Chapter 7 : A Short Outing
In the end, Mysterious Profound Sect made the same choice as Jang Baekseo, and Cheong Yeonah, disappointed by the sect's decision, left.
Time passed, and Jang Baekseo, who had pledged himself to the Demonic Cult, had risen beyond the rank of an ordinary warrior to the position of a Sword Fiend, a candidate for the Sword Demon.
Those selected as the One Hundred and Eight Sword Fiends, candidates for the Sword Demon, underwent training to transcend human limits for several years and were deployed on dangerous and arduous missions for the cult.
And at the end, the one who reached the highest place and was recognized by the current Sword Demon would become the next Sword Demon and inherit the Three Great Divine Arts of the Sword Demon.
During the days when Jang Baekseo was enduring harsh training as a Sword Fiend and carrying out dangerous missions as if walking on the edge of a blade every day to earn the name of the Sword Demon, 'that' mission was given.
-Eliminate the High Sage Sword Phoenix who is interfering with the cult's activities in alliance with the Diancang Sect in Yunnan-
The content was long if the detailed outline of the mission was included, but the gist was that the small and medium-sized sects that had fled from the Demonic Cult in Sichuan had joined hands with the Diancang Sect in Yunnan and were interfering with the cult's activities from time to time, so they were to eliminate the one leading them, the High Sage Sword Phoenix.
The small and medium-sized sects located in the territories that the Demonic Cult had acquired had to go through a choice between submission and death without exception.
And among those who chose an honorable dog's death, the survivors joined the Martial Alliance and interfered with the cult's activities at every turn.
'The Demonic Cult could have killed all of them if they wanted to, but…'
Compared to the brutal choice they had presented, the Demonic Cult did not treat those who chose an honorable dog's death so harshly.
They gave them at least two more chances, and if they still refused to follow them, they also gave them the opportunity to wash their hands of being a martial artist and return to being ordinary commoners. Of course, that meant they had to destroy their dantian, which was like the life of a martial artist, but the Demonic Cult, which had blossomed a different culture in a completely different environment from the Central Plains, also had a way to seal the dantian without completely destroying it, and they even made a pledge to release the seal once the cult's rule was stabilized.
At this sight of them, which was different from the Demonic Cult, a murderous group mad with blood and madness that they knew, even those who had initially stubbornly insisted on fighting to the death gradually turned around, and thus the Demonic Cult was able to truly become the masters of the newly conquered lands.
But even so, there were still those who chose the 'honorable dog's death,' and the Demonic Cult was truly merciless to them.
Therefore, most of those who had escaped from Qinghai, Sichuan, and Gansu and successfully crossed over to the Martial Alliance were those who had pretended to accept the Demonic Cult's rule and then secretly fled in the middle of the night, in other words, those who could be called cowards.
If they were those who had fought and bled before fleeing, they would have had at least a vengeful morale, but there was no way that those who had neither responded to the kindness of those they thought were demons and asuras, nor fought to the death honorably, but had cowardly turned tail, would have any morale. As such, to the Demonic Cult, they were not a force to be taken seriously.
But that was overturned with the appearance of one person.
That was the one called the High Sage Sword Phoenix.
And the identity of that High Sage Sword Phoenix was none other than Cheong Yeonah.
A heroine who had kicked away the cowardly sect that had entered under the sky of the Demonic Path, joined the Martial Alliance, crossed numerous lines of death, and made her name known on the front lines!
As she gradually became known and even gained the title of High Sage Sword Phoenix, she was a dazzling existence to the cowards who had turned tail, and thus she was able to reignite their morale as their idol.
And as a result, the cowards who had turned tail, who had been judged as a non-combat force by the Demonic Cult, were transformed into a meaningful combat force.
And that was the reason why this mission was given to Jang Baekseo.
The one who delivered the mission told Jang Baekseo that he did not have to carry out this mission if he did not want to, and that he would not be treated as a traitor for it. But…
'If that happens, I will be stripped of my position as a Sword Fiend, and the sect, which has finally gained a little footing and position within the cult through my efforts, will once again plummet to the level of cowards who have betrayed and betrayed again.'
This was, in a word, a test.
Through this mission, they were asking.
'Are you truly a follower of the Demonic Cult?'
The position of Sword Fiend that Jang Baekseo held was by no means a low position within the Demonic Cult. The Twelve Demonic Palaces, which filled the top twelve ranks of the Demonic Cult, excluding the Heavenly Demon!
