Chapter 37: What Lies Beyond the Door

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Training ends today."

The enforcement martial artists showed their disappointment at Jang Ho's words. The training had been so difficult they cursed countless times, but they had also gained a lot.

Their martial arts had not improved by leaps and bounds, but their lax mental discipline was now pulled taut.

For masters at the level of enforcement martial artists, a difference in mental strength could lead to a difference in skill.

Moreover, Jang Ho had taken time to observe their martial arts, correcting improper stances and habits. Thanks to him, many had seen a tangible improvement in their skills.

Until the very end, Jang Ho told each martial artist how to fix their posture and what kind of training they should do in the future.

The enforcement martial artists who had endured such hellish training probably never thought they would say something like this.

"Can't you train us a little longer?"

Just then, I stepped forward from where I had been watching.

"That's going to be difficult. Captain Jang has been appointed to the position of the Demonic Army General."

Everyone was startled at the mention of the Demonic Army General. They had been confined to the training grounds and had not heard any outside news.

"Congratulations."

Someone's congratulations were met with a burst of cheers and applause.

Jang Ho left them with a final farewell.

"I won't forget the time I spent with you all. Well then, see you next time. No, wait, if I see you guys from my position, it means big trouble. Let's hope we never see each other again for the rest of our lives!"

After giving his final, joke-laced farewell, Jang Ho left the place.

I stood on the platform where Jang Ho had been. The look in the enforcement martial artists' eyes was quite different from the first day of training.

"Listen up, you first and last martial artists to be trained by the Demonic Army General!"

A few of them burst into laughter at my words.

"Now, if I order you to go arrest my father, you'll be able to go without fear, right?"

Laughter erupted here and there again.

After lightening the mood, I delivered the words I wanted to say to them.

"Martial arts are important, and fighting well is important. However, I believe the most important thing for those who bear the name of enforcement martial artist is pride. The pride of upholding the rules of our Cult and protecting the system. We walk our own path. Understand?"

"……"

"You've all worked hard in training. I've prepared a banquet, so drink your fill and rest today!"

A cheer of joy, even louder than their previous thunderous reply, erupted.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was waiting for me in the place we always met.

"Seeing you standing tall here is like looking at a guardian stone protecting me."

"Are you calling me a blockhead?"

"How could I?"

I thought he would be furious about me dragging in the Flower Sword Supreme, but he was uncharacteristically calm.

"Congratulations on seating Jang Ho as the Demonic Army General."

"Thank you."

I was more nervous than ever. I did not know what this old man might suddenly do.

However, today's the Blood Heaven Blade Demon showed an unexpected side, just as Jang Ho had.

He was very calm. So much so that it made me wonder, Was this the kind of person the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was all along?

This is why you shouldn't judge a person by seeing only one side of them. You shouldn't be deceived by the front. I still don't know what the other side of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looks like.

"How did you persuade the Sword Supreme?"

"If you promise not to get angry, I'll tell you honestly."

"I won't get angry."

"I provoked the Sword Supreme's pride by saying that you, Elder, are the true Demon Supreme. I used you."

The corners of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's mouth curled up.

"In that case, you're the one who was deceived. There's no way that cunning woman wouldn't have seen through your shallow trick."

He disliked the Flower Sword Supreme, but at least he did not underestimate her.

The same was true for the Sword Supreme. Her getting involved in this matter also meant that she trusted the Blade Demon's judgment of people.

"That fox will definitely try to pull something on you. She'll probably try to stop you from meeting me, using the fact that she helped you as an excuse. What will you do then?"

"For me, you come first, Elder."

"She'll bring up the fact that she helped Jang Ho."

"That's fine, since you helped me first, Elder."

"Will you still say that when she makes you an offer you can't refuse? Just like this."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon took a small box from his robes and held it out.

"A promise is a promise."

I took the box and opened it carefully.

A single, bluish pill radiated a divine spiritual qi as if it were not of this world.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke with an expression that truly showed his regret.

"It's a Azure Jade Divine Pill."

In this moment, I did not need to pretend to be surprised. I was genuinely shocked that he had produced the Azure Jade Divine Pill so readily. I had expected him to make all sorts of excuses and not give it up so easily.

"Oh! Is this really a Azure Jade Divine Pill? How did you obtain this?"

"I've kept it in storage for a long time. It's something I saved without taking it myself."

"Are you really giving it to me?"

"Should I take it back?"

"Of course not."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon drank the alcohol placed before him as if his stomach was churning.

Setting down his cup, he said, "Second Young Lord, I will bet the rest of my life on you."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had laid down the most powerful card he held.

I had once told my father that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had no collection value.

Now, I have to correct that statement.

If you're going to be this bold, then I too will properly collect you.

The Azure Jade Divine Pill that was meant for my brother came to me, and with it, the fates of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and I changed. It did not come by force, but 'willingly', so the change was even greater.

"Thank you for believing in me."

I politely gave him a clasped hands greeting and then made a request.

"I'm going to take the divine pill here and now, so would you stand warden for me?"

At that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was startled.

"You're going to take the divine pill in front of me?"

"Yes. Since you gave it to me, Elder, I believe it's right to take it in front of you."

