Chapter 7: You'd Rather Die?

TL: FoodieMonster007

After returning from the hunt, I entered the training grounds. I needed to hone the secret technique my father had taught me, practicing how to imbue the wind with qi and release multiple streams of it simultaneously.

I considered eating a waste of time, so I subsisted on jerky. I replaced sleep with circulating my qi. The more I trained, the more I realized the skill's importance. Detecting an enemy's ambush beforehand was like having a spare life.

I trained diligently the entire time. I had learned countless times that in life, if you do not walk today, you will have to run tomorrow.

After several days immersed in training, I finally left the training grounds. I could now freely imbue the wind with qi and had increased the number of streams to three or four.

Lee Ahn was waiting at the entrance.

"Young Master, you should rest and have a proper meal now."

"I told you to go about your business. Why are you here?"

"Protecting you is my job, Young Master."

It seemed she had been guarding the front of the training grounds the entire time I was training.

I decided some shock therapy was needed to change this stubborn girl's mind.

"Is standing guard in front of this door really for my sake?"

"What do you mean?"

"If someone ambushed me, what would you do?"

"I'd throw my body in the way to block it."

"If you died taking a blade for me, how do you think I'd feel? Would I be happy I survived? Would I dance in the middle of the training grounds?"

"I don't think you would… but it's better than dying. Besides, you're not a very good dancer."

"That's a selfish sacrifice that only values your own feelings."

I did not want to label her noble spirit of sacrifice as selfish. However, I had to use this kind of shock therapy on her. The problem was, it was not working.

"Yes, yes. From now on, please call me the selfish bitch who only cares about her own feelings."

"Lee Ahn, do you really want to protect me?"

"……"

"Then start training in martial arts right now. When the moment comes that you truly need to protect me, don't just passively block. Kill the opponent!"

If she becomes strong, that strength will become a cornerstone for her own happiness.

She did not react to my words like a joke. Instead, she quietly nodded her head.

Just then, someone shouted from a distance.

"Hey, lump of fat!"

I turned and saw three people walking toward us. They were the Blood Heaven Blade Demon disciples.

"Is the Second Young Lord not out again today?"

Their attitude suggested they had come looking for me several times while I was training.

But, what? Lump of fat? Have those bastards lost their minds?

I seemed to be hidden from their sight behind Lee Ahn's large frame.

"How many times have you had to put up with this crap?"

"I'm fine. It's no big deal."

"If this isn't a big deal, then what is? Does your family have to be massacred by an enemy for it to be a big deal?"

"Young Master! I'm fine."

Lee Ahn worried I might cause trouble. She would worry if I got hurt, and she would worry if they got hurt.

"Lee Ahn. You don't have to worry so much. I won't go crazy and ruin my life over you. Everyone in the world is like that. They all look out for themselves."

As they drew closer, Lee Ahn spoke quickly.

"Young Master, it doesn't seem like they've come with good intentions. It might be best for you to step away for a moment."

"Sure, I should avoid them. I avoid hornets, dog shit, and my father's wrath, but not them."

The three bastards stood before me.

"Oh? The Second Young Lord was here too."

The one sneering at Lee Ahn was Yangpo, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's second brother disciple.

I knew exactly what kind of person Yangpo was. He was trash in a different way than Gu Pyeongho, who had used the Qi Dispersing Poison.

This guy was famous for looking down on people and tormenting them psychologically. Yes, that kid.

My gaze shifted to the handsome disciple with Yangpo.

He was the youngest. He had the kindest personality among the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's disciples, but he eventually committed suicide because of Yangpo's hellish bullying.

How disgustingly must he have been tormented for a martial artist to take his own life?

Even now, the youngest's expression was not bright. He was probably dragged here against his will.

The other one was the fourth disciple. I could not remember his name, but I did not remember him as a particularly good person.

My gaze returned to Yangpo.

"Insulting my bodyguard is the same as insulting me, isn't it?"

"My apologies, I didn't see the Second Young Lord. She's quite large."

"It doesn't matter whether I'm here or not, does it?"

"I'm telling you, I didn't see the Second Young Lord with her."

This ignorant fool could not even grasp the point.

That he could act this way was entirely my father's fault. After the announcement that anyone in the cult could become the successor, the special status of being the Heavenly Demon's son had faded considerably.

He was trying to use this opportunity to earn the title of 'one who doesn't back down even from the Heavenly Demon's son'.

"You came looking for me several times?"

"I did."

"……"

"You're asking because you don't know? Junior Brother Gu's body is now in a state where he can no longer practice martial arts."

"So what? Should I nurse him back to health? Lee Ahn, go get a rag. Let's go wipe his sweat."

"Second Young Lord! Do I look like I'm joking?"

"We're not exactly on terms to have a serious conversation."

Yangpo's demeanor turned fierce, perhaps because he felt ignored. It was laughable that a man who tormented others to death could get so upset over a few taunts.

