Chapter 70: The Difference in Meticulousness

TL: FoodieMonster007

Cheong Seon performed the Nine Bows and officially became a disciple of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

The news spread instantly, stirring the entire cult, including the Western Illusion Sanctum.

Unexpectedly, more people supported her choice than criticized it.

They thought it wiser for her to learn properly from the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader before becoming the Demon Supreme. Ascending to the position with weak demonic arts just to save face seemed foolish. As expected, the people of the Cult pursued practical benefits over justification.

The shamans of the Western Illusion Sanctum, who were expected to have the strongest backlash, supported her even more strongly.

This put the first disciple Yang Do in a difficult position. His plan to worsen public opinion by framing Cheong Seon for receiving outside help had failed.

Now, no one knew who would become the successor.

"What do you think of her?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was curious about Cheong Seon.

"Aren't you a good judge of character, Cult Leader? You should trust your own judgment."

"She seems to have more backbone than she looks."

"I saw her similarly."

"She seems worth raising."

He had not wanted to take her as a disciple from the beginning. He had used it as a pretext to remain in the Central Plains, but when he actually saw Cheong Seon, he found himself drawn to the strange wickedness she exuded.

"I guess I can't help who I am. I see a bad woman and I'm drawn to her."

"Be careful. I saw an ambition in her that could devour even you, Master."

"That's why I like it."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader grinned, and the shackled man smiled faintly.

"You seem to be in a good mood lately."

"Me?"

"You're not even cursing much."

Most importantly, he had not asked him to open a new space with the Spacetime Manipulation Technique for several days.

"If you're bored, shall I curse at you a bit?"

"No way! I like it this way."

However, a part of the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader missed the shackled man's curses.

"By the way, the Cult Leader over here is quiet."

It seemed the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was concerned about the Heavenly Demon.

"He will continue to be."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because the Second Young Lord must have met his father and finished their talk."

"Would he have been that thorough?"

"He would have. Success and failure come from the difference in meticulousness."

"Why are you so favorable toward the Second Young Lord? Your evaluation is so generous. Did you take money from him or something?"

The shackled man raised his head and looked at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"Do you dislike that?"

"I do."

"Then let's return to the Outer Regions. If we go to a place without the Second Young Lord, there will be no reason for me to show him favor, will there?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader started to get annoyed but sighed instead. The man was irritating, but he was not wrong. After all, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was the one who had dragged him here in clanking shackles.

"I told you, didn't I? You are not fortunate enough to have everything, Cult Leader."

"Damn it. Stop with that story! Why do you keep saying I'm ill-fated?"

"I'm saying it because you keep trying to turn toward a truly ill-fated path."

"You never let me have the last word."

Just then, a subordinate came and reported something new.

"Cooks came and cooked for our martial artists in the outer courtyard."

"Cooks? Which cooks?"

"They said they were cooks sent by the Second Young Lord. They prepared a feast with the finest ingredients and left."

At those words, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at the shackled man.

"Is this it? The difference in meticulousness you mentioned?"

The shackled man nodded.

"He's truly amazing for his young age. I said it, but even I didn't expect him to be this thorough. Perhaps…"

"Perhaps?"

"This might be the moment an unparalleled figure is born in the Demonic Cult, no, in all of murim, and we are witnessing that historical moment together."

"Just because he sent some cooks?"

"Yes. He sends a thief, he sends a disciple, and he sends cooks. It must be. A historical moment."

Unlike the passionate shackled man, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was indifferent.

"In that historical moment, I'm having all my divine objects taken away."

As if he already knew the reason, the shackled man calmly comforted the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"Try changing your perspective. Your divine objects are being used usefully to accomplish great things."

"As I've said before, I'm not the protagonist of those great things, am I? I have no intention of being a tool for someone else's success."

"To be the protagonist, you have to be diligent like the Second Young Lord. You have to put in the effort like the Second Young Lord."

"I put in effort too, don't I?"

"The effort of asking me about every single thing?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could not refute it. He had recently entrusted most of his affairs to the shackled man.

Seeing the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's anguish, the shackled man's expression and tone changed.

"Hey, Cult Leader."

His informal speech was incredibly welcome to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. It was so pleasant to hear him speak so casually that he had worried he might never do it again.

"I know you're trying too."

"What effort do I make? You're right."

"No. Enduring your greed and giving up the divine objects is also your effort. Gathering the divine objects was your effort, and protecting them was your effort. I know very well that even being greedy is your effort. I know that your effort is just as hard as the effort of someone who escapes an encirclement, covered in blood."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader felt a surge of emotion. He had only recently realized how comforting it was for someone to understand his heart.

Still, not wanting to show a weak side, he deliberately hid his feelings and snapped.

"I don't want to! I don't want to give up my divine objects! That damn Second Young Lord, just let him come. I'll tell him to get lost immediately. Get lost, Second Young Lord! My roar will deafen you, so cover your ears. Got it?"

Just then, a subordinate announced from outside.

"The Second Young Lord has arrived."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader shook his head in disbelief.

"That crazy Second Young Lord! Does he really have to show up at a moment like this?"

The shackled man laughed out loud for the first time in a while. He covered his ears and said politely.

"Well, I'm ready."

