Seol-Hwi had his dinner in the basement.
After the second test which happened during the day, the Earth Demon and his men rushed out. After that, they said nothing, so he was waiting down here.
“Did I pass or fail…?”
Seol-Hwi grunted as he waited.
He prepared a lot, but he did not know if the Earth Demon would like it or not. In the first place, it was a question which could not be answered.
“I wonder if the three months of preparation time helped…”
The question which the Earth Demon asked in the end was a lot more important than the memorizing of the 200,000 books.
Well, even if it was knowledge which Seol-Hwi pushed into his mind, the Earth Demon would already know everything.
Just boasting about his memory power would not impress the Earth Demon, so Seol-Hwi based his answers based on the experience he had in the past, the right terms to shake the heart of the Earth Demon.
In other words, they were answers he could not give without his past experiences.
“And what if I fail?”
The problem was this.
If he fails, he can try again. But… then what should he do with this life?
There would not be any need to create an extreme situation where he can die just because he did not become the secret warrior.
Step
Uh.
After a while, the door opened with the sound of footsteps getting closer.
Kiiik
And the person reflected in Seol-Hwi’s nervous eyes was… the Earth Demon.
“How were you?”
His expression was unexpectedly bright. He thought the Earth Demon would be feeling uncomfortable, but he was here and rather,
“Why do you look like that?”
His face was stiff.
“That… I was curious about what the test was like.”
“Of course, you passed. Does it make sense to leave after giving such a perfect answer?”
There was no need to say anything. It was only then could Seol-Hwi smile.
A question came right then,
“The third test…”
“That is why I am here.”
The Earth Demon smiled.
He gestured and walked lightly.
“Follow me. I have something to show you.”
The Earth Demon led him to his own office which was on the highest floor of the building.
There were torches lighting the way in the dark night. The buildings were built at intervals, and the mountain ranges standing on the other side made it possible to feel the well controlled discipline of the sect.
“How does it look?”
“Simply amazing.”
In response to the Earth Demon’s words, Seol-Hwi said what he felt without omitting anything. He had stepped in this office more than twice in the past lives, but this was his first time seeing it at night. Seol-Hwi, who had been admiring the night view, looked under the window when Earth Demon said,
“The third test is companionship.”
“Companionship in what sense?”
“…”
The Earth Demon looked away. He then thought for a moment and spoke,
“As you might know, I do not have many subordinates compared to the other disciples. There are no warriors of the Supreme Demon level either.”
“That is because the Fourth Disciple had come under the sect leader too late.”
“That is true, but that doesn’t make it any less true. In the sect, the struggle to achieve victory by any means is known to all.”
Seol-Hwi could not speak more.
He realized that trying to help him hold his morale would only make things sad for him.
“So the secret warriors are my last resort. Skilled people who can assist me in the most vulnerable times so that is the last test. The meaning of companionship is to bring someone superior, recommended by you.”
Ah.
It was then that Seol-Hwi realized what this meant—
Talent to be recruited.
Depending on which person they brought, it seemed like they would decide whether or not they could be passed.
“Is anyone fine?”
“Anyone who belongs to the sect is fine. It is even better if they have skills and have special abilities too. Of course, it is fine if it is someone normal too.”
“…?”
“Because I have a person I have been eying for a long time.”
It was then—
<Would you like to save?>
It was a phrase that popped up suddenly. This appeared while the Earth Demon was explaining the final test.
■95th Heavenly Year. Chapter 2-1. Three Lives presented by the Earth Demon. □98th Heavenly Year. Last day of 7th month. □98th Heavenly Year. Self Story_Fateful day.
This means a tough situation is coming soon.
From his experiences up until now, having this pop up meant something difficult would be happening soon. So it was natural for him to be nervous.
<Do you want to overwrite the save file for “95th Heavenly Year. Chapter 2-1. Three Lives presented by the Earth Demon.”>
Seol-Hwi decided to choose the first one. After all, in this life he would have to practice everything properly without going back.
<The save file has been overwritten.> <■95th Heavenly Year. Chapter 2-5. Companionship, and the many forking paths which result from it.>
Many forking paths.
The first path changed. As Seol-Hwi read it, he seemed to understand what it meant.
“Now, make your choice.”
The words which followed from the Earth Demon.
<Choose from the choices below.> ▶Recommendation advised by the Earth Demon ▷Decide on those you can think of
“Hm?”
Seol-Hwi frowned.
It was because in addition to receiving the recommendation of the Earth Demon, he was being given the chance to make his own choice.
‘My choice?’
He was more curious about the recommendation that the Earth Demon would give, what kind of person would it be?
Seol-Hwi was thinking that, then—
<You have selected ‘Decide on those you think of.’>
He chose the second option. Then, several names appeared in front of him.
▶Cheon Miryo [Reward if successful: 100 lives] ▷??? [Have not encountered yet] ▷Wang Mo-ryeok [Reward if successful: 10 lives] ▷Imugi [Reward if successful: 3 lives] ▷Songhwa [Reward if successful: 1 life] ▷??? [Have not encountered yet]
Seven people in total.
A sign appeared that the two of them were people he had not met yet. There were familiar names as well and an unfamiliar one too.
Cheon Miryo is here?!
Among them the one who caught his attention was the person he had been using.
How… could she be in this?
Them appearing on this list right now meant that he could meet them in the sect.
Cheon Miryo, who he had not seen in his past lives for more than two to three years.
He can actually meet her?
But Seol-Hwi could not make the choice. It was because of the number of lives.
[100 lives]
Too much
It gave 100 lives if successful?