"If you cripple a man, you have to take responsibility!"

"Did you hear that your junior brother used Qi Dispersing Poison?"

"Hmph! That was probably something you fabricated."

"Oh, so you're going to insist on that?"

"Enough talk. Give a formal apology."

I could guess why the bastard had come to demand an apology.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had not chosen a head disciple, so his disciples tried their best to get on his good side. Yangpo was trying to earn merit by getting a formal apology from me, thereby saving the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I wonder if your Master will really make you his head disciple for doing this."

"What are you talking about! I came to see the Second Young Lord for my junior brother's sake. To clear his name of this injustice! Understand?"

"What injustice?"

"Although my junior brother's attack was excessive, you intentionally crushed his arm."

He must have thought he had a valid point, but it was like a child's trick in the palm of the Buddha.

"Then were my father and the Eight Demon Supremes Elders wrong?"

"What nonsense is this?"

Yangpo startled at the sudden mention of my father and the Eight Demon Supremes.

"Isn't it obvious? Father acknowledged my victory and asked for my wish. Your Master didn't protest at all. So what? Are you saying the Cult Leader and your Master lack the judgment that even a giant dao would have?"

Yangpo stammered, completely flustered.

"Th-that's sophistry! It's not like that!"

"Isn't it? You're saying the Cult Leader pretended not to see his own flesh and blood's wrongdoing and covered it up, right?"

Yangpo's face turned deathly pale.

"Don't say such ridiculous things!"

How can he possibly beat me with words?

"Or do you think he's gone senile? Is that it?"

"Shut up! How dare you be so insolent!"

Yangpo looked back at his fellow disciples, but they were just as flustered.

One wrong move could get him accused of criticizing the Heavenly Demon, so Yangpo reluctantly backed down.

"I'll withdraw for today, but this isn't over."

"Wait! You have to apologize before you go."

"What apology?"

"Apologize for the rude things you said to my subordinate."

Only then did their gazes turn to Lee Ahn. The Second Young Lord's fat subordinate had not even been on their radar from the beginning.

Of course, Lee Ahn wanted the matter to end here.

"I'm fine, Young Master."

"I'm not fine. You dared to run your mouth at my subordinate, so get on your knees and apologize. Your apology won't be sincere anyway, so at least show it with your actions. Let the rumors spread that you knelt."

Yangpo spoke with a look of disbelief.

"Are you telling me to kneel to that pig bitch?"

"Yep. It'd be even better if you touched your forehead to the ground."

"Second Young Lord, are you crazy? I'd rather die than kneel."

The answer I wanted came quickly.

"You'd rather die? How manly. Fine, I'll grant your wish."

CHAANG.

Yangpo startled when I drew my sword.

"You really are crazy."

"If you leave like this, rumors will spread throughout our Cult."

Yangpo looked around to see if anyone was watching.

"Not there, here."

I puckered my lips obnoxiously.

"This mouth right here is going to spread all the rumors. That the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's second brother disciple got scared and ran away from the Second Young Lord. I don't know for sure, but your Master won't be too pleased. You'll live with the label of a coward for the rest of your life."

Yangpo's expression hardened. He had come to get on his master's good side, but now he was about to get on his bad side.

"Kneel and apologize, or fight me. The choice is yours."

"Why are you going this far?"

"You can come looking for me. You can demand I save your junior brother. You can even come in a group to get revenge. I understand all that, but why pick on my subordinate? Why call her a lump of fat? Did you ever buy her a meal? Did you?"

Far from reflecting, Yangpo's expression grew even more unpleasant.

"So you really mean to kill me for that fatso."

"Correct."

Yangpo's eyes narrowed fiercely, and he moved just as I expected.

"Just who do you think I am!"

"My subordinate is a hundred times more precious than you. No, a thousand times, no…."

Before it could reach ten thousand, Yangpo drew his blade.

CHAANG.

"Senior Brother, don't!"

The fourth brother behind him hurriedly tried to stop him, but Yangpo had already lost his senses.

"Second Young Lord, you may be arrogant after defeating Junior Brother Gu, but you'll soon regret it. Since you're the Cult Leader's son, I can't kill you, but I'll take one of your arms to avenge my junior brother."

Yangpo was confident he could defeat me.

I do not remember exactly, but my skills around this time were on par with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's disciples. It was all because of my older brother. He had tormented and checked me since I was young, preventing me, the possessor of the Heavenly Martial Body, from properly developing my martial arts.

"What will you do without your Qi Dispersing Poison?"

"Don't be ridiculous! I'm different from Junior Brother Gu!"

Yangpo launched a preemptive strike and pushed me back.

In my past life, I had experienced many times that a martial artist's character and martial arts skill were not proportional.

Yangpo was no exception. He displayed a blade art incomparably brilliant to his trash-like personality. His skills were enough to be a worthy match for me at that time.

