Chapter 25: Short Fuse (4)
“We greet the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons!”
“All hail, the Heavenly Demon!”
The commotion in the dical wing erupted the mont my Master arrived. Every physician and attendant in the room fell into a frenzy, clamoring praises without restraint.
And soon after.
Swoosh
The door of the dical wing where I was staying opened, and Master entered.
"That's enough. Stay seated," he said sternly, halting Jin Hayeon as she tried to bow despite the splints and bandages binding her arms.
His gaze then shifted to .
"How are you feeling?"
"Thanks to swift treatnt, there are no critical injuries."
"That's a relief. I heard what happened. When Jin-hak went berserk, it was thanks to your quick thinking that the damage was minimized."
I smiled faintly at the master's praise.
It wasn't a smile of joy from being praised. I had risked my life provoking a mad boar, so a reward is overdue, right?
"Then, perhaps you're giving so kind of reward?"
I’d learned humility as a child, but experience taught this:
If you just wait patiently believing you'll be rewarded soday, you'll only be forgotten.
You must strike the iron while it’s hot.
"Young Master! How could you say such a thing to the Supre One?!"
Of course, Jin Hayeon beside was shocked, uncharacteristically so, but that was none of my concern.
"A reward… Indeed. The Hyeokryeon Family has decided not to hold Jin-hak accountable, thanks to your intervention. A reward is fitting."
"You went to the Hyeokryeon Family as well?"
He nodded.
"The girl admitted that the initial cause of the Jin-hak's rampage was due to her words. Moreover, the testimonies of the guards and the girl were consistent. They spoke of how you provoked your Eldest Brother and lured him away to save everyone there."
It seed that Master had been cleaning up the aftermath of the Eldest Brother’s rampage while I was bedridden.
“What about Eldest Brother?”
"For now, I've confined him to the Closed ditation Chamber as punishnt. And I've bestowed recovery elixirs and so money to those injured this ti for their recovery, so it seems right to give a reward to you who did the most important work."
Oho.
I wonder what kind of reward he'll give.
Since it was a reward being given by none other than the leader of this massive cult, my expectations soared.
And after seemingly contemplating for a mont while stroking his beard, Master finally spoke of the reward he would bestow upon .
“This old one will aid your recovery using True Qi Guidance and acupuncture treatnt. Additionally, I shall dedicate more ti to overseeing your martial training.”
"......"
What's that supposed to be?
This is just more labor disguised as a favor!
My face nearly twisted into a scowl, but I reined it in just in ti.
"The Supre One’s grace is truly as vast as the heavens!"
Beside , Jin Hayeon was shouting praises with a face that looked like she might burst into tears at any mont.
Well, from the perspective of fanatics, what could be more gracious than spending more ti with their leader?
Even for non-fanatics, martial artists would pay millions for the chance to learn martial arts from soone like Master.
The problem?
‘I don’t need any of that shit!!’
I wasn't a fanatic, nor was I that obsessed with martial arts.
But thanks to Jin Hayeon's reaction, I realized sothing.
That as the cult leader’s disciple, I had to feign gratitude.
'Damn it.'
"This humble disciple is eternally grateful for your benevolence." My face felt like it might be about to cramp as I forced myself to show a moved expression contrary to my true feelings.
Thankfully, Master changed the subject before my expression betrayed .
"Ahem. This old man's visit wasn’t solely for this."
"Was there so kind of problem?"
"Rather than a problem, your Eldest Brother said he wanted to talk with you, Il-mok."
"?!"
"Normally, the rules of the Closed ditation Chamber forbid eting or talking with anyone, but since he just entered, I’m willing to allow a brief visit before the real punishnt begins. So I ca to see what you wanted to do.”
It was unexpected news.
That mad boar wants to see as soon as he cos to his senses?
'Could it be... he wants to kill ?'
That thought ca to mind first, but it would be difficult for him to kill while confined in the Closed ditation Chamber.
