CHAPTER 531: EPILOGUE EARTH DEMON (28)

“How was it?”

As I stepped out of the guest room, my eyes met Fang Spirit, who was leaning against a pillar outside the door.

Her arms were folded, her gaze sharp, and though her face was calm, her shoulders were oddly tense.

“I just made some vague excuses.”

“And it still took that long?”

Suspicion flickered through the brief question.

Her pupils flashed with a vigilance that went beyond curiosity.

I hesitated for a moment.

So Ryeong’s revenge, and the ties that bound her to me.

I couldn’t reveal all of that now.

“In any case, if I’m to take her in, there are procedures to follow, aren’t there?”

Fang Spirit’s eyebrow twitched slightly, as if she sensed my attempt to change the subject.

“That’s right. I’ll keep her at the central training hall and have her train. From what I saw on the way, her physique and temperament are respectable.”

She stepped forward one pace.

Her curves shimmered softly in the moonlight, and the scent of her perfume brushed the breeze.

I instinctively steadied my breath and asked again.

“This isn’t because you took a liking to her, is it? Whose request is this?”

“Seventh Elder.”

“As I thought.”

It was as I had expected.

It seemed that in her past life, So Ryeong had honed her skills at the central training hall before joining the Hidden Troops.

Only then did I understand how she could have survived the hell of the Martial Arts Island.

“What should we do?”

Fang Spirit asked, raising her eyes.

Her gaze was relentless, as if determined not to miss a single change in my expression.

“Accept her? Or not?”

I couldn’t answer.

A stone seemed to press at a corner of my chest.

So Ryeong stepping into this place.

It meant it would inevitably lead to a tragic end.

‘Even if my prediction is wrong and she passes the Martial Arts Island like in the past… that’s as far as she’ll get. She cannot defeat the Supreme Pavilion Lord.’ ȐΆΝÓBËʂ

The overwhelming gap in power.

That abyss was a chasm no effort or will could ever bridge.

‘But if I stand in her way… she’ll resent me for life. She’ll remember me as the one who stole her chance at revenge.’

“There really is something going on, isn’t there?”

Fang Spirit narrowed her eyes and asked, testing my silence.

“…I think you should accept her.”

In the end, I decided not to crush her resolve.

“And raise her strong.”

“…?”

Fang Spirit looked at me puzzled. I met her gaze and spoke calmly.

“One should not be a burden to anyone, should they?”

“…Hm. Understood.”

With that short reply, she asked no more.

Perhaps it was her way of showing consideration.

‘It will end soon anyway.’

I vowed inwardly.

I only need to bring Yu Pae to our side.

From that moment, every battle would gain momentum.

I just had to hold on until then.

“Ah, and…”

Fang Spirit’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She leaned in slightly and whispered.

“Elder Dok asked to go see him around midnight.”

“What is it about?”

The corner of her mouth lifted in a meaningful way.

“He’s already made the arrangements. That old man has a sixth sense for information.”

“…?”

“Yu Pae, I mean. It seems he’s already invited him to his office?”

Thud.

It had finally come.

The man who could overturn the entire situation.

The person I’d been desperately waiting for had walked in on his own.

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The cold night air seeped deep into my lungs.

As I climbed the stone steps toward the headquarters, I glanced up at the sky for a moment.

Although not much time had passed, the path back felt as if I’d traversed years.

What I had to do in this world.

It might even be something the Earth Demon only hoped for, something no one dared to attempt.

‘It’s time to break the final dam.’

Eight Kingly Iron Demon Warriors, Jeong-yeon.

Their existence was merely a chess move leading to this moment.

Yu Pae. The moment he comes over to our side, the balance of power will instantly flip.

‘In effect, it’s isolating the Demon Lord.’

My steps quickened.

When I reached the elder’s office, Dok Yeo-woon emerged from the shadows.

“You’ve come.”

His face looked unusually lined in the moonlight. Was it fatigue, or worry?

“I’ve heard rumors. You convinced Jeong-yeon and subdued Ma-gon, haven’t you?”

A subtle tremor laced his voice—hard to tell if it was admiration or caution.

“Well… I was lucky.”

“First Demon of Eight Kingly Iron Demon Warriors also spoke well of you.”

For a moment, I was startled and asked,

“How did you know that?”

Dok Yeo-woon quickly scanned the area. Tension lingered in his eyes.

He stepped closer and lowered his voice.

“Yu Pae asked me. He said the First Demon mentioned you. He was also well aware of your recent exploits.”

“I see.”

“That’s why he arranged this meeting. But…”

Dok Yeo-woon’s gaze sharpened.

“Be careful. If you achieve too much at once, you invite suspicion from others.”

It was both a warning and advice.

“Is he in there?”

“Yes, go in. And…”

He patted my shoulder lightly.

“For your information, Yu Pae values the greater cause above all.”

I nodded.

He reminded me of what I already knew.

Footsteps.

I stepped into Elder Dok’s office.

Creak—

The old hinges moaned.

The air in the room was heavy and damp.

Thin smoke from the incense drifted slowly and filled the space.

From within, the man sitting in the far chair rose slowly.

Yu Pae.

His movements were cautious. A look mixed with wariness and curiosity swept over me.

“Pleasure to meet you. They call me Earth Demon.”

I extended my hand first. He hesitated for a moment, then shook it.

A cold, firm hand—the calluses of one who’s held a sword for years.

“Nice to meet you.”

In that brief greeting, I caught a slight tremor in his voice.

Was it fear of the Heavenly Killing Star, or some other hesitation?

