“How did you come here?”
In response to my question, Father answered with his usual remark.
“I just dropped by.”
As if that was the case. Father was well aware of the movements of the Demon Supremes, and upon hearing that I was gathering with four of them, he must have come.
What brought him out? From where had he heard and seen everything?
Although I had grown closer to Father, I wasn’t yet at a point where I could ask such sensitive questions without hesitation.
“For the first time, I had a meeting with the four Demon Supremes.”
“How was it?”
“If you hadn’t come, Father, I would have certainly sought you out right after leaving the tavern. I would have come to ask how I should deal with and handle the Demon Supremes in the future. Ah, it’s going to be a problem if I make a habit of seeking your answers every time I’m in a bind.”
Half sincere, half flattering, I vented my frustrations. Normally, Father would have just scoffed, but today, for some reason, he gave me a word. And it was something that resonated with me.“You can worry about that in about ten years.”
“Will you continue to help me for the next ten years?”
Father finally scoffed at this moment.
“Did you not know it would be this tough?”
“I didn’t know.”
“I thought you knew everything when you made such a fuss about establishing discipline.”
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have said such things. The way things appear from the outside is different, the way people treat me is different, and it’s different when dealing with others.”
I deliberately exaggerated my hardships. The more I struggled, the more Father would be pleased.
“That’s right. I’m weak.”
“At least you’re much better than before.”
Even when I went hunting with Father after the regression, it was different from now.
While we were talking, a modest table with drinks was set.
Father had simple stir-fried vegetables and the strongest liquor the Flowing Wind Tavern could bring out. Jo Chunbae must have used all his skills to stir-fry those vegetables.
“Let’s have a drink.”
I drank with Father.
“Phew, it’s strong.”
“You dare fear this strong liquor while drinking with the Great Drunken Demon?”
“He seemed like a good person to me.”
“With that eye for people, it’s a wonder you’re still alive.”
What kind of person was Song Sa-hyuk in Father’s eyes?
“What kind of person is the Great Drunken Demon to you?”
“He is someone who laughs and enjoys himself while mocking others. So it’s best not to carelessly open his liquor bottle.”
“Just as the elders say, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon also warned me to be wary of the Great Drunken Demon, calling him a sly person.”
“Unaware of his own slyness.”
Father’s words made me burst out laughing. I thought about teasing Gu Cheonpa with this the next time I saw him.
As I poured a drink for Father, I asked, “Have you ever drunk alone with Song Sa-hyuk?”
“I have.”
“How did he act towards you?”
“He doesn’t say much to me.”
“That chatterbox doesn’t talk much to you?”
That was unexpected. I thought he would chatter even more in front of Father.
“Is it because he thinks he can’t mock you?”
“I don’t know. How could one know what he’s thinking?”
“That just makes me more curious.”
“Poisonous things tend to be flashy.”
He was warning me not to be swayed by the Great Drunken Demon.
“Don’t try to delve deep into people’s hearts. Just judge what is shown on the surface. That way, you make fewer mistakes.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
I finished my drink with Father. As I refilled our glasses, I asked him another question.
“What do you talk about when you drink with Brother?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m just curious. You’re not telling him all my weaknesses, are you?”
“Everyone can see your weaknesses; there’s no need to tell him.”
“What are my weaknesses?”
“That cheap sentimentality that’s perfect for getting yourself killed.” 1
I laughed heartily.
“I consider that my strength. I might as well go through life enjoying it and having fun. It’s a long and tough road anyway. Instead of threats, restraints, and killing, let’s make it fun.”
“Do you think fun suits our line of work? People die looking for fun.”
Father, it’s okay if I search for it. Not a moment passes without Hwa Moogi in my mind. I can’t sleep even when I lie down. I often jump up and run to the training grounds, haunted by visions of being killed by Hwa Moogi again.
“Father, you should start living more joyfully and pleasantly too.”
“If the authority and fear of the Heavenly Demon disappear, they’ll come at us with their petty agreements.”
Suddenly, I thought Father might also be unable to sleep at night. Maybe I shouldn’t be fooled by his flowery pajamas.
“I’ll strive to become stronger.”
“You should already be strong. Only then does today’s meeting with the Demon Supremes have any meaning.”
“With that in mind, please teach me a lesson.”
Since my last bout with Father, I had reached a new level of martial arts achievement. Sparring with Father now would be a great stimulus and influence on my martial arts.
Father stood up from his seat and moved to the space next to the table.
