Chapter 3

I opened my eyes.

I’ve opened and closed my eyes countless times throughout my life, but never had I been this desperate.

Please, let me return to a time when I can undo all of those events!

Please!

And what unfolded before my eyes was a scene that compensated for all the hardships I had endured before my regression.

I was standing on a vast martial arts arena, as wide as a plaza.

Beyond the thousands of martial heroes filling the spectator seats, I could see enormous demon statues. Red, blue, and yellow tri-colored demon statues were positioned as if clashing with each other around the arena. Their giant swords, sabers, and fists formed a roof over the arena.

And far beyond that, an even more massive statue stood tall. The black demon statue, arms folded, haughtily looking down on the world, was the symbol of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Cult.

‘I’ve returned to the past!’

My heart started pounding as if it would burst.

“Wooooah!”

As if celebrating my regression, cheers erupted from all directions. The demon followers of the Heavenly Demonic Divine Cult filled the area around the arena.

‘Come to think of it, today is!’

At that moment, a man climbed onto the arena from the opposite side.

‘It’s the day of the New Demon Skirmish.’

Around this time, Father had suddenly announced that he would not limit the next cult leader to his own bloodline.

The cult was in an uproar over this announcement. Now, anyone with enough skill could become the Heavenly Demon.

As if to reinforce his announcement, Father held a martial arts competition for the cult’s young geniuses. This was the New Demon Skirmish.

And he gave the winner of the New Demon Skirmish a chance to challenge one of his two sons.

Whichever of the winner or the son emerged victorious, the Heavenly Demon said he would grant them one wish.

So how fiery must the enthusiasm for the New Demon Skirmish have been? The cult’s young geniuses participated en masse to compete for supremacy.

After ten days of fierce battles, the tournament winner emerged, and the opponent he chose was me.

“Unrivaled Sword! Unrivaled Sword[1]!”

The martial heroes chanted my name. The very name that Gwi Ryeongja had so desperately wanted to know. I am Unrivaled Sword, the youngest of the Heavenly Demon’s two sons.

As the martial heroes cheered for Unrivaled Sword, my opponent, the tournament winner, frowned deeply.

“Hmph! After this match, the name they’ll be calling will be different. Even if it’s you, I won’t go easy.”

Back then, I was offended that he had chosen me. It meant he saw me as an easier target than my brother.

But looking back, there was another reason he chose me.

“Why don’t you forfeit now?”

He was already certain of his victory.

In reality, I did lose this match.

It wasn’t because I lacked skill. It was due to my opponent’s petty scheme. He had bribed my kitchen cook to poison my food with a qi-scattering poison[2] that would temporarily disable my use of inner energy.

It wasn’t an ordinary qi-scattering poison. It was a special kind that showed no symptoms when at rest, but would scatter one’s inner energy in intense situations like a martial arts match. I later learned that this was a qi-scattering poison called Black Queen[3], secretly developed and distributed by the Unorthodox Alliance.

Anyway, after losing this match, I reported the truth to Father, but he said nothing. I remember him giving me a look of reproach, as if asking how I could fall for such a scheme.

Afterwards, I made several reckless moves in an attempt to make up for today’s defeat.

My enemy at that time wasn’t my brother or the other successor candidates. My enemy was my own impatience and wounded pride. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Father’s gaze looking at me pitifully.

A series of mistakes and failures, and so I stumbled over my own feet and drifted away from the succession struggle.

It all started with today’s defeat.

Standing at this turning point of fate, my first words were:

“What was your name again?”

Instantly, laughter erupted from the surroundings, and my opponent’s expression hardened. He must have thought I was mocking him, but I truly couldn’t remember his name.

“Disrespecting me, Gu Pyeong-ho[4], is the same as insulting my master!”

“Ah, right. Gu Pyeong-ho it was.”

Gu Pyeong-ho, the fifth of seven disciples of Gu Cheon-pa[5], one of the Eight Demon Supremes[6]. I’m sure he must have used all sorts of underhanded tactics to win the New Demon Skirmish as well.

“Hey, watch your words. You’re disrespecting me, why drag your master into this?”

“Hey, you should speak properly. I’m disrespecting you, why bring your master into this?”

Suddenly, laughter erupted from among the heroes. It was the laughter of the demonic cultivators from the One Flower Sword Elder’s side, who didn’t get along well with the Blood Heavens Saber Demon.

