Chapter 190: Are You Going to Let Me on That Ship Too?

TL: FoodieMonster007

"Cursing me behind my back, as usual?" Father asked.

I laughed at Father's words and said, "Cursing? You misunderstand! Even if I were to curse the Heavenly Demon, how could I possibly do it to his face? Not even the Murim Alliance Chairman could do that. Now, please, have a seat."

I was the first to notice Father enter the tavern, so I spoke loudly enough for him to hear. I wanted him to stop staying cooped up in the Heavenly Demon Hall and go out to have some fun.

"Cult Leader!" Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi shot up to greet him.

Father raised a hand to stop them before he took a seat.

Without releasing any particular qi, Father completely changed the atmosphere in the room. The second floor of the shabby inn had suddenly become the Heavenly Demon Hall.

"What brings you here?"

"I was just passing by."

He always says that, but could it be true? Did he really come to see me? Or did he come to see the Fist Demon?

Lee Ahn said cautiously, "Please, talk amongst yourselves. We'll take our leave."

"There's no need for that. I'll only be staying for a moment."

"Yes! Then we'll be as quiet as if we weren't here."

Watching Lee Ahn answer so spiritedly, Father remarked unexpectedly, "You've grown up a lot."

Lee Ahn was stunned by the unexpected words. She was so surprised she couldn't recall the last time she had been this shocked. I was surprised too. I never imagined Father would acknowledge Lee Ahn.

"Thank you." Lee Ahn's voice trembled as she bowed her head.

Though it was just a single word, Lee Ahn was deeply moved. Her gaze turned to me, her eyes seeming to say, Did you see that, Young Master? The Cult Leader remembered me from my childhood. Ah! I'm so touched. For the Cult Leader to remember me…

If it weren't for this setting, she would have been jumping up and down and screaming with joy.

Father's gaze then turned to Cheon Sohwi. "I hear you're the best fighter in the Eastern Fist Garrison?"

Cheon Sohwi was so shocked she nearly fainted. The Heavenly Demon knows about me? It was something she had never imagined.

"That's not true."

"Then was I mistaken?"

"What? No, that's not it!" Cheon Sohwi denied it out of humility, then denied it again. She was so flustered she didn't know what to do.

I stepped in to rescue her. "That's right. Young Lady Cheon is the most skilled in the Eastern Fist Garrison. I consider her a candidate for the next Fist Demon."

It didn't feel much like a rescue, as Cheon Sohwi only grew more flustered.

"No, that's not it! The next Fist Demon? That's an outrageous thing to say." She waved her hands, vehemently denying it.

Father's gaze turned to the Fist Demon, as if asking, Is that what you think as well?

The Fist Demon merely looked at Cheon Sohwi without a word, neither confirming nor denying it.

"The Second Young Lord is just teasing me, so you don't need to pay it any mind."

I didn't let it pass as a joke. "I said it because I genuinely believe it. Father, there's never been a female Fist Demon in our Cult, has there? Wouldn't that be cool?"

I said it on purpose. Being considered a candidate for the next Fist Demon in front of the Heavenly Demon would be more motivating for Cheon Sohwi than being told to work hard a hundred times.

Father understood my intention and said to Cheon Sohwi, "Continue to improve."

"……"

Cheon Sohwi wasn't getting any sleep tonight.

After dealing with the two women, Father spoke to the Fist Demon. "Have you been well?"

"Yes, Cult Leader."

No matter how fearsome the Fist Demon looked, how well-built his body was, or how large his fists were, he became as gentle as a baby before Father, the Heavenly Demon.

"I hear my son has been bothering you?"

"These days, I'm the one bothering him."

"What do you mean?"

"This gathering today is a welcoming party for a new member. I'm the new member."

Father, who seemed not to have known, looked surprised for a moment before he smiled.

This is a point that always upsets me. He shows the Demon Supremes a smile he never shows his own son.

Father said to Lee Ahn, "It must be tough, accepting such a grand newcomer."

"It's alright. The Fist Demon is…" Lee Ahn hesitated, unsure what to say. She had never properly considered how to describe or introduce the Fist Demon, especially not in front of the Heavenly Demon.

I couldn't miss this perfect opportunity to tease the flustered Lee Ahn. "Please understand. It's because Lee Ahn can't lie."

At that, Lee Ahn quickly said, "That's not true. The Fist Demon is very cool, gentlemanly, gentle, has a great body, and takes good care of us."

A sudden silence fell.

"Has a great body?"

Not expecting Lee Ahn to say such a thing, even the Fist Demon showed a flicker of bewilderment. Lee Ahn, who had said it, was flustered too.

