Chapter 304: What Are You Betting Your Life On?

TL: FoodieMonster007

I walked with Cheong Seon through the inner court.

"Like I've said before, I believe I only became a Demon Supreme thanks to you, Young Cult Leader."

"I appreciate that, but you became a Demon Supreme because of your own abilities."

"That's probably why I came to see you today, Young Cult Leader. You're someone who believes in me like this."

When we reached a secluded spot, I asked her.

"What is it?"

Cheong Seon struggled to speak. She had mustered the courage to come, but the words would not leave her lips.

Is it because of martial arts?

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader taught her, but he is absent now. There must be many things she is struggling with.

Or? Could it be?

The name of a man connected to her came to mind.

She hesitated for a long time before finally speaking. I had hoped her problem was the former, but it was the latter.

"There's a man I dated before I became a Demon Supreme. He is Sa Woojong of the Northern Heaven Sword Sect."

In my life before returning, Sa Woojong was under the influence of soul-stealing arts when he tried to kill the Flower Sword Supreme, only to be killed in return. After his death, it was revealed that he had loved the Flower Sword Supreme as a woman, but at the time, the person who had cast the soul-stealing art on him was never discovered. Of course, I now know that person was Cheong Seon.

"After I rose to the position of Demon Supreme, I declared our breakup. Even so, he couldn't let go and kept lingering around me. After some time passed, I thought he had forgotten me and was living well, but he suddenly came to me the other day. He said that if I don't agree to see him again, he'll expose everything that happened while we were dating."

Sa Woojong. What a pathetic bastard. He resorted to blackmail instead of trying to succeed on his own.

"It happened before you became a Demon Supreme, so it shouldn't matter, should it?"

That was not the only threat.

"In the past, at his request, I stole my Senior Brother's fan. He's threatening to expose that as well."

At that time, the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was periodically using the Great Mind Control Technique, which involved pulling out people's hearts to absorb their life force. The person who told me that fact was none other than Sa Woojong. Of course, he didn't tell me out of goodwill. His goal was to use the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme to keep me in check.

A corpse sacrificed to the Great Mind Control Technique was discovered, and along with the body, the fan of a Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme disciple was found. The person who stole it was Cheong Seon, at Sa Woojong's request. Regardless of his intentions, Sa Woojong helped me stop the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme's evil deeds, and I couldn't kill him just for dragging the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme into it, so I let him live, and now, he has reappeared like this.

"If that gets revealed, my reputation will be tarnished."

If she were a completely established Demon Supreme, she would not be having this dilemma, but because she was still consolidating her power and growing her organization, she took this matter very seriously.

"To be honest…"

Demonic energy flared in her eyes. She did not hide her killing intent.

"I even considered getting rid of him."

"Why didn't you?"

Sa Woojong's swordsmanship is not ordinary, but it is no match for her soul-stealing arts now that she is a Demon Supreme. She could have lured him out and killed him without a trace.

"There are two reasons. First, a suspicion arose. This man is cautious and suspicious of everything, so why would he make such a reckless threat to me? He could be silenced by death for this."

That was certainly a strange point. The Sa Woojong I knew was also a cautious man who never revealed his true intentions. There must be a reason for such a person to suddenly act so recklessly.

"The second reason was something he said carelessly. 'Everyone has a weakness. You think the Sword Supreme doesn't?' The moment I heard that, I realized. Ah, this man holds the Flower Sword Supreme's weakness too. He's served the Sword Supreme for a long time, so it's certainly possible. That's when I felt this wasn't something I should handle myself. I realized I couldn't just kill him. The person who came to mind then was you, Young Cult Leader."

I smiled at her. She passed. I had just been thinking with the Fist Demon about how each Demon Supreme had their own brilliance and meticulousness. This was a perfect example.

She must have known instinctively that she should not handle it on her own and should tell me. Both reasons she gave were warnings not to be swayed by momentary emotions.

Her instincts must have also told her this was the way to grow closer to me. They were functioning well.

"You made a very good decision. I'll handle things from here."

Cheong Seon's tense expression relaxed. She could sleep soundly now, considering the results I had shown so far. She deserved that reward for her smart choice.

Before we parted, I said one more thing.

"You must know that the Demon Supremes most feared by the orthodox and unorthodox sects are the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme and the Poison King. I hope that tradition of fear continues."

Cheong Seon silently bowed her head and left. That pride would be the greatest motivation for her efforts.

