AR Chapter 137

In the flowing silence, Drunken Demon realized one thing.

“You already knew?”

“I had suspected it might be so. The brother I know isn’t someone who would send a broken bottle to you, Drunken Demon.”

“I thought you two weren’t on good terms?”

“Don’t you usually learn more about people you dislike than those you’re close to?”

Drunken Demon, who had been staring at me, suddenly stood up.

“Ah, I’m getting drunk.”

Then he immediately threw himself into the lake.

“You should also fix that habit of swimming while drinking!”

Regardless of my concern, Drunken Demon swam well. Not only was he skilled, but he knew how to swim joyfully. He would dive, then float on his back looking at the sky, swim far away at speed and come back, and jump out of the water like a dolphin before splashing back in.

After swimming around excitedly like that, Drunken Demon climbed back onto the boat.

“Now I’m sobering up a bit.”

Then he drank again.

“You sobered up only to drink again?”

“Didn’t I sober up to drink again?”

I shouted to Yeo Bin, who was standing far away on the shore.

“Please bring some side dishes here!”

Then Yeo Bin, as if she had been waiting, brought side dishes on a boat. It seems she had prepared them earlier, but Drunken Demon had only brought alcohol. As she left after giving us the side dishes, Yeo Bin slightly bowed her head to convey her gratitude to me.

“Please develop the habit of eating side dishes.”

“It’s not easy when I haven’t eaten them my whole life.”

“Do you only do what you want to do? You should do things you don’t like too.”

“Why do you care so much about my health?”

I ate some side dishes with chopsticks. They were warm. It seems they had been kept heated to be brought at any time.

“Am I the only one taking care of you, Drunken Demon? Here, eat.”

Drunken Demon reluctantly ate some side dishes.

We drank together and then looked up at the night sky.

“Ah, it’s nice!”

As Drunken Demon exclaimed, it really was nice. Floating on a boat in this lake, looking at the stars while drinking, it was truly a heavenly experience.

Lying back and looking at the stars, Drunken Demon said,

“My dream is to just drink and have fun. If a great demonic war breaks out, this lake might turn blood-red. Then how would I sober up?”

Drunken Demon’s unique weapon hanging at his waist is called Blood Tears. He was saying such things while carrying a unique weapon named Blood Tears.

“Are you serious?”

“I am. I want to live like this for my whole life and die.”

“Is that really why you want to be on my side?”

“That’s right.”

“Then prove it.”

“How?”

“Reconcile with Elder Blood Heavens Saber Demon.”

Drunken Demon was startled, as if it was an unexpected proposal.

“I’m serious too. From now on, you’ll have to make efforts to become my person. If you reconcile with Elder Blood Heavens Saber Demon and maintain an amicable relationship with Extremely Evil Laughing Demon…”

After emptying the remaining alcohol refreshingly, I said to him,

“I’ll become sworn brothers with you, Drunken Demon.”

Another silence fell.

Drunken Demon stared at me for a moment before finally opening his mouth.

“You really are an unpredictable person.”

“The unpredictable one is you, Drunken Demon. You’re surrounded by all sorts of preconceptions. I’m rather rational. I’m exchanging what I want for what you want.”

I drank refreshingly and put down the bottle, then asked,

“Was your suggestion to become sworn brothers a joke?”

“It wasn’t a joke.”

“It’s about forming a brotherhood with someone. You should show this much sincerity, right? Ah, this person is really doing something they hate for my sake. Even though they really don’t want to, they’re doing it. Eating side dishes, reconciling. What can’t you say with words? You could even persuade the Unorthodox Alliance Leader to be on my side.”

“You might really be able to persuade him.”

I laughed dryly, and Drunken Demon drank.

“It’s not that I don’t want to reconcile.”

“Then?”

“Reconciliation with Blood Heavens Saber Demon is impossible from the start. Have you ever seen water and oil mix?”

“They don’t need to mix. They just need to float together.”

“What if someone sets it on fire?”

“Then it burns. If you really hate it, be the water. Let’s make Elder Sword Supreme the oil. He’s originally fiery, so let’s make him the oil.”

Although he usually laughed at most jokes, this time he didn’t laugh. He seemed quite unwilling.

Seeing how he acts towards me, it seems like he could at least outwardly smile and humor Blood Heavens Saber Demon.

I could understand why Blood Heavens Saber Demon disliked Drunken Demon. He originally disliked people who drink and make a fuss.

But why is Drunken Demon so burdened by this reconciliation?