"Did I say that?"

"Yup. That was the only truth among all your lies."

At my joke, Lee Ahn glared at me. Stop teasing me! The Cult Leader is right here!

Father poured a drink into the Fist Demon's cup. "My mischievous son must be giving you a hard time."

With an expression that said, You have no idea, the Fist Demon politely accepted the drink.

The two of them drank.

They were two people who seemed comfortable, yet weren't. It was clear the Fist Demon found Father difficult and felt uncomfortable around him.

Still, if you looked closely, Father and the Fist Demon had a certain resemblance. Regardless of their actual personalities, both gave off an ultra-hardline impression of 'smash first, ask questions later', and they both seemed lonely in some way.

"Is this the first time you've joined a group like this?"

"It is the first time."

"How is it, now that you've tried it?"

Could the reason Father came today be his curiosity about why the Fist Demon joined this group?

"Hanging out with these young friends makes me feel like I'm getting younger too, so it's nice."

"Are you already old enough to be saying things like that? It feels like just yesterday we were in the prime of our youth. Do you remember? The time we fought those bastards from the orthodox sects at Mount Wutai for three days and three nights?"

"You still remember that?"

"You were truly magnificent back then."

"That's because I haven't been able to overshadow that memory with an even more magnificent deed."

Father and the Fist Demon. I thought the atmosphere would be stiff and that they wouldn't talk much, but the two of them conversed quite well.

In fact, Father seemed a little more friendly and comfortable than when he dealt with the other Demon Supremes.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon had said that among the Demon Supremes, the person Father liked most was the Fist Demon. I started to think that might really be true.

The Fist Demon, on the other hand, only answered when asked, treating Father with deference. Perhaps that was why their relationship was maintained so well. Problems always arise when both parties become too comfortable with each other.

After a couple rounds of drinks, Lee Ahn, who had been waiting for an opportunity, spoke to Father.

"I wanted to be sure to thank you if I ever had the chance to see you in person. Thank you for what you did last time."

Lee Ahn rose from her seat and gave a deep bow. She didn't specify what she was thankful for, but Father and I knew. It was for his permission to let her learn the Soaring Sky Sword Art.

Father calmly offered a piece of advice. "A great martial art is always accompanied by a great destiny."

It wasn't just because of the Soaring Sky Sword Art, but in any case, Lee Ahn was now walking a new path of destiny.

"I'll keep that in mind and do my best not to bring shame to the great grace you've bestowed upon me."

I hoped this moment would hold an even greater meaning for Lee Ahn.

"In that spirit, why don't you pass on a move to Lee Ahn?"

At my words, Father's eyes narrowed slightly. "You mean right now?"

"Well, when will we have another opportunity like this?"

Lee Ahn started to step forward and say it was fine, but I raised a hand to stop her.

"For you, Father, this may just be a drinking session, but for Lee Ahn, it could be a life-changing event, couldn't it?"

I sent the rest of my words via telepathy.

[She reached the ninth level at such a young age. You know how much effort that takes, don't you? That little kid has grown up so well, hasn't she?]

Did the last part get to him?

Father rose from his seat and said to Lee Ahn, "Follow me outside for a moment."

Father led Lee Ahn out. As she followed him, Lee Ahn looked back at me. Am I going to die?

I waved my hand as if saying goodbye. You won't die, but it'll be a killer experience.

Of course, I could guide Lee Ahn to complete mastery myself, but receiving a pointer from Father was an experience that would bring great change and help to a martial artist's life, separate from just raising one's level of martial arts.

I apologized to the Fist Demon. "I'm sorry for ruining the mood."

"When I'm with you, I always seem to experience the unexpected."

"Everyone likes me for that fun, don't they?"

The Fist Demon stared at me intently, drained his cup, and then spoke. "Earlier, I told that child that the greater the trust, the deeper the wound. That misplaced faith will bring misfortune. Come to think of it, I haven't said that to you."

He was asking what I would do if I was betrayed by the very people I took care of.

"At a glance, it might seem like I trust every single person, but that's not actually the case. I trust this person this much, and that person that much. I have my own standards and my own lines. To trust everyone completely, or to trust no one at all. I actually think that's the easier way. So I'm trying to take the harder path. The path of struggling with whether to trust or not. How much should I trust the Fist Demon? How can I make him trust me more? I intend to continue on that path of constant deliberation."

It was the first time I had revealed what kind of person I was to the Fist Demon.

"So? Do you think you can take everyone with you that way?"

