Hyeolcheon Doma came to visit me.

He had always waited near my residence with a large sword stabbed into the ground, but lately, he came directly to wherever I was. If I was at home, he came to my house, and if I was in my office, like today, he came to the office.

“I’m the adult here, so you should come to me.” That kind of authoritarian attitude was never present in Hyeolcheon Doma. He was the type of person who came when he wanted and left when he wanted.

“Did you hear the news that Seo Hwanjin’s third disciple became the disciple of the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect?”

“Yes, I heard.”

“You had a hand in this, didn’t you?”

“Why is it that whenever something new happens, you assume it’s something I did?”

“So, is it not you?”

“It is, indeed.”

As expected, Hyeolcheon Doma raised his voice.

“What exactly are you plotting with the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect?”

“Plotting? What kind of grand plot are you imagining? I’m simply helping him.”

“Really? Is the Wind Sky Sect planning to advance into the Central Plains?”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

Hyeolcheon Doma asked seriously.

“Do you think you can handle it?”

“If you’re talking about the Wind Sky Sect, I do have someone who’s been there. As long as you don’t fight the Demon Lord, could you at least face the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect?”

“Don’t underestimate him. Although he came to our sect reluctantly, he is a man who leads the new external martial world. If the external world goes into a frenzy, the Central Plains will turn into a bloodbath.”

Hyeolcheon Doma was serious, and I truly took his advice to heart.

“I’ll remember that.”

Thinking of the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect as an extraordinary person naturally brought to mind the man in shackles. He was the one controlling and leading this formidable Lord of the Wind Sky Sect.

“Then why Cheongseon?”

“She was easy to move.”

“Do you think Cheongseon could become the Demon Lord?”

“From what I see, whether it's the first or third disciple, they’re both equally lacking. Either of them would take a long time to truly become the proper Demon Lord.”

Hyeolcheon Doma nodded as if he agreed with that point.

“Then, you should take good care of Investigator Seo.”

“Stop dreaming.”

“I’m the one dreaming. Investigator Seo doesn’t dream that way.”

“Stop meddling in other people’s business and mind your own.”

Just as Hyeolcheon Doma was about to leave, he glanced at the Extreme-Grade Celestial Silk wrapped around my wrist.

“What’s that?”

“I wrapped it just for looks.”

“You got that from the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect, didn’t you?”

Hyeolcheon Doma immediately recognized that it wasn’t an ordinary item.

“Why do you think so?”

“It’s something I haven’t seen before, and you wouldn’t help the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect without compensation.”

“When you help with something, it’s a bit harsh to expect a reward every time, isn’t it?”

“So? Didn’t /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ you receive it?”

“I did.”

“You stingy bastard!”

I laughed, and Hyeolcheon Doma shook his head as if he couldn’t stop me.

“This is Extreme-Grade Celestial Silk.”

“Oh! This is that.”

“You really know it.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen it in person.”

“Want me to cut some for you?”

I was about to untangle the Extreme-Grade Celestial Silk from the hilt of my sword.

“Don’t bother. This is not something an old body like mine should wear.”

“Isn’t it because your old body needs it?”

“There’s nothing to do.”

He had no authoritarian tendencies nor greed. At times like this, I couldn’t help but think that his essence might lie in his enjoyment of reading poetry.

“Did you receive anything else besides this?”

“I also received the Blood Spirit Pill.”

I was honest with Hyeolcheon Doma. I had always been this way, and I intended to continue being open with him as much as possible. I believed this honesty would be the key to truly opening my heart to him.

“The Blood Spirit Pill?”

Maybe I had said it too casually because it took Hyeolcheon Doma a moment to recognize what the Blood Spirit Pill was.

His expression changed in this order: What was the Blood Spirit Pill again? The Blood Spirit Pill? Oh, wait, could it be that Blood Spirit Pill? What the hell! The Blood Spirit Pill?

Surprised, Hyeolcheon Doma jumped up from his seat.

“The First-Rate External Pill?”

“Yes.”

