Rebirth of the Heavenly Demon

Chapter 112 – Reply with Strategem (1)

When Gal Sa-ryang suggested they should return to the Alliance, Jong Cheon-rak inquired, “Why?”

Before answering, Gal Sa-ryang glanced at the surrounding warriors, silently asking if it was safe to speak in their presence.

Noticing this, Jong Cheon-rak addressed his subordinates.

“Do you trust me?”

The subordinates responded with resounding vigor. Even those lying wounded mustered their strength to express their loyalty. “We trust you! Moreover, our lives belong to you, Regiment Leader!”

The thirty elite members of the Thousand Bow Regiment that he had brought along this time were his most trusted and loyal subordinates. They were the most cherished among the chief commanders and team leaders.

“Thank you. I trust you as well,” Jong Cheon-rak said, his voice warm with appreciation. He then turned to Gal Sa-ryang. “These people are like my own flesh and blood. Please speak freely, as you would to me.”

Only after emphasizing the importance of this matter did Gal Sa-ryang begin to explain. “If the Regiment Leader leaves the Alliance like this, the Alliance Leader will find any reason to brand you as a traitor.”

I agreed with Gal Sa-ryang’s opinion. The opposing side had a strategist like Gal Sa-ryang. He would certainly employ that tactic. Jong Cheon-rak might endure everything else, but he wouldn’t be able to bear the loss of his honor. If that happened, Jong Cheon-rak would crumble from within.

“When we return this time, they won’t be able to touch you immediately, Regiment Leader. In fact, they’ll be even more cautious. Meanwhile, they’ll investigate how you managed to return alive this time. Act as usual, but be wary of assassination attempts.”

The last part was directed at the subordinate warriors. Understanding the implied message to protect their leader, they all nodded in agreement.

The next attack would be the real problem. It would be far more powerful and brutal.

Gal Sa-ryang fixed his gaze on Jong Cheon-rak and asked, “Will you trust me?”

Jong Cheon-rak didn’t hesitate long. Gal Sa-ryang had been the Commander-in-Chief during Cheon Hajin’s time as Alliance Leader. In the current situation, if he couldn’t trust him, who could he trust?

“I will.”

“Then let’s return together. Before they make their move, I’ll surely find a way.”

Upon hearing those words, Jong Cheon-rak felt a wave of relief wash over him. Even without Gal Sa-ryang, there were reasons to return.

The Thousand Bow Regiment warriors he had brought this time numbered only thirty. Even if they were to leave the Alliance, they would need to bring out all the remaining subordinates.

“Hah,” he sighed heavily. Even if they managed to extract themselves somewhere, maintaining a force of a thousand men would be no easy task. Moreover, he didn’t want to put his subordinates in danger.

Now, his only hope was Gal Sa-ryang.

***

We left Life and Death Tower and set out for Wuhan, where the Martial Righteous Alliance headquarters was located. Due to the injured, we couldn’t move as quickly as we had on our way here.

However, everyone seemed more at ease now. The identity of the enemy had become clear, and they knew they had comrades they could trust and rely on. The path ahead had been determined.

Crucially, Gal Sa-ryang’s assurance that he would handle future matters seemed to have given them great strength. After my performance this time, they seemed convinced that Gal Sa-ryang hadn’t remained at Righteous Thought Pavilion without reason.

In any case, growing closer to the Thousand Bow Regiment was a very good thing. If one of the Three Important Corps became our ally, it would be an enormous boost to our forces.

For two days, there were no ambushes.

Late one night, as the campfire crackled, Gal Sa-ryang tossed and turned in his bedroll.

I sat beside him, tossing twigs into the fire. “Can’t sleep?” I asked.

Gal Sa-ryang slowly sat up. “My body is tired, but my mind is wide awake.”

“You seemed to have trouble sleeping yesterday as well.”

I poured some hot water from the kettle hanging over the fire and handed it to him.

“This might help you sleep.”

“Thank you,” he said, accepting the cup gratefully.

Since leaving Life and Death Tower, Gal Sa-ryang had seemed lost in thought. It was understandable. Now that it was clear that the enemy was trying to eliminate both him and Jong Cheon-rak, the war had truly begun.

At the same time, the light in Gal Sa-ryang’s eyes was gradually returning. Yes, this was the look in Sa-ryang’s eyes. The gleam that shone brighter the more difficult the situation became on the battlefield.

