Pfu-deuddeuk!
“Hmm.”
Master Un-jong watched the messenger bird flying towards the message hall. The Jeomchang Faction was so busy with so many messenger birds coming and going that it was impossible to keep track of them all, but sometimes you just get that feeling.
Master Un-jong’s intuition turned out to be correct, and the letter handed over by the disciple at the message hall found its way into his hands.
However, instead of opening the letter on the spot, Master Un-jong held it and walked towards the training hall.
*Shisik! Shisik! Shisishik!*
The sound of slicing winds echoed in the training hall, almost like a dance. The rich sounds reverberated throughout the space, so loud it was hard to believe just one person was making them.
Master Un-jong looked at the two swords moving gracefully and spoke up.
“Now I can finally catch on little by little.”
The martial artist, who had sheathed his two swords, turned to look at Master Un-jong.
A dual-sword-wielding martial artist.
That martial artist was Miss Yeo Il-ye.
Yeo Il-ye wiped the sweat from her brow and answered, her martial robe soaked through from intense training, yet her eyes were still filled with determination.
“This is just the beginning.”
“They say the start is half the work, so don’t be too hasty.”
“Yes.”
She didn’t seem truly convinced, but seeing her nod obediently made Master Un-jong realize how much she had changed.
‘Yeah, she can do it.’
“A letter just came.”
Yeo Il-ye’s expression shifted.
Seeing her eyes sparkle as she received the letter, Master Un-jong quietly excused himself.
“Honorable Person…”
Yeo Il-ye murmured and began to open the letter.
It was a periodic update from the Black Cat, arriving approximately every month. Although it wasn’t directly written by Ho Cheon-an, being able to hear news through Black Cat was still a privilege.
Every time Yeo Il-ye received the letter, she marveled at Black Cat’s abilities.
Even the Demon Sect, known for its otherworldly nature, sent updates regularly. Each letter left her surprised.
Sending a silent expression of gratitude to Black Cat, Yeo Il-ye opened the letter.
What content would this month’s message hold?
The previous three letters mainly contained updates about Ho Cheon-an’s well-being and his achievements.
Perhaps sensing it was too dangerous to leak information about the Demon Sect, the content was merely abstract, but it confirmed that Ho Cheon-an and Black Cat were doing well in their own way.
However, the content of this letter was different.
– In six months, a significant change will occur, so everyone should prepare.
“…Six months.”
Yeo Il-ye repeated the word “six months,” deep in thought.
Could a major change be occurring in the Demon Sect?
She tightened her grip on the sword handle.
‘This time, I will definitely be of help to Honorable Person.’
Yeo Il-ye folded the letter, returned it to its envelope, and placed it safely in a corner of the training hall.
It was to solidify her resolve upon reading the letter.
*Chwaang!*
I will raise my skills as much as possible in the remaining time.
Yeo Il-ye’s dedication, which had been gradually relaxing amidst an uncertain wait, was now sharply focused.
‘Six months, in that time, I will fully grasp the essence of the Six Sun Twin Fish Blade!’
“Haap!”
Yeo Il-ye’s shout and the sound of slicing air began to fill the training hall once more.
Pfu-deuddeuk!
At that moment, the messenger birds diligently flew through the sky to inform others.
The next recipient of Black Cat’s message was none other than Tang So-yeol.
“Six months. I need to hurry.”
Tang! Tang!
Tang So-yeol resumed hammering away, and in one corner of his forge were stacked numerous objects.
Tang Do-yeon received her letter at an unnamed mountain slope.
“I’ll need to be quick to train this guy.”
Tang Do-yeon muttered while staring at the disgruntled gaze of the object nearby.
Meanwhile, the messenger bird reached the princess, Yuya.
“Six months…”
Hyeok Gi-rin read the letter and thought to himself.
To exert the Huang Nation’s influence over Xin Gang, he had to hurry.
Hyeok Gi-rin clenched his fist.
Ho Cheon-an had been forced into the Demon Sect under the pressure of the Heavenly Demon Wi Seorye. Living under the thumb of such a Heavenly Demon couldn’t possibly be easy.
Despite having faith that Ho Cheon-an and Black Cat would manage, the life in the Demon Sect must be as precarious and exhausting as walking on blades.
‘Wait for me, Senior Ho!’
While Hyeok Gi-rin mentally prepared for the arduous journey ahead for Ho Cheon-an…
“I will go.”
“Mm.”
Ho Cheon-an was playing gambling games in front of the Heavenly Demon.
