Chapter 446: I'll Help You Pack

TL: FoodieMonster007

When I returned to my quarters after meeting Sama Myeong, someone was waiting for me in the courtyard. It was the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. His great blade was plunged into the ground, and he was leaning against it as he drank.

On my way back, I had a sudden feeling that he might show up. It seemed our bond had grown strong enough for such premonitions to be accurate.

"Have a drink."

"I'd love to."

I accepted the drink from the Blood Heaven Blade Demon and drained it in one go.

"It's been a while since I've had a drink with you, Elder. This is great."

"Didn't you drink your fill with that drunkard?"

"I barely drank at all. He swore off alcohol until he cut down the masterminds behind everything."

"Is that so?" The Blood Heaven Blade Demon wore a surprised expression.

"The world of a drunkard is a mysterious one, isn't it?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon let out a faint smile at my joke and took a drink. After we pleasantly exchanged a few more cups, he finally brought up what he wanted to say.

"The Cult Leader will grant your request."

"Why do you think so?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon answered, looking down at his own cup. "Because if I were the Cult Leader, I would have."

Was that really the reason? He had a unique sense about his father. After all, he was the first to notice that his father had moved to unify the murim this time.

"I just met with the Strategist. He also said it seems my father will grant permission, just as you said, Elder."

Even though his prediction was correct, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn't seem pleased or boastful. It appeared he was both happy and worried about me leaving the Cult.

"Are you happy to be leaving with the Cult Leader?"

"Yes, I am."

Just the thought of leaving the Cult with my father made me happy. But I couldn't forget.

Even with my father by my side, I must not forget that our enemy is Hwa Mugi.

After forcing the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Murim Alliance, and the Evil Alliance to become closed-off, Hwa Mugi walked the path toward the pinnacle of martial arts through endless training. No matter what atrocities the Twelve Zodiac Kings committed, he never made an official appearance.

In other words, he wasn't a man driven by worldly desires.

Why on earth did he kill the three leaders of the murim? What kind of life did he live before, and what kind of life did he live after?

I was so focused on finding materials for the great art that I failed to learn more about him, which I now deeply regret. At the time, I was afraid I would mess things up by approaching him. I actually tried to distance myself, thinking I could fix everything once I regressed.

In any case, the one certain fact is that he is by no means an ordinary person. That's why he might not appear until all the Twelve Zodiac Kings are dead, or he might suddenly pop up out of nowhere.

Perhaps it was because of this Hwa Mugi that my way of life was decided as it is now. Without worrying about him, I will live my life to the fullest. I couldn't respond by adapting to him even if I wanted to.

So, Hwa Mugi, you'll have to adapt to my life!

Just as it was for me before I regressed, it won't be easy for you to react to me. Because I, too, am a person who defies common sense and expectations.

As I was lost in thought, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon suddenly said something unexpected.

"The Cult Leader is blessed to have a son like you."

It was the first time he had said such a thing since we first met. I was about to joke that of course he was, but I asked seriously instead. It was the first time he had said something like this.

"Do you really think so?"

"How many people in our entire Cult would be this happy about leaving with the Cult Leader?"

"You're right. The same could be said for the entire murim."

"Even so, don't get too cocky with the Cult Leader when you're out there."

"Are you worried about me?"

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon shook his head, then nodded, then shook his head again. "I think to myself, who am I to worry when you handle everything better than I do, but then…"

He looked at me. "When I look at you like this, you're just a green kid, aren't you?"

How could I not understand his feelings? The reason older people feel anxious about the young is likely because of experience. Because back in their day, they were certain to have made unbelievable mistakes. That's why he was worried that I might make a mistake.

"I'm not a kid."

"In my eyes, you are."

"And yet you still wish you could go back to my age."

I often get the feeling that he misses his youth. Though he always denies it like this.

"I wouldn't go back for anything."

"Why not?"

"I'd hate to live this life of killing intent all over again."

His longing for his youth was genuine, but this statement also sounded sincere.

"You could just live differently."

"How can you live differently when you're the same person?"

