Chapter 55

Dan Woo-sung walked silently through the night, concealing his presence as much as possible.

Walking steadily for an hour would bring them to the inner courtyard of Guwhasan. The surroundings were pitch-black, diminishing their usual sense of reality. They walked silently along the path, relying only on the moonlight and the densely packed starlight.

Suddenly, a thought struck me.

Why, of all places, did I wake up on Guwhasan?

Why, of all things, had I taken possession of the lifeless body of Lee Jin-eon?

Walking through this darkness where nothing could be seen, I felt as if my soul had drifted through the Nine Heavens at the moment of death, just as it was now.

Gazing at Guwhasan shrouded in darkness, I strained to remember what I could not recall.

Perhaps his soul and Lee Jin-eon’s soul had met somewhere on Guwhasan and conversed. He wondered if he couldn’t recall that conversation now because he had obtained his physical body.

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“Lord Danju, all three guards were killed by a single person. It was neither a swordsman nor a dagger-wielding assassin.”

Men clad in yellow robes gathered at the old shrine Danwooseong had left behind, reporting the state of the bodies to one of their number.

“It appears all the signal flares were fired from here. Residue remains on the floor.”

The commander receiving the report, the leader of the Secret Demon Corps, muttered nervously while biting his nails.

“Is it the Black Path?”

“I cannot say for certain.”

Spitting out the bitten-off nail, the Secret Demon Lord stared at a corpse.

“Many of our men died with broken necks. Looks like they were trampled to death. The White Path wouldn’t fight this brutally.”

His subordinates had no reply and waited in silence.

Bima Danju ordered.

“Don’t burn the bodies. Bury them all in one place.”

“Yes.”

“The operation is canceled. I’ll report to the higher-ups. After cleaning up, disperse and return separately.”

One man spoke up.

“Yes, Danju.”

“And give me one signal flare.”

Bimadanju, having grabbed a signal flare, said as he climbed the mountain path.

“Let’s go back and see.”

“Yes.”

Moving at a fairly brisk pace with his lightness skill, Bima Danju ran along the mountain path. Approaching a large boulder encountered on a path so winding it seemed odd, he pressed down firmly on the rock with his palm. The makeshift formation dissolved, revealing a modest mountain lodge

revealed itself before Bima Danju’s eyes.

The mountain lodge had been there originally, and the temporary formation had been set up around it.

Inside the mountain lodge, the master sorcerers who had surrounded the Black King to kill him were conversing in hushed tones around the lit pavilion.

Bima Danju knelt on one knee and spoke.

“Your Highness, and all the family heads, this is Bima Danju, who was commanding the operation. One of the waiting squads was wiped out by an unknown master. The signal flare also went off there. I came to report because the operation was arbitrarily halted.”

The young man addressed as Young Master was dressed in white robes, stroking the white cat nestled in his arms.

One of the lords conversing in the pavilion asked.

“What about the Sword King?”

“We haven’t located him yet.”

“Have you not found the one who fired the signal flare either?”

“No.”

The heads of the large and small demonic sects belonging to the Palace of Ten Thousand Demons looked at the young man called the Young Palace Master.

“Young Palace Master, what shall we do?”

The old masters didn’t so much fear the young Young Palace Master as pity him. It wasn’t a thought one would expect from a demonic cultivator, yet there were many who genuinely felt sorry for the young man.

Because the Ten Thousand Horses Palace was the very pillar that restored the scattered and shattered forces of the Dark Arts over the long ages. Not only that, it documented the history of the Dark Arts in writing, supported the family with profits earned from various ventures, and accepted those without food or shelter without any conditions.

. It was also a demonic sect that did not force master-servant relationships, despite being demonic.

It was no exaggeration to say that the apparent tranquility of the martial world until now existed solely because of the Ten Thousand Demons Palace. Therefore, the demonic families gathered here were descendants of those families who still held gratitude toward the Ten Thousand Demons Palace.

But a demon is a demon.

Not all magicians shared the same thoughts as those present here. The faction that had broken away from the Ten Thousand Horses Palace had steadily built its strength, and before long, it had grown to the point where it could threaten the Palace itself.

The young palace master spoke in a calm tone.

