Chapter 77: What if Someone Tries to Take That Position?

TL: FoodieMonster007

Today, I brought all my people with me. The group included the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who suggested this method, along with the Flower Sword Supreme, Lee Ahn, Seo Daeryong, and the Demonic Army General Jang Ho.

I did not tell the others why we were visiting the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. I wanted to avoid them acting intentionally. Today's meeting required no persuasion and no moving of hearts. I only needed to show them things as they were.

"What esteemed guests have come with you. Welcome, all of you!"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader welcomed us with his arms wide open. He looked happier than I had ever seen him.

He had made a huge slip of the tongue to the shackled man.

Have they already reconciled?

"A sudden whim struck me, so I came to visit with my companions," I said. "Please forgive my discourtesy."

"It's quite all right. Isn't this a good opportunity to interact with the heroes of the Divine Cult?"

"Your heart is as vast as the sea."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was the first of my companions to greet him.

"It's good to see you."

"It's good of you to come."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was naturally well acquainted with the Demon Supremes.

"I've heard that you've grown quite close with the Second Young Lord recently," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said.

"You've heard wrong," the Blood Heaven Blade Demon replied. "It's not just that we've grown close. I am the Second Young Lord's left wing."

We casually joked about being wings among ourselves, but I never expected the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to say this to someone else. He was probably trying to show the shackled man how much he trusted Geom Mugeuk.

Even I had not anticipated him acting this way. The Flower Sword Supreme, who came with us, must have been incredibly surprised. I knew she would not be keen on this meeting, but I had asked her to come. I wanted to give her another chance to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and to make her one of my people.

The Flower Sword Supreme stared at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with a surprised expression for a moment. Then she spoke to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

"That doesn't mean I'm the right wing, however."

It was her way of showing she wanted nothing to do with the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, however, took it as a witty joke and thanked her.

"I heard you were a great help in Cheong Seon becoming a Demon Supreme this time."

"I only did it because I trusted the Second Young Lord," she said, giving the credit to me. Then she added one more thing.

"And the Blade Demon gave the greatest help. I secured an abstention, but the Blade Demon Senior secured a full vote."

She did not mention a specific name, but she made it clear they had secured a vote thanks to the Blade Demon. No matter how much she disliked him, her nature made her uncomfortable taking credit for someone else's work.

This was the first I had heard of it. I had assumed the Flower Sword Supreme secured one vote while the Blood Heaven Blade Demon arranged for an abstention.

So the Blood Heaven Blade Demon secured a full vote? This eccentric old man did that and never once boasted about it to me.

I sent a telepathic message to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

[You said you were being ostracized?]

[Someone must have taken pity on me and helped.]

[If you get ostracized just two more times, you'll have all the Demon Supremes kneeling.]

[There won't be a next time I have to go around asking for favors.]

[Thank you.]

[Forget it.]

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader gave the Blood Heaven Blade Demon a clasped hands greeting and expressed his thanks.

"You're better than my own friend."

"Isn't it strange to look for friends in the jianghu in the first place?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon said. "People meet and part according to their needs. Living like that makes for a much cleaner life."

"A good lesson. I won't forget it."

After the two Demon Supremes finished their greetings, Jang Ho stepped forward.

"I am the Demonic Army General Jang Ho. It's an honor to meet you."

"To meet the valiant Demonic Army General like this, the honor is all mine," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader replied.

"I pestered the Second Young Lord to let me meet the supreme ruler of the Outer Regions," Jang Ho said.

"It's just an empty name. I hope you're not disappointed."

Jang Ho had followed me after hearing my request, not even asking why. This trustworthiness, this feeling that he would silently accomplish any task, was a special quality unique to Jang Ho.

Next, Seo Daeryong offered his greeting.

"I'm not sure if I should be in a place like this, but I am Seo Daeryong, an investigator from the Sanzu River Hall."

"I know all about you," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said. "You're our Second Young Lord's right-hand man, aren't you?"

