Chapter 90: Take Your Reward
Although he was speaking with a smiling face, it was an explicit threat.
In instant, a heavy pressure pressed down on my body.
It felt as if my vision was distorting. While the surrounding sights no longer entered my eyes, only the Myriad Poison Divine Lord was visible.
‘He’s truly relentless.’
It was exactly as Master Zhang Sanfeng had evaluated, saying he would get along well with Master Heavenly Demon.
I had to persuade such a person.
‘I must confront him.’
If so, it cannot be avoided.
I must not avoid it.
‘If it’s about holding out, I’m confident.’
I had the Heavy Earth Divine Art.
The Earth Divine Power and Metal Divine Power firmly embraced the vessel.
Here, I tried to execute the part I had been thinking about previously.
‘Let it flow.’
Although I could not clearly know what kind of structure it was, I could accept power from the outside.
If so, couldn’t I also let it flow out through that hole?
Couldn’t I make the existence called ‘me’ a passage rather than a vessel containing power?
‘Ugh!’
The moment I executed what I resolved, a rough force dug into my inside and stirred it up.
It was to the point where I wondered if I should build a solid wall and collide with it even now.
‘I can… do it…’
Overcoming rigidity with softness.
Valuing neutralization, not resisting.
Abandoning oneself and following others.
The basic of basics.
The essence of the Wudang Sect’s martial arts that I heard when learning Supreme Ultimate Fist.
Most people ignore and pass it off, saying it does not fit reality.
They regard it as words limited to theory, lacking practicality.
They argue whether one can stick to this when a blade flies in front of one’s eyes and a blow that collapses mountains rages.
However.
All ultimate goals are always accompanied by those common and obvious basics.
Without basics, there is no ultimate.
If so, isn’t the ultimate of martial arts ultimately the destination achieved by the basics of martial arts?
Isn’t this the essence of the Wudang Sect’s martial arts, which is to receive rigidity with softness?
True. This is ultimately an ideal logic that would only exist in fairy tales. I admit it.
‘But I like that kind of thing.’
What’s wrong with pursuing ideals?
If chasing dreams is wrong,
‘I have no need for such a life!’
Resolve, determination, and heart gather into one.
Along with that, the Three Talents Unified Qi Art blossoms.
The power embracing both Master Bodhidharma’s martial arts and Master Heavenly Demon’s martial arts began to quicken inside me and bloom.
Like a brush drawing a dream, that which ‘spreads’ stains the world with my color.
[Splendid!]
“Heo?”
From the mouth of the Myriad Poison Divine Lord, who was pressing down on me, a sound containing a strange emotion leaked out.
[Brother Bian Que, that just now…]
[…I think your thought is correct.]
The words of Master Hua Tuo and Master Bian Que, which lacked subjects, felt somewhat similar to the voice the Myriad Poison Divine Lord had just made.
[Well done!]
The last thing remaining was a single word of praise from Master Zhang Sanfeng.
At the words confirming that I was heading in the right direction, I was able to draw a pleasant smile.
“You are a funny fellow, indeed.”
The Myriad Poison Divine Lord let out a hollow laugh.
No longer was any unnecessary pressure felt. The clearly visible form of the Myriad Poison Divine Lord was neither scary nor distorted.
“You show me something good.”
“Thanks to you.”
“Hmph! I don’t really like that stiff face of yours, but I must acknowledge it. Repaying as much as you showed is only right. Huh! Stabilization of Sichuan…”
The Myriad Poison Divine Lord began to ponder seriously. Did what I just showed possess that much value?
Thinking so, somehow I felt my emotions rise.
“It is a meaningless act. If the Sichuan Tang Clan actively steps forward as you think, we might be able to ‘pretend’ to be fine for a moment. But in the end, it will flow according to my thoughts.”
It was difficult to dispute the Myriad Poison Divine Lord’s skeptical opinion.
Too much power was stagnant in Sichuan. One could tell just by looking at the situation of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Thinking calmly, it could be seen that the time had come for that power to erupt.
However.
“Since peace is not obtained for free, when everyone stops making efforts, peace also disappears! I do not want to become the first person to stop making efforts.”
“You will walk a tiring path?”
“Because that’s my personality.”
“You have the qualities of a hero. Aren’t you great.”
The Myriad Poison Divine Lord taunted.
“There is nothing good about keeping a hot-blooded fellow close… Tsk!”
‘It worked.’
Although his face was full of displeasure and his tone was overflowing with sarcasm, I could feel that heat was being emitted from within.