“Esteemed seniors, please return today. It seems my net was not woven tightly enough. I apologize for making you take this unnecessary journey.”

“Young Palace Master, you’re too kind.”

“Well then, until next time.”

“Young Palace Master, we won’t consider this a wasted trip. Invite us anytime. We’ll come running whenever you call.”

The young princess replied in a respectful tone.

“Understood. Thank you. Please take care, seniors.”

As the heads of the Maga clan began leaving the manor in small groups, the young princess asked the still-kneeling Bimadanju,

“Vimadanjyu, can we capture the one who disrupted the operation?”

Vimadanjyu stated his precise opinion.

“It seems they know the purpose of the signal flares. Firing one flare at a specific location might reveal the master who disrupted the operation.”

“A specific location?”

“That would be a gamble based on my intuition after assessing the terrain.”

“If we meet them, are you confident?”

“If it’s not the Sword King, I’m confident.”

“Is it really necessary to go?”

In response to the Young Palace Master’s question, the Vimadanjhu calmly replied.

“The failure of the operation is my fault; I will take responsibility. That is how I repay the grace of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace.”

The young Young Palace Master beckoned with a gesture.

“Vimadanjyu, come here.”

Bima Danju approached with his head bowed, then sat cautiously at the edge of the pavilion where the young palace lord was tapping his hand.

The young palace lord spoke.

“Let me see your face.”

“Yes.”

“Your face is badly scarred. You suffered greatly because of the Heavenly Sword Alliance. All this time…”

“Not at all. More than me, it was you who suffered the mental anguish…”

“What suffering is there to speak of?”

“If I don’t return, it would be better to entrust the Bimadan affairs to the head of the division. He has more experience than I do.”

“I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“Young Master, achieve your great mission.”

“Great cause? Surviving against the Heavenly Sword Sect is no easy feat. I’ll be going now.”

“Yes, sir.”

The man rose and bowed respectfully. It was a peculiar master-servant relationship, devoid of any aura of a demonic sect.

The Young Palace Master of the Ten Thousand Horses Palace remained alone in the pavilion, letting out a sigh.

His face appeared frail at first glance. Though he had imitated the Heavenly Sword Sect’s grand scheme at his father, the Palace Lord’s command, his heart felt utterly hollow. He had never liked such operations to begin with, and now even that operation had failed.

This encirclement and annihilation operation was an imitation of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Great Demon Plan, which had broken away from the Ten Thousand Demons Palace. Yet, he hadn’t even met the Sword King, and worse, he had caused even the demonic families still holding goodwill toward the Ten Thousand Demons Palace to make a wasted trip.

The young palace master stroked the white cat and smiled.

It was a peculiar expression, seeming to be both crying and laughing.

The young princess lifted the white cat she had been stroking with both hands, then looked at it and asked.

“White Cat, do you also wish for me to become a demon?”

The white cat gave no answer.

The Young Palace Master spoke to the cat again.

“Just as I treat you, those we at the Ten Thousand Horses Palace fed, sheltered, took in, raised, and even gave money to keep betraying us. They say they’re now stronger than our Ten Thousand Horses Palace. They say they have more capable, smarter talents than us. What should I do? Ten li or so of dogs…”

If I crawl over there and bow in prayer, will they spare me? No. That’s impossible. White Cat, if the Thousand Swords Sect moves, you won’t survive either. They have no such mercy.”

The young princess murmured as she stroked the white cat, who had grown slightly frightened.

“···I have no choice but to become a demon.”

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“Young Master, what brings you out so late at night?”

The steward managing the Gu Huashan estate stared at Dan Wuseong with a startled expression.

“I just happened to pass by. Where is Ja-eon?”

“He’s been going to bed early lately. Shall I wake him?”

“I’ll wake him myself.”

“Yes.”

Sama Guk and Ju Jaryang were teaching with their lives on the line, so he couldn’t help but fall asleep. But his ears were sharp enough to catch the clear conversation late into the night, and he shot his eyes open.

‘Eldest brother?’

As Yi Ja-eon rose from his bedding and lit the lamp, his eldest brother’s voice soon came from outside the door. Having heard the youngest stir, Dan Woo-seong immediately called out.