“The Lord of the Wind Sky Sect gave you that?”

Hyeolcheon Doma was so surprised that he couldn’t speak for a moment.

“Where is it?”

“It’s inside me.”

“Goodness! Your internal energy must have surpassed mine by now.”

I could only smile. Even before taking the Blood Spirit Pill, I had internal energy that could rival any Demon Lord with the Magic Essence Pill and the Celestial Exterior Pill. Now that I had taken the Blood Spirit Pill, my internal energy would far exceed theirs.

“Don’t worry, even now, the left wing is still yours.”

“Hmph! With the Extreme-Grade Celestial Silk and the better effects of the Celestial Exterior Pill, I’ll throw away the left wing.”

“My left wing is one with my body. If you take it away, I’ll die.”

“As I’ve said before, if your body dies, the wing will find a new body to fly to.”

“Let’s hope it meets a better body.”

The words exchanged as a joke, but soon after, Hyeolcheon Doma’s expression softened.

“You weren’t just jealous, were you?”

“Jealous? What jealousy? It’s a warning. I have to make sure you don’t start eyeing my position just because I gave you some treasures.”

“Got it.”

“Really, go do your work.”

Hyeolcheon Doma stood up. As he was about to leave, he spoke suddenly.

“I don’t mind if I don’t have wings.”

It meant he was fine with having a few extra wings attached to him.

At those words, I was touched. With such tolerance, how could I treat Hyeolcheon Doma with anything but respect?

Just as he was about to leave, one of the underlings entered and announced someone else’s visit.

“Lord Ilhwa Sword has arrived.”

Hyeolcheon Doma was surprised to hear the name.

“Did you call me to meet her?”

“Why would someone who suddenly visits ask such a thing?”

Flustered, Hyeolcheon Doma opened the window, and I stopped him from going out.

“Such a lack of decorum.”

“If I see her, she’ll probably dislike me.”

He was still awkward and uncomfortable with Lord Ilhwa Sword.

“What does it matter? When did you start caring about what others think?”

After standing by the window for a moment, Hyeolcheon Doma returned to his seat.

Meanwhile, Lord Ilhwa Sword entered.

Seeing Hyeolcheon Doma in the office, she was surprised.

“You? You didn’t intentionally make this arrangement, did you?”

I smiled and responded to her.

“How is it that you two are so similar? Did I know when you two would come and set things up? Neither of you informed me, yet here you both are. If you’re going to complain, take it up with the one above.”

I glanced out the window at the sky.

Without needing to say it, both of them understood the meaning of my words.

Though I had wanted to arrange something for them, seeing how naturally they met here, I couldn’t help but wonder if the heavens were indeed orchestrating their reconciliation.

“Please, sit.”

Lord Ilhwa Sword sat across from Hyeolcheon Doma.

“Senior, what brings you here?”

“I came to tell you something.”

At this, Hyeolcheon Doma stood up.

“Please speak. I will take my leave.”

“This is something we can discuss together.”

It must have been uncomfortable for her to be with Hyeolcheon Doma, but by holding her here, it was clear that the matter concerned all of us and was important. Indeed, what she revealed was just as significant.

“Ma Bul came to see me with a request.”

“A request?”

“He asked me to support the transfer of the First Disciple of the Demon Lord’s two disciples.”

Choosing a new Demon Lord was entirely within the purview of the Eight Demon Lords. When a Demon Lord dies without selecting a successor, the other Demon Lords vote to choose the next one. Essentially, a candidate must have the support of more than half of the Demon Lords to ascend to the position.

“You said before that it would be good for us to support someone from our side as martial arts friends.”

“You remembered that.”

Meanwhile, Hyeolcheon Doma was puzzled.

“Martial arts friends? What do you mean by that?”

“It’s something that happened.”

“You’re scheming with everyone except me.”

“Is that so? You’re my first wing, after all.”

Now, Lord Ilhwa Sword asked.

“Wing? What do you mean?”

“Senior, you are my left wing. I am currently desperately searching for my right wing.”

