Chapter 5 : Change
Chapter 5: Change
The Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, the Heavenly Demon Dan Cheonwoo, looked at his youngest son whom he was meeting after a long time.
With seven days still remaining, he had reached the third trial of the Demonic Cave.
It was something simply unbelievable.
‘I thought he would die without even passing the first trial.’
It was unexpected.
The fact that he was standing here meant he had passed the second trial and reached the third.
And passing the second trial meant he had properly mastered the Asura Demonic Sword.
‘Did he perhaps obtain a fortuitous encounter in the Demonic Cave?’
He knew the boy's comprehension was excellent.
But how could the Seventh Young Master, who at some point had neglected martial arts and lived a life shut away in his room, come all the way to the third trial?
So he asked.
“I will ask again. Do you wish to leave the Demonic Cave?”
“To be more accurate, I wish to pass the Demonic Cave.”
For the Seventh Young Master, Dan Woojin, to express his own opinion.
To Dan Cheonwoo’s question of whether he wanted to leave, Dan Woojin ‘asserted’ himself with intense will.
The youngest, who at some point had stopped speaking his mind and kept his mouth shut, had changed.
“…You have changed. Was there an occasion?”
“Is that so? I am not sure.”
How many people could speak like this without being cowed before the Heavenly Demon Dan Cheonwoo?
‘What made him change?’
A forced seclusion cannot change a person like this.
One can truly change only by realizing one's own deficiencies for oneself.
Dan Cheonwoo was curious about the reason Dan Woojin had changed.
“In the past, you would not have even been able to lift your head properly before me, so what has changed you so?”
Dan Woojin spoke while looking straight into Dan Cheonwoo’s eyes.
“A reason you ask, there is none in particular. I simply came to want to survive.”
At the youngest's remark about wanting to survive, Dan Cheonwoo’s brow narrowed.
‘Is it because of that incident that happened a while ago?’
He had intentionally leaked information about his seven children to the Seven Great Demon Sects, who had to choose one of the candidates for Young Cult Leader.
The day of the Heavenly Demon’s birthday event, which served as a pretext to show the faces of the candidates, was also the day of choice when the Seven Great Demon Sects had to select one of the candidates.
To put it the other way, it was also a day for the seven children, from the First Young Master to the Seventh, to think about which of the Seven Great Demon Sects they would form their power base upon.
Naturally, before that, he had to provide information to the Seven Great Demon Sects regarding the children from the Second to the Seventh, whose information had not been released.
Because they also had the right to choose the next Cult Leader.
‘He was probably tested.’
He had heard news that there were bastards getting on the nerves of the youngest, who lived shut in his room, but he had let it slide.
There must have been friction with the people sent by the Seven Great Demon Sects to test the youngest.
‘Was there an incident where he felt a threat to his life?’
He thought it was actually a good thing
If he could not endure even that much, he could not be called a child of the Heavenly Demon.
Among Dan Cheonwoo’s seven children, Dan Woojin was the only child he thought might die an early death in a strange land.
If he died that way, he considered it fate.
A weak blood relative was of no use to the Heavenly Demon, Dan Cheonwoo.
But now it was different.
‘If he passes the Demonic Cave… the story changes.’
As it stands, the youngest is in first place.
The meaning of passing the Demonic Cave first is greater than one might think.
Of course,
‘Anyone can say words.’
That heart must lead to action to survive in this harsh Heavenly Demon Cult.
It is the destiny of one born as a child of the Heavenly Demon.
“I have confirmed your will. Then, prove it.”
Dan Cheonwoo rose from his seat.
If he survives, an opportunity will be given.
Opportunity is gained by those who prove themselves.
The third trial of the Heavenly Demonic Cave.
The proof of words following the encounter with the Heavenly Demon.
Sssss.
The moment Dan Cheonwoo vanished,
From the four sides of the narrow space, beings exuding the scent of death began to rush out.
* * *
Half a month later.
The day marking exactly one month since the Seventh Young Master, Dan Woojin, a candidate for Young Cult Leader, entered the Demonic Cave.
