Chapter 72: You're Lucky to Be the Back Wave

TL: FoodieMonster007

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stared at the empty space where the sacred relics were kept. He blinked, looking again and again, but the spot that once held the Blood God Pill and the Top-Quality Heavenly Silk remained bare.

"It's an unpleasant sight. Like a perfect beauty who lost her two front teeth."

At the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's lament, the shackled man looked at the Echoing Thunder Bell and spoke softly.

"She still has her canines and molars. She can still bite her opponents and grit her teeth to steel her resolve."

"You get excited every time a sacred relic disappears, don't you?"

"How did you know? If you release my shackles, I might even dance."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sighed. "Honestly, I'm afraid."

"What are you afraid of?"

"That all of this will become an empty dream. That when I wake up, nothing will be left. Then I'll have this regret, won't I? What on earth possessed me to devote everything like that?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader looked at the shackled man. In response, the shackled man lifted his head and pushed back his long, flowing hair, showing his face for the first time in a while.

"Why the sudden change?"

"I'm showing you that you were possessed by this man when you devoted everything."

"You crazy bastard."

The man was right. He wasn't possessed by the Second Young Lord right now. He was possessed by that very shackled man, by the man who boldly claimed to have possessed him and smiled while speaking of his ruin.

"How can I make Cheong Seon a Demon Supreme?"

"You'll have to defeat the Demon Supremes one by one and win them over. Coax them, persuade them, recruit them. It will take at least two sacred relics. If you're unlucky, you might need one more."

The shackled man seemed to have already finished his calculations, but the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression was deeply furrowed.

"Is that your roundabout way of telling me to invest in the Second Young Lord? You're the Second Young Lord's man through and through, after all."

"How long are you going to rely on the Second Young Lord? Be a man and handle it yourself. I'll tell you the most advantageous way to approach the Demon Supremes."

"I told you to stop being sarcastic!"

"You're right. Just stay still and do nothing."

"Is that something a Strategist should say?"

The moment the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader finished speaking, the chains sounded. CLANK.

Faced with the silent protest of What Strategist in the world wears shackles like these?, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader could not say a word.

"I'm saying this precisely because you think of me as a Strategist. Just wait. Sometimes, doing nothing achieves the best results."

After a brief pause, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked, "Is that really okay?"

"The Second Young Lord will come to you."

"And then?"

"He will demand sacred relics in exchange for placing Cheong Seon in the Demon Supreme's seat."

"Is that possible, even for the Second Young Lord?"

"You have to believe. We've already crossed a bridge we can't return from."

Just then, Cheong Seon, who was training in the courtyard, delivered a message.

"The Second Young Lord has come to visit."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was both startled and impressed. Because events were unfolding exactly as the shackled man predicted, he had the illusion of being in a superior position.

"Speak of the devil."

"It's because we're always thinking and talking about the Second Young Lord."

"Stop talking about him! Stop taking his side! Your master is me, me!"

"Then who told you to become the front wave of the Yangtze River?"

The phrase 'the front wave of the Yangtze River' made the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's heart sink. The shackled man might have said it without deep meaning, but it struck the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader profoundly. He had been feeling lately as if something were pushing him, making him drift to a place he did not want to go.

"Yes, you're lucky, being the back wave of the Yangtze River."

When he decided to go to the Central Plains, he never dreamed he would have this kind of conversation with the shackled man.

Life is truly unpredictable.

For the first time, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader felt the unfamiliar tension that came with an unpredictable life. It also meant he had lived a smooth, predictable life until now.

When I went to see the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, Cheong Seon was there as well.

She was training in the courtyard. She recognized me and greeted me politely.

"Greetings, Second Young Lord."

When the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was alive, our relationship was indifferent, but things were different now. She needed outside supporters to back her, and she had to make a good impression on me, the Second Young Lord and the Sanzu Hall Director.

"I heard you've become the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's disciple, Young Lady Cheong. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Second Young Lord."

She probably did not know. Things had turned out this way because I had leaked information to Sa Woojong.

"I've come with news for the Cult Leader. Young Lady Cheong, you should listen as well."

As we entered, the shackled man slightly raised his head. Our eyes met for a fleeting moment. We had been greeting each other this way since last time.

"What is it?" the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked.

"The Demonic Buddha is on the move."

"The Demonic Buddha? How?"

"He is persuading the Demon Supremes to make his first disciple, Yang Do, the next Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme."

"Damn it! And he calls himself a friend."

"Now that the Demonic Buddha has made his move, it will be difficult for Young Lady Cheong here to become a Demon Supreme."

Cheong Seon bit her lip gently. She had taken a great risk to become a Demon Supreme. If she failed even after becoming the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's disciple, she could be forced to follow him to the Outer Regions.

"Second Young Lord. Is there no way to put this child in the Demon Supreme's seat? As you know, I can't make a move here in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."

"There is a way, but it won't be easy."

"What is it?"

"We'll have to move the Demon Supremes as well. Fortunately, the two Elders, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme, are favorable to me. If I ask them, perhaps…"

"Please, help us."

"Please help us, Second Young Lord," Cheong Seon pleaded, just as desperate as the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"This isn't as easy as it sounds," I said, feigning difficulty, though it wasn't a complete exaggeration.