At that, Seo Daeryong's eyes widened as he looked at me. His expression seemed to ask, Did you really say that?

I smiled and replied, "Seeing as you know without me even saying it, it seems everyone really thinks so."

Lee Ahn was the last to give her greeting.

"My name is Lee Ahn, and I assist the Second Young Lord. It's an honor to meet you."

"Eyes brimming with such spirit. It's truly been a long time," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader observed.

"Thank you for your kind words."

Her spirit, once lost in the depths of her training, was now like a single sword. She had a sharp aura, as if she could cut down anyone. Learning how to temper this sharp edge was her future challenge.

"If Detective Seo over there is my right arm, then Lee Ahn here is like my very heart," I declared.

Lee Ahn grew flustered when I said that in front of everyone. Her face turned red, but I spoke proudly, as if making a declaration.

"Everyone, please know this. Lee Ahn is my heart."

Saying something when you are alone together is completely different from saying it in front of others. If you can say it when it is just the two of you, you should be able to say it in front of everyone. That is a real relationship.

However, finding a relationship like that is not easy. It is really not easy.

In that sense, meeting Lee Ahn was a great stroke of luck for me. It was not just because of the life debt from before my regression. As I told my father, it was because she is a wonderful person.

She was a person who, despite hiding nine tails, could sacrifice her own life for someone else. She revealed it because we became close. Otherwise, she would have hidden the fact that she was a fox for her entire life and fulfilled her duties like a bear.

"But that doesn't mean you need to throw your life away for me," I said. "Just because someone holds me in high regard, it doesn't mean you need to sacrifice yourself for him. You must not forget. The two are completely separate things."

This was my philosophy regarding superiors and subordinates. I said it to Lee Ahn, but it was also meant for the shackled man.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader expressed his admiration. "I'm envious that you have someone you can praise like this."

I could see the shackled man over his shoulder.

What is he thinking?

"Since the Second Young Lord is boasting about his subordinate like this, I can't just stay quiet," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said. "Here, let me introduce someone as well. The man over there in shackles is my right-hand man."

I was inwardly surprised. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had never introduced the shackled man before, yet today he did, even calling him his right-hand man. There must have been some change between them after his slip of the tongue.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked bluntly, "Why have you kept your right-hand man bound in shackles?"

"He's the type who would ascend to the heavens if I looked away for even a moment, so I'm forcibly holding him here."

"Shouldn't you let a man who is meant to ascend do so?"

"That's not as easy as it sounds," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader replied.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon nodded with an expression of complete understanding.

"That's right. These damn imugi are so willful, humans like us can't easily handle them."

As he said this, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked at me. He was telling the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader to release the person who should be let go, while also complimenting me by calling me a dragon destined to ascend.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon is truly quick-witted and good at reading the room. If he were just ten, no, twenty years younger, I might have made him my Strategist. Of course, he would probably jump up and down, insisting he would never do it.

While this was happening, a table of drinks was set up. We sat around the table and poured drinks for one another.

I do not believe that fate controls every aspect of a person's life. Fate only provides opportunities. It is up to people to judge and seize those opportunities. I had done a lot of research and preparation for my regression, but the shackled man was not part of it. He might end up playing a very important role in my life after returning.

However, that is fine. In fact, because I did not know and prepare in advance, a meeting like this could happen. It was a meeting where I could show who I am, which in the end makes me reflect on myself.

Lee Ahn broke the ice at today's gathering. After a few rounds of drinks, she cautiously stepped forward.

"Would it be all right if I offered that man a drink?"

The person she referred to was the shackled man. This was not something I had asked her to do. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader had already made a huge slip of the tongue once before because I had given the man a drink.

Unaware of this fact, Lee Ahn was making the same suggestion.

Unlike his previous reaction to me, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader smiled and said, "He would like that."

He had definitely changed.

What on earth happened?

Lee Ahn took a bottle and a cup, poured the shackled man a drink, and asked politely, "Martial artist, are you guarding this bell?"