Among them, the Sword Demon Palace was deeply related to military power.
And the master of that Sword Demon Palace was the Sword Demon.
The position that could challenge that Sword Demon was the Sword Fiend, and they had chosen Jang Baekseo, whose loyalty and skills had been proven, for that position, even if he was a traitor from the Orthodox Faction.
In other words, the Demonic Cult had already shown Jang Baekseo the maximum trust they could show.
So now, the moment had come for Jang Baekseo to prove himself.
And in the end, Jang Baekseo became the Sword Demon.
He proved his trust in the Demonic Cult.
By killing his senior aunt, the High Sage Sword Phoenix, Cheong Yeonah.
Cheong Yeonah was certainly strong. She had the best comprehension and martial talent in Mysterious Profound Sect, and she had crossed numerous lines of death and gained experience during the Righteous-Demonic War.
But in the end, Jang Baekseo was stronger. He had overcome more limits, crossed more lines of death, and gained more experience than her.
So he was able to kill Cheong Yeonah.
Even though there were countless lines of death and hardships after that, for him, the most difficult, cruel, and terrible test among the trials to become the Sword Demon was this mission.
In fact, compared to this mission, all other missions felt easy.
That's why he couldn't help but be surprised when he saw Cheong Yeonah for the first time after his regression, and that's why he couldn't help but show a noticeably large emotional turmoil.
Jang Baekseo stood in the center of the old training ground for a while, captivated by a feeling that could not be expressed in words.
And he slowly repeated the last words that the High Sage Sword Phoenix… no, Cheong Yeonah had left before she died.
"…Those were the good old days, when everyone was together… I want to go back…"
She could not go back in the end. Her abdomen was split open by Jang Baekseo's hand, and a blade was stuck in her chest.
But the one who had killed Cheong Yeonah, who had said she wanted to go back so much, the Sword Demon, had returned.
Whether it was a trick of the heavens or a second chance, only the senior brother Jang Baekseo had returned.
Jang Baekseo slowly looked up at the moonless sky.
A stronger will than before was in his eyes.
***
One day, as Jang Baekseo was spending his time cooped up in the old training ground, practicing his martial arts, an uninvited guest appeared.
Jang Baekseo had just managed to properly establish the Void Demon Divine Art and, after trial and error, was able to consolidate various martial arts to fit his current body.
But this was only establishing it, and he had only just managed to consolidate it.
In other words, he was just now ready to run!
To Jang Baekseo, who was trying to regain his martial prowess of at least the peak level at the maximum speed, his current level, which was barely at the second-rate, was bound to be unsatisfactory.
In the midst of that, the one who came to see him was not a very welcome guest to Jang Baekseo.
"Baekseo, you seem to have made considerable achievements in that short time."
The one who entered the training ground was Cheongmu, a disciple of the second generation of Mysterious Profound Sect and also Jang Baekseo's master.
"Yes, thanks to the time you gave me, I was able to properly consolidate my meager achievements."
Jang Baekseo called his achievements meager, but in Cheongmu's eyes, it was not so at all.
'Ha! I thought he would grow a lot, but I didn't expect him to cross the threshold of the second-rate…'
To Jang Baekseo, who had discussed the world as a martial artist of the transcendent realm beyond the heavens, the level of second-rate was a trivial level that was not worth discussing.
But to the disciples of the small and medium-sized sects that were scattered all over the martial world, the level of second-rate was by no means a low level.
No, that was a story for those who had reached the age of twenty. At the age of just fourteen, the level of second-rate was a very great level.
Even the successors of the so-called prestigious Orthodox Faction, the Nine Great Sects and the Seven Great Families, were praised as well-raised and properly raised if they reached the first-rate level before the age of twenty. Only a few geniuses among them could reach the supreme realm of martial arts, the peak, before the age of twenty, and make a name for themselves with a title at a young age.
Of course, Cheongmu, who was thinking that, would not know. Jang Baekseo was expecting to be able to reach the first-rate level in about a month, and he was thinking that he could easily reach the peak level in a year at most…
And even if he only reached the first-rate, not the peak, Cheongmu would not be able to properly know Jang Baekseo's level. That was because Cheongmu was able to properly grasp Jang Baekseo's martial prowess only because Jang Baekseo was currently not hiding his level and was revealing it.