"Welcome, Second Young Lord."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader greeted me with a pleasant face.

On days he gave me a divine object, his hands would tremble visibly, but today he seemed more at ease.

Could it be that he has grasped the truth that acceptance brings peace?

A moment later, a subordinate brought in a table with drinks.

"Let's have a drink together today."

"Sounds good."

"Have a cup."

I accepted the drink.

"Well, let's drink."

After a pleasant toast, I drank the alcohol. Of course, I had the Antitoxin Bead in my mouth.

"I'm happy to see you trust me."

I did not bother spitting out the Antitoxin Bead and hurting his feelings.

It was right then.

"By any chance, are you holding the Antitoxin Bead in your mouth?"

I knew the shackled man had sent a telepathic message to warn him.

As expected, he's no ordinary man.

"Yes, that's right."

I spat the Antitoxin Bead out of my mouth.

"Good heavens! When did you put that in your mouth?"

"I put it in when the drinks were served."

"There was no sign at all?"

"I've practiced a lot."

"The Antitoxin Bead for a drink I offer… you're really too much."

"Didn't I tell you before? There is still nothing between us. The phrase 'between you and me, Cult Leader' doesn't exist in this world."

"You say that even after coming here today to take another of my precious divine objects?"

"In this chaotic mess, a bond between us won't be decided by how many divine objects I take."

"Just like how right now, there's only the Antitoxin Bead sitting awkwardly between us?"

"A clear-cut relationship where we give what's owed and take what's due is better than a flimsy bond that can change with the situation."

"I really can't win against you with words. Just like someone else."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing."

I guessed he was referring to the shackled man.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stood up.

"Well, the drink has lost its taste, so let's just pick a divine object. Go on, choose."

"Thank you."

Before choosing a divine object, I walked to the Echoing Thunder Bell.

"I'll take another look at the Echoing Thunder Bell. It's magnificent no matter how many times I see it."

The truth was, I wanted to see the shackled man up close again.

I glanced at the man while looking at the bell. He sat like a fossil with his head bowed.

Why are you helping me?

He could have sent a telepathic message, but he did not. That appealed to me. He was not a frivolous man.

Will the day ever come when I can have a conversation with this man? How far does his destiny and mine intertwine?

I started walking again, heading toward the divine objects.

I pretended to look at various things, but I had already decided what I would take.

"I'll choose this one."

The divine object I chose was a thickly rolled bandage.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression hardened. His face cursed what his mouth did not say.

damn it! Dammit! How do you manage to pick out only the precious ones like this?

"Did you choose it knowing what it is?"

Of course, I knew all too well.

"I don't know. The way the cloth was wrapped looked somewhat mysterious."

"That is…"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader took a deep breath. He struggled to suppress his surging anger before explaining.

"It's Top-Quality Heavenly Silk. It's a legendary treasure known to be uncuttable even by a sword, and when wrapped in multiple layers, it can block even sword qi or enhanced sword qi. You can wrap it around your arms or legs, or even protect your heart with it. That's not all. It has the effect of warding off the cold, and it doesn't burn in fire. In all of murim, you can count the number of weapons that can cut this Top-Quality Heavenly Silk without sword qi or enhanced sword qi on one hand."

The Black Demon Sword I carried was one of those few weapons.

"My knowledge is shallow, so I failed to recognize how precious it was."

"If you didn't recognize it, why did you have to pick this one? Why!"

"I'm sorry."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could not hide his regret. He sighed several times before handing it to me, his hand trembling.

"Please, use it well."

"Yes, thank you."

I took it from him, feeling as if I were snatching it from his reluctant grasp.

I felt grateful to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. His heart must have ached, but he always kept his promise and gave me the divine objects without reservation.

It was a reward far greater than what I had done for him, but I accepted it readily because I intended to fulfill his dream.

"I will never forget your kindness, Cult Leader."

It would have been nice for him to be more magnanimous, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could not hide his lingering regret.

Over his shoulder, the shackled man looked at me. There was no way the Cult Leader would have handed over the divine object so obediently when he regretted it this much. It was the same with the Blood God Pill before, and now this Top-Quality Heavenly Silk. I had undoubtedly received them smoothly thanks to the shackled man.

I sent a message with my eyes.

Thank you. I won't forget this.

As if he understood, the shackled man slowly bowed his head and became a fossil again.

After returning to my residence, I took out the Top-Quality Heavenly Silk.

I unrolled enough to wrap around my wrist three times and cut it with the Black Demon Sword.

It would have cut without it, but I infused it with qi for a clean slice.

Before a legendary sword like my father's Heavenly Demon Sword or my Black Demon Sword, it was just cloth. To other weapons, this thing was a monster.

I wrapped it three times around my left wrist.

No matter what happened, as long as I wore this, my hand would never be cut off by an opponent's attack. For now, wrapping it only on my left wrist was enough. My right hand would be protected by the Black Demon Sword. Being able to use it concentrated on necessary parts like this was its advantage over any treasured armor or protective gear.

I wrapped the remaining Top-Quality Heavenly Silk around the hilt of the Black Demon Sword. I would use it the next time I needed it.

I just hoped I would never have to wrap this all over my body and jump into somewhere.

Because hell would unfold in that place. Or perhaps, that place would already be hell.