Rather, it seed like an opportunity.
If things were left as they were, I was in danger of becoming mortal enemies with Eldest Brother.
Yeah, he was the one who went crazy first, but I’m sure he wasn’t thrilled about calling him an idiot on repeat.
Wouldn't it be better to clear up the misunderstanding with Eldest Brother now while he's safely locked up in the Closed ditation Chamber?
'If it works out, great. If it fails, I lose nothing.'
Having finished that train of thought, I answered Master.
“Is the door to the Closed ditation Chamber sturdy enough?"
Of course, my safety was the top priority.
***
Il-mok and the Heavenly Demon entered the Closed ditation Chamber.
"This is the place."
The Heavenly Demon pointed to an iron door visible beyond the torchlight.
"This old man will wait here, so go and have your conversation."
He ant to stay out of the disciples’ affairs.
Il-mok hesitated for a mont but approached the iron door thinking it should be safe.
"Eldest Brother. Are you there?"
"It's the youngest."
In response to Il-mok's question, Wi Jin-hak's voice ca from beyond the iron door.
"I heard you were looking for ."
"Hahahahaha. I called you to apologize. My training is still lacking, so I couldn't control my anger."
His laughter bood through the iron door, echoing like a cave’s resonance.
Gone was the frenzied rage; this was his usual, foolish tone.
At this point, Il-mok wondered if he might be bipolar rather than having a short fuse.
'Still, it seems he hasn't held a grudge.'
Il-mok let out an internal sigh of relief.
However, the thought of leaving things as they were left him feeling oddly unsatisfying.
"I also ca to apologize. I had to do it to keep everyone from getting killed, but I’m still sorry I used the word you hate the most.”
"Hahahahaha. Now that my head is clear, I understand why you did it. It was just a problem caused by your brother's stupid head."
Wi Jin-hak was once again setting up a landmine.
Il-mok considered responding with 'You're not stupid, Eldest Brother,' Like how he’d placated Seo Wan-pyeong when he ca in the middle of the night.
But sohow, he felt that wouldn't work for the Eldest Brother.
Eldest Brother's issue wasn’t paranoia, it was a rage disorder.
And seeing how he lived with the word "stupid" on his lips but yet went ballistic when he heard it from soone else, it reeked a kind of inferiority complex.
While Il-mok wasn't a psychiatrist, he had enough experience to recognize the pattern.
'The iron door is protecting anyway, so it should be fine to push a little.'
Feeling secure, Il-mok carefully opened his mouth.
"Eldest Brother. Do you rember when I recomnded the Third Squad Leader for the position of second-in-command?"
"I do."
The calm reply made Il-mok swallow nervously before continuing.
"I didn't say that to disrespect you. Think of the old saying, 'The more, the better.’ Han Xin told Emperor Gaozu of Han that he only could lead an army of 100,000 n. However, he said that for himself, the more soldiers he had, the better. On the other hand, Han Xin said that Emperor Gaozu of Han could lead generals while Han Xin himself could only command soldiers."
Of course, a few years after that incident, Han Xin was frad and purged by Liu Bang. Well, it was part of the process of purging founding contributors to strengthen imperial power, but there was also a joke that he was killed because Liu Bang was still upset about that incident.
"Similarly, in Shu Han, Zhuge Liang was known as the smartest, but Liu Bei was the ruler. Thus, a leader’s worth lies not in brilliance, but in charisma and deploying talent wisely. And you, Eldest Brother, are the First Disciple of the Heavenly Demon and the future leader of our divine cult."
(TL Note: The Han of those two are the sa Han Dynasty but in two different tis.)
During Il-mok's long-winded speech, Wi Jin-hak didn't utter a single word from beyond the iron door.
‘Oh, crap. Did I overdo it?’
Just as Il-mok was trembling with foreboding, feeling that in his attempt to clear up a misunderstanding, he had only made it bigger…
"Let’s go."
