Chapter 191: You Said It Was Just One Thing

TL: FoodieMonster007

Why did Father come?

I sarcastically thought he must have come to support me, but I knew better. Father was not that kind of person.

Figuring out why Father came was as difficult as understanding why the Fist Demon joined our late-night training.

"Is that really so?" the Fist Demon asked, acting as if he knew something about Father's visit.

I poured alcohol into his empty cup. "Then why do you think he came?"

The Fist Demon drained the cup again, his expression unchanging.

"I think it's the opposite," he said. "He came to tell me to support the First Young Lord."

"Did you two have a telepathy session or something?"

The Fist Demon shook his head.

"But how do you know Father's mind?"

"The fact that he came here is the answer. The Cult Leader went out of his way to attend the first drinking session for a group I'm in with you. To congratulate us? Is the Cult Leader really that kind of person?"

"He's not."

"Right, he's not. So why did he come? He came to send a message. To let us know he's watching this situation."

The Fist Demon couldn't know everything about Father, but he must have spoken from a certain feeling.

"So you're saying that in the end, Father is on my older brother's side."

"You can't conclude that either."

"But didn't you just say that?"

"I said he came to tell me to side with him. Not that the Cult Leader is on the First Young Lord's side."

With those ambiguous words, the Fist Demon rose from his seat. "I've been welcomed well today."

"We're glad you've joined our group, the Fist Demon."

"Glad?"

The Fist Demon's suspicious gaze shifted from me to Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi.

Since they were frozen stiff, I spoke for them. "Those two are naturally finding this difficult and uncomfortable, but I'm sure they're also very happy."

The Lee Ahn I knew would have wanted to joke, 'No, we're not!', but instead she nodded with a resolute expression.

"We're so glad you've joined us, the Fist Demon!"

"I bet. You're the well-built Fist Demon, after all," I joked.

Lee Ahn glared at me again.

The Fist Demon pretended not to hear. Joke or not, a woman known as the world's number one beauty had just called him well-built. It couldn't have been unpleasant to hear.

In truth, Cheon Sohwi was more affected by the Fist Demon's arrival than Lee Ahn.

She spoke to the Fist Demon, her voice trembling.

"I've made many mistakes, so you might not believe me, but…… the reason I chose fist techniques over swordsmanship is because I admire you, the Fist Demon. I…… want to become like you, the Fist Demon."

Her face was flushed red from either alcohol or nervousness, but her eyes, fixed on the Fist Demon, conveyed her sincerity.

"I'm truly happy that you've joined our group, the Fist Demon."

The Fist Demon stared at her for a moment before silently descending to the first floor.

Cheon Sohwi looked as if she might collapse. I nodded to tell her she did well, then shouted to the Fist Demon as he left the tavern.

"Next time, you're buying the drinks, the Fist Demon!"

"There is no next time."

"What if we have a welcoming party for Father?"

The Fist Demon stopped at the tavern entrance. He scoffed and shook his head.

"The Cult Leader? Don't even dream of it."

With that, the Fist Demon left the tavern.

Only Lee Ahn, Cheon Sohwi, and I remained. They both collapsed into their seats as if their bodies had given out.

"Aaaah! It's over."

Lee Ahn sighed in relief and held out her cup.

"We can finally drink in peace. Let's have a drink, Young Master."

I toasted with her and drank.

Cheon Sohwi's hands trembled.

"I'll drink in a little bit. I can't even lift my cup."

She had been swept up in the hectic situation, but now that the Heavenly Demon and the Fist Demon were gone, it all felt like a dream. She had drunk with the Heavenly Demon and confessed her admiration directly to the Fist Demon. Things she could never have imagined had all happened in a single day.

"Ah, I was so nervous. My whole body feels stiff."

"How about it? Could you drink with them again?"

Cheon Sohwi's answer contradicted her physical state.

"It was so difficult…… but this tension wasn't bad."

Lately, she had shown a flustered side after meeting me, but she was still the First Iron Fist of the Eastern Fist Garrison, a woman with more grit than anyone.