“You have another reason for approaching me, don’t you? Drop that nonsense about peace in the martial world and reveal your real reason.”

Despite my harsh words, Drunken Demon just drank with drunken eyes.

“One brother like this is enough for me.”

I leapt towards the boat I had come on.

He should have tried to stop me from leaving like this, but he didn’t say anything in the end. As I docked the boat on the shore, I looked back at him. Drunken Demon was drinking alone under the moonlight.

***

The next day at dawn, I quietly left the cult.

I left a note for Seo Daeryong saying I would be away for a few days.

Since the Wind God’s Four Strides reached the Eight Stars realm, my body had been itching and I couldn’t just stay still. I tossed and turned all night wanting to fight strong opponents, and an even more intense desire was to run.

I know I need to handle this desire well. Especially with extreme ascension martial arts like the Wind God’s Four Strides, one must handle it even more carefully.

If this desire is mishandled, one can fall into demonic cultivation or meet death in a reckless fight. This often happens when someone who isn’t ready learns martial arts beyond their capacity.

After leaving the cult, I started running at high speed. I ran terrifyingly fast. There was no need to wear a mask to prevent people from recognizing me.

The running speed was so fast that it was unclear whether I was a person, a bird, or just an illusion that had just passed by. That’s how fast it was. It was fast even at Seven Stars, but this was different.

Originally, this speed was only possible in wide-open areas like plains.

But the path I was running on now had obstacles. There were running carriages, passing people. There were trees and rocks.

However, thanks to my Divine Eye Technique, I could run at this speed on any path.

Moreover, upon reaching Eight Stars, the amount of internal energy consumed actually decreased. I could use martial arts more efficiently.

I ran until my internal energy was completely depleted, then circulated my energy again and ran more. Never in my life had I run so excitingly. Perhaps it was because my destination was where the people I wanted to see were.

***

In a bustling tavern sat the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and Go Wol. Several people came to their table at intervals to report something and leave. There were men and women, young and old.

Each time they came and went, Go Wol recorded something on paper.

“What are you writing so meticulously? They’ll know we’re working even without contact.”

At the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s words, Go Wol ignored him and continued writing a message. It was a message to be sent to Geum Mugeuk.

Go Wol was focusing on creating an information network in the Central Plains under Geum Mugeuk’s orders. Thanks to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader coming along, work was progressing smoothly.

In the process of working, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was once again impressed by Go Wol’s abilities. He was creating an organization that operated differently from the existing Heavenly Communication Pavilion organization, and was making it so that it could be merged with the Heavenly Communication Pavilion later. He was keeping in mind until Geum Mugeuk became the Cult Leader.

That made it more difficult, but what made the process smooth was the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

When the two joined forces, work progressed like water flowing. Of course, Go Wol had to endure the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s complaints.

“Send it for a hundred days and see if you get even one reply from Second Young Master.”

“This is a report. Since when do people reply to reports?”

“Why can’t he? If he has the heart, he would. Didn’t I tell you? That our fate would become like that of Wind Cult Leader then, those shackles. Look at us now, that’s exactly how we are. Coming to a foreign land and suffering all sorts of hardships.”

“Eating all the delicacies of each region. Sightseeing scenic spots when we have time. What suffering indeed.”

“Leaving home is always hard!”

“Where is the Wind Cult Leader’s home?”

For a moment, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader flinched. Go Wol’s gaze moved from what he was writing to the Wind Cult Leader’s.

“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult isn’t the Wind Cult Leader’s home, is it? The Wind Cult Leader’s home is here in the Central Plains. Didn’t you sing about advancing into the Central Plains? Look around as we travel. You should build your home somewhere here. Keep your eyes wide open!”

With nothing else to say, the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s arrow turned back to Geum Mugeuk.

“Hmph! We should build a home. Second Young Master must have forgotten about us by now. Later, when he sees us at the cult, he’ll probably feel a pang of guilt inside. Ah! That’s right. Among my numerous subordinates, there was this clueless Wind Cult Leader from outside and that shackle guy. Ah, but what was that shackle’s name again? In the end, people’s hearts are all the same.”

“Wind Cult Leader.”

“What?”

“Everyone is someone else’s ‘that wind cult leader then’ and ‘those shackles then’. Only people like Second Young Master are special to everyone, the rest of us just live being moderately disregarded like this. And being a special person is tiring too. This kind of life suits you better, Wind Cult Leader.”

“You’re looking down on me again? You’re looking down on me again!”

Go Wol pretended not to hear and focused on writing again.

