Demon, but did not even exchange goodbyes with the Eight Demon Supremes. The demonic martial artists whispered that he had gone home in anger over the theft of his sacred relic.

We were the only ones who knew the real reason for his sudden return.

“The Cult Leader is an impatient man. He'll put the Wind Heaven Cult's affairs in order and return as quickly as possible.”

He had already discussed everything at length with Go Wol, from whom to appoint as the next Wind Heaven Cult Leader to how to settle the cult's internal affairs.

“Thank you very much for accepting my first proposal.”

“I'm the one who should thank you. Thanks to you, I've gained an extraordinary master like the Wind Heaven Cult Leader as an ally.”

“You saw how fat he's gotten from neglecting his training and doing nothing but eating and loafing about, didn't you? We'll have to make him train properly when he returns.”

“You'll have to do that. Who else could say such a thing to the supreme ruler of the frontiers?”

“Leave it to me.”

It felt as though we had accomplished something truly momentous. I had gained an outstanding strategist in Go Wol, and an absolute master in the Wind Heaven Cult Leader on top of that. He might have been pushed around and harassed at every turn during his visit to the Cult, but he was still the strongest fighter beyond the frontiers. Battles between masters involved too many variables to be certain of anything, yet I doubted any Demon Supreme could confidently claim to be able to defeat him.

“Listen, Strategist Go.”

“Yes, Young Master?”

“I know a strategist's work inevitably involves looking into other people. Still, whenever you have a moment, take care of yourself as well.”

Rather than telling him to look into himself, I had told him to take care of himself. Go Wol was clever enough to understand exactly what I meant without my having to offer anything that sounded like a lecture.

“You truly are a warm and kind person, Young Master.”

“I hear that often. It's also proof that I'm a good actor.”

Go Wol did not believe my claim that it was an act.

“I will make up for the weaknesses that kindness brings.”

“Take your time. You can afford to.”

“Yes.”

“I'll be out for a while. I've neglected the people already at my side while looking after you. It's time I gave them some attention.”

“Take care.”

I headed straight for Heavenly Demon Hall. Looking after people started at the top and worked downward.

* * *

Father was in the training hall.

Usually, he tested me with a surprise attack when I entered, but today he stood in the middle of the hall, looking down at a go board.

“You play go too?”

I knew Father liked go, but I had never actually seen him play.

“You can count on one hand the people in the Cult who can beat me.”

“At go, you mean?”

“Of course.”

“Don't you signal by drawing the edge of your hand across your throat when the game turns against you? Then Uncle Hwi slips up behind your opponent and gives them a stab.”

“Occasionally. A contest is meant to be won.”

Laughing at Father's joke, I went to his side. I knew his skill at go quite well. He was not nearly as impressive as he claimed; he was a passable player. If he had won a great many games, people must have let him win a great many times. Everyone lowered their standards in the Heavenly Demon's presence.

“Strategist Sima gave me this problem, but I can't work out the answer.”

It was a fairly difficult life-and-death problem.

I studied it quietly, then said, “Wouldn't White live if you played here?”

At least when it came to go, I was better than Father. After confirming that my answer was correct, he looked surprised.

“Not bad.”

“Doesn't the person offering advice from the sidelines always see things more clearly?”

“The sidelines? I was solving this on my own.”

“But you had an opponent, Father.”

“Who?”

“Your pride. And your determination to solve this problem at all costs is sitting right beside it.”

Father snorted and sat down at the board.

“Sit beside them, then. Let's play a game.”

“Gladly. But no drawing your hand across your throat if you're losing.”

I played go with Father.

First hunting, then a meal, and now go. Here I was, doing things I could never even have dreamed of before my regression.

I made no silly remarks and focused entirely on the game. The stones struck the board with crisp, cheerful taps in the silence.

It was nothing special. Just a father and son playing a game of go. Why had we never managed to do this one ordinary thing? Why had the mere sight of his face frightened me so much?

One good thing about go was that no words were needed until the game ended.

