After I came back from the dead, I thought I was doing well in keeping Pervert Demon from committing to the Demonic Cult. However, this was a battle I was still constantly fighting.
Even if the words such as Evil and the Four Great Evils were just my joke to them it is my goal that these people do not join the Demonic Cult or do evil things.
Originally I thought the most important person was Pervert Demon who was one of the crazier ones but it was thanks to him that I came to know Sword Demon. And because Ghost Demon became inspired by him to an extent he also luckily came to join my cause.
I was catching the bad ones and turning them towards the light. Normal ways of persuasion didn’t work well so I had to throw in a couple talks of useless nonsense.
Even so my intent remains the same.
Evil ones…
The side where the light shines down is warmer.
Do not go over to the darkness.
If I take advantage of these people wouldn’t I be the evil one? Actually I don’t care if they are evil or not.
Because I am a crazy man in the first place. On the outside I curse beat and laugh at the smallest things but on the inside I am one who is looking after these jerks 12 times a day.
To do it together.
With me who is staggering between the boundaries of black and white. Well it isn’t easy to turn away from the dark towards the light all at once.
In that sense what did the third young lord’s walk out mean?
It is something I don’t know.
It’s because in the previous life it was obvious he would have died once the second or great young lord had caught him.
Pervert Demon and Ghost Demon would also be there. Even though Sam Bok was exhausted from all the running and began to doze off the third young lord just stared at the guesthouse.
There is nothing special to say nothing much to say and talking is bothersome.
He watched the sunset and so did I.
The sun went down and the sunset was covering the world.
Soon the dark night came. When the stars began to shine against the darkness of the night…
Both the third young lord and I looked at the night sky and the stars.
If the stars in the night sky felt beautiful it must mean that there was a change in the perception of joy and sorrow in the third young lord. And if those stars look like nothing much then he must not have changed much.
But I don’t bother asking.
Anyone can see that he had been staring at the starry sky for a long time and thanks to that I too looked at the sky.
Sword Demon puts down the wooden sword for a moment and sits on a bench as he looks at the night sky.
Looking at the shape of the scattering and gathering stars he was getting dizzy wondering if there were traces of the sword held within the stars.
Looking at the star which is shining alone he begins to feel envious. One can imagine that it might be the star of Im So-baek or Cult Leader. Well it is because he is not someone who can be compared with those two.
So for a while Sword Demon searches the night sky to see if there is a star which matches his skills. It was funny to think that he thought that the size and brightness of the stars represented different martial arts. Regardless he seriously counted them. However it wasn’t easy to find a star that accurately represented him.
Before being able to find the star he lowers his eyes and looks towards the entrance.
“….”
After a while a voice echoes out.
“Hong Mok-han the messenger to the right elder.”
Sword Demon answers
“Come in.”
Once the door opens the messenger comes in with red clothes and kneels down.
“Have you been well?”
Sword Demon nods.
“It isn’t much. It has been a while since we met messenger Hong.”
The messenger known as Hong Mok- han raises his head and makes eye contact with Sword Demon.
“I do not know what to address you as.”
“You don’t have to worry about that just call me freely.”
Hong Mok- han reveals the purpose of his visit.
“Senior there was an order from the Cult Leader to retrieve the Light Sword for those who want the position of Light Left Elder which has been vacant for too long. As a result those who belonged to the Cult and the elders who stepped back all expressed their interest in this. In addition people from the allied sects have come in as well. When the Right Elder heard this news he proclaimed that the sword should be retrieved.”
“Is that so?”
“Right Elder warned us to determine the location first and then to carry out the order. If senior decides the place I will pass it on to those interested to come compete and take it.”
“Messenger Hong.”
“Yes.”
“Are there loads of troops?”
Hong Mak- han purses his lips and answers
“It is difficult for me to get an accurate estimate. We even had people of the allied families coming up.”
Sword Demon looks around.
“Is that so? It will be difficult to meet around here. You need the time and date right now?”
“If senior accepts and decides it I will head back and deliver it.”
Sword Demon looks at the night sky and asks him
“Messenger Hong do you think it will rain?”
Hong Mak- han answers after checking the sky.
“It looks like it will continue to be normal sunny days for the upcoming 10 days.”
“Then just go with that.”
“I will relay the message. Where would you like it to be?”
“There is a guest house in a secluded place to the southwest direction from here. There’s only one guesthouse around so it will not be difficult to find it.”
“Yes. I will inform them.”
After he is done the messenger gets up and looks around.
“Is the stay convenient?”
Sword Demon nods.
“It is quiet so it isn’t exactly a bad thing. Is the Right Elder doing alright?”
“He seems to be exhausted and is busy with a lot of work.”
“I see. The Cult Leader didn’t say anything?”
To which the messenger cautiously says
“He did.”
“Speak it then.”
“That is a bit…”
“It is fine. This wouldn’t be the first time that I’ve heard harsh words from the Cult Leader.”
Hong Mok-han lowers his head as he says
“… wooden sword is not suitable for those who are training.”
“I understand.”
“Yes.”
“Messenger Hong you and the Right Elder will appease the volunteers well so that there will be fewer casualties. It seems like the Cult Leader is bored. There are still many people.”
“I will take this into consideration. Then I should leave.”
When Sword Demon nods Hong Mok-han walks to the entrance and turns around. He bows his head as he leaves.
Sword Demon mumbles as he hears the brief sigh of Hong Mok-han as he begins to go back.