The day of the Heavenly Demon’s birthday dawned.
“What of the Young Cult Leader candidates?”
“I have not yet received news that they have emerged from the Demonic Cave.”
To the question from the Strategist of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Sima Yi, his adjutant Weiji Hyeok replied.
“I see.”
Who would be the first to pass the Demonic Cave?
The greatest interest of today was the Young Cult Leader candidates.
Sima Yi and Weiji Hyeok arrived at the place where everyone was gathered.
Upon reaching the palace where the Heavenly Demon resided, the Heavenly Demon Palace, they saw carriages engraved with the symbols of the Seven Great Demon Sects lined up.
“Have the Seven Great Demon Sects all arrived already?”
“Yes, that is correct. Every single one of the patriarchs has attended without exception.”
“They must have been curious about the faces of the Young Cult Leader candidates.”
Except for the First Young Master, the children of the Heavenly Demon who were candidates for successor had all been shrouded in mystery.
Following the Cult Leader’s declaration that he would not recognize them as his children until they passed the Demonic Cave, the candidates had lived lives that were thoroughly unexposed.
Today was the very day they would make their first appearance in an official setting.
As the identity of the Young Cult Leader would sway the future landscape of power, the patriarchs must have been contemplating deeply.
Depending on whom they aligned themselves with, their lives in the Heavenly Demon Cult would change.
“What do you think, Strategist?”
“About what?”
“I am curious what you think about who among the seven candidates will become the Young Cult Leader. Will it be the First Young Master after all?”
At adjutant Weiji Hyeok’s question, Sima Yi stroked his chin.
“Who will become the Young Cult Leader… I dare not predict that, but historically, the one who passed the Demonic Cave first often became the Young Cult Leader.”
“Oh, if that is the case…”
“Yes. Right now, who passes the Demonic Cave first will be everyone's focus.”
With those words, Sima Yi stood at the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Palace.
“Strategist Sima Yi and Adjutant Weiji Hyeok are entering the palace!”
The shout of the guard protecting the front of the palace was conveyed inside, and the gazes of the people who were chatting gathered toward the Strategist.
“Then it will be the First Young Master, right? Passing the Demonic Cave as the very first?”
To Weiji Hyeok’s question, Sima Yi replied as he walked through the Great Hall inside the palace.
“Who knows. But no matter who it is,”
The person who passed the Demonic Cave first would be clearly imprinted on the people gathered in this Great Hall.
As if to say that the one to become the Young Cult Leader is himself.
Receiving the gazes of the patriarchs of the Seven Great Demon Sects among countless stares, Sima Yi thought while bowing his head slightly.
Probably by now, the Demon Sects that had already chosen a candidate based on information provided in advance were feeling anxious.
‘I just hope they at least all come out alive.’
As someone who knew the three trials of the Demonic Cave were not easy, Sima Yi only hoped that all the candidates would emerge alive.
Especially since the third trial of the Demonic Cave was one that could never be passed with ordinary skill.
Just as the Strategist entered the Heavenly Demon Palace and was walking to greet the Cult Leader,
“The seventh son of the Great Cult Leader, Young Master Dan Woojin, is entering the palace!”
The thunderous voice of the guard was heard once again.
At that voice, Sima Yi stopped his steps and looked back.
‘The Seventh Young Master?’
Sima Yi was also human.
He was curious about who would enter first.
However, among the Young Cult Leader candidates he expected to enter first, the Seventh Young Master was definitely not one of them.
The door opened and a man draped in clothes that had become rags appeared.
People swallowed hard as they saw the solid lean muscles visible through the torn clothes and the light in his eyes visible through his disheveled hair.
“It seems… I am not late.”
It was the Seventh Young Master Dan Woojin’s first appearance in an official setting.
* * *
Appearing inside the hall, Dan Woojin looked around.
Seeing the Strategist of the Demonic Cult, Sima Yi, standing right in front of him, he could tell he had arrived just in time.
‘That’s a relief.’
He had delayed too much time in the third trial.
He had never imagined that after speaking with the Heavenly Demon, the third trial would begin immediately.
