The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

In the training ground, two people were facing each other with swords.

Although they were wielding real swords, what the two were doing now was, after all, a duel.

In other words, the biggest difference from a real fight was that the purpose was not to kill but to improve each other's skills.

Clang- clang-.

Of course, just because the purpose was not to kill did not mean that they were swinging their swords carelessly.

Because in order to improve one's skills through a duel, it was necessary to swing the sword as if it were a real fight.

That's why, although the purpose was not to kill, the sword strikes were quite fierce, to the point where it was unknown when a dangerous situation might occur.

"..."

One of the people who was having a duel was Cheon Seong.

And a person who was holding a sword in front of Cheon Seong. It was Su Yeongseong of the Jeon-su Family, the only disciple of Cheon Jin whom Cheon Myeong had not yet met directly.

A rather awkward combination.

Generally speaking, it would be impossible for the two to be on good enough terms to have a duel.

Clang- clang-!

However, as if such external relationships did not matter, the duel between the two had been going on for quite a long time.

Cheon Seong was also pouring all his strength into this duel, as if he were not even thinking about such things now.

And after a rather long exchange, he was able to find an opening in Su Yeongseong's appearance.

'This is my chance!'

An opening that had appeared for the first time in the duel.

No matter how much it was a duel, Cheon Seong did not want to lose.

That's why he had been constantly looking for an opportunity until such an opening appeared, and now that opportunity had come to him.

Whoosh-.

Cheon Seong thrust his sword into the opening.

A move that he thought was perfect.

He thought that with this move, even a disciple of Cheon Jin would not be able to block it easily.

However.

Clang, clang, clang-.

Cheon Seong's sword, which had been thrust into the opening, was now on the floor.

Since Su Yeongseong had dodged the attack and had struck Cheon Seong's sword downwards, he had not been able to withstand the force and had dropped it from his hand.

'This is...!'

Dropping the sword was a huge mistake.

In a situation like this, since a sword was like a martial artist's life, he should not have let go of that sword no matter what.

Thump-.

Normally, in a situation like this in a duel, it was common for the side that had dropped the sword to declare surrender, but Cheon Seong had not given up yet.

Cheon Seong, who threw his body at the dropped sword to make up for his mistake, even if it was late.

And at the moment he grabbed the sword and raised his head again, Cheon Seong could not move because of the sword that was aimed at his neck.

"It's my victory."

"..."

Su Yeongseong said with a good-natured smile, aiming his sword at Cheon Seong's neck.

Cheon Seong, who was looking at him with a resentful look.

But if he did not surrender even in this situation, that was no longer fighting spirit but stubbornness.

Since Cheon Seong could also distinguish that much, he had no choice but to declare surrender in the end.

"...I lost."

As Cheon Seong said that, Su Yeongseong withdrew the sword that was aimed at his neck.

And his right hand, which was held out to Cheon Seong.

Cheon Seong, as if he were quite used to it, took Su Yeongseong's right hand and got up from his seat.

"Your skills have improved compared to before."

As Cheon Seong got up from his seat, Su Yeongseong said.

"Don't lie. It's the same as before."

"No. That last move, if I had made a wrong move, I could have been hit."

"...Really?"

"Yes, of course. To think that you can now aim for such an opening. Just that alone can be said to be a huge improvement in your skills."

Although Cheon Seong's reaction was lukewarm at first, as Su Yeongseong continued to say that, he felt a little better and the corners of his mouth were about to go up.

But as if he didn't want to show Su Yeongseong his smiling face, he forced himself to hold back his laughter and said.

"Even so, I'm still far from it. I can't beat you in this state."

"That's a problem that time will solve."

"Time?"

"Aren't you inheriting the noble blood of the leader, Young Master Cheon Seong? Of course, you will also have that much talent."

"...Really?"

"Of course! It's just that that talent hasn't blossomed yet."

Saying that, Su Yeongseong lightly hit his chest with one hand.

"I guarantee it."

"..."

Grin-.

"Huh? Young Master, did you just smile?"

"What?"

"That's right. It seemed like the corners of your mouth went up a little just now..."

"You saw wrong."

Saying that, Cheon Seong turned his head.

As Su Yeongseong had said, it was true that the corners of his mouth had gone up a little just now, but he absolutely did not want to admit that fact.

So as he continued to try to hide his face, Su Yeongseong quickly came around to Cheon Seong's front and tried to see his face.

"Why are you hiding it? Please show me your smiling face."

"...Shut up!"

"Are you perhaps shy?"

"..."

"You're cute."

"This is..."

Laughter flowed out, to the point where it didn't seem that a fierce duel had taken place in this training ground until just now.

Although the only person who was actually laughing was Su Yeongseong, from a distance, the relationship between the two seemed quite close.

"Phew... I'll forgive you just this once."

If he were to talk any more, he would just be teased by Su Yeongseong.

Since that had happened not just once or twice, Cheon Seong said that and raised his sword.

And seeing this, Su Yeongseong asked with a puzzled face.

"Are you going to do it again?"

"Yes."

"But I think we've already done it five times."

"I'm fine. Are you perhaps already tired?"

"Hmm... that's not it, but..."

Saying that, Su Yeongseong said, as if he were watching Cheon Seong's expression.

"It feels like you're in a hurry, Young Master."

"..."

"There are also rumors that you've been overdoing your training more than before lately."

"I'm not overdoing it."

"Is it perhaps because of Young Master Cheon Myeong?"

"..."

As Su Yeongseong asked, Cheon Seong maintained his silence.

