The leader of the Wind Sky Sect stared at the place where the divine material was placed. He looked again and again, even closing and reopening his eyes, but the spot where the Blood Heaven Pill and the Supreme Heavenly Sleeper had been remained empty.

"It's unpleasant. It was a perfect beauty, but now it looks like two front teeth are missing."

At the leader’s sigh, the man in shackles looked at the Eumroejong and quietly said.

"It still has its fangs and molars. It can bite its opponent or clench its teeth and steel itself."

"You must enjoy it every time the divine material disappears?"

"How did you know? If you unshackle me, I'd probably dance."

The Wind Sky Sect leader sighed again.

"To be honest, I’m afraid."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I’m afraid all of this might become a hollow dream. What if, when I wake up, there’s nothing left? And at that point, I’ll be regretting it, thinking: 'What the hell was I possessed by to have given up everything?'"

The leader of the Wind Sky Sect stared at the man in shackles. The man raised his head and swept back his long hair, revealing his face after a long time.

"Why the sudden change?"

"I’m showing you that I was possessed by this man and gave up everything."

"Crazy bastard."

The man’s words were right. Right now, I wasn't possessed by the Second Young Master; I was possessed by this man in shackles. Boldly claiming that he possessed me, he laughed and said he would destroy me.

"How do we make Cheongseon the Demon Lord?"

"By taking out the Demon Lords one by one and bringing them over. Persuade, convince, and recruit. At least two divine materials will be required. If we’re unlucky, we might need one more."

The man in shackles seemed to have already finished his calculations, but the Wind Sky Sect leader’s expression darkened.

"You’re subtly telling me to invest in the Second Young Master, aren’t you? You’re still sticking with him till the end."

"When will you stop relying on the Second Young Master? Move and handle things yourself, like a man. I’ll tell you how to tackle the Demon Lords."

"Don’t be sarcastic!"

"You're right. Just do nothing and stay still."

"Is that something a soldier should say?"

No sooner had the words left the Wind Sky Sect leader's mouth than the sound of chains clinking echoed.

What soldier in the world wears shackles like this? The unspoken protest was clear, and the leader couldn’t say anything in response.

"I’m saying this because you consider me a soldier. Just stay still. Sometimes, staying still brings the best results."

After a short pause, the Wind Sky Sect leader asked.

"Can we really do that?"

"The Second Young Master will come."

"And then?"

"He’ll demand the divine material in exchange for putting Cheongseon in the position of Demon Lord."

"Do you think the Second Young Master can actually do that?"

"You have to believe. We’ve already crossed a bridge we can’t go back from."

At that moment, Cheongseon, who had been training in the yard, came with news.

"The Second Young Master has arrived."

The Wind Sky Sect leader was startled, then impressed. Things were moving just as the man in shackles had predicted, and he felt a sense of superiority, almost as if he were in control.

"That man is never going to be anything."

"We’re always thinking about the Second Young Master and talking about him."

"Stop talking about him! Stop taking his side! I am your lord, me!"

"Didn’t you say you wanted to be the front wave of the Yangtze?"

The mention of the front wave of the Yangtze made the Wind Sky Sect leader’s heart sink. The man in shackles had probably said it carelessly, but it hit the leader deeply. He had been feeling like he was being pushed toward something he didn’t want lately.

"Right, you guys are lucky, being the back waves of the Yangtze."

When he decided to go to the Central Plains, he never imagined he would be having this conversation with the man in shackles.

"Life really is unpredictable."

The Wind Sky Sect leader felt the unfamiliar tension that came with an unpredictable life for the first time. On the other hand, it reflected the predictable, smooth life he had been living until now.

When the Wind Sky Sect leader visited, Cheongseon was with him.

She was training in the yard when she recognized me and respectfully greeted me.

"I see the Second Young Master."

When the Seonghun Demon Lord was alive, she had been indifferent, like one would look at a dog, but now things were different. She needed external allies to support her, and she had to make a good impression on me, the Second Young Master and the Yellow Spring Sect leader.

"I heard you became the leader of the Wind Sky Sect, Cheong Soje. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Second Young Master."

She didn’t know. That all of this had started with me passing information to Sawojong.

"I have news to report to the Sect Leader. Cheong Soje, you should listen too."

As we entered, the man in shackles lifted his head slightly, and our eyes met for a brief moment. Since last time, we had developed our own way of greeting each other.

"What’s the matter?"

"Ma Bul is moving."

"Ma Bul? How?"

"He’s persuading the Demon Lords to make him the next Seolje Yangdo."

"Damn it! That friend is making things worse."

"Now that Ma Bul is really moving, it seems it’ll be difficult for Cheong Soje to become a Demon Lord."

Cheongseon bit her lip. She had taken a huge risk to become a Demon Lord. If she didn’t make it, even after becoming the Wind Sky Sect leader’s disciple, she could end up being exiled with the leader, losing everything.

"Second Young Master, is there no way to make this girl the Demon Lord? As you know, I can’t act freely here in the Heavenly Demon Sect."

"There is a way, but it won’t be easy."

"What is it?"

"We need to move the Demon Lords as well. Fortunately, Hyeolcheon Doma and Ilhwa Geomjon are both friendly toward me. If I ask them, maybe…"

"Please help."

"Please help, Second Young Master."

Cheongseon’s desperation matched the Wind Sky Sect leader’s.

"This isn’t as easy as it sounds."

I pretended to hesitate.

