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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Change, Part 2
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"Well then, this concludes the duel between First Young Master Baek Mu-hyeon and Fourth Young Master Baek Mu-heun."
With my declaration and the First Young Master's concession, the duel came to an end. My uncle announced the conclusion, and the family elders approached the dueling stage where the First Young Master and I stood.
"Congratulations. You've grown a lot."
"Thank you."
A few of the elders came to praise me, but most of them went to the First Young Master, showering him with compliments.
"Well done. You went through a lot looking after the youngest."
"If it weren't for you, things could have gotten out of hand."
"Ah, no. The youngest one came to his senses and got his act together on his own."
The First Young Master denied having anything to do with it, but the family elders seemed to think my change was due more to his efforts than to me, the family troublemaker, changing on my own.
Since it was more convenient for me if they thought that way, I simply nodded in agreement with the elders' misconception.
The rest of the family members repeated comments about how nice it was to see such brotherly affection or what a good duel it had been, then they departed.
"Father, may I speak with my brothers first and then come see you?"
"...Yes, do that."
After telling my father, the Family Head of the Heavenly Dance Family, that I would see him later, I approached my brothers who had gathered around the First Young Master.
"Brothers."
"Oh, uh… Youngest. Congratulations."
"Not at all. I only managed to win because the time limit passed just as the strength was leaving my hands. Even that was only possible because my eldest brother accepted my proposal."
"R-right. But…"
Looking closely, the Second and Third Young Masters seemed awkward around me.
'Have we never talked like this before? Or is it because I've changed so much?'
"Let's go to my room for now. I'll serve you tea. We can talk at a leisurely pace."
"R-right. Let's do that."
In the end, I invited my three brothers to my room. Then I asked Jang Ryang to prepare tea and refreshments.
"Jang Ryang. Good work. You may leave now."
"Yes, sir. I'll take my leave."
Jang Ryang, who had prepared chrysanthemum tea and refreshments, closed the door and left. Once outside, he muttered to himself.
"He's a completely different person. He's not the Fourth Young Master he used to be…"
The sight Jang Ryang had just witnessed was truly unbelievable. He knew the Young Master had been training hard, having watched him all this time. But the duel couldn't be explained by just three weeks of hard work.
Not only did the troublemaker Fourth Young Master overwhelm the famously diligent First Young Master, but he also ended the duel at the right moment, saving the First Young Master's face.
'Did he truly receive the blessing of the Sacred Fire?'
Meanwhile, inside the room, the young masters of the Heavenly Dance Family unleashed the questions they had been holding back.
"Alright, explain yourself. What happened? And… are you really the youngest brother I know?"
"...I will explain everything."
I began my story with losing my mother at a young age and using the forbidden art of reviving the dead. I then spoke of the side effects that followed, how my soul became unstable.
"Recently, after a near-death experience, my unstable soul underwent a change. It began to run wild. It was then that I attended the Heavenly Dance Festival and received the blessing of the Sacred Fire."
"…"
"After receiving the Sacred Fire's blessing, my unstable soul somehow stabilized. I don't know the reason myself, so I can't explain it, but now my once-cloudy mind has become clear."
"…Is that true?"
"Why would I lie to you, my brothers?"
"…"
My three brothers were silent. They seemed quite shocked by my explanation. To think his waywardness was due to an unstable soul—it was something they could never have imagined.
As his older brothers, they must have felt conflicted, having only rebuked their younger brother without knowing any of this.
'But it's not your fault. You're all still so young, not even thirty yet. What could you have known? It was a disaster that could not have been foreseen.'
I comforted my brothers inwardly as I spoke.
"Brothers, I know full well what I have done all this time. To say it was all because I lost my mother as a child... it went on for far too long."
"…"
The three young masters wore bewildered expressions. The underlying emotion was guilt. I drove the point home to them.
