Rebirth of the Heavenly Demon

It was the same cave I had visited whenever important matters arose in the past.

There, I calmly sorted through the items in the leather pouch.

First, the ten thousand year cold iron.

Most of what was called ten thousand year cold iron in this era wasn’t pure. The majority were mixed with other metals, and their strength was determined by how high the ratio of ten thousand year cold iron was.

Ten thousand year cold iron was so expensive that even the wealthiest people couldn’t afford to use pure ten thousand year cold iron.

Among the people I knew, only the Black Dragon Emperor of the evil sect had used pure ten thousand year cold iron. He used it to escape, but in the end, I cut through it and killed him.

Judging by its strength, what I brought from Ya-cheon was expected to have a considerably high purity of ten thousand year cold iron.

If I later entrust this to a craftsman who can handle ten thousand year cold iron, separating the ten thousand year cold iron from these metals, it should be enough to make one sword, or perhaps even two if done well.

Or I could also modify it into an alloy for other uses. In any case, I had obtained a material that’s difficult to acquire even with money.

Anyway, since I couldn’t use it right away, I buried it inconspicuously near the cave.

Next, I counted the promissory notes.

It amounted to five hundred and fifty thousand taels. This was Ya-cheon’s lifetime savings. The gold items I brought along would also fetch a good price if sold. It was truly a sum approaching six hundred thousand taels.

I plan to do two things with this money. First, I intend to create an intelligence organization. Considering my enemies, a properly functioning intelligence network is absolutely necessary.

Second, I plan to create a secret organization with Baek Pyo as its leader. I will create a powerful organization composed of elite experts who only follow my orders.

I intend to entrust Baek Pyo with the task of gathering people from the start. Baek Pyo should be more than capable of handling this task.

Apart from the promissory notes, gold items, and jewels, the rest were miscellaneous items. They were unnecessary documents and such, which I was burning to dispose of when something caught my eye.

It was a small booklet filled with code words and numbers.

I could tell that this was Ya-cheon’s secret ledger.

I was about to burn it but changed my mind. I put it in my breast pocket. I wanted to check something before burning it.

That’s how I sorted through all the items brought from the Shandong Night Merchants.

I came out of the cave and looked down at the foot of the mountain.

The enemies I was facing were getting stronger.

I didn’t dislike that. Because the reasons for me to become stronger were also growing.

***

From the next day, rumors began to spread quickly.

The rumor was that Ho Yeon-nam of the Ho Yeon Clan had died, and Yeom Hwa of the Heavenly Blade Sect was seriously injured.

One side was the Ho Yeon Clan, one of the Four Great Families of the Central Plains, and the other was the Heavenly Blade Sect, which needed no introduction.

It was truly a major incident. As soon as the rumors started circulating, another rumor followed that the leader of the Shandong Night Merchants had died at the hands of an expert from the Heavenly Blade Sect.

It was said that the Shandong Night Merchants had brought in the Ho Yeon Clan, and this was retaliation for that.

Whenever two people gathered, they all talked about this. Especially the leaders of the Shandong sects were worried that Shandong might become their battleground.

My father and mother were no exception.

“I’m worried about what kind of aftermath this incident will bring.”

“Indeed.”

While my parents were worried, I was relaxed.

“I think there’s no need to worry.”

“Why do you think so?”

To my father’s question, I calmly replied.

“The Ho Yeon Clan is based in Jiangxi, and the Heavenly Blade Sect is based in Guizhou. Both places are far from here. It’s already happened, and now that the sequence of events is clear, there’s no reason for them to come all the way to distant Shandong to clash, is there?”

My father nodded. He seemed to think it made sense.

“Then what do you think about the Shandong Night Merchants? Won’t they cause trouble, seeking revenge and endangering Shandong?”

“The collapse of the Shandong Night Merchants is a good thing. The Night Merchants are an organization with an unclear identity, full of greedy individuals. Such people, stepping up for revenge for the Shandong Night Merchants? That’s impossible. They’ll probably fight fiercely among themselves to take over Shandong.”

Both my father and mother nodded at my words. Their eyes were full of trust towards me. Regardless of how things turn out, they were pleased that their son could offer such clear opinions.

In fact, I was truly feeling good.

