AR Chapter 178

Blood Heavens Saber Demon was in the midst of cultivation. He had been immersed in training long before I took my latest trial, dedicating himself to an extended period of uninterrupted meditation.

“Are you really preparing for war?” I asked.

Without turning his head, he replied, “When you’re old, every day is a war.”

“I’m back!”

This time, I rushed over and threw myself into Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s arms.

“What’s with this disgusting behavior?”

Blood Heavens Saber Demon recoiled, forcefully pushing me away. Honestly, I wanted to hug my father like this too, but I hadn’t dared try it for fear of getting hit with his Nine Calamities Demonic Arts.

“I missed you, Elder.”

“You’re acting like we haven’t seen each other in a decade.”

Blood Heavens Saber Demon thrust his Heaven-Destroying Great Saber into the ground and leaned against it. At times like these, that blade looked quite fitting, like an old friend at his side.

“How’s the Heaven’s Mandate Society Leader?”

“Dead.”

“There must have been many people around.”

“I got my hands quite bloody this time.”

Sensing the bitterness in my response, Blood Heavens Saber Demon went inside and returned with alcohol, pouring me a cup.

“What can you do? It’s your fate. Drink up and let it go.”

I drained the cup he offered in one swift motion. It felt as if Blood Heavens Saber Demon was washing the blood from my hands. This was both drink and comfort from someone who understood better than anyone what it meant to take a life.

I didn’t say thank you. As always, words couldn’t repay such gestures.

“The Eldest Young Master won’t give up easily, so the path ahead won’t be simple. Though his abilities and qualities might not match yours, his determination to become the Heavenly Demon surpasses even your own.”

And that’s what makes it difficult to proceed while keeping such a brother alive.

“By the way, have you met your disciple?”

“He was here earlier.”

“Making him your successor was truly the right decision.”

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

“That kid will do better than anyone. Oh, you must have heard about his victory at the Small Dragon Tournament too.”

“He won?”

“You wrote that he’d die if he lost – how could he not win? Even if it were the World’s Greatest Martial Arts Tournament, he’d have to emerge victorious. Besides, whose martial arts would lose?”

True joy flickered across Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s face, as if he hadn’t expected an actual victory. At times like these, his affection for Seo Daeryong was evident.

“My goodness. The fact that that chatterbox didn’t brag about it shows just how intimidated he is by you. You should treat him more comfortably.”

“When master and disciple get too comfortable, trouble inevitably follows. Anyway, he must be quite full of himself now. Some hell training seems necessary.”

Ah, Investigator Seo. This is something I hadn’t anticipated. Sorry about that.

“You should go now. Don’t you need to see the other Demon Supremes?”

“No. I’ll see the others later. Today is just for you, Elder.”

When you like someone, you should show it this clearly. As they say, someone who likes everyone actually likes no one – regardless of the person’s true feelings, that’s how others come to view it. ‘That person likes everyone anyway, right?’ That’s not the kind of misunderstanding I want Blood Heavens Saber Demon to have about me.

“Still the flatterer, I see.”

Yet an unmistakable smile played at Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s lips. He secretly enjoyed such things, despite his words.

“Go greet the Demon Supremes. They all stepped up for your sake – it’s only proper to pay your respects.”

“Yes, I’ll do that then.”

“Though you wanted to go all along.”

“As long as you know that you’re always my priority.”

Leaving Blood Heavens Saber Demon to resume his sword practice, I departed his quarters.

Before heading to Valley of Evil, I stopped by home to grab my white mask. It would only be proper to wear it when visiting Valley of Evil, wouldn’t it?

The white-masked figures no longer watched me with particular attention as they used to. The hostility in their gazes had vanished as well.

Their reactions told me that my relationship with Extremely Evil Laughing Demon was deepening. If they were to greet me with friendly gazes, it would mean we’d grown even closer than now.

Following a masked figure’s guidance, I entered the Valley of Evil’s quarters.

At first, I considered these Demon Supremes as important as martial arts training, making my visits feel like work. Now they had become relationships rather than obligations. Surprisingly, I found myself visiting because I genuinely wanted to see them.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon was staring at the white wall again today. I really wondered what thoughts occupied his mind as he gazed at that wall.

“I’m here,” I announced cheerfully, lifting my mask above my head. Extremely Evil Laughing Demon turned to face me.

Our eyes met through his mask. Who would have thought there’d come a day when meeting Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s gaze would fill me with such joy?

