Chapter 188: Why Get Stronger?

TL: FoodieMonster007

We were truly surprised. It was startling to hear the Fist Demon mention the 'Midnight Training Session', but we were shocked when he asked to join.

Cheon Sohwi, who had been bowing, looked up. Did I hear that right? Her eyes met the Fist Demon's, and she quickly bowed her head again.

The Fist Demon looked at me, waiting for an answer.

"I'm not the leader of this group."

I looked at Lee Ahn.

The look in her eyes said it all. No, Young Master! You're passing this to me? Despite her urgent gaze, Lee Ahn calmly greeted the Fist Demon.

"Let me introduce myself properly. I am Lee Ahn."

The Fist Demon just nodded once. Lee Ahn's beauty could not soften the Fist Demon's fearsome expression.

"I did create this group, but I'm not one to make decisions alone."

Lee Ahn looked at Cheon Sohwi. Cheon Sohwi's expression screamed, You're passing this to me now?

Lee Ahn pretended not to notice and asked her.

"What do you think, Young Lady Cheon?"

Cheon Sohwi shouted without hesitation.

"I agree completely!"

The Fist Demon nodded, then looked at Lee Ahn.

"……"

Only Father could refuse that face.

"I agree as well."

Once Lee Ahn agreed, the Fist Demon's gaze finally turned to me.

"……"

"Of course I object."

The Fist Demon's face twitched for a moment, but I did not even blink.

"……"

"Because it's awkward. I'd be fine, but think how uncomfortable they would be. Young Lady Cheon, especially, would have to see the Fist Demon all day and then again at night. It would be torture for her."

Cheon Sohwi spoke faster than my Blue Sky Strike.

"I'm fine with it. In fact, I'm happy I get to see you again."

Then the Fist Demon said to me.

"She says she's happy."

"That can't be right. Let me give you an easy example. Starting tomorrow, the Fist Demon has to train in martial arts with Father."

The Fist Demon's expression hardened instantly. It was an unconcealable discomfort. That's Father for you.

"You see him all day while training in martial arts, and then you have to see him again at night. Now, how would you feel?"

It was an irrefutable example. Father, I'm sorry.

"Then what should I do?"

Those were words that should never have come from the Fist Demon's mouth. Since he was going this far, I had to let him in. The admission fee would just be a little steep.

"Teach me the first form of your unique fist technique."

The Fist Demon's unique fist technique was the Thunder Arhat Fist.

It was a rough and domineering fist style. When a master unleashed the Thunder Arhat Fist, thunder supposedly erupted from their fists. It was the Fist Demon's unique martial art.

The Thunder Arhat Fist consisted of six forms in total. I had asked for the first technique, the first form.

"Those two are the ones who'll be uncomfortable. Why are you the one trying to learn a martial art?"

"They'll understand. I give them that much in return."

Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi, who were watching, probably thought the Fist Demon would never accept. Not just them, anyone would think so, but I decided to push my luck. It was important to take steps, one by one, toward my goal.

Of course, I had my reasons for being so bold. He had secretly visited this place twice, and now he had personally asked to join the group.

Whatever his reason, he also had a strong desire to join this group.

"Do you take me for a fool?"

"Of course not, but I think you'll pretend to be just that much of a fool for me."

I conversed with the Fist Demon through our eyes. You crazy bastard! Yes, that's me. I hear that a lot.

After glaring at me for a moment, the Fist Demon turned and left.

He could have insisted. If he had forcefully demanded to be let in, we would have had no choice. If he had used the fact that Cheon Sohwi called me Senior Brother as a weakness to pressure us, we would have had to do as he wished.

But when I objected, the Fist Demon simply backed down. He was not a petty man. He was a man worthy of the name the Fist Demon.

Relieved, Cheon Sohwi collapsed to the ground.

"Ah! I thought my heart was going to explode just now."

Lee Ahn also shook her head.

"I knew he looked intimidating, but I didn't realize it was this bad up close."

Once she had calmed down a bit, Lee Ahn asked me.

"But why does the Fist Demon want to join our group?"

