Wow, this is…
Wi Hong-ryeon watched Hong Wi-moon with keen eyes.
Hong Wi-moon maintained his cold expression. However, his whites of his eyes were shot through with blood.
Hmm, isn’t this dangerous?
He was being thoroughly humiliated by Seo Ryang in front of everyone. If it were her, she would have drawn her blade without a second thought.
That was the difference between Wi Hong-ryeon and Hong Wi-moon – the difference between one who lived by madness and one who lived by politics.
Hong Wi-moon spoke coldly.
“You’re quite skilled at making others your plaything with wicked words. Well, Third Brother has always been that way.”
The words both denied Seo Ryang’s previous statements and mocked him.
Naturally, Seo Ryang wasn’t affected in the slightest.
After all, he had no attachment whatsoever to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. How could he be angered by someone’s mockery without any deep relationship?
“I’ll keep this brief. With my generous magnanimity, today’s rudeness…”
“What magnanimity makes you try to kill your so-called brother from behind, you petty bastard.”
Killing intent flashed through Hong Wi-moon’s eyes for a moment. He hadn’t expected Seo Ryang to mention such matters in this setting.
“You should choose your next words carefully.”
“Me? Necessarily? Why?”
“Do you really want to turn this into a mud fight?”
Though indirect, it was Hong Wi-moon’s most direct expression possible. He had always avoided this topic whenever it came up.
And in many ways, that had been the right choice. At least for a succession candidate who wanted the demon practitioners’ support, it was proper conduct.
“Would that be so bad?”
“…!”
“Does anyone not know that we candidates are fighting tooth and nail anyway? We’re not playing peek-a-boo here, so why tiptoe around the subject?”
Suddenly the atmosphere grew colder than ever before.
Hong Wi-moon stared at Seo Ryang before speaking.
“Did you come to declare war?”
He had judged that further persuasion or feigning ignorance would be meaningless.
Seo Ryang grinned.
“Now we’re finally having a real conversation.”
“…”
“It’s not quite a war declaration – I came with a separate proposal.”
“If that was truly your intention, why didn’t you come to my quarters earlier?”
“When a superior comes to someone’s home, shouldn’t the inferior crawl out to the guest hall saying ‘oh thank you’? Weren’t you the one who kicked away the courtesy I extended?”
He wasn’t wrong. But Hong Wi-moon had his own points to make.
“From your behavior, you don’t seem like someone who values courtesy much. If you had a purpose, why didn’t you just barge in according to your rude nature instead of drawing on nonexistent patience to wait?”
Seo Ryang’s answer was masterful.
“I wanted to cause some chaos.”
“…!”
“I knew you’d drag your feet anyway. Since they showed us to the distinguished guest room, when else would I get the chance to drink and eat fine food in such a luxurious place?”
“…”
“I was waiting leisurely, half for fun.”
Hong Wi-moon’s eye twitched. He desperately wanted to blow that damn bastard’s head off.
“So what do you have to say?”
Your words are getting shorter.
Seo Ryang glanced around before dropping his bombshell.
“How about we wrap this up cleanly today?”
“…?!”
“You don’t really like playing underhanded tricks behind the scenes either, right? You must be pretty heated after what I did to you.”
“Surely you don’t mean…”
Seo Ryang tapped his sword.
“I am a sword. What are you?”
He meant to end it with one match – whether a duel or a fight to the death.
Hong Wi-moon was dumbfounded.
“Are you playing games with me now?”
“Do you waste precious time scheming against someone only worth playing games with?”
“If you’re making reckless moves because there are many watching…”
“Don’t assume everyone thinks like you. That’s a bad habit.”
Not just Hong Wi-moon, but everyone was left speechless by Seo Ryang’s nonchalant attitude. Even Wi Hong-ryeon, who had been watching with a goofy grin, thought, How can such a crazy bastard exist?
“I’ll ask one last time.”
“What?”
“Did you really come here with this intention?”
“What else could I do? Our Fourth is hiding away, either scared or shy. I hate playing mind games. Wouldn’t it be more satisfying for both of us to settle this, win or lose?”
