Chapter 112

Lord Kwon, Carry Me

Danwooseong and Baekyak walked hand in hand along the mountain path. The day was clear and bright. He had finished discussing matters concerning the Jipyamyeong with Jeonbirang, and entrusted the continued surveillance and reporting of the Jipyamyeong’s activities to Mokryongdang Leader Ho Taejun and Cheonguidang Leader Do Jinkwang.

He planned to contact the Martial Arts Alliance next and send an inspection team to the Southern Black Path.

Since the Jipyameng had pledged unconditional obedience to the Mingwang’s will, they could no longer be hostile toward the Martial Arts Alliance.

Dan Woosung intended to personally oversee the balance and coordination between the two organizations. It could be said that the Martial Arts Alliance was held in check by the formidable figure of Yoo Jeonghong, while the Hidden Blade Alliance was under the watchful, almost menacing gaze of the rugged Dan Woosung.

Thus, Dan Woosung and Baek Yak, setting out on the road once more, couldn’t help but feel a rare lightness in their hearts.

Above all, Dan Woo-sung felt a renewed gratitude toward Baek Yak.

Since descending to the Southern Black Path, Baek Yak hadn’t particularly exerted himself or run wild like Dan Wooseong.

Most of the time, he simply practiced qigong or stayed quietly by Danwooseong’s side. But just having Baekyak nearby was a great help to Danwooseong. Even if something more dangerous had happened, he could have gotten through it thanks to Baekyak. Because Baekyak showed, mostly through quiet silence, that he trusted Danwooseong no matter what he did. That trust was building into mutual confidence.

Danwooseong gazed at Baekyak and suddenly spoke.

“Why do I suddenly want to pick you up and carry you away?”

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“How?”

“Shall we give it a try?”

Dan Wooseong swiftly lifted Baekyak with one hand and placed her on his shoulder. If Baekyak’s frame had been as slender as a delicate woman’s, he could have easily carried her on his shoulder while walking. But reality wasn’t like that. Baekyak’s lower body and hips were quite well-developed. Because of this, Baekyak perched her hips on Dan Wooseong’s shoulder and burst out laughing.

“What is this? It’s uncomfortable for you, and it’s uncomfortable for me.”

“Want me to give you a piggyback ride?”

Baekyak shook her head as if shuddering.

“No.”

Baekyak felt awkward about the position of her body straddling Danwooseong’s shoulders. She didn’t clearly understand why Danwooseong was acting this way.

After setting Baekyak down again, Danwooseong said,

“Carry me. I need you to carry me.”

“Is that okay? People might see us along the way.”

“I’m fine. No one will recognize me anyway, and you’re wearing a face mask, so it’s fine.”

“Alright.”

Baekyak climbed onto Danwooseong’s back.

Danwooseong glanced around and walked toward a spot where the scenery along the road was somewhat more beautiful. Baekyak asked from behind his back.

“Does your leg hurt?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ve really worked on your lower body. I’m starting to feel sleepy.”

“If you’re sleepy, go to sleep.”

“You’re joking, right?”

Dan Wooseong crossed the mountain path with a relaxed smile. Even now, despite becoming an unrealistically strong man, he still held such simple thoughts. He wished his own legs would stay strong for a long time, so he could often carry Baekyak on them.

Dan Wooseong crossed a mountain with Baekyak on his back.

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The Manma Palace’s Manma Library.

The Sword Demon, who had mastered the Abyssal Art, knelt silently in wait. The Grand Master of the Ten Thousand Demons Pavilion, who had imparted the Abyssal Art to the Sword Demon, approached holding a soft, silk-made blindfold in his hand and stood before the Sword Demon.

“Sword Demon, Yeon Jahun.”

“Yes, Grandmaster.”

The Grandmaster spoke with a solemn expression.

“Listen carefully. I will now place this blindfold upon you.”

“Does a blind man need an eye patch?”

The Grandmaster nodded.