"Brothers, all this time, I have lived as if I never grew past the age of thirteen. I know how that has affected the family, you, and our father. Thank you for being so patient with me. And I am truly sorry."
"…"
"Of course, I know. I know it's far too late. My departed mother, my pathetic self... I should have let them go according to the flow of nature. But instead, I clung to them and threw tantrums."
"…No. We are also responsible for not trying to look more closely into your situation."
The First Young Master finally voiced the words he had been holding in his heart.
At that, the other brothers beside him silently bowed their heads, fidgeting with their hands.
I shot up from my seat. As I rose, my brothers' gazes turned to me. I looked at each of them, one by one. My eyes were unwavering.
"I'm truly fine now. In fact, thank you for your patience and for waiting. From now on, I will change as much as the consideration the family has shown me. And I hope you will watch me do so."
I could see the emotions in my brothers' eyes.
Pity, resignation, anger—those negative feelings were gradually replaced by positive ones mixed with hope, desire, and expectation.
'It worked.'
"I know you must be tired, especially since my eldest brother and I had our duel today. I must go see Father now, as well. Let's talk more next time."
It might have sounded a bit presumptuous, but I suggested to my brothers that we meet again. However, none of them seemed displeased or offended; they simply nodded.
"Yes. You really do seem to have changed. I'm sorry for misunderstanding you."
"Not at all. Please don't say that."
"I hope these aren't just words. We will be watching you. And…"
The First Young Master paused, swallowing his words.
"Take care of yourself."
"Yes."
And with that, my brothers, led by the First Young Master, departed.
'Hoo…'
"The sun is still high in the sky… What a long day."
I opened the door and leaned against the window frame. Sunlight streamed in, and a cool breeze blew. Birds chirped from their perches on the green trees. Then, a single leaf, carried by the wind, landed on my hand.
I spoke to the leaf.
"I'll take it from here. Rest easy."
Then, I let the leaf fly away on the wind again. My words, carried by the leaf, would travel on the wind to a faraway place and deliver their message.
After gazing at the scenery outside for a moment, I examined the wooden sword lying in a corner of the room.
"As I thought…"
The wooden sword was worn in places, and the hilt was starting to break apart. The wooden sword couldn't withstand the ferocious energy of the Heavenly Demon.
'And I was even controlling it carefully… I'll have to be cautious when imbuing my energy into weapons other than the Sun and Moon Sword. I can't go around breaking someone else's beloved weapon.'
Examining the wooden sword, I understood why Master Heavenly Demon had told me to take the Sun and Moon Sword. There were very few weapons capable of handling the Heavenly Demon's energy. Even at the second stage, this was the result. As I grow stronger, it will be difficult to handle any weapon other than the Sun and Moon Sword properly.
After tearing my gaze from the sword, I composed my body and energy.
'I'm still a long way off.'
My current martial arts level was the second stage of the Divine Arts of the Heavenly Demon. To be honest, I could have won the duel with my eldest brother anytime I wanted.
Defeating a first-rate martial artist with little experience is entirely possible with just this much Heavenly Demon energy.
In truth, I had grown stronger at an absurd rate in a short period. But… it was still not enough.
The Myriad Fragrance Blood Jade Tree fruit and Golden Fang Poison Claw.
The Sichuan Tang Clan and the disciples from my past life.
Golden Fang Poison Claw was a transcendent master… No, as a poison user, he was a more difficult opponent than a typical transcendent master.
Just thinking about it felt like a distant goal…
Moreover, this was the Demonic Cult. An absurd organization that threatened the entire martial world as a single power, a place that followed the heartless logic of survival of the fittest, where the strong prey on the weak.
A demonic realm beyond human comprehension, teeming with the strong.
And what of the Cult Leader, who sits on the throne of the supreme one, called the sky itself in this den of demons?
'I must become stronger.'
I settled the energy raging in my dantian and stretched my body. I changed out of the clothes ruined by the duel, washed up briefly, and looked in the mirror.