Could someone of the Third Young Master’s status really say such things?
As he stared at Seo Ryang, disappointment gradually filled Hong Wi-moon’s face.
Was he only this much after all?
He had shown such unexpected sides that Hong Wi-moon thought he must have some scheme. He thought there must be double or triple traps in this recklessness that others wouldn’t even consider.
But that wasn’t it. This man was completely serious.
Hong Wi-moon turned away.
“Clean up the guest hall! Call workers to clear the debris first! Have a new building up within a month!”
His thunderous voice carried tremendous authority.
He was completely ignoring Seo Ryang’s group. The moment he realized Seo Ryang was serious, all interest and tension regarding him vanished.
Ma Dong-pil frowned. Wi Hong-ryeon growled like a beast. Though they knew Seo Ryang had gone too far, such blatant disregard…
Hong Wi-moon shouted again.
“What are you all doing! Move right n-“
That’s when it happened.
Thump thump.
“…!!”
Whoosh!
Hong Wi-moon quickly turned and lowered his stance.
Seo Ryang smiled.
“What’s wrong?”
“…”
“Neck feeling tingly?”
Hong Wi-moon’s eyes trembled.
What was that?
His back instantly became damp with sweat.
Just as he decided to return to his quarters, he had an illusion of some bizarre beast – whether tiger or wolf – charging at him with jaws wide open.
The beast’s breath on his ear. The surging stench and killing intent. He felt that if he hadn’t reacted immediately, his life would have been forfeit.
“Well, his reactions are first-rate. He’s well-trained.”
“…?”
“I thought you were addicted to some nasty drug, but that’s not it? You’ve enhanced your solo training efficiency with medicinal power containing subtle hallucinogenic components. Is this the Snake House method?”
“…!”
“As expected of a prestigious demonic family. Your approach to martial arts is unique.”
An astonishment no one else could recognize spread across Hong Wi-moon’s face.
How?
The reason he always smoked tobacco was simple. It was for training.
Solo training is practice based on imagination. One sets up imaginary opponents, predicts all variables for sparring, then identifies the strengths and weaknesses of one’s martial arts to internalize them.
It was similar to gaining enlightenment through meditation. Masters who reached that realm could clearly see their opponent’s strength and responses without exchanging blows.
The Snake House maximized training efficiency through drugs. The tobacco Hong Wi-moon always smoked was called Illusion Conquering Grass[1], made exclusively by the Snake House.
“Well, it’s a fresh approach, but…”
Shing.
Seo Ryang drew his sword again.
Unlike before when he deliberately caused trouble, thick killing intent seeped from the blade.
“In the end, it’s just playing with imagination.”
“…!”
“Let’s see how effective martial arts gained through mere fantasy are.”
“…”
“Come at me. I’ll give you the first move.”
Zing!
Dense purple demonic energy rose thickly from Hong Wi-moon’s body.
The Serpent King Demonic Art activated automatically due to the shock of having one of his secrets exposed and the sense of crisis from his opponent’s provocation being different from before.
Crack.
A strange light flickered in Seo Ryang’s eyes.
He noticed changes in Hong Wi-moon’s hands as he lowered his stance while glaring.
Fingernails… interesting.
Hong Wi-moon’s fingernails suddenly became sharp. As a bonus, they turned into a smooth black that gleamed.
They say demonic arts have many bizarre techniques, and indeed they do.
Swish.
Seo Ryang pointed his sword at Hong Wi-moon. Simultaneously, a majestic energy wave erupted from his body.
Wi Hong-ryeon’s eyes widened.
Unity of Mind and Blade.
That realm she had seen at the Purple-Eyebrowed Tower. Hong Wi-moon probably couldn’t even see Seo Ryang’s form anymore.
Whoosh.
The blowing wind stirred with killing intent while rising cold air fueled anger.
It was truly a powder keg moment. One of the rare direct confrontations between succession candidates in Heavenly Demon Divine Cult history was about to unfold before everyone.
That’s when it happened.
“Stop!”
Boom!
The main gate burst open, and a group rushed in.