“Young Master! Seeing how you’re irritating me like this, you must be confident in your skills.”

Ignoring his words, I turned my head, gazing at the Heavenly Demon sitting in the high seat far away.

Even among thousands of demonic cultivators, he exuded a clear presence that said ‘I am here’.

If someone who didn’t know Father was brought here and told to find the Heavenly Demon, they would surely find him. Father’s presence was like seeing a blood-red circle in a black and white picture.

On either side of Father sat the Eight Demon Supremes, representing the top experts of our cult. Although they were lowering themselves due to Father’s presence beside them, they too were beings with powerful presences.

My eyes met Father’s. In his gaze towards me, I read this thought:

How will you overcome this obstacle?

It was a look I had never felt at the time.

‘Ah! Father already knew I had been poisoned with the power-scattering poison.’

He had pretended not to care, to be unaware of the succession struggle, but he had understood everything.

I could tell that although the same event as in the past was unfolding, it was a completely different situation.

‘You knew everything, didn’t you? Then…’

Tattling after being defeated, as I did before, would be the worst strategy.

Asking to postpone the match because of the power-scattering poison would be a mediocre strategy.

Winning without Internal energy would be the best strategy.

Of course, I had to employ the best strategy. Because I was no longer that bushy-haired youngster from back then. Because I had lived a much longer life than even Father.

In fact, someone like Gu Pyeong-ho would be no match for me even if I fought without Internal energy.

But I couldn’t reveal my skills in this situation with so many demonic cultivators watching.

I raised my hand high to draw everyone’s attention.

And then I spoke as loudly as possible.

“I declare before all the heroes of our cult gathered here. I will face Gu Pyeong-ho without using Internal energy! I’m confident I can win even without using Internal energy!”

After a moment of silence following my declaration, thunderous cheers erupted.

“Waaaaaah!”

On the other hand, Gu Pyeong-ho’s face visibly distorted. He hadn’t expected me to come out like this. He must want to ask:

“How did you know you were poisoned with the power-scattering poison? It’s a poison that only takes effect when the fight starts.”

You’re dying to know, aren’t you?

Anyway, in this situation, if he alone used Internal energy, he would be seen as a coward.

Gu Pyeong-ho, overwhelmed with embarrassment, shouted with a reddened face.

“If Young Master comes out like that, I too will not use Internal energy!”

He reacted as I had expected.

A few of his followers clapped, but there were no cheers. His choice had turned what could have been an exciting fight between someone with Internal energy and someone without into a dull fight between two people without Internal energy. Sighs of disappointment could even be heard.

Gu Pyeong-ho was flustered, and that embarrassment turned into anger towards me.

“Young Master! Even if I don’t use Internal energy, my blade has no eyes, so you’d better be careful.”

Ignoring his warning, I was examining my body. The unfamiliar sensation of a young body was dominating me. The sword I used at that time felt as light as a toy.

‘Will this body follow my thoughts?’

Gu Pyeong-ho drew his saber with momentum, but conversely, I untied my sword and put it down on the ground. After all, using a sword would increase the chances of revealing my true skills.

Cheers erupted again. Isn’t it the nature of demonic cultivators to cheer when someone thoroughly disrespects and mocks their opponent?

“Since you’re the Cult Leader’s flesh and blood, I won’t kill you, but I’ll take one of those arms!”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Gu Pyeong-ho leaped towards me, closing the distance and swinging his saber down at my shoulder.

Swish!

I watched the incoming saber until the last moment, then twisted my body to avoid it.

‘Good, very good!’

My worry about whether my body would move according to my will was unfounded. The body responded immediately, and it was faster and more vigorous than I had expected. It was as if my body was saying:

—Have you forgotten? This is you in your youth, after all.

The time when I felt I could run all day if I wanted to, and my clenched fist seemed capable of crushing anything.

‘So this is how vigorously my heart used to beat at this age!’

I couldn’t help but smile. I was so happy I wanted to shout with joy.

Seeing my smile, Gu Pyeong-ho became even more frenzied.

“This crazy bastard is smiling?”

With his eyes rolled back, Gu Pyeong-ho swung his saber, blatantly aiming for my vital points. Since he might use his inner energy to unleash saber energy at this rate, I decided not to drag this out any longer.

Dodging the saber that persistently tried to cut my arm, I rushed towards his chest.

