Chapter 73: The Better the Master, the Simpler the Answer

TL: FoodieMonster007

After leaving the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's residence, I went to find Lee Ahn.

I found her still engrossed in training. Her Soaring Sky Sword Art had improved by leaps and bounds.

"Lee Ahn."

"……"

"Once you receive the Poison Self-Purification Art, you're free to leave whenever you wish."

"What? Why are you suddenly saying something like that?"

Leaving the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's residence, I thought about how the shackles didn't suit the shackled man. That thought made me think of Lee Ahn.

It occurred to me that she might have shackles on her ankles as well.

Are visible shackles the only kind that exist?

My own will to kill Hwa Mugi was a kind of invisible shackle. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme are also bound by shackles of hatred that are difficult to sever.

And what about my father? Perhaps my father was bound by his position, shouldering the heavy responsibility of protecting the cult, just like the shackled man before the Echoing Thunder Bell.

"I'm saying you should choose your own life. You don't have to be the master of the Ghost Shadow Squad. You can leave the cult and travel the Central Plains. You could even live as a hidden master in some peaceful village. You received martial arts from me, but you don't need to repay that debt. You've already done more than enough for me, so you can make your choice with a clear conscience."

Lee Ahn listened to me quietly, then smiled.

"I guess I have no choice but to show you another one of my tails."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm happier and living a better life by your side, Young Lord. Traveling is fun for a day or two, and being a hidden master is the same. I'm happy every day within your protection. I'm not a fool. If I truly hated it here, I'm the kind of woman who would have risked her life to run away in the middle of the night. I really don't know why you see me as being so good-natured."

I looked at her and laughed softly.

"How many hidden tails do you have left?"

"About seven, I think?"

"That's plenty. Now, get back to your training."

I turned to leave, but a needless worry made me add one more thing.

"Still, make sure you always keep one tail hidden."

From my experience, that's just as important as a hidden technique.

I saw the look on her face that said, You don't have to tell me something so obvious. I left. Right, as long as she knew.

The Demonic Buddha came to see the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

He had a clear purpose. The look in his eyes was different from the moment he entered.

"Did you just come from killing someone? For a man who follows the dharma, your body is brimming with killing intent."

"The Buddha I serve sometimes violates the precept against killing."

"One moment a Lustful Buddha, the next a Killing Buddha. You must be a very busy person."

The Demonic Buddha did not sit. He stood in a disciple's position and stared at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. From there, his height was nearly level with the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who sat with a ramrod-straight back. The Demonic Buddha was sensitive about his height, so matching their eye levels was a clear expression of his immense anger.

"Look here, Heavenly Wind Cult Leader!"

"What is it?"

"How long have we known each other?"

"I don't recall exactly."

"Correct. Our bond is so long that we can't even remember, yet you can do this to me?"

"Sit. Let's talk while sitting."

He did not sit. He glared at the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader instead as the golden light from his body grew more intense.

"I never thought you'd resort to such a transparent trick!"

"A trick, you say?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's expression hardened, but the Demonic Buddha had come spoiling for a fight.

The Flower Sword Supreme and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had begun moving to persuade the other Demon Supremes. The Demon Supremes reacted differently when they met the Demonic Buddha than when they met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. They were all individuals who had lived without caring for the opinions of others, so it was impossible to guarantee whose side they would take in the end.

That was why the Demonic Buddha had come to confront the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader directly.

"Luring the young disciple of the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme and taking her as your own? What kind of scheme is this!"

"I did not lure her. The child came to me of her own accord."

"Then you should have sent her back! As the adult, you should have sent her back!"

"And why should I do that?"

"Why are you trying to become the Master of our Cult's disciple?"

"Because the martial arts the shamans practice are the demonic arts of the Blood Cult!"

"Are you saying you belong to the Blood Cult right now? Are you serious?"

It was a well-known fact that the Heavenly Wind Cult was the successor to the Blood Cult, but one was not supposed to mention or connect it to the Blood Cult. The Blood Cult had a history of waging several wars against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He had been invited solely because he was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"Are you twisting my words now?"

"When you staged that drama about your sacred object being stolen, I could understand it to some extent, but this time, I simply cannot tolerate it."

"A drama? You come to a friend whose sacred object was stolen and call it a drama? I came here trusting only you, and I even had my sacred object stolen. Instead of taking responsibility, you're making such absurd speculations!"

"Did you think we would believe that? The Demon Supremes are not fools."

"Looking at you, you don't seem all that smart either."

"What?"

"How many times in your life have you been told you're smart? Be honest."

The Demonic Buddha's expression froze for a moment. He knew he was not a particularly intelligent person.

His habit of lashing out with harsh words was a tool to suppress his opponents and steer conversations in his favor.

When the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader struck a nerve by pointing out his inferiority complex, the Demonic Buddha chose a more drastic approach.

"Listen here, my friend. The place you're in right now is not the Outer Regions."

"Are you threatening me?"

"It's not a threat. I'm telling you the reality of the situation. I have maintained a friendship with you for a long time, but the other Demon Supremes think differently. I can't know how they'll react."

"With that poor imagination of yours, what could they possibly do? They'll probably use you as a pawn and try to kill me."

"If that were all, we could at least say our goodbyes."

A tense atmosphere hung between the two men.

"Do not underestimate the Demon Supremes. They'll try to dispose of you in a far more miserable way than that."

"You tell me not to underestimate them, so why do you underestimate me so much?"

"I don't underestimate you. It's just that you have a fatal weakness."

"A weakness?"

