The night was quiet and still.

When I entered the dwelling of Blood Heaven Butcher, he was sitting by the window, reading a book.

"It’s the most incongruous sight in the world."

Blood Heaven Butcher looked up, startled. A smile began to spread across his surprised face.

"I suppose I’ll have to discipline the guards outside."

"Please don’t. I came in secretly because I just wanted to quietly see you, senior."

He looked me over, then asked with a look of disbelief.

"Did you just return to the sect?"

"Yes."

"Did you really come back to find me first?"

"I’m sorry for destroying the sentiment, but your son went to bed early."

"Anyway!"

"Yes, that’s right. I thought of you first."

As I spoke, I shook the bottle of liquor I had brought. It was his favorite.

We drank in the courtyard of his dwelling.

I had dismissed all his subordinates guarding the place so that we wouldn’t be disturbed.

"Has it really been two months since you were expelled?"

"It’s been just under two months."

Thanks to the quick progression of my skill during the expulsion, I was able to shorten the time needed for my return.

"How’s Senior Seo’s martial training going?"

"The little guy’s been working quite hard."

Blood Heaven Butcher’s words, "quite hard," caught me off guard. The phrase felt strange coming from him, and it starkly revealed the nature of their current relationship.

"He may look rebellious, but his resolve is firm."

"Has he ever been rebellious with me?"

"He’s the kind of guy who knows when to stretch out his legs when he sees where he’s lying."

He’s probably still working hard, but he’ll also be aware of the eyes on him. At the same time, he’d still speak his mind. Blood Heaven Butcher didn’t seem to dislike that much.

"But earlier, I glimpsed you reading a poetry collection. Do you really read poetry?"

"Why? Do I not seem like someone who reads poetry?"

"I’m not sure about the level, but at least it doesn’t seem fitting."

"I too liked books when I was younger. I just forgot for a while."

It’s hard to imagine this thin, meticulous-looking man as someone who once enjoyed reading.

"What were you like when you were young?"

"Well... dark and gloomy."

"Sounds like Senior Seo."

For some reason, Blood Heaven Butcher nodded along.

"So what? What does it matter? It’s all a past life now."

He finished his drink. I silently filled his empty cup. There’s no comforting words for the regrets of the passing years. I’ve been through that myself.

"Did the things you left behind turn out well?"

"Yes."

"Another storm’s coming, I suppose."

I could sense the confidence behind his "yes." Was he confident in the answer?

"Do you know why I left?"

"It must be to cause a bloodstorm."

"That’s a serious misunderstanding of me. I like peace."

"I like peace too. The kind that comes after I’ve broken them all and then there’s that quiet, blood-soaked peace."

I smiled as I drank.

"It felt good to go out after a long time. Next time, let’s go out and get some fresh air together."

"There are too many people I want to kill, so... I’d rather stay here at the main sect."

He poured me another drink and continued.

"I don’t know what you’re planning, but be careful. In the successor battles, one misstep and it’s over."

"If I misstep, what will you do?"

"What would I do? I’d go back to the Grand Prince."

"You’re cold."

"Of course. What’s the point of flapping your wings if the body’s dead? You need to find a new body."

If it were Blood Heaven Butcher, he’d really do that. After a day or two of regret, he’d make his move toward the Grand Prince. The strange thing is, imagining that doesn’t make me hate him.

That’s Blood Heaven Butcher’s strength. Whether he’s a good person or a bad person, whether he’ll help me to the end or betray me—there’s no need to worry about that. He’ll leave if I fall, and stay if I stand.

"Please do me a favor."

"What is it?"

"Tonight, drink with me until morning."

"That’s not hard."

I stood up.

"You said you’d drink, but where are you going?"

"I’ll go get more alcohol and some side dishes."

"Just have the kids do it."

"I want to buy something myself."

I was determined to bring out the best ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) side dish for tonight. The one I had prepared over the past two months.

I had decided that I would kill Seobhonmajon tonight. No one would expect me to kill him the day I returned from my expulsion.

And I would spend the night drinking with Blood Heaven Butcher. He would be the witness to my actions.

"I’ll be right back."

I left Blood Heaven Butcher’s dwelling and activated my Shadow Stealth to fly toward the west.

Seobhonmajon was unusually excited tonight.

It was the usual ritual of the Heart Soul Art, but for some reason, his heart was beating faster.

"Maybe it’s because it’s been a while?"

This was the first time doing the Heart Soul Art since Geom Muguk had come and threatened him to stop it.

He had been forced to pause the Heart Soul Art after Geom Muguk had spoken of the Heavenly Demon.

Of course, it would be fine if he didn’t get caught, but since the other party was certain about the Heart Soul Art, it left an uncomfortable feeling.

The news of Geom Muguk’s expulsion only raised his suspicions. After calming him, he felt like he was being set up to uncover the truth.

But his patience had worn thin, and he had finally decided to resume the Heart Soul Art tonight.

Whenever there was a gap like this, he always chose a young child. After all, the young Heart Souls were the most delicious.

As Seobhonmajon descended the stairs leading to the secret room, he glanced behind him. For some reason, it felt like something was following him, and he couldn’t settle his mind tonight.

But there was no way someone was following him. His Shadow Stealth had been activated to ensure no one could sneak up behind him. He was confident. Aside from the Heavenly Demon, no one could secretly approach him.

Seobhonmajon entered the secret room.

The walls were covered with bizarre symbols and letters, and an incense with a strange smell was burning everywhere.

