Chapter 395: She's Only Nice in Front of Us

TL: FoodieMonster007

The next morning, I was in my personal training ground.

I had slept soundly for the first time in a while. I woke up feeling so refreshed that I wondered if I had ever greeted a morning so clearly in recent memory.

Feeling well-rested and lighthearted after finishing a major task, I decided to attempt something I had been putting off.

In the center of the training ground, where no one could enter without my permission, I unleashed the Spacetime Manipulation Technique and the Heavenly Space Secret Art consecutively.

Time inside the Spacetime Manipulation Technique began to flow slowly.

Thanks to the Heavenly Space Secret Art, I could now use three times more time than in reality.

This was an incredible advantage, but it still wasn't enough to achieve my goal of completely mastering the Nine Calamities Demonic Art the Twelth Star. I needed to secure more time.

Nevertheless, I spent half my training on the Nine Calamities Demonic Art. I didn't dedicate all my time to the Heavenly Space Secret Art because I never knew what might happen.

I unleashed the Nine Calamities Demonic Art within the world of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

The First Stance, the Human Destroying Stance.

SAAAAAK!

Terrifying apparitions of four demonic spirits appeared simultaneously to the east, west, south, and north. The chilling figures swung their swords.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

One was fearsome, one was handsome, one had a strange mystery, and one looked smarter than anyone. They were always a reassuring sight. I had seen them so often they now felt like friends.

They had also changed. The four demonic spirits were faster and stronger than before. I could also control them more freely, from their points of appearance and attack directions to the timing of their disappearance.

If I can achieve complete mastery and summon the Heavenly Demon Soul, could I form an emotional bond with them? Would the Heavenly Demon Soul and the lesser demonic spirits have a relationship with me like the one I have with the Demon Supremes?

I felt a pointless sense of anticipation.

Next, I executed the Second Stance, the Great Annihilation Stance.

SWOOOOOSH.

Originally, the fearsome-looking demon would split into six. Now, two more were added, allowing it to split into eight.

CRUMBLECRASHCRACK!

The eight demonic spirits swept through everything in front of them, pushing forward. The Great Annihilation Stance always felt incredibly satisfying to unleash.

The Third Stance, the Impenetrable Demonic Wall.

A massive wall of enhanced qi rose before my eyes. Just as Father said, the wall had shrunk as my level increased. It was smaller than when I first learned it.

When I reached the final stage, it would become as small as a shield that could block a single person.

However, I had a grand plan for this technique. My goal was to erect the completed, shield-sized Impenetrable Demonic Wall at its current size but with its full power. It was impossible with tenth-star mastery, but maybe with Twelth Star mastery?

Until now, I had only repeatedly trained up to the Third Stance.

Today, I intended to execute the Fourth Stance for the first time. My perspective on martial arts had changed after facing the Twelve Zodiac Kings, and with my increased level, I felt the time had finally come.

The Nine Calamities Demonic Art Fourth Stance. The Darkness Flash.

The moment I executed the stance, my surroundings flickered. It felt like I had blinked.

It was a failure, but not a bad start.

I recited the incantation again and attempted the Fourth Stance.

This time, the surroundings darkened and then brightened again. The period of darkness was longer than before, as if someone had covered a lantern with their hand and then uncovered it.

I repeated it again and again.

Like most martial arts, the later stages of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art required a greater amount of inner arts. This Fourth Stance demanded an enormous amount, making it a technique I couldn't use carelessly.

Even with my vast inner arts, I had to pause between attempts to replenish my energy through meditation.

The attempts continued.

Finally!

WHOOSH!

Complete darkness descended upon my surroundings.

The world went black, as if the sun's light had vanished. It was a pitch-black void where I couldn't see an inch in front of me, as if light had never existed. Even the Divine Eye Technique could not penetrate this blackness.

SHIIING.

A single streak of light cut across the darkness.

It was a single streak of light said to be able to cut through anything.

After the light passed, the surroundings brightened.

I was facing an imaginary enemy, but if I had unleashed it against a real person, his severed body would be lying over there.

I did it!

I executed the Darkness Flash once more.

Darkness fell on all sides.

SHIIIIING.

This time, the light slashed diagonally. The user could determine the direction of the flash.

Filled with accomplishment from successfully executing the Fourth Stance, I stood alone in the space of the Spacetime Manipulation Technique and laughed out loud.

Supreme martial arts like the Nine Calamities Demonic Art could be learned in a single day if it came easily, but it could also take months, or even years, if it proved difficult.

Of course, this wasn't the end for the Fourth Stance, just as my other techniques continued to evolve.

The more I trained, the deeper and more powerful the darkness would become. It was said that the Darkness Flash at complete mastery could not be blocked by any protective enhanced qi.

When the darkness descends, the opponent will surely die.