Even so, a great deal happened. I built my territory, and Father built his. Sometimes I invaded his territory; sometimes my stones became a weak group and were chased. At times I yielded, and at others I made bold moves.

Playing go with Father was an absolute pleasure, but I put my full skill to use. I knew he was competitiveness incarnate, yet I did not go easy on him. If he caught even a hint that I was letting him win, the result would be worse than if I beat him by a landslide.

As his position worsened, Father rubbed his chin. I had never seen him ponder anything so seriously. I doubted he would look quite this intent even while studying a battle map during a war with the Orthodox Martial Alliance.

I forced myself to swallow that quip. If I said it, he might overturn the board and end his losing game.

Perhaps Father, too, wanted to joke by drawing the edge of his hand across his throat just then?

Of course, nothing of the sort happened.

The game ended, and I won by six points.

“You certainly live up to your title as the Heavenly Demon. What a ferocious fighting style! I barely won.”

“When did you learn go?”

“I learned in my spare time after hearing that you were taking lessons from Strategist Sima. Oh, and you're welcome to a rematch anytime.”

At my triumphant manner, Father extended his hand over the board.

CLATTER!

The stones rose into the air, black and white weaving rapidly past one another. They moved with the splendor of a performance before falling into their respective bowls. It was as if they were alive and finding their own way home.

“Ah!”

I was genuinely impressed. That single display seemed to tell me:

'This is the ultimate level of object manipulation through the air. Understand?'

That technique alone was enough to humble me, but apparently Father was not satisfied.

“I can't let you leave while I'm the loser. Let's spar.”

“That's unfair. For once, I was going to savor my victory and walk proudly out of Heavenly Demon Hall.”

“If you've been neglecting your martial training, you won't be walking out of here.”

He meant that he would handle me roughly. It sounded as though he was venting his anger over losing at go, but that was not it.

I knew. He was angry about the Wind Heaven Cult Leader. This was a reprimand for associating with the man and even taking in his strategist despite knowing that Father kept both the Wind Heaven Cult and its leader at a distance.

“They say a large group of stones never dies. Surely I won't die, will I?”

“You'd better pray the eyes you've built aren't false ones.”

I already had a sparring partner eagerly awaiting a match with me. Of course, sparring once with Father would help me more than ten matches with the Single Flower Sword Supreme.

As Father drew the Heavenly Demon Sword, the air grew heavy, and a formless force began pressing down on me. It did not stab sharply at me. It felt more like enormous boulders crushing me from every direction.

I drew the Black Demon Sword and naturally activated the Heavenly Demon’s Body-Protection Art.

When I withstood the initial pressure without so much as a change of expression, Father's force grew even stronger.

I raised my Heavenly Demon’s Body-Protection Art further. Having advanced considerably during my earlier state of complete absorption, it held firm this time as well.

Then killing intent entered Father's force.

This was the first time I had felt his killing intent directly. It was chilling precisely because it did not feel chilling.

Death had undoubtedly settled somewhere on my body, yet it was as light as a butterfly, and the terror lay in not knowing where it had landed. Searching frantically for that killing intent, I suddenly realized that I had been cast into a sea of it. Then came the fear of that realization, and the helplessness of having no idea what to do. Father's killing intent was a collection of all those negative emotions.

Rather than opposing Father's killing intent, I felt it and accepted it as it was. Amid that dreadful fear and helplessness, I strove for just one thing: not to lose myself. Instead of being devoured by fear, I tried to remain aware of the self experiencing it.

Enduring without resisting.

Sometimes, simply accepting something naturally and enduring it could itself place immense pressure on an opponent.

Sure enough, Father was startled. His surprise reached me clearly.

'Has your mastery truly risen this far?'

The moment I read that emotion in his eyes, he rushed at me.

As Father charged with the Underworld King's Step, I used the same step. Rather than evading him, I rushed straight at him.

CLANG!

We crossed past each other, leaving only a cold metallic ring behind.

At each other's starting points, we turned simultaneously.

