Chapter 177: I Have Returned After Completing My Mission

TL: FoodieMonster007

When I woke up, Seo Daeryong was tending a campfire next to the parked carriage.

"You're awake?" he asked.

"How long was I asleep?"

"You slept plenty. No, how can a martial artist sleep so soundly that they wouldn't notice someone carrying them off?"

"I was on guard even in my sleep."

"While snoring like that?"

I really had slept soundly without waking up once.

Of course, Seo Daeryong wouldn't know. The Heavenly Demon Defense Art would wake me if I sensed real danger.

"You must be hungry, right? Have some of this."

Seo Daeryong brought out food he had bought at an inn before we left. He had meticulously chosen the dishes I enjoyed.

"After this meal, we'll have to hunt for our food."

Eating my favorite foods after a big fight felt really good. It might seem like a small thing, but people are often moved by these little gestures.

Thanks, Daeryong.

After I ate my fill and drank some cool water, the words escaped me. "Ah, now I feel alive."

As I sat warming myself by the campfire, Seo Daeryong handed me some wound ointment.

"Then you should treat your wounds now."

I took off my blood-soaked clothes and the Ghost Armor. I then unwrapped the Top-Quality Heavenly Silk and re-wrapped it around the hilt of the Black Demon Sword. The silk was gradually turning red as it absorbed the blood. I thought about washing it but decided against it. The blood-stained cloth gave the hilt of the Black Demon Sword a certain charm.

I applied the ointment to my injuries. I had avoided fatal wounds, but my body was a mess of cuts, scrapes, and dark bruises.

"You're still young and promising. What are you going to do with so many scars? The women will all run away if they see you."

"I'll just get a Body Reformation later and start fresh."

"I was about to say, do you think such a miraculous encounter comes easily? But for you, Director, I'm not so sure."

After applying all the medicine, I changed into the new martial arts uniform Seo Daeryong had bought.

"It's a perfect fit. I like it."

"You've worked hard," Seo Daeryong said.

"Our first mission was a success."

"Our last mission was a success."

There's a certain point with some people that just makes you feel good. For example, when Father sits on the grand chair and looks down at me with a displeased expression, or when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon thrusts that huge Heaven Destroying Dao into the ground and leans against it.

With Seo Daeryong, it's when we're making these kinds of silly jokes.

"Seriously, while waiting in the carriage, I must have debated whether to go in at least ten times."

"If you had, I would've had a hard time rescuing another hostage."

"Then you would have grown even more. Maybe I should have gone in?"

Seo Daeryong laughed as he said that. I laughed with him.

After our banter, Seo Daeryong spoke about what he felt during the mission.

"I keep dreaming of the duel. I can sometimes hear the cheers from atop the duel stage. I miss that moment. Seeing that, I think I want to be a martial artist who gets attention, rather than some hidden master."

"You have to walk that path anyway."

"Pardon?"

"Because you're going to become the Demon Supreme."

Since the Blood Heaven Blade Demon passed on his martial arts, Seo Daeryong's path as the successor was currently set.

At my words, Seo Daeryong's expression turned serious.

"Director. Do you think I can become the Demon Supreme? Can I really handle a position like that?"

"Does your Master look like someone who would easily give up his position?"

"No, he doesn't."

"Then what are you worried about? If you don't believe in yourself, believe in your Master's judgment."

"Still… I can't believe it. Me, the Demon Supreme."

True. A mere Sanzu River Hall investigator was becoming the Demon Supreme. It would be strange if it felt real so easily.

"I… I will truly work myself to death," Seo Daeryong declared.

I calmly replied to the fired-up Seo Daeryong.

"Of course you have to work hard, but keep this in mind. They say when you climb uphill, you can only see the summit, but when you walk downhill, you can see the world. Look back once in a while as you climb."

Seo Daeryong looked at me and gave a strange smile.

"You're a good ten years younger than me, yet you say such things so well."

When I lay down by the campfire, Seo Daeryong also lay down on the opposite side.

Lying by the fire and looking up at the stars felt so good.

"I should go traveling like this someday."

"Please be sure to take me with you," Seo Daeryong said.

"You need to be out there getting applause and attention."

"I can just go after I've gotten all the attention."