'Is this the same person?'
The thought suddenly occurred to me as I looked at my reflection. My condition had improved incomparably since I first entered this body. My skin was better, and my complexion had improved.
Long black hair and intense eyes. Jade-like skin, a well-proportioned body. My original handsome features, now combined with a robust physique, were quite a sight to behold.
"There."
Having finished my preparations, I immediately left the room and headed for the Family Head's office.
* * *
-Throne Hall of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
A place with a rather profound and tranquil atmosphere.
A waterwheel turned, spilling the water from a bamboo vessel, and the now-empty vessel returned to its place.
The long rows of lanterns stretching left and right were the only light illuminating the dark throne hall, and at the end of the line of light sat the sole ruler of the Divine Cult's sky.
Cheon Mu-jin, one of the five great masters of the Central Plains.
The 17th Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the man called the Sky of the Divine Cult, was seated on a chair. Though the Cult Leader was seventy years old, having undergone a complete metamorphosis, he appeared to be in his forties, and a purple light gleamed in his eyes.
An appearance that naturally exuded the authority of an absolute ruler.
Having emerged from his closed-door training, this aspect of the Cult Leader was even more pronounced. The Sun and Moon Divine Maiden, prostrated before him, could not hide her tension.
As the Divine Maiden of the Cult and the Palace Lord of the Sacred Fire Palace, she had always been confident before any master, but the Cult Leader's presence was on a different level entirely.
It was as if a dragon filled the entire throne hall; no other master could compare.
"I greet the Sky of the Divine Cult."
"I heard there was a revelation at the Heavenly Dance Festival."
"Yes. This was the first time such a thing has happened."
The Cult Leader's voice, as he questioned the Divine Maiden, was low and calm.
The Divine Maiden should have reported to the Cult Leader as soon as the Heavenly Dance Festival ended, but since he had entered closed-door training, she had waited for him to emerge. It was only now, after he had finished his training, that she was granted an audience.
"It is said to have singled out the fourth young master of the Heavenly Dance Family."
"Yes, that is correct."
"According to the Grand Protector's report, I heard he is the troublemaker of the Heavenly Dance Family."
"That is correct. After the Heavenly Dance Festival, I asked the Heavenly Dance Family Head, and he was of the same opinion. However… the revelation was unmistakable. When I handed him the Torch of Sacred Fire, there was a fiery whirlwind. That…"
The Cult Leader's gaze seemed to pierce through the Divine Maiden. Meeting his eyes, she was overwhelmed by his presence, her body trembling as a cold sweat trickled down her spine.
"Speak."
"I do not know the reason, but upon investigating the Fourth Young Master of the Heavenly Dance Family, I was able to confirm that he was attacked and collapsed in a brothel before the festival."
"…"
"I heard that he nearly died as a result. When I met with the physician in charge, he said that the young master's pulse had definitely stopped on the morning of the Heavenly Dance Festival."
"His pulse stopped…"
"Yes, but he revived soon after. And he is said to have muttered something incomprehensible. Later, at the festival, I confirmed with my spiritual eyes that his soul was in an unstable state."
"It's possible his soul underwent a change."
"Yes, and that's when he received the blessing of the Sacred Fire. In my humble opinion, it seems the Sacred Fire reacted because the Fourth Young Master had hovered between life and death."
"Do you believe his existence will be beneficial to our cult?"
"That is… The Fourth Young Master of the Heavenly Dance Family appears to have nothing special about him, other than being chosen by the Sacred Fire. However, since this is also the first time in the history of the Divine Cult that the Sacred Fire has chosen someone, it is difficult for me to judge what fate his existence will bring to the cult at this time."
As the Divine Maiden finished speaking, silence descended.
Soon, the silence was broken by the sound of water spilling from the bamboo vessel.
"Fate, you say."
The Cult Leader lifted the teacup before him.
"We'll know once I see for myself."