Chapter 253: What is Harder Than Embracing

TL: FoodieMonster007

Becoming the Young Cult Leader brought another change.

I moved to a new residence deep within the inner court. The house was large, the training ground was large, and it had flower gardens and walking paths. It was a much better house than my previous one. The number of maids attending me also increased significantly.

The first thing I did in my new residence was change the interior to my liking.

Truthfully, I camped so much before my regression that I can sleep well anywhere. However, my sleeping place has now become important.

I would be busy as the Young Cult Leader and busy with training. This space was precious because it would become my sanctuary amidst all that busyness.

I switched to a large bed and laid out plush, cozy, pure white bedding. I placed a desk by the window where sunlight streamed in. I also added a comfortable chair where I could sit and read.

The bookshelf was filled with books the Blood Heaven Blade Demon recommended.

My goal is to read them all within the year, but I don't know if I'll even get through half of them.

I pulled out a book and sat in the chair by the window. Then, clutching the book, I threw myself onto the bed. I rolled around on the plush, pleasant white covers.

"Yes, this is it."

I lay down and read the book.

Does reading a collection of poetry and paintings help with martial arts training? Of course, it does. Focusing solely on martial arts might be helpful up to a certain level, but once you reach my level…

TUK!

"Ouch!"

I had dozed off, and the book fell on my face.

Right, I can dodge the sword of a master, but I can't dodge this.

I lay on the bed for a moment, savoring the brief tranquility. Once I left this bed, I would have to train like a madman and charge forward. That is why I was so grateful for this moment. Being grateful for the obvious is the way to a happy life.

My residence was not the only thing that changed.

As promised, I had the bodyguards' old, cramped quarters demolished. I built them large, spacious lodgings with an attached training ground. When all the bodyguards pitched in to help the laborers, the quarters were completed in no time.

I also made sure to provide the best possible beds and furniture. They were naturally pleased that I took care of such details so meticulously.

Their leader, Cheokyeon, thanked me on behalf of everyone.

"Thank you so much."

By keeping my promise, I was showing them what kind of person I was.

"For the time being, I'll also be focusing on my training, so don't look for me unless it's important."

With that, I headed straight for my personal training ground.

I had two training grounds. There was a large one outdoors and a smaller, personal one indoors. I went to the indoor training ground to train.

Though smaller than the outdoor one, it was more spacious than any other indoor training ground. It was probably the largest and best-decorated one after Father's. You could tell just by looking at the eighteen types of weapons lined up against the wall. They were far too excellent for training purposes.

The walls, ceiling, and floor were also sturdily built to withstand any impact. Truly, everything changed once I became the Young Cult Leader.

Right, new wine in a new wineskin, new martial arts in a new training ground!

My heart trembled as I prepared to begin my training in the Nine Calamities Demonic Art in earnest. It was an absolute demonic art that no trickery or demonic qi could penetrate. The training for the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, which I had longed for even in my dreams, had finally begun.

The Nine Calamities Demonic Art consisted of nine techniques. Six techniques were used by a person, and three were used by the Heavenly Demon Soul. One could achieve complete mastery by perfectly mastering only the six techniques used by a person.

However, in that case, the Heavenly Demon Soul would be unable to unleash its techniques. The Heavenly Demon Soul is powerful on its own, but it is even stronger when it uses its techniques.

Imagine something as massive as a demon king using techniques as swiftly as a human attacks!

Therefore, I had to master all nine techniques to achieve complete mastery.

The Nine Calamities Demonic Art was a completely different martial art from the Soaring Sky Sword Art. If the Soaring Sky Sword Art was a sword art, the Nine Calamities Demonic Art was, true to its name, a demonic art. Using each technique consumed an immense amount of inner arts, and its power was naturally incomparable.

I calmly began my training, starting with the mind cultivation method. This was the most crucial moment in the training. A single misstep could lead to qi deviation, so I moved my true qi slowly and cautiously. This was the first time in my life I had practiced a mind cultivation method with such concentration.

Fortunately, I succeeded in circulating my true qi for one full cycle according to the oral formula. If not for the key principles Father had taught me, I would have been stuck right from the start.

I had not started training the techniques yet. I would begin the real training only when I could comfortably circulate my qi with the mind cultivation method. I circulated my true qi for one cycle, then two, then three.

As I circulated my qi, I came to my senses and realized that six hours had passed in a flash. I had been so engrossed in the mind cultivation method that I had not even noticed I was hungry. Each time I circulated my qi, the inner arts in my qi center reacted differently. I could feel the pure and profound inner arts slowly starting to heat up.

