“…And that’s how I ended up inviting the Martial Alliance Leader to this meeting.”
As soon as I returned to the sect, I reported what had happened to my father.
Grand Strategist Sama Myeong was also present today.
He was, after all, the one responsible for coordinating the meeting's schedule and security.
At the news that I had even invited the Martial Alliance Leader, my father shook his head as if in disbelief, while Sama Myeong just stared at me silently.
“Our dear Grand Strategist, you foresaw this, didn't you?”
Of course, I foresaw it.
This is the inevitable flow of history.
That was what I had hoped to hear.
“What are you referring to? The part where the Young Cult Master suddenly left the sect to save a tavern owner and ended up inviting the Unorthodox Alliance Leader to our Main Sect? Or the part where you went to ask for the Martial Alliance Leader's understanding and ended up inviting him as well?”
Come to think of it, this all started when I went out to save Jo Chun-bae and his wife.
I hadn't realized it.
Perhaps all of this was brought about by Jo Chun-bae's destiny.
“I apologize. I know you are already busy, but I have given you a great task.”
“Do you realize what a great task it is?”
If the one who caused this mess wasn't the Young Cult Master, and if we weren't in my father's presence, he might have roared, “Do you have any idea what you've done?”
“The Young Cult Master has accomplished something no one else ever could.”
“That's a compliment, right?”
Sama Myeong's expression said it all.
A compliment? Of course, since we were in front of my father, his words differed from his thoughts.
“It is a compliment.”
He looked like he was dying to unleash a torrent of nagging that would begin with the word ‘However…’
I understood Sama Myeong.
Having lived his entire life as a strategist, he disliked variables and changes.
This event, in particular, would be the biggest of his career as a strategist.
“There is much to prepare. Especially since this is the first three-party meeting, much confusion is to be expected. Among them, the biggest issue is security. Both the Martial Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance will try to bring as many masters as they can. The more people there are, the higher the chance of an incident. I mean that one wrong step could lead to war.”
But we couldn't just tell them to come with minimal escorts.
That's why prior coordination was absolutely necessary, and the person who would have to engage in a battle of wits with the strategists from both sides was Sama Myeong himself.
I felt sorry for him, but what could be done? Destiny had led us here.
I turned my gaze from Sama Myeong to my father, who was looking down at me in silence.
Before my regression, I would have trembled under that gaze.
I wouldn't have even been able to meet his eyes.
That's why my relationship with my father had only gone backward, never forward.
My father was just looking at me without any particular thought.
He's probably thinking, what should I do with that troublemaker, tsk tsk.
From there, I might wonder if he was disappointed in me, if he regretted making me the Young Cult Master, or if he was perhaps thinking of my brother.
I must never forget that the wings of solitary imagination are always torn apart by the beast called misunderstanding.
“Are you very angry?”
“Of course! Who decided on a three-party meeting? Grand Strategist, contact the Martial Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance at once and tell them it's canceled!”
My father's voice thundered through the Cult Master’s Hall.
But his eyes, as he looked at me, held no trace of irritation or anger.
I could tell.
My father was feigning anger on my behalf to appease Sama Myeong.
In a way, his roar was also for my sake.
“You can't do that, Father!”
“What do you mean, I can't!”
Sama Myeong carefully stepped forward.
“Please calm yourself, Cult Master. Since the Young Cult Master has already made a promise, it would be best to proceed with this matter as planned.”
This way, Sama Myeong's authority was upheld, and he was given a chance to take my side.
“Thank you, Grand Strategist.”
“It's a relief, though. The Young Cult Master already has a strategist.”
He shook his head with an expression that clearly said, how difficult it must be to live as his strategist.
That's our Grand Strategist for you, always holding a grudge.
“That's too harsh!”
Sama Myeong's jest helped to lighten the mood a little.
I looked at my father again.
What could he be thinking right now? Does he want to see the two leaders? No matter how hard I look, he truly is a difficult father to understand.
In any case, what's done is done.
There was something I had to tell my father.
“This meeting is for the three of you, but it will have a great impact on the three of us. Where else could we learn? This is a once-in-a-lifetime meeting of the Cult Master and the Alliance Leaders.”
Then, I told him what I had told the others.
“I did this because I trust you, Father.”
Finally, that characteristic smirk appeared on my father's lips.
It's been a while, but it still suits him well.
“Then, I will take my leave.”
As I turned to leave, I felt a burning gaze on the back of my head.
Why do you dream of unifying the Martial World? I will stop you until the very end, Father.
Right, there must be not two, but three gazes burning into the back of my head.