Looking at him, it seemed that he had probably hit the mark.

Su Yeongseong asked Cheon Seong, who was still keeping his mouth shut.

"I asked just in case, after hearing the news that Young Master Cheon Myeong had recently returned to the main headquarters, but it seems that it was probably the right answer."

"Why are you talking about that guy?"

"I'm sorry, I forgot for a moment that you hate your brother, Young Master Cheon Seong."

"...Phew."

Cheon Seong lowered the sword he was holding with a sigh.

"You're right. I saw that guy a while ago."

"Did you meet him in person?"

"Yes."

"As expected, the reason why you hated your brother so much was..."

"I didn't see him for the reason you're thinking of."

Cheon Seong cut off Su Yeongseong's words with a slightly sharp voice.

And unlike his friendly tone from before, he continued to speak with a heavy voice.

"I was trying to confirm. Whether that guy was the same as before or not."

"..."

"But he was the same. He was still a coward and a worthless guy."

Saying that, Cheon Seong's face contorted slightly.

It seemed that he did not feel very good when he recalled the memory of Cheon Myeong.

"So... I thought that there was only me."

"..."

"The person who will inherit the lineage of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is only me... it's definitely not that guy."

"Of course."

"...?"

Cheon Seong raised his head.

Then, Su Yeongseong was looking at Cheon Seong with a serious face.

"The person who can inherit the lineage of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art is only Young Master Cheon Seong, who is inheriting the noble bloodline of the leader."

"..."

"For that, won't I also be cheering you on like this?"

Su Yeongseong, who had returned to his usual smiling impression, was saying that.

Seeing that, Cheon Seong's face also brightened a little.

"I'm also grateful for that."

The relationship between Cheon Seong and Su Yeongseong had started about two years ago.

At that time, when Cheon Myeong had been kicked out of the main headquarters, Cheon Seong had been engrossed in martial arts training to fill Cheon Myeong's empty spot.

Of course, it was the same that he was engrossed now, but at that time, it could be said that it was more intense than now.

The person who had appeared in front of Cheon Seong, who was doing such a lonely and intense training, was Su Yeongseong.

Of course, it was not that Cheon Seong had accepted Su Yeongseong from the beginning.

Because he had thought that Su Yeongseong, like the other people of the Five Great Demonic Families, was a guy who had entered as Cheon Jin's disciple and was coveting the position of young leader.

However, as time passed, Cheon Seong was able to know that Su Yeongseong was different from the other disciples.

"I have something I'm curious about."

"What is it?"

"Why are you helping me?"

"That's because I think that you, Young Master, should lead the cult in the future."

"...You also came as the leader's disciple."

"Although I did come as a disciple, it was unavoidable. And a disciple? You don't have to worry about such an empty existence, Young Master."

"..."

"I think that the person who should lead the cult is a person who is inheriting the same bloodline as the leader. In other words, it is you, Young Master Cheon Seong, who is in front of me."

Of course, he would not have believed those words in the past.

However, in fact, for the past two years, Su Yeongseong had helped Cheon Seong a lot.

Not only had he helped Cheon Seong improve his skills through duels like just now, but he had also not spared his advice on martial arts on a regular basis.

Although he had initially ignored those advices, it was true that Su Yeongseong's skills were far superior to Cheon Seong's.

That's why, when he had moved according to his advice, thinking that he was being deceived, his skills had definitely improved.

After that, Cheon Seong had gradually opened his heart to Su Yeongseong, and their current relationship had been continuing.

"...Why me, not my brother? If it's just inheriting the same bloodline as the leader, it doesn't matter who it is..."

"Because I know that the person who is trying the hardest is you, Young Master Cheon Seong."

"..."

"Although bloodline is important, I think that that much effort is also important."

Effort is also important.

Perhaps that was what Cheon Seong wanted to hear the most right now.

"Su Yeongseong."

"Yes, Young Master."

"I wish you were my brother."

As Cheon Seong suddenly said that, Su Yeongseong was startled and waved his two hands in front of him.

"What am I... how can I have the same blood as you, Young Master Cheon Seong?"

"It's a joke. But..."

"..."

"It's just that what you're doing for me now feels like a brother, so I said that."

Cheon Myeong might have treated him like that in the past.

But no matter how much he had acted like a brother at that time, Cheon Myeong had made a mistake that he should never have made as a brother.

That was a mistake that could not be forgiven no matter what.

From that time, the existence of Cheon Myeong in Cheon Seong's heart had changed.

"Then I will be your brother, Young Master."

"...What?"

"Of course, it can't really be so, but at least I will try to play that role."

"..."

Cheon Seong knew that those words were to cheer him up.

That's why, although they were words that could be lightly passed over, it could be said that he had succeeded in cheering him up.

"That's enough."

"..."

"Let's stop here for today."

Although he had originally planned to have more duels, since the conversation had gotten quite long, he felt that he had missed the timing.

With that thought, Cheon Seong sheathed his sword and turned his body first to walk out of the training ground.

"..."

Su Yeongseong, who was watching Cheon Seong's back from his spot.

Although his face was expressionless, perhaps because he usually had a smiling impression, that appearance felt quite cold.

"Are you going to stay there?"

At that moment, Cheon Seong said to Su Yeongseong.

Then, a smile immediately appeared on his expressionless face, and Su Yeongseong said with a bright voice.

"No, I'm coming."

Saying that, Su Yeongseong followed Cheon Seong.

In the training ground where the two had left, a somewhat unknown energy was felt.

(End of Chapter)