"It's not a matter of 'could I', but 'I want to'."

"Stimulating things are certainly thrilling, aren't they?"

Cheon Sohwi smiled faintly in agreement.

My gaze turned to Lee Ahn.

"How do you feel?"

"How do you think I feel?"

It was the day she had received martial arts instruction from the Heavenly Demon himself.

"I wasn't just happy because the Cult Leader taught me martial arts."

"Then?"

"The fact that he taught me means he has officially acknowledged me, doesn't it?"

She couldn't bring herself to say it, but Father had acknowledged her as family by personally teaching her the Soaring Sky Sword Art. That martial art was passed down only to blood relatives.

"This will be a day I'll never forget. Thank you, Young Master."

"What did I do?"

"You said it to the Cult Leader, didn't you? That for your father it might be just one drinking session, but for Lee Ahn, it could be life-changing. This wouldn't have happened without those words."

Lee Ahn remembered my exact words to Father.

"Today, I felt like I was the one being welcomed."

I smiled brightly and patted her shoulder once. Welcome, Lee Ahn.

And so, the drinking session at the Alluring Inn ended.

The welcoming party was over, but my day was not.

An unexpected person waited for me when I returned to my residence.

My older brother, Geom Muyang, stood in the courtyard, looking up at the moon.

"When did you get here?"

"A little while ago."

I had a feeling he had been waiting for a while. What was he thinking during that time?

"I had a drink with the Fist Demon. If I'd known, we could've gone together."

Geom Muyang just looked up at the moon without a word.

I stood next to him.

"You look tired."

At my words, Geom Muyang's gaze shifted from the moon to me.

"Do I? I've been tasked with a lot lately. How about you?"

He seemed softer than usual. I could feel him trying his best. The more cornered Geom Muyang was, the harder he tried.

In a way, I felt sorry for my brother. My regression had certainly made his life harder. This fight was destined from the start. A man in his twenties was no match for me, especially since I had been growing endlessly stronger since my regression.

Still, brother, we can't live the same lives. If we continue like this, only death awaits us.

"Does it bother you that I'm meeting with the Fist Demon?"

"It'd be a lie to say it doesn't."

"I'm really into fist techniques these days. You won't believe me, will you?"

"If you were me, would you believe it?"

"You should feel free to meet with the Demon Supremes too. Meet the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and talk about books, or meet the Drunken Demon for a drink. I don't mind."

"Is that confidence? Do you think they're already your people? Let me give you a piece of advice as your older brother. Don't look down on the Demon Supremes. You're gravely mistaken if you think they're yours just because they're smiling in front of you. In the final moment, they will ultimately choose what benefits them."

I smiled at him.

"Are you mocking me?"

"No. I was just thinking about the last time you gave me advice. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

Geom Muyang turned his head and looked at the wall, where the moon cast a shadow.

Between us lies a wall several times taller and thicker than that one.

"The Fist Demon said something. He said he supports you, and that Father would want that too."

Geom Muyang flinched in surprise.

"Really?"

"……"

"Why are you telling me that?"

"Brother. This is who I am. I'm not the type to be difficult when someone is being nice."

I revealed my true feelings, something I had not shown him for a long time.

"Do you know why I told the Demon Supremes I would fight for the succession without shedding blood with you?"

"……"

Geom Muyang was genuinely curious.

"When we were young, you did something terrible to me. You instilled a fear of the murim in me and guided me toward a psychological collapse. Back then, just thinking of the word 'murim' made me shrink in fear."

This was the first time I had ever brought this up with him. Geom Muyang's eyes trembled. He must have thought I didn't know, since he had told me all sorts of stories while pretending to be worried about me.

My brother did not deny it.

"Then you should be seeking revenge. Why say we shouldn't shed blood?"

"Because you were only a bad guy up to that point."

"!"

"If you were a worse piece of trash, you would've found a way to kill me. You would've destroyed my qi center or used some other vicious method, but you weren't the kind of person who wanted to become the successor by harming your own brother. You were just bad enough for me to understand. That's why. With my generous heart, I decided to forgive that much. You were young back then, too."

