Chapter 63: After Giving What Was Due

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader came to see me again. He waited for me in the courtyard, just as he had the first time.

"Will you come inside?"

"No. Let's go to my domain."

The surroundings darkened, then brightened again. The created space was a desolate wasteland. I could see how to break out of this space. A bluish light shimmered on a distant rock.

"Desolate, isn't it? This is my homeland."

"I like that it's quiet. Please invite me there sometime."

"I will." The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gazed at the scenery for a moment, then spoke calmly. "I went back and thought about it, and you were right. I haven't shown you any goodwill yet."

He took a secret manual from his robes and showed it to me. It was the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

"It's the martial art that allows one to create a space like this. In this murim, only those who have mastered the orthodox demonic art of the Blood Cult can perform it."

"!"

"Now that the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme is dead, I suppose I'm the only one who can properly perform this demonic art."

Something truly unexpected had appeared. I personally disliked soul-charming techniques and evil arts. This one martial art, however, I found very appealing.

"In a critical situation, this space will save your life. The moment you step into this space, you have vanished from the original world."

Just as he said, the Spacetime Manipulation Technique had various uses. It could be a private space or an escape route in a crisis. Learning it would be like gaining another Heavenly Demon Defense Art.

From the Echoing Thunder Bell, the first ingredient for the Great Regression Technique, to the Bloodeye Holy Water, and now this Spacetime Manipulation Technique. I felt fated to be deeply connected with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"What do you think? Is this enough goodwill for you?"

"It's more than enough."

I reached out my hand without hesitation. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, however, did not hand over the manual.

"If you expect something in return, it's not goodwill, is it?"

When I expressed my disappointment, he replied.

"Isn't showing my hand first a sign of goodwill?"

He meant that presenting this excellent martial art without weighing the pros and cons was the goodwill itself.

"What is it that you want?"

At that, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's gaze returned to the desolate land. He watched the wind kick up sand and said.

"I don't want to breathe this dust anymore."

His words meant only one thing. His desire was to advance into the Central Plains, just as my father had said.

"If you help me take that first step, the Spacetime Manipulation Technique is yours."

My heart fluttered for a moment, but I boldly pulled back my outstretched hand.

The moment you reveal your greed, any negotiation becomes disadvantageous.

"It's a shame, but that's not something I can decide."

"I know. It's a matter for the Cult Leader to decide."

"It's an issue that not only my father but also the Demon Supremes will have to weigh in on."

The Demon Supremes would certainly get involved in matters concerning the Heavenly Wind Cult.

"That's why. That's why I'm trying to give you this manual."

"What do you want specifically?"

"In two days, I have a meeting scheduled with the Cult Leader. I intend to settle our Cult's advance into the Central Plains on that day. At that time, I want you to step forward with me and persuade the Cult Leader. If you promise to do that, I'll give you this manual."

He would give me the manual regardless of the outcome. It was a truly unconventional offer, less a condition and more a gift.

Even so, I did not snatch it up. Instead, I showed a contemplative expression.

"Your method is wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"No matter how much you and I try to persuade him, my father will never permit the Heavenly Wind Cult's advance into the Central Plains."

"Then what should I do?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult's advance into the Central Plains.

Unlike our Cult's policy, which has forbidden it until now, I don't think it's a bad idea.

Unless we were going to destroy the Heavenly Wind Cult, there was no need to keep a potential enemy at our backs. Like the old advice to keep your enemies closer than your friends, I judged it better to keep the Heavenly Wind Cult close and manage them.

I said nothing.

Then, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader held out the manual to me.

"With this, can I hear the answer?"

"It's more than enough."

I accepted the manual.

I felt the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was no ordinary man. There was a clear difference between handing it over after hearing the answer and handing it over beforehand.

This man, he came here determined to win my favor.

Instead of rushing my answer, he explained the manual. If he was going to give it to me anyway, he would do it in the most pleasant way possible. He knew how to make a deal.

"Of course, I created this space so quickly because I've trained for a long time. At first, you probably won't be able to create it even if you chant the incantation all day. Even someone with outstanding talent will take a few days at the earliest, or more than ten days at the longest. Those with dull senses might take several months, and some may never succeed."

"How long did it take you to create it for the first time, Cult Leader?"

"It took me three days."

Three days meant he had considerable talent.

"The time it takes on the first attempt is important. The shorter that time, the more drastically the time will decrease afterward. Unlike other martial arts, this Spacetime Manipulation Technique depends entirely on the practitioner's talent for and understanding of martial studies."

I wonder how long it will take me? With the body of a Heavenly Martial Body and my current level of martial understanding?

"How long can you maintain this space?"

"It depends on one's inner arts, but if I push myself at complete mastery, about one hour? Even now, as I'm talking with you, my inner arts are being rapidly depleted."

"Is it possible to use this space permanently?"

At the word 'permanently', the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed shortly. That hollow laugh meant, Do you think that's possible?

"If the amount of inner arts recovered here is greater than the amount needed to maintain it, wouldn't it be possible to keep the space open permanently?"

"That is truly the dream of those who have learned the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. Among the previous Cult Leaders of the Blood Cult, no one has yet succeeded."

"So you're saying it is possible."

"Someone with immense inner arts and a heaven-sent genius for martial arts might be able to do it."

That heaven-sent martial arts genius, the Heavenly Martial Body, is me.

How long will it take me to create it for the first time? Will I ever be able to maintain this space permanently?