"I don't know what the Demon Supremes who agree to give their votes will demand. Even if things go well, I'll end up owing a great debt to the two Elders, the Blade Demon and the Sword Supreme."

"Aren't my disciple and I the ones receiving help? I will never forget this favor."

"Alright, I'll do my best."

"Thank you. Wait here for a moment."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader sent Cheong Seon out, as if he had something to say to me in private.

"You, go out and train."

"Yes, Master."

Cheong Seon bowed to me and then went outside. Her eyes, as she looked at me, were filled with desperation.

After she left, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked, "What do you want this time? It's a sacred relic again, isn't it?"

"No."

"No?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was startled.

"The only thing more important than a sacred relic is my own life, isn't it?" he joked, but his words held his true feelings. For a man like him, my next words were a blessing.

"This time, there's nothing I want."

"Nothing?"

"Yes, nothing."

"Really?"

When I nodded to confirm, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression brightened.

"When the results are in, I'll treat you to a drink."

"A drink on top of that?"

"You gave me two precious sacred relics, didn't you? Let's have a drink, win or lose."

"Where?"

"We'll have to drink here. With the sacred relics stolen, everyone would find it strange if you were to leave your post, Cult Leader. I'll bring the alcohol and food."

Of course, that was not the real reason. It was so we could drink in the presence of the shackled man.

"If possible, I'll try to make it a victory drink, not one of defeat."

With those words, I stood up from my seat. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was pleased, yet his bewilderment was also evident.

"Just in case, you should teach your disciple well. Young Lady Cheong may have to duel the first disciple, Yang Do."

"I've already considered that."

"Then, I'll be going."

As I was about to leave, I turned back to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"Oh, there's one thing I'd like to ask."

"What is it?"

"I'm trying to create a sky in the space made by the Spacetime Manipulation Technique, but the incantations aren't flowing smoothly. May I ask for another explanation on that part?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was startled. The shackled man, who was sitting, was also visibly surprised. He rarely showed his emotions, but this time, he reacted.

"To fill the space, you have to succeed in creating it within one hour, don't you?"

"I've already succeeded in creating it within one hour."

"What?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was aghast. He hadn't believed me before when I said I could open it in four hours. I had said I would show him in person next time, so he was naturally surprised that I had already reduced the time to one hour.

"Show me. Then I'll tell you."

"Are you going to wait for a whole hour?"

"I'll wait."

"Very well."

I immediately began to recite the incantations and unfold the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

One hour later, we were in the space I had created. I intentionally brought the shackled man there with us.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was surprised, and so was the shackled man. A sky had unfolded, but it was a strange sky with holes in various places.

After looking around for a moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader asked me, "Why did you create the sky first of all things?"

"I like looking at the sky. When I do, it feels like my stuffy heart opens up. Now, I'd like your explanation, please."

"Since I promised, I'll teach you."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gave a detailed explanation of the part of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique's incantations that deals with filling the space.

In truth, I could already create a perfect sky. I pretended I couldn't do it properly to naturally show them my skills in person.

After listening to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's explanation, I opened a new space another hour later. A brilliant blue sky unfolded, surprising the two men even more.

This was not a trick for the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. It was to show the shackled man firsthand what kind of talent I possessed.

Was I showing off? Yes. It was an intentional boast.

In my past life, I felt the greatest virtue a leader should have was strength. No matter what anyone said, it was strength. A person strong enough that you could trust and entrust them with your everything.

And I saw it. The shackled man's face as he looked up at the sky. His clear, yet lonely eyes.

I still do not know what kind of person he is. However, one thing was certain.

Although I call him the shackled man, he was a person whose appearance and aura did not suit shackles at all.

After Geom Mugeuk left, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and the shackled man were silent for a while.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader spoke first.

"I saw a martial arts genius today."

"It must be the Heavenly Martial Body."

"The Heavenly Martial Body? Yes, without it, he couldn't have learned the Spacetime Manipulation Technique so quickly."

"Do you still regret it?"

"What? Giving him the Spacetime Manipulation Technique? Of course it's a waste. Isn't this feeling of waste a martial arts academy from his ability?"

"Who knows what kind of legend he might achieve with the martial arts you've passed down."

"I always say this, but what's the use if that legend isn't me?"

"Our Cult Leader, a man who doesn't know how to give up."

"There you go being sarcastic again."

"No. I think it's good that you're honest."

"It's because it's you! I'm only honest in front of you. I'm not this soft of a person when I'm anywhere else."

He often revealed his inner thoughts like this, but the shackled man never revealed his own. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader knew why better than anyone. As long as he did not release those shackles, he would never know the man's true heart.

However, that also meant he would never release those shackles.

I won't let anyone take you from me.

Whether he knew of this sentiment or not, the shackled man just kept staring at the demons carved into the Echoing Thunder Bell.

"Are the demons talking to you again?"

"They're asking again why I live like this."

"Tell them everyone lives like this. You demonic bastards, everyone lives like this, what makes you so special to ask such a thing?"

However, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader did not know. In that moment, the man was saying something entirely different to the demons.

He was talking about the very person he was told to stop taking sides with and stop talking about. The demons, who seemed as tight-lipped as the Echoing Thunder Bell itself, were just silently listening to his words.