“… messenger Hong’s footwork has improved.”
Suddenly Sword Demon looks at the night sky and predicts that sooner or later the big and small stars will lose their light.
Well it was time to take out the Light Sword which had been kept in the closet for a long time. Should this emotion be called anger? Or bitterness? Sword Demon couldn’t understand it so he sighed.
Before taking out the sword Sword Demon goes into the house and tidies up the furniture.
While looking at the night sky I turn to the side facing the town.
Even though I can’t see clearly in the dark I realize someone is coming and after a while from the darkness approaches a man who looks at me and the others.
“Senior has come.”
Sword Demon looked like a person going on a trip from the way he was dressed. This wasn’t his usual leisure outfit.
Sword Demon approaches and looks at the third young lord who is puzzled.
“Elder you came.”
Sword Demon sits down next to me without saying a word and puts his sword which I had never seen before onto the table.
I knew this long black sword is the Demon Sword but why is this man suddenly here with this sword? I couldn’t help but ask.
“Senior why are you so angry? To even bring this sword out.”
Sword Demon pours the alcohol on the table into a glass.
“I received a call asking for the sword back.”
“Aha.”
“I brought it here because I thought the fight would escalate here.”
“Oho.”
“If Sect Leader isn’t comfortable I can fight elsewhere.”
“Hmm?”
As I exclaim Sword Demon glares at me. After clearing my throat I encourage Sword Demon.
“Good job. It would be better to meet here. Come to think of it the guest house stinks of blood. It is better to break it down once in a while and rebuild it again. I am thinking of making it again as a branch of the Low-Down Sect so there is nothing to be so concerned about. And it wasn’t my guesthouse to start with so there is no reason for senior to feel that bad about it.”
Sword Demon nods and says
“I am sorry.”
“You should have said it but anyone who belongs to the evil side will become my enemies. I cannot let them come and take away elder hyung’s sword like some item on a mortgage. Right?”
I look at the third young lord. When his eyes move around as if he is looking for an answer Sam Bok who just got up from his nap answers instead.
“Right. Sect Leader is right.”
I ask
“Did you dream of something?”
“No. I didn’t sleep.”
Normally escorts shouldn’t sleep so I just let it go.
Sword Demon asks the third young lord
“Third young lord what are you doing in here?”
I feel caught in the middle of them and so I turn my head to the left and right. I want to see their faces while they’re talking but being in the middle doesn’t allow it.
When I look at third young lord he says
“I was being chased and Sect Leader here saved me so I decided to stick with him for a while. Look at the night sky.”
I nod and look at Sword Demon.
“I see. Actually I saved several lives. I saved shit face and then the ugly one and even saved the son of the Cult Leader. And….”
It has been a while since I congratulated myself. No one responds so I mumble.
“Who am I talking to?”
Sword Demon asks me
“Who chased after him?”
“A member of the Heavenly Alliance but he sent the man back after threatening him. I watched but if I had a choice I would have killed all of them. If teacher Baek Wei sends his disciples or subordinates again I will have no choice but to kill. If the Demonic Cult comes to retrieve the sword given to senior I have no choice but to kill them all.”
As if my state seemed volatile Sword Demon holds me by the shoulder.
“Sect Leader calm down now.”
“I am always calm. I always keep a cool heart.”
Sword Demon says
“Do not talk nonsense and go cultivate.”
I get up from where I was sitting.
“I confirm.”
While I was entering the guest house Sword Demon spoke to the third young lord.
“You do not need to be involved so leave with the escort.”
I enter the guesthouse and listen to the conversation between the two for a while. Third young lord responds
“I have nowhere else to go. Sect Leader saved my life once and I will recover here till then.”
“Forces of the Cult will come here in 10 days. Are you going to kill a member of the Cult and become a sinner?”
“Elder that is the wrong way to phrase it.”
“What is?”
“Those that attacked me are the sinners. In other words the troops that got involved in the fight between brothers. I am curious too. Who are the people who are coming for your position? A couple of things about this don’t sit right with me.”
Come to think of it the third young lord is still a member of the Demonic Cult. In fact what his title is is unknown. It didn’t seem like an honorary position but just one title given to those in line to take the role.
The situation of the guesthouse couldn’t get any worse than this.
I sit cross legged on a chair that I am used to and think about things.
Is this true war?
It cannot be. It was a good way to have a competition like this where people following the Demonic Way will compete.
To be precise the Demonic Cult and the Crazy Demon Alliance fight or the Demonic Cult and the Heavenly Alliance fight against us Four Evils. At the center there will be the Sword Demon and the third young lord who aren’t welcomed ones.
Suddenly I can’t hold back and ask Sword Demon
“Senior when will they come to take the sword?”
“In 10 days I cannot be sure if It is night or day.”
“Right. I understand. I am going to have to cultivate for a while then.”
I think of us four and begin to cultivate for a long time. In order to keep the qi within me in balance I focus on my cultivation.
It isn’t easy for a long time.
I had to forget the place I was in forget about the other four the Demonic Cult and turn a blind eye to the bloody smell. In the end disregarding the warriors and the concerns and the hopes I spoke about I began to cultivate.
Maybe it was because I stared at the night sky for a long time.
Fortunately the darkness that takes over when I close my eyes feels like the darkness of the night sky. And in the blackness of my heart I manage to grab onto the shining stars one by one and stack them within my dantian.