"What if I just take this manual and don't tell you a proper method?"

"Then you'll become the Cult Leader with the worst relationship with our Cult and the Eight Demon Supremes in history. Ah, you probably wouldn't become the Cult Leader at all."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gave me the manual.

"Destroy it after you've learned it."

He tried hard to hide his reluctance, but he clearly found it a waste.

"I will. In return, please interpret the oral secrets for me once."

"You want me to interpret them?"

"This isn't the original manual, is it?"

"Of course not."

"If you made a mistake of even a single character while transcribing it, there would be a problem."

"Are you doubting me? That's impossible!"

"If you interpret it for me, Cult Leader, I'll be able to grasp its true meaning."

A look of displeasure crossed the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's face for a moment. He soon readily accepted my request, however.

"Fine. I'll interpret the oral secrets, so listen carefully. It's an incredibly difficult martial art, so you'll have to focus and listen well."

From his attitude, I could guess.

This man, he thinks I won't be able to properly master this martial art.

The martial art was indeed that difficult.

However, as I listened to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's explanation, I accurately grasped the mysteries of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. He could not possibly imagine how deeply I understood it from a single explanation.

And so, I was taught the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. It was also the moment we became temporary allies.

"Now, tell me the answer."

"For the Heavenly Wind Cult to advance into the Central Plains…." I looked at him and calmly added. "You should intervene in the succession struggle of the Western Illusion Sanctum."

"I'm so damn tired after giving away what's mine."

Returning to his residence, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader slumped into his seat. He was mentally exhausted. He had to maintain his dignity while giving away something he did not want to.

The man in shackles did not even greet him when he arrived. He just stared blankly at the Echoing Thunder Bell.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader glanced at him, gauging his mood.

"I did as you said and passed on the Spacetime Manipulation Technique to the Second Young Lord. I don't know if this was the right thing to do."

Without turning around, the man in shackles answered.

"You did well."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader flinched at the polite words. He usually started with curses, so a polite day was a bad mood day.

I'd better be careful.

On days like this, the curses would always explode all at once at the end. He was only human. Sometimes, listening to the torrent of insults made him want to strike the man dead with a single blow.

That must never happen. He could not imagine himself without the man in shackles. His role as the brains was one thing, but he would not be able to bear the emptiness if his daily conversation partner disappeared.

"Do you know what he proposed before you say that?"

He had assumed the man would not know, but the man in shackles repeated Geom Mugeuk's exact words.

"He must have told you to intervene in the succession struggle of the Western Illusion Sanctum."

He spoke as if he had been there, making the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader jump in surprise.

"How did you know?"

"Because as of now, that's the best method."

"You knew? What, you knew all along. This is, damn it! If you knew the method, why did you make me waste the Spacetime Manipulation Technique on the Second Young Lord?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said.

"Unless the disciples of the dead Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme have inherited all of her teachings, they will definitely need your help, Cult Leader. You must make the person who trusts you and is willing to learn your martial arts the successor. If you can become the Master of the next Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme, you can consider it the first step toward advancing into the Central Plains."

After hearing it, he had thought it was plausible. He had marveled that such a method existed.

But what if the man in shackles knew about it too?

"Why did you make me give away the precious manual!"

He had acted magnanimous in front of Geom Mugeuk, but he felt like he was dying from the waste.

"Speak! Hurry up and tell me!"

He went next to the man in shackles and started shouting.

At that, the man in shackles looked at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader with an annoyed expression.

"What? What are you going to do, looking at me like that? I'm the Cult Leader, the Cult Leader! You want to die today?"

Even as he yelled, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader mentally prepared himself. This was the moment the curses would erupt.

However, the man in shackles was calm.

"We didn't buy the method, and the Second Young Lord didn't sell the method either."

"What?"

"What you bought, Cult Leader, was an opportunity."

"What kind of opportunity?"

"The opportunity to make the Second Young Lord an ally. I don't know how many more times we'll have to buy it to become firm allies, though."

"Are you really so sure that the Second Young Lord is that great of a person? Are you really sure he'll become the next Heavenly Demon!"

"I don't know."

"What?"

"How can anyone know the future?"

"What kind of irresponsible thing is that to say?"

"You gave what was due, so why the regrets?"

"Because it's a waste! That's why!"

To the man in shackles, he could cast off his dignity and reveal his innermost thoughts like this. He often wanted to kill him, but that also meant he had confided in him just as much.

"So what should I do now?"

"Get close to the Second Young Lord. Do as he says."

"I should do as you say. I don't know what kind of dark intentions the Second Young Lord might be harboring…."

"That's enough!"

Finally, at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's worries, the man in shackles exploded. The curses burst out all at once.

"You pathetic bastard! When you join hands with someone who has momentum, even giving them a gift, you should be thinking about riding that momentum, not doubting them like a damn fool! You die because you harbor stupid thoughts like an idiot. You know what all those who die a dog's death in the murim have in common? They don't use their heads when they should, and use them when they shouldn't! They refuse to trust when they should, and then suddenly believe when they should be suspicious. That's why they die. Aren't you going to put your fingers down? Before I chop them off! Don't count today! No more questions! Don't you open that mouth unless you're really going to kill me!"

As the pouting Heavenly Wind Cult Leader put down all his fingers, a new space opened.

The man in shackles gazed at the green fields and the clear, cloudless sky spread before them. He then said politely, "Cult Leader, what are you curious about? Just say the word."