Slap! Slap!
“This little brat has been given everything, yet refuses to wake up!”
…The first thing I saw upon regaining consciousness was Tang So-yeol, who was hitting my cheek with an irritated expression.
As soon as our eyes met, Tang So-yeol grabbed me by the collar and forced me to turn my head.
I caught a glimpse of Wi Seoryeon, wrapped in Black Dragon Qi, charging towards the visibly unwell Hyeok Gi-rin, fist clenched and ready to strike.
A scene that snapped my mind to attention in an instant.
“Stop!”
Even though it was a hasty outburst without a thought,
All of a sudden.
Fortunately, Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon heeded my words and halted her punch.
“Oh, so you’ve awakened.”
“…Alright.”
I purposefully sat up slowly, checking my condition.
Thanks to the Black Dragon Qi, my insides felt a mess, my abdomen throbbed from the earlier collision with Kwon Kang, and Tang So-yeol’s slap stung my cheek.
What a complete disaster.
Regardless of my physical state, my course of action was clear.
First, I had to get Hyeok Gi-rin out of danger.
“You said you had business with me, right? So let my companions go.”
After a moment’s pause, Wi Seoryeon glanced at Hyeok Gi-rin, then slowly withdrew her Black Dragon Qi.
Then, as if inviting me to take Hyeok Gi-rin, she kindly stepped aside to clear the way. The Black Cat and Miss Yeo Il-ye skirted around Wi Seoryeon and helped Hyeok Gi-rin back to safety.
I stole a sidelong glance at Hyeok Gi-rin, and luckily, there were no visible injuries.
While I assessed Hyeok Gi-rin’s details, my mind was working overtime to piece together the situation.
It was certain that I had earned some recognition from Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon during the earlier matches.
If that weren’t the case, there would have been no reason for Wi Seoryeon to stop her fist or to so readily let Hyeok Gi-rin go.
…If I had defeated Wi Seoryeon, everything would have been neatly wrapped up.
But frankly, that had been an ambitious goal.
While I had certainly become stronger recently, I didn’t possess the actual strength to defeat the heir of Heavenly Demon Arts.
Anyway, given that I had poured my heart and soul into my martial arts, it was a worthy investment that I could at least have a conversation with Heavenly Demon now.
“Well then, can I hear the reason you sought me out?”
First things first, I needed information.
To formulate a countermeasure, I needed to understand why Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon had come after me in the first place.
“From your perspective, it must be hard to comprehend why I am here right now.”
“That’s right.”
“However, I cannot clarify your doubts at this moment. Therefore, I have a proposal for you.”
As Wi Seoryeon spoke those words, I felt a slight sense of foreboding.
Her expression conveyed an air of confidence, as if she had devised some brilliant plan.
What on earth was this Heavenly Demon thinking to wear such a grin?
My intuition told me that nothing good would come from this, so I focused on Wi Seoryeon’s words with heightened tension.
“Would you be interested in becoming my guest and visiting the Heavenly Demon Sect?”
…An utterly unexpected proposal was thrown my way.
I could sense the mood among my group darkening as Wi Seoryeon continued unbothered by their reactions.
“I assure you it’s not a bad proposal for you either. While the world often depicts the Heavenly Demon Sect as some den of demons, that’s far from the truth. You would experience a martial world different from anything you’ve learned or experienced so far.”
“I can’t grasp your intentions.”
“I see potential in you.”
Wi Seoryeon raised her right fist towards me, and the bloodstains spreading across the bandage became vividly apparent.
Perhaps a wound from a clash with Ilroe.
“But you are still lacking. You need to grow a bit more.”
“…So you’re saying you will help me grow?”
“Indeed.”
A heavy silence cast a shadow over Wi Seoryeon’s confident words; even the Hidden Bodyguards who were trained to move in the shadows glanced at the back of Wi Seoryeon’s head in disbelief.
When I checked behind me, it was clear my companions wore expressions of shock, and even Hyeok Gi-rin, who had been groaning from the Black Dragon Qi, was staring at Wi Seoryeon with his mouth agape.
“Oh….”
In everyone’s bewilderment, Wi Seoryeon’s gaze shimmered with unwavering determination.
No,
Was she so excited about the prospect of training me that she was grinning from ear to ear?
“…Time.”
That was all I could muster in response.
“Please give me some time.”
—
“That’s ridiculous!”
Hyeok Gi-rin, still suffering from the Black Dragon Qi, said with a pale face.
I had to agree with Hyeok Gi-rin on this one.
While I respected the proactive and daring ideology of Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon, why on earth did it have to be me she had chosen as her target?
What on earth could she possibly see in me that led her to hold such a confident expectation?
But it seemed Wi Seoryeon regarded my potential highly.
She carried herself as though she had some sort of evidence to back up her confidence in me.
I couldn’t help but wonder how Wi Seoryeon found me and what information she had to provoke such a stance, but the priority now was dealing with her proposal.
