Chapter 243

“I think so.”

“…What?”

At Seol-Hwi’s answer, Gu Dae-yeom’s eyes went wider.

If he was going to make a joke at this moment, he would shout, but,

“Because this is an expected situation. When the struggle reaches the end, the Earth Demon himself will step ahead, and then will lose his life.”

“…So?”

“Most Supreme Demon warriors are retired from the scene, so they don’t want such power, and the elders won’t touch it either. In the end, that position would get handed down to the Black Demon Warlord, who could be said to be the center of the power for the Fourth Disciple.”

“Hmmm.”

The words were not wrong.

When the Earth Demon died, his power would be given to the next strongest subordinate.

Gu Dae-yeom will benefit from it.

“But, what if he lives through?”

“It is good then too.”

“What do you mean?”

“As the Warlord knows, the Earth Demon isn’t from our sect. He was the one who came to the sect after he caught the eye of the sect leader. And looking at his actions until now, you will realize he is not interested in the power struggle.”

“Hmm.”

“So even if he wants power, there will be many difficulties once he decides to take power as the real Sect Leader.”

Go Dae-yeo could not refute it.

The lord was one with a unique body, and he had a chance to win, but if he used his body, he would die. If he lived and became the leader, he would still be refused.

All the members of the sect had the same opinion, they wanted a strong person to lead the sect, so Seol-Hwi’s words were right.

“Hmmm.”

Still, it could not be helped.

It was the fact that the Earth Demon being born with such fate was a favorable thing and it would be nice to win a battle either way.

After being silent he said,

“What is the reason?”

“…”

“Why suggest all this to me?”

The offer was attractive, but he still could not believe it. They had not been particularly close until now, so he doubted the intentions behind making such an offer.

How do I explain it?

Seol-Hwi also could understand this.

It was said that the Black Demon Warlord was the one who had the most power among the eight warlords, but it was difficult to be strong enough to overwhelm all the others at the same time.

Because each of them represented the strength of the sect.

In particular, handing over the lead position was both lucky and hellish.

Unless the exact reason was given, it will be difficult for him to be convinced.

“…”

Seol-Hwi who had such thoughts looked at the empty glass, and pouring half a drink he asked,

“I would like to ask one thing.”

“Go on.”

“Do you think that I should pour more alcohol into the glass? Or do you think this is enough?”

The Warlord’s eyes twitched, saying he was not going to get involved in the other person’s unknown questions anymore.

Seol-Hwi who understood that look said,

“The Warlord went out into Kangho at the age of 16 and fought many life and death battles. Among them, in the mid thirties, when you were escaping from there, you had to move through the sects of justice and became the talk of the town to all.”

“…”

“You always crossed the line of death and stayed alive. Then you came to have the greatest power in this sect.”

“You. Say what you want to say.”

When Gu Dae-yeom looked annoyed, Seol-Hwi looked at him.

“What is the thought about romance that you have?”

“…Romance?”

“Is it an easy win? To take a chance to rise higher? To enjoy authority? If so, we understand why you won’t side with us.”

Seol-Hwi picked up the glass and continued talking.

“We do not think there is enough alcohol in this glass, nor is there that much to begin with. We acknowledge the reality and try to fill what is lacking, and if we don’t fill it, we’d rather see it empty.”

“…”

“For the Fourth Disciple who has nothing to win over other strong disciples in the power struggle. Not just blaming the situation or the environment, but overcoming this adversity is a form of romantic act in the Earth Demon’s life.”

Saying that, Seol-Hwi raised his gaze.

“The romance of giving the best position to his subordinates even if he himself doesn’t become a leader. A romance which makes life easier for the future generation, even if it isn’t by his hand. The romance of revealing the future the subordinates could live through his death.”

“…”

“What romance does the Warlord have in mind?”

Gu Dae-yeom was looking at Seol-Hwi with a subtle expression. It was unknown if Seol-Hwi spoke everything.

He lowered his head.

“Now I see, it is a group of dreamers wanting to catch the clouds.”

He looked out the window for a while and smiled.

“…”

Is It a failure?

Seol-Hwi’s face went stiff.

Before coming here, he researched a bit about this man, but as expected, he was a different person than expected.

Shhh

Gu Dae-yeom got up.

“There was a time. The childhood of mine when I was ignorant of the world and ran around. But the world isn’t kind enough to allow you to pursue such a vague idea.”

“…”

“Bring the head of a Kangho elder.”

“…!”

Seol-Hwi raised his head.

He could not understand the meaning of this.

“Even a young guest in a guest house lying down will do. Even the romance you just mentioned plays a role.”

“…”

“Whenever other people ask me why I allied myself with the Fourth Disciple, I will not be able to convince them saying it is because of romance, I won’t be able to save face.”

“…Elder.”

In an instant, the heart of Seol-Hwi pounded.

He was not sure at first. but he had realized that this man did not hate romance.

It was then—

Words shone in front of his eyes:

“…!”

Seol-Hwi could feel it.

Why was there an order to assassinate a warrior of Kangho in the secret warrior path? Why did they need something like that to convince the Black Demon Warlord?