"No way. I'm going to take Lee Ahn with me."

Seo Daeryong pouted. You punk, if it were that easy, do you think Father would be cooped up in the Heavenly Demon Hall?

That night, I slept soundly again. The tension and fatigue that had built up for a long time were melting away.

The carriage journey continued until my body recovered.

As soon as I recovered, I sold the carriage and ran back using the Swift Step, carrying Seo Daeryong on my back.

At first, Seo Daeryong complained he was going to die. Later, he adapted perfectly and even made jokes while being carried. It was a moment that made me realize anew the adaptability of humans.

We ran and ran until we arrived at our Cult.

The first place I headed was the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Far beyond the red carpet, Father sat on the grand chair. Seeing Father, who unchangingly protected his position, made me feel especially grateful today.

The moment our eyes met, I felt a surge of emotion. Worried I might show too much, I quickly bowed.

"I have executed the Heavenly Enlightenment Society Chairman and returned after completing my mission."

"You've worked hard. You may rise."

As I rose, Head Strategist Sama Myeong, who stood beside him, offered his greetings.

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

"I heard that dealing with the Heavenly Enlightenment Society this time was not easy."

Because I had sent messenger pigeons to report the news, Father and Sama Myeong knew about the process and the outcome.

Of course, I couldn't include this kind of whining in the reports.

"Don't even mention it. I don't know how many times I almost died. This was too difficult a test. No, it was an impossible mission!"

"I admit it. It was my mistake. I was unaware that the Heavenly Enlightenment Society had grown to such a size."

Sama Myeong readily admitted his fault. After all, the All-Knowing Hall, led by Sama Myeong, had assigned the mission.

Just then, Father, who had been watching, spoke up unexpectedly.

"So you tried to kill my son."

Sama Myeong and I looked at Father in surprise. We were both surprised that Father would make such a joke, but I was surprised for a different reason.

My son.

It was the first time I had heard those words from Father. I might have heard them when I was very young and don't remember, but this was the first time in my memory.

I should have responded with a joke, but my mind went blank.

Sama Myeong smiled and said to me, "How about it? With this, can you find it in you to forgive me?"

He knew. He knew I had heard the words 'my son' for the first time and that I was moved by it.

"Send me again. Where is it this time? The Cheonhahoe? The Cheonjihoe?"

Sama Myeong laughed at my words.

I felt good. It was just one phrase, but it was a moment I would never forget.

Calming my trembling heart, I asked Sama Myeong, "What happened with my brother?"

"First Young Lord has already successfully completed his assigned task and returned safely."

Just like before my regression, my brother finished his task safely. The changed fate is on my side. A shadowy organization called the Heavenly Enlightenment Society has disappeared from the murim, and I have passed the test.

"So we both passed the test."

"That is correct."

"My test was much more difficult, so shouldn't you consider it my victory? Please make me the successor!" I demanded confidently.

"That is a perfectly reasonable demand, but wouldn't it be unfair from the First Young Lord's perspective? We must also consider the possibility that the First Young Lord would have chosen the more difficult path."

As you both probably expect, my brother would never have been able to solve it. He probably would have lost his life if he had gotten deeply involved. In that respect, it's fortunate that I chose this one.

I couldn't bring myself to say such a thing.

"Then isn't that too unfair to me?"

"Therefore, it seems we must give you a reward, separate from the results of this test."

It seemed he had already discussed this with Father.

"Is there anything you desire?"

Without hesitation, I looked at Father on the grand chair and spoke.

"As a reward, let's go hunting together one more time."

Father wore a surprised expression.

"Every time you receive a reward, you ask to go hunting with me."

After all, the wish I requested when I won the duel after my first regression was also to go hunting.

"We have to catch the tiger we couldn't get last time."

"Fine. Let's go."

Father readily accepted my proposal.

"We depart tomorrow morning."

After leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall, I first visited Lee Ahn's training ground.

I expected her to be sweating while practicing her martial arts, but unexpectedly, Lee Ahn was reading a book.

The sight of her, so beautiful it was startling every time I saw her, exuded a different kind of charm while reading. It was a sight that would make every scholar in the world fall in love.

The thought occurred to me again. I really have to show Lee Ahn to Jin Haryong at least once.