While I was happy to have found a martial art I could immerse myself in, I also felt a sense of fear. I had a premonition that the road ahead was very long.

"I'm hungry, so let's eat first."

Today, I cooked myself. I chopped firewood, started a fire, and prepared the meat.

I can't just eat something simple and rush back to training. Especially when doing such important training, I have to eat better and rest better to maintain my body and mind in peak condition.

I grilled plenty of meat and called the bodyguards to eat with me. They were surprised that I had cooked myself and even more surprised that I had called them to eat together. They were most surprised that the food was actually edible.

"I'll cook for you again next time. Look forward to it."

Before they left, I called their leader, Cheokyeon, aside.

"How's the training?"

"Everyone is doing their best," Cheokyeon replied.

"I'll check in on you all soon, so tell them to work even harder."

"They will all be pleased."

"Wait. Let me see your eye."

"It's fine."

"I'm not fine with it."

Cheokyeon removed his eyepatch. It was redder than when I had seen it before. The pain must be considerable.

"If you keep enduring hardship, your personality will sour."

I placed my palm over his eye and infused it with qi to soothe it.

I could have taught him the method, but with his current martial arts skill, it would be difficult for him to achieve this kind of effect. The eye requires extremely delicate handling.

"It feels even more comfortable than when you did it for me before," Cheokyeon said.

Perhaps that's the case. There might be a difference in me before and after learning the Nine Calamities Demonic Art that I myself am not aware of.

Cheokyeon bowed his head deeply.

"Thank you, Young Cult Leader."

To me, it was a trivial gesture, but to him, it was not.

"I always used to tell the old bodyguard I kicked out that building affection with a bodyguard is like scoring points to ask them to die in your place. That it's a despicable act."

I said it because I was curious how he would respond.

Cheokyeon covered his eye with the eyepatch again and said, "With or without affection, I will simply fulfill my duty."

It sounded like a heartless reply, but I could tell.

He doesn't protect someone because he likes them, but rather, he likes the version of himself that protects someone. Yes, that's it. Lee Ahn was the special one.

"The meat was delicious."

Cheokyeon bowed once more and turned away.

He seems like a blunt person who is faithful to his work, but I still don't know what kind of person he truly is. When you look at someone, you have to look closely. Closely enough to remove their eyepatch.

In the evening, I trained in the Heavenly Space Secret Art.

The problem was the Heavenly Space Secret Art. With the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, I felt like I was taking it one step at a time, but the Heavenly Space Secret Art was complete darkness. I tried this and I tried that, continuously making various attempts.

It's so difficult even for me, so it's no wonder the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader shook his head and said it was absolutely impossible.

If only someone could just say, 'Ah, that's what it is!' Just that one phrase would be enough. Then again, it's probably because no one has ever heard that one phrase that no one has succeeded until now.

Still, I did not give up. To achieve the Twelfth Star complete mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, I must master the Heavenly Space Secret Art to a level where I can create a definite time difference.

"Agh, I don't get it either!"

TTAK!

With a snap of my fingers, I opened the space I liked. It was a transparent sea and a pure white sandy beach, a blue sky and a broad-leafed tree. A comfortable chair sat beneath it, and a single crab scuttled by.

"Nice, so nice!"

I flopped down right there.

I don't know why I like this place so much.

Lying here with my eyes closed felt so good. The gently rustling breeze made me feel sleepy.

Still, there was a hopeful sign. Ever since I started learning the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, the overwhelming difficulty of the Heavenly Space Secret Art felt subjectively a little easier. There was also how Cheokyeon said his eye felt more comfortable.

Could it be that the Nine Calamities Demonic Art was having some kind of effect without me realizing it?

Cheokyeon visited Geom Mugeuk's residence.

"Young Cult Leader!"

Geom Mugeuk's reply came from inside the training ground.

"Come in."

When Cheokyeon entered the training ground, Geom Mugeuk was nowhere to be seen. Instead, an incense stick burned in the center of the training ground.

I definitely heard a voice from inside?

Just then, Geom Mugeuk suddenly appeared from behind. He stood there, holding an incense stick.

"Where were you?" Cheokyeon asked.

He wondered if Geom Mugeuk was practicing a concealment technique, but Geom Mugeuk gave an incomprehensible answer.

"I was hoping to be in a different time than you."

"Pardon?"