After she left, I walked in the opposite direction.

Is it a simple threat? Or does he really know the Sword Supreme's weakness? If there is a weakness, what could it be?

My heart grew cold. Those who try to achieve something by holding a weakness over someone are the worst of the worst.

With that, I headed for the Northern Heaven Sword Sect.

"The Sword Supreme isn't meeting anyone these days."

The demonic sword guarding the entrance spoke cautiously when I arrived. It seemed the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was right. She was focused solely on her martial arts training.

"Just let her know that I am here."

"Yes, please wait a moment."

The demonic sword hurried inside.

While I waited, Sa Woojong happened to walk across the training grounds.

He saw me and bowed his head respectfully.

"My greetings are late. Congratulations on becoming the Young Cult Leader."

"It's been a while, Martial Artist Sa."

He looked the same as always. He used to be the one who dealt with visitors for the Flower Sword Supreme. Now, he was just an ordinary demonic sword, pushed from his position as second-in-command.

He bowed politely again and continued on his way. Who would know that behind that nonchalant act, he was blackmailing the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme? I let it slide last time, but this time will be different.

Just then, the demonic sword who had gone to report to the Flower Sword Supreme returned.

"She says you may enter."

If you want to know how hard someone is trying, you just have to see how they use their spare moments. A truly diligent person never wastes the time that we so carelessly let slip by.

Just as I trained in the Heavenly Demon Defense Art whenever I had a chance to sit down, the Flower Sword Supreme was the same.

She swung her sword in her front yard. Even in the short time between her subordinate's report and my arrival, she refused to waste a moment, using it to practice her swordsmanship.

The aura she exuded as she swung her sword was clearly different from before.

Everyone is really getting stronger.

However, what truly surprised me was not her martial arts accomplishment.

She had no makeup on her face at all. I had heard about it from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, but I never imagined she would have a completely bare face like this.

She looked like a completely different person. Not that she was ugly without makeup, but the feeling she gave off was entirely different.

She sensed my surprise and looked slightly embarrassed.

"This is the first time. Showing my face without makeup to someone else."

I could tell.

She was not just showing me her face without makeup.

She was showing me her will. That she had changed. That she was no longer the Sword Supreme obsessed only with her former beauty. Look, my will. My will to face you even after removing my makeup.

"To see your bare face, Senior! It's an honor."

The Flower Sword Supreme smiled faintly at my emotional exclamation.

"What honor? I'm just shabby and old."

"On the contrary, you're even more beautiful."

"Don't say such nonsense."

"It's not just flattery, you're truly more beautiful. So much so that I wonder why you wore such heavy makeup until now."

My persistence made her ask suggestively.

"Do you really mean that?"

"Has no one ever told you that?"

"Because I've never shown it to anyone."

It seems she had lived for a very long time thinking that her made-up face was naturally the beautiful one.

"You look far more charming now. Clean and elegant."

"What about these wrinkles?"

"They are as beautiful as the lines your sword created just a moment ago, Senior."

The Sword Supreme laughed pleasantly.

"As expected! The only person who can make me feel this good is the Young Cult Leader."

"I only spoke my honest thoughts."

No matter how much she applied makeup and adorned herself, could she ever match the beauty of Lee Ahn or Jin Haryong? However, compared to other middle-aged women at least, the Sword Supreme was overwhelmingly beautiful even without makeup. In that world, the Sword Supreme was the Lee Ahn and the Jin Haryong.

"I've felt this for a while, but you truly never seem to get tired. Even you must get exhausted taking care of people. How can you say such pleasant things?"

"It's because I'm a flatterer."

She shook her head and stared at me intently.

"Only those with high self-esteem can truly compliment someone. I'm envious of your self-esteem."

Judging by her appearance and aura, she seemed like she would have the highest self-esteem among the Demon Supremes, but at times like this, her self-esteem was at rock bottom.

"I believe that getting closer to the Demon Supremes is the path to my own strength. I think of every word I say as swinging my sword once, then twice. I train until my arm feels like it will fall off, so compared to that, this is easy."

"Isn't dealing with people more difficult?"

"Aren't you doing training that's too easy?"

"Ah! I suppose the intensity of my training was too low."

We looked at each other and laughed. That's right, dealing with people is ten times harder.

"I have something to tell you, Senior."

"Go on."

"Sa Woojong is…"

A flicker of discomfort crossed her face when I mentioned his name.

