Perhaps because my heart felt lighter?

The swift ride back was even faster.

Returning to the main sect, I ate and rested well. Then I took a clean bath and changed into a new martial uniform.

Feeling at my best, I was heading to the Heavenly Demon Hall to see Father when I heard two people waiting outside the door.

They were Seo Daeryong and Jang Ho. Jang Ho’s large build seemed even bigger since I last saw him.

Seo Daeryong approached me and lowered his voice to quietly say,

“Since Master is here, we shouldn’t joke like this, but if you combine us two, wouldn’t we count as one Mazon?”

From those words, I immediately understood their hearts. If possible, they wanted to step up and be of help themselves.

“You two together are as good as three Mazons.”

“Can I handle two Mazons?”

“Lord Jang is two and a half, you’re half.”

“I’m the right arm! That’s me!”

Jang Ho, who had been eyeing that right arm keenly, bowed politely and greeted me. Always reliable.

“Little Pill Master, you always show more than I imagine, so I’m not worried, but still, please be cautious and make wise judgments.”

Because the other party was Father, they worried for me like this.

Before I knew it, Seo Daeryong’s playful expression was gone as he looked at me seriously.

These two would willingly give their lives if I commanded. They were my people who must never die, so today’s fight was also for them.

“I’ll reserve the Pungryu Tavern. Want to drink defeat liquor? No jokes like that.”

“I wasn’t going to joke, but you just did.”

Seo Daeryong laughed brightly and bowed respectfully. Jang Ho bowed along with him. It was more encouraging than any cheer.

“I’ll book the whole Pungryu Tavern. Let’s get drunk all night.”

Leaving behind their support, I set out.

When I arrived at the entrance of the Heavenly Demon Hall, my elder brother Geom Muyang was waiting. It showed how important this matter was to everyone.

“Mabul told me everything.”

Mabul apparently told my brother about this.

“So? Did you come to help your brother cornered?”

Then my brother answered unexpectedly.

“I came to save Father who’s cornered.”

“Right, that’s the only joke only you and I can make in this martial world.”

“This is no joke.”

My brother’s eyes contained reproach toward me.

“He trusted you and made you Little Pill Master, and you oppose Father’s will?”

“If I fall out of Father’s favor, isn’t that good for you?”

“I thought so too.”

Apparently not. Since he came out to stop me like this.

Without looking at each other, we stood side by side and looked at the scene visible from the Heavenly Demon Hall.

It was time to have a talk we should have had at least once. A conversation only I could have with my brother.

“You know? No one can speak about Father’s life.”

My brother looked at me with a questioning expression.

“That’s why Father has never heard anyone talk about his life, his beliefs.”

“Isn’t there Chief Commander?”

“Yes, there is. Uncle Hwi too. They might speak frankly, exchange words comfortably about sect affairs. But brother, could they dare speak about Father’s life, Father’s conviction?”

“!”

My brother probably never thought about that part before.

“Are you doubting their loyalty?”

“I say that because I know the loyalty is true. Because it’s true loyalty, they won’t do it. They won’t speak. They will accept and endure all aspects of Father. You know? Too close to speak, too distant to speak.”

After a pause, my brother asked,

“So? You’re going to do that?”

“Yes, I will.”

He shouted angrily.

“Arrogant!”

“But we have to. It’s something even you think shouldn’t be done. That’s why Father has lived without ever getting advice or counsel. We have to tell him: Father, you’re mistaken. Someone has to tell you.”

He tried to say something but sighed deeply. How could he not understand my meaning?

“What if my choice is wrong? Father will correct it. Let’s put our trust in Father for that.”

He said no more.

“Go in.”

“Still, thanks for coming to worry.”

“I told you I didn’t come because I worried.”

My brother, who had walked away a bit, looked back at me. I was still looking at him.

Until the end, his mind hadn’t changed.

“I still oppose.”

“That’s why I will do it.”

Watching him turn away and disappear, I entered the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Still, know this. Now my brother is included among the people I don’t want to kill. That is why I fight.

I entered the Heavenly Demon Hall.

Father sat in the Grand Seat as always. Today, his appearance was more special than other days. Because I truly felt how frightening an empty Grand Seat was.

“Father, I have returned.”

I greeted Father in a voice brighter than usual.

I slowly walked the blood-stained path lined with red carpets to the Grand Seat below. Today, the path felt especially long.

At the end of the blood path, I looked up at Father.

Do you know, Father? When I returned, I stood on the dueling ground and looked at you like this. Since then, I have always been watching you.

Since returning, I tried hard with everyone, but Father was always at the center.

“I have a confession.”

Of course, Father already knew what I was going to say. But like when I left and came back, I told Father everything.

“In the past few days, I begged the Mazons to be on my side.”

There was no surprise or disturbance in Father’s expression.

“They are my Mazons, so why did you ask them to be on your side?”

“Maybe because of jealousy?”

I felt Father’s mouth twitch slightly, as if about to smile.

“Your Father’s Mazons are so impressive. Maybe that makes you jealous.”

Father didn’t sneer. Rather, he nodded once as if empathizing and said,

“It’s not easy to gather such good people in one generation.”

At that moment, I recalled what Mabul had said.

—The sect has never been this strong.

Those eight good Mazons changed each in their own way, and each became stronger. They were growing even now. The long-stagnant Heavenly Demon Sect was now flowing freely.

“Speaking of which, why don’t we all call them out and see their faces? They say if you don’t see someone often, the heart grows distant.”

It was a counterattack. If this was Father’s stage as Mabul thought, and if Father’s goal was to persuade me and unite the Mazons, he would call the Mazons. Otherwise, he would ignore it.

Father, how will you respond to this move?

