CHAPTER 524: EPILOGUE EARTH DEMON (21)

The Cult leader’s second disciple, Demon Lord’s subordinates, each have distinct characteristics.

The Strange Ghost Unit that arranges formations with sorcery.

Yu Pae, the Blood Kill Troops’ leader bound by divine oath.

And the berserker Eight Kingly Iron Demon Warrior, who would throw their life on the front lines at any time.

If the first disciple’s followers simply revered ‘strength,’ Demon Lord’s people were united by their individual personalities and convictions.

Among them, Administrative Demon Hall was no exception.

It commanded the Task Force, and even managed the Sealed Prison, which imprisoned those who broke discipline.

In the past I had seen a man called Captain Cheon-wol there, and the system had also mentioned the Lord of the Administrative Demon Hall.

That much showed the Administrative Demon Hall was an organization not to be taken lightly.

‘The reason Seventh Hall could place the man Jeong-yeon is because the Task Force is a subordinate unit of Administrative Demon Hall.’

And that was not all.

Demon Lord’s influence ran much wider and deeper than it appeared.

One could sense hidden masters moving secretly in many places.

‘The one to persuade this time is… the Eight Kingly Iron Demon Warriors.’

The early days when we overcame crises with Yu Pae’s help.

They were the warriors we had encountered then.

They too were one of Demon Lord’s core resources.

Those who had reached the apex of the Peak Demon, prepared to bleed on the front lines if war broke out.

They were Demon Lord’s sharpest blade.

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Mid-mountain, a wide clearing in the forest.

Each time the strong men swung weapons the air split with sound and the ground trembled.

Their training was not mere practice but combat itself.

Clang clang!

There were many kinds.

Not only swords and blades but long swords and spears as well.

Their training, even emitting internal energy outward, continued for quite a long time.

“Haa… let’s catch our breath for a moment.”

The man who first sheathed his weapon, despite a handsome face, was drenched in sweat.

Third Demon, ranked third among the Eight Kings.

He gave off a light air, as if a joke always hung at the corner of his mouth.

“You always suggest resting, don’t you.”

A large, grim-faced man straightened his back and laughed.

Yet surprisingly there was warmth in that laugh.

Sixth Demon, ranked sixth.

Contrary to his harsh look, he was affectionate.

“When do you think the war will happen?”

“I don’t know. But shouldn’t we always be ready?”

“By the way, where’s First Demon?”

“I haven’t seen him all day. Do you know?”

“I don’t either.”

Around them, puzzled faces exchanged words.

He was the leader most eager during training, but lately he had not been seen at all.

“He’s training.”

A cold voice interjected.

“From the time you were drunkenly carousing yesterday, he has been knocking on a wall.”

The man with hair like herringbone, Second Demon,

Ranked second, his tone was always firm and detached.

“Indeed. Behavior befitting one closest to the Supreme Demon warriors.”

When Third Demon shrugged and grinned, Sixth Demon muttered.

“He’s held the top rank for years, so that says it all. But….”

He paused and tapped his fist with a finger.

“I wonder if the Supreme Demon is ultimately an insurmountable mountain.”

At that remark, the whole group bowed their heads briefly; even having reached the apex of Peak Demon, they dared not dream of that level.

In that way, Supreme Demon was a colossal wall to them.

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In the forest apart from his comrades.

First Demon sat on an old stump, staring in one direction.

Only sunlight filtering through thick branches and the whisper of leaves shaken by the wind.

His face seemed calm, but deep in his eyes a profound anguish stirred.

The torment of a seeker lost before the wall called Supreme Demon was plainly revealed.

It was then.

“Those who sit in this place have such worries at least once.”

First Demon’s body stiffened at the voice that appeared without a sign.

“How many leaves hang on each branch here? If you counted them yourself, how many days would it take?”

First Demon sprang up like lightning and reflexively gripped his scabbard.

But seeing the figure before him, his breath caught.

“You are…!”

The Cult leader’s disciple, fourth disciple Earth Demon.

First Demon’s pupils trembled violently.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

‘This is the first disciple’s domain, so how could the fourth disciple…’

This meeting itself was ominous.

If discovered, it could be dangerous, he might be branded a traitor.

But the other party seemed unconcerned, calmly pointing to the surrounding leaves.

“Then one may count the leaves. A day, two days, then a month, then another month passes. Then another question begins: can’t it be done faster, can’t more be counted?” ṝἈƝÓ𝐁Ěș

First Demon still held his scabbard, but a subtle change came over the expression.

Alongside his vigilance, unexpectedly a small curiosity seeped in.

‘Counting leaves… could it be?!’

Earth Demon read his changing expression and continued speaking.

“That thought, if it breeds others, expands your thinking further. Is there a way to glance and know how many at once? How do you see leaves that are invisible? It flows like that.”

“….”

First Demon said nothing, but his gaze was slowly changing.

Vigilance remained, but within it a yearning to realize something began to stir.

“In a way it’s natural to us. It’s the principle of martial arts we’ve learned. Isn’t that so?”

Earth Demon slowly turned his body to look at him, then, as if clumsy about it, smiled awkwardly and spoke.

“Ah, was I a bother? I’m sorry. I was so glad to see someone training in the way I used to… I’ll take my leave.”

As Earth Demon lightly bowed and turned to leave, First Demon’s voice stopped him.

“…I dare to ask. Could you tell me more of your path?”

His voice trembled.

First Demon still gripped his scabbard as he looked at Earth Demon.

An intense conflict raged in his heart.

On one hand he knew how dangerous this situation was.

Meeting secretly with a fourth disciple in the first disciple’s domain.

