"Will you be able to digest it if I put it in your mouth?"

Blood Heaven Butcher asked provocatively.

"I will chew it thoroughly and swallow it."

"Listen, young master. There is a natural order to things."

"Isn't it natural to eat side dishes while drinking alcohol?"

Blood Heaven Butcher pressed his fingers against his temples, as if suffering from a headache. Then, in a burst of rage, he stood up suddenly.

"I can't stand it anymore! I waited for three days, and now you bring up such ridiculous conditions?"

He drew the Heaven-Cleaving Blade, which had been embedded in the ground.

"I'll take that head and go to the Heavenly Demon Arena!"

Screeeech!

Blood Heaven Butcher swung the Heaven-Cleaving Blade. Although his intent was not to kill me, it was a vicious attack filled with fury.

Clang!

I parried the attack with the Black Demon Sword, and a sharp metallic sound echoed.

"Not bad! Not bad at all!"

Blood Heaven Butcher was impressed. The strike was powerful, but it seemed he hadn't expected it to be blocked so easily.

"Yeah, I suppose it's not easy to take that precious head, is it?"

Blood Heaven Butcher swung the Heaven-Cleaving Blade again. This strike was faster and stronger than the last one.

I split the air as I struck the Heaven-Cleaving Blade vertically with the Black Demon Sword again.

Clang!

This time, a louder sound rang out than before.

Although the Heaven-Cleaving Blade was known by the nickname "Weapon Breaker," it did not damage the Black Demon Sword. I remained calm.

―"You're being quite bold. Should I just break you? Destroyed Weapon Breaker! What a great rumor it would make for tomorrow morning?"

It was a thought I mused jokingly toward the sword. Was it because of that? A strong desire to use the Wind God Art surged within me.

Could Blood Heaven Butcher block the Hell King's Embrace I was about to unleash?

This was a temptation created by my fighting spirit. When facing a strong opponent, martial arts techniques like Wind God Art respond. It was a challenge. To fight. To win.

‘No! Not yet.’

Time is on my side, so there's no need to risk a dangerous battle with my insufficient energy.

Before the third strike came, I faked a wrist injury and stepped back with a light jump. Of course, my intention wasn’t really to back down.

"Give me the Demon Commander."

Blood Heaven Butcher asked, retracting his attack.

"Who do you want to sit in the Demon Commander seat? You, perhaps?"

"Of course not."

"Then who?"

"Please place Jang Ho as the Demon Commander."

"Jang Ho?"

If Jang Ho became the Demon Commander, I could make the Demon Corps my ally. If that happens, my standing in the academy would become far stronger than before.

Not only would it help me, but with a martial artist like Jang Ho as the Demon Commander, it would also benefit the main school greatly.

"Placing Jang Ho as the Demon Commander won't be easy for me either."

His words were truthful.

If the Demon Corps were to select a new leader, Jang Ho would be a strong candidate, but in elite organizations like the Demon Corps, the leader was usually chosen from outside. Both the Heavenly Demon Arena and the Eight Demon Lords were maneuvering to place their own people.

"Young master! When greed becomes too much, the belly bursts."

"Aren't we on a path that must be devoured until the belly bursts?"

"We?"

"It was you who suggested devouring everything in madness. You were the one who asked me to join hands. The path of madmen is never a normal one, is it?"

"Madmen?"

"Isn't that right? If it were anyone else, I might not say this, but how could you, of all people, join hands with me without being mad?"

Blood Heaven Butcher glared at me with burning eyes.

I did not know where his ambitions ultimately led. I had died before the truth could be revealed to the world.

Surprisingly, Blood Heaven Butcher was the first to die among the Eight Demon Lords. The meticulous and cunning Butcher.

"Hmph! Looks like you've already become a Heavenly Demon."

"Wasn't it you who instilled the wind into me, senior? What exactly do you want me to do? Are you planning to use me like your disciples? By spouting fine words and trying to manipulate a young man?"

I hit the mark with my words, and Blood Heaven Butcher yelled angrily.

"Your greed overturned the drinking table!"

Crash!

He actually kicked over the table with his foot, and then ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) stormed off.

Watching him disappear in the distance, I couldn't help but smile lightly. It was the first time his composure had been shattered.

He wouldn't be able to refuse my proposal. He knew better than anyone that I had seven more tables besides the one he overturned.

I immersed myself in martial arts training in my personal dojo.

After regressing, I always felt it, but truly, the unending youth was wonderful. This wasn't about how much energy I had or not. My body felt light and full of vitality without much effort.

The eternal truth that one appreciates something only after losing it applied most strongly to this youthful period.

Yes, I didn't know at this time. How precious the time that was passing was. How much I would miss this moment later.

Martial arts? Money? Power? To gain those, sacrificing youth... how foolish and sad. Even after regressing, I could not help but keep running toward that reality.

But I knew the mistakes I made were intentional. I knew its value better than anyone, so I was careful with every step I took, practicing with all my strength.

I moved through the imaginary enemies using the Wind God Art.

At first, there were only a few enemies, but as I practiced, their numbers grew. Five became seven, and seven became ten.

At first, they were like scarecrows standing still, but now, the enemies in my imagination moved, spoke to me, and even cursed at me. With every round of training, their martial arts abilities grew. The level of my training was determined by the imagination of my opponents.

I spent seven-tenths of my training using the Wind God Art, while the rest was spent on the Qi training my father taught me and the Heavenly Demon Body Art.

After a session of training, I lay on the floor of the training hall, catching my breath. My body was drenched in sweat, but there was no moment more satisfying than finishing a session.

