Chapter 173: Extremity (3)

Il-mok's voice echoed through the quiet corridor, and after a brief moment...

Creak.

The door opened, and Jeong Hyeon stepped out to greet Il-mok.

Il-mok looked at her with surprise written all over his face. He hadn't expected her to open the door herself and step forward like that.

Thanks to her bold move, the distance between them was barely a single step.

That was not to say Jeong Hyeon had achieved the state of Transcendence.

Even in the darkness of night, he could see her body trembling like a leaf.

"Sorry about that."

When Il-mok considerately stepped back to give her space, Jeong Hyeon took deep breaths to slowly calm herself down.

After staring her for a moment, Il-mok explained why he'd come looking for her in the middle of the night.

"Actually, I came to thank you. My memory's a bit hazy, but I think I saw an arrow fly toward that bastard at the end."

If Jeong Hyeon's arrow hadn't targeted that leader at the crucial moment, Il-mok would've been the one who died instead.

The reason he'd come at such a late hour was simple.

During the afternoon, Jeong Hyeon would be at the training grounds with her club activities, and in the evening, there'd be plenty of disciples moving around inside the Hall of the Demonic Way.

Considering her tendency to avoid attention, he'd deliberately chosen a time when hardly anyone would be around.

Jeong Hyeon took several deep breaths before speaking. "Young Master, do you remember what you told me about my future last time?"

It was an odd response to his thanks, so Il-mok searched his memory before answering.

"I remember."

Back then, Il-mok had suggested she might consider taking on assassination and espionage missions with the Dark Shadow Pavilion, or secretly guarding someone from the shadows.

"I'm thinking of joining the Hidden Guard Pavilion after I graduate from the Hall of the Demonic Way."

"The Hidden Guard Pavilion?"

As Il-mok tilted his head at this sudden topic, Jeong Hyeon continued.

"That's right. I want to become someone who protects you from the shadows going forward. So you really don't need to thank me."

***

About a month ago, on the evening when the fanatics had attacked.

A tense atmosphere hung over the main headquarters of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

It’s because rather than returning to the Hall of the Demonic Way as tradition dictated, the disciples of the Demonic Way were brought to the main headquarters instead.

It wasn't simply because Il-mok was in critical condition.

Despite the Black Tiger Corps, instructors, and teaching assistants fighting tooth and nail to protect the disciples, half of them had suffered serious injuries.

Furthermore, since the other half were all lightly injured, they had headed to the main headquarters instead of returning to their place.

Right now, at the medical wing.

"Get more disinfectant alcohol prepared right now!!"

“Hurry up and wash those clothes!! We managed to save them with surgery, do you intend to let them die of infection?!”

"DemonicPhysician! We're running low on medicinal ingredients!"

"Then get some warriors and have them gather more! Comb through the Tianshan Mountain Range like you're hunting for fleas, get me those medicinal herbs right now!”

The place was an absolute battlefield.

The critically injured weren't just the disciples.  There were many among the assistant instructors, instructors, and Black Tiger Corps members who had thrown their bodies on the line to fight and protect them.

In one corner of the medical wing, which resembled a warzone in its frantic atmosphere, there was a group giving off a distinctly gloomy vibe.

These were the disciples classified as lightly wounded, resting after receiving basic treatment.

Every single one of them sat with their mouths shut, either staring into space or hanging their heads low.

The experience of hundreds of fanatics trying to kill them with complete disregard for their own lives had left deep psychological scars that couldn't be easily healed.

One in particular rested alone among these lightly wounded disciples, separated from the others.

A female instructor, also classified as lightly wounded, approached that disciple but stopped at a certain distance.

That was as close as this particular disciple would allow anyone to get.

"Disciple Jeong."

"...Instructor Eun Ryeo."

Jeong Hyeon, who had been resting with her head down, looked up at Eun Ryeo.

"What were you thinking so deeply about?"

Eun Ryeo asked out of concern that Jeong Hyeon might be consumed by negative thoughts.

“…I’ve been thinking that I really don't belong in a combat unit after all."

Hearing Jeong Hyeon’s reply, Eun Ryeo realized her worry hadn't been misplaced.