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon and I had fought together, risking our lives twice. The first was against Sword Emperor Baek Mang-gi, and the second against Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s senior martial uncle Yang Cheogi.

Both battles had been life-or-death struggles, and perhaps because of that, we shared the special bond of comrades who had preserved each other’s lives.

“I heard you concluded the Heaven’s Mandate Society matter well.”

“How could I be negligent when it was revenge for someone important?”

This trial had actually involved Extremely Evil Laughing Demon too, since they had tried to recruit his senior martial uncle Yang Cheogi.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon smiled and said, “As you know, I’m quite particular about debts of gratitude.”

It was a reference to when he had given the Debt Token to Chu Saeng of Moon Wind Sect. Extremely Evil Laughing Demon and a gratitude token – truly an unlikely combination.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon held out a small box.

“What’s this?”

“Open it and see.”

Inside the box was a single white pill.

“It’s the White Spiritual Pill^[1], a secret elixir passed down in our sect.”

A sharp yet intense fragrance immediately filled the room. Its potency was clearly extraordinary.

“My sect sent it to me. It seems peace has returned after Yang Cheogi’s death.”

It appeared to be a gesture of thanks for sending back their sect’s martial artists unharmed when they had come under his Yang Cheogi’s orders.

“I’ll give it to Second Young Master.”

“Why give me something so precious?”

“Because I received it thanks to you.”

It was a gift given with genuine consideration for me. I was taken aback by the unexpected present.

“No, please take it yourself, Laughing Demon.”

Then Extremely Evil Laughing Demon said something unexpected.

“I want to score some points with Second Young Master too, so please stop refusing and accept it.”

“I want to score points too. Alright, how about this? Let’s split it in half.”

My suggestion startled Extremely Evil Laughing Demon.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Though I’m usually too greedy to share elixirs with others, I’d like to make an exception this time. Let’s each take half to commemorate surviving our battles together.”

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon’s eyes lit up brighter than I’d ever seen them. I could feel it. In our relationship, we were crossing another threshold.

“Very well. Let’s do that.”

I drew my Dark Demonic Sword and precisely halved the White Spirit Pill.

Like drinking together, we took the medicine simultaneously.

The pill dissolved in my throat. A warm energy enveloped my mouth before melting away and flowing downward.

Though it was an extremely potent elixir, my existing internal energy was profound enough to absorb its effects without issue. Even half the pill contributed a significant amount of energy to my danjeon.

My eyes shone with a clear, deep light before returning to normal.

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon also finished circulating his energy and stood up.

“That was delicious.”

“More delicious than any elixir I’ve ever had.”

No more words were needed. We simply laughed together.

“By the way, what if I had given you poison? How could you eat it so readily? What if that had been a fake White Spirit Pill?”

“That’s why I split it – so we’d die together.”

Extremely Evil Laughing Demon burst out laughing. While his laughter might seem habitual to others, I could feel genuine emotion in it, at least when directed at me. I felt his feelings in that laugh.

“But is it really alright to keep staring at that wall like that?”

“Why not? It makes me look crazy. People tend not to mess with crazy ones. Why? Are you worried? Afraid I might go mad?”

“A little bit.”

My honest answer prompted Extremely Evil Laughing Demon to reveal an unexpected truth.

“Want to know a secret? Our sect’s mind techniques are actually enhanced by practicing while staring at a white wall.”

“Ah, so that’s why.”

I hadn’t realized Extremely Evil Laughing Demon had been practicing mind techniques while staring at the wall. Once again, I was reminded – though they might appear unstable to my eyes, everyone was managing their own lives just fine.

“Did you come here after seeing Blood Heavens Saber Demon upon your return?”

“Yes.”

“It must be tiring to keep up with everyone.”

“There are only four so far.”

“So you plan to keep up with all eight.”

Surprisingly, his prediction was correct.

“Yes. Whether friend or foe, I’ll manage and care for all eight.”

“Can you handle it?”

Of course, it won’t be easy. Though we can laugh and enjoy ourselves now, these relationships could sour at any moment. Underestimating the Demon Supremes would surely lead to disaster.

“I told Pretty Heart this – martial arts and life are connected. Does that apply only to her? If I can become someone capable of embracing all Eight Demon Supremes, perhaps I can also overcome the walls of martial arts that stand in my way.”

After studying me for a moment, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon shared what he had felt.