You need it. Especially you. Because you’ve mastered the Abyssal Gaze. Don’t think of this blindfold as ordinary. It’s a blindfold that obscures your heart, and it’s also a blindfold that obscures your inner eye. Admittedly, there is some psychological deception involved, but you must accept this blindfold. Because only then can you gain even a little freedom from the Abyssal Art. That is, it will prevent you from going mad or falling into the Abyssal Demon to some extent. Do you understand?”

The Sword Demon nodded.

“This disciple understands.”

The Grandmaster said.

“You are blind. Now the Abyss Eye will replace your sight. But when will the eye born of the Abyss close? While wearing this blindfold, let your Abyss Eye rest too. Believe that if you will. Everything depends on your resolve… Otherwise, you won’t even be able to sleep. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes.”

“When you wear this blindfold, you truly become blind. When you remove it, you see the world through the eyes of the abyss. Learn this difference through practice. Try it on.”

With his head slightly bowed, the Sword Demon extended both hands, and the Grand Master placed the blindfold into his palms.

The Sword Demon touched the soft material of the blindfold with his hands, then placed it over the spot where his eyes had been and tied it.

The Grand Master asked with a peculiar expression.

“It must be pitch black now.”

“It was dark from the very beginning.”

“Good. You are now blind.”

“Yes, disciple sees nothing at present.”

The Grandmaster pointed at the Sword Demon with his finger.

“You’re doing well. While wearing the blindfold, you must also learn to deliberately refrain from using the Abyssal Gaze. This is a matter of talent and intuition. Now, set the target you wish to observe with the Abyssal Gaze. What do you think this means?”

The Sword Demon replied.

“If the opponent’s illusion changes each time, the disciple will be troubled. It means using the Abyssal Gaze to grasp the characteristics of the illusion and recognize the opponent in a clear form.”

“Good, you’ve learned well. Now remove the blindfold and imprint me anew through the Abyssal Gaze.”

As the Sword Demon removed his blindfold, the Grand Master cautioned him.

“Whatever you see, do not speak your thoughts to others. If you perceive someone as a demon, it is because hostility and fear dwell within your heart. The other will hear your words and guard against you.”

It meant not to blab about anything seen through the Abyssal Gaze.

“Understood.”

After removing his blindfold, the Sword Demon gazed at the Grand Master’s location with his Abyssal Gaze. The form of the energy transformed into a human figure, its eyes, nose, and mouth rippling as they settled into place. The Grand Master’s voice, tone, feel, presence, aura, the perceived power, and the types of energy gathered and mingled with past memories.

The Grand Master stood before him.

The Sword Demon stared at the Grand Master, his mouth agape. This was completely different from the image he remembered when his eyes were intact. Why was that? The Grand Master he now saw through the Abyssal Gaze looked like a child.

Not a pure child…

It felt like a child who refused to grow up was staring back at him.

Of course, my mouth was itching to speak.

‘Master, you’re like a child whose growth has stopped.’

The Grand Master said.

“Put on the blindfold. That look on your face says you’re dying to speak. But what you see cannot be the truth. You know the difference between reality and illusion.”

“Yes.”

As the Sword Demon put on the blindfold, the Grandmaster pointed outside.

“I taught you the Abyss Technique. Adapting to the everyday realm is your responsibility. Young disciple, you may return to the world.”

It was a dismissal.

The Sword Demon bowed deeply, expressing his gratitude.

“Thank you, Grandmaster.”

However, the Grand Master had already soared up to the upper levels of the Ten Thousand Horses Library, peering into the book he had been reading earlier.

As the door to the Ten Thousand Horse Library opened…

The Grand Master, still peering at the book, spoke as if curious.

“I am curious indeed to see how the Heavenly Demon, Wiji-cheon, appears to your eyes. Come back later.”

The Sword Demon replied.

“Understood.”

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The Sword Demon couldn’t tell which direction led to his own quarters the moment he stepped out of the Ten Thousand Horses Pavilion.

‘Damn it.’

He figured he’d have to find a servant wandering around the Ten Thousand Horses Palace to get directions, but no servant would come near the Ten Thousand Horses Pavilion without a reason in the first place.

The dark mage gripped the demon sword at his waist with his right hand, then tapped the ground with it like a staff.

