“Hmm.”
Heavenly Demon Wi Ji-cheon looked at the wound covered by half-gloves. Although it wasn’t visible to the naked eye, the Qi of Ilroe, which had penetrated his palm, still lingered around the wound.
Wi Ji-cheon attempted to expel Ilroe’s Qi using Black Dragon Qi, just as he always did.
But Ilroe’s Qi remained stubbornly embedded, like an iron needle stuck in Wi Ji-cheon’s palm.
‘Truly a marvelous skill.’
He pondered the energy trapped in his hand. Although the quantity was not insignificant, compared to the Black Dragon Qi he possessed, it could only be considered trivial.
However, the Heavenly Demon had yet to extract that trivial Ilroe’s Qi until now.
He could have merely forced it out, but the subtlety embedded in this single move was far too precious to waste.
Today, as he shook the Ilroe’s Qi resting in his palm, he thought of the guest he had invited.
‘Brain Knife Outcast.’
He had heard that this individual was capable of delivering a deadly blow utilizing intense brain energy.
There was no doubt that their connection with the Unknown was undeniably clear.
“Hmm.”
He recalled their recent encounter and the single move they exchanged.
The Unknown and he had made no promises.
However, Wi Ji-cheon believed they had exchanged a silent accord.
Martial artists engage in discussions concerning martial arts.
Though it was merely one move, Wi Ji-cheon understood the will of the Unknown that left a scar in his palm.
Having exchanged a move, it seemed the Unknown wished for him not to interrupt the matters involving Jeong Cheol and Ho Cheon-an while he dealt with his injury.
‘Perhaps worried about my grandchild.’
Now that he had received a gift in the form of Ilroe, Wi Ji-cheon respected that wish.
He resolved not to interfere in the affairs of Jeong Cheol and Ho Cheon-an for as long as Ilroe’s wound remained.
Normally, he would have had to provide the information Jeong Cheol had requested regarding the Unknown, but he decided to delay that exchange.
Instead, as compensation for the delay in providing information and to keep Jeong Cheol and Ho Cheon-an apart, he arranged a stable training environment for Jeong Cheol.
Ho Cheon-an was busy stabilizing the chaos in Sacheon City while operating as Brain Knife Outcast.
Having organized the situation to his liking, Wi Ji-cheon nodded.
Now that an environment had been created where he could focus solely on unraveling Ilroe’s Qi, he could simply indulge in the gift the Unknown had left behind.
He intended to silently immerse himself in unraveling Ilroe’s Qi, but…
The situation took a turn that did not permit the Heavenly Demon to remain silent.
‘I never expected my daughter to bring Ho Cheon-an into the Demon Sect.’
Wi Ji-cheon stroked his chin, thinking of Wi Seoryeon.
The successor of Heavenly Demon Arts.
The position of the Heavenly Demon wasn’t something that passed down through blood.
The title of Heavenly Demon belonged to those who had mastered the Heavenly Demon Arts.
Among the young ones in the Demon Sect, individuals with potential were thoroughly selected, and those who had acquired the Heavenly Demon Arts would adopt the title of Heavenly Demon’s foster child.
However, Wi Seoryeon was Wi Ji-cheon’s biological daughter.
For the first time in the history of the Heavenly Demon Sect, the biological child of the Heavenly Demon ascended to the position of the Heavenly Demon.
The flawless Heavenly Demon.
Having inherited the blood of the Heavenly Demon and simultaneously mastered the Heavenly Demon Arts, Wi Seoryeon’s stature could not be compared to any of her predecessors.
Wi Ji-cheon felt an immense pride for Wi Seoryeon.
How could any father not recognize such a daughter who boldly claimed her position as a successor?
However, the current situation began precisely because Wi Seoryeon was Wi Ji-cheon’s biological daughter.
He reminisced about his time before becoming the Heavenly Demon.
‘In the past, my relationship with the former Heavenly Demon was more like… senior and junior rather than parent and child.’
Such was the relationship between the Heavenly Demon and the Heavenly Demon’s foster child.
Aside from their common ground of mastering the Heavenly Demon Arts, there had been no significant bond between them.
Thus, the Heavenly Demon’s foster children generally led compliant lives until they ascended to their position.
Even Wi Ji-cheon remained relatively quiet in the Demon Sect until he became the Heavenly Demon.
However, Wi Seoryeon, now a Heavenly Demon, was in a dramatically different situation.
First and foremost, being the biological child of Wi Ji-cheon, she had no need to heed his attention.
Additionally, the timing for utilizing the influence, assets, and manpower of the Demon Sect was far different from when Wi Ji-cheon had been the Heavenly Demon.
This was somewhat to be expected.
She had learned bits and pieces since childhood.
From the instant Wi Seoryeon ascended to the position of Heavenly Demon, she possessed the foundation to skillfully wield all the powers available to her.
The Heavenly Demon chuckled bitterly.
It’s said that worrying about one’s children never ends, but is excellence a problem too?
He sensed that Wi Seoryeon had curiosity about his wounds and could guess she would conduct her own investigation.
Yet, Wi Ji-cheon had not disclosed the identity of the Unknown even to Wi Seoryeon, believing that would be sufficient to prevent her from discovering Ho Cheon-an.
But Wi Seoryeon exceeded Wi Ji-cheon’s expectations and showcased extraordinary capability.
