“What’s the point of keeping a guy like that alive? Just kill him.”
“Father said that if possible, saving someone and turning him into a proper human being is what makes a true hero.”
“So?”
“So I have to follow what Father said.”
“What about the words of that father’s father, me? Are you going to follow what I say too?”
“Grandfather is just going to tell me to kill him.”
“Of course. Why would you leave the seed of evil? The seed of evil is eternally the seed of evil. The seed doesn’t change.”
“He’s not as bad as you think. If he’d really been a bad guy, I would’ve blown him away the moment I saw him.”
“How the hell would you know that? It’s not like you’ve actually dealt with him.”
“I can see it. How evil a person is.”
“What? How could you possibly see something like that?”
“It’s visible to me. That guy can be rehabilitated enough. If he reforms and becomes a disciple of True Martial Sect, he’ll become a great strength in the future.”
“Won’t you give him to this old man as a gift? Then I’ll give up on him.”
“You have to say that right. It’s not that you’re ‘giving up’ on him, it’s that you wouldn’t be allowed to lay a hand on him at all.”
“That’s also true, but I mean I won’t keep pestering you to give him to me. Otherwise I’ll nag you day and night, you know?”
To my eyes, the Heavenly Martial Emperor of all people was throwing a tantrum.
“No. I’m going to turn him into a martial artist of True Martial Sect.”
“Then let him choose. How about that?”
At Grandfather Jeok Mugun’s earnest gaze, I let out a faint laugh.
With him going this far, I couldn’t keep refusing forever.
“Fine. I lose. Do it your way.”
...Telling him to decide who gets to take him?
It was absurd.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and choose.”
“Sir? Um... I need to know who you are to be able to choose, don’t I?”
“Did I not introduce myself?”
“No.”
“I’m Jeok Mugun, the Heavenly Martial Emperor.”
“Sorry?”
“This brat. Are your ears clogged, boy? I said I’m Jeok Mugun, the Heavenly Martial Emperor. You making a man say the same thing twice?”
“T-The Heavenly Martial Emperor? T-The Heavenly Martial Emperor of Heavenly Martial Castle, that Heavenly Martial Emperor? The strongest under heaven, Heavenly Martial Emperor?”
“That’s right. I’m the one who’s... was the strongest under heaven.”
He had been about to happily say he is the strongest under heaven, then caught my eye and changed his wording.
“Grandfather, you are the strongest under heaven.”
“Enough! You brat. I can’t beat you, so how am I supposed to have the face to go around saying that?”
As expected. Monster.
He can’t even beat the Heavenly Martial Emperor.
The masked old man had more or less guessed that the cautious old man from before couldn’t win against this monster, but he hadn’t in his wildest dreams thought that nervous old man would be the Heavenly Martial Emperor himself.
“I keep telling you, I’m just going to live quietly and at ease, you know?”
“Didn’t you say you were going to turn True Martial Sect into the strongest sect under heaven?”
“That’s for my younger brother to do. I’m just planning to support him from behind.”
“You think that’ll go the way you want? Crises can come at any time.”
“If there’s a force out there that creates a crisis for True Martial Sect, I’ll erase them. Then there won’t be any crisis, right?”
He said it with a crooked grin.
It gave me chills just hearing myself.
“I-I see. Well, in that case there shouldn’t be any problem.”
Jeok Mugun was already starting to feel sorry for the future enemies {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} of True Martial Sect.
The moment they lay a hand on True Martial Sect, did they know a natural disaster would come crashing down on them?
Well, their business is their business.
Jeok Mugun smiled and spoke to the Blood-Dance Death God.
“If you follow me, I’ll see to it you get a position in Heavenly Martial Castle. How about it?”
“In Heavenly Martial Castle?”
“That’s right. Doesn’t that whet your appetite? If you want, I’ll even give you elixirs.”
The Blood-Dance Death God flicked his gaze toward me.
I shrugged and said,
“I don’t have anything to give you. Choose however you want.”
Heavenly Martial Castle, huh.