I had eliminated all those who needed to be removed and obtained a huge sum of money. The most important point is that Song Hwa-rin and I were completely removed from all these events.

Them fighting among themselves is actually what I desire.

One of the most important principles in facing a strong enemy in war:

Divide the enemy and then defeat them one by one.

This was a tactic I often used.

The more forces that become hostile to the Heavenly Blade Sect, the weaker the Heavenly Blade Sect will become.

I need to build my strength while figuring out who is behind Ma Bong-gi.

It was still time to grow and build power.

Anyway, Shandong should be peaceful for a while.

“I’m thinking of returning to Wuhan tomorrow.”

“Already? Stay a bit longer.”

My mother was reluctant, but my father held back his regret.

“Yes, you should be diligent and move around when you’re young.”

My father added the words he never forgets to say.

“Don’t treat your subordinates carelessly, always be considerate.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

It’s something I hear all the time. But when I heard these words today, a thought suddenly struck me.

Perhaps becoming an excellent leader might be possible with just that one mindset?

Being in the highest position, it seems like you need to accomplish so many things, but in reality, isn’t properly practicing just that one thing enough?

No, isn’t even that one thing difficult to do until death?

***

Song Hwa-rin opened her eyes.

The morning sunlight coming through the window was unprecedentedly bright and clear. When was the last time she greeted the morning with such a refreshing feeling?

She stretched and got up.

“Ah, I slept well.”

A moment later, Su-ran came in with water for her to drink.

“Young miss, you look in a good mood.”

“I had a good sleep.”

She had a deep sleep for the first time in a long while. And today, she didn’t have a nightmare.

Su-ran was happy as if it were her own good fortune. Watching Song Hwa-rin unable to sleep properly had been very worrying and heartbreaking.

Song Hwa-rin looked out the window. The scenery was no different from yesterday, but because her mood was different, the scenery looked different too.

She had heard about her master’s death. The moment she heard the news, her heart ached.

When she felt pity for her master, she could tell. That she had completely broken free from her master. That the wound in her heart had healed.

If she had felt pleased about her master’s death, it would have meant that the wound was still deeply present.

But she felt sorry that her master had died. She pitied her master and her heart ached.

But that was it. She didn’t have nightmares, and this morning was so refreshing.

Just then, a maid came to deliver a message.

“Young Master Byeok has come to visit.”

“What? Tell him to wait for a moment.”

She quickly got out of bed.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to wash up! And put on makeup. You, quickly find some clothes. You know? The ones I cherish. Hurry! Quick!”

Watching her rush out, even using her lightness skill, Su-ran had a bewildered expression. It was a side of Song Hwa-rin she had never seen before.

Su-ran looked out the window.

In the distance, she could see Byeok Ri-dan standing in the garden.

Song Hwa-rin had been changing since meeting Byeok Ri-dan. She had become brighter and more energetic.

At first, Su-ran disliked Byeok Ri-dan, but now she was grateful to him.

“Still, Young Master Byeok, you shouldn’t make our young miss cry.”

An hour later, Song Hwa-rin walked to the back garden, yawning.

“What brings you here so early?”

She stretched as if she had just woken up and come out.

“Did I come too early?”

“No. I just woke up. I haven’t even washed up yet.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry for showing you this appearance.”

Despite saying that, she was too pretty and beautiful. The clothes she was wearing were also neat.

“But what brings you here so early?”

“I need to go to Wuhan. It might take a month or two, so I wanted to say goodbye before leaving.”

“Ah, I see.”

Though she tried to act nonchalant, Song Hwa-rin felt more regretful than ever before.

Her relationship with him was changing day by day. Of course, it was her own feelings. She couldn’t know Byeok Ri-dan’s feelings.

What kind of emotions would she feel when they meet again next time?

Just thinking about it made her heart flutter slightly.

She said to Byeok Ri-dan,

“Thank you for everything this time. Really.”

She meant it sincerely. If it weren’t for him, she would have had to live with that wound for the rest of her life.

“Have a safe trip.”

“Before that, I should keep my promise.”

“Promise?”

“I said I’d teach you a more magnificent martial art, didn’t I?”

“You were serious about that?”

“Did you take it as a joke?”