She managed to stealthily find Ho Cheon-an without attracting his attention.
Not only that, she had even invited him to the Demon Sect.
This caught the Heavenly Demon off guard; he had thought he was done dealing with Ho Cheon-an and Jeong Cheol.
‘Since it’s something my daughter did, and the situation has changed, I must reconsider my thoughts about Jeong Cheol and Ho Cheon-an as well.’
Thus, he summoned Ho Cheon-an and the Black Cat.
What should he do about Ho Cheon-an?
He intended to reach a decision after seeing Ho Cheon-an in person.
“Sacheon’s Heavenly Demon, Brain Knife Outcast Ho Cheon-an, and Sacheon Outcast Black Cat request an audience.”
“Let them enter,” he replied.
The Heavenly Demon observed the three who entered.
First, his gaze fell upon Wi Seoryeon, who looked displeased, as if protectively glaring at him for taking away her toy; Wi Ji-cheon couldn’t help but subtly lift and lower the corners of his lips.
Next, he focused on the Black Cat.
‘Impressive.’
Was it possible for a beauty of such caliber to exist? It was reasonable to think that all the martial artists in the Demon Sect would draw their swords and battle to claim her.
However, the Heavenly Demon’s admiration wasn’t merely due to the Black Cat’s looks.
He had perceived the Nine Yin she possessed and foresaw the potential within her to fully master such a technique.
Wi Ji-cheon shifted his attention from Black Cat, who flinched upon making eye contact, to Ho Cheon-an.
‘Hmm.’
He resembled him.
As Wi Ji-cheon gazed at Ho Cheon-an, the Unknown came to mind. It was not merely the outer appearance that was similar.
Their eyes were strikingly identical.
Despite having a rough understanding of how monumental a figure the Heavenly Demon was, the look in Ho Cheon-an’s eyes was undoubtedly that of the Unknown.
A hunter’s gaze that did not falter even before a colossal presence.
Wi Ji-cheon rated Ho Cheon-an one level higher in his internal assessment.
“I hear you are a guest of my daughter. They say you are referred to as the Brain Knife Outcast?”
“…Yes. I have stepped into the Demon Sect at the invitation of Sacheon’s Heavenly Demon, Wi Seoryeon.”
“Is that so.”
Suddenly, Wi Ji-cheon became curious about the source of the confidence Ho Cheon-an radiated.
Did Ho Cheon-an know about the unspoken agreement between the Unknown and Wi Ji-cheon?
Whether or not he was aware of that would significantly influence Wi Ji-cheon’s evaluation of him.
“Do you know that your master and I have had an encounter?”
Ho Cheon-an flinched. While he suppressed his surprise to avoid showing any flaws before the Heavenly Demon, Wi Ji-cheon realized Ho Cheon-an had no idea about the confrontation with the Unknown.
Yet, he still had accepted the invitation of the Heavenly Demon’s daughter. Was this the result of cold calculation or mere reckless boldness?
The Heavenly Demon found it intriguing.
As Wi Ji-cheon scrutinized Ho Cheon-an, Wi Seoryeon stepped forward.
“Ho Cheon-an’s master is her master, but Ho Cheon-an is Ho Cheon-an, isn’t he?”
“Hmm.”
Wi Ji-cheon regarded Wi Seoryeon’s furious gaze while contemplating.
‘Is it destiny?’
He believed he had done enough to uphold the promise made with the Unknown. He had kept quiet about it with his family, and he took actions to separate Jeong Cheol and Ho Cheon-an.
Yet, despite that, the curious Wi Seoryeon had indeed brought Ho Cheon-an into the Demon Sect.
Destiny.
That was the only way to explain the outcome.
“Ho Cheon-an.”
“…Please speak.”
“I have an agreement with your master.”
Wi Seoryeon, upon seeing the Heavenly Demon clench his fist, instinctively sensed that the agreement was related to the wound from earlier, but Ho Cheon-an had no way of knowing what significance the clenching of a fist held.
“It is my duty to welcome you as my daughter’s guest, who is publicly my successor, but I find it difficult to uphold that duty. Nonetheless, while you are a guest of the Heavenly Demon’s daughter, I will not interfere in your stay here at the Demon Sect.”
“…May I dare to ask what the agreement entails?”
“I cannot answer that.”
As the Heavenly Demon gazed down at Ho Cheon-an, he pondered.
Once he dealt with the Ilroe embedded in him, what would happen if he conveyed the current situation to Jeong Cheol?
Ho Cheon-an would soon find himself in difficulties.
While being a guest of the Heavenly Demon’s daughter would keep him safe within the Demon Sect, as soon as he stepped outside, he would instantly become a target for Jeong Cheol, effectively putting Ho Cheon-an in a perilous situation.
“Later, I will summon you to discuss the matter of the agreement.”
Thus, the Heavenly Demon decided to offer Ho Cheon-an an opportunity beforehand.
‘How you seize this one chance will depend on you, Ho Cheon-an.’
“I hope you achieve your desires by then.”
The Heavenly Demon glanced at Ho Cheon-an and allowed a slight smile to grace his lips.
Would Ho Cheon-an be able to grasp that opportunity? Watching the unsettlingly familiar gaze in Ho Cheon-an’s eyes sparked his anticipation.
Ho Cheon-an, perceiving that ominous smile, thought to himself.
Life in the Demon Sect wouldn’t be easy at all.