Or stay by the side of the strongest monster and watch his work up close.
He hesitated for a moment, then prostrated himself before me.
“I will serve you as my lord.”
I curled my lips in a victorious smile.
“He says he chooses me.”
“Tsk.”
Jeok Mugun looked at the Blood-Dance Death God with a regretful face.
Then his expression relaxed.
In the end, hadn’t he become a subordinate of his own blood?
That was enough.
Now his curiosity turned toward the booklet I had brought.
He wanted to know what was written in it.
“Mind if I read this?”
“Yes.”
Jeok Mugun flipped through several of the booklets, then spoke in a bewildered voice.
“It’s real? It’s just full of curses.”
“Right?”
“What kind of bastards wrote this? Are they perverts?”
“Seems like it.”
“No, wait. Getting people to let down their guard like this might be their aim. There must be some secret hidden in here.”
“For something like that, the writing’s too sloppy. Don’t you feel the anger coming off the page?”
“That’s true, but... you’re telling me it really is just curses?”
“Yes.”
“If this is real, then what kind of existence is this ‘Senior Brother’ written about here, that the Four Heavenly Demon Lords fear him this much? For them to be writing out curses with this level of resentment means he’s so strong they can’t even openly defy him to his face.”
I felt a jolt and turned my gaze elsewhere as I spoke.
“Yeah, who knows.”
“Come to think of it, this book is an important clue.”
“Sir?”
“Doesn’t this say there’s someone out there more vicious than the Four Heavenly Demon Lords—someone who makes them tremble? There was a reason the Four Heavenly Demon Lords vanished. They’re planning to come back with this Senior Brother fellow.”
“I-Is that so?”
“Of course. They’ll probably return stronger than before. I need to get back and start preparing countermeasures right away.”
Jeok Mugun’s expression turned grave.
For some reason, I felt kind of sorry.
“You prepare as well. No matter how strong you are, you can’t protect everything. You need to be ready to protect your family in case something happens.”
“Yes. Don’t worry.”
Jeok Mugun took a Night-Glow Crystal engraved with the character for Heaven (天) out of his breast and handed it to me.
“What’s this?”
“It’s the Heavenly Martial Castle Lord’s identity token.”
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“You brat. You weren’t going to come visit the house your grandfather lives in even once? If you show this when you come, they’ll guide you to me.”
“Got it. Are you heading back now?”
“Yes. Mind if I take one of these booklets with me?”
“Go ahead.”
“I’ll send your father a separate letter.”
“Yes. Please do.”
“You have to come see me. You must.”
“Yes. After I finish the Provincial Exam, I’ll stop by once.”
At my promise, Jeok Mugun grinned broadly.
“Good. I’ll be waiting.”
“Are you leaving right away?”
“I need to go make preparations.”
“If those guys show up, just let me know. I’ll come deal with them.”
Jeok Mugun snorted a laugh.
“You brat, I’m the Heavenly Martial Emperor. I can at least handle that much. If it really gets hard, I’ll ask you then.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“Good. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“Same here.”
“If you come visit, this old grandfather will treat you to a mountain of good food.”
“Then I definitely have to go.”
“Do you drink?”
“Not yet.”
“Then this grandfather will teach you the Way of Liquor as well.”
“I’d like that.”
“Then we’ll meet again.”
“Yes.”
After we finished saying our goodbyes, he spoke to Taecheon and the Blood-Dance Death God.
“Take good care of my grandson.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
Leaving those words behind, he vanished in an instant.
I stared for a moment at the spot Jeok Mugun had been standing, then let out a small chuckle and spoke to the group.
“Let’s go too.”
“Yes!”
****
Changsha, capital of Hunan Province.
Countless people were busily moving about the streets, each on their own errands.
A group rolled in at a leisurely pace in an ox cart.
It was my group.
There were roughly fifteen days left until the Provincial Exam.
I planned to spend that time here, enjoying the big city.
We moved toward our lodgings while taking in the street lined with tall pavilions.