Of course, the fact that Father wanted it was also a big reason.

"Crazy bastard, you're spouting bullshit."

Curses he didn't usually use slipped out. Geom Muyang was flustered. Perhaps my brother was being bombarded with questions from the depths of his own heart.

If you weren't confident you'd become the successor, what would have happened then? Would you still have left your brother alone? Did you stop at that point only because you were confident you would become the successor?

What kind of person was my brother, really?

In truth, even I didn't know the answer. It was something that hadn't happened, and no one could guarantee what choice a desperate person would make.

"But don't let your guard down. You and I are still on trial. If I declare I'll fight for the succession without shedding blood and then kill you to become the Cult Leader, no Demon Supreme will ever truly follow me. It's the same for you. If you use some clumsy scheme to suppress me and take the Cult Leader's seat, the Demon Supremes will never pledge their true loyalty. Don't forget. They may seem like they're not watching, but the Demon Supremes are always observing us."

Geom Muyang had been staring at me quietly. He said abruptly, "Why have you become so talkative? You weren't like this when you were younger."

"I guess all my inner arts went to my mouth."

"That's not funny at all."

Did my words break even a single brick in the thick wall between us? Hoping they did, I nagged him some more. I had no choice but to unleash my nagging technique on my brother.

"Since I'm a chatterbox now anyway, I'll say one last thing. There's no coexistence for brothers in a power struggle? They'll end up killing each other? Who the hell decided that? Why should we be swayed by the precedents of pathetic bastards who can't even control their own desires?"

I moved from his side to stand in front of Geom Muyang. I looked him in the eyes and said, "So don't even dream of being swayed. If you get anxious that I might kill you, come find me. That thought will disappear when you see me. Don't think I ignored you today! Don't think you lost. Just think, 'My little brother is talkative and speaks well.' Just think that. Don't get provoked! Don't make any rash decisions!"

As soon as I finished, Geom Muyang snapped.

"You bastard! I thought my ears were going to bleed. You said it was just one thing, is this one thing? If you ever feel like killing me, you come find me! A young punk lecturing me!"

Geom Muyang strode out.

You know what, brother? I know I'm difficult for you, but it's the same for me. You're more difficult for me than Father, more than the Eight Demon Supremes.

I stood in the courtyard for a moment and looked up at the moon my brother had been watching. The night reminded me of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's words, that family can be your enemy.

We trained hard for the next two days.

We trained during the day and we trained at night in a continuous cycle.

A few days passed like that. Tonight, we were once again in the middle of our late-night training.

I was honing a technique, mirroring the Fist Demon's exact stance, when it happened.

WHOOOOSH!

The Fist Demon's fist flew toward me.

It looked like a mistake, but it was not.

"……"

My fist and the Fist Demon's fist collided in mid-air.

The sound, like a bursting drum, made Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi look at us in surprise.

We had thrust our fists from the same stance, and they had met in mid-air.

"My apologies. I was lost in thought for a moment."

"It happens."

"How about it? Since we've already exerted ourselves, shall we have a duel?"

"Nice try, but I refuse."

Finally, the Fist Demon was starting his little tricks. He wanted to fight me ten times more than I wanted to learn his martial arts.

"If you refuse, then turn away. Why are you staring at me like that?"

It must have been an unfamiliar experience for him. It was rare for anyone to stare at the Fist Demon like this.

Now, I intend to see the Fist Demon properly. I saw his fists first, but now I will see him, straight on, without any preconceptions.

"I keep looking at your face, the Fist Demon, because I think it makes you seem less scary."

The Fist Demon shook his head with a dumbfounded expression. He gathered his clothes, signaling that training was over for the day.

As he left, Lee Ahn and Cheon Sohwi came to my sides.

"Liar!"

"The more you look at him, the scarier he gets."

I smiled faintly at their earnest teasing.

My gaze followed the Fist Demon walking away. His large, thick back was turned to me as he walked alone into the darkness.

What caught my eye was not his face. In that lonely-looking back, I saw…… myself, before my regression.