Before leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall, I called out into the air.
“Uncle Hwi! I'm sorry.”
I didn't forget to express my apologies to Hwi, my bodyguard.
He was another person who would be on edge because of the three-party meeting.
*
“Elder!”
After leaving the Cult Master's Hall, I immediately headed for the Southern Path Sect, where the Blood Heaven Blade Demon was.
I ran to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's residence as if I were reuniting with a long-lost family member.
I had only seen the Fist Demon last time before leaving the sect again, so it had been a long time since I'd seen the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
There was no one in the yard.
So I walked slowly and peeked inside through the window.
Then I saw an unexpected sight.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was lying on his bed, asleep.
‘It's not time for him to be sleeping yet.’
I was about to turn back when I flinched.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon taking a nap? That had never happened before.
I turned back, carefully opened the door, and went inside.
I walked without a sound, so as not to wake him.
But at the last moment, I turned my steps from the bed to the bookshelf.
I stood before it and examined the new books the Blood Heaven Blade Demon had bought.
“Didn't you come in because you were worried about me?”
I turned around to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looking at me with his eyes open.
“No?”
Not at all.
He would never know how startled I had been for a moment.
When I entered the room, I had felt the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's stifled energy, so I had subtly changed my direction.
“I was waiting to give you a good scare when you came close to check my breathing.”
“Why would I check your breathing? Are you the type to pass away in your bed, Elder? You'll go out in a blaze of glory on the battlefield, leaning against your Heaven-Slaying Blade.”
“You brat! How can you speak so easily of an old man's death?”
But contrary to his words, an unsuppressible smile formed on his lips.
It was, after all, the end he dreamed of.
“But why are you taking a nap, something you've never done in your life?”
“I do it sometimes. You'll understand when you get older.”
Was it my imagination? His voice, usually so gruff, seemed to lack its usual strength.
“Did you take care of your business outside?”
“I caused some trouble.”
“You wander around so much, it'd be strange if you didn't. What kind of trouble?”
This matter was still a top secret known only to my father and Sama Myeong.
“I invited the Unorthodox Alliance Leader to the Flowing Wine Tavern.”
So you can imagine how surprised he was.
“You invited who?”
“The Unorthodox Alliance Leader.”
“The Unorthodox Alliance Leader I know? Baek Ja-gang?”
“You know him?”
“I do.”
He really did have a wide circle of acquaintances.
“That can't be right. That suspicious man accepted your invitation?”
With a look of disbelief, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sat up in bed and poured himself some cold tea from the small table beside him.
“I invited one more person. That's why I'm worried.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon answered nonchalantly.
“You invited the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, so who would dare cause trouble? As long as it's not the Martial Alliance Leader, it'll be fine.”
A brief silence followed.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon flinched and blinked as he looked at Geom Mugeuk.
“It's not him, right?”
When I didn't answer, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon asked again.
“It's not him, is it?”
“...”
“Don't tell me.”
“Why wouldn't it be?”
I then pretended to be in distress, clutching my head.
“I don't know why I'm like this either!”
I was being dramatic, but the Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn't react.
His gaze toward me was deep.
“Even the Martial Alliance Leader accepted your invitation? How? No matter who you are, that's…”
“I don't think they accepted the invitation because of me.”
“Then why?”
“The three of them must have wanted to see each other at least once. Otherwise, how could this have happened?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon, who had been nodding quietly, spoke with a cold aura.
“Both leaders are coming to the Main Sect? This is a chance to take care of both sides at once.”
After saying it as if it were his own idea, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon quickly added.
“What will you do if the Cult Master thinks like that?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon considered that my father might harbor such thoughts.
“At least this time, he won't.”
“How can you be so sure?”
To be honest, I wasn't completely sure.
I just trusted my father.
“Because they are guests invited by his son.”
“What if he values his grand ambition more than his son?”
“Then you must stop him, Elder. Only you can stop him.”
We looked at each other in silence.
Just then, Seo Daeryong entered.
“Oh? Young Cult Master!”
Seeing me, Seo Daeryong approached happily.
“When did you arrive?”
“Today. What's this? Your eyes look different.”
I could tell at a glance that Seo Daeryong had made great progress in his martial arts since I last saw him.
If his skills had been improving steadily bit by bit until now, today he felt significantly stronger.
Then, a surprising fact was revealed.
“My master opened my Governor and Conception Vessels yesterday.”
Geom Mugeuk finally understood.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon hadn't been joking; he was genuinely tired and taking a nap.
Seo Daeryong was holding some herbs in his hand.
It seemed he had gone to the Demon Doctor to get some restorative medicine.