Originally, we had planned to stay at an inn, but as it happened, Father had a sworn brother in Changsha, so we decided to impose on him for a while.
Honestly, Father had planned this.
Partly to check whether his son was doing well in Changsha, and partly because if I stayed at his sworn brother’s house, he could feel at ease, so he deliberately asked the favor.
Steel-Glory Trading Company.
That was the name of the place we’d be indebted to for a while.
In Changsha, they had considerable renown and were praised for helping people in difficulty.
“I think the young lord has arrived.”
“Really?”
I rose in the cart and looked toward Steel-Glory Trading Company.
“Father, seriously. Was he really so anxious he had to go as far as asking this?”
“All parents are the same, aren’t they? And since the Sect Master doesn’t know how strong you really are, he’ll be even more worried.”
“Is that it? Grandfather found out, so should I just reveal my true strength to Father too?”
“That would probably relieve a lot of his worries.”
“Hmm. When I go back this time, I should show him what I can do. That’s the only way he’ll worry less.”
I shook my head and climbed down from the cart, then walked toward the main gate of Steel-Glory Trading Company.
Taecheon and the Blood-Dance Death God followed behind me.
“How may I help you?”
At the gatekeeper’s question, I clasped my fist and said,
“I’m Jeok Wigang from True Martial Sect.”
“Ah! We’ve been told. The Company Master has been expecting you, saying you would likely arrive around today. Please, follow me.”
“Thank you.”
Following the guard inside, we came out into a refined, old-fashioned garden.
In the middle of the garden, in a pavilion, a middle-aged man with a splendid beard was drinking tea.
“Company Master. We have a guest from True Martial Sect.”
At the report, the middle-aged man set down his teacup and sprang to his feet.
I stepped forward, clasped my fist, and greeted him.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Jeok Wigang, eldest son of True Martial Sect.”
“Hahaha! I’ve been waiting. Come, come. I’m Yu Munchang, Company Master of Steel-Glory Trading Company.”
“Thank you for treating me so kindly.”
“What are you saying? Your father and I are sworn brothers. If you’re Jeok Rihyeon’s son, that makes you practically my son as well.”
At Yu Munchang’s words, I grinned and replied with easy shamelessness,
“As far as I know, you’re older than Father, so I’ll call you Uncle. Please think of me as your son too and treat me comfortably, Uncle.”
“Hahaha! Good! Let’s do that. You must be tired from the long journey, right? I’ll have someone show you to where you can rest, so take a break and we’ll meet again at dinner.”
“Thank you for the consideration, Uncle.”
“What are you talking about? It’s only natural. I even prepared a quiet detached residence just for you; it’ll be good for studying for the exams.”
“I’ll be sure to repay this favor someday.”
“What’s this talk of favors! Don’t you ever say something so hurtful again.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Heheheh. That’s better. Attend me.”
“Yes!”
“He’s a precious guest. Treat him as you would our own family and look after him well.”
“Understood, Company Master.”
“Guide them to the detached residence and see to all their needs.”
“Yes!”
“Now then, just follow them.”
“Yes. I’ll see you at dinner then.”
“Heheheh. All right. See you then.”
****
When we reached the lodging, I couldn’t help but be impressed.
He had really given us a quiet and secluded place to stay.
On top of that, whether it had been freshly renovated or not, everything looked practically brand new, and the room was so clean there wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen.
For studying, they had even prepared the desk, brush, inkstone, and so on in top-notch quality.
“This is... a bit much.”
I chuckled.
“He really is a good man.”
Thanks to Father, I’d gained a good connection.
I missed Father.
After unpacking, I lay down on the bed—it was so comfortable.
I wanted to carry it home just like this.
Taecheon and the Blood-Dance Death God also unpacked their things in the room next door, then came over to my room.
“By the way, what’s your name? Now that I think about it, we never even introduced ourselves, did we?”
“My humble name is Chu Sowon, my lord.”
“I’m Jeok Wigang. Let’s get along well.”
“Loyalty!”
“Now then. How should I decide the hierarchy?”