Chapter 232: Are You Planning to Regret It Again Later?

TL: FoodieMonster007

I stopped walking. The passing sandstorm was not the reason. The question I had asked the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader before was very important to me.

"I asked you if time could flow slower inside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique," I said, remembering the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's exact words. "And you answered, 'Bah, you rascal, what kind of nonsense is that!'"

I continued, "You also said that you and the previous Cult Leaders tried, but it was impossible."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader paused briefly. "You have a good memory," the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader said. "Those words were both true and false."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"It's impossible, no matter how much we researched and trained. I still feel that way. Bah, you rascal, what kind of nonsense is that!"

"Then what was the lie?"

"I called it nonsense, but there's a secret art passed down covertly among the Cult Leaders. It's called the Heavenly Space Secret Art."

My heart stirred when I heard those words. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader read my emotions and quickly added, "Don't get your hopes up. No Cult Leader has ever mastered the Heavenly Space Secret Art. They all researched and trained, but it was just a waste of time. I'm not even sure if it's a proper secret art."

I still felt an intense emotion. This matter was that important to me.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader continued to explain. "Records say the Heavenly Space Secret Art was created two hundred years ago. The Cult Leader then, Yeon Meongdeok, made time flow differently inside and outside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique. He did this in seclusion after stepping down."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader added, "It was said that while two hours passed inside, less than one hour passed outside."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader again emphasized it was an impossible feat. "No one after Cult Leader Yeon has achieved it. It's understandable. Cult Leader Yeon had the most profound inner arts in our cult's history and was born with the Heavenly Martial Body. His martial arts were at an indescribably high level."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader continued, "An ordinary person couldn't understand the secret art Yeon Meongdeok left. Either that, or the secret art was fake."

"But why are you telling me this?"

Our gazes locked in mid-air.

"First, let me ask you something. Why are you so interested in this impossible task? Of course, anyone would dream of such a space, but you seem to have a specific reason."

There was a reason. The Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

Once I inherit the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, I must completely master it. My goal isn't the tenth star, but the twelfth star.

But I lack the time. It might be different for other martial arts, but achieving the twelfth star of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art is not an easy task.

"There's someone I want to train enough to beat to a pulp."

"You're going to train even more just to beat someone up? I don't know who it is, but they've messed with the wrong person."

Yes, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was right. Someone had messed with the wrong person.

Whether it's Hwa Mugi or me, one of us has seriously messed with the wrong person.

"When you first asked, I never imagined this moment would come." Then, astonishing words flowed from the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's lips. "I will pass down the Heavenly Space Secret Art to you."

Our gazes locked. It was a secret technique no one had ever achieved, and not something the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would easily give away.

"I didn't succeed… but you just might."

My trembling gaze asked why the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was showing me such favor. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader magnanimously revealed his heart. "Didn't you say it yourself? That in this place, you would take me as your Master."

"!"

"Isn't it natural for a Master to pass down a secret art to his disciple?"

I was genuinely moved. I knew what kind of person the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was. He was greedy and human, and I knew the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader regretted what he had already given me, yet, he was about to give again, to hand over another secret technique.

"Are you planning to regret it again later?"

"If I regret it, I'll regret it. I'm a man who has a knack for regret, aren't I?"

I was choked with emotion when I heard those words. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was truly giving his all for me.

Seo Daeryong once said I was a person who gives back ten for every one received. I should have said those words to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. I gave him one, and he was repaying me with ten.

I prostrated myself on the spot. "Be as grumpy and boastful as you want. I'll put up with it for the rest of my life. Thank you so much."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's eyes grew hot as he helped me to my feet.

"I don't know if you should thank me. I'm worried I'm wasting your energy and time by passing on a technique I couldn't even succeed at."

"Please leave what comes after to me."

"Now, listen carefully."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader passed down the oral formula for the Heavenly Space Secret Art. The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader checked several times to make sure I had memorized it well.

"If this is possible, the amount of time slowed down would differ from person to person, right?"

"I suppose so?"

"Then someday, if someone's mastery peaks, it might be possible to stop time in there completely."

"You can't even crawl yet, and you're already dreaming of flying?"

"It's because I'm greedy when it comes to martial arts."

We looked at each other and laughed.

"That would be beyond human capability."

"I'll try to surpass it."

"I think it's impossible, but since it's you, a part of me is looking forward to it. I wonder how much you'll surprise me."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader would never know how grateful I was.

I will definitely polish the Heavenly Space Secret Art and astound him.

Alone, I opened a space with the Spacetime Manipulation Technique and unleashed the Heavenly Space Secret Art inside.

HWIIIIIIIIK.

The mystical sound of swirling wind surrounded me. I had not even passed the initial stage of the oral formula, but it demanded an immense amount of inner arts. I understood why everyone had failed and given up.

The secret art was abstruse, but the amount of inner arts it required was a far greater problem. At this rate, the time one could stay inside would be too short to be meaningful, even if they succeeded. Training martial arts here would consume even more inner arts, so no one would have dared to try.

However, it was meaningful to me. My inner arts were purer and more profound than anyone else's in this murim.

I also had firm faith. The inner arts efficiency for the Heavenly Space Secret Art would improve as my mastery increased, just like other top-tier martial arts. The Four Strides of the Wind God was a perfect example. As my mastery rose, my speed increased and the required inner arts decreased.

I practiced the Heavenly Space Secret Art with the conviction that I would succeed. I believed in myself. I also possessed the Heavenly Martial Body. I was confident my current martial arts level was higher than Yeon Meongdeok's when Yeon Meongdeok created this secret art.

The next day, I ran into Go Wol in the courtyard.

"Did something good happen?" Go Wol asked.

My gaze shifted to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader beside me. "Something good did happen."