'It's better to reveal this much than to hide it clumsily…'
Just being the senior brother who had changed overnight was already drawing the attention of those around him. If they knew that he had reached the second-rate at an age not even twenty, the attention of those around him would intensify!
But with his current second-rate level, he could prevent Cheongmu from properly grasping his martial prowess, but he could not deceive his level as he wished.
That's why, even if it meant enduring a little more trouble, Jang Baekseo decided to show this much.
"I know it's a rude request to my master, but could you please keep my achievements a secret as much as possible… I'm afraid that if I receive excessive attention for my lacking talent, I won't be able to meet those expectations."
At Jang Baekseo's words, Cheongmu nodded his head greatly without any particular denial.
He also knew well how much pressure was placed on talented disciples in a small to medium-sized sect like Mysterious Profound Sect. He had also experienced that pressure in his childhood as a third-generation disciple…
Just as there were people like his other disciple, Jang Yuhan, who were completely calm and indifferent to such things, there were of course disciples like Jang Baekseo who found it burdensome and uncomfortable.
"But that's only if I keep my mouth shut. I can't help it if the sect's elders notice…"
It was true. There were plenty of other second-generation disciples and first-generation key figures in Mysterious Profound Sect who could recognize Jang Baekseo's martial prowess. So even if Cheongmu kept his mouth shut, it was inevitable that the word would eventually spread.
Of course, Jang Baekseo knew that much.
But what Cheongmu was overlooking was that Jang Baekseo just didn't want any troublesome interruptions during the month it would take him to reach the first-rate level!
'Once I reach the first-rate, even if it's a bit disappointing, the things I can do will increase a lot.'
Well, even so, his training was already stopped at the point when Cheongmu had come to see him.
And in Jang Baekseo's opinion, Cheongmu was not the type of person who would go and interrupt his disciple who was engrossed in training before he finished his training and showed his face himself.
It wasn't that his personality was cold or ruthless, but that he was not a person who would interfere with a martial artist's dedication to their self-determined training until they had put a period on it in some form!
As if to prove Jang Baekseo's ominous premonition, Cheongmu cleared his throat for a moment as if he was about to say something difficult to say.
"Baekseo, I'm sorry to say this while you're training so hard, but there's a place you have to go."
"A place I have to go?"
What kind of nonsense was this?
Seeing Jang Baekseo's expression, Cheongmu gave a detailed explanation.
To summarize his words, it was like this.
If one were to pick the best martial sect in Gangjeong County, there were three or four other sects besides Mysterious Profound Sect. But if one were to pick the best merchant guild in Gangjeong County, everyone would pick one guild without exception.
-The Geumjo Merchant Guild-
They were not only the best in Gangjeong County, but also a great merchant guild that would be ranked first in the entire Sichuan province if the merchant world's rankings were to be made.
And the sixtieth birthday party of the owner of that Geumjo Merchant Guild, Geum Gadong, was about to be held.
Mysterious Profound Sect, which was located in the same Gangjeong County, was also invited!
Normally, for an event like this, the key figures of the first generation, who held high positions in the sect, would have to go. But Geum Gadong's invitation this time had a slightly unusual aspect.
Although he had attached various flowery words, the people Geum Gadong wanted to come to his sixtieth birthday party were not the sect's key figures or those with high seniority, but the sect's skilled practitioners!
In other words, he wanted those with high martial arts levels in the sect to come!
At first glance, one might think, 'Then shouldn't the key figures of the first generation go even more?' But… unlike the common perception that those who have trained in martial arts for a long time are stronger, in most cases, their skills decline as they age.
Only a few martial arts fanatics from some of the major sects could ignore the weight of time and retain their unparalleled strength even in their old age.
And of course, there was no such person in a small to medium-sized sect like Mysterious Profound Sect. After carefully selecting the people, the ones chosen from Mysterious Profound Sect to attend this sixtieth birthday party were Cheongmu and his junior brother.
"…I've heard this much, but I don't see why I have to go?"
"Hoo, yes, if you only hear this much, I would think so too. But the problem is…"
The words that came out of Cheongmu's mouth next made Jang Baekseo make an expression as if to say, 'What kind of nonsense is this?'
"So, in other words…"
"Yes, in other words, the junior sister who is going with me said that she would never go if you're not there."
"…"
What kind of nonsense is this?
