Chapter 3: What is Your Wish?

TL: FoodieMonster007

I opened my eyes. I had opened and closed my eyes countless times in my life, but never had it been as desperate as this.

Please, let me return to a time when I can undo everything. Please!

What unfolded before my eyes was a scene that compensated for all the hardships I had endured before my return.

I was standing on a duel stage as wide as a plaza. Beyond the thousands of warriors filling the audience seats, I could see colossal demonic statues. The three-colored statues, red, blue, and yellow, were shaped as if clashing with each other around the training ground. Their massive swords, blades, and fists served as the roof of the duel arena, and far beyond them, an even larger statue stood tall. The black demonic statue, looking down on the world arrogantly with its arms crossed, was the very symbol of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

I've returned to the past!

My heart began to pound as if it would burst.

"WAAAAAAAH!"

As if to celebrate my return, cheers erupted from all sides. The demonic followers of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult filled the area around the training ground.

Come to think of it, today is!

Just then, a man from the other side stepped onto the duel stage.

The day of the Shinma-jaengtu.

Around this time, my father had made a shocking announcement that he would not limit the next Cult Leader to his own bloodline. The entire cult was stirred by the announcement. Now, anyone with enough skill could become the Heavenly Demon. As if to add weight to his announcement, my father held a duel tournament for the prodigies within the cult. That was the Shinma-jaengtu, and he gave the winner of the Shinma-jaengtu the opportunity to challenge one of his two sons. Regardless of whether the winner or the son won, the Heavenly Demon promised to grant the victor one wish.

So, how could the fervor of the Shinma-jaengtu not be intense? A large number of young prodigies from the cult participated to prove their mettle. After ten days of fierce competition, a winner emerged from the tournament, and the opponent he chose was me.

"Geom Mugeuk! Geom Mugeuk!"

The warriors chanted my name. It was the very name the Ghostly Sage had been so desperate to know. I am Geom Mugeuk, the younger of the Heavenly Demon's two sons.

As the warriors cheered for Geom Mugeuk, my duel opponent, the tournament winner, scowled deeply.

"Hmph! The name they're shouting will change when this match is over. I won't go easy on you, no matter who you are."

At the time, I was displeased that he had chosen me. It meant he saw me as an easier target than my older brother. However, looking back, there was another reason the bastard chose me.

"How about you forfeit now?"

The bastard was already confident of his victory.

In fact, I lost this duel. It was not because I lacked skill. It was because of my opponent's petty scheme. He had bribed my kitchen cook to lace my food with a Qi Dispersing Poison that temporarily made it impossible to use inner arts.

It was not an ordinary Qi Dispersing Poison. It was a special kind that showed no symptoms under normal circumstances, but would scatter one's inner arts in a strenuous situation like a duel. I later found out it was a Qi Dispersing Poison called Heukbi, developed by the Evil Alliance and secretly distributed on the market.

In any case, after losing the duel that day, I reported the fact to my father, but he said nothing in particular. I remember him giving me a look that seemed to rebuke me for falling for such a trivial scheme.

Afterward, I made a series of reckless moves to make up for today's defeat. My enemy back then was not my brother or the other successor candidates. My enemies were my impatience and my wounded pride. Whenever I closed my eyes, I would recall my father's pathetic gaze on me.

A series of mistakes and failures. I tripped over my own feet and fell further away from the succession contest. Everything started with today's defeat.

Standing at that fateful turning point, my first words were this.

"What was your name again?"

Laughter erupted from the crowd, and my opponent's expression hardened. He must have thought I was mocking him, but I truly could not remember his name.

"To disregard me, Gu Pyeongho, is the same as insulting my Master!"

"Ah, right. It was Gu Pyeongho."

Gu Pyeongho was the fifth of the seven disciples of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon Gu Cheonpa, one of the Eight Demon Supremes. He probably won the Shinma-jaengtu by using all sorts of cowardly tricks, though I could not be sure.

"Hey, let's get this straight. I'm disregarding you, why are you dragging your Master into this?"

For a moment, laughter broke out among the warriors. It was the laughter of the followers from the Flower Sword Supreme's side, who were not on good terms with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"Second Young Lord! Seeing as you're provoking me like this, you must be confident in your skills."

I ignored his words and looked toward the Heavenly Demon, who was seated on the high seat in the distance. Even in a place with thousands of demonic followers, he exuded a definite presence that screamed, 'I am here.'