"You can. Because you lived this life well."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon stared at me silently, then drained his last cup and rose from his seat. He pulled the Heaven Destroying Dao from the ground and bid me farewell.

"Have a safe trip."

"Yes, Elder."

As he turned and walked away, I called out to him. "I'll see many things on this trip with my father. So, Elder, you should also live while seeing many sights you wish to see."

At that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon turned back to me and stated firmly, "I am already living that way."

I could feel it in his gaze. That I was standing within that scenery.

After the Blood Heaven Blade Demon left, I entered my room and immediately activated the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

Even for me, achieving Twelfth Star mastery of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art in five years is impossible. Martial arts training requires an absolute amount of time. The reason I promised five years was because I believed in the Heavenly Space Secret Art.

The Heavenly Space Secret Art used to grant me three times the normal amount of time. Now it had increased to four times as a result of my continuous training, even cutting back on sleep. It meant that when others trained for one shichen, I could train for four.

Furthermore, my inner qi had increased significantly during the trip to the North Sea, making my training even smoother. I have to somehow increase the time gained from the art to ten times. However, as my level rises, training will become more difficult. Hard work is the only way.

I performed the Nine Calamities Demonic Art from the First Technique, the Human Destroying Stance, to the Fourth Technique, the Darkness Flash. Then, I circulated my inner qi to replenish it and calmed my mind.

Now, for the first time, I was about to perform the Fifth Technique.

When I leave with my father, an opportunity to learn the essence of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art from him will surely arise. For that moment, I intended to be able to perform up to the Fifth Technique before we left.

The Nine Calamities Demonic Art the Fifth Technique, the Soul Slicing Demonic Strike.

The training for this technique was dangerous from the very start. It was known to inflict fatal injuries or even kill the user if performed incorrectly. That was why I focused my mind more than when using any other technique. I must perform it with the mindset that a single mistake means death.

I recited the oral formula for the Fifth Technique and slowly drew my sword.

In that instant, my surroundings changed. The sky and the area around me darkened and grew eerie, as if just before a typhoon. An ensuing silence followed. It was an absolute silence that swallowed all the noise in the world.

The moment I thrust my sword!

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH!

Ten streams of sword qi poured down vertically from the sky.

THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK THWACK!

The streams of sword qi struck the ground all around me, creating thin, deep holes. They were so deep their ends were not visible. It was truly an attack that struck down on an enemy's head like a thunderbolt.

Since it was my first time performing it, the sword qi did not land where I wanted. Two streams even landed right next to me. They had nearly hit me.

Among the many vital points of the human body, the crown of the head is the most difficult to defend. Protective enhanced qi is also weakest there. Imagine a stream of sword qi, as fast as a thunderbolt, striking down on that spot.

Moreover, this was no ordinary sword qi. Imbued with the essence of the Nine Calamities Demonic Art, it was a powerful attack that could tear through an opponent's protective qi and slice their head vertically. Of course, it also consumed a massive amount of inner qi.

Finally, the essence of the Soul Slicing Demonic Strike was that it was a technique for dealing with multiple enemies. Right now, there were ten streams. As my mastery increased, the power of the descending sword qi would grow stronger and their number would increase.

Imagine it. Dozens of streams of sword qi striking down from the sky like divine punishment, simultaneously piercing the heads of dozens of enemies.

I wondered, how many enemies could my father strike down at once with this technique? Twenty? Fifty? A hundred? I had not yet experienced the art at complete mastery, so I couldn't know.

I performed the second Soul Slicing Demonic Strike. Once again, a thunderbolt of sword qi poured down. The streams were still beyond my control. They had moved a little farther away, but one landed even closer than before. It was truly a perilous technique.

I took a deep breath and calmed my mind.

It will never fall on me. Trust myself!

It was a deadly technique that one could never master without this belief. I performed the Fifth Technique again and again. The sword qi still defied my will and threatened my life, but that was fine. Repetitive training would protect me more safely than any enhanced qi.

Because my nights were long.

Three days later, Sama Myeong came to my quarters.