“We can’t possibly hand Senior Ho over to a Demon Sect.”
“That’s right. It would be better to brace for death and attempt a breakout instead.”
“Yes, it’s a good opportunity to test the limits of Bicheongmacha.”
I glanced at my companions for a moment.
They were serious, with determined looks in the eyes of Miss Yeo Il-ye, Tang Do-yeon, Hyeok Gi-rin, and the Black Cat as they were ready to risk their lives.
Tang So-yeol sighed heavily and nodded in agreement.
“Don’t do that.”
“Honorable Person!”
Miss Yeo Il-ye raised her voice, but I shook my head firmly.
I looked at each of my companions.
The Black Cat, who had been a constant support during our long journey to raise our skills together.
Miss Yeo Il-ye, who always said we needed to repay kindness, but had already repaid more than enough.
Hyeok Gi-rin, with whom I had weathered many incidents since the Sacheon City bandit crisis.
Tang So-yeol, who always grumbled yet eventually complied with my requests.
And even Tang Do-yeon, who had silently driven the cart day and night to make this entire journey possible.
These companions were saying they were willing to risk their lives to free me from Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon’s clutches.
I understood.
The words they were uttering were not just empty phrases but genuine commitments to risk their lives.
That weighty sentiment came to me even more deeply now that I had regained my memory and chosen the Martial World.
That’s why I could make my decision now.
“Thank you, everyone.”
“Honorable Person!”
“My Disciple.”
“Following Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it’s likely to be a chance.”
And indeed it was. I had no idea how Wi Seoryeon planned to raise me, but simply earning the status of a guest at the Demon Sect would likely yield a substantial return.
Of course, it wouldn’t be safe.
But with that level of risk came potential rewards as well.
“However!”
“Ha ha, the Demon Sect is just another place for people to live.”
My companions wore expressions as if they were being dragged into some infernal hell, but the Demon Sect was merely another place where people lived, just with its unique culture.
“This incident served as a catalyst, and I’ve felt sorry for troubling you for so long.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You all have your own matters to attend to.”
Having completed her revenge long ago, Miss Yeo Il-ye needed to return to the Jeomchang Faction. Hyeok Gi-rin couldn’t remain in the Martial World forever, and Tang So-yeol and Tang Do-yeon had to lend their strength to the reconstruction of Tang Clan.
Even the Black Cat needed to reconnect with the members of the Wolbok-dang.
“I held onto you longer than I should have due to my lack of faith. I thought if we dispersed, we might never come back together again.”
“…Outcast.”
The strength of my companions was essential. In order to gain opportunities and hunt entities, and to overcome the numerous dangers we may face, having allies was a necessity.
That’s why I had clung onto them.
When one’s body drifts away, so does their heart.
They had their own duties to attend to, and I had thought the longer we held on to each other, the harder it would be to reunite again.
However, now I had faith.
“But how could I doubt you all, who are willing to risk your lives for me?”
Everyone silently gazed at me.
“So I ask you to trust me as well. I promise here and now that I will manage to escape from Wi Seoryeon’s hands and gather you all again. When that time comes, be my strength.”
For a while, nobody spoke.
The first to break the silence was Tang So-yeol.
“I will be waiting at the Tang Clan with Do-yeon.”
“Sister!”
“Think rationally.”
Tang So-yeol began speaking while holding her pipe.
“What would be different if you were to throw away your life right now? If this moment’s helplessness is frustrating, then you should strive to become even stronger.”
“Kugh…!”
I nodded to Tang So-yeol. Hyeok Gi-rin had closed his eyes with a pained expression. It was clear he was not content with this conclusion, but perhaps he considered the current situation.
It seemed he decided he couldn’t argue strongly while in this weakened state.
“How infuriating.”
Miss Yeo Il-ye clenched her fists and spoke with a suppressed voice.
“….I will become stronger. Never will such a thing happen again.”
Finally, I turned my gaze to the Black Cat. Her face was a mess of complex thoughts, suggesting she hadn’t fully grasped her feelings yet.
“I’ll be back.”
“….Senior.”
Since there was no longer time to wait, I nodded as I spoke. I could see the sadness and confusion spread across the Black Cat’s face, but it was the last thing I noticed before turning back to Wi Seoryeon.
“Looks like I’ve made my decision.”
“That’s right. I will accept your invitation.”
Wi Seoryeon’s face brightened with my answer as she nodded with a smile.
“A wise choice. I assure you, by the name of Heavenly Demon, you will not regret this decision.”
Listening to Wi Seoryeon’s confident declaration filled with ominous smiles, I began to question if I truly had made the right choice, but the dice had already been cast.
All I could do was hope and roll those dice to land on a six.
Just as I took a step towards Wi Seoryeon,
“May I also accept that invitation?”
The Black Cat’s voice grabbed my ankle.