‘To think he would send Jiangshi into the third trial.’
Thanks to that, he truly suffered.
Four.
He repeated blocking and attacking the strikes of the four Jiangshi that attacked from all sides.
He experienced the crisis of death countless times.
Dan Woojin had to fight the four-on-one battle for seven days without even being able to sleep properly.
‘I really never thought the Jiangshi techniques of the Maoshan Sect would still exist.’
Of course, he gained a lot thanks to that.
‘I did not know that even killing a Jiangshi would be converted into strength.’
If the second trial was to melt the forms of the Asura Demonic Sword into the statues to make him learn it,
The third trial felt as though it was meant for him to properly master the Asura Demonic Sword against the Jiangshi.
The four Jiangshi that appeared in the third trial.
By facing four enemies who don't die and don't tire for a week, he was pushed to the limits of his physical stamina and inner Qi.
Though they were only four Jiangshi, facing them was truly the taste of death.
Against Jiangshi that would not fall no matter how much he attacked, Dan Woojin was pushed to the extreme, but he was able to pass the third trial after making some gains.
Furthermore, as he struggled for his life, he was able to master once again the eye arts he had known in his previous life.
For Dan Woojin, the past month was an ordeal and a new beginning.
As proof of that,
“Seventh Young Master, you are in a terrible state.”
The clothes he was wearing were full of holes, and his body, visible through them, was covered in blue bruises.
The brows of the people who checked Dan Woojin’s condition furrowed naturally.
“Coming straight from the Demonic Cave… it could not be helped.”
“It is fine. More importantly, go and greet the Cult Leader first.”
Nodding at Sima Yi’s words, Dan Woojin walked slowly through the Heavenly Demon Palace.
Murmurs.
— For the Seventh Young Master, who lived without even seeing sunlight, to pass the Demonic Cave.
— Did he refine his martial arts secretly?
— I thought for sure he would die in the Demonic Cave.
— He must have been lucky.
Most people’s reactions were wondering if he had passed the Demonic Cave by some fluke.
Dan Woojin walked toward the empty seat, indifferent to such reactions.
As he walked along the central path, countless gazes poured onto him.
Honestly, it was burdensome.
Because as Am Yeong the assassin, he had never been the center of attention like this.
However, he could keep from showing it.
Hiding his expression was something he had always trained for.
Except for one person.
A place where one could look down upon the Great Hall at a glance.
A throne located at the highest point in the Heavenly Demon Palace.
A man draped in a black dragon robe was staring at Dan Woojin with an indifferent expression.
Dan Woojin did not avoid the man’s gaze and continued to move his steps.
‘I have survived as promised.’
Dan Woojin moved his steps slowly but with dignity and stood before the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult and his father, Dan Cheonwoo.
Seven chairs were placed on either side of Dan Cheonwoo, and the patriarchs of the Seven Great Demon Sects representing the Heavenly Demon Cult were sitting in those seats.
And the seven seats below them were the seats for the Young Cult Leader candidates.
‘Why… are they empty?’
At that sight, Dan Woojin was able to realize one fact.
The fact that he was the first Young Master to pass the Demonic Cave.
His heart swelled at that fact.
Because he knew through the experience of his previous life.
— The one who passes the Demonic Cave first becomes the Young Cult Leader.
In the previous life, the one who passed the Demonic Cave first was the Second Young Master, Dan Hyunwoo.
And,
‘I have survived without dying.’
The Seventh Young Master, Dan Woojin, who should have died in the previous life, had survived.
In this life, it would be different.
Dan Woojin bowed his head toward Dan Cheonwoo and spoke.
“I have proved it.”
I survived and passed the Demonic Cave.
And as the first at that.
At those words, Dan Cheonwoo burst into a smirk.
“I acknowledge it. You are clearly my child.”
The acknowledgment of the Heavenly Demon Dan Cheonwoo.
Naturally, attention could not help but be focused on Dan Woojin.
At that moment.
“The second son of the Great Cult Leader, Young Master Dan Hyunwoo, is entering the palace!”
The guard's shout echoed through the Great Hall.