Standing warden while someone circulates their qi was an act that held a certain symbolic meaning. For a martial artist, it is the final stage of trust.

"You trust me?"

"Isn't it because I trust you that I'm taking this Azure Jade Divine Pill? If you had poisoned it, I would have to do whatever you say to get the antidote."

A look of interest flickered in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eyes.

"What's your reason for believing I didn't poison it?"

"Because you're not the type of person to choose such a despicable method."

"I think I'm quite despicable, though?"

"There are many kinds of despicableness. The Elder I see is not someone who would break a promise by flipping the whole board."

"What if your intuition is wrong?"

"I'll think about that when the time comes. Now, please stand warden for a moment."

In truth, it was a safe gamble. This was because I knew that the Blood Heaven Blade Demon loathed poison techniques and evil arts to the point of shuddering.

I sat down on the spot in a cross-legged position and took the Azure Jade Divine Pill without hesitation.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared at me with a surprised face. It seemed he had not expected me to actually take the miracle herbs in front of him.

The Azure Jade Divine Pill was a miracle herb I had never seen even in my life before regression.

Divine pill, please dissolve well.

The Azure Jade Divine Pill began to melt in my mouth, its medicinal effect spreading past my throat and throughout my entire body. It was a much greater energy than that of the Demonic Essence Pill I had taken before in the Little Heaven Cave.

My blood vessels, strengthened by the Meridians Strengthening Art, opened wide to welcome this immense energy. My vessels willingly became a field to receive the pill's energy, which galloped like a thousand-ri horse. The spiritual qi, rushing like a gale, spread into the fine blood vessels throughout my body.

I poured my heart and soul into circulating my qi to perfectly assimilate this massive energy into my inner arts.

After several rounds of careful qi circulation, I was able to store the divine energy of the Azure Jade Divine Pill in my qi center.

When I opened my eyes, I could see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon a short distance away, staring at me with his arms crossed.

"How did the divine pill taste?"

"It was like honey. I've never eaten anything so delicious in my entire life."

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

He lamented that he had not been able to eat it himself.

"I'm certain it was digested ten times more valuably than if you had taken it yourself."

Now, even if I were to fight the Blood Heaven Blade Demon right in front of me, no one could say I lost because of my inner arts. My qi center was overflowing with that much pure qi.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon squatted down in front of me. Up close, I saw he had more wrinkles than I thought.

"Hey, Second Young Lord."

"Yes, Elder."

He looked into my eyes and asked, "What is your identity? What are you that you could turn my heart upside down and make me spit out a Azure Jade Divine Pill?"

I immediately drew upon my inner arts and unleashed my demonic qi. Like an erupting volcano spewing lava, the demonic qi burst forth. It was a cold and stern energy, different from what I had shown him until now.

"I am the one who will lead you in the future. That is, if you are still alive by then."

Amidst the suffocating energy pressing down on him, various emotions flickered across the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's face. At the very least, he did not scoff, even if he might have been angry.

As I withdrew my demonic qi, the frozen air around us thawed.

"I'll admit you've got guts."

"Let me ask just one thing as well."

"……"

"What is it that you ultimately desire, Elder?"

"What could an old man like me possibly want? I just keep living as I've always lived, pulled along by inertia."

"For you to say that, aren't you far too passionate?"

"Am I?"

"When you push me, you seem like a young man. I can feel a blazing fire."

In that moment, I saw the flames in the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eyes once again. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was still standing alone amidst the flames.

"Do I seem that way?"

"……"

In contrast, he spoke as if he lacked confidence in himself.

"That's a relief. Lately, I thought I had completely cooled down…."

I could guess what kind of feeling this was. No matter how much ambition, aspiration, and desire you put in a basket, there are things that time indifferently takes away.

"Please give me some alcohol."

"Alcohol? But I lost our bet."

"The moment you gave me the Azure Jade Divine Pill without holding back, you won the bet. I will accept your alcohol, Elder."

"Are you serious?"

"Please lead me well from now on."

He's this difficult for even me to handle, so how hard must it be for my enemies? I plan to make the Blood Heaven Blade Demon truly one of my people. I don't know if that will be possible, though.

A deeply moved the Blood Heaven Blade Demon poured me a full cup of alcohol.

"Here, take it."

I coolly drank the alcohol the Blood Heaven Blade Demon gave me.

"Let's do well from now on!"

"Yes, and if you're going to pull any tricks, please only pull as many as I can handle."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had flinched for a moment, burst into laughter.

"Hahaha!"

Since he became the Demon Supreme, I was probably the first person to say the word 'tricks' to his face.

"Let's have another drink."

"Alright!"

I know. Even though he's smiling so broadly right now, he hasn't fully opened the door to his heart yet. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon is not a person who can be judged by only what is visible through that slightly ajar door.

I don't know what lies beyond that door.

Just as my father said that you can never know a person's heart, I intend not to predict or make assumptions about the person known as the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. I will judge him only by what I can see.

And our relationship will be decided on the day that door opens wide.

Whether I burn to death in your flames, you die pierced by my sword, or we become eternal friends, it will all be decided on that day.