The quick-witted Go Wol noticed it was related to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. "You always say you dislike the Second Young Lord, so what did you give him this time?"

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader stared into the distance, feigning ignorance at Go Wol's question.

I smiled and asked Go Wol, "How about you?"

"I think I need a little more time. Right now, I need to use my eyes, not my head."

This meant Go Wol was monitoring and observing his target, trying to find a weakness in Yayul Han's daily routine.

Go Wol was busy all day, sending and receiving messenger pigeons and meeting with informants. I was not worried, since the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was with Go Wol.

"Take as much time as you need. Handle it with care."

"……"

"I'll go buy something delicious, so let's have dinner together."

I planned to feed them something truly special that night.

That day, I sold some luminous pearls from the battlefield and bought four roots of Thousand Year Blood Ginseng. I knew a black market merchant near the Evil Alliance Headquarters who sold miracle herbs, a benefit of my past life's experiences wandering the Central Plains. The merchant dealt in rare items at very high prices, but I spared no expense.

I returned to the safehouse with the Thousand Year Blood Ginseng and called for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, Go Wol, and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader. I placed the ginseng before them and spoke firmly. "Alright, one root each. I won't take no for an answer. You must eat it right now, in front of me."

I do not normally share miracle herbs with anyone, as I once told the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. Nevertheless, I wanted to share this one with them. It was support for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's coming fight, a gift for the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader's secret technique, and a tonic for Go Wol's hard work.

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader joked, "Why would anyone refuse this? If you don't want it, give it to me!"

Go Wol's face clearly showed he thought I should have his portion, but Go Wol knew my words were directed at him. Go Wol bowed his head deeply. The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon expressed his gratitude with his eyes.

The four of us consumed the Thousand Year Blood Ginseng together. My inner arts were so profound that the ginseng had almost no effect on me. For the other three, however, it was a very helpful miracle herb. It would be most effective for Go Wol, who had the least inner arts, restoring his energy and improving his inner arts.

I sent Go Wol a special telepathic message.

[Take good care of your health, Strategist Go.]

Go Wol conveyed his gratitude with a deepened gaze.

Finally, Go Wol found a way.

"I've been investigating Yayul Han extensively. His residence is in the Evil Alliance's inner compound. He wakes up, trains, eats, and spends his day as the Commander of the Extreme Army. He only goes to the Chairman's Hall when summoned."

Go Wol continued, "He hasn't left the Evil Alliance at all since Jisaeng and Aecha died."

Yayul Han was being extremely cautious because he mistakenly believed the Evil Alliance Chairman was targeting him. This made it difficult to find an opportunity to strike.

"It won't be easy," I said.

"No. Striking him inside the Alliance is much more difficult."

Killing Yayul Han inside the Evil Alliance was something to avoid anyway. Since Bi Sayin had permitted this, I had to show the Evil Alliance some courtesy.

"I was curious if the Five Thunder Divine Sword and the Blood Calamity Bringer were also living inside the Evil Alliance like Yayul Han." Go Wol looked at me for my opinion.

"They won't be."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because they're both listed as public enemies of the murim. The Murim Alliance and the Evil Alliance have an agreement to never hide anyone on that list."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader interjected, "Would those unorthodox sect bastards follow such an agreement?"

"Yayul Han is the one who would want to follow it."

"Why him?"

"Because he wouldn't want to give the Evil Alliance Chairman any leverage. There would be no better pretext for the Chairman to move against him."

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader nodded, his expression showing he had not considered that.

Go Wol spoke again. "You've grasped the situation perfectly. The Five Thunder Divine Sword and the Blood Calamity Bringer aren't living in the Evil Alliance. So, I tried to find where they were living."

"They must have a residence near the Headquarters, right?"

"Yes, but it was hidden so well I couldn't find it easily. So I changed my method and monitored someone likely to visit them."

"Who? Yayul Han?"

"No. It was Cha Hwan."

Cha Hwan was the last survivor of the group of four.

"That man is Yayul Han's right hand," Go Wol explained. "Someone has to serve an old master like the Five Thunder Divine Sword, and Yayul Han wouldn't entrust that task to just anyone."

I judged it the right approach. Go Wol had made a smart decision.

"While monitoring Cha Hwan, I discovered something peculiar. He buys Shanxi Grain Wine once a month without fail." Go Wol gave a meaningful look. "The Five Thunder Divine Sword's hometown is Shanxi. The All-Knowing Hall's information says his favorite liquor was Shanxi Grain Wine."

"So he takes that liquor to the Five Thunder Divine Sword."

"That's right. I tailed Cha Hwan based on that and located the Five Thunder Divine Sword's residence."

"Well done!"

"The problem is Yayul Han. He's avoiding all outside contact because of this incident, so he isn't meeting with the Five Thunder Divine Sword. However, I found this in the data from the All-Knowing Hall. Please take a look."

I took the document Go Wol handed me. After reading it, I glanced at Go Wol with a meaningful expression. "It's the Five Thunder Divine Sword's birthday soon!"

"And it's his ninetieth birthday. They might skip other days, but Yayul Han and the Blood Calamity Bringer will definitely go to congratulate him on this day." Go Wol's eyes sparkled. "We'll take them out then. We don't need to risk fighting them all at once. We'll eliminate them one by one. First, we kill the Five Thunder Divine Sword, then we kill everyone who visits, one after another."

I patted Go Wol's shoulder firmly. "You worked really hard to find this."

"It's thanks to the Thousand Year Blood Ginseng."

I smiled, but Go Wol still looked worried.

I looked at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. "It's an old man's birthday. We should go congratulate him too, shouldn't we?"

The two eyes within the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's sockets began to burn with a blue flame.

"From now on, leave it to us!"