"The Demon Lords who’ll give their votes will have their own demands. Even if things go well, I’ll end up owing a huge debt to Doma and Geomjon."

"Isn’t it true that you’re helping me and my disciple? That debt won’t be forgotten."

"Alright, I’ll try."

"Thank you. Please wait a moment."

The Wind Sky Sect leader sent Cheongseon outside, likely to speak privately.

"Go outside and continue your training."

"Yes, Master."

After Cheongseon left, the Wind Sky Sect leader asked.

"What is it you want this time? It must be divine material again, right?"

"No."

"No?"

The leader was surprised.

"More important than divine material is my life, don’t you think?"

I said it like a joke, but my words held real sincerity. To that, blessings flowed from my lips.

"This time, I want nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Yes, nothing."

"Really?"

I nodded, certain of my answer, and the leader’s expression brightened.

"If the result comes out, I’ll treat you to a drink."

"With the drink as well?"

"You’ve given me two precious divine materials. Win or lose, let’s have a drink."

"Where?"

"You’ll have it here. If the divine material is stolen and the Sect Leader isn’t around, people will get suspicious. I’ll prepare the drinks and food."

Of course, that wasn’t the main reason. It was because I wanted to drink where the man in shackles was.

"I’ll try to make it a victory drink, not a defeat drink."

Saying that, I stood up. The Wind Sky Sect leader was happy, but also clearly flustered.

"Who knows, teach your disciple well. Cheong Soje might have to challenge for the Seolje Yangdo and fight in the martial arts competition."

"I had that in mind as well."

"Then, I’ll take my leave."

I was about to leave when I turned back to the Wind Sky Sect leader.

"Ah, one more thing I’d like to ask."

"What is it?"

"When trying to create a sky in the space created by the Time Conversion Art, the °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° ritual didn’t flow smoothly. Could you explain it to me once more?"

The leader was stunned. The man in shackles, too, was visibly startled. He rarely showed his emotions, but this time, there was a reaction.

"In order to fill the space, you must succeed within half a si-jin."

"I’ve already succeeded in creating it within half a si-jin."

"What?"

The Wind Sky Sect leader was dumbfounded. He hadn’t believed me when I said I’d make it within two si-jin before. Now, to hear I had already reduced it to half a si-jin, his surprise was natural.

"Show me. Then I’ll teach you."

"Will you really wait for half a si-jin?"

"I’ll wait."

"Alright."

I immediately began chanting the ritual and started using the Time Conversion Art.

Half a si-jin later, we were in the space I had created. I had intentionally brought the man in shackles along with us.

The Wind Sky Sect leader and the man in shackles were both shocked. The sky was indeed created, but there were holes in it, and it looked strange.

After a moment of observing the space, the Wind Sky Sect leader asked me.

"Why start with the sky?"

"I like looking at the sky. When I do, it feels like the suffocating feelings are cleared away. Now, please explain it to me."

"Since I promised, I’ll teach you."

The leader began to explain in detail how to fill the space in the Time Conversion Art.

In truth, I could have made the sky perfectly. But naturally, I pretended not to do it properly, showing off my skill to the man in shackles.

After hearing the explanation from the leader, I waited for another half si-jin, then opened a new space with a bright blue sky, further shocking both of them.

It wasn’t for the Wind Sky Sect leader’s sake. It was to show the man in shackles what talents I possessed.

Was it boasting? Yes. It was a deliberate attempt to show off.

In my past life, I learned that the greatest virtue of a leader is strength. No matter what anyone says, strength is what matters. A person who is strong enough to be entrusted with everything.

And I saw it. The face of the man in shackles, looking up at the sky. His eyes, clear yet lonely.

I still don’t know what kind of person he is. But one thing is certain.

Though I call him the man in shackles, he is a person whose appearance and aura don’t fit the shackles at all.

After Geom Muguk left, the Wind Sky Sect leader and the man in shackles remained silent for a while.

The first to speak was the Wind Sky Sect leader.

"I’ve seen a genius of martial arts today."

"He definitely has the Heavenly Martial Vessel."

"The Heavenly Martial Vessel? Yeah, that makes sense. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to learn the Time Conversion Art so quickly."

"Is it still a waste?"

"What? The Time Conversion Art? Of course, it’s a waste. But that waste has nothing to do with the other person’s abilities."

"Who knows what kind of legend will be created with the martial arts you taught?"

"As I always say, what good is that legend if it’s not me?"

"Our Sect Leader is a man who never gives up."

"Now you’re being sarcastic again."

"No, I think it's good that you’re being honest."

"Only because it's you! I wouldn’t be this honest if I were anywhere else."

Though he was open with his feelings, the man in shackles never revealed his inner thoughts. The Wind Sky Sect leader knew better than anyone the reason for that. Until the shackles were removed, he would never know the man’s true feelings.

But then again, the shackles would never be removed.

‘I won’t let anyone take you from me.’

Whether the man knew or not, he kept staring at the evil spirits engraved on the Eumroejong.

"Are the evil spirits speaking again?"

"They’re asking why you’re living like this again."

"Tell them to shut up. This evil spirit, tell them they’re all living like this. Who do they think they are asking such nonsense?"

But the Wind Sky Sect leader didn’t know. At that moment, the man was speaking to the evil spirits in a completely different way.

He was talking about the person who kept pleading to stop taking sides and stop talking.

Like the Eumroejong, the silent evil spirits just listened to his words.