The Heavenly Demon, who had approached without notice, snapped Il-mok out of his thoughts.
"Yes..."
As Il-mok trudged out with slumped shoulders, thinking he had ssed up, the Heavenly Demon suddenly spoke.
"You did well."
"???"
What on earth did he do well?
Il-mok wanted to ask, but for so reason, the Heavenly Demon’s gaze was directed towards the iron door, not at Il-mok.
‘It wasn’t intentional, but the timing couldn’t have been more fitting.’
The Heavenly Demon had noticed the change occurring inside the Closed ditation Chamber beyond the iron door.
'They say there's such a thing as heaven-sent fate, and this child must be the divine providence that heaven has bestowed upon our Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.'
He couldn't explain it any other way, as the boy had succeeded in sothing that couldn't be achieved through effort.
“For accomplishing this, you deserve another reward.”
"???"
"Hmm. But for this matter, rather than this old man taking action, it seems right to leave it to Jin-hak."
Faced with content he couldn't comprehend at all, Il-mok's confusion only grew.
‘Entrusting my reward to Eldest Brother? Is he offering my head on a silver platter?’
***
anwhile.
Inside the iron door.
In the dark cave where only the soft light of a single night lantern dimly spread.
There, Wi Jin-hak sat in lotus position, deep in ditation.
Or more precisely, he was locked in a battle against the demonic energy seared into his mind and the depths of his psyche.
But this struggle was unlike any before.
Unlike how he used to fiercely clash with the demonic energy of the Raging Demon Sword Art and endure the surging rage, he was now rely observing with detachnt.
―Kill that bastard right now!!
―How dare he mock as a fool!!!
Even as he heard the rampaging demonic energy ordering him to kill his youngest brother, Wi Jin-hak’s heart remained still.
Thanks to the youngest’s words, he realized sothing.
Had it been empty consolation saying he wasn't stupid he might have burned with anger instead.
He now understood that such insults were beneath him.
As the First Disciple, destined to lead, such trifles were irrelevant.
Of course, there had been others who said similar things before.
And most of them either died by his hands or narrowly escaped death thanks to their Master's tily appearance.
As the Heavenly Demon believed, it took divine providence for an advice to lead to an enlightennt.
Only when an advice arrived at the precise mont, in the perfect circumstances, could it truly take root.
And Wi Jin-hak had been ready.
Having neared the state of Transcendent and already vented all of his build-up frustration and anger yesterday, he was in a state ready to hear the youngest brother's advice.
At that flawless, unforeseen instant—unanticipated even by the Heavenly Demon, who had taught and watched over him for decades—Il-mok’s words had struck true.
―Kill him!
―Kill all those who disrespect !
―Burn this unjust world to ashes!!
The voice of his inner demon scread in rage.
The demonic energy raged, wreaking havoc throughout his ridians and assaulting his mind. But Wi Jin-hak maintained an uncharacteristic clarity and simply observed.
Bang!!!
Suddenly, sothing within him shattered. The blocked pathways in his mind opened, releasing a torrent of pent-up demonic energy that surged through his ridians, purging impurities and even contorting his muscles and joints.
Despite the agonizing pain, Wi Jin-hak rely observed himself, forgetting the world and focusing on his enlightennt.
When the pain ceased and the raging energy settled calmly into his dantian, he opened his eyes.
Snap!
It was the mont he crossed the final wall and achieved the state of Transcendence.
"The sll is terrible."
He wrinkled his nose at the stench of impurities expelled from his body. He channeled the Raging Demon Sword Art and heat burst from his hands.
It was an incredible sight.
Flas devoured the filth clinging to his body, yet not a single burn appeared on his skin.
Wi Jin-hak, now in perfect control over the eemonic energy of the Raging Demon Sword Art scratched his chin and delved in thoughts.
'Gathering talent and deploying them in the right places, huh.'
A certain face ca to mind.
"The youngest brother needs to grow quickly. He'll have to beco my strategist in the future."
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