When Song Hwa-rin nodded, Byeok Ri-dan asked with a surprised face.

“And yet you decided to discard your martial art? Why?”

“Didn’t you tell me to trust you?”

There was a moment of silence.

“Hahaha.”

I laughed loudly.

She had really made such a decision, recklessly trusting only in me.

“Come on, let’s go.”

I took her to an empty training ground where we faced each other.

The martial art I was going to pass on was the Vibrating Splendor Sword Art[1]. It was the exclusive martial art of the famous female expert from two generations ago, the Splendid Lady of Solitary Mountain[2].

The Vibrating Splendor Sword Art was an ascending sword technique incomparable to the sword technique she had learned from Ho Yeon-nam.

I first passed on the mental technique to her.

I taught her how to use the mental technique, repeating it several times.

Next, I passed on the moves.

I extracted only the core and passed it on in the fastest and most accurate way possible.

Even so, it took all day.

I did my best, and she learned with all her might.

Finally, when night fell, the martial art transmission was complete.

I smiled and said to her,

“If you master this martial art, you won’t get beaten up anywhere you go.”

Though I said it jokingly, Song Hwa-rin would know how excellent this sword technique is. She already had an excited look on her face. There’s a tension and joy that comes with an ascending martial art.

“I’ll come back and check on you next time. Until then, just practice as you’ve learned.”

She didn’t ask how I knew this martial art. Well, if she were to ask about this, there would have been too many things she should have asked about before this.

“I’ll work hard.”

Hoping it would help with her training, I added,

“The person who uses martial arts should be free. When you’re not bound, you can be free. But don’t forget. The person who can freely use martial arts is someone who has practiced the same move thousands, tens of thousands of times. Only such a person can attain true freedom.”

This doesn’t apply only to martial arts.

That’s what freedom is.

Only freedom imbued with patience becomes true freedom.

Song Hwa-rin’s eyes sparkled as she nodded. Being intelligent, she would have understood well what I meant.

“I’ll be going then.”

“When we meet again, you’ll be stronger.”

“I look forward to it.”

As I was about to turn around, Song Hwa-rin did something unexpected.

She extended her hand for a handshake.

Her outstretched hand trembled. I thought this might be the first time she had extended her hand to a man to express gratitude.

I took her hand. Not enough to hurt, but firmly.

It was our first handshake.

***

I returned straight to Wuhan.

On the way, I also brought the ten thousand year cold iron I had buried near the cave. There was no craftsman in Shandong who could handle it anyway.

I brought the ten thousand year cold iron and placed it in the secret chamber of Seonhak Peak. That place was safer than any battlefield in the Central Plains.

Only then did I return to the inn where Gwang-du and Gong Su-chan were staying.

“Young Maaaaster!”

Gwang-du, who came running from afar, hugged me as if pouncing on me. This time, I didn’t avoid it and let myself be hugged obediently. I really missed Gwang-du too.

“I missed you!”

“You fool! Anyone watching would think we’re family reuniting after decades apart.”

“Think of it that way. I was so worried when I heard about the commotion in Shandong.”

How much must he have worried? It was Gwang-du’s specialty to lose sleep worrying about me.

“Could it be…?”

As Gwang-du asked cautiously, I nodded with a meaningful expression.

“Oh my goodness!”

Realizing it was related to me, Gwang-du was startled.

“Don’t worry. It’s been resolved well.”

“Young Master?”

“What?”

“Aren’t you scared? If I had to face such people, I feel like my heart would burst.”

“I’m scared. But don’t I have someone who would die in my place?”

Startled, Gwang-du slowly backed away.

“Don’t forget that your scapegoat is still weak. It’ll take about a hundred more years to get stronger!”

“Hahaha.”

Following that, Gong Su-chan walked up and greeted me.

“Welcome back, sir.”

“Thanks to you, I had a good trip.”

“You look well.”

I might have been, but Gong Su-chan wasn’t. His face looked a bit gaunt from working busily.

“Take some rest while working.”

“I’m eating well and sleeping well while working.”

“It’s an order.”

“Yes! I will do so.”

Gong Su-chan said with a slightly tense expression,

“Young Master Byeok, there’s somewhere we need to go together.”

Unlike usual, he seemed slightly excited.

Without a word, I followed him out.