“Fine, I will do as you wish. Tsk! I was planning to burn away all the chaff on this occasion, but in this case, I will have to think a bit about how to organize the interior.”
“…Excuse me, but your inner thoughts are leaking out.”
“It’s meant for you to hear. How dense. Tsk! I got it, so get out.”
He was the Myriad Poison Divine Lord, grumbling to the end.
Nevertheless, since I had achieved what I set out to do, I clasped my hands in a polite greeting toward the Myriad Poison Divine Lord.
“Ah, and.”
“Yes.”
“In the end, it will flow according to my thoughts anyway, you see? So take the reward I originally said I’d give you.”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean, if there’s a girl you like, take her and do the deed. If there’s an item you want, you can pick any one. You aren’t a retard who can’t even eat what is given, right?”
“…”
Do the deed, what does that mean…?
Excuse me?
***
Looking at the back of Yeon Cheong-un as he trudged out, the Myriad Poison Divine Lord chuckled.
“He’s an extraordinary fellow.”
Peace was a cheap word like a low-priced item. Because anyone could easily utter it, it was a word favored by vulgar and base people.
But the weight and value of peace coming from the mouth of someone who knew it possessed the value of a thousand pieces of gold.
“If he doesn’t just die an unnatural death somewhere within ten years, even if he doesn’t become the number one under heaven, he’ll at least be the number one gentleman under heaven. For a fellow like that, it wouldn’t be a waste even if I gave him my granddaughter.”
Seeing such a talent rolling around right in front of his eyes, if he just let him go, it was no different from a dereliction of duty as the head of a family.
Although the Sichuan Tang Clan did not allow marrying out, the talent named Yeon Cheong-un was coveted enough to think that this time could be an exception.
“Although there seem to be quite a few competitors, he’ll overcome that much. Our girls aren’t easy targets either.”
The tribe of heroes shine by themselves, as if they contain a star inside their bodies. Attracted by that light, people gather, form groups, and achieve great undertakings.
It was a matter of course, but it was not only men who were drawn to that light.
“My final years won’t be boring. Keke.”
Imagining Sichuan’s situation, Yeon Cheong-un’s future, the path he would walk, and the future of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Myriad Poison Divine Lord chuckled.
***
“Why is so bloodcurdling?”
The energy emitted to pressure me seemed to have extended outside. Baek Mu-ho, who was waiting for me outside, made a comment.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No. It’s not like I did anything dangerous.”
Baek Mu-ho spoke as if it was nothing.
“Looking from above, it didn’t seem quite so? The Sichuan Tang Clan’s hidden weapons are quite something.”
“Ah, really? It was nothing. When I went ‘hwik hwik!’, they were deflected like ‘tadatadak!'”
Baek Mu-ho was the very person who brought the medicinal herbs. He had even personally brewed them. Naturally, he could not help but be exposed to danger as a primary target.
Contrary to my worries, Baek Mu-ho boasted that he had easily handled the Sichuan Tang Clan’s secret hidden weapons.
‘Does this mean I am not the only one developing.’
Having experienced it firsthand, the power of the Pear Blossom Storm Needles that erupted in front of my eyes was not something to be ignored.
Unless he was bluffing, it meant that Baek Mu-ho’s capability had also grown beyond my thoughts.
“Well, there was something slightly strange.”
“Huh? What?”
“Umm… Did you do something to that rude bastard Sagong Pae?”
Suddenly, the conversation flowed in a strange direction. Perhaps because my perception of Sagong Pae was not good, I unconsciously knitted my brows.
“Why?”
“No, when I moved the medicinal herbs, I moved together with the people from the Qingcheng Sect. But he felt strangely obedient. If it were before, he would have complained and thrown a fit, but he felt like he was bowing first.”
Baek Mu-ho seemed to have felt that Sagong Pae’s attitude had changed.
“Then isn’t that good?”
“Do people change easily? They don’t change even with a reason. If they change their attitude without a reason, we should be on guard instead. Hmm. Did he get scolded by Elder Taoist Cheongpung?”
Baek Mu-ho seemed concerned about Sagong Pae.
Since I was of the position that it would be fine as long as he didn’t cause trouble and stayed quiet, I let those words slide by.
Having finished the big task and gained some leisure, something concerned me as well.
It was Yi Hwa.
Since she was the Divine Maiden of the Demonic Cult, she would know something about Sichuan’s current situation and the Demonic Cult’s movements.
The problem was Baek Mu-ho.
