Chapter 259: What Father Wanted to See

TL: FoodieMonster007

Unfortunately, I couldn't see the demon's face. The first demon to appear materialized directly in front of the wooden dummy, so I could only see its back.

The demon sliced four spots from the wooden dummy, then vanished.

A difference existed between being cut by an appearing demon and being cut by sword qi alone. When the demon appeared, the speed and power grew faster and stronger. The true Human Destroying Stance could only be completed when the demons manifested, considering their demonic qi and the visual and psychological effects.

I unleashed the Human Destroying Stance again.

SHWAAAK!

The demon appeared again. This time, I could only see its back as well.

A mix of joy and disappointment washed over me.

I wanted to see what you looked like! I worked so hard to see your face, not your back!

Then, a thought crossed my mind.

Ah! I can just bring a bronze mirror!

I started to get the bronze mirror but changed my mind. I felt I shouldn't go to such lengths just to see it. I decided to accept the order in which the martial arts manifested. If you don't want to show me, then fine.

I'll see the other demons' faces first.

"Did something good happen?"

The Flower Sword Supreme noticed that Geom Mugeuk's expression was particularly bright today.

"I've had a breakthrough in a swordsmanship that was giving me trouble."

"Ah! That's a relief."

The Flower Sword Supreme was pleased. She had progressed greatly while dueling and discussing martial arts with Geom Mugeuk. Gaining an achievement at the Demon Supreme level was a truly difficult feat. She had never dreamed she would achieve a breakthrough to the next level in such a short period.

"You are truly an unpredictable person."

When Geom Mugeuk first visited, she thought he would come for a day or two and then stop. She had assumed he was visiting as a form of networking now that he had become the Young Cult Leader.

That wasn't the case. What Geom Mugeuk had said on the first day was true.

You are the only person I can talk to about swordsmanship, Senior.

Geom Mugeuk genuinely wanted to discuss swordsmanship with her. He intended to teach the profound meaning of martial arts and also to learn. Although she had practiced swordsmanship her entire life, this was the first time she had ever contemplated, debated, and discussed the sword so seriously.

This opportunity made her realize how much she had longed for such a time. A duel friend. Geom Mugeuk had approached her as a true duel friend. Now, those words held a deeper meaning for her than any other relationship.

So, these words were her true feelings.

"Young Cult Leader, you are the only one I have to talk with as well."

Geom Mugeuk smiled and drew his sword.

"Shall we share a few moves then?"

When they soared into the air, all the demonic swordsmen came out to watch. They fought so high up that their figures were not clearly visible. There were only countless flashes of swift sword light. The demonic swordsmen watched, captivated, as if possessed.

Whenever Geom Mugeuk finished a duel and prepared to leave, he would always say this to the demonic swordsmen he met.

"I learn a great deal from the Sword Supreme every time. I envy you all."

The Flower Sword Supreme felt happy when she heard these words. Whether it was flattery or sincere, hearing such high praise from Geom Mugeuk was an incredibly joyous thing.

A man who generously shares his martial enlightenment and says such things to her subordinates… how could she not fall for him?

My training continued.

Father, who heard I was crazy about training, continuously postponed the external events the Young Cult Leader was supposed to attend. The Demon Supremes didn't seek me out either. The Drunken Demon might have come to ask for a drink, but even he didn't visit. Within the Cult, there was nothing but talk about the Young Cult Leader who was mad about martial arts.

I only dueled with the Sword Supreme. After returning from the duels, I practiced the Human Destroying Stance like a madman.

So many wooden dummies were sliced apart that a metal dummy arrived at my training ground. It was a special steel dummy made from a mixture of thousand-year cold iron and steel, one that couldn't be cut by sword qi.

KAAANG! KANG! KAAANG! KAAANG!

The crisp sound of metal rang out repeatedly. I saw the demon's back so many times that I even started to think, Hey, can't you turn your head just once?

I repeated the stance again and again.

Today, a gift from that tedious repetition arrived.

SHWAAAAK!

The sound of the Human Destroying Stance changed again. In that moment, I saw it. Another demon revealed itself behind the steel dummy. It was the appearance of the second demon.

This time, I could see the demon's face. I was momentarily startled.

It wasn't frightening. Surprisingly, my first impression was this.