“Let me check on you.”
I didn't ask if I could check.
Knowing how worried I was, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon didn't push away my hand as I held his wrist and sent a stream of inner energy into him.
“I'm fine.”
Fortunately, he was fine.
Because his martial arts were so strong and his inner energy so profound, he had managed to open the Governor and Conception Vessels without using his innate energy.
Opening the Governor and Conception Vessels.
It was a process that a normal master must go through to become a peerless master.
Since he had taken him as his direct disciple, I had thought he would do it for Seo Daeryong someday, but that day had already come.
It was likely because Seo Daeryong had trained so diligently.
Geom Mugeuk took credit on the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's behalf.
“You know, right? Opening the Governor and Conception Vessels is so dangerous that it's something one usually only does for a blood relative.”
“I know.”
“Then that's good.”
Seo Daeryong's gaze was fervent.
I could imagine how grateful he must have been, given his personality.
“I'll go heat up the medicine I brewed. The Demon Doctor said this medicine is the most effective.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon scolded Seo Daeryong.
“You brat, how much do you even make a month to be buying medicine?”
“Despite appearances, I am the Underworld Pavilion Lord. I make a lot of money.”
Seo Daeryong went outside to heat the medicine.
As I looked at the Blood Heaven Blade Demon with an emotional gaze, he deliberately raised his voice.
“I didn't do it for the lad. If he's my disciple, he should at least be at that level.”
The words ‘my disciple’ no longer sounded awkward.
“You're the best, Elder.”
Feeling awkward in this atmosphere, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon lay down on the bed again.
“Enough. I'm going back to sleep.”
But I wasn't one to just leave.
I sat on the edge of the bed.
“To be honest, I acted all confident, but how can I not be worried? What if the meeting I envisioned turns into a truly dangerous situation? What if my father really does appear before me, holding two bloody heads in his hands and smiling?”
“Why are you complaining to me?”
“Then who else can I say this to?”
“Go tell that to the masked man. Or go to the drunkard or the poisoner.”
I continued as if I hadn't heard him.
“Was I only afraid of my father? What if the Elder dislikes it? What if it turns out the Elder has some unknown grudge against the Unorthodox Alliance Leader or the Martial Alliance Leader? What if he can't hold back and tries to kill them when they meet?”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon said with his eyes closed.
“If the grudge were that deep, I would have sought them out already.”
“You're right, aren't you?”
“Who knows. Maybe one of the Demon Sovereigns will unleash their pent-up emotions on that day.”
“No, that can't happen!”
As I was feigning distress, Seo Daeryong came in with the heated medicine.
“Master, please drink your medicine!”
“I should drink that medicine. I'm so anxious, I feel like I'm going to die first.”
When I tried to snatch the medicine, Seo Daeryong dodged with his footwork.
“This is for my master!”
“Since when did you care so much for the Elder? Pavilion Lord Seo, it's me! The former Underworld Pavilion Lord and the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect! The man you serve as your right-hand man!”
“Until my master finishes this medicine, you're one-armed!”
Watching Seo Daeryong respectfully offer the medicine to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, a smile naturally formed on my lips.
In my previous life, these two had never even exchanged a word.
Over this scene, I saw the image of Seo Daeryong entering my office for the first time with that gloomy expression.
Over that, another image overlapped: him, drunk, clinging to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's leg.
And the image of him overjoyed upon receiving the great blade.
And what other images will overlap on top of this one? When all those images are layered, what kind of picture will remain at the end?
After drinking the medicine, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon lay down again, and Seo Daeryong and I quietly left the room.
Then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon spoke with his eyes still closed.
“Everything will be all right.”
That one heavy yet calm sentence put my heart at ease.
I felt truly at ease.
Even though I've regressed, no matter how perfect I may seem or how hard I try to live, I am also someone who needs to hear those words.
That I'm doing well, that things will be okay.
That is what the Blood Heaven Blade Demon is to me.
“Investigator Seo, let's sleep here with our Elder tonight.”
“Sounds good.”
Swept up in the mood, Seo Daeryong was fearless.
At that, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eyes shot open as he shouted.
“Who gave you permission! Go! Sleep in your own homes!”
Hearing the Blood Heaven Blade Demon's shout, I finally felt like I had returned home.
If someone were to ask me how I could walk such a treacherous path, I would answer that it was because I had a place to return to.
“Go, you brats!”
If we were the types to listen obediently, we wouldn't have brought it up in the first place.
With an excited face, I quickly ran out and shouted.
“I'll go get my nightclothes! Let's go, my right-hand man!”