“Here?”
“Won’t you fight at the tavern for life?”
“It’s not that. If we fight in this narrow place, everything will be destroyed.”
Father then said something unexpected.
“Who fights like amateurs, breaking everything? The one who breaks anything loses.” 2
He meant we should fight without breaking anything around us.
I looked around the place we were in. It was narrower and had a lower ceiling than the first floor. Moreover, it was filled with tables and chairs.
Fight with Father here? Without breaking anything? This would truly be the most challenging bout I had ever faced.
I looked down at the first floor. Since Father had arrived, Jo Chunbae had sent everyone out and closed the doors, leaving only us three in the tavern.
“Owner, please go into the kitchen for a while.”
“Yes!”
“No matter what happens, don’t be surprised!”
“My heart can’t take any more surprises today.”
Jo Chunbae quickly went into the kitchen.
I stood facing Father a few steps away.
“Did you say it was hard?”
“Yes.”
“That’s because you’re weak.”
When Father released his energy, I could hardly breathe. His aura, difficult to withstand even with the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique, was as heavy as a mountain, as suffocating as a swamp, and as sharp as a blade.
Father slowly drew the Heavenly Demon Sword.
“A Heavenly Demon must be someone who can kill when they wish to kill. The only reason your opponent is alive in front of you is because you allowed it.”
Clang!
The Heavenly Demon Sword and the Black Demon Sword clashed in mid-air. The speed was the same, but the power behind the sword was restrained.
Clang!
Our swords clashed again in mid-air. I understood what Father was saying through the power in his sword.
This is the standard.
Like tuning an instrument, he was telling me to fight with exactly this amount of power.
This fight was not one where you lost because you were weaker than your opponent. It was a fight where you lost if you failed to control your power.
Clang!
The tuning happened only three times.
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
The Heavenly Demon Sword and the Black Demon Sword started clashing brilliantly.
We swung our swords with only the promised amount of power. Each technique originally used its own specific amount of force, so ignoring that and fighting with only the current level of power required immense concentration and mental effort.
At this moment, I did not hold back my skills.
Up until now, I had restrained myself in every fight since the regression.
I should only show this much of my skills to not attract enmity and suspicions.
But now, I fought without such thoughts. I was confident that it was okay to show my true abilities.
Father told me not to trust people, but at least I trusted him.
I fought with all my might, and I fought freely. It was a fight made possible because it was with Father.
The more we fought, the quicker my body adapted to the battle.
Then Father raised the level of the fight.
It changed from not breaking anything to not even touching anything except the floor.
Avoiding Father’s attacks while moving between tables and chairs without touching them? I had to exert the highest level of concentration I could.
Amidst this, our clashes were beautiful. The sword lines created between the tables and chairs were like memories painted by an artist who had spent a lifetime drawing. The sound of our swords clashing amidst the liquor bottles was like the poignant lament of an old musician. Occasionally, paper would tear, and strings of instruments would snap.
The fight grew more intense, and the constraints increased.
In the final stage, we even had to protect the lantern hanging on the wall. We had to prevent the wind from our swords from extinguishing its flame.
And at a certain moment.
Swoosh!
Father’s sword energy came flying towards me.
It was a sword energy released with restrained power. Had it been imbued with full internal energy, this single strike would have destroyed the tavern.
Sword energy flew from my Black Demon Sword as well. My restrained internal energy imbued in the sword energy neutralized Father’s sword energy in mid-air.
Bang!
The wind blew, almost extinguishing the lantern’s flame, but I threw myself to block it. The flame flickered precariously but did not go out.
Sword energy continued to fly in like a flock of swallows.
If I missed even one, the sword energy would fly backward and break the wall. Would the one who launched the sword energy lose then? No. In this case, the one who failed to catch it would lose.
I fought Father almost in a state of ecstasy.
There were many sounds.
The sound of footsteps, the wind, swords slicing through the air, swords clashing, sword energy being released, sword energy being neutralized, clothes flapping, the lantern swaying. Each sound contained the essence of martial arts.
I would surely be able to reflect on this fight. There was no need to memorize it deliberately. Every technique was perfect, and the situation was urgent. This continuous series of unforgettable moves would become a lasting source of my learning.
When the bout ended, we simultaneously withdrew our swords. The Heavenly Demon Sword and the Black Demon Sword returned to their scabbards at the same time, making a satisfying clicking sound.
I looked around and saw that not a single chair had toppled over. There wasn’t even a small scratch on the walls.