“Come in.”

“Yes.”

The moment Danwooseong entered the room and saw Lee Jae-eon, he was startled. His beard, never once trimmed, made him look like a stranger.

“What’s with that beard?”

Lee Ja-eon asked.

“I raised it because it didn’t require any attention. Brother, what brings you out at this hour? It feels like a dream.”

“Anyone watching would know I’m a lunatic obsessed with training.”

“I am that madman obsessed with cultivation.”

Lee Ja-eon stroked his beard and laughed.

“Ah, Brother. I’m learning from the martial arts seniors I met at Gu Huashan. I’m learning sword techniques from my master and various other things from my senior disciple.”

Having lived in the mountains with the caretaker, his master, and his senior disciple, Lee Ja-eon found his brother, whom he hadn’t seen in so long, more welcome than he could have imagined. Even though they weren’t naturally close, he felt this way. After all, they were blood.

Dan Woo-sung sat down in the chair and looked at the youngest.

“Hmm, that’s good. I’m on my way back from participating in the Dragon Phoenix Grand Assembly.”

Lee Ja-eon’s eyes widened.

“Really?”

Dan Woo-sung nodded.

“I won.”

“Whoa! You won… Wait, how?”

“We won, so we’re the champions.”

“Wow…”

Lee Ja-eon’s mouth fell open. This long-awaited news triggered that familiar, strange inferiority complex about his older brother, who had only grown stronger. He was that kind of guy, after all. But whenever impure thoughts surfaced, his private tutor’s words came to mind.

Lee Ja-eon said with an awkward expression.

“Congratulations.”

Danwooseong was so flabbergasted he snorted in disbelief several times. Still, the youngest seemed a bit more grown-up than before. He figured Ju Jaryang and Samaa Geuk were putting in a lot of hard work.

“Where are those seniors?”

“There’s a small house not far from here. Do you know the place with the waterfall?”

“I know it.”

“They sometimes stay here too, but they say that place is more comfortable. They’re recluses.”

“What kind of sword technique are they learning?”

“That’s a secret. My master told me to keep it confidential.”

Danwooseong nodded.

“Then I won’t ask. Ja-eon.”

“Yes, brother.”

“It’s good to see you looking better. I’ll tell Hwa-eon to buy you some more elixir to take.”

“Ah!”

“You just focus on your training. Hwa-eon and I will keep a close eye on the upper ranks.”

“Understood. But are you leaving already?”

Lee Ja-eon found his brother’s appearance in the middle of the night quite unfamiliar, and sensed the atmosphere was about to shift as if he were about to leave.

“I must go. If those martial arts seniors are still awake, I’ll pay my respects before leaving. If they’re asleep, I’ll come another time to greet them. You just keep growing. Sleeping well is also part of your training.”

“Yes.”

Lee Jae-eon was staying awake by sheer willpower, but he was so sleepy he felt like he might go mad. Come to think of it, how long had it been since these brothers had a normal conversation like this, without fighting or hurling insults at each other?

Lee Ja-eon could clearly sense that his older brother, who had come to see him, no longer harbored any hatred toward him, unlike before.

“Brother.”

“Yeah.”

Lee Ja-eon voiced the realization that had dawned on him during the countless beatings from Ju Ja-ryang.

“I’ll apologize for everything that happened before. I acted like a fool.”

Dan Woo-sung shook his head.

“This conversation gives me goosebumps. Let’s not have it again. I’ve made plenty of mistakes too. Good night.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t come out.”

Dan Wooseong waved his hand as if telling him to stay put, then headed for the door.

Lee Ja-eon followed him out and said.

“No, I’ll see you off anyway.”

Wearing his pajamas, Lee Ja-eon followed him out and walked with his brother to the main gate of the house.

Dan Woosung waved his hand dismissively.

“Go inside.”

“Yes, please take care.”

As Dan Wooseong disappeared into the darkness, he asked the youngest,

“When do you think the training will end?”

Lee Ja-eon paused briefly before responding to his brother’s question.

“It seems like it will never end.”

“Got it.”

Dan Woo-sung smiled—a smile he never showed his younger brother—and went to find his friends. It was the answer he wanted.

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong