Translator: FenrirTL
Editor/Quality Checker: Saphartlantis
Murim Term Consultant: Kopke
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< Chapter 177: I Returned After Completing the Mission >
When I woke up, Seo Daeryong was sitting by a campfire next to the parked carriage.
"You're awake?"
"How long did I sleep?"
"You slept plenty. But really, how can a martial artist sleep so soundly that someone could carry them away without them noticing?"
"Even in my sleep, I was on guard."
"With you snoring like that?"
In truth, I had slept deeply without waking even once.
Of course, Seo Daeryong wouldn’t know. If there was any real danger, the Heavenly Demon Body Protection Technique would wake me.
"Are you hungry? Here, have some of this."
Seo Daeryong brought out the food he had bought from an inn before we set off. Meticulously, they were dishes I particularly enjoyed.
"After this meal, we'll probably have to hunt for food."
Eating my favorite dishes after a big battle made me feel really good. It may not seem like much, but small things like this tend to move people. Thanks, Daeryong.
After eating heartily and drinking some refreshing water, I couldn't help but say:
"Ah, now I feel alive."
As I sat by the fire, Seo Daeryong handed me a golden ointment.
"Now it's time to treat your wounds."
I took off my blood-soaked clothes and the Ghost Protector Garment. Then, I unwound the Supreme Heavenly Silk and rewrapped it around the hilt of the Black Demon Sword. The silkworm thread gradually turned red as it soaked up the blood. I considered washing it but decided against it—the hilt of the Black Demon Sword wrapped in blood-stained fabric had a certain charm. 1
I applied the golden ointment to my wounds. Although I had avoided fatal injuries, I had cuts and scratches everywhere, and my body was bruised black and blue.
"You're still young, but with all those scars on your body, what will you do? Women will run away when they see you."
"I'll transform myself completely later, when I go through Complete Rebirth after achieving enlightenment."
"I was going to say that such opportunities are rare, but with you, Leader, who knows?"
After finishing the treatment, I put on the new martial attire Seo Daeryong had bought.
"It fits me perfectly. I like it."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Our first mission together was a success."
"Our last mission together was a success."
There are certain moments when someone just makes you feel good. For example, when my father sits in his official robes, looking at me with a disapproving expression, or when the Blood Heaven Blade Demon sinks his massive Heaven-Extinguishing Saber into the ground and leans on it.
With Seo Daeryong, it's moments like this, making silly jokes.
"I really debated going in about ten times while waiting by the carriage."
"If you had come in, I would have had to rescue a hostage again."
"Then you would have grown even more. Maybe I should have gone in."
Seo Daeryong laughed, and I laughed along with him.
After sharing a lighthearted moment, Seo Daeryong shared his thoughts on the recent mission.
"I keep dreaming about martial arts competitions. Sometimes I can still hear the cheers from the stage. I miss those moments. It seems I want to be a martial artist who garners attention rather than some hidden master."
"You have to go down that path anyway."
"What?"
"Because you'll become the Demon Supreme."
Since Gu Cheonpa had passed down his martial arts to him, the path to becoming the successor was already set.
Seo Daeryong's expression turned serious.
"Leader, do you think I can really become the next Demon Supreme? Can I truly handle that position?"
"Does your master seem like someone who would give up his position easily?"
"No, he doesn't."
"Then what are you worried about? If you can't trust yourself, trust your master's judgment."
"Still... it just doesn't feel real. Me, becoming the Demon Supreme."
Well, it's not every day that an ordinary investigator from the Underworld Pavilion becomes the Demon Supreme. It makes sense that it wouldn’t sink in easily.
"I'm going to try my hardest, as if my life depends on it." 2
Seeing Seo Daeryong fired up, I spoke calmly.
"Of course, you have to work hard, but keep this in mind: when you're climbing uphill, you only see the summit, but when you're walking downhill, you see the whole world. Remember to look back sometimes as you climb."
Seo Daeryong gave me a peculiar smile.
"You're ten years younger than me, yet you say such things so well."
When I lay down next to the campfire, Seo Daeryong lay down on the opposite side.
Lying by the campfire, gazing at the starry night sky, felt incredibly pleasant.
"I should go on a trip like this someday."
"Please take me with you."
"You should be out there receiving applause and attention."
"I can come along after basking in the limelight."
"No, I’m taking Lee Ahn with me."
Seo Daeryong pouted. If it were that easy, would my father still be stuck in the Heavenly Demon Pavilion?
That night, I slept soundly again. The long-built tension and fatigue were beginning to fade.
* * *
We traveled by carriage until my body recovered.
As soon as I recovered, I sold the carriage, carried Seo Daeryong on my back, and ran back using the Star Light Step.
At first, Seo Daeryong complained that it was unbearable, but eventually, he adapted perfectly, even making jokes while being carried. It was a moment that reminded me of human adaptability.
After running and running, we finally arrived at the Cult.
The first place I headed was the Heavenly Demon Pavilion.
Beyond the red carpet, far away, my father was seated in his official robes in the Celestial Zenith Throne. Seeing him steadfastly in his place, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude today.
The moment my eyes met my father's, who was looking down at me sternly, I felt a surge of emotion. Worried that I might show too much emotion, I quickly bowed.
"I have completed the mission to eliminate the Heavenly Society's leader and have returned."
"Well done. You may rise."
As I stood up, Sima Myung, the Strategist Advisor, who was standing next to my father, greeted me.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"I heard that dealing with the Heavenly Society this time wasn't easy."
Since I had sent messages updating them on the situation from time to time, both my father and Sima Myung were aware of the challenges and the outcome.
Of course, I couldn't include all the struggles in those messages.
"Don't even get me started. I can't count how many times I nearly died. This was an exceedingly difficult test. No, it was an impossible mission!"
"I admit it. It was my oversight. I didn’t realize that the Heavenly Society had grown so large."
Sima Myung admitted his mistake without hesitation. After all, it was the Heavenly Communication Pavilion under his leadership that assigned the mission.
At that moment, my father, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke.
"So, you were trying to get our son killed."
Both Sima Myung and I looked at my father in surprise. We were both startled by my father's unexpected joke, but I was surprised for a different reason.
‘Our son’.
It was the first time I had heard those words from my father. Perhaps I might have heard it when I was very young, too young to remember, but this was the first time I could recall.
I wanted to respond with a joke, but my mind went blank. 3
Sima Myung smiled and said to me, "What do you think? Can you forgive me now?"
He knew. He knew that I was hearing ‘our son’ for the first time, and that I was deeply moved by it.
"Send me out again. Where to this time? The World Society? The Heaven and Earth Society?" 4
Sima Myung laughed at my words.
I was in high spirits. It was just one sentence, but it was something I would never forget for the rest of my life.
Trying to calm my trembling heart and my foolish smile, I asked Sima Myung, "How did my brother do?"
"The Eldest Young Master has already completed his task successfully and returned safely."
Just like before the regression, my brother had completed his mission without issue. The fate that had changed was mine. The hidden organization known as the Heavenly Society was now gone from the martial world, and I had passed my test.
"So, we've both passed our tests."
"Yes, that's correct."
"My test was much harder, so shouldn't that mean I win? You should make me the successor!"
I boldly demanded.
"It's a reasonable request, but don’t you think the Eldest Young Master might find it unfair? After all, we should consider that he might have chosen the more difficult task."
As you both might expect, my brother would never have been able to handle it. If he had gotten deeply involved, he probably would have lost his life. In that sense, it's fortunate that I chose this path.
Of course, I couldn't say that out loud.
"Then wouldn't that make it terribly unfair for me?"
"So, apart from the results of this test, I think you deserve a reward."
It seems my father had already discussed this with Sima Myung before my arrival.
"Is there anything you would like?"
Without hesitation, I looked at my father in his official robes and said,
"As a reward, why don't we go hunting together one more time?" 5
My father looked surprised.
"Every time you receive a reward, you ask to go hunting with me."
The first wish I made after winning my match following the regression was also to go hunting.
"We need to catch that tiger we missed last time."
"Alright, let's go."
My father readily accepted my proposal.
"We leave tomorrow morning."
* * *
After leaving the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, the first place I headed was Lee Ahn's training hall.
I expected to find her sweating from martial arts training, but surprisingly, she was reading a book.
She was so stunningly beautiful that it surprised me every time I saw her, and the sight of her reading only added another layer to her charm. It was a sight that would captivate any scholar in the world.
Once again, I thought that I absolutely had to introduce Lee Ahn to Jin Haryeong.
Curious about what kind of martial arts book she was reading, I used the New Eye Technique to take a closer look. Unexpectedly, it was a poetry anthology.
I entered the training hall and said,
"Are you planning to quit being a martial artist and become a poet instead?"
At my words, Lee Ahn glanced up briefly, then returned her gaze to her book.
"You're here?"
She acted as if we had seen each other just yesterday. No, even if we had met yesterday, she would have greeted me more warmly than this. It was clear that she was teasing me.