“Stop! Please stop!”
Their steps were urgent yet disciplined. Over thirty masters in black martial uniforms appeared with sword-like presence.
“Third Young Master, please sheathe your sword! Fourth Young Master! Fourth Young Master, please withdraw!”
Seo Ryang frowned.
What were these black-clad bastards doing, throwing ashes on a meal about to be served?
That’s when Wi Hong-ryeon’s face contorted. Her expression emanating near-murderous madness was quite striking.
“The Criminal Court’s Black Watchers[2]!”
They were elite warriors worth a hundred men each, dispatched by the Criminal Court when unrest arose too difficult to handle internally. If demon practitioners were known as terrifying demons in the martial world, the Black Watchers were terror itself to demon practitioners.
Seo Ryang’s eyes gleamed.
Black Watchers? The Criminal Court’s suppression unit!
Living up to their infamous reputation, each member’s martial arts were no less formidable than Wi Hong-ryeon’s.
Uniquely, they all wore pure white masks. The white masks with only eye holes created an eerie fear in observers.
One of the Black Watchers, a commander with a red dot marked on the left eye of his mask, walked between the two.
“Black Watchers of the Criminal Court, Seventh Guard Commander[3].”
He didn’t kneel even before two people of the highest status in the Divine Cult. It showed how tremendous the Black Watchers’ authority was.
The Seventh Guard Commander bowed slightly.
“People are watching. Please stop here.”
Though it was a polite request, the pressure in his voice was extraordinary.
Hong Wi-moon, who had been watching Seo Ryang with tense eyes, turned toward the main gate at a sudden presence.
Shin Hoe.
It was none other than Shin Hoe who had called the Black Watchers. It seemed he had reported to the Criminal Court in the middle of his investigation, preparing for any situation.
The Seventh Guard Commander shouted to the guest hall’s demon practitioners.
“Clear the surroundings immediately!”
The startled demon practitioners scattered. The Black Watchers inspired a different kind of fear than their master, the Fourth Young Master. With even a Guard Commander deployed, this was no longer a place for them.
Seo Ryang watched Hong Wi-moon quietly before smirking.
“You have good subordinates.”
“…”
“Take good care of the life your subordinate saved from now on.”
Snap!
Seo Ryang sheathed his sword with discipline and turned away.
“Squad Leader Wi, Captain Ma. Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes!”
Seo Ryang walked out the main gate without looking back. Ma Dong-pil did the same.
However, Wi Hong-ryeon turned and growled briefly.
Surprisingly, it was directed at Hong Wi-moon.
“I thought you had guts, but what a disappointment.”
Hong Wi-moon’s face twisted involuntarily.
The Seventh Guard Commander stepped forward.
“Mad Demon Squad Leader, you too should leave. I advise you to return to your quarters and reflect.”
Wi Hong-ryeon snorted briefly. But she made no other retort.
Thus the short but intense incident concluded ambiguously.
Shin Hoe hurried to Hong Wi-moon.
“Young Master! Are you alright?”
“Shin Hoe.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Call the True Demon Squad Leader right now.”
Killing intent rose in Hong Wi-moon’s eyes.
“When someone properly challenges me to a fight, it would be discourteous to keep refusing.”
***
“Damn it! I’m ashamed to have laughed and drank at the same table! If it were me, I’d have thrown punches first just out of embarrassment! Sheesh.”
Wi Hong-ryeon kept grumbling.
To a demon practitioner, pride was like life itself. If one endures even in a situation like that, they’re no demon practitioner. In other words, Hong Wi-moon was no longer a demon practitioner in Wi Hong-ryeon’s eyes.
Ma Dong-pil sighed.
“Still, it’s fortunate. That the fight didn’t escalate.”
“What are you talking about? This is just the beginning.”
“What do you mean…”
“Didn’t you see that bastard’s eyes? He was humiliated in front of all his underlings. I don’t know exactly, but his liver must be bursting with rage.”
Seo Ryang smiled faintly.
“Check the True Demon Squad’s movements. Whether today or tomorrow, they’ll definitely move soon.”