She could not understand it at all, so I told her a thought that suddenly came to me.

"Because he's lonely?"

I was not joking, but Lee Ahn took it as a joke.

"Don't be ridiculous."

"How would I know what's on his mind?"

But one thing was certain.

"His ultimate goal is probably to fight me."

"With you, Young Master?"

"Yes. He probably wants to train with us and use it as an excuse to fight me."

Lee Ahn was shocked. She probably never imagined the Fist Demon would have such a thought.

"If he wants to fight, can't he just do it during the day?"

"His subordinates are watching then, aren't they?"

"He could just call you out separately to fight, couldn't he?"

"Because I told him I would never fight him."

"So he wants to join this group to find a chance to fight you?"

"Right now, that's the only conclusion I can draw."

Lee Ahn raised her hand abruptly and said.

"This dangerous group is hereby disbanded, effective immediately."

Of course, she was not serious. The Fist Demon had just asked to join and been rejected. If we disbanded right now, there was no telling what might happen.

Meanwhile, Cheon Sohwi, still sitting on the ground, was half dazed. The Fist Demon had found out she took Geom Mugeuk as her Senior Brother. How must she feel? She was probably thinking that her chances of becoming the next Fist Demon were gone forever.

"Should I leave this group, even now?"

"You think he'll let it go if you leave? I doubt it."

"Then what do I do? Since it's already happened, should I just say, 'Ah, whatever'?"

"……"

"What?"

Cheon Sohwi stared at me with wide eyes.

"It'd be better to train harder and make up for your mistake with skill."

She sighed, her expression saying that was easier said than done.

After a moment, she asked.

"He won't come back, right?"

"Probably not."

I said that to comfort her, as she was clearly in shock, but I had a feeling the Fist Demon would not give up this easily.

"I'll… I'll work twice as hard."

Cheon Sohwi seemed to steel her resolve, but then she clutched her head.

"I'm doomed!"

The next day, the Black Fists' training proceeded as usual.

I watched the Fist Demon, but he acted as if nothing had happened. This made Cheon Sohwi even more nervous, and she trained so hard it was pitiful to watch.

Separate from that incident, my popularity among the Black Fists was growing by the day.

It was only natural. I considered the Black Fists my direct subordinates. They were people who would one day fight for me and with me.

Therefore, I answered their questions sincerely and even chatted about things unrelated to martial arts.

They were often surprised by my extensive knowledge of the murim and the Central Plains. They became engrossed in my stories, losing track of time as they listened.

The Fist Demon just watched me quietly from a distance. I was also curious about what he was thinking.

That night.

Three people gathered first for the Midnight Training Session. It was me, Lee Ahn, and Cheon Sohwi.

Cheon Sohwi sighed.

"The Fist Demon didn't look at me once today."

"When has he ever?"

"……"

"You're already on his bad side. Why not just treat the Fist Demon comfortably?"

"Is that sincere advice? Or is it a trap to ruin me?"

"Of course, it's advice for my Junior Sister."

Cheon Sohwi flinched in surprise.

"You still think of me as your Junior Sister?"

"……"

Realizing I was serious, she shook her head.

"No. What are you trying to do?"

"Put yourself in his shoes. You're the Fist Demon. You have a smart subordinate you want to pass your position to someday, but this subordinate gets caught scheming with that Second Young Lord, and after that, they just keep watching you nervously. How would you feel?"

"I'd hate it."

"So act confidently."

"I think he'd hate that even more."

I could not help but laugh at her words. Lee Ahn laughed, and Cheon Sohwi laughed too.

Cheon Sohwi gathered her resolve.

"Alright! I'll do as you say, Senior Brother! What's done is done, so let the chips fall where they may. I'll confidently tell him why I took the Second Young Lord as my Senior Brother. If I speak from the heart, he'll understand, right? The Fist Demon might look scary, but his heart must be different. Thank you, Senior Brother! I'll do my best. Let's keep being Senior Brother and Junior Sister behind the Fist Demon's back, but… why do you have that look on your face? Why? Why are you looking at me so frighteningly… It's not him, is it? Please tell me it's not."