It was a justification of their strength.

This was because in order to recruit in great numbers, it was needed to have both a cause and skills at the same time.

Mount Hua’s Goo Jong-myung.

It was one of the most eye-catching names.

He thought things would continue in one way or another in this life.

But once again, here?

Seol-Hwi had no intention of avoiding it any longer.

Well, they had to cut off the bad relationship with him, because he was different from before.

So he chose it.

“Goo Jong-myung? Mount Hua sect’s elder?”

Gu Dae-yeom asked, looking curious.

Both in name and reality the man was a first level danger, and there was no way someone did not know him.

“Yes. Right. He is the elder of the Mount Hua Sect who is in a mutually beneficial relationship with the First Disciple.”

“First Disciple?”

He looked, asking what it meant, and Seol-Hwi told him a story related to the Mount Hua Sect. It was linked with the Supreme Pavilion Lord, and in cooperation with him, the First Disciple was using them as a means to invade the Central Plains in the future.

Of course, when he failed, he used them as tools to do his work.

“This… must have been prepared more than I thought.”

Gu Dae-yeom looked interested.

The preparation of the Fourth Disciple was the same, but the behavior of reading the situation with the First Disciple… He seemed to sense that the power struggle was intensifying more than he expected.

“Fine. Then, bring me his head and I will support the Fourth Disciple from that day onward.”

When his consent was given, Seol-Hwi bowed.

The last problem to deal with—

Seol-Hwi and the Fourth Disciple’s future depended on Goo Jong-myung’s life.

“Come in.”

When the permission came from the inside, Seol-Hwi opened the door and entered. The Earth Demon was at the door. It seemed that he was quite worried while he was not there.

“Right, how did it go?”

Seol-Hwi answered right away.

“They agreed, but with a condition.”

“Condition?”

The Earth Demon’s face went stiff. As expected, it seemed to bother him what the condition was.

“Right. He said we should bring him the head of Goo Jong-myung of the Mount Hua Sect.”

“Goo Jong-Myung… The elder of Mount Hua mentioned earlier, right?”

“Right.”

“This.”

The Earth Demon frowned.

Goo Jong-myung is a warrior on the Supreme Demon level in the justice faction. Moreover, there must be more than one or two elders in the Mount Hua Sect like him.

He was worried about whether it would be possible with Seol-Hwi’s ability. He was worried if Seol-Hwi could do it.

“Do not worry. It can be done.”

At Seol-Hwi’s words, the Earth Demon nodded. They have Seol-Hwi as well as the reclusive warriors.

In particular, if Cheon Miryo participated, she could cut down even more dangerous people. Of course, it was unknown whether she would agree or not, but she would not hold back if she agreed.

“And I have something to tell you.”

“Something?”

At Seol-Hwi’s words, the Earth Demon nodded.

“Please refrain from going after the Supreme Pavilion Lord with the other hidden troops.”

“How do you…?!”

The Earth Demon was shocked.

He looked surprised at how Seol-Hwi knew all this.

“I was guessing how Lord would think. Since the Supreme Pavilion Lord is the one who has the map, he wondered if he would follow him and try to find traces of Mount Hua…”

“Your words are right, I was thinking so.”

The Earth Demon acknowledged it, but Seol-Hwi knew. As far as he remembered it, about a year and a half passed on the Three Lives Presented by Earth Demon.

He would use the troops to follow the Supreme Pavilion Lord.

Then they would be discovered and hide their traces, but because of that, the Supreme Pavilion Lord would pay them a visit.

“I will follow him. It isn’t too different from the usual path.”

Seol-Hwi was thinking about following the Supreme Pavilion lord to find Goo Jong-myung. Then, he can attack them at once.

“I get it, let’s do that.”

When the Earth Demon agreed, Seol-Hwi bowed and turned around.

With the goals set, there was no need to delay it.

“Thank you.”

“…”

“Thank you so much, Seol-Hwi.”

The Earth Demon’s voice came as he turned. He could feel the sincerity and turned around to bow.

The way the Earth Demon and he lived—

It all depended on the head of Goo Jong-Myung.

Seol-Hwi didn’t return to his place. He wanted to see Cheon Miryo.

This fight—

He was thinking of doing it without her involvement.

Clearly, she was strong, but it was difficult to guarantee that receiving her help would go well.

I will solve this on my own.

Seol-Hwi stopped walking in a quiet place.

He could delay dealing with Goo Jong-myung any longer.

To reach Supreme Demon—

It remained in the lower dantian and middle dantian for now, he had to unite them into the opened upper dantian.

Be with demonic arts or the regular martial arts.

Seol-Hwi, who had delayed the time until then, did not hesitate.

If it was a way to influence nature, be it fire, ice, or demonic arts, anything is good.

Because he did not know how he would end up with his realization.

Swish

Seol-Hwi’s body, which was standing still, began to change.

Unlike before, there was no great pain, and it ended with white light shining at the top of his head.

Even after breaking through the wall, the realization was different.

It was a reconstruction which had no pain accompanying it even though his body was slightly enlarged.