‘I’m sorry, but this doesn’t seem to be a story to be heard together with you.’
If it were an ordinary matter, I would speak openly and comfortably, but revealing Yi Hwa’s identity was troublesome.
Because although my stance had eased to some extent as I formed connections with my heavenly masters, Baek Mu-ho was not in the same position.
There would be a day to confess it, but at least it was not today.
“Ah, Mu-ho.”
“Huh?”
“Come to think of it, the Tang Clan’s Family Head said that as compensation for this task, it’s fine for us to take one of the Tang Clan’s divine weapons or secret hidden weapons.”
“Hey! You should have said that sooner!”
As soon as he heard my words, Baek Mu-ho ran in a hurry to find Chief Seneschal Tang Man-ok.
“That guy doesn’t seem in the mood to take just one.”
Taking advantage of the messy and chaotic state inside the Tang Clan, he seemed poised to sneakily pocket multiple items.
“Well, he’ll handle it on his own.”
In any case, since Baek Mu-ho had left his spot, I should meet Yi Hwa.
I hurried to find Yi Hwa.
Perhaps because I received quite a bit of attention due to what I achieved, I could find out the location of my companion by asking a few times.
They said Yi Hwa was in the guest room where Baek Mu-ho and I had first been assigned.
Entering the guest room, I could see Yi Hwa immediately bowing her body.
“Have you arrived, Heavenly Demon?”
“…I’m sorry, but how about changing the title a bit? Hearing such words inside the Sichuan Tang Clan, of all places, makes me tremble with fear.”
Indeed, leaving Baek Mu-ho behind was a good choice.
While I spent time praising myself for my wise judgment inside, Yi Hwa, who was staring at me blankly, offered an alternative.
“Then… Master?”
“That’s also a bit…”
“…Great One?”
“…My skin isn’t thick enough to calmly listen to such words, you know?”
“Oh, um… Then how should this young girl call you…”
Wringing her brain, Yi Hwa showed a flustered and embarrassed appearance for the first time.
In a way, it was an appearance fitting for her age, but perhaps because I had only seen extraordinary sights since her first appearance, it felt somewhat refreshing.
How should I say it? Cute?
“How about calling me ‘Brother’?”
“Cheong-un… Brother?”
Yi Hwa stared at me with round eyes.
This was also ticklish in the same way, but since it was better than the previous proposals, let’s compromise at this point.
“Yes, call me that from now on.”
“Yes, Brother Cheong-un.”
“…”
Well, as I listen to it, a day when I get used to it will come.
Probably.
“Anyway, I have something to ask you.”
“Yes. If it is something I know, I will answer anything.”
Irrespective of the title, Yi Hwa replied in an attitude as if she would touch her forehead to the ground right away.
“I know that internal strife is quite severe inside the Demonic Cult, is it true?”
“You know about it.”
Whether it was unexpected, Yi Hwa cast curiosity in her large, round eyes. She must have found it fascinating that I knew of the affairs inside the Demonic Cult.
However, she soon erased her curiosity and continued the explanation.
“The current Heavenly Demon Cult is roughly divided into those with four thoughts. The faction that supports the current Heavenly Demon, and the faction that does not recognize the current Heavenly Demon. And the faction that is absorbed in evil methods with the thought that anything is fine as long as they can grow their power while ignoring tradition and formality. Finally, there is the neutral faction that has drawn a line saying they will not pay attention to troublesome matters.”
“That’s unexpected.”
If they were Demonic Cult practitioners, didn’t they obey unconditionally before the two characters of ‘Heavenly Demon’?
“Wasn’t the Heavenly Demon an existence boasting absolute authority in the Demonic Cult?”
“If it were someone who inherited the true martial lineage of the Heavenly Demon like Brother Cheong-un, it would be so.”
“True martial lineage?”
“The one currently sitting as the Heavenly Demon has not properly inherited the martial lineage of Master Heavenly Demon. It is half-baked. Although it is unknown from when, they say it has been that situation since several generations ago.”
The Heavenly Demon cannot properly unfold the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts?
His authority could not help but fall to the ground.
Hearing up to that point, I could understand why the state of the Demonic Cult was in such a shape and form.
‘Huh?’
At that moment, a strange sense of incompatibility struck.
‘It is not complete?’
In fact, looking at it, the Orthodox faction was no different.
The martial arts of the Orthodox faction, led by the Nine Great Sects, had also had their identity significantly damaged.
The Orthodox faction became weaker, and the Demonic Cult became weaker too.
‘As if… someone induced it that way?’