Geom Mugeuk walked over and compared the incense stick in the training ground with the one he was holding. Seeing that their lengths were the same, he sighed. The Heavenly Space Secret Art was a series of failures.

"What is it?" Geom Mugeuk asked.

Cheokyeon, who had been staring at the incense, quickly reported.

"Word has come from the Valley of Evil. They say the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman is leaving today."

When I arrived at the Valley of Evil, the Faceless Warriors who would bodyguard the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman were preparing a carriage in the courtyard.

"Did I call you here when you're so busy?" the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon asked.

"The Pavilion Master is leaving, so of course I have to come and say goodbye."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman had not yet come out. Only the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was in the courtyard.

"Aren't you sad to see her go?" I asked.

"I am."

I was startled. I had expected an answer like, 'Her body is healed, so now we should live our own lives.'

"Then why are you letting her leave? Why don't you ask her to stay longer?"

"She is a woman with big dreams," the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said. "I believe watching over her from a step away is the best thing for her."

I never knew the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon thought this way.

"That's truly amazing of you."

Just as the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon was about to say something, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman emerged from the building. She had put on beautiful makeup and wore a lovely dress, wanting to look her best for the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon before she left.

"I've been in your care for a long time," she said as she bid her farewell.

I spoke with a regretful expression. "Our Cult, which was once so gloomy, shone brightly because of your presence, Pavilion Master. I suppose it will become a world of darkness again."

The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman smiled brightly at my words.

"Knowing it's not true but still feeling good about it… I suppose I'm getting old, too."

"Please stay and enjoy yourself a little longer," I said.

She glanced at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon. "Orabeoni's body has fully recovered, and you must be busy with work. I should get going."

Her eyes were pleading for a response from the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon.

This was another test!

The Extremely Evil Smiling Demon avoided the many wrong answers and chose the correct one.

"Stay a while longer. The work can wait."

A smile spread across the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman's face.

"If you had said you were busy, I would have unpacked my bags again."

She gazed at the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, conveying her sorrow at their parting. The two of them looked at each other without a word. That made their farewell all the more poignant.

She bid me farewell as well.

"Second Young Lord, you will become a great Young Cult Leader."

"By any chance, can you see my future too?"

She shook her head.

"It's not that you can't tell me because the future is too terrible to speak of, is it?"

"On the contrary, I would have to tell you then. You are my benefactor, after all."

The moment I saved the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon, I became her benefactor.

"I cannot see the futures of those who bear too great a destiny," she explained. "Young Cult Leader, you possess a destiny that I cannot handle."

She added one last thing.

"Please take good care of my Orabeoni."

I replied with the same greeting as always.

"That's what I should be saying to you!"

And with that, the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman left.

Since I had come all this way, I did not want to leave just yet. I walked through the Valley of Evil with the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon and vented my frustrations.

"My martial arts training has hit a wall recently."

"If it's a martial art that could stump the Young Cult Leader, it must be a formidable one," he said.

He probably thinks it's the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, but the problem is the Heavenly Space Secret Art.

After walking in silence for a moment, the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon suddenly brought up the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman.

"Earlier, you said that my consideration for the Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman was amazing."

"Because it's not an easy thing to watch over someone with that kind of heart."

"It's not that difficult," the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said. "Because we are not clinging to each other."

We naturally stopped walking. I could not understand what he meant.

"The first time I met her was also for my own benefit. It was to obtain information through the brothel. It's the same now. If she takes control of all the brothels in the world, I will possess all that information. There is a selfish motive."

"By that logic, the Pavilion Master would be the same," I said.

After all, it was something she could not easily achieve without the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's support.

So, in some ways, the two of them might have an ideal relationship. They have feelings for each other, and on top of that, they have clear business objectives.

"The Thousand Flower Palace Chairwoman and I are a step apart," the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said with clear eyes. "That's why we can see each other better than if we were clinging to one another."

He looked at me.

"Young Cult Leader, you should also try taking just one step back from that martial art. Just one step."

The moment I heard those words, I felt it. I realized that my heart had been so rushed that I had been clinging to the Heavenly Space Secret Art. I had thought I could only obtain it by embracing it so tightly it was suffocating.

"It might actually be more difficult to take a step back than to cling to it," the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon said.

Right now, he and I were standing a step apart, facing each other. Perhaps that is why I could see so clearly. I could see not only the clear eyes behind his mask but also the heart of the Smiling Demon, who was trying to help me in any way he could.

I filled my expression with gratitude and said to him, "See? I told you I'm the one who should be looking after you."