Father did not withdraw his hand and accepted my move.

Father spoke softly.

“I will call the Mazons.”

Then a voice answered from the void.

“I obey the order.”

A silent passion spread deep within me. Father really called the Mazons.

Since Father only convened Mazons for important matters, Mabul’s words seemed more plausible.

Father, then what do you intend to do on this stage? With Mazons as spectators, will you really ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) try to persuade me? Or will you suppress me by force?

A moment of silence passed. But because the silence didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable, I deliberately kept quiet. I saved words. There would be much to say today.

How much time passed like that?

Finally, the door opened, and one person entered.

The first to arrive was Gwonma. His large body strode across the red carpet like someone walking out of the gates of hell.

He came up to Father’s side, bowed politely, then stood to Father’s right, where Father was looking.

“Welcome, Master.”

Because it was before Father, Gwonma only gave a light nod.

I asked with my eyes.

Was the war Father spoke of the war against me?

Gwonma must have felt the meaning in my gaze but remained silent.

Then another person entered. Someone as loyal to Father as Gwonma, Ilhwa Geomjon.

Her pure white martial uniform and white hair matched perfectly. It was a stark contrast to Gwonma’s imposing figure. Seeing her walk lightly on the path of blood, I thought,

Would the women warriors of the sect not think like this when they see Ilhwa Geomjon?

I want to grow old like her.

That was the feeling Ilhwa Geomjon gave lately. She personally showed that age did not matter in a person’s change.

She politely greeted Father and stood beside Gwonma.

“You have come?”

Ilhwa Geomjon also greeted me with a faint smile.

The first two who arrived absolutely respected and liked Father. They chose Father without a moment’s hesitation.

Next to enter was the Wicked Little Demon. He walked in wearing a white mask. Like Ilhwa Geomjon’s white hair, his mask strongly contrasted with the red carpet.

After politely greeting Father, Wicked Little Demon stood opposite Gwonma and Ilhwa Geomjon across the carpet.

This was not meant to be confrontation. They just stood naturally on opposite sides because two were on one side.

Wicked Little Demon looked at Gwonma and Ilhwa Geomjon with an emotionless gaze, then his eyes turned to me.

His eyes said,

Little Pill Master, I have come.

I smiled silently at him with my eyes.

Soma, I’ve been waiting for you.

The mutual respect only between him and me—I really liked that feeling.

Turning my head again, Father silently watched our scene.

‘Sorry, Father. Your Mazons are so impressive I brought them to my side. Only one, please understand.’

Next to arrive was Seophon Mazon, who felt different from Wicked Little Demon. She was not only Father’s Mazon but also the next Mazon.

After greeting Father, Seophon Mazon chose the seat next to Wicked Little Demon. With two on the opposite side and one here, the seating resulted in a standoff.

Facing Gwonma and Ilhwa Geomjon, she did not falter at all. Standing beside Wicked Little Demon, their combined primal warrior auras—Wicked and Seophon—mixed to intensify the fear.

Next to arrive was Chimma, who smelled of alcohol.

He naturally stood next to Ilhwa Geomjon.

Unlike Gwonma and Ilhwa Geomjon, his gaze toward me held regret. Perhaps after telling me he chose Father, he drank a lot.

At times like this, he seemed weakest, but I knew well what Chimma was like on the battlefield.

Next to enter was Mabul.

Glowing golden, he did not hesitate to stand next to Chimma. Normally, he would stand next to Seophon Mazon to balance the seating, but for some reason, he stood on the opposite side.

I knew he deliberately stood there. He was the one who said this was Father’s stage. So, he intended to heighten the tension of this scene.

No matter how much he hammered statues, he couldn’t change his nature loving disputes.

The seventh Mazon to arrive was the Poison King.

He stood alone far apart from both sides, as if to keep his word of neutrality.

The Poison King clearly stated where he stood before Father and the Mazons.

In some ways, he was the bravest. In this case, not choosing either side was a harder choice than choosing one.

But ultimately, standing far apart kept his earlier promise to Father. Father had told him not to get involved in unifying the martial world.

The last to arrive was Hyeolcheondoma.

He had not decided until the last moment. If he had, he would have come to tell me.

What choice would he make today?

Walking the path of blood, he looked at the Mazons standing on both sides.

Because the balance was uneven, I briefly hoped he might join my side.

But Hyeolcheondoma stood opposite without hesitation.

Feigning disappointment, I said to him,

“Sir, that’s harsh! I believed you’d support me at least.”

He did not take my words as a joke. Instead, he sharply reproached.

“It’s harsh, Little Pill Master. How dare you oppose Patriarch’s will?”

When I first met him, his expression was so displeased it felt like resetting the relationship.

From his cold reaction, I could tell.

He chose me.

Even though he stood on the other side, I felt he chose me.

Why?

He worried about the relationship between Father and me. Forgetting Father’s wish and my demonic path, he thought only of that.

The more I confront Father, the more a rift could form between him and me.

He must have judged it better to stand with Father and sharply scold me for my own good.

Thank you, Sir.

But I sent no sign of gratitude, nor a look showing full understanding. For now, following his intent was the thanks he deserved.

But what to do, Sir? Today I will win against Father and return.

Thus, the eight Mazons gathered in one place.

Father and the eight Mazons, and me.

Such strength that no one would find it strange if we went out now to conquer the martial world.

At last, Father rose from the Grand Seat.

The Mazons straightened their postures and tensed. Those who had shone in their own colors suddenly cloaked themselves in black and white.

In the black-and-white image, only Father and I revealed our presence as vividly as blood and sky.

After a moment of staring at me, Father slowly began walking toward the stage filled with spectators.