If discovered, he could be branded a traitor and executed.

But on the other hand, his desperate yearning for being Supreme Demon overwhelmed all those risks.

Because what he had just heard closely mirrored his current torment.

At last he slowly withdrew his hand from the scabbard.

Though wariness still marked his face, his gaze had unmistakably changed.

“I know this is not something to be taken lightly. I know I’m not someone who should dare ask. But… I truly do not know what to do, how to proceed.”

First Demon trailed off and lowered his eyes.

His lips trembled as if he had more to say, but then he shook his head.

He was in turmoil.

Though Earth Demon had raised the topic first, he knew exactly who Earth Demon was.

Above all, he knew well that having such a meeting within Demon Lord’s domain could itself be problematic.

Nevertheless he wanted to continue the conversation.

His craving for Supreme Demon was strong enough to accept all risks.

“Of course.”

Earth Demon readily answered. One could feel the earnest longing cutting through his complex feelings.

As a warrior, he could fully understand how one feels at the brink of Supreme Demon.

“However, you surely know my identity… it could cause trouble later.”

There was something to settle first.

The process of building mutual trust.

“On the contrary, that is what I wanted to say.”

“…?”

“If you teach me, Fourth Disciple, your position will become more difficult.”

First Demon’s voice held a strange conviction; his desire for Supreme Demon had conquered all fear.

Come to think of it, his words made sense. Earth Demon nodded.

“Indeed, true.”

Being the Cult leader’s disciple could sometimes be a shackle.

“Did you bring a weapon?”

“….”

“Enlightenment comes to us in two forms: contemplation and confrontation.”

As Earth Demon lightly tapped his sword hilt and spoke, First Demon quickly bowed respectfully.

He hurried off somewhere, then returned a moment later with his sword and bowed politely.

“I request a lesson.”

There was no more hesitation in his eyes.

His longing for Supreme Demon overwhelmed all risks and doubts.

Earth Demon smiled with satisfaction and nodded.

“Lightly… let’s start with a thrust.”

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Shush. Shhk!

The sound of First Demon drawing his sword and slicing the air echoed in the quiet forest.

The thrust, the most basic of basics.

His movement was as smooth as flowing water, but when I showed no particular reaction his brows knitted slightly.

Shush! Shush-shush! Shush!

After repeating the motion a few more times, First Demon lowered his sword tip and watched me.

Complex emotions mixed in his gaze.

‘Why make me do such basics? Surely testing me?’

Those feelings showed on his face.

But at the same time another thought seemed to pass through.

An expectation that someone chosen by the Cult leader must have some deep meaning.

Those two feelings clashed inside him.

“Try a slash.”

My voice remained calm.

“….”

First Demon’s lips trembled once.

Silence passed, but in that short moment an intense conflict raged within him.

But ultimately he raised his sword.

“One more.”

Shreek!

A heavy slash cut the air and dropped a branch.

“One more…”

Shreek!

“One more…”

Shreek!

With each repeated motion First Demon’s expression stiffened bit by bit.

A subtle change began in his once-obedient demeanor.

Is this how one achieves Enlightenment of Supreme Demon? Or… is he truly mocking the man?

“This time, slice upward…”

“Hmph.”

First Demon took a deep breath.

His movements noticeably dulled.

“Won’t you?”

“…I will.”

His voice was calm, but suppressed resentment seeped through.

Thrust, slash, horizontal draw, upward strike.

In a way, the moves were simpler than the Wudang’s Three Emperor’s Sword Technique.

Yet I continued to make him repeat the same things.

Shush-shush. Shush.

He added no more words.

But impatience increasingly seeped into his movements.

His sword swings grew faster and his breathing harsher.

Some time—perhaps the length of a meal—passed like that.

“Is there more?”

At the end of the sequence, his voice leaked suppressed anger.

A heart that began with respect and expectation was turning into disappointment and doubt.

Yet within it still remained a final thread of hope.

“There is nothing else.”

“Then do you have anything to say now?”

“Hmm…”

First Demon’s voice had grown cold.

His eyes even carried a sense of betrayal.

The greater his desperate wish for Supreme Demon, the larger his disappointment seemed.

“Hmm.”

I slowly nodded as I observed his gaze, which had sharpened unlike before.

“Words will be insufficient. Receive it directly.”

Srrr.

At the sound of a sword drawn, First Demon tensed instantly.

He might think: this is the Cult leader’s fourth disciple; is it right to spar directly like this?

But First Demon’s thoughts did not last long.

Shwooook!

In an instant, my sword sliced the wind and flew toward him.

Clang!

First Demon reflexively raised his sword to block, but the impact seemed to travel to his wrist and he staggered.

The depth of internal qi must have been conveyed.

“Ugh.”

But my assault did not stop.

A continuous onslaught.

Thrust, slash, draw—

My motions looked simple, but subtle shifts in the current were hidden within them.

First Demon was flustered as he parried the first few exchanges.

It was fast, but his expression said: is this all?

Clang! Clang! Ching!

But after a few more parries, First Demon’s expression changed abruptly.

His eyes widened until finally they were filled with astonishment.

“Th… this is…”

At first he might have thought it merely a fast sword, but as he continued to receive it, he would understand.

My blade never traced a ‘perfect trajectory.’

At times it slipped intentionally, and at others it appeared to veer as if by design.

As if by mistake.

Yet all those ‘imperfect’ trajectories met the next move and strangely formed a ‘perfect single flow.’

“T-this sword technique!”

Shock and awe mingled in First Demon’s voice.

You could see his lifelong fixation on ‘perfection’ being shattered.