"…causing trouble."

No matter how I dealt with Sa Woojong, I had to report it to her beforehand. I did not mention her weakness, nor did I say that the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme was involved.

"Please don't ask for the details, and just leave it to me."

The Flower Sword Supreme nodded silently.

If I had my way, I would have dealt with Sa Woojong immediately without telling the Flower Sword Supreme.

However, that was not an option. Sa Woojong was a despicable man, but he was not a fool.

Sa Woojong, what on earth are you betting your life on?

"Third-in-command, if you want to bloom, you must wait for spring."

Seo Daeryong sighed, staring at the flowerpot that had been demoted from second-in-command to third.

"No, spring will never come for us."

He had been busy every day since becoming the Sanzu Hall Director.

His desk was piled high with work. Becoming the Director meant there were many things to do and many people to meet. He thought becoming the Sanzu Hall Director meant he could change the world with his own hands. Surprisingly, the world continued on, unchanged.

"Ah! I really don't want to work."

You know those days? The kind of day you just don't feel like working for no reason. The kind of day you keep staring out the window.

He banged his head on the desk. THUD. THUD.

The workload was similar even when Geom Mugeuk was the Sanzu Hall Director and he was assisting him. He had handled most of it himself back then, too.

But now that the work was officially his, the feeling and pressure were different. The same tasks felt much harder.

"The days when I left the cult with the Young Cult Leader were the best."

In particular, the moment he competed in and won the Young Dragon Tournament was truly unforgettable. The roar of the crowd from atop the duel stage! A moment of glory he could no longer bring up with Lee Ahn or Jang Ho because he had bragged about it so much!

"Ah! I want to go back! To that time!"

Just then, the door creaked open.

Seo Daeryong, who was slumped over his desk, shot up like lightning. He straightened his back and asked in a low voice.

"What is it that you rush in so urgently?"

A welcome voice replied.

"If you go back to that time, who will change our Cult? Director."

Seo Daeryong shot to his feet and exclaimed happily.

"Young Cult Leader!"

Geom Mugeuk stood at the door, smiling.

"Is it tough?"

Seo Daeryong made a tearful face.

"It's tough."

It was the first time since becoming the Sanzu Hall Director that he had so comfortably admitted things were tough. Who would have thought the person he was saying it to would be the second most difficult person to deal with after the Heavenly Demon?

"I gave it to you because it's tough. Otherwise, I would've kept doing it."

"That's so mean!"

Shouting for the first time in a while, Seo Daeryong felt a sense of joy, and he realized it. He had really missed Geom Mugeuk. Being the Sanzu Hall Director was good, being a Blood Heaven Blade Demon disciple was good, it was all good, but he had missed Geom Mugeuk the most.

"If it's that tough, let's trade jobs."

"With you, Young Cult Leader?"

"Alright, I'll tell you what you'd have to do. Go meet the Drunken Demon and listen to his worries, check if my brother and the Demonic Buddha are doing well, meet the Poison King and dig up some poison herbs. You also have to play Go with Father, and train in martial arts all night."

He had missed this Geom Mugeuk, who joked with him the same as always, regardless of his status.

"Suddenly my job feels incredibly easy. I'm going to endure it while collecting my monthly salary until I die. I've put down roots here."

Geom Mugeuk's comfort did not end with jokes. He stared quietly into Seo Daeryong's eyes and said.

"You're working hard, my right-hand man."

Hearing the words 'right-hand man' for the first time in a long while, Seo Daeryong felt a surge of emotion. He had been so busy he had even forgotten that he was Geom Mugeuk's right-hand man. Yes, that one phrase, 'you're working hard,' was enough. When there was someone who recognized his struggles, how could he not endure more?

Yes, people need to be recognized. If no one acknowledges your efforts, even picking up trash on the street becomes a difficult task. Seo Daeryong was learning firsthand how he should treat his subordinates in the future.

"Hard work? My life is someone else's dream. I have to work hard. I'll work myself to death! Spring has come with you, Young Cult Leader. I will make a flower bloom in my heart!"

After his cheerful outburst, Seo Daeryong asked.

"But what brings you to the Sanzu River Hall?"

The old Geom Mugeuk would have said, 'Let's do a job together.' Today, however, he properly acknowledged Seo Daeryong's authority.

Geom Mugeuk's expression grew more serious than ever.

"I have a favor to ask of you, Director Seo. Let's you and I catch a nasty villain."