If you brought someone who did not know my father and told them to find the Heavenly Demon here, they would undoubtedly find him. Father's presence was like seeing a blood-red circle in a black and white painting.

On either side of my father sat the Eight Demon Supremes, the eight masters representing our Cult. They were only humbling themselves because my father was next to them, but they too possessed powerful presences.

My eyes met my father's. In his gaze toward me, I read a thought.

How will you overcome this predicament?

It was a look I had never been able to perceive at the time.

Ah! Father already knew I had been hit with the Qi Dispersing Poison.

To think he had grasped everything while pretending to be indifferent, feigning ignorance of the succession struggle. The same event as the past was unfolding, but I could tell it was a completely different situation.

So he knew everything? In that case…

Tattling after getting hit like before is the worst plan.

Postponing the match because I was hit with Qi Dispersing Poison is a mediocre plan.

Winning even without inner arts is the best plan.

Naturally, I had to use the best plan. I was no longer the shaggy-haired brat from back then. I had lived a life far longer than even my father's.

In truth, someone like Gu Pyeongho is nothing more than a one-move opponent, even if I fight without inner arts. However, I could not reveal my true skills with so many demonic followers watching.

I raised my hand high, drawing everyone's attention. Then I said in the loudest voice I could manage.

"In this place where the heroes of our Cult have gathered, I will declare this proudly. I'll face Gu Pyeongho without using inner arts! I'm confident I can win even without using inner arts!"

A moment of silence followed my declaration, then a thunderous roar erupted.

"WAAAAAAAAH!"

In contrast, Gu Pyeongho's face visibly distorted. He hadn't expected me to come out like this. He must be dying to ask.

How did you know about the Qi Dispersing Poison? It's a Qi Dispersing Poison that only takes effect once a fight breaks out.

You're dying of curiosity, aren't you?

If he were the only one to use inner arts in this situation, he would become a coward.

Engulfed in bewilderment, Gu Pyeongho shouted with a beet-red face.

"If the Second Young Lord insists, then I too will not use inner arts."

He reacted just as I had expected. A few of his followers clapped, but no cheers followed. His choice had turned what could have been a thrilling fight between one with inner arts and one without into a boring fight between two men with no inner arts. I could even hear deflated sighs.

Gu Pyeongho was flustered, and that bewilderment turned into anger directed at me.

"Second Young Lord! Even though we aren't using inner arts, my blade has no eyes, so you'd best be careful."

I ignored the bastard's warning and examined my body. A strange sense of unfamiliarity with this young body dominated me. The sword I used back then felt as light as a toy.

Will this body really move as I intend?

Gu Pyeongho drew his blade with vigor, but I did the opposite, unfastening my sword and placing it on the floor. The chances of my true skills being revealed were higher if I used a sword.

At that, another cheer erupted. Isn't it the nature of demonic followers to cheer when someone thoroughly ignores and mocks their opponent?

Naturally, Gu Pyeongho's anger exploded.

"Since you're the Cult Leader's flesh and blood, I can't bring myself to kill you, but I'll take one of your arms!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Pyeongho leaped toward me. He closed the distance and struck down with his blade, aiming for my shoulder.

SWOOSH!

I watched the approaching blade until the very last moment, then twisted my body to dodge it.

Good, good!

My worry about whether my body would move as I willed was unfounded. It reacted instantly, faster and more vigorous than expected. It was as if my body was saying this.

Have you forgotten? This is you in your youth, is it not?

It was an age when I felt like I could run all day, when my clenched fists felt like they could shatter anything.

So this is how powerfully my heart beat at this age!

A laugh escaped me on its own. I was so happy I felt like letting out a cheer.

Seeing my smile, Gu Pyeongho went even more berserk.

"This crazy bastard is laughing?"

His eyes bloodshot, Gu Pyeongho blatantly swung his blade, aiming for my vital points. He was the type who might end up using inner arts to unleash his blade energy, so I didn't drag it out any longer.

Dodging the blade that persistently flew at me, trying to sever my arm, I rushed toward the bastard's chest.

Gu Pyeongho let out a desperate gasp and tried to defend himself, but my elbow was already sinking into his solar plexus.

THWACK!

I stuck to Gu Pyeongho like a shadow as he was thrown backward.