“First, sit.”

I indicated a chair.

After he took his seat, I slowly settled into the opposite chair.

‘It took quite a while.’

Memories of my past life flashed by.

Our first meeting was in a desperate situation. He felt like an elder to me.

The second was by chance, where I received an offer.

And after a few encounters—

Today, a proper conversation was finally about to begin.

“So. Why did you want to see me?”

I needed to grasp his intentions first.

To persuade, one must know the other party.

Yu Pae picked up a teacup, then set it down again. Hesitation lingered at his fingertips.

“When you faced Ma-gon… I heard you helped some of my subordinates.”

“Did I do that?”

I feigned ignorance, but inwardly I paid closer attention.

“The man named Jeong-yeon is my disciple. He said that without your help back then… they might have executed him, or at best he wouldn’t have survived.”

Sincerity colored the end of Yu Pae’s voice.

The tremor held gratitude.

“I wanted to express my thanks.”

“Well, it was something you did for me.”

I shrugged.

“The power of the Great sahyung is too strong, so I had to act quickly.”

Yu Pae nodded.

And in a low voice tinged with lingering caution, he continued.

“And a few days ago, I heard you helped First Demon as well.”

“….”

His words were cautious and weighted.

“It’s not an easy thing. No, it’s impossible. Not just in the way help is given, but because you know that such aid could ultimately come back at you as an arrow aimed at you.”

In truth, being a Supreme Demon doesn’t mean you can immediately help a Peak Demon warrior achieve enlightenment.

The tendencies, methods, and direction must align for enlightenment to follow.

If something is off, proper assistance can’t be given.

“So I was curious.”

Yu Pae’s gaze hardened coldly.

I felt his whole body stiffen as he rose from his seat.

“I investigated who you are, what footsteps you’ve left since coming here. I learned a great deal. Honestly, I was surprised. So I wanted to ask more.”

His question made the room feel like it froze.

“Why on earth? Why help us, who are hostile to you?”

I stood and faced Yu Pae. I saw him unconsciously move his hand toward his sword hilt, then stop.

“Since you’ve come this far, I’ll be blunt.”

His uneasy movement decided my stance.

“Come to our side.”

A long silence followed.

Yu Pae’s pupils shook violently at my words.

Shock, confusion, and indescribable emotions crossed his face.

“As the Fourth Disciple knows, I am Demon Lord’s…”

I cut him off. As I stepped closer, Yu Pae’s shoulders tensed.

“Captain Yu.”

He flinched.

“I know how this fight will end.”

It was a gamble. But I had to take the risk.

“What… absurd talk…”

Yu Pae was about to scoff, but stopped at my serious expression.

“Actually, I’m not the only one who knows. Everyone knows. Only one heir will survive, and as things stand the Great sahyung is still the most likely. Am I wrong?”

Under my glare, he reluctantly lowered his eyes. Instead of answering, he exhaled heavily.

“But how much blood will be spilled in the process?”

My voice was lower and calmer than usual, but the words carried weight. The candle trembled slightly.

“The Cult Leader’s selfishness will crush countless lives—innocent people, those who shouldn’t die yet.”

A flicker of discomfort passed over Yu Pae’s face.

“Were they originally the Demonic Cult’s warriors? Lovers of battle? No. Mostly they’re children who lost their way in the Central Plains, people carrying their own tragic tales who drifted here.”

I struck the table and continued amid the dull reverberation.

“If we let them die needlessly and justify it as sacrifices to the heirs’ power plays… I cannot stand by and watch.”

Yu Pae’s eyes widened.

He likely never imagined the Fourth Disciple of the Demon Cult would say such a thing.

“Surely you don’t intend to refuse this struggle for succession?”

I shook my head calmly.

“Captain Yu. What I want is peace.”

Yu Pae gave a bitter smile, a sharp edge to it.

“Is it because of being the Heavenly Killing Star? You’re choosing this because you won’t live long anyway, aren’t you?”

“That’s one of the reasons.”

I didn’t deny it; I intended to use that suspicion to my advantage.

“But more importantly, I want to prevent meaningless sacrifice.”

Yu Pae sneered provocatively.

“Then can’t you simply step down?”

“If I step down, will the Demon Lord’s desire stop?”

Yu Pae’s expression hardened. Seemingly at a loss for words, he had no rebuttal.

The Demon Lord’s ambition, as observed, was vast and deep.

In some respects, it could be stronger than the End Demon.

“He will inevitably clash with the Great sahyung. In the fire of that duel, our cult will be razed.”

Yu Pae did not argue further.

Bitter resignation seeped into his eyes.

It was a trace of acknowledgment.

“But if someone joins me, that dynamic will change.”

I steadied my breath and continued slowly.

“If we can gain the upper hand over the Great Senior Brother, the Demon Lord will be isolated. He’ll lose the reason to continue the fight.”

For a moment, Yu Pae sharply retorted.

“With that body, can you do it?”

He pointed to Heavenly Killing Star.

Seeing our future and limits, that sweet yet dangerous temptation, he instinctively recoiled.

“No matter how grand the ambition, if you suffer some mishap along the way, isn’t that a promise you can’t keep? The Third Disciple who allies with you would be put in a difficult position as well.”

Yu Pae’s eyes sharpened. He wasn’t wrong; he knew our weak points exactly. I let a crooked smile cross my face.

“That’s why I need someone to carry on my will even more.”

“…What do you mean?”

I put weight into my voice and spoke.

“Someone to succeed me when I’m gone. At least that person should carry on my will.”