This was the Nine Calamities Demonic Art Fourth Stance, the Darkness Flash.

When I finished my training and came out, a welcome visitor had arrived.

"Young Cult Leader!"

The giant dao he now wore suited him perfectly, giving him the natural dignity of the Sanzu Hall Director. It was Seo Daeryong.

"Have you eaten?"

"No."

"I'm hungry. Let's talk over lunch."

I had a servant bring lunch for Seo Daeryong and me. I was starving, having trained for much longer than the time that passed in reality.

"Congratulations on successfully concluding the summit yesterday."

"Thanks."

"That's all anyone in the cult is talking about right now."

"Just the dancing, I bet?"

Seo Daeryong couldn't deny it and laughed awkwardly. The incident where the Evil Alliance Young Alliance Chairman danced, joined by the Divine Cult Young Cult Leader and the Murim Alliance Chairman's granddaughter, was a major event. News of it would soon spread across the entire Central Plains.

"I should've been there."

Right, Seo Daeryong would have danced along. He would have complained about how embarrassing it was, but he would have jumped in even before Jin Haryong.

"I considered sneaking in to watch, but I couldn't do that."

Since only Commanders were mobilized for security, he, a Director, was unable to attend.

"I didn't care about the others, but I wanted to see Miss Jin again."

"Why didn't you come? You could've kicked open the tavern door and shouted, 'I am the champion who defeated Miss Jin in the Young Dragon Tournament final duel!'"

"If I did that, I'd have been beaten up by the orthodox sect masters. No, wait, Master would've beaten me up first."

Geom Mugeuk laughed at Seo Daeryong's jest.

"What about the results of the summit? Did it go well?"

"The orthodox and unorthodox have agreed to make it their top priority to join forces and eliminate those bastards."

"You've truly accomplished something amazing."

At Seo Daeryong's admiration, Geom Mugeuk spoke humbly.

"It was Father's accomplishment."

Seo Daeryong quietly stared at Geom Mugeuk's face.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I just thought you could afford to brag at times like this. You've achieved a great feat that will never be seen again in this world, haven't you?"

This was why Seo Daeryong had come today. He came to tell him this, just as Geom Mugeuk had always done for him, praising him for every little thing. Empowered by that encouragement, the once gloomy investigator had come this far.

"This humility is a calculated brag."

"You've succeeded. You look great even when you're being humble."

Seo Daeryong asked various questions about the summit. He asked what the Murim Alliance Chairman and the Evil Alliance Chairman were like, which masters had accompanied them, and whether Jo Cheonbae was nervous. He asked about everything he was curious about.

"Are you disappointed? That you couldn't be there?"

"A little."

"You should have asked. I would have granted your request."

If it had been Seo Daeryong, I might have even placed him next to Jang Ho.

"Everyone already knows that I'm close to you, Young Cult Leader."

He didn't want to be the subject of gossip about personal favors. It was to prevent harm from coming to Geom Mugeuk, more so than to himself.

"So what? This is the time to show it off. To say, 'I cherish our Director Seo this much, so no one better bother him but me!'"

"No one better bother me? That's not a compliment!"

Even though it was a joke, Seo Daeryong felt good.

The two of them finished their meal and went out to the courtyard.

"Don't just eat whatever because you live alone. Make sure you eat proper meals."

"I will."

Seo Daeryong, who was about to leave, stopped in his tracks.

"By the way, have you heard any news about this martial artist?"

"No."

"You don't know where she is either?"

"She's probably fine."

At the nonchalant reply, Seo Daeryong shook his head with a look that said, 'How can you be so indifferent!'

"You might not remember, but there's a person among your subordinates named Lee Ahn. She was the woman called My Heart Lee."

Geom Mugeuk played along with Seo Daeryong's jest.

"I think I might remember."

"That's so harsh! You should at least know where Martial Artist Lee is and what she's doing!"

"Do you know?"

"I do. This martial artist is in the North Sea right now. Her heart is freezing in that cold place!"

"In the North Sea? Why is she there?"

"I don't know that part."

Lee Ahn's purpose for leaving was to recruit Seo Jin, the Ghostly Sage's sister, as a Division Leader for the Ghost Shadow Squad. Since it was her first solo trip, I had told her not to rush and to see many places. It seemed she had gone all the way to the North Sea.

"Aren't you worried?"

"What's there to worry about? This is a chance for her to travel and experience the jianghu. Meet some villains, meet some perverts."

You fool, who's worried about whom?

Lee Ahn has nine tails. She also knows the Soaring Sky Sword Art.

She's only nice in front of us. If anyone should be worried, it should be the enemies who stand before her.

Geom Mugeuk trusted Lee Ahn. He trusted her skills and intelligence, but he trusted something else even more.

She was the one who saved me and brought me back like this. I believe in our connection, and I believe in her destiny.