Pretending not to notice, I sat down beside her.
"Congratulations."
"Congratulations for what?"
"I heard there's going to be a wedding?"
Then I realized what had happened. It must have been our loose-lipped Seo Daeryong who spilled everything about Jin Haryeong to her. 6
"I heard your destined romantic partner is the daughter of the Murim Alliance Leader?"
"Not love, just a meeting; and not daughter, but granddaughter."
"They say she’s the most beautiful woman in Hubei, so she must be gorgeous."
"Not prettier than you."
"And her personality? Is it good?"
"She's decent enough. She wasn't raised to be rude."
"A perfect match. Congratulations, truly."
"Are you done being jealous?"
"It's not jealousy, it's really congratulations."
"Then you should say it while looking at me."
"No way."
Lee Ahn looked so cute when she was jealous.
"I told her, you know. That when I get back, someone far more beautiful than her will be waiting for me."
I could see a smile form at the corner of Lee Ahn's lips as she lowered her head.
"And what did she say?"
"She didn't believe me. So I told her I'd definitely show her next time. Anyway, I'm leaving."
As I stood up and started walking away, Lee Ahn jumped to her feet.
"Where do you think you're going? After making me wait like this!"
She sprang up and ran towards me, throwing herself into my arms.
I felt her tears fall on my shoulder. I could sense how much she had worried about me while waiting.
"Just for a moment."
I held her for a while, standing there. Feeling her warm embrace brought me peace. All my complicated thoughts seemed to disappear. How lucky am I to have even one person like this in this life? 7
A moment later, she pulled away from me. Realizing she had acted a bit too boldly by rushing into my arms, Lee Ahn’s cheeks turned red. She quickly changed the subject.
"This poetry book—Senior Blade Demon lent it to me."
"He did? Why?"
"I went to see him. There were rumors that the Demon Supremes were involved in your mission, so I asked him if you were okay."
I could imagine how much she must have hesitated before going to see the Blood Heaven Blade Demon in person.
"What would you have done if he said I wasn't okay?"
"Then I would have gone to find you. I would have gone no matter what. If the thought that you might die because I didn't go kept me from eating and sleeping, I’d have to go, if only for my own sake."
"What a worrywart. If you had come, I would have left you at the Murim Alliance."
"Then I could have lived near the Murim Alliance, running a gukbap shop without a worry in the world." 8
"If you ran a gukbap shop, I bet there wouldn't be a single uneventful day."
She burst out laughing. Her bright personality had never changed, whether back when she had a fuller figure or now. Her resilience to external factors or changes was her greatest charm and strength.
"At that time, elder Cheonpa told me not to worry about pointless things and lent me a book to read. The book he lent me was about human life and death. I mean, how can he tell me not to worry while handing me a book about life and death! Anyway, I've been borrowing and reading one book at a time since then. But there's something strange, you know? Reading these books seems to be improving my martial arts training."
"It's because your martial arts are finally connecting with your life."
"My life and martial arts are connected?"
"At first, martial arts progress through talent and effort. But once you reach a certain level, your martial arts start to reflect your life. You know how people often get stuck at a wall in their martial arts training?"
"That's true for most people."
"The reason is that they can't change their lives. For someone to change their perspective on martial arts, they have to change themselves. But if they stay the same, they can't overcome the barriers in front of them."
"Oh!"
Lee Ahn seemed to have found her answer. It was the moment when her curiosity about why reading poetry and books on life and death felt like it was helping her martial arts was resolved.
"Let's talk more about it later. Right now, I have to go meet the master of life and death."
As I was about to turn away, Lee Ahn said cheerfully,
"Young Master, I'm so glad you returned safely."
"I'm happy to see you, too."
After leaving Lee Ahn’s place, I headed towards the Southern Heavens Blade Family, where old man Blade resided.
1 : I agree, it’s quite cool ^^
2 : That’s kinda the case anyways XDXDXD
3 : Considering his sharp tongue and usual jokes, it shows how much he’s touched ^^
4 : His enthusiasm is so cute~~ ^^
5 : It’s much better to consolidate his relationship with his father than ask for material rewards that might strain this same relationship. Plus, the better their relationship, the more often he will get free gifts ^^
6 : The only thing faster than light is gossip.
7 : I feel a bit bad for Haryeng, but Lee Ahn is clearly first. Maybe a concubine ? Also, so cute~~ ^^
8 : IIRC, gukbap is similar to ramen, just a Korean version