Episode 8: When the Blade Glitters in the Moonlight.
Rumors began to spread rapidly within the school that a disciple of Blood Heavenly Sword had died at my hands.
As the ripple effect grew, Ian’s worries also grew.
“It’s not a big deal. Everyone I meet talks about you and Yangpo.”
She added with a sigh.
“… … And my story too.”
Since she was the one who started the fight, it’s only natural that there would be a lot of talk.
“It would be nice to become famous. Aren’t we martial artists who do all kinds of crazy things to become famous?”
“I don’t like it.”
“I’ll become more famous in the future, what should I do?”
Ian let out a small sigh, but his expression was not dark. Perhaps it was because there was a positive element of change at the center of this chaos.
“I’m worried because you’re the Bloodthirsty Lord who values honor. Please just let it go.”
“Who said that the Bloodthirsty Demon values honor?”
“Yes? Or not?”
“How can someone who values honor tolerate and ignore the trashy behavior of his disciples?”
“Maybe you don’t know?”
“That is to underestimate the delicacy of our Bloodthirsty Lord.”
“It was the same before. You keep talking as if you know a lot about Hyeolcheon Doma.”
“I know enough about not only the Blood Heavenly Demon but also the other Demon Lords. He is the son of the Heavenly Demon, so I should investigate that much.”
Ian looked at me with wide eyes. He probably thought I knew everything about him, and wondered when on earth I had done such research without his knowledge.
“Then why does the Bloodthirsty One just ignore the disciples’ misdeeds?”
“that…….”
There was a definite reason, but it was something I couldn’t explain to Ian.
So Ian gave another reason that made sense.
“Because it’s convenient.”
“yes?”
“It’s easier to deal with greedy and selfish people than with well-behaved disciples. Bloody Heavenly Sword Master has not appointed a disciple for a long time, and has made his disciples compete against each other. Why? Because then he can be used as expendable materials. Just wait and see, Yangpo’s empty spot will be filled in a few days.”
“You were a scary person, Thomas.”
“I’m more afraid of the disciples. Those guys who rush at their master even though they clearly know what kind of person he is.”
“I am glad to be able to serve you, my lord.”
“Of course. How can you compare? Ian, do you want to have a drink for once?”
She looked at me with a surprised face.
“Why are you so surprised?”
“It’s not just a long time, it’s the first time.”
“Is this your first time?”
“yes.”
You haven’t had a drink with me until now? What on earth motivated you to throw yourself at me?
“Let’s go. Let’s drink and die today!”
I went to Magachon (魔家村) with Ian.
Magachon is a village formed around the main church. It started out as a small village where families of Mines lived, but it has now become a large city.
I took her to the most expensive and best tavern in Magachon.
“It’s a historic day, so let’s drink in a nice place.”
“I also like small and shabby places.”
She felt uncomfortable in crowded places. No matter where she went, everyone’s attention was focused on her, so she probably hated it.
I went into a special room in the tavern that had been set up separately for her consideration.
“How much can you drink?”
“I can’t drink much.”
“Let’s check how much you can drink today. Don’t worry, I’ll carry you if you get drunk.”
“I… … am heavy.”
“It’s okay. Look at these arms.”
“That’s half of my forearm.”
“That’s because I haven’t given you the strength yet!”
Since it was my first time drinking with her, I ordered a lot of good drinks and food.
“It’s my first time eating this dish. This and that.”
“Let’s try everything and order more of the delicious ones.”
“My stomach is going to explode.”
“You’re busy escorting me, so you’re just going to eat hastily. From now on, eat more carefully.”
“Look, with this body, it’s okay to eat just anything.”
She smiled, showing off her thick arms.
“If you eat carelessly, you will gain more weight. What am I eating? What ingredients is it made of? The more you pay attention to what you eat, the less you will gain weight. If you want to lose weight, you have to become a gourmet.”
“Ah! I didn’t know that! I will do that in the future.”
But I know that no matter what she eats or how much she starves herself every day, she won’t lose weight. That’s because that weight isn’t from food.
Of course she knows too. She just says that because she thinks I don’t know the side effects. She should have revealed the side effects and made a joke mixed with resentment… … She’s grown up since she was too young.