He's handsome!

The demon I had summoned was surprisingly handsome. It was the kind of face you'd get if you showed an artist the Poison King's face and told them to draw a demon based on it.

Is this even okay?

I was truly surprised. Could it be that this demon reflects the heart of the person using the martial art? I hadn't thought that the demon's face needed to strike fear into the opponent. I had only focused on wanting to see the demon's face.

Is that why a demon like this appeared, instead of a frightening one?

Now I was curious about the appearance of the demon showing its back. Would it look the same? Or would it be different? To confirm if their faces are all different, I have to manifest the demons on the left and right as well.

Curiosity drove my desire.

"I think I'll have to stop my training for today."

The Flower Sword Supreme nodded with an expression that said she had expected this.

"Are you planning to go into seclusion training?"

"How did you know?"

"A hunch. I could feel your fervor rising recently. The moment has come for you to pour everything out one last time."

"You are amazing, as expected."

The way the Sword Supreme looked at me was different again from when I had first come to ask for a duel.

"Young Cult Leader, thank you so much."

"I was grateful as well."

I had grown incomparably closer to her. I now felt I was standing about two steps away from her. That distance came from her personality. Some people, no matter how close you get, will never allow you within one step.

"I'll visit again if I hit a wall in my martial arts."

"I'll be ready to welcome you."

I read the determination in her eyes. If she grew one more time from here, our Cult would welcome a new Flower Sword Supreme.

Geom Mugeuk looked around the training ground. For the time being, this was the end of his time here.

"The next time you come, it might have returned to being a small yard with a thatched hut."

"It will be an even more thrilling duel with a free spirit."

The Flower Sword Supreme smiled and looked at the training ground with him.

"Since it's the last day, would you spare me some time today?"

In truth, I had prepared something for her today.

"Seo Daeryong, who became the Sanzu Hall Director, is like my right-hand man. So I'd like to hold a small celebration for him today."

"If that's the case, I should make time."

"I've also invited the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. Since he is Seo Daeryong's Master, I felt it was right to invite him."

The Flower Sword Supreme could tell. He was trying to bring her along to naturally create a setting for her and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"Will you wait a moment? I'll change my clothes and come out."

"Yes, please take your time."

Today, she took longer than usual to wash up, put on makeup, and choose her clothes.

Geom Mugeuk and the Flower Sword Supreme arrived at a hill with a green field below the Great Sky Peak. Drinks and food were prepared there. It was a banquet Geom Mugeuk had arranged in advance by asking the cooks.

The Flower Sword Supreme looked around and remarked, "Was there a place like this around our Cult?"

"There are many wonderful places if you look in every nook and cranny. You should travel and rest from now on."

"What fun is it to go alone."

Just then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and Seo Daeryong arrived. The two men, each with a giant dao slung over his back, now looked like a master and disciple to anyone who saw them. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon wore a neat robe he didn't usually wear. His hair was also neater than usual.

Geom Mugeuk barely suppressed the urge to make a teasing comment.

"You've arrived?"

"Why go through the trouble of a celebration?" the Blood Heaven Blade Demon grumbled.

"Why are you so grumpy when your disciple has attained a high position?"

At the Flower Sword Supreme's words, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon said nothing.

Seo Daeryong greeted the Flower Sword Supreme politely. "Thank you for taking the time to come."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Seo Daeryong poured drinks for everyone. After a few drinks, I went for a walk with Seo Daeryong. I had deliberately left the two of them alone. Today's gathering was more for the Blood Heaven Blade Demon than for Seo Daeryong. I had given Seo Daeryong a heads-up about it beforehand.

"How's the Director job?"

"I'm still so busy adjusting that I can't think straight."

Seo Daeryong stopped walking and looked at Geom Mugeuk.

"I've been having nightmares lately. Dreams where I'm wandering around looking for you, Young Cult Leader, in a crisis. It's something I should be handling, but in the dream, I'm only looking for you. When I finally find you, you look at me coldly and say, 'Why did you take that position when you don't have the ability?'"

"I wonder if that only happens in your dreams?"

"Aish, I'm being serious."

Geom Mugeuk laughed. "Realistically, something like that might happen once in a lifetime, if at all. Don't waste your energy on things that won't happen."