In the center of the secret room, a child was asleep on an altar.

A smile formed on Seobhonmajon’s lips as he looked down at the child. He reached out his hand to wake the child, but at that moment, someone grabbed his hair and yanked it back.

‘!’

Seobhonmajon tried to retaliate, but the other’s movements were faster.

The slap on Seobhonmajon’s face made his head snap to the side.

After allowing the slap without resistance, he swung his palms and managed to escape from the other’s grasp.

Stepping back, Seobhonmajon heard the cold voice.

"I told you not to."

It was then that Seobhonmajon realized who had struck him. It was Geom Muguk.

Seobhonmajon touched his slapped cheek, a look of disbelief on his face. No matter how much of a surprise attack it had been, it was unthinkable and shocking, and it was humiliating.

"How did you get in?"

"Why are you so surprised? You don’t seem mysterious at all."

For a moment, Seobhonmajon was taken aback. Normally, he would charm people with his voice. His words resonated, repeated, whispered.

But now, it sounded like an angry man from the next house.

"Is this your true nature?"

He could have gotten angry, but Seobhonmajon took a deep breath and regained his composure.

"I must have misjudged you, young master. I deserve this."

His voice echoed as he repeated "I deserve this." It was as if he was back to his usual self.

"Now you’re acting like yourself. Now I can enjoy killing you. I was disappointed by the earlier behavior."

Seobhonmajon didn’t waver.

"Young master, answer my question first. How did you get in here?"

"I followed you."

You might think I’m lying, but my answer was the truth.

Seobhonmajon had always protected his back with Shadow Stealth. Unless Wind God’s Preservation reached a great achievement, he couldn’t have used Shadow Stealth to slip past it.

But after absorbing the Blood Stabilizing Elixir, I could see the method to counter his Shadow Stealth, and once I applied it, my Shadow Stealth slipped in. It was as if I had hidden myself in his shadow.

"Why does it matter how I got in? What matters is why I came."

Even in this situation, Seobhonmajon remained defiant.

"Stop talking about the Heart Soul Art. I don’t care about that art."

"Then who is this child?"

"A poor orphan. I brought him here to teach him martial arts."

"You’re a coward."

"What?"

This time, I mocked him.

"Coward, coward, coward…"

My voice echoed like an echo.

"Enough!"

At his shout, I retorted coldly.

"How long are you going to pretend not to know? Does your courage only appear when you rip out the hearts of the weak?"

Seobhonmajon’s pupils shrank instantly.

The surroundings darkened and brightened as a new space formed.

I stood on the edge of a cliff.

The wind that blew from behind tried to push me off the cliff.

"Did you forget my warning? I told you, if you see me again, you’ll never return to your world."

His voice came like a cold, eerie whisper.

Seobhonmajon tried to create a frightening atmosphere, but I stood there without fear.

"You need to scare your opponent to endure, don’t you?"

"Truly surprising. Even though you’re the son of the sect leader, how can you show such spirit at your age?"

His eyes widened and contracted, busy analyzing me.

"Are you here to kill me?"

"Yes."

"What are you relying on?"

His words echoed like a mocking question, but they also showed his growing uncertainty.

Then the echo abruptly stopped, and he asked.

"Did the sect leader send you?"

This was the first question that was truly clear, without any other noise. He must not have expected me to act on my own.

"If I wanted to kill you, my father would have come himself. Don’t you know his temperament?"

Seobhonmajon nodded, and again, the surroundings grew chaotic. His muttering, the wind’s sound, and all kinds of strange noises mixed together, revealing his mental state.

"Let’s speak quietly. Your mind is in turmoil."

"This is the young master’s final words. You must listen."

The surroundings darkened and then brightened.

He and I were sitting face to face at a pavilion with a beautiful view. On the table between us was lukewarm tea.

"Young master."

He spoke in his usual voice, like a regular man.

"If we’re going to kill each other, let’s at least talk frankly one last time."

"Sure."

"We are demons. Not just any demons, but the demon lords who rule over all demons. Is our life so easy that we should give choices to the weak? What’s wrong with sucking the hearts of the weak to grow stronger? Greed is our right! Every choice I make is for the Heavenly Demon Sect!"

If Hwa Mugi hadn’t come and I had continued to live at the main sect, maybe I would have pretended not to see this Seobhonmajon. If that would make the sect stronger, I might have turned a blind eye, using that as an excuse.

But my fate had changed. The person I was then is not the same as who I am now.

I can no longer sit at the same table and drink tea with someone who wants to take the heart of a child to grow stronger. I cannot breathe the same air.

"It’s a lie."

"What?"

"You didn’t take the heart for the sect. You did it only to survive longer. Even now, and in the future."

If he had truly cared for the sect, he would have sought revenge after my father died. But his choice was to survive the longest among the Eight Demon Lords. His long, resilient life had been built on the lives of thousands of innocent people.

"You’ve lived only for yourself, and now... you’ve become a monster."

Staring at me, Seobhonmajon came to a conclusion.

"A mere twenty-something child couldn’t possibly understand me so clearly. You couldn’t have followed me with Shadow Stealth, nor could you lay a hand on me. You... are not the young master."

His pupils, which had been expanding and contracting until now, began to change color. A dazzling purple wave began to ripple from his eyes.

The purple light shot from his gaze and pierced into my soul.

He asked, his voice deep and heavy like a call from the abyss.

"Who are you?"