Of course, to the current me, he was just a one-move opponent, same as Gu Pyeongho.

However, to hide my true skills, I fought him as if we were evenly matched.

Every time Yangpo pushed me into a corner, his watching junior brothers cried out in admiration.

Conversely, Lee Ahn let out a short scream each time. She could not jump in because it was a duel by mutual agreement. Otherwise, she would have intervened several times.

After twenty-some patient exchanges, I unleashed the assassination technique I had planned.

I had been matching my opponent's movements until now. It was time to unleash the essence of the Soaring Sky Sword Art.

Like a willow leaf swaying in a gentle breeze, my sword trembled lightly.

HWIRIK!

PUUUUK!

Red blood sprayed forth.

My sword pierced through the bastard's mouth and out the back of his head.

TOK, TOK.

In the frozen silence, only blood dripped from the tip of my sword.

I looked into the man's fading eyes and said.

"You're dying because of that mouth. It was that mouth that insulted my subordinate, and it was that mouth that refused to apologize."

With that mouth, you killed your kind junior brother, and it's a mouth that will kill many more in the future. So, this is where you end.

I pulled out my sword. Yangpo spewed blood from his mouth and collapsed forward.

"Senior Brother!"

His junior brothers rushed to check on Yangpo, but he was already a cold corpse. They were horrified. They surely had not expected me to actually kill Yangpo. Of course, Lee Ahn stared at me, even more shocked.

The fourth brother shouted accusingly.

"You killed our Senior Brother? Second Young Lord, you really…."

"What did you expect?"

"Can you handle the consequences of this?"

I looked at him and said coldly.

"Your mouth resembles your Senior Brother's."

The man recalled my earlier words about dying because of one's mouth and clamped his mouth shut like a clam.

"Report exactly what happened. If you add a single word that wasn't said, I'll come for you in the night."

They carried Yangpo's body and left. Then I saw it. The youngest brother's look of relief.

How bad must it have been for him to be unable to hide his joy at someone's death?

He, who would have originally died from Yangpo's bullying, would now live. The kitchen servant who mixed the Qi Dispersing Poison into the food died as he was supposed to, but the youngest disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who was originally supposed to die, would now live. Fate can stay the same, and it can also change.

Good youngest disciple, endure well and become the Blade Demon's head disciple later on!

That was my wish, but achieving it was up to his own will and effort.

Meanwhile, Lee Ahn stared at me as if she had lost the whole world.

"You said everyone looks out for themselves, didn't you? You told me not to worry, didn't you?"

"It wasn't because of you, so wipe that look off your face!"

"…It was because of me, wasn't it?"

"It wasn't, so don't get the wrong idea."

"Then why did you cause such a big incident?"

"What's the big deal? I just killed a guy who deserved to die."

"The Blood Heaven Blade Demon won't just stand by."

"He will. There's nothing to gain by stepping in."

"Do you really think so?"

"Think about it. This fight started because his disciple insulted the Second Young Lord's bodyguard. He died because he was stubborn about something that would have ended with an apology. What would the Blood Heaven Blade Demon gain by getting involved? He'd only be criticized for raising his disciple poorly."

"Couldn't his pride be hurt?"

"The Blood Heaven Blade Demon doesn't have that kind of pride."

"How do you know?"

"I just know. Your handsome Young Master knows everything."

My relaxed attitude finally seemed to ease Lee Ahn's tension.

"Well, that's a relief, then."

"On the contrary, killing Yangpo benefits me. Everyone will pay attention to me now. If there are points needed to become the successor, I've just added one."

I crushed Gu Pyeongho in a duel, and now I have even killed Yangpo. All eyes in the cult will be on me.

"Don't tell me you thought that far ahead?"

"Of course. This was about killing a disciple of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Did you think I killed him just because I was in a bad mood?"

I left a strong impression on my father during the hunt. I have to keep this momentum going.

"Lee Ahn, insulting you is insulting me. So, in a situation like before, don't say you're fine."

"My thinking was shortsighted."

"We'll be worrying about much more important problems from now on. Will the owner of the trash get angry because we threw it out? This is the last day for such petty and useless worries."

An intense emotion flickered in Lee Ahn's eyes as she looked at me.

"You're serious. Young Master… you've really changed."

"It's also a reason for you to change."

My transformation over the past few days was enough to change her.

Lee Ahn nodded her head.

"I'll change too. I'll become stronger!"

It will not be as easy as it sounds. She will struggle, hesitate, and look back time and again. Changing a person's life is never easy. Even my own seemingly effortless transformation was only possible because of my entire past life.

"And Young Master, thank you for today. When you took my side earlier, I was so happy. Truly."

"Of course you should be thankful. Don't you ever forget what happened today!"

She smiled. It was not just any smile, but a huge, beaming one where her eyes completely disappeared into her cheeks.

Yes, smile like that. I've returned, so from now on, live your life smiling like that.