“You’ve made quite an impression from your very first mission,” he remarked.

“I was lucky,” I replied modestly.

“As you probably know, they’re trying to eliminate me from the Alliance.”

“Yes.”

“If you stay with me, you’ll be in danger too. As soon as we return, I’ll have you reassigned elsewhere.”

His words were half sincere and half probing my reaction. He had brought me, a newcomer, along because he was interested in me, and his fondness for me had grown significantly during this journey. He needed me.

“Commander-in-Chief,” I began.

“What is it?”

“I’m someone who enjoys danger. I’ll remain by your side.”

“This is no joke.”

“I’m not joking either.”

“May I ask why you want to stay?”

“The greater the risk, the greater the reward, I suppose.”

Gal Sa-ryang’s eyes narrowed. I could almost hear his thoughts: Where did this gem come from?

“Can you really trust me?” he asked.

“I think I should be the one asking that question. Can you trust me?”

“You saved my life. You saved everyone here. Multiple times, at that. If I can’t trust someone like that, who can I trust?”

Gal Sa-ryang extended his hand. I grasped it firmly.

I felt our relationship progress once again.

The final hurdle would probably be this: Eventually, he would realize that I had intentionally approached him to win him over. The question was whether the bond we formed would be strong enough to overcome that sense of betrayal.

The next morning, as we were eating breakfast in the forest, I sensed something strange.

An unknown energy was pulsing in the air. I looked around to see if anyone else noticed it, but no one seemed to sense the energy.

I knew what it meant. Someone was calling out to me, or to any master among us who could sense this subtle energy.

After finishing my meal, I walked in the direction of the energy flow.

A Thousand Bow Regiment warrior standing guard in that direction bowed slightly and asked, “Where are you going?”

His attitude towards me was exceedingly polite and friendly.

“I’m just going to take care of some business. I’ll be right back.”

“We’ll be departing soon, so please return quickly.”

“I will.”

Once out of his sight, I quickened my pace.

The energy was growing stronger.

After walking for a while, I came upon a small clearing where the person emitting the energy stood waiting. It was an elderly man who appeared quite advanced in years.

“There are quicksands in the desert,” the old man began. “Once you step into them, you can never escape. They suck in everything. Like a monster that devours all. And you, it seems, are that monster.”

The old man exuded tremendous confidence, clearly stemming from faith in his martial arts prowess.

With such a commanding presence, I should have recognized him, yet he was a complete stranger to me. It truly drove home the saying that there are as many eccentric masters in the martial arts world as there are grains of sand on a beach.

“There’s a way to avoid sinking in quicksand,” I replied. “Walk on the safe paths that people use. Even in the desert, there are roads made for people.”

“I have too much of an adventurous spirit to walk paths others have trodden,” he retorted.

“Isn’t it because of greed? To get there faster. To have all to yourself what others couldn’t obtain.”

The old man didn’t deny it. Instead, he showed intense curiosity.

“This quicksand I’ve encountered is truly tempting.”

“What a pity,” I said.

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve already stepped into that quicksand. Didn’t you say it yourself? Once you sink, you can never escape. The more you struggle, the faster you’ll sink.”

The old man’s gaze sharpened.

“Who are you? I’ve never heard of someone like you in the Martial Righteous Alliance.”

“I’m a new military officer who just joined.”

“What?”

He looked dumbfounded for a moment before bursting into laughter.

“Hahaha! If an experienced officer had joined instead of a newcomer, the martial arts world would have been turned upside down!”

“And who might you be?” I asked.

“I’m the one who’s going to change your superior.”

“Why?”

“I’ve never even met Gal Sa-ryang, so what grudge or reason could there be between us? It’s just different interests intertwining, leading to killing and being killed. Like insects dying when you prune tree branches.”

“Let’s say you’re the pruning shears. Who’s pretending to be the tree’s owner?”

The old man drew his sword, seemingly uninterested in answering.

“That’s enough impudence. Who’s behind you? Tell me, and I’ll give you a clean death.”

“You’ll find out who’s behind me soon enough.”

I drew my Asura Bright King Sword and gathered my qi. There was no one else around.

I had no intention of dragging this fight out.