The Black Demon Sword in my hand trembled from the impact. Father's Heavenly Demon Sword was trembling too. I would not have noticed before, but with my eyesight enhanced by the New Eye Procedure, I could see every tiny vibration.

Did Father's wrist hurt as much as mine did right now?

“I thought you were doing nothing but playing politics. Not bad.”

“Romance and martial training are things you do out of sight, aren't they? I've been training hard.”

Indeed, I had been sacrificing sleep to devote myself to training.

Even if I had wanted to stop, my body would not have allowed it. The vast, pure internal energy accumulated in my dantian longed to be released into the world, and the Wind God's Four Steps always yearned to face powerful opponents. My Heaven-Soaring Sword Art was progressing beyond complete mastery toward a new level, and even my eyes had improved through the New Eye Procedure.

“Then let's see whether you can block this too.”

The instant he finished speaking, Father vanished from sight. I disappeared at the same time. Like him, I had used the Dark Shadow Step. Today, I had decided to be a mimic.

We reappeared in a corner of the training hall, our swords colliding in midair.

Our stances were identical, as though performed by twins!

Beyond our crossed blades, joy flickered across Father's face. It lasted only an instant, but it was unmistakably the joy of encountering a powerful opponent.

I understood the loneliness of one who stood above all others, but still, Father. I was your son. Not your enemy.

The moment our blades parted, the Heavenly Demon Sword and the Black Demon Sword traced patterns through the air.

We unleashed the Heaven-Balancing Form at each other.

The brilliant white sword light from our blades cleaved the air in two.

Like two meteors meeting in the night sky, the two streaks of light met and vanished. It lasted only an instant, but I found the sight beautiful.

This time, we released the Heaven-Changing Form simultaneously.

Twelve transformations unfolded in the air—from the Heavenly Demon Sword, and from the Black Demon Sword as well.

When one side was dazzling, so was the other. Weight met weight, and speed met speed. Transformation met transformation and vanished.

Our attacks were identical. Like an ink drawing transferred to the other half of a sheet when the paper was folded, we exchanged exactly the same attacks.

Thankfully, Father accepted my intention in mimicking him and refrained from using any unexpected variations.

The next attack was the Fourth Form, Blazing Heaven.

Fierce sword qi swept through the training hall. When the two streams collided, the hall shook violently. A little more internal energy would have been enough to bring it down.

“That's enough!”

Father stopped the match. He seemed to have judged the remaining moves too dangerous. That was how much stronger I had become.

I had wondered whether anything about me could still surprise him, yet today's surprise was something new again.

“Your skill has improved a great deal.”

Father had said “a great deal.” From him, that was lavish praise meaning my skill had improved enormously.

“Then that's fine.”

That single remark held forgiveness.

With everything I had been doing lately concerning the Wind Heaven Cult, he had intended to give me a severe lesson today if I had neglected my martial training. Seeing how much my skill had improved, he had forgiven me instead.

In the end, this had been a reward rather than a punishment. Even a million taels could not buy a mirrored sparring match like this with Father.

If I asked him, “How much would it take? How much for you to give me a proper match?” I might die even though I was his son.

Using the same moves had taught me a great deal. To an outsider, they might have looked identical, but I had distinctly felt the differences. Only when one could perceive those minute differences could one become a truly supreme master.

Today, I felt I had gained a faint understanding of the direction I needed to take toward twelfth-level complete mastery of the Heaven-Soaring Sword Art.

“Aren't you hungry? Let your son buy you a meal today. Let's go out to Demon Family Village.”

I had heard nothing about Father visiting Demon Family Village lately. I made the suggestion fully expecting him to refuse.

“Let's go.”

His unexpected agreement startled me.

“You're really going?”

“Were those empty words?”

“Of course not. Let's go!”

Father changed into ordinary martial attire and put on a bamboo hat that could conceal his face. An official visit would throw all of Demon Family Village into an uproar.

And so I left the main compound with Father. It was our first outing together to Demon Family Village.