“From now on, let’s learn while eating delicious food together.”
Ian looked at me intently and asked.
“Please tell me the secret.”
“What’s the secret? Cooking?”
“No. How can a person change like this?”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
I looked at her and smiled faintly.
“Why? Do you want to change too?”
“That’s not it, but… … .”
She emptied her glass. How could she not want to change? Her childhood self would be forever engraved in her mind. Whenever she had a hard time, she would think of that day, and that would make it even harder.
‘Once you regain your original form, you won’t need any secret methods. The whole world will admire you.’
Ian asked, politely accepting the drink I offered him.
“Your Majesty, what do you plan on doing with your successor?”
The reason you ask questions you’ve never asked before is because you see that potential in me.
I said softly, raising my glass.
“May only Abu survive!”
Ian smiled and lifted his glass, clinking it gently.
“Please melt the heart of the cult leader!”
I drank alcohol with her.
Although he was said to be bad at drinking, Ian drank alcohol quite often.
Of course, there was a price to pay for getting her drunk. I had to carry her back home drunk.
All the way back she was carried on my back and screamed.
“Don’t worry! I will definitely protect you, my lord. Just trust me!”
“I wasn’t worried at all, but now that I keep hearing you say things, I’m worried.”
“Don’t worry! I will protect you!”
“Yeah, don’t worry.”
“You should. You should worry. But don’t worry! I’ll protect you!”
“ha ha ha.”
Just then, a window opened and someone shouted.
“What kind of idiot keeps saying that?”
I said as I looked at the man with his face out the window.
“Look at me and take a look.”
“Who are you?”
“This is the Confucius of Cheonmasingyo.”
He stared blankly at me for a moment, then an apple flew at him as fast as light.
“Oh my, I’m sorry, Your Majesty!”
At the same time, the windows closed faster than they had opened.
Ian was fast asleep on my back.
‘I’m sorry for picking you up so late.’
When I returned to my residence, I laid her down on the bed and went out.
I sat in the yard with my legs stretched out and looked up at the moon.
Now that I think about it, I was in deep defeat while living in hiding after the destruction of the clan. It was a deep depression to the point where I couldn’t sustain my life unless I ran towards the goal of returning.
If he hadn’t met Seojin at that time? If he hadn’t known about the Great Law of Return? In the end… … wouldn’t he have committed suicide? Or would he have gone to find Hwamugi and died miserably at the hands of his followers without even meeting him? Yes, that’s what would have happened.
At that time, I was lost in various thoughts.
Something flashed in the moonlight right next to me.
When I slowly turned my head, there was a large blade next to my face.
My tense face was reflected in the sharp edge of the stupidly large sword.
The blade slowly laid down, revealing its owner behind it.
The wrinkles on the back of his rough, skinny hand that held the knife were the furrows of his years, showing that the years had not been easy. Beyond those furrows, sharp eyes were glaring at me.
He was none other than the Bloodthirsty Horse.
I was secretly surprised because I didn’t know you would come to me so suddenly.
The sword aimed at my neck as if it was going to cut it was his poisonous weapon, the Myeolcheon Daedo (滅天大刀). The Myeolcheon Daedo, which was listed as one of the ten greatest weapons in the martial arts world, was nicknamed the Weapon Destroyer (兵器破壞者) because it could shatter any weapon the moment it struck it.
The cold magical energy emitted by the Heavenly Sword engulfed the entire surrounding area. The breathtakingly cold air made the hairs on my entire body stand on end.
‘If that knife were to fly at my neck, would I be able to dodge it?’
It wasn’t easy to come up with an answer.
No matter how deep the insights I gained from my life before returning were, my internal energy is now overwhelmingly lacking.
At that moment when tension was rising, the cold air surrounding the area disappeared in an instant.
Bloodthirsty Demon smiled and poked my side with the end of the handle of the Heavenly Sword.
“Why did you do that?”
It means why did he kill his own disciple.
Just a moment ago, it was a prayer that sounded like it was coming to kill me, but now it is poking my ribs like a friendly old neighbor.
“That’s because I acted like a fool.”