However, it seemed Seo Daeryong felt differently.

"Ah, I'm worried our innocent Martial Artist Lee is getting scammed somewhere."

"Like you during the duel tournament?"

Back then, Seo Daeryong had been almost completely fooled by a woman.

"Why are you bringing up such an old story? I won't fall for that anymore. I'm a spicy ginger now."

"To me, you still look like a crisp green apple."

Seo Daeryong pretended not to hear and changed the subject.

"She has to check her food with a silver needle every time she eats. I wonder if she brought enough hidden weapons. If she goes around without her veil, all sorts of guys will flock to her."

"But how did you know Lee Ahn was in the North Sea?"

"I went and asked the First Division Leader of the Ghost Shadow Squad. He said the last contact they received was from the North Sea."

It seemed he had gone to ask Green Mask.

"Have you been to the North Sea?"

"Of course."

"I've never been. Then have you been to the Ice Palace too?"

"Naturally."

"Don't tell me you've met the Ice Empress too?"

Geom Mugeuk nodded. Of course, that was before his regression. He had a connection with the Ice Palace back then.

"If you go to the entrance of the Ice Palace, they have people frozen and displayed in a line."

"Hey, no way."

"It's true. They've frozen everyone who opposed the Ice Palace and put them on display. It's a powerful warning. This is what happens if you oppose us!"

"Those people must all be dead, then?"

"Who knows. Maybe they'll move like jiangshi when the ice melts."

Seo Daeryong flinched, as if the mere thought was terrifying.

"That's not all. On the snowy mountain behind the Ice Palace, there are snowmen living there. Those snowmen cultivate a spiritual herb called the Snow Ice Grass, and if you eat its fruit, you can gain immense inner arts."

"Really? You can't just lie to me because I've never been there."

"Don't believe me if you don't want to."

Seo Daeryong was already hooked. This kid was worrying about others when he was so easily fooled himself.

The stories of freezing people for display, the snowmen, and the Snow Ice Grass were all just legends.

"If you're that worried about Lee Ahn, go look for her."

"What about the Sanzu River Hall?"

"Take a vacation and go. I'll make sure you can leave your post."

"What about my monthly salary?"

"Of course you won't get it. It's a personal matter. You have to sacrifice that much for Lee Ahn."

After blinking and pondering for a moment, Seo Daeryong took a step back.

"We're not that close, and I get cold easily."

Geom Mugeuk laughed at Seo Daeryong's jest.

"Well then, I'll be going."

After Seo Daeryong left, Geom Mugeuk looked up at the sky. He realized that despite waking up in such a good mood, he had started his day without once looking up.

Lee Ahn, how is the sky in the North Sea?

After sending Seo Daeryong off, Geom Mugeuk headed to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's residence.

Geom Mugeuk was about to enter energetically while calling for the Elder, but he stopped in his tracks.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was in the flower garden in a corner of the courtyard. It was the same garden where he had once pruned a flower tree with the Heaven Destroying Dao.

There, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was planting flowers with the Flower Sword Supreme.

The man who stood so proudly before the masters of the orthodox and unorthodox sects yesterday felt like a completely different person from the man planting flowers now.

Just then, someone whispered beside Geom Mugeuk.

"They say a late bloomer is a scary thing."

He turned to see the Drunken Demon. It wasn't something he should be saying, considering the nice atmosphere he had with Yeo Bin these days.

"He's been like that all morning."

"Hyung, what are you doing here?"

"I had something to say to the Sword Supreme."

"Then just go and say it."

The Drunken Demon's gaze shifted toward the two of them.

"Why would I ruin a good mood they haven't had in a while?"

It was worth hesitating. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon probably didn't know. He was likely unaware of the huge smile on his face as he planted flowers with the Flower Sword Supreme.

It seemed spring had come to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's heart as well.

Just then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon shouted from inside.

"What are you two whispering about like a couple of rats?"

Geom Mugeuk shouted back.

"Don't mind us! We're just passersby! Two rats passing by!"

He walked away from the place with the Drunken Demon.

"Why were you looking for the Sword Supreme?"

"There was something bothering me a little, so I wanted to consult with her."

"What is it?"

"Forget it. It's nothing important."

However, Geom Mugeuk didn't just let it go.

"Hyung, don't a lot of problems that arise later happen because we dismiss them as nothing important now? What is it? Hurry up and tell me!"

When Geom Mugeuk pressed him, the Drunken Demon revealed what was on his mind.

"There's a place that sends me alcohol every year. Every single year, without fail, they send alcohol when March comes, but this year, the alcohol hasn't arrived."

If it were an ordinary sect, he wouldn't have bothered to bring it up.

"Where is it?"

An unexpected name flowed from the Drunken Demon's lips.

"The North Sea Ice Palace."