I released the seal on my inner force. My half-gapja inner force instantly became one gapja.

At the same time, I unleashed my true aura without concealment. The aura that burst forth from me dominated the space where the old man and I stood.

“What!”

The old man was shocked. More than the enormity of my aura, he was astonished that I had been able to conceal it so perfectly. Well, that is indeed a more difficult technique. The fact that he recognized this proved that the old man was undoubtedly a formidable master.

I couldn’t give him a chance.

Just as the old man sensed the danger and was about to unleash his absolute energy, a wind sound emanated from the Asura Bright King Sword.

Whiiiiiing!

The old man flinched in surprise.

“Could that wind sound be…?”

As his eyes widened in shock, I struck.

Whoooosh!

A whirlwind engulfed the old man.

It was the Fifth Move of the Fifth Form, the Returning Wheel Calamity. I poured all of my one-gapja inner force into this single Returning Wheel Calamity technique.

“Urgh!”

The old man resisted the whirlwind enveloping his body, summoning his protective energy. Indeed, he was a master capable of using protective energy.

The old man hurriedly shouted a question.

“You! Are you Cheon Hajin’s disciple?”

But he couldn’t ask any more questions. His protective energy began to shred. His inner force wasn’t enough to withstand the Returning Wheel Calamity.

Riiiiip!

As his protective energy tore away, his flesh began to be ripped off.

“Ugh… Even if Cheon Hajin were to return from the dead… he couldn’t stop us. Aaaaaargh!”

As his final words ended, his flesh and bones were torn to shreds with a horrific scream, disappearing into the air.

The raging whirlwind dissipated.

The old man had vanished from this world.

He had been a master capable of raising protective energy and had accurately recognized my martial art.

But I had never seen him before. It was a moment that made me realize once again how large and formidable the opposing organization was.

***

There were no more attacks after that.

When we entered Hubei, we acquired two carriages.

The injured were placed in one carriage, while Gal Sa-ryang and I rode in the other.

As we neared Wuhan, I asked Gal Sa-ryang a question.

“I’m curious about something.”

“What is it?”

“What exactly was the Operation New Dragon you mentioned before?”

“You’ve been wondering about that?”

“Yes.”

“It was an operation from when I was a new military officer like you.”

Gal Sa-ryang seemed lost in memories, his expression becoming as excited as a child’s.

“It was the operation to make Cheon Hajin, the world’s greatest martial artist, the leader of the Martial Righteous Alliance.”

I was genuinely surprised by this unexpected revelation.

“At that time, the previous Alliance Leader was already known as the world’s greatest martial artist. We spent months planning to make him the Alliance Leader. We investigated everything about him. What martial arts he used, who he had defeated and where, who he liked and disliked. What kind of women he preferred, what alcohol he drank, what food he enjoyed. We even found out his favorite color. On the day we first went to meet the Alliance Leader, the warriors wore uniforms of that color.”

Ah, was that so? They had put in so much effort?

For me, it was an event I couldn’t even remember.

“Watching the youngest Alliance Leader in history, I dreamed. I wanted to change this martial arts world together with that young leader.”

At that time, Gal Sa-ryang wasn’t the Commander-in-Chief. He was a military officer who had risen rapidly, promoted again and again after I had ascended to the position of Alliance Leader. This was the moment I first learned the reason for his success.

And another confession followed.

“I really liked the Alliance Leader.”

It was something I had never heard from him in my previous life.

“What did you like about him?”

I felt both excited and nervous about what his answer might be.

“His clumsiness.”

“Pardon?”

“He was such a clumsy person. Despite possessing incredibly strong martial arts and not batting an eye in front of those terrifying masters from the evil sects and demonic cults, he was so clumsy.”

“In what way?”

Gal Sa-ryang just smiled, offering no further explanation.

I couldn’t tell exactly what he meant. But as I looked back on my past life, there were many things I regretted, and this must have been one aspect of that.

He was saying he liked that about me.

“Anyway, that was the best operation of my life, and the one I was happiest about when it succeeded.”

A smile crept onto my face as I turned to look out the opposite window.

This is why I can’t give up on you.

Thud thud thud.

The carriage slowed down.

In the distance, the buildings of the Martial Righteous Alliance headquarters came into view.

Now we must fight against the masters of that place.

What choice will Gal Sa-ryang make?