“What are you looking at, Second Young Master? Sometimes when I look at you, I feel you’re seeing beyond just being a successor or the Heavenly Demon – something else entirely beyond that.”

Perhaps it’s because we’re at a point where we only look into each other’s eyes? He sees beyond what I’m looking at too. Only Extremely Evil Laughing Demon seems to sense what even closer people cannot perceive.

Perhaps someday I’ll tell him about my great enemy. Maybe another moment will come when we stand back-to-back, transcending life and death together.

“If it’s you, Laughing Demon, rather than someone else, that moment might not be so bad.”

Though I spoke without context, Extremely Evil Laughing Demon didn’t ask what I meant.

“I’ll wait for that moment.”

“Until we meet again then.”

I bid him farewell and left Valley of Evil. Our reunion was as clean as his white mask.

***

I found One-Flower Sword Supreme and Drunken Demon drinking together, allowing me to see both of them at once. The two friends often drank together, and today happened to be one of those occasions.

“Welcome, Second Young Master!”

Both One-Flower Sword Supreme and Drunken Demon were intoxicated. It was my first time seeing One-Flower Sword Supreme this drunk.

“I see you’ve fallen to evil’s temptation.”

“Now that you’re here, come save us.”

Though he said this, One-Flower Sword Supreme still poured me a drink.

“Thank you for your help with the Valley of Evil incident.”

“What did we do? We just showed up in force.”

Then Drunken Demon asked me with a disgruntled expression.

“You’ve already seen Blood Heavens Saber Demon and Extremely Evil Laughing Demon?”

“Yes.”

“Why are we last? Why third and fourth? You could have come to see us first after arriving.”

One-Flower Sword Supreme joined in the complaint. With his flushed, drunken face glaring at me, I smiled and asked:

“Which of you is third?”

They eagerly took the bait for this powerful attempt at driving a wedge between them.

“Me, of course.”

In response to One-Flower Sword Supreme’s confidence, Drunken Demon shook his head pityingly.

“Sorry, friend, but it’s me. The Young Master and I are close enough to call each other brother.”

“Friend, if that were true brotherhood, would you be arguing about who’s third or fourth?”

“We drink and swim together!”

“I wasn’t going to mention this, but we even had a martial arts duel under the moonlight.”

The two arguing men turned to look at me. They wanted me to choose who was third and who was fourth. Drunken Demon asked with desperate eyes.

“Brother, I’m not last, right?”

“Of course not.”

“See?”

Just as he broke into a broad smile-

“You’re in the middle. Fourth among the eight Demon Supremes.”

One-Flower Sword Supreme drank the victor’s cup.

“Friend, not all brothers are equally close.”

Drunken Demon pouted and drank.

I was incredibly grateful to both of them. Were they really the kind of people who should receive such treatment? Should they even be competing for third and fourth place? They were enduring it for my sake, willingly engaging in this battle for third and fourth place.

“Let me tell you both something today. You know the two ahead of you, right? They’re difficult, stubborn, and eccentric. But what about you two? Among the Demon Supremes, you have the most generous hearts.”

“Because we’re generous? Not because we’re pushovers?”

When I deliberately flinched at Drunken Demon’s question, both men roared with laughter.

The three of us toasted and emptied our cups.

Setting down his cup, Drunken Demon shared some surprising news.

“Recently, the Saber Demon, myself, and Sword Supreme here had a drink together.”

I could hardly imagine the three of them drinking together.

“How was it? Did you enjoy yourselves?”

“How could we?”

Drunken Demon sighed.

“At least there was no sword fighting?”

“It almost came to that.”

“Then that’s good enough.”

One-Flower Sword Supreme interjected.

“What’s good about it? Don’t ever invite me to something like that again!”

Right, if people who’ve fallen out could reconcile so easily, why would there be any fights in the world?

Still, it meant something. Drunken Demon was trying to reconcile the two of them.

I raised my cup and conveyed with my eyes:

You did well, brother.

Drunken Demon smiled and raised his cup. Sometimes, acknowledging someone’s hard work once means more than a hundred words of praise.

“Now that I’ve paid my respects, I’ll be going.”

I said goodbye and stood up. Despite Drunken Demon grabbing my pant leg and insisting I stay for more drinks, I forced myself to leave.

While I could always drink with the Demon Supremes another time, hunting with Father wasn’t an opportunity that came often.

The next morning at dawn, I shouldered an even larger hunting bag than before and headed to the Heavenly Demon Palace for my second hunt with Father.