I deliberately stared at Lord Ilhwa Sword. She quickly shifted the subject after understanding my wish to make her my right wing.

“So? Who are you supporting?”

“Cheongseon.”

“I thought you would. You and Ma Bul seem to have different views. Fine, I’ll support Cheongseon too.”

Even aside from her ties with Ma Bul, going against the other Demon Lords’ wishes was no small burden. Yet, she was willing to support me without hesitation.

She was also showing consideration for me. I could tell just by her asking to hear this matter with Hyeolcheon Doma. This was something that needed both of their help.

“Thank you.”

I was genuinely grateful to her. Just like how she helped me with the matter regarding Sa Ujong.

“Fine, Senior. Let’s be martial arts friends for life.”

She didn’t even ask why I chose Cheongseon. That alone showed how much she trusted me.

At that moment, Hyeolcheon Doma asked.

“But in the end, it’s just our two votes, right? Have you gained any other votes from the other Demon Lords?”

To place Cheongseon on the Demon Lord seat, I needed four votes out of seven.

“Not yet.”

“How do you plan to do it?”

I politely addressed both of them.

“Please convince one person each. I would appreciate it.”

“If Cheongseon becomes the Demon Lord, what’s in it for us?”

Hyeolcheon Doma’s question was met with a cheerful response from me.

“I will benefit more than you two.”

“I should benefit more!”

“If I benefit, it’s the same as you benefiting, Senior.”

Of course, Hyeolcheon Doma was pretending to complain, even though he would help me.

Meanwhile, Lord Ilhwa Sword readily agreed to my request.

“I will try to persuade the other Demon Lords for you. If things go well, I’ll get at least one person to vote for Cheongseon.”

For a moment, I wondered if her goodwill was not just because of martial arts. She was offering far too much help for it to be solely about that.

Hyeolcheon Doma spoke to me with a grumpy face.

“Are you trying to make me look bad?”

It was an attempt to break the awkward tension between them, but Lord Ilhwa Sword responded seriously.

“Aren’t you always someone with nothing?”

For a moment, Hyeolcheon Doma’s face froze. The pleasant atmosphere evaporated in an instant.

Their gazes clashed in mid-air. They fought with their eyes, neither of them backing down.

I didn’t intervene and gave them enough time to vent their emotions. This process had to be repeated. After all, they wouldn’t actually kill each other.

The first to look away was Hyeolcheon Doma. The winner of the silent battle, Lord Ilhwa Sword, smirked. Fortunately, the time it took to resolve conflicts was becoming shorter.

I smiled at Lord Ilhwa Sword and thanked her.

“Thank you for telling me about Ma Bul’s matter. I’m even more grateful that you’re willing to persuade the other Demon Lords. I will never forget this favor, Senior.”

“Favor? I’ll see you next time.”

Lord Ilhwa Sword smiled and left the office.

After she left, Hyeolcheon Doma also stood up.

“I’ll be going as well.”

Having received treasures from the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect and becoming martial arts friends with Lord Ilhwa Sword, he could have easily felt uneasy, but Hyeolcheon Doma showed no sign of it.

“You are always my priority, Senior.”

“You just talk smoothly.”

I smiled awkwardly, and Hyeolcheon Doma chuckled.

“Even if Ilhwa Sword left so confidently, convincing the other Demon Lords won’t be easy. Ma Bul’s side will also be working hard.”

“Please help too, Senior.”

“You’re already being ostracized among the Demon Lords. Do you think it will work?”

Though he said that, his back was the most reassuring one of all.

If the two of them each convinced one person, we could secure four votes. The result was something even I couldn’t predict.

I decided to trust them both. Doma and Ilhwa Sword were people who had lived as Demon Lords for decades. I believed in their experiences.

Anyway, as both of them were doing something difficult for me, I couldn’t just give the fruits of their efforts to the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect.

I headed toward the Lord of the Wind Sky Sect’s residence. However, my purpose this time wasn’t the treasures. Instead, I planned to lay the first stone for obtaining something far more valuable.