Her face crumpled as she turned toward the chilling presence she felt behind her.

The Fist Demon had appeared and was standing right behind her.

Cheon Sohwi's face went pale, as if she carried all the anguish in the world.

Just when she did not know what to say, the Fist Demon suddenly asked.

"What were you thinking, taking the Second Young Lord as your Senior Brother?"

The Fist Demon had heard everything she just said.

Cheon Sohwi conveyed her honest feelings in a trembling voice.

"I happened to see the Second Young Lord duel a martial artist using the fist techniques we learned. In that moment, I wanted to become that strong too."

She had just admitted to taking a Senior Brother on her own and trying to learn martial arts from him while the Fist Demon was her teacher. It would not have been strange if he had struck her dead with a single palm strike.

But she spoke honestly. Her mind was probably screaming, Don't do this!, but her mouth spoke for her heart.

"Why do you want to get stronger?"

"To be honest, I wanted to succeed the Fist Demon and become the next Fist Demon. Though… I guess that's impossible now."

It was a life-risking answer, but it was not the one the Fist Demon wanted.

"Yes, that's a position you want to have. I asked what you want to do by getting stronger."

"!"

For a moment, Cheon Sohwi was flustered.

She had probably never thought deeply about the difference between what she wanted to be and what she wanted to do. Having lived with the sole goal of becoming the Fist Demon, she must have been even more confused.

Listening to their conversation, I was impressed with the Fist Demon.

Yes, the Fist Demon is the kind of person who asks questions like this. This question alone proves he isn't just some brute who only uses his fists. He's smart.

I stepped in to save her.

"Why did you come here today?"

Then, a surprising statement came from the Fist Demon's mouth.

"I will pass on the first form of the Thunder Arhat Fist to you."

I was stunned. I had expected the Fist Demon would not give up easily, but I never thought he would actually offer the first form just to join our group.

For what, exactly? Does he really want to fight me that badly?

Not just me, but Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi were shocked too. No one would believe it. That the Fist Demon would offer the first form of the Thunder Arhat Fist just to join a small group called the Midnight Training Session.

My gaze locked with the Fist Demon's in mid-air. We spoke again with our eyes. You're truly amazing. Not as much as you. You won't regret this? Will you regret it? Luring me in like this. I have no regrets.

"But I have one condition."

"Name it."

"You must keep it a secret that I taught you this martial art."

"Of course."

The Fist Demon's gaze turned to the two women. How could they dare say anything else?

"Yes! Don't worry!"

"We weren't here!"

Of course, what they really wanted to say was probably this.

And we don't want to be here in the future, either!

The martial arts lesson began immediately.

The Fist Demon used telepathy to teach me the mnemonic chant for the first form of the Thunder Arhat Fist.

The first form, the Black Cloud Asura.

It was the first of six techniques, but it was more powerful than any other fist technique. You would understand why this was the Fist Demon's martial art only after being hit by it.

The Fist Demon even corrected my stance, properly teaching me the Black Cloud Asura.

He was sincere when it came to martial arts, at least. I did not know for sure, but among the Demon Supremes, the Fist Demon was probably the best teacher. He taught with a gentle voice that did not match his terrifying face at all.

Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi turned their backs so they would not see us. Since our conversation was telepathic, it would not have mattered if they watched, but they were not so rude as to observe a martial arts lesson.

And so, I learned the first form of the Thunder Arhat Fist.

파아아앙!

One day, the sound of thunder would erupt from this fist I threw.

The Fist Demon watched me perform the first form and nodded.

"You'll have to keep training to bring out its full power."

"Thank you."

There must be give and take, so I formally addressed the Fist Demon.

"Welcome to the Midnight Training Session."

Me, the Fist Demon, Lee Ahn, and Cheon Sohwi. It was the moment four completely unexpected people were bound together in a single group.

And it seemed the Fist Demon was determined to surprise us today.

"Now, let's train."

He took off his upper garment. I had not seen him shirtless since I went to the Eastern Fist Garrison, but now he started undressing as if he were truly serious about training.

The Fist Demon's upper body was revealed under the pale blue moonlight.