"What are you talking about? Everyone makes mistakes. Are you planning to give up everything just because you fell to a Heart Demon once?"

Despite being faced with Eun Ryeo's loving reprimand, Jeong Hyeon just shook her head.

"I simply realized clearly this time that the Ghostly Spirit Divine Bow I've learned doesn't suit group activities like those of combat units."

Eun Ryeo, who had been about to scold Jeong Hyeon for her negative words, paused mid-sentence.

She realized something belatedly.

Despite the negative content of her words, Jeong Hyeon's eyes hadn't been consumed by darkness.

Instead, they held a conviction.

"But I did realize what kind of work truly suits me, Instructor."

"And what would that be?"

"Protecting someone important from the darkness, where no one can see."

Jeong Hyeon was remembering that moment.

The memories of saving allies who had been on the brink of death with arrows she'd shot.

Among all those memories, the moment burned into her mind like a brand was when Il-mok had faced off against the fanatics' leader.

While brilliant stars clashed and intense explosions and energy waves rang out, her single arrow had saved Il-mok's life.

In the middle of that ugly, horrific battlefield where people killed and were killed, Jeong Hyeon had ridiculously felt an exhilaration she'd never experienced before.

It was the moment when she—who had always thought herself pathetic—had protected someone precious.

"...Well done."

At Jeong Hyeon's determined words, so different from her usual fragile demeanor, Eun Ryeo nodded seriously.

While everyone else was being swept away by psychological trauma, Jeong Hyeon was actually thinking about the future.

No, perhaps her subconscious had led her this way to overcome that trauma.

If she kept wallowing in depressing thoughts, she might really fall into a serious Heart Demon and fall into Qi Deviation.

A few days later, Eun Ryeo, Jeong Hyeon, and the other lightly wounded disciples returned to the Hall of the Demonic Way first.

Even after returning to the Demonic Way, Jeong Hyeon did her best to make that determination a reality.

She spent each and every day engrossed in her training.

This moment was no different.

'If I keep running away from the very person I want to protect, how can I ever guard him?'

When Il-mok suddenly showed up in the middle of the night, even though she felt like she might have a panic attack, she forced herself to step forward, open the door, and approach him.

Because he was the person she had vowed to protect from now on.

“In the future, I want to become a person who protects you from behind the shadows, Young Master. Therefore, you really do not need to thank me.”

Jeong Hyeon declared her ambitious goal with an assertiveness unlike her usual self.

Her heart felt like it might explode and her breathing was getting rapid, but somehow she squeezed out the courage.

Seeing Jeong Hyeon's uncharacteristically bold demeanor, Il-mok tilted his head and then frowned as he asked, "Wait, did Disciple Ju Seo-yeon brainwash you or something?"

Il-mok figured that when people suddenly changed, it was either because they were about to die or because they'd been influenced by some crazy person around them.

***

Having received the Heavenly Demon’s summons, Yeom Ga-hwi arrived at the Heavenly Demon Palace.

"I pay my respects to the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons."

As Yeom Ga-hwi offered his profound respects, the Heavenly Demon opened his mouth.

"Rise. The reason I called the Hall Master today is that I have something to tell you regarding Il-mok."

“Please give your command.”

“Exclude Il-mok from the third field training that will be held soon.”

"!!"

After showing a surprised expression, Yeom Ga-hwi swallowed once and replied with a solemn face.

He was like a loyal subject risking his life to offer a word of earnest advice.

"If the Supreme One commands me to risk my life fighting the unbelievers, I will do so. However, this would shake the long-standing rules of our cult."

Yeom Ga-hwi now understood Il-mok's ridiculous talent very well.

But no matter how outstanding his talent might be, giving special treatment to Il-mok alone would be problematic.

“I know well what you are trying to say, Hall Master Yeom. However, this decision is not solely for Il-mok’s sake.”

"???"

To the puzzled Yeom Ga-hwi, the Heavenly Demon explained Il-mok's condition.

His understanding of the sword was already trying to break free from the Extremity stage, but his external and internal cultivation had yet to reach that level of enlightenment.