"A time will come when I can't let anyone else on my ship. Either because I've become exhausted, or because the ship is too small."

"Why are you so determined to take them on board? With your current martial arts alone, you should be able to live enjoying the freedom you spoke of."

"Because it feels like the dam is about to break."

"!"

After a brief pause, the Fist Demon asked, "If the dam breaks and a flood comes, will only the people on your ship survive?"

"No. It might even be the opposite."

"The opposite?"

"My ship will set sail to stop the dam from breaking. It's possible that people might die precisely because they're on my ship."

I said to the listening Cheon Sohwi, "So you don't have to get on my ship if you don't want to."

The look in her eyes as she stared at me said, Um, I think I'm already on board?

Of course, this time, she spoke with her head, not her heart. "Of course I have no intention of getting on. I'll ride the ship steered by the Fist Demon. No, I'm already on it."

"Junior Sister!"

"Junior Sister? Why are you calling me Junior Sister? Second Young Lord!" She was drawing a clear line in front of the Fist Demon.

"Yes, Martial Artist Cheon. I sincerely hope you succeed!"

After saying that, I laughed first. Cheon Sohwi probably wanted to laugh along, but she didn't dare to in front of the Fist Demon.

Just then, the Fist Demon asked calmly, "Are you going to let me on that ship too?"

A moment of silence passed. Cheon Sohwi looked even more nervous than the Fist Demon as she waited for my answer.

"I don't know yet. To be honest, I haven't truly seen the Fist Demon yet. All I've seen is the Fist Demon's fist. Right now, my only thought is of wanting to make this baby hand of mine like that fist."

After hearing my words, the Fist Demon quietly drank his alcohol. I drank too, and Cheon Sohwi also drank cautiously.

Fist Demon, you can just get on my brother's ship. If you don't like my brother's ship, then let him ride on yours. Instead, one day, I will load the entire ship you are on onto my own. I'm doing all this because I want my ship to grow that large.

A short while later, Father and Lee Ahn returned.

Lee Ahn was flushed. I didn't know what kind of teaching she had received, but for Lee Ahn, it must have been a miraculous encounter.

"How was it? A good welcoming ceremony, right?"

Lee Ahn nodded.

"What do you say? Father, would you like to join this group too?"

Everyone was horrified by my words. Cheon Sohwi barely managed to cover her mouth with her hands to stop a scream from escaping.

I expected Father to say something like, Do I look like I have that much free time? but he had an unexpected reaction.

"Are there any benefits if I join?"

"Of course, we have to give you some. It's not just anyone, it's the Heavenly Demon who's joining. There are special benefits."

"What kind of benefits?"

"First, the four of us will hang out with you whenever you want."

At that, the Fist Demon blurted out, "The four of us?"

"It's good for you too, isn't it, Fist Demon? Spending a pleasant time with the Cult Leader."

The Fist Demon's expression flared with anger, and he cursed me with his eyes.

I pretended not to see and turned my head away. Father asked again, "The second benefit?"

"We'll receive your teachings on martial arts anytime you wish to give them."

"Isn't that a benefit for you, not for me?"

"These days, young people tend to hear their elders' teachings as nagging and let it go in one ear and out the other. They don't get many chances to show off their wisdom. So we'll listen to everything without missing a single word. Feel free to tell us your old stories as much as you want!"

"But everyone, young and old, male and female, listens well to what I say?"

Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi bit their lips. They suppressed their laughter, sharply aware that getting swept up in this joke could lead to big trouble.

"That's not all. We'll also take you on trips, Father. When that happens, it'll be goodbye to the Heavenly Demon Hall, goodbye to Strategist Sama, and goodbye to the Grand Tutor."

"More?"

"You're quite greedy. What else do you want?"

Then Father said, "Play baduk with me when I want, and go hunting."

The moment I heard those words, I felt a lump in my throat. What Father had just said wasn't a benefit for him, but one entirely for me.

"With such outrageous benefits, you're still not going to join?"

Father drained his last cup and stood up. "That's enough for today."

Just as he had arrived suddenly, Father also left suddenly.

Father said his goodbyes to the Fist Demon. "Let's see each other again soon."

"I will come to see you."

We all stood up and bowed politely to Father.

"Since you came all this way, you should buy us a round before you go!"

At those words, Father really did pay for the drinks before he left. An excited Jo Cheonbae set aside the money he received from Father.

"This is precious alcohol, a treat from the Heavenly Demon."

At my words, Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi received their cups with both hands and drank reverently.

After draining another cup, the Fist Demon asked me, "Do you know why the Cult Leader came here today?"