I could see the crimson clouds drifting past the window beyond the spear.

How wonderful it would be to travel through the Central Plains in this youthful body? The sunset I gazed at while gathering Grand Law materials, and the one after killing Hwa Mugi... the sunset after becoming the greatest martial artist in the world would be completely different...

Before regressing, I endured the hardships, imagining this moment. Now, I am holding out, expecting the future after Hwa Mugi's death.

I mustn't think only of myself today. The me that will die miserably tomorrow because of insufficient training is also me. Yes, I must endure.

When I stood up again, the imaginary enemies rose as well.

Two days later, new news came.

Blood Heaven Butcher had recommended Jang Ho as the Demon Commander candidate.

Despite throwing a tantrum and storming off, Blood Heaven Butcher had eventually accepted my will. It was a table he couldn't overturn in the first place.

The one most shocked by this news was Jang Ho himself.

"How did this happen?"

He came to find me and asked, proving he was sharp and perceptive.

Had he been an ordinary person, he might have thought of it as a sudden stroke of luck. But Jang Ho was someone who had learned that such luck didn't exist in this world.

"It was something you did, young master?"

"Yes, I asked Blood Heaven Butcher."

"I'm grateful for your favor, but this is a position I can't handle."

"No need to be humble. It’s a seat that even the dead Demon Commander once occupied."

"That's a different case."

"Just lead like the Three Greats. Then, you'll surely become the best Demon Commander in history."

Especially since he was the most powerful martial artist among the Grand Lords. He had the support of the Three Great Warriors as well. If selected from within, he had more than enough qualifications.

"You overestimate me, young master."

"You might be underestimating yourself. But since other candidates are also being mentioned, let’s wait and see."

Jang Ho, though surprised, was also pleased. What could be the dream of the Demon Lords?

"Now, we’ve done what we needed to. Let’s leave the rest to Heaven’s will."

Though I told Jang Ho to rely on Heaven’s will, I knew that indifferent Heaven wouldn’t respond easily. I would have to move diligently and make things happen.

That night, I went to see my father.

There was a separate lodging for my father in the Heavenly Demon Arena, probably the largest and most luxurious room in the world.

When I saw my father in his unusual appearance before me, I blinked, as if seeing a phantom.

"Is that a new armor for protection?"

"No, it's my pajamas."

"..."

"Flower-patterned pajamas, huh? Not a demon or an evil spirit..."

"I believe one should sleep comfortably."

It was the first time I saw my father in pajamas. The bright flower patterns were shocking, but what surprised me more was that he showed me this sight. He could’ve changed into something else after asking me to wait.

"What’s this about in the middle of the night?"

"It’s not the middle of the night, it's early evening. I didn't know you went to bed this early. Isn’t this top-secret? If the martial arts world hears of this, they’ll immediately attack. They say the Heavenly Demon sleeps early, let’s strike at midnight!"

"Just get to the point!"

"Yes."

I stopped the joking and explained why I had come.

"I plan to use Blood Heaven Butcher as my sword."

"Didn't you say you were going to kill him?"

"I can’t kill him. He's too precious."

This wasn't new news for my father. By the time Blood Heaven Butcher recommended Jang Ho, he must have noticed that I had already made an alliance with him.

Not only my father but anyone interested in the academy's politics could guess. Everyone was watching. How would my relationship with Blood Heaven Butcher unfold? How would my brother react later, and how would the other Martial Lords act?

My father changed the subject.

"How’s the new sword?"

"I like it."

"Let me see."

I handed my Black Demon Sword to my father.

He slowly unsheathed the sword, and then nodded in satisfaction.

"You’ve tamed it well."

"Can you tell just by holding it?"

"Of course, I’ll know once I hold it. Do you think I’ll only know after being stabbed?"

My father returned the Black Demon Sword to me.

"Blood Heaven Butcher won’t be so easily tamed."

"I’m not trying to tame him. I’ll use him until he breaks. He’s not worth keeping right now."

"And if you get cut?"

"Then I'll get cut. But there’s a difference between me and Blood Heaven Butcher. When the old Blood Heaven Butcher breaks, it's over, but if I get cut, I'll only become stronger. I’ll apply medicine, wrap it up, and keep moving forward."

"Easy to say. But why are you reporting it to me?"

"Since I’m receiving the stipend you provide, I must report it."

My father’s gaze narrowed.

"You didn’t come to ask for Blood Heaven Butcher’s recommendation, did you?"

He was sharp, but this time, he was wrong.

"No, quite the opposite. Do not approve of Blood Heaven Butcher’s wishes."

"Don’t approve? Why not?"

"I intend to break his spirit. He’s been so full of himself in front of me. Sometimes, it seems like he’s acting more important than you, father. I’ll break that spirit."

"Stop with the nonsense. Speak your real thoughts."

"Why do you think I’m not being sincere?"

"This is an opportunity to gain the Demon Commander position, and you’ll give it up just to break Blood Heaven Butcher’s spirit? You’re not that kind of person."

As expected, my father was sharp.

"Yes, you saw through me."

"What’s your goal?"

"I have something to gain from Blood Heaven Butcher. To do that, this cannot go according to his wishes."

"Is it more important than the Demon Commander?"

"In some ways, yes. Oh, and I will make the Demon Commander mine too. I’ll make everything mine."

My father, who had been staring at me, turned away.

"Stop joking and leave."

Though his words said otherwise, I could tell. My father would grant my request.

I smiled as I looked at the flowers blooming on his back.

‘Father. At least tonight, nothing will be funnier than those pajamas.’