"Strategist, welcome!"

"Have you been resting well?"

"I've rested very well."

In truth, I should have answered that for a martial artist, martial arts training is a form of rest. Until just a moment ago, I had been engrossed in training within the Spacetime Manipulation Technique.

For the past three days, I had been honing the Soul Slicing Demonic Strike. Now I could finally strike somewhat where I intended. The accuracy was still low, but I was at least past the heart-stopping stage.

Sama Myeong had come to deliver one piece of news. "The Cult Leader has given his official permission."

As expected, his prediction was accurate.

"Thank you! It's all thanks to your efforts, Strategist."

If he had been dead set against it, I wouldn't have been able to leave. Even if my father wanted it, he couldn't easily ignore the Head Strategist's strong opposition. This was clearly thanks to Sama Myeong's concession.

"While you are away, the Cult Leader will be recorded as having entered seclusion training. We concluded it would be better not to inform the Murim Alliance and the Evil Alliance, considering the possibility of information leaks."

Since his father's safety was his top priority, it was a natural decision. He added another layer of caution.

"And the Heavenly Demonbodyguard will follow you secretly."

The unit led by Hwi. The best bodyguards in the murim, who always accompanied my father.

I really wanted this trip to be just with my father, but I couldn't insist on that now. Since Sama Myeong had made a concession, I had to as well. Instead, I proposed a compromise.

"Instead, let's have only Uncle Hwi follow us."

I guessed the reason Sama Myeong wanted to send them. Protecting my father was important, but it was more likely so they could maintain regular contact with our Cult. They needed to know where we were and what we were doing.

However, Hwi alone was more than capable of handling such a task.

"The bodyguards will be following secretly from a distance anyway, so you won't have to worry about them."

"That's not the reason. If our enemies are watching, they'll be paying attention to my father's seclusion training. The timing isn't right. If they suspect it's a ruse, they will definitely check on the Heavenly Demonbodyguard. If they notice their absence, they'll realize my father has left the Cult."

Of course, I didn't think the enemy's spy had infiltrated as far as the Heavenly Demon Hall. This was an effort to leave with as small a party as possible. I had expected more persuasion, but Sama Myeong readily agreed.

"Very well. We'll have only Captain Hwi go."

I feigned a look of realization. "Strategist, you intended to send only Uncle Hwi from the start, didn't you?"

"If I had said only Captain Hwi was going, you, Young Cult Leader, would have used another reason to insist on going alone with the Cult Leader."

"Ah! You've read me completely, Strategist."

Sama Myeong smiled at my exclamation and said, "The destination is Shaanxi."

Shaanxi was quite a distance from here, so I would have plenty of time with my father.

"It's not an urgent matter, so you may travel slowly."

He didn't speak about the mission, as if I would find out when we arrived. It was his consideration, a sign for me to not think about the mission and to spend time with my father.

"How will you be traveling?"

"We might go by carriage, or walk. I'd like to go as we please at the time."

"I will prepare things that way."

Finally, he informed me of the time for this historic departure. "You leave tomorrow. You'll slip out at dawn among the transport carriages heading outside."

After meeting with Sama Myeong, I went to my father's residence.

"Father, I'm here."

Then, I heard my father's voice from inside. "What is it?"

"I came to see you, Father. I have something to tell you."

A moment later, my father opened the door and came out. He looked slightly flustered, which was unlike him.

"Isn't this the first time you're leaving the Cult for such a long period since becoming the Cult Leader? I'll help you pack. You know I'm an expert traveler, right?"

"That's not necessary."

Father refused with a blunt expression and turned away. I thought he was treating me differently than usual today, and just then, I caught a glimpse of the room through the closing door.

Clothes were spread out on the bed, and I could see a large leather bag. Various other items were scattered about.

Father is packing!

I thought he had sent Sama Myeong to my quarters to proceed with the matter secretly, but it turned out he was busy preparing for the trip. Father was looking forward to this trip, too.

I smiled brightly and shouted from outside the door. "Father, don't forget to pack your pajamas!"