"His side effects from transcending Extremity are already severe. And now, with the balance between his mind and his body thrown off, how unstable do you think Il-mok's condition is?"

"But..."

"Hear me out to the end. If Il-mok goes on field training in that state and has an episode while wielding his sword, do you truly not know what might happen? Il-mok is already at a level similar to the Hall instructors. No. If he has another episode and swings his sword while ignoring his body's condition, even the instructors would find him difficult to stop."

Yeom Ga-hwi understood what the Heavenly Demon was getting at.

"Are you saying to exclude Disciple Il-mok to protect the other disciples?"

"Exactly. In my view, Il-mok right now is no different from cracked porcelain."

The Heavenly Demon recalled the scene from their recent conversation when Il-mok had almost had an episode.

Though he'd pushed back those side effects with the demonic energy of the Heavenly Demon Divine Arts, that effect wouldn't last forever.

"Until all those cracks are sealed, he must be handled carefully. Rather than thinking of him as a disciple, watch him with the mindset of monitoring an instructor."

If the Heavenly Demon had his way, he'd want to keep Il-mok by his side to monitor him and prevent any episodes rather than sending him back to the Hall.

But as the leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, which revered martial arts and was founded on Demonic Arts, he couldn't overprotect his own disciple.

From the Heavenly Demon's perspective, just sending Il-mok back to the Hall was already a significant compromise.

It was what he had to do as the Heavenly Demon to set an example for the members of the Divine Cult.

Yeom Ga-hwi understood the Heavenly Demon's true feelings and bowed deeply.

"I will follow the Supreme One's will."

Seeing the upright loyal retainer bend his principles, the Heavenly Demon smiled gently and added.

"And you know this as well, don't you? Second-year disciples go on field training to quickly integrate them into the cult's organizations after graduating from the Hall of the Demonic Way. From that perspective, do you truly think Il-mok needs additional field training?"

At that question, Yeom Ga-hwi had no choice but to remain silent.

Nearly a month had passed since Il-mok collapsed. Word of what happened during the attack spread throughout the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

Particularly those who had witnessed Il-mok fighting up close that day were universally praising him.

It wasn't just about his outstanding skill level.

Despite being a disciple with almost no real combat experience, he was competent enough to read the flow of the battlefield.

And beyond that, his bravery in facing the enemy leader alone while suffering serious injuries is unmatched.

'...He wouldn't have trouble fulfilling his role even if he entered a combat unit or other organization as a newcomer. No, it would probably be better for him to enter at a Squad Leader level upon graduation.'

Realizing the Heavenly Demon's judgment was correct, Yeom Ga-hwi pressed his head to the floor and cried out, "Please punish this fool's ignorance!"

The Heavenly Demon looked down at him with an unreadable expression before speaking in a grave tone.

"You can pay for that sin slowly from now on. Since Il-mok is in a dangerous state where he might have another episode at any time, your punishment is to monitor him so that he doesn't harm the other disciples and can safely graduate from the Hall."

The Heavenly Demon had successfully assigned Yeom Ga-hwi as Il-mok's dedicated caretaker.

Meanwhile, the Hidden Guard Pavilion Master who was always guarding the Heavenly Demon at his side, had to do his best to manage his expression.

'Young Master Il-mok's talent goes without saying, but I'm worried that the Supreme One seems to favor Young Master Il-mok too much.'

The Hidden Guard Pavilion Master knew the truth.

That everything had been planned.

The reason the Supreme One had taken the time to persuade Yeom Ga-hwi step by step, even though he could have simply forced the order to exempt Il-mok, was to make him take on the role of Il-mok’s caretaker.

The Hidden Guard Pavilion Master, who had been wondering why he cherished his youngest disciple so much, suddenly came to his senses.

'How could this be? To have such a blasphemous thought without even realizing it! The Supreme One must have a profound reason for acting this way.’

He had almost fallen into doubt without realizing it.

‘This too must be because of Young Master Il-mok! Perhaps Young Master Il-mok and the Supreme One have orchestrated this affair to test me.’

A divine test, it seemed, was all a matter of perspective.

Or rather, the level of one’s mental gymnastics.