"What if it does happen?"

"You'll have to solve it with this."

Geom Mugeuk lightly tapped the hilt of the giant dao Seo Daeryong carried.

Seo Daeryong stared at the hilt, worn by his master's hands, and nodded. "That must be why every day has to be a hellish training session."

The two of them turned to go back.

"Let's stay a little longer."

In the distance, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the Flower Sword Supreme were drinking and talking. Their expressions were bright.

"It's a good time for them!" Seo Daeryong laughed at Geom Mugeuk's words.

"I went to see him earlier to come here together, and it seemed like he was playing Captain. He seemed to be trying on several different outfits. It was the first time I'd ever seen my Master like that."

Seeing the Blood Heaven Blade Demon smile made Geom Mugeuk feel good too.

That's right, forget all about the past now. Lock the door to the past, and there's no need to peek into the future. Just live happily like that.

"A spring breeze should be blowing for you too."

"I'm a lost cause. Go on ahead without me. I'm even busier now. My life is just work and training!"

Seo Daeryong watched the youthful freshness in the distance that defied age, his eyes full of envy.

"Is it really okay if I go first?"

"You have to take me with you! I'm your right-hand man!"

Time passed quickly. I went into seclusion wondering when I would come out, and before I knew it, I was leaving the training hall after one hundred days.

Without even shaving, I headed straight for the Heavenly Demon Hall. Father was guarding the Heavenly Demon Hall, looking the same as ever.

"What's with your appearance?"

"I wanted to see you, Father, so I rushed straight here. This way, it looks like I really suffered."

Overjoyed to see him, I started with a joke. "I was dying to eat something delicious. Please develop some food other than nutrient balls or beef jerky that can be used during seclusion training!"

Father greeted me with his unchanging smile. "For a lazybones to train for a hundred days, that's quite something."

"Those guys are so shy, it was really hard to get a look at them."

I tried to discard my desire for Father's approval. I thought that pressure was holding me back. Nevertheless, my heart trembled at this moment. It seemed I hadn't been able to discard it all. The desire to be acknowledged by Father for my martial arts.

"Let me introduce you to my friends."

After calmly settling my mind, I unleashed the First Stance.

SHWAAK!

The crisp sound of wind. Four streams of sword qi cut through the air. Four demons revealed their forms. They were my demons, the ones I had wanted to see so badly.

They looked different from the demons Father had shown me. Surprisingly, my demons each had a different appearance and feel. There was a frightening one and a handsome one. One gave off a strange sense of mystery, and another looked clever.

Father was surprised by their different appearances. He must have naturally assumed they would look the same. In truth, I was surprised too. I never expected demons with such different feelings to emerge.

The four demons didn't vanish immediately like Father's did. For a fleeting moment, it was as if they were looking at me, trying to communicate.

SHHH.

The next moment, the demons vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

Father had risen from his grand chair. He couldn't hide his surprise.

"Was this what you wanted to see, Father?"

The Nine Calamities Demonic Art, completed with my own interpretation, different from Father's.

Father, who had been looking down at me without a word, slowly nodded.

"Yes, it was something like this."

I recalled the conversation I had with Father on the day he passed down the Nine Calamities Demonic Art to me.

"The Nine Calamities Demonic Art has continuously changed."

"It couldn't be helped. Fools and geniuses have continuously emerged in every era."

I will become one of those geniuses and unfold a more advanced Nine Calamities Demonic Art.

I felt that Father's expectations had changed. At least when it came to martial arts, he wouldn't just be admiring me. He would strive to show his own changes. He would try to compete with me and win. He would genuinely help where he could, and win where he must. That's Father for you.

"Thank you for postponing the external affairs the Young Cult Leader had to handle."

"The first button is always the most important."

It was Father's consideration, telling me to properly master the Nine Calamities Demonic Art First Stance. Thanks to him, I have fastened the first button correctly. Now I just need to learn the Heavenly Space Secret Art and calmly fasten the rest one by one.

"I will leave the Cult immediately and take care of everything."

"Before you go…" Father said as he stepped down from his grand chair. "Let's eat together. You've worked hard."

Father is even using those evil arts he supposedly hates. The hardships of a hundred days vanished completely with those few words.