Wondering if it was a martial arts manual, I used the Divine Eye Technique to get a closer look. It was unexpectedly a collection of poetry and paintings.

"Are you quitting being a martial artist to become a poet?" I asked as I entered the training ground.

Lee Ahn glanced up before looking back at her book. "You're here?"

She acted as if she had seen me just yesterday. No, even if she had, she would have greeted me more warmly than this. I immediately sensed she was playing a prank.

Pretending not to notice, I sat down next to her.

"Congratulations."

"Congratulations for what?"

"I heard there's an occasion for noodles?"

Only then did I understand. Our loose-lipped Seo Daeryong must have told her everything about Jin Haryong.

"Your fated love is the Murim Alliance Chairman's daughter, I hear?"

"Not love, a meeting. Not his daughter, his granddaughter."

"They say she's the number one beauty of Hubei, so she must be incredibly pretty."

"Not prettier than you."

"What about her personality? Is it good?"

"It's decent enough. She wasn't raised without manners."

"A perfect match. I'm truly happy for you."

"Are you done being jealous?"

"I told you, it's not jealousy, it's congratulations."

"Then you should say it while looking at me."

"I don't want to."

Lee Ahn looked so cute being jealous.

"I told her. That when I returned, someone much prettier than her would be waiting."

I could see a smile forming on the lips of Lee Ahn, who had her head lowered.

"So what did she say?"

"She didn't believe me. So I plan to show her someday. I'm leaving."

As I stood up to walk away, Lee Ahn shot to her feet.

"Where do you think you're going! After making a person wait like this."

Lee Ahn sprang up and ran to me. She threw her arms around me in a tight hug.

I could feel her tears falling on my shoulder. I could tell how much she had worried about me while waiting.

"Just a moment."

I stood there for a moment, holding her. Feeling her warmth, my heart grew calm. It felt as if all my complicated thoughts were disappearing. How fortunate am I to have at least one person like this in my life?

A moment later, she pulled away. Lee Ahn's cheeks were flushed, perhaps thinking she had been too bold. She quickly changed the subject.

"This collection of poetry and paintings… the Blood Heaven Blade Demon lent it to me."

"The Elder? Why?"

"I went to see him. There was a rumor that the Demon Supreme were involved in your mission, Young Master. I asked the Blade Demon if you were alright."

I could imagine how much she must have hesitated before going to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon in person.

"What would you have done if he said I wasn't alright?"

"Then I would have gone to find you, Young Master. I would have gone no matter what. The thought that you might die because I didn't go would have made it impossible for me to eat or sleep. I would have had to go, for my own sake."

"Such a worrywart. If you had come, I would have left you at the Murim Alliance."

"Then I could have lived without any worries, maybe running a soup restaurant near the Murim Alliance."

"If you ran a soup restaurant, not a single day would pass peacefully."

She giggled. Her always-bright personality was the same now as it was when she was overweight. The fact that she was unshaken by any external factors or changes was her greatest charm and strength.

"Back then, Elder Blood Heaven Blade Demon told me not to worry about useless things and lent me a book to read. The book he lent me was about human life and death. I mean, how can you tell someone not to worry while lending them a book about life and death! Anyway, I've been borrowing and reading them one by one since then, but there's something strange, you know? I feel like my martial arts training is going better after reading these books."

"It's because your martial arts have finally connected with your life."

"My life and my martial arts are connected?"

"At first, martial arts improve through talent and effort. Then, when you reach a certain level, your martial arts begin to reflect your life. You know how people often hit a wall in their martial arts and can't get past it?"

"That's the case for most people."

"The reason is that they can't change their lives. The person has to change for their perspective on martial arts to change, but if the person stays the same, they can't overcome the wall blocking their way."

"Ah!"

It seemed Lee Ahn had found some kind of answer. The question of why reading poetry and books about life and death helped her martial arts was finally resolved.

"Let's talk more later. Right now, I have to go meet the master of life and death."

As I was about to turn away, Lee Ahn spoke spiritedly.

"Young Master, I'm so happy you've returned safely."

"It's good to see you."

With that, I left Lee Ahn's residence and headed for the Southern Blade Sect, where the Blood Heaven Blade Demon resided.