At my indifferent answer, Hyeolcheondoma stared at me intently. His gaze was similar to that of his father, but different.
If the look in my father’s eyes was completely incomprehensible, the look in Hyeolcheondoma’s eyes was clear.
Hostility.
I saw the fire burning in his eyes.
“What kind of fool in the world would come to pick a fight with the youngest son of a cult leader who is so precious that he would not hurt anyone even if he put his hand in his eyes?”
Whirl!
The sword that was resting on Hyeolcheon Doma’s lap bounced up and aimed at my neck again.
“Should I cut off this head and put it in the leader’s eye? Will it hurt or not?”
The chilling murderous intent flowing over the blade contained the master’s will to say, ‘It may sound like a joke, but it’s not.’
“I don’t think my head will fit through those horribly slit eyes of our father’s.”
As I took a step back, the energy flowing over the blade disappeared in an instant towards the handle. Amazing. How could that skinny body handle such powerful energy so freely?
This time, the Bloodthirsty Demon drew a long line on the floor in front of where we were sitting. Then, he drew a vertical line about a span from the left end.
“From here to here is our Lee Gongja, from here to the end is me.”
The lines were divided into nine to one ratios.
“What is this?”
“That’s how much the leader cherishes you.”
Bloodthirsty Dogma, I was the one who did it.
I drew a new line with my finger about a third of the way up.
“No matter what, he is still my son. This one is me, and that one is the elder.”
This time, I was the one who got the seven, blood claw hammer.
The bloodthirsty demon smiled slyly.
“Let’s try it out. If I take this Confucius head, will the leader kill me or let me live?”
“Aren’t you underestimating the fatherly love of Cheonma?”
“So let’s try it.”
The Great Sword of Destruction slowly moved towards me again.
I pressed the side of the sword with my palm to prevent it from approaching my neck. The sword was cold. No matter how brightly the Blood Heavenly Sword smiled, this coldness was the essence of the Blood Heavenly Sword. If you forget that, you will die.
“I guess I don’t have to take the test. I have two sons and one elder.”
The blood crow laughed heartily.
“This disciple is not a fool like my disciple.”
“If the disciple had resembled his elders, he would still be alive.”
Bloodthirsty Demon put his hand on my shoulder and tapped it.
“This old man, this Confucius, has lived his whole life with bad luck. So it is better not to see him often.”
After finishing his words, the Bloodthirsty Demon disappeared. The body that had suddenly risen up next to me fell far away into the darkness.
As the Bloodthirsty Chopping Board disappeared, I looked at my side. There was a dark bruise where the Bloodthirsty Chopping Board had poked me with the handle of the sword. It looked like it had been poked playfully, but the shock it gave me was like a ‘bang bang’. The last tap on my shoulder was the same.
“f*ck, you f*cking old man.”
I was always on edge while dealing with him. Regardless of the fact that he had regressed, I always had to be careful about the risks that variables create.
The fact that he repeated twice that he would go to his father with his head in his hands means that he had the idea in his head that it could really happen.
At first glance, he may seem like he’s selfish, but he’s not a selfish person. He’s someone who always calculates thoroughly and calculates again. If you feel like he’s selfish, it’s because he’s calculatedly selfish. That’s why he’s a difficult person to deal with.
I knew a lot about him, but knowing him well doesn’t mean I can handle him well. Information is just information, and variables that can turn this advantage around can arise at any time.
‘By the way, why did you come to me?’
Is this a warning about killing his disciple?
No, as I told Ian, he’s not a man who values his reputation.
He came to see me. He must have been impressed by what I showed him on stage, and he must have felt special that I had made a wish to hunt. He must have felt the need to test me, since he had even killed his own disciple. He came to taste for himself whether I tasted sweet or shitty. To see if I could become his successor.
‘What did it taste like?’
To me, he was spicy. I only touched him once, but it was hot. Instead, he was deliciously spicy.
‘Will my first opponent be the Bloodthirsty Horse?’
Maybe so. It was because I was sent back on the day I was fighting with the disciple of Blood Heavenly Sword.
‘Perhaps your great sword caught the eye of Heaven in particular.’