Gu Pyeong-ho exhaled sharply and tried to defend, but my elbow was already driving into his solar plexus.

Thud!

I stuck to Gu Pyeong-ho like a shadow as he bounced backward.

My fists landed in rapid succession. The first quick blow caved in his nose, and the second heavy punch broke his ribs. Even without using inner energy, we are martial artists who have trained since childhood. We can kill a cow with our bare hands, so his body stood no chance.

I didn’t stop there.

I grabbed the wrist of the screaming man as he fell to his knees.

“Which hand did you use to poison? This one?”

Holding his arm, I leaped high and then brought down a quaking leg.

Boom.

Using the force that traveled from my foot through my entire body, I used my knee as a lever to break his arm.

Crack!

The shockwave that swept through like a tsunami completely shattered his wrist, elbow, and shoulder.

“Aaaaargh!”

Even without the horrific scream, everyone could tell. With his sword arm and shoulder completely crushed, he was now incapacitated.

Cheers erupted from all directions.

“Wooooah!”

It wasn’t a half-hearted victory but a clear one with a spectacle, satisfying everyone.

The demon followers from the Blood Heavens Saber Demon’s faction jeered, but their voices were drowned out by the unceasing cheers.

The Blood Heavens Saber Demon, sitting among the audience, showed no reaction to his disciple being crushed, merely observing the situation.

As the heat, cheers, and groans of pain subsided, Father finally rose from his seat. The red dragon embroidered on Father’s pure white royal robe looked as if it would ascend to the heavens at any moment.

The Eight Demon Supremes sitting with him rose in unison.

Whoosh.

Like a wave spreading, all the demon followers in the arena stood up and paid respects to the absolute ruler.

Heaven’s Esteemed Sword[7], the Heavenly Demon.

The strongest of this era.

…For now, at least.

Father looked at me. It was a gaze so powerful it felt like it could pierce through my body.

Back then, I was terrified of Father. Especially that intense gaze that seemed to look down on people—I don’t think I ever properly met it. How could I have had a proper conversation with him?

In the end, my perception of Father was made up of guesses, preconceptions, and rumors.

I want to tell my past self this:

Don’t imagine relationships on your own. Look straight, listen properly. The answer isn’t inside you. It’s right there in the other person.

I didn’t avoid Father’s gaze.

What’s so scary about that expression? There’s just a human there, trying not to lose his authority as he rules over ten thousand demons amidst countless challenges and schemes targeting his position. That’s where the coldness and gruffness come from. Now I can see what I couldn’t see then.

“What’s your wish?”

Father’s deep bass voice, even without inner energy, reached everyone and had the power to intimidate the listeners.

Everyone listened intently to my answer. Especially the Eight Demon Supremes beside him, who were on high alert about what answer I would give.

“My wish is…”

Since I hadn’t expected to return to this day, I followed my instinct.

“I want to go hunting with Father.”

Father flinched in surprise at this unexpected request. The watching demon followers also murmured. They hadn’t expected such a wish. They probably thought I would ask for a treasured sword or a martial arts manual, since a wish to become the successor wouldn’t be granted.

“Hunting with me?”

“Yes. Just the two of us, Father. I heard you enjoyed hunting in your youth. I’d like to learn hunting from you this time.”

After silently staring at me for a moment, Father gruffly said, “We leave at dawn tomorrow.”

Having said this, Father began to walk.

The solitary red Heavenly Demon moved through the black and white picture, and all the demon followers bowed their heads. Not even a breath could be heard among the thousands gathered there.

As the Heavenly Demon and the Eight Demon Supremes left, a vicious voice finally rose:

“What an idiot. To waste a wish on something like that…”

Looking back, I saw Gu Pyeong-ho being carried away by his sworn brothers, his arm hanging limply.

I scratched my head and said to him, “Sorry, what was your name again?”

Insulted to the very end, Gu Pyeong-ho screamed, “Aaaaargh! Kill that bastard! Senior brother! Please, kill him!”

But no one dared to rush at me after the match had ended. They just glared at me coldly before leaving with Gu Pyeong-ho.

‘Now that I’m back, your lives that were running wild won’t be so fun anymore.’

I was grateful to heaven for sending me back to this crucial turning point in my life. I was also thankful to Gwi Ryeongja who completed the technique, even though he had tried to betray me.

‘Thank you, truly.’

I looked up at the sky, as blue as my age, and smiled brightly.