Thump, thump, thump.

Though possessing the body of a sword-insensitive being, this very trait meant that colliding with anything only made him look more ridiculous. How comical it must be to wander around bumping into things, blind and possessing that sword-insensitive body.

The Sword Demon, who had been walking with the intention of finding a servant along the way, stopped in his tracks.

Someone passing by had stopped and was staring at him. Then, a long burst of laughter erupted.

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha… Who could this be? Who could this be, I ask you? Lord Swordmaster using a sword as a walking stick? Ha ha ha ha ha… Damn it all, what a disgraceful sight to behold in my lifetime.”

The Sword Demon’s expression turned sour the moment he recognized the voice’s owner.

“Blood Lord?”

Blood Lord replied.

“Yes. It’s me. Still, you managed to kill the apprentice. You’re quite something, aren’t you?”

Blood Lord looked at the Sword Demon, who had lost both eyes, and clicked his tongue.

“Tsk tsk tsk… Even if you didn’t get along, this is a sorry sight. Stand here for a moment. I’ll send my men.”

The Sword Demon chuckled and called out to the receding Blood Lord.

“Blood Lord, you’re laughing your head off and then running away? Come here. So my eyes are blinded, and now you treat me differently? You couldn’t have just gotten more confident while I wasn’t looking.”

Blood Lord halted his steps and turned around.

“Well, well, even blind, Lord Sword Demon still has a sharp tongue.”

As Hyuljon walked toward the Sword Demon, he stopped abruptly without a word, his expression hardening.

As a man approached and stood beside the Sword Demon, Blood Lord simply turned away and quietly went on his way.

Of course, the man who appeared beside the Sword Demon was the Heavenly Demon, Wei Zhichuan.

The Heavenly Demon stared blankly at the back of the Blood Lord, then whispered softly into the Sword Demon’s ear.

“Friend, that bastard will die by your blade. You’ve held your ground well. Let’s wait for the moment.”

As the Sword Demon stood silently, the Heavenly Demon stepped before him, turned his back, and said.

“Get on my back. I’ll take you to your quarters.”

The Sword Demon, who had intended to refuse, was forced to let the Heavenly Demon carry him. It was even more humiliating to move by tapping the ground with his sword. He wished instead to be swiftly carried by the Heavenly Demon, whose lightness skills were exceptional, and hide away in his quarters.

The Heavenly Demon deployed his lightness skills while carrying the Sword Demon on his back.

It was a completely different mindset and atmosphere from when Ha Jeong-hak of the Jipyameng carried Ha Min on his back and ran.

As he ran, Cheonma spoke to Geomma.

“I’ll be your legs until you adapt. Have you mastered the martial skill to replace your eyes? You’re wearing a strange eye patch.”

The Sword Demon replied curtly.

“I have.”

“Well done. I’m glad I came to the Ten Thousand Horses Palace after all.”

For the Heavenly Demon had absorbed the Overlord, and the Sword Demon had mastered martial arts capable of replacing his eyes.

The Sword Demon, riding on the Heavenly Demon’s back, said this.

“It’s been a few days since I last held a sword; my senses seem dulled.”

As if the Sword Demon had relaxed his guard, he spoke at length. The Heavenly Demon replied in a bright voice.

“Ah, is that so? Then let’s rest at the residence and go out for some fresh air.”

“Where to?”

“Where else? I’ll scout out a small sect for you to wipe out. Your senses will come alive. Since you’re blind, wielding a sword will feel unfamiliar. You can practice your newly learned martial arts too. Why not go on a little adventure and come back?”

The words spoken while carrying a person on one’s back were words urging them to go kill people.

Ha Jeonghak carried his younger brother on his back to survive, but Cheonma urged him to go kill people while carrying the Sword Demon on his back.

And Danwooseong walked on, carrying Baekyak on his back, hoping they could live well together from now on.

Though the act of one person carrying another was the same, their hearts were so different.

Like white magic, black magic, and dark magic.

And so…

Dan Woo-sung carried Baek Yak.

Ha Jeonghak carried Ha Min.

Cheonma carried Geomma.