"If the Demon Supremes decide to eliminate you, they won't make the foolish choice of attacking you directly. Instead, they'll drive a wedge between you and our Cult Leader and have him get rid of you. Can you handle that? Our Cult Leader."

Threatened with the Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was left speechless. The Heavenly Demon, who despised the Blood Cult, was certainly the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's weakness.

"Pretend to search for your sacred object for a few more days, then leave. Expel your disciple. I'll speak to the Demon Supremes on your behalf."

"And if I refuse?"

The Demonic Buddha just scoffed and walked out instead of answering. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader found that even more infuriating and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he spoke.

"I've just made a decision."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stared at the shackled man before the Echoing Thunder Bell and ground his teeth.

"I will make the Second Young Lord the Heavenly Demon, no matter what."

"What brings you here, Second Young Lord?"

Head Strategist Sama Myeong was buried in work, as usual.

"I came because I wanted to hang out with you, Strategist. If you have time, why don't we go to the Demon Village?"

Sama Myeong was startled by my proposal.

"The Demon Village?"

"You may be the most important person in our Cult, but it won't fall to ruin if you slack off for a day."

"The sad secret is that it wouldn't fall to ruin even if I slacked off for a year."

"Then shall we go have fun for just four hours, so your secret isn't revealed?"

"Very well."

Sama Myeong closed his documents and stood up without hesitation. He must have guessed I had not come just to have fun.

"If you're not here, Strategist, the Murim Alliance will invade immediately."

"That's because you don't know the All-Knowing Hall. There's a long line of brilliant strategists just waiting for me to step down."

"They've certainly chosen a difficult path."

We laughed as we left his office.

I took him to the Alluring Inn.

"So it was this place after all."

He was saying that he knew the Alluring Inn well. Since he likely knew every detail about me, it was only natural that he would know about the Alluring Inn too.

"Are you disappointed? Were you hoping we'd go to the best brothel in the Demon Village?"

It was a rather bold joke, but Sama Myeong laughed.

"I was hoping I could pretend to be reluctant and follow you there."

"This is why preconceptions are so scary. I'll make a reservation immediately for our next day off!"

"Hahaha."

I sat across from Sama Myeong at my usual table on the second floor of the Alluring Inn.

When Jo Cheonbae came to take our order, I introduced Sama Myeong.

"This is our Cult's Head Strategist. Greet him."

"……"

Jo Cheonbae bowed to Sama Myeong, looking as if he might faint. He had been overwhelmed by visits from high-ranking people lately. A Director, a Demon Supreme, and now the Head Strategist. The title of Head Strategist carried a different weight than any other.

"I've always respected you. You're the person I respect the most."

"So the person you respect most isn't my father?"

Jo Cheonbae jumped in surprise at my jest.

"Of course not! I respect you second most, Strategist."

"Ah, I thought I was second."

"No, that's not it, actually the Director is the one I…."

He played along, pretending to be flustered.

"I'm kidding. Bring us some drinks first, and please make sure the food is delicious today."

"……"

After serving the drinks, Jo Cheonbae rushed to the kitchen.

I poured a drink for Sama Myeong.

"This is the first time you and I have had a drink alone, isn't it, Strategist?"

"It is."

"I should have invited you sooner. My apologies for the delay."

"Not at all. You've been very busy, haven't you?"

"You're the busy one, Strategist. I'm always slacking off."

"If you say that, what are the real slackers supposed to do?"

He knew best just how diligently I had been moving about lately.

We drank while chatting about this and that. Sama Myeong held his liquor better than I expected.

"You're a good drinker."

"Of course. I was a heavy drinker in my younger days."

"That's surprising."

I could not quite picture a younger Sama Myeong who drank heavily.

"So, what is this about?"

Sama Myeong knew I had not come just to have fun. I did not beat around the bush and got straight to the point.

"There is something I'd like to ask you."

"Please, go ahead."

"What makes a good strategist?"

Perhaps because it was an unexpected question, Sama Myeong's eyes widened as he looked at me. Soon, his gaze shifted to his cup.

"In my youth, I asked myself this question many times, but I've lived for a while having forgotten it."

Questions like this are always difficult. If someone were to ask me what makes a good martial artist, what would I say?

However, Sama Myeong's answer came immediately.

"In my opinion, a good strategist is one who is smarter than the opposing strategist. There's no profound meaning, it's literally just that. A strategist who is smarter than the enemy. That is my answer. It's fine if there's someone in our Cult smarter than me. It's fine if there's someone in this tavern smarter than me. It's even fine if you, Second Young Lord, are smarter than me. However…" After a brief pause, Sama Myeong continued. "I must be smarter than the Murim Alliance and the Evil Alliance's Head Strategists. That is all that matters."

It was a truly unexpected answer. As if he had anticipated my reaction, Sama Myeong smiled. "A bland answer, isn't it?"

"That's why it resonated so strongly."

"When I was younger, I had too many thoughts, so I probably would have given a different answer. It might have been a bit more pedantic."

I could guess what he meant. The older you get, and the more of a master you become, the simpler the answers tend to be.

"Martial artists on the field can improvise. They can change their tactics depending on the situation, but a Strategist cannot. One wrong plan means annihilation. It would be less regrettable to die by your own choice, but how unjust would it be to die because of a wrong decision from the higher-ups? That's why I always tell my junior Strategists. Desperately become smarter! Everything depends on it."

This was the first time I realized Sama Myeong held such thoughts, just as it was the first time I learned he was a good drinker.

Sama Myeong refilled my empty cup. "Now, it's my turn to ask a question."

In truth, I had not come to hear the answer to what makes a good strategist. My meeting with him today was for the sole purpose of hearing this next question.

"Why did you ask such a question?"