Even though he had seen ten lives or more while facing warriors, this was too much. Is it different because the people being recommended were being done without fighting?
Or is it that the amount of work required was so much that the reward was like this?
6… 5…
I need to choose.
Seol-Hwi nodded at the sight of Wang Mo-ryeok.
They fought once so he knew that this was an important guy. If he hands over one nice book in the library, then the man might cooperate.
Nevertheless, the name of Cheon Miryo gave an unknown sense of fear. Would he be able to meet her in person, the one he used to deceive others by claiming to be her disciple?
If only I can convince her… this is killing me.
It felt like a reckless one, but there was the chance of getting 100 lives.
A few lives would be wasted for this, but he wanted to do this.
There was also the issue where Seol-Hwi was claiming to be her disciple and in times of crisis he used her name to get out of sticky situations.
He wanted to hear what opinions she could have as a person who had broken away from the bond of the Heavenly Demon.
And thinking…
Let’s do it. this one.
Clearly, the AI should have passed this. Based on the experience, life is more difficult than just choices. It meant that one needs to come up with answers and not move on a set answer.
<You will choose ‘Cheon Miryo’?>
“Really?!”
This time, the Earth Demon looked surprised.
“But… I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it? Say it. If you bring her, I will do anything.”
The Earth Demon said.
The absolute warrior, this could probably change the structure of the disciples.
If Cheon Miryo, who was so well respected, comes under the Earth Demon, then the entire power structure would change.
“I wonder where teacher was last at…”
“…Uh? You don’t know?”
The Earth Demon asked looking confused.
“This is a bit embarrassing, but it is true. It has been a long time since I came out. In addition, she basically runs on instinct alone. So…”
“Well, I do know how she can be.”
He tried to make an excuse which would work… the Earth Demon believed it rather easily.
“Then let’s do it. I will search for her traces as much as I can for about a month in any way I can.”
The Earth Demon thought and said,
“You are supposed to be given half a year. If you spend one month there, then you will have six months to convince and persuade her to come here. Can you do it?”
“I will do it.”
The Earth Demon nodded.
He called over a warrior and ordered Seol-Hwi to be guided to a place and immediately left the room.
He was acting like time was in short supply.
Uh?
Seol-Hwi could not believe what he saw.
Surprisingly, this place coincided with the place the Earth Demon cared for.
“So, does it apply the same as before?”
Seol-Hwi walked to the bed and lay down. In the past, he could log the time as such. But,
“…Uh? It doesn’t work?”
There was no change. Somehow, he saw what was under the wooden box, and it was the same.
Even the closet.
“Seriously.”
Seol-Hwi sat down. Perhaps the difficulty was so high that these convenient features did not work.
“Well, it doesn’t matter.”
Seol-Hwi sat down on the chair and thought about what he had to do from then on.
Cheon Miryo—
Whether or not he could meet her.
First of all, it was not just one or two things he needed to convince her of.
He had to convince someone he never met to pretend to be his master, and to get involved in the battle for the next sect leader which she clearly was not interested in. And he had to get her to specifically fight for the Earth Demon.
At this rate, 100 lives must be given.
It was an impossible task and Seol-Hwi knew it.
Still, the reason he chose her was because this was the way ahead.
The existence of a master.
So far, Seol-Hwi never had anyone teach him things. To some extent, one needed their own understanding. But are the strong warriors in Kangho not those who had amazing masters?
It will not be easy, but if he somehow persuaded Cheon Miryo and learned martial arts from her, it would be an amazing realization.
“For now, one month. During my free time, I can practice.”
From then on, Seol-Hwi took care of his cultivation.
His martial arts was at the Super Master Level after fighting those monsters in the cave. The difference from the past is that he did not use demonic arts.
In addition, after accepting the pure energy into the body, he can use flame, ice, and anything which is close to nature.
So, of course, the skills of the past and the internal energy were different. Seol-Hwi’s energy now had almost no uniqueness to demonic energy and was closer to being on the pure side.
“We need to find a way to maximize this.”
Therefore, it was natural to further increase the efficiency of his internal energy. In this life, thanks to starting from the bottom, his basics felt solid.
In order to obtain the best internal energy for martial arts, even if it is just flame, it was necessary to increase his internal energy because it would get consumed when using techniques.
Which one would he choose?
“This is a four way road.”
Looking at the book from the library, Seol-Hwi realized there are around four roads he had to take.
The first, harmonize the energy of yin and yang with Taiji.
Seol-Hwi, who knew the basic techniques of Wudang, was comfortable with it.
The second was flame and ice arts. Combining these energies with demonic arts will take him a step higher.
In the case of demonic arts, he would need a strong weapon. Because flame and ice itself would not be enough.
The third, the method was purely to refine the zen warrior’s techniques.
He never tried it, but from the books, it was known that it was one which brought them closest to nature.
However, in this case, it seemed essential to control it.
The fourth, it was to achieve a method of harmony between Yin and Yang that equalizeed the power of internal and outer energy.
According to the contents found in the library, it was a training method which many Shaolin monks practiced to unite their body’s energies.
“Three are of righteous martial arts and one is demonic martial arts.”
Of course, he was pursuing demonic martial arts. Learning martial arts and advancing to the place which martial arts pursue.
However, Seol-Hwi failed in this because he did not care.
Seol-Hwi, who had been thinking about it all day, chose one of them and started training.
Time had passed.
And when there were three days left in the month—
“Follow me.”
The Earth Demon came to see Seol-Hwi.
And he looked at the Earth Demon who was speaking,
“I found traces of Cheon Miryo.”
The one he had been using to his advantage—
And now, the existence of a master which had to be made real was here.