I did not think he would answer, but to my surprise, the shackled man opened his mouth.

"I was at first… but now, the bell is guarding me."

Whether she knew how precious that answer was or not, Lee Ahn continued the conversation.

"That's similar to my situation."

The shackled man slightly raised his head and looked at her.

"At first, I protected the Young Master, but now, the Young Master protects me."

I saw it. A faint smile appeared on the shackled man's lips. That must have been why Lee Ahn was able to continue speaking so naturally.

"That bell doesn't tell you to leave, does it, martial artist?" Lee Ahn asked. "My Young Master keeps telling me to leave. He says he wants me to live my own life. Is that really why? Or is he trying to send me away because he dislikes me?"

The shackled man then answered her question.

"He wouldn't call someone his heart in front of everyone if he wanted to send them away out of dislike."

This was a new side of the shackled man. He had now answered Lee Ahn's questions twice. Just like Lee Ahn's question, I felt the shackled man's answer was directed not at her, but at me.

"Ah, I suppose that's true, isn't it?"

Lee Ahn looked over at me. I could feel she was unfurling another one of her tails. Her intuition must have told her that the reason I brought them here was related to this man. Otherwise, she would not be having this kind of conversation with him.

I tapped my heart twice, then pointed a finger at her.

Lee Ahn beamed.

"He's so over the top about it, it feels like a joke."

Just then, Seo Daeryong, who had been sitting, picked up his cup and went to join them. He moved so naturally that there was no stopping him.

Seo Daeryong sat down next to Lee Ahn and said, "I think it's because he's so worried, Martial Artist Lee."

"About me?"

"Yes. From my observations of the Director so far, he has a strong desire for his subordinates not to die. It's like a parent's heart, wishing for them to leave the harsh perilous realm and have a good killing intent. I believe the reason he had me learn martial arts from the Master was also because of that same worry."

"Ah! Maybe that's it."

Lee Ahn looked at me again. As the one who had been taught the Soaring Sky Sword Art, his words must have sounded plausible to her.

I said to her, "It's a misunderstanding. I'm teaching you so I can work you to the bone later. If you're that naive, you'll be taken advantage of your whole life!"

Then, Seo Daeryong answered on her behalf.

"Sometimes, it's more comfortable working under someone who works you properly. It's much harder when you're under a clumsy and indecisive leader."

Lee Ahn held out her cup as if in agreement, and Seo Daeryong toasted with her.

"Detective Seo, why do you like our Young Master so much?"

"Do I look like I like him?"

"If you didn't, you wouldn't have come over here, would you?"

Lee Ahn had seen right through Seo Daeryong's personality at a glance. She was right. For a man who hated standing out and disliked danger, voluntarily moving to the seat next to Lee Ahn was an act of courage in its own way.

"Because I'm his right-hand man," he said like a joke, but that single phrase contained many of Seo Daeryong's feelings.

It was at that moment. The shackled man raised his head and asked in a low voice, "What will you do if someone tries to take that position of right-hand man?"

It was not an answer to a question, but the first words he had initiated himself, and those first words were incredibly provocative.

Seo Daeryong was startled by the unexpected question. The gaze of the shackled man, visible through his long, disheveled hair, was intense. His complex feelings about how to answer were visible on his face, but soon, Seo Daeryong replied calmly.

"I'm too timid and cowardly, so I don't think I could fight for it. Let them take it. In preparation for such a day, I'm already working hard to become someone else's right-hand man. Thankfully, everyone has a right arm."

At that answer, the shackled man's provocative gaze calmed down.

Meanwhile, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, knowing he was the subject of that jest, wore a look of disbelief.

I looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and said, "Raise him well."

"I refuse."

Just then, the Demonic Army General Jang Ho looked toward them and said something unexpected.

"I'm next in line for the position of right-hand man. Detective Seo might be nice enough to give up the spot, but I won't hand over the position of right-hand man to just anyone."

It was a moment that revealed a new side of Jang Ho.