My fists landed in succession. The first quick blow shattered his nose, and the second heavy punch broke his ribs. Even without using inner arts, we were martial artists who had trained in martial arts since we were young. We could take down a bull with our bare hands, so there was no way his body could withstand it.

I didn't stop there. As he screamed and collapsed, I snatched his wrist.

"Which hand did you use to release the poison? This one?"

Holding his arm, I leaped up and then stomped down with a powerful step.

"……"

Using the power that surged up from the sole of my foot through my entire body, I used my knee as a lever and broke his arm.

CRUUUUNCH!

The shockwave that washed over him like a tidal wave completely shattered his wrist, elbow, and shoulder.

"AAAAAACK!"

Even without the gruesome scream, everyone could tell. With the arm and shoulder he used for his blade completely crushed, he was now crippled beyond recovery.

Cheers erupted from all sides.

"WAAAAAAAAH!"

It wasn't a clumsy match but a decisive victory with a real spectacle, satisfying everyone. The demonic followers from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's side jeered, but their boos were drowned out by the unending cheers.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, sitting among the crowd, showed no reaction despite his disciple being shattered, merely watching the situation unfold.

As the heat, cheers, and groans of pain subsided, my father finally rose from his seat. The red dragon embroidered on his pure white dragon robe looked as if it would ascend to the heavens at any moment.

The Eight Demon Supremes who were with him all rose at once.

SHWAAAAAA.

Like a continuous wave, every demonic follower in the arena stood up and paid their respects to the absolute ruler.

The Heavenly Demon, Geom Woojin.

The strongest of this era.

…For now.

Father looked at me. His gaze was so powerful it felt like it could pierce through my body.

Back then, I was terrified of my father. I don't think I ever properly met that intense gaze, which seemed to look down on people. So how could I have ever had a proper conversation with him? In the end, my perception of my father was built on speculation, prejudice, and rumors.

I want to tell my past self this.

When it comes to human relationships, don't just imagine things on your own. Look straight, and listen properly. The answer isn't inside you. The other person is over there.

I didn't avoid my father's gaze. What was so scary about that expression? There was just a man trying not to lose his authority to rule over ten thousand demons amidst countless challenges and schemes aimed at his position. The resulting heartlessness and curtness were just a product of that. Things I could not see back then are visible to me now.

"What is your wish?"

Father's deep, heavy voice, even without being imbued with inner arts, was heard by everyone and had the power to make the listener shrink.

Everyone listened intently for my answer. The Eight Demon Supremes beside him, in particular, were on high alert, wondering what I would say.

"My wish is…"

I hadn't expected to return to this day, so I followed my instincts.

"I want to go hunting with you, Father."

Perhaps because it was an unexpected request, my father flinched in surprise. The demonic followers watching also began to murmur. They surely hadn't expected me to make such a wish. Since he wouldn't grant a wish to become the successor, they must have expected me to ask for at least a treasured sword or a martial arts manual.

"Hunting with me?"

"Yes. Just the two of us, Father. I heard you enjoyed hunting in your youth. I'd like to take this opportunity to learn how to hunt."

After staring at me silently for a moment, my father said curtly.

"We leave at dawn tomorrow."

Having finished speaking, my father turned to leave. The lone, red Heavenly Demon in the black and white painting began to walk, and all the demonic followers bowed their heads. Not even a breath could be heard in that place where thousands had gathered.

Only after the Heavenly Demon and the Eight Demon Supremes had left the area did a venomous voice finally sound out.

"That idiot. To think he'd make such a pathetic wish…"

I turned to see Gu Pyeongho being carried away on the back of his Senior Brothers, his arm dangling limply. I scratched my head and said to the bastard.

"Sorry. What was your name again?"

Ignored until the very end, Gu Pyeongho shrieked.

"AAAAAACK! Kill him! Senior Brother! Please, I'm begging you to kill him!"

However, with the duel over, no one dared to attack me. They merely glared at me coldly before taking Gu Pyeongho and leaving.

Now that I'm back, your reckless lives won't be so fun anymore.

I was grateful to the heavens for sending me back to the most important turning point of my life, and though he tried to betray me, I was also grateful to the Ghostly Sage who had completed the great technique.

Thank you, truly.

I looked up at the sky, as brilliantly blue as my own youth, and smiled brightly.