“You used to just stare blankly at the Sound Thunder Bell all day and move sluggishly, but now you’ve become so diligent. What is it about Second Young Master that you like so much to be acting like this?”

“And what about you, Wind Cult Leader? What is it about me that you like so much to follow me all the way here and suffer?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader couldn’t answer.

“It’s the same for me. Is there any particular reason I need to explain? I just like him. And after Second Young Master, it’s you, Wind Cult Leader. So don’t feel too disappointed.”

“Hmph! There are only two people around you, and I’m second? Isn’t that last place?”

“You noticed?”

“You crazy bastard!”

Go Wol laughed, and the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader laughed along.

This kind of conversation was their joy. Repeating the same stories over and over, badmouthing Geum Mugeuk, talking about old times, and then talking about what might happen in the future. They repeated the same conversations every day.

“This is proof of really close friends. Being able to say the same things over and over again, and listening comfortably. You can’t have this kind of conversation with Second Young Master, right? It’s uncomfortable, right? That’s proof that you’re not close with Second Young Master. No, Second Young Master is too busy showing off here and there to have time to listen to you.”

It was right at that moment. Someone suddenly spoke from behind the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader.

“You keep calling me ‘Second Young Master’ until the end.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader turned around in surprise to find me standing there, smiling.

“So you meant to badmouth me until the end.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader and Go Wol jumped up in shock.

“Second Young Master!”

“Second Young Master!”

I continued smiling and said to the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader,

“This is why I wanted to come.”

“Hmph! Did I say anything untrue? What are you going to do about it!”

His unchanged demeanor made me feel glad first.

The place I had run to like mad was where these two were working. I was able to find them like this because they always sent messages about where they were and how much work had progressed.

I caught up with the two of them on all the news.

Surprisingly, Go Wol already knew about the incidents with Extremely Evil Laughing Demon and Drunken Demon, and even the fact that my brother was in contact with Gwon Ma and Poison King.

I could see that he had already properly secured an information network within the cult. The external information network was also rapidly expanding throughout the Central Plains.

“How’s the financial situation?”

“We’ve almost run out.”

It took a truly massive amount of money to hire capable people and establish an organizational network. Go Wol had taken 1.2 million taels when he left, but it was already running out. This was because the initial costs of building an organization were exceptionally high.

“I’ll send additional funds soon.”

“Yes!”

Although there were still sufficient funds thanks to the money received from the Golden Palm, we’ll need to earn more money to operate the Demonic Shadow Corps later.

At that moment, my eyes met the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s. He flinched.

“Why are you looking at me when talking about running out of money?”

“I’m just happy to see you after a long time. Why? Am I not allowed to look?”

“It feels like silent pressure to lend you money. That’s it, that look! Exactly that look! That cunning look when you were after my body fluid before. No way. Absolutely not my money!”

I burst into laughter.

“That body fluid saved my life.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader was surprised at my words.

“Really?”

“Yes. I survived thanks to the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread.”

“Ah!”

Joy flashed across the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader’s expression. Although he was grumbling, the affection for me in his eyes was incomparable to before.

Wind Cult Leader. Forget about the money. Let’s just continue like this. I know well what you sacrificed to come this far. I’m grateful enough just for you being by Go Wol’s side.

“I should head back now that I’ve seen your faces. I need to return by the morning after tomorrow.”

“The morning after tomorrow? What are you talking about? Do you know how far it is from here?”

“It took me two days to get here. I’m planning to cut down the time on the way back.”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader, who had been making an incredulous expression, saw an opportunity and said to Go Wol,

“See? This is your Second Young Master’s true face. Didn’t I tell you before that Second Young Master was a braggart? Now do you see how good I am at judging people? Will you still look down on me?”

Then Go Wol casually said,

“Is it really just bragging?”

The face Go Wol turned towards me was filled with firm belief.

Then the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader raised his voice.

“It is bragging! Even if you ran non-stop from here to our cult, it would take at least ten days. Even if I ran myself!”

“Aren’t you slow because you’ve gotten fat?”

“What? You haven’t seen me run? I’m the Heavenly Wind Cult Leader!”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader provoked me.

“Two days? If you can get to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s main complex within two days, I’ll give you a million taels. How about it? Make a bet with me for a million taels. You can’t do that, right?”

The Heavenly Wind Cult Leader displayed confidence triumphantly. He believed it was absolutely impossible.

“Let’s do it, let’s bet.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to give me money as thanks for saving your life with the Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread? You don’t need to do that. I have plenty of money.”