Jang Baekseo squeezed his head while speaking with his expression.
Even when he thought back to before his regression, besides his master Cheongmu, there were no second-generation or first-generation senior uncles or grand-uncles with whom he had a proper relationship.
Cheongmu also sighed as if he didn't understand all of this.
"Hoo… she wasn't like this when she was young… because she was so much younger than the other junior brothers, I, the junior brothers, the master, and the senior uncles all spoiled her. She's old enough now, but she still throws tantrums like this from time to time…"
Only after hearing Cheongmu's words did Jang Baekseo realize who the person who had thrown a tantrum, saying that she would never go if he didn't go with him, was.
"…Is it Senior Aunt Cheong Yeonah?"
"Huh? How did you know that?"
While saying that, Cheongmu roughly guessed that Jang Baekseo had thought of Cheong Yeonah because of the large age gap. That was because the troublemaker of the second generation in Mysterious Profound Sect, Cheong Yeonah, was very famous…
He thought it was not strange for Jang Baekseo to know Cheong Yeonah.
But Jang Baekseo's thoughts were completely different…
'Is this revenge for last night's incident…!?'
Thinking about last night's incident, Jang Baekseo thought that nine times out of ten, she was playing this prank because she was upset that she had apologized to him.
Well, what could he do now? He had never imagined that things would turn out like this at that time, and on the other hand, he felt guilty about his past regression, so he couldn't respond harshly to Cheong Yeonah's prank.
Sighing once again, Jang Baekseo looked at the entrance of the old training ground over his master's shoulder and said.
"But are those kids going with us too?"
"Haha, they must have been upset that they couldn't play with you for a while, Baekseo. When they found out about this, they insisted on going too."
As if Cheongmu already knew about the existence of these cute followers, he smiled and looked back.
Then, two figures were startled by his appearance…
"Huk! We're caught! Hide, Senior Brother! Hide!"
"…I think it's been a long time since it was too late to hide."
Peeking out from the entrance of the old training ground were Jang Baekseo's junior brothers, the second junior brother Jang Yuhan and the youngest disciple Jang Sohyun.
"Are we really taking them?"
Jang Baekseo asked while waving back at Sohyun, who was flapping her short arms to show her delight now that they were caught, and Jang Yuhan, who was shyly raising his hand near his face and waving it awkwardly and carefully.
"Tsk, what can I do? If I say no, those kids will cry and make a fuss."
There was that, but in the first place, they weren't going far, and it was in the same county. Even if the distance was a bit far, it wasn't that far, and they weren't leaving the city, so there were no risk factors. Cheongmu thought it would be a good opportunity to take the young disciples on an outing.
"I can understand if it's Sohyun, but would Yuhan really cry?"
"…Hmm, I can't say no."
At Cheongmu's words, Jang Baekseo made an expression as if to say, 'What is this again? After nonsense, is it horse sense?'
But what Jang Baekseo didn't know was that Jang Yuhan's trust and affection for Jang Baekseo had become a completely different form than before.
Before, they could share their worries and show their weak sides to each other, but to Jang Yuhan, Jang Baekseo was always a being that he had to help.
But that relationship changed on the day Jang Baekseo toyed with Jang Yuhan with three moves.
Not only could they share their worries and show their weak sides, but with that change, he had become a being that he could completely lean on!
Of course, Cheongmu didn't know that fact, but he still had a master's intuition.
It was a clear fact that Jang Yuhan had come to follow Jang Baekseo much more than before. That's why he was following him with Sohyun now, wasn't it?
Whether Jang Baekseo knew Cheongmu's thoughts or not, he was still smiling a good-natured smile and waving at Sohyun and Yuhan.
"Whatever the reason, since you, Master, have created this opportunity for us senior and junior brothers, I will gratefully enjoy this rare and harmonious time."
While saying that, Jang Baekseo's mind was busy searching his memory for any incidents that had happened around this time, but all that came to mind was information that was not particularly special.
That was because at that time, Jang Baekseo was just an ordinary and insignificant disciple of a small to medium-sized sect, so unless it was a major incident that shook the heavens and the earth, there was no way he would know.
Well, even so, he thought that if an unexpected bloody incident or massacre had occurred at the Geumjo Merchant Guild where they were about to go, he would have known. He walked towards his junior brothers.
Of course, the current Jang Baekseo did not know.
How his future would change because of this outing…
(End of Chapter)