Pfu-deuddeuk!
It had been a week since the duel with the Heavenly Demon, set to last 180 days, began.
The competition with the Heavenly Demon was proceeding smoothly.
On the day the Brain Crystal was revealed, the Heavenly Demon had demanded almost acrobatic feats.
After the first day, I had expected the encounters to be a series of such acrobatics, but the Heavenly Demon was relaxed.
The Heavenly Demon started enjoying a different bet each day.
Perhaps because there were still 180 days left?
The Heavenly Demon truly appeared to be enjoying leisurely gambling.
Of course, just because the Heavenly Demon was relaxed didn’t mean I could afford to be.
Pababababak!
Deceiving the Heavenly Demon was certainly no easy task!
Despite melding all my techniques into the sleight of hand, the Heavenly Demon’s gaze remained locked on the cups.
Finally, as the cups stilled, the Heavenly Demon quietly spoke.
“Interesting.”
Of course it would be interesting for them.
I was pouring every ounce of my effort into not letting the stakes catch fire while all they needed to do was guess right or wrong.
Wi Ji-cheon picked the middle cup, and I lifted it.
Fortunately, there was no dice in that cup.
Seeing the Heavenly Demon chuckle as they confirmed there were no dice in the middle cup made me breathe a sigh of relief.
“I can’t believe I’m being deceived by a change between just three cups. The world is vast, and there are many skills to learn.”
I let out a breath of relief at the Heavenly Demon’s murmuring.
This was a match where I rolled while the Heavenly Demon merely guessed right, but each round felt like a tight squeeze, and I couldn’t help groaning in defeat after each one.
“Remarkably interesting.”
I watched the Heavenly Demon with keen eyes, who was simply enjoying themselves while I was engaged in a fierce psychological battle.
To partake in this six-month gambling contest, I needed to understand the Heavenly Demon’s intent.
While it was beneficial to read the Heavenly Demon’s psychology, the first thing to ascertain was clear.
Could the Heavenly Demon read my intent or not?
I recalled my battle with Master Un-jong.
Considering the difference in gambling skills between me and Master Un-jong, it was bizarre that a competition should have even been possible.
Just as the one with a superior martial arts realm wins a fight, the one with better gambling techniques should naturally win at the gambling table.
Master Un-jong had only learned a few tricks for kids, while I was a master of gambling techniques, so normally the competition shouldn’t have been feasible to begin with.
However, Master Un-jong saw through my sleight of hand in that contest.
Master Un-jong, with an overwhelming difference in skill, had read my very intentions.
Could the Heavenly Demon, too, read my intent like Master Un-jong did while simply playing along with my gambling?
Or did they genuinely not perceive my intent?
“Let’s start the next round.”
“Alright.”
I scrutinized the sleight of hand as I closely observed the Heavenly Demon’s reactions.
*Hmmm…*
Even though the Heavenly Demon was seemingly carefree, I found it impossible to read their psychology even a little.
Could it be they remained the Heavenly Demon even when sitting at the gambling table?
Even amidst my swirling thoughts, my hands swiftly executed the techniques. At a point where I thought I had sufficiently deceived them, I stopped the cups.
The Heavenly Demon selected a cup.
“It’s the rightmost one.”
I silently lifted the cup.
Inside the rightmost cup was the dice.
As I watched the Heavenly Demon bask in victory, my head ached.
Was this victory because they had read my mind, or because they sensed my change? Or was it merely a guess?
Naturally, my mind had to be muddled.
I’d estimate my odds of being discerned by the Heavenly Demon at fifty-fifty.
When I faced Master Un-jong, I was just a half-baked expert, but now, facing the Heavenly Demon in a game of sleight of hand, I was at Peak Stage!
Considering the Heavenly Demon’s monstrous prowess, it wasn’t entirely unlikely they’d read my intent, yet remembering my own current capabilities, it still seemed impossible.
“Interesting.”
The Heavenly Demon looked at me with a mysterious tone.
“Your duel with my master was indeed powerful, but it also left much to be desired.”
“…Is that so?”
“We merely exchanged one bout, and I wished I could have witnessed a proper match while handling that one person.”
The Heavenly Demon rose from their seat.
“Keep trying. While you couldn’t match my martial prowess, you might just decipher me in a gambling contest.”
Well, now I was totally figured out.
I licked my lips and nodded.
“I will visit you again tomorrow.”
“Please do.”
My competition with the Heavenly Demon had just begun.