“It’s a draw!”
“No, you lost.”
Father came over and held up the chopsticks container from the table in front of me. The tips of the chopsticks inside had been slightly cut off.
“Oh, that’s the mark from my sword energy. When did you notice that?”
I sighed as I inspected the chopsticks container on Father’s table.
“I lost!”
But it wasn’t a loss that felt like a defeat. Father was genuinely surprised and impressed by my skills.
“When I heard that you and the Evil Smiling Demon killed Baek Mang-gi, I suspected it. That you had made significant achievements.”
He hadn’t realized it would be to this extent.
Father must have been greatly stimulated by my performance.
“What should I do now?”
I asked for guidance. The only person who could provide the answer on where my martial arts should progress.
“From now on, devote yourself solely to training in the Wind God’s Four Steps.”
That was Father’s conclusion. And there was a reason for it.
“I stopped training in the Wind God’s Four Steps.”
“Why did you stop Father?”
Geom Woojin spoke honestly, to my great surprise.
“I hit a wall.”
“If you encountered a limit, then I will never surpass it.”
Father looked at me for a moment before shaking his head.
“Even if I can’t surpass it, you can achieve greatness.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a wall created by the Nine Calamities Demon Art. I can’t achieve greatness in the Wind God’s Four Steps since I already mastered the Nine Calamities Demon Art.”
“Ah!”
I understood the implication. There are compatibilities even in martial arts. Some arts don’t mix well, and what you learn first can sometimes prevent you from achieving mastery in another.
“If you don’t achieve mastery in the Wind God’s Four Steps before learning the Nine Calamities Demon Art, you’ll never achieve it after.”
“I will definitely achieve mastery before then.”
If I mastered the Wind God’s Four Steps, it would combine with the Soaring Sword Art, which had already reached the grand level of Twelve Stars, leading to another great achievement. Later, when combined with the Nine Calamities Demon Art, it would produce even greater effects.
Father looked at me for a moment before asking.
“Is it still hard for you?”
“Thanks to your guidance, I feel more confident.”
“Do you still intend to be a cheerful Heavenly Demon?”
“I want to live with a smile.”
Father looked at me for a moment before turning away without a word. When he had descended to the first floor, he casually threw out a remark as if it were nothing.
“If you have time, come play a game of Go.”
Jo Chunbae, who had been hiding under the counter, bowed deeply and looked up at me.
“Nothing is broken, so don’t worry.”
Isn’t the Path of the Demonic Way I’m pursuing one that all tavern owners in the world would love?
Jo Chunbae sighed with relief.
“This long day is finally over.”
* * *
Jo Chunbae’s day might have ended, but mine had not.
I went to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He was sitting by the window reading a book. I thought he’d be swinging his sword in anger, but he was calmer than I expected.
“Not practicing martial arts today?”
“Why are you here?”
“I came to see you, sir.”
Before bringing up what had happened at the tavern, I handed over what I had brought. I wasn’t there to talk about that incident.
“What is this?”
“Herbal medicine.”
“Herbal medicine?”
Gu Cheonpa was surprised.
“You look even thinner than when we first met. This medicine will help stimulate your appetite and nourish your body. I got it from the Demon Doctor, so you can trust its efficacy.”
The Blade Demon was taken aback. He was more shocked than when I gave him a detoxifying pearl as a birthday present before.
“Take it to the Cult Leader.”
“He would suspect it’s poisoned and make me drink it all in front of him.”
Old man Blade burst into laughter at my half-joke.
I lowered my voice and spoke softly.
“This is actually my father’s medicine. I begged the Demon Doctor for it. You know how much my father takes care of his health. So, don’t worry and just take it.”
As I was walking out, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon called out from behind.
“Why are you being so good to me?”
I looked back at him and said.
“Because you’ve been good to me, so I’m returning the favor. I believe that if I treat you well, you’ll be more helpful than the other three Demon Supremes combined. I’m just as selfish and calculating. Now, have a good night. Make sure you take the medicine. I’ll check through Investigator Seo!” 3
I bowed to him, who was watching me with deepened eyes, and turned away.
You have to do it while you can, because if you don’t act when you think of it, there may not be another chance.
Finally, my long day had come to an end. The intoxication hit me belatedly.
1 : It’s his catchphrase at this point. Along with “You’re a madman.” ^^
2 : “In